Mk IV auto private buy - would you?

[Jon101]

I'm on the lookout for a automatic Golf for my wife and have seen one with the following spec:

1.6SE Auto
March 03 (03 plate)
8000 miles
Silver with black interior
Import (UK spec)

It's a private sale and is offered at £7,500 and I think there's room to move on that. The problem is that as well as being an import, the only service it's had is an 18month oil and filter service from the seller's local garage (not a VW delaer or specialist).

I may be being paranoid, but this makes mer nervous. But should it? I hear Golf's aren't as bullet proof these days as the Mark I & II models I've owned previously.

I'll get it inspected/HPI'ed, but what reaction will I see when I want to sell on etc etc

[Pickled Piper]

Personally, unless it's at a giveaway price I would go elsewhere. There are plenty of 1.6SEs on the used car market (not so many autos).

Your concerns about import spec and lack of service main dealer history are valid and you will experience the same when you come to sell it.

I would expect to pay somewhere between the trade in price and the private seller price. If you post on the main forum some of the traders will let you know what the figures should be.

pp

[adrianr]

My usual point, surely it depends on how long you plan to keep it?

Sell it next week and a buyer will ask the same questions as you are, but by the time it's 5 or 6 years old with 60K on it no-one will car about a late 1st service, and even if they do the difference between top & bottom price won't be a lot.

I agree import/no history will lower the value, so work that out and then budget for whatever VW service it needs and make an offer.

Personally I think unless it's been abused it would be perfectly all right at 8,000 miles with no servicing at all, so it's only the paper trail that's an issue.

AdrianR