Guys, need serious opinions: Is the vr6 a money pit?

[jayjay]

yeah, all those things are expendable items. tyres, shocks. omg you have cruise control?! hahahaha. i dont think they're so much an issue as compared with timing belts that snap, trim that falls off etc. (in general with all cars)

[DubSteve]

I think mine must be a money pit or I just bought a dud. Just the current list of things that need to be fixed:

New rear springs and shocks
New rear bump stops
ABS Control Module replaced
New rear tyres
Has a coolant leak coming from the front of the engine
Cruise control doesn't work
Rear wiper spray not working

Thats nothing compared to what I have payed so far lol, okay lets start a list:

When I first bought it

• Dash cluster
• Thermostat housing
• Springs
• Clutch
• Waterpump
• head gasket
• Sump gasket
• Coolant Hose
• Brakes

Then when I started modding the car:

• New cams
• KW Coilovers
• Port and Polish slightly
• Front end respray
• New headlights
• 5 freakin VR lips
• Foglights
• Smoked turns
• New headlights
• Rims x2 Sets
• Full body respray
• Schrick Manifold
• TIming Chains
• 3 sets of Seats, now currently mk4 gtis
• New headliner
• dynamat
• braided brake lines
• bits and bobs of aluminium everywhere
• Modifications everywhere

No thats a money pit and I can't really remember everything theres about 20 things that I am missing, as I just woke up lol.

[Golf Houso]

No i paid $8900 for mine. I wish I had paid $5000 then I'd have some justification for so many things being wrong with it.

Fair enough, I must be thinking of a different car on sale at the time then.

[Pullstarter]

I had a similar experience Steve, when I bought the car I had to fix the following;

Rocker gasket
coolant hose
front brake rotors
front pads
coolant expansion tank
front control arm bushes
oil seal (cant remember which one)
thermostat
thermostat housing
crack pipe
painted all plastics with hood and vinyl paint
new antenna gasket
steering column surround
wiper arms and blades
realignment of whole front bumper and radiator supports etc

and also added the following mods:
front and rear neuspeed sways
new rims and spacers
cobra seats
isotta steering wheel cover
diesel geek short shifter
strut brace
K&N pod
stereo (head unit, splits, amp, sub)
FK headlights
deep lip
crystal repeaters
braided S/S brake lines

I think that's about it but it's far from finished, they can be a money pit but it's a FUN money pit!

[noom]

Hi guys,
I am extremely tempted by a 97 Golf Mk3 VR6.

The car has had 225K kms, and I am extremely concerned about the timing chain ...

The current owner has done the following in the last 2 years
Replaced alternator
Battery
Two window regulators
ABS module
changed all the coolant hoses

During the test drive I did not hear any rattling from the engine, but then again I may not have been listening out for it. Engine sounded very ncie. Gear changes no problems, but the gear stick felt loose ... the gear does not engage with a positively, more like it just slips in. Is that normal for a VW?

I have always wanted a VR6 .... any advice would be more than welcomed.

Cheers

[Golf Houso]

Welcome to the forum

Whats the asking price mate?

[noom]

6K

How much should I set aside for worse case scenario?

[Mrk_Mickey]

Hmmm....if you want the timing chains done by a mechanic, i'd expect to pay 6-700 for labour plus parts (~$200 when I bought them from USA). It's a different ball game if you wanna do it yourself, but then there's a lot of little things that accumulate that end up costing money you don't think you would have needed to spend hehe.

6k sounds like a good price for the car if it's straight and sweet; if you want, get a mechanic to check it all out for you and you'll be fine

EDIT: I didn't really answer your question lol....say an engine rebuild if the engine is secretly dead..worst case scenario yeah? hehe. 2.5k to be comfortable i suppose..

[noom]

Is my experience with the mannual gear change normal?

Also what are major serivce intervals for the VR6?

Thanks so far for the tips ... I am trying to get the seller to agree to bring the car to the mechanic ...

[Mrk_Mickey]

I think the manual gear change sounds alright...I've never been in/heard of a VR with a solid gearstick..lol.

Service intervals are 15k I think?

[Pullstarter]

The gear shift feel is more than likely a bushing problem rather than internal. The VR6 boxes are pretty strong. I think you'll find with the replacement of the bushes she'll feel good as new, mine certainly did.

[noom]

I really fear falling into the money pit here ...

I had a Golf mk3 GL ... and that was a money pit. Everything went wrong with it ... but it was an auto ...

From all the previous posts ... the consensus is that no one really regrets getting VR6 here!

[Pullstarter]

The auto GLs were definitely a time bomb. Not very strong and hugely expensive to fix. You could get the timing chain replaced for peace of mind though. At 6k you're certainly not paying top dollar so 2-3k in repairs/maintenance wouldn't be unreasonable. I guess it comes down to if you're spending every penny you have to buy the car and do you have anything leftover for any work that needs doing? I spent a few k on mine when I first got it but touch wood it's been a tank since A strict maintenance regime using good quality parts/products and a good mechanic goes a long way to avoiding big $$ catastrophes.

Update your profile with your location and I'm sure someone will chime in with a good mechanic in your area to go over the car pre purchase and also to look after you post purchase.

[Mrk_Mickey]

They're just too much fun!

[noom]

Mate ... I am in Canberra ... and already intend to bring the car to CVWC should I decide to get it.

I really want to get the car looked at first by Peter ... but it depends on the seller.

Given the engine already has 225K kms on it .... how much life is left in it?

The car will be used as a second car, really to get to work on the days I dont feel like cycling in ...