Buying Advice for a Mk4 Golf GT TDi

[mat205125]

I am looking to purchase a diesel car to commute to work in, and like the look of the Mk4 golf GT TDi's. They appear to be a reasonable compromise between sporty styling / size / economy.

Can anyone more familiar with the breed advise whether there is anything that I should be looking out for specifically. I am planning to spend between £4k and £5k only.

Are there any expensive service milestones I should look out for (belts etc)?
Are there any particular nasties that I should be aware of (dodgy engines / turbos / electrics)?
Can they handle high mileages, or should I look for as low as possible?
What different specs were there (power, trim - Recaro's, wheels etc)?

Any links to related forums or advertisments for cars for sale would be appreciated. The colours that I have seen that I like include Jazz blue, black, gunmetal (not silver), or red. I'd like a 3dr, but a 5 would be satisfactory.

Your weath of VAG experiences and opinions are most appreciated.

Mat

[jvaughan]

my 2002 (02 Reg) 5 door 130 GT TDI PD has 88,000 miles, and is probably worth about 5000 - 5500 now.
Very little goes wrong, the rear wash pipe can detatch and corrode the rear wiper .. that'll cost about £150 to fix at VW.... or if you catch it before it happens, a cable tie can sort for 5p !!
The headlights cost a bomb when you hit a pigeon

Belts I believe are at 60,000, and the general advice seems to be replace the waterpump if there is any corrosion when the timeing belt is off.

Serviced mine every 10 - 12,000 miles and never had a problem. Drive it hard and do 20,000 miles a year. Tyres last about 10 - 12,000 miles too if your unsympathetic.

Brakes are a little soft, replaced the pads and disks at 50,000 miles, rear disks were badle worn, fronts lasted another 6000 miles before they too were replaced.

The more mileage, generally, the faster they become, and the better economy. on a motorway run, I aveage 50mpg and that is lively driving ... around town mid to high 40's
At 70mph on a motorway in 6th gear, Can easily clock up 60mpg.

A tank of fuel is about £45, and that lasts on average 500 - 600 miles depending on driving style.
Performance s excellent for an oil burner, and will easily suprise most cars.

Cannot fault mine.. actually Im having a hard time trying to find a replacment that is as good.

Also, forgot to add
Electric windows all round, VW Gamma Stereo with single CD, Trip computer with total averages and current journey averages.
All GT Models have recaro seats, the aviversary models have leather as standard
130GTTDI PD has centre armrest and slightly softer suspension (Some say this is the better compromise), 150GTTDIPD doesnt have arm rest and is a lot firmer (in my oppinion). Dispite the relative high mileage, mine doesnt smoke except under hard acceleration, and then its only light.
Mine has 5 spoke alloys, 205x50x15 tyres, twin rear head restraints, rear seat arm rest.

Rear spoiler is optional extra, the genuine VAG ones have a "V" in them for the ariel when the boot is open, but some after market ones now have it too.

Edited by jvaughan on Monday 23 October 20:01

[MElliottUK]

the 90, 100, 110 bhp ones are not the PD engine i think

the 130 is the one to have as it has less turbo lag than the 150.

Im after one too with the same budget (would like one with some audi rs4 wheels tho) decided on the 115PD or 130PD, remap able too.

on the other hand i keep thinking should a spend £10K on the MK5 GT TDI 140bhp as it will probably last me longer and hold its value better.


jvaughan if your in the North of the UK let me know when its for sale

Edited by MElliottUK on Monday 23 October 22:04

Edited by MElliottUK on Monday 23 October 22:06

[jvaughan]

MElliottUK said:

jvaughan if your in the North of the UK let me know when its for sale

Unfortunatly, I live below the M4. The car should go back to the dealers in Feb 2007 (3 year lease), but as I said, Im struggling to find anything equally as good. the Mk5's are too fat IMHO, the focus just doesnt do it for me, the V50... I dont like the centre console, Mondeo .. well, its a ford .. Saab .. well, its a vauxhall .. New Passat so I may just pay off the baloon payment and keep the car

Oh, forgot to add, it was chipped to 176bhp 18 months ago and to date has not had any adverse effects on the car.

Edited by jvaughan on Tuesday 24th October 00:32

[mat205125]

MElliottUK said:

the 90, 100, 110 bhp ones are not the PD engine i think

the 130 is the one to have as it has less turbo lag than the 150.

