Which Jetta Turbo DSG to buy?

[hilly61]

Hi Everyone - this week I am going to become the proud owner of a 2006 Jetta Petrol Turbo, after enjoying 3 years in my Mazda 3 Maxx Sport. My problem is I don't know of the two I am looking at which one I should be buying! I am yet to drive either. They are both 2006, both black, both $17000. One has tan leather and sunroof and done 113,000ks the other has cloth trim, no sunroof and done 60,000ks. Which one do you think I should go for? I know there are real experts out there who can give me advice! You will probably just tell me to drive each of them and then make up my mind but I would like to come up to Sydney this weekend prepared with as much knowledge as I can.

[Rob Burns]

The one with leather will likely have heated seats too. The one w/o will definitely not have them.
Check to see if the 60k service has been done on the one with 60k. It's a major service and can be upwards of $1k. The one with 113k isn't far from the 120k svc which is the same as a 60k. At that age they're both about due for timing belt which is another $1k. Not 100% sure on that though but I'm pretty sure it's a 5year/105k interval for the belt.

[blutopless2]

generally speaking you are best going for the one with least k's, but that depends upon how they have been treated anyway and you can usually tell by the interior condition.
the one with leather wont have heated seats but will have the electrics for the driver. look for damage to the drivers seat on the rhs as this is where you tend to slide against the seat when getting in/out of the car.
only advice is to check EVERYTHING works on it... every switch - even the clock switches in the dash as they can become stuck (if they are there - i have an 08 so am assuming most things will be similar).
service history if its available
whats been fixed over the years
accident damage
check the operation of the dsg.... if its rough between gears or jerky on take off steer clear of it.

good luck with the purchase.

[hilly61]

Ended up getting the Jetta with the low ks and cloth upholstery - I am very pleased with it except I noticed after I bought it that the head lining is pulling away from the plastic part of the C pillar. Has anyone experienced this and come up with a solution?

[anthony]

Congratulations,I hope you enjoy your Jetta,I am sure you will,as its a nice little upgrade from the very good Mazda 3.

[Scratchyratface]

Hey Hilly61, we had a 2007 Jetta and I had a similar thing - the head lining was falling down all through the car. VW ended up replacing the whole lot under warranty, they couldn't explain it (surprise surprise) and hadn't seen it happen before (another surprise). You might be able to get away with just re-sticking it but if you've bought it from a VW garage then get them to look at it as you've only just got it.

[hilly61]

Update on HeadLining

Went to a motor trimmer in Canberra today about my shrinking and tearing head lining. He wasn't at all surprised that a late model car would have these problems especially if its kept outside - heat is the main problem and its not not just black cars it happens to. The ones that have the most problems are BMWs and Commodores. he said that the foam starts to break down and that causes the lining to stretch etc. He suggested I go with the felt option rather than another foam backed lining - that way the stretching and tearing will never happen again. Quoted me approx $770.00 for materials and labour. Does that sound reasonable?