Mk3 Golf - What Do I Need To Look For?
Discussion
In my never ending quest for a new car, my mate has told me that his Dad is about to sell his Mk3 Golf.
All I know is that it is on a J plate, is black, has 5 doors and is the non Gti model.
Hunting around, I have found out that this means it most be one of the first Mk3's, however I know this guy looks after his car's well.
I'm giving him a call tommorrow, what questions do I need to ask him? Is there anything in particular to look out for?
When does the cambelt need changing? etc
All being well it should be a bit of a bargain as he only wants about £900 for it!
All I know is that it is on a J plate, is black, has 5 doors and is the non Gti model.
Hunting around, I have found out that this means it most be one of the first Mk3's, however I know this guy looks after his car's well.
I'm giving him a call tommorrow, what questions do I need to ask him? Is there anything in particular to look out for?
When does the cambelt need changing? etc
All being well it should be a bit of a bargain as he only wants about £900 for it!
pmanson said:IIRC insurance can be a bit of a git. Avoid the 1.4 too cause it's far too slow!
In my never ending quest for a new car, my mate has told me that his Dad is about to sell his Mk3 Golf.
All I know is that it is on a J plate, is black, has 5 doors and is the non Gti model.
Hunting around, I have found out that this means it most be one of the first Mk3's, however I know this guy looks after his car's well.
I'm giving him a call tommorrow, what questions do I need to ask him? Is there anything in particular to look out for?
When does the cambelt need changing? etc
All being well it should be a bit of a bargain as he only wants about £900 for it!
900 bar for a 13-year-old car!! And a Golf at that.... you could get summat proper, like a fully-kitted SAAB 9000 for that.
Quite a lot to go on here.
Engine - I agree, stay away from 1.3/1.4. the 1.6/1.8 lump is the best, and is the same form of block (1781cc) still used in the 1.8T etc etc. Generally the main blocks are bomb-proof, however the hydraulic tappets go at about 150k. The main culptit used to be old oil clogging up. From cold start, there should be a tick-tick for a few seconds as the tapetts fill (especially if the car has been left standing for a while) apart from that, it should be silent in this area. The electronics are reasonably reliable, but I had a problem with the crack sensor on my A3 (which uses the same engine as the Golf). Cambelts should be changed strictly to service schedule - which I recall is about 60k (I think - need to check). Some say do them sooner. Rocker cover gaskets never seem to last more than 10 minutes, so I gave up replacing mine.
Gearbox - again, reliable. Second gear syncros can go a little crunchy with mileage. Very common for the driveshaft oil seals to go. Again, not so cheap to change - I used to get some gear oil and a 17mm plug socket from Halfords and check it - far cheaper than getting them changed!
Suspension - fairly reliable - My shocks were changed at about 120k
Brakes - Golf's are fairly hard on front pads / discs due to the weight of them.
Make sure all the electric windows work. Also check for any dampness in the carpets in the rear - classic sign that the plasic sheet they use as a door liner has given way.
Email me if you want anything else.
Iain
>> Edited by iains on Monday 10th May 15:27
Engine - I agree, stay away from 1.3/1.4. the 1.6/1.8 lump is the best, and is the same form of block (1781cc) still used in the 1.8T etc etc. Generally the main blocks are bomb-proof, however the hydraulic tappets go at about 150k. The main culptit used to be old oil clogging up. From cold start, there should be a tick-tick for a few seconds as the tapetts fill (especially if the car has been left standing for a while) apart from that, it should be silent in this area. The electronics are reasonably reliable, but I had a problem with the crack sensor on my A3 (which uses the same engine as the Golf). Cambelts should be changed strictly to service schedule - which I recall is about 60k (I think - need to check). Some say do them sooner. Rocker cover gaskets never seem to last more than 10 minutes, so I gave up replacing mine.
Gearbox - again, reliable. Second gear syncros can go a little crunchy with mileage. Very common for the driveshaft oil seals to go. Again, not so cheap to change - I used to get some gear oil and a 17mm plug socket from Halfords and check it - far cheaper than getting them changed!
Suspension - fairly reliable - My shocks were changed at about 120k
Brakes - Golf's are fairly hard on front pads / discs due to the weight of them.
Make sure all the electric windows work. Also check for any dampness in the carpets in the rear - classic sign that the plasic sheet they use as a door liner has given way.
Email me if you want anything else.
Iain
>> Edited by iains on Monday 10th May 15:27
Wallowy waterbed standard suspension apart, the 16v Mk3 is a great car, ok not as intimate as a mk2 but then its got more lard so what do you expect, but sort the suspension & they can be great, certainly leauges above the gutless 8v Mk3 anyway.
The engine is a cracker, easily tuned & capable of VR6 power from just ECU mods & rolling road set up.
The engine is a cracker, easily tuned & capable of VR6 power from just ECU mods & rolling road set up.
iguana said:
Wallowy waterbed standard suspension apart, the 16v Mk3 is a great car, ok not as intimate as a mk2 but then its got more lard so what do you expect, but sort the suspension & they can be great, certainly leauges above the gutless 8v Mk3 anyway.
The engine is a cracker, easily tuned & capable of VR6 power from just ECU mods & rolling road set up.
The engine goes better in a lighter more nimble Ibiza
Went and had a look at the car.
It was the 1.8 8v CL. In diamond black, 5 door, 96k, owned by my mates dad who works for the local VW showroom.
Bodywork was in excellent condition for a 93 L reg car expect for a small patch of rust on the tailgate.
The interior was in near showroom condition, the back seat had hardly ever been used as the guy used to use it to commute to work and back.
It drove smoothly on the test drive and the engine idled well.
Best bit is its going to mine for just over £900! Bit of a bargin me thinks.
I should be picking it up at the end of the month once i'm back from uni.
Edited to add its also had the cambelt changed, and has had some work on the rear brakes done for the MOT which was in January. Its also taxed until June
>> Edited by pmanson on Wednesday 12th May 22:10
It was the 1.8 8v CL. In diamond black, 5 door, 96k, owned by my mates dad who works for the local VW showroom.
Bodywork was in excellent condition for a 93 L reg car expect for a small patch of rust on the tailgate.
The interior was in near showroom condition, the back seat had hardly ever been used as the guy used to use it to commute to work and back.
It drove smoothly on the test drive and the engine idled well.
Best bit is its going to mine for just over £900! Bit of a bargin me thinks.
I should be picking it up at the end of the month once i'm back from uni.
Edited to add its also had the cambelt changed, and has had some work on the rear brakes done for the MOT which was in January. Its also taxed until June
>> Edited by pmanson on Wednesday 12th May 22:10
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