Im after one too with the same budget (would like one with some audi rs4 wheels tho) decided on the 115PD or 130PD, remap able too.

on the other hand i keep thinking should a spend £10K on the MK5 GT TDI 140bhp as it will probably last me longer and hold its value better.


jvaughan if your in the North of the UK let me know when its for sale

Edited by MElliottUK on Monday 23 October 22:04

Edited by MElliottUK on Monday 23 October 22:06

What exactly is the PD engine? I understand its the later version, but how does it differ from the older engine?

I've seen a 1999 T reg car with 82k on it. Which engine is this likely to have?

[vee]

mat205125 said:

What exactly is the PD engine? I understand its the later version, but how does it differ from the older engine?

I've seen a 1999 T reg car with 82k on it. Which engine is this likely to have?

Probably better avoided. You're correct that the PD engines are much better - dont know the technical differences though.

somone said:

the aviversary models have leather as standard

Rubbish.
They have anniversary cloth interior with red/black 'Anniversary' recaros.
Also, armrests were an optional extra so you can get a PD150 with one.

Edited by vee on Tuesday 24th October 08:26

Edited by vee on Tuesday 24th October 08:26

[jvaughan]

vee said:

mat205125 said:

What exactly is the PD engine? I understand its the later version, but how does it differ from the older engine?

I've seen a 1999 T reg car with 82k on it. Which engine is this likely to have?

Probably better avoided. You're correct that the PD engines are much better - dont know the technical differences though.

jvaughan said:

PD = Pump Duse. Roughly speaking it's an "integrated pump". Into each Injector.

Its VW's version of the next generation of (so-called "common rail" ) system (A high-pressure pump feeding all the injectors) The PD system have a integrated high-pressure piezo electric pump and injector for each cylinder. It allows the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to exercise finer control over fuel injection - Basically it gives better economy and is a lot more tuneable.

somone said:

the aviversary models have leather as standard

Rubbish.

jvaughanj said:

Ok, I stand corrected, but the 3 I know of all have leather

They have anniversary cloth interior with red/black 'Anniversary' recaros.
Also, armrests were an optional extra so you can get a PD150 with one.
[quote=jvaughan]
Strange, the 2 dealers I spoke to told me it wasnt available. Im not saying your wrong, im just saying

Edited by jvaughan on Tuesday 24th October 09:04

Edited by jvaughan on Tuesday 24th October 09:05

[mat205125]

How early did the PD engines begin, and how can I tell which type I am looking at? Is it simply a case of ensuring that I look for a 6 speed car, and not a 5?

Hypothetically, due to my budget, would a slightly higher mileage (newer) PD engined car be a better bet than a lower mileage early 5 speed car?

[jvaughan]

Hi there mat again. I think its horses for courses really, I believe ( although I may be wrong!) that the 6 speed box was only available in GT Trim on both the 130 / 150 tdi's and also the GTI turbo's, VR6 and later the R32.

Suggest you check out the VW, SEAT and Skoda forums... Loads of info from people who have chipped 110 bhp motors to around 140 - 150 for a few pennies

Check out www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?f=2&t=8653 for some discussion

If you want a definative list, check out some online insurance brokers .. they usually list all makes and models.

[markda]

I had the 130bhp GT TDI and it did everything very well. The 6 speed gearbox can get a bit tiresome, you do always seem to be changing gear I understand there are some models out there with recaro seats, leather etc, mine just had the VW cloth sports seats which were very comfortable, no complaints.

You'll have to check the servicing costs with a VW dealer, fairly sure there is a major service around 60k miles which is about £300 ish. But when that is due would depend on whether the car is currently running on the variable or fixed service schedule, you choose which schedule suits you best. Your local dealer will be able to advise you.

As for mileage, most the taxi's in my area are Skoda Octavia's and they have an almost ideantial engine, most of them have anything from 120-200k miles and still going strong! Insurance was a bit of a shock (for a diesel golf), think they cost more to insure than the GTI 1.8T!

Edited to say: it might be worth looking at the Seat Leon also, you'll probably get a slighly newer/lower mileage car for the same money as the Golf.

Edited by markda on Tuesday 24th October 14:26

[mat205125]

jvaughan said:

Hi there mat again. I think its horses for courses really, I believe ( although I may be wrong!) that the 6 speed box was only available in GT Trim on both the 130 / 150 tdi's and also the GTI turbo's, VR6 and later the R32.

Suggest you check out the VW, SEAT and Skoda forums... Loads of info from people who have chipped 110 bhp motors to around 140 - 150 for a few pennies

Check out www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?f=2&t=8653 for some discussion

If you want a definative list, check out some online insurance brokers .. they usually list all makes and models.

That honest john site is quality. A real gem of a site that makes the interweb well worth while

Thanks for the tip!