Buying a Crashed/Repaired MK5 - what to look for?

[blue_reality]

I'm downgrading from a MK5 GTI to a Comfortline for my wife. Putting the extra $10-$15K off the home loan. (Sold the GTI for $34,000)

I found a recent 2007 model comfortline that fits what we are looking for and asking low $20,000's. I spoke to the owner tonight and I has asked her about warranty, because it's an 07 so it should still have some.

She that it did not have warranty because it had been in an accident and then repaired. I asked how serious and she didn't know, but said the air bags had not deployed and car was fully repaired. (It's only done 8000km) She also seemed a bit sketchy and when the accident was. Maybe it's her husbands car by the sounds of it but as he works she is taking calls.

But it is about $3-$5K cheaper than comparable models - so what should I do? Do you think it's worth it?

What should I look for when inspecting the car and will there be paperwork outlining what has happened to the car and repairs? I certainly don't want to be putting my wife into something unsafe. I am looking tomorrow so any tips would be great thanks.

[Maverick]

Sounds like a repairable write off to me, I'd be wanting more a discount and finding out exactly what sort of accident it was that has meant it has no warranty. I'd walk away myself, not worth the hassle unless it's a big discount.

[Golf Loon]

If you buy the REVS report from the RTA, that will tell you the details and severity of the repairs.

You need VIN number, engine number and no plate to get the report.

I have owned a number of repaired writeoffs, lots of european cars are written off as the new parts are so expensive.

I would have no hesitation about buying one that had been repaired with secondhand parts and had minor damage. You just dont want the one that was welded back together.

The other point to note is that it is very hard to sell a car that is on REVS, so you should be able to negotiate an amazing deal

[Golf Houso]

I've seen golfs in the target you are looking at go for under 20k at auction with registration, have a look here:

https://www.pickles.com.au

https://www.manheimfolwes.com.au

Alot of fleet companies are starting to buy diesel VW's and a decent 2nd hand auction market is opening up...

[gregozedobe]

Given how sketchy the seller is about details on the accident I'd be wanting to satisfy myself about just what sort of crash it had been in and how well it was repaired. Maybe ask them to give you the details of the crash repairer that fixed it ?

You could get the body dimensions and alignment checked over by a good crash repairer to see if the body is straight now (and they could probably also assess how well it was repaired too). Would be worth paying for that sort of advice.

If you can't be sure about it I would walk away, it is a buyers market at the moment.

[Russ59]

Personally I'd stay well clear of it, because unless the woman is blind she must have some idea of the severity of the crash. I know it doesn't take that much damage to get the repair cost to the write off stage, especially, as Matt (Golf Loon) has said with the price of the parts. I would still be asking myself the question though, if the repair job is so great and everything is good, why are they selling it

[docjames]

If they cant give you details, I wouldnt touch it with a 100ft pole. Too big a risk and do you want your wife driving around in something that's had a shoddy repair done?

[seno_123]

[QUOTE=Golf Houso;304236]I've seen golfs in the target you are looking at go for under 20k at auction with registration, have a look here:QUOTE]

Waht happens to those cars on auctions that are unregistered. Does anyone know if manheimfowles sells cars which have been written off & repaired without disclosing it. I can't check some of the cars which don't have regos & are registered outside of vic coz no engine number is provided.

I'm looking for the same sorta car but have never seen anything under 22000 in auto.

My opinion- stay away from the write-offs. If components of the vehicle have moved during the crash you'll always have issues. A guy in Essendon almost sold me a write off golf- hope its not the same guy trying to sell to you because he was real dodgy about it.

[Golf Houso]

You can check the vin's, also not many if any newer vw's are sold without rego, especially not the ex fleet or business cars, only the write off's are usually the case. 22k is alot for a non-gti MKV, I was looking at them just under a year ago and they were going for under 20g with rego, I can just imagine how much cheaper they are now.

Sure you can buy a nice MKv for 22k (+660 for transfer) or you can do your research and save 5k on one from auction, your choice... Oh and auction cars are always auto's...

Waht happens to those cars on auctions that are unregistered. Does anyone know if manheimfowles sells cars which have been written off & repaired without disclosing it. I can't check some of the cars which don't have regos & are registered outside of vic coz no engine number is provided.

I'm looking for the same sorta car but have never seen anything under 22000 in auto.

My opinion- stay away from the write-offs. If components of the vehicle have moved during the crash you'll always have issues. A guy in Essendon almost sold me a write off golf- hope its not the same guy trying to sell to you because he was real dodgy about it.

[blue_reality]

I gave it a miss. They didn't know when the crash was or the exact details and they wanted me to drive over an hour south to see it without giving me answers to any of my questions first on the phone.

There is also currently a 2007 Sportline for sale for $16,500 which I just found out was a scam. You cannont get a decent Comfortline, let alone a Sportline for under $20,000. (You can get 1.6 Trendlines etc for $17-$18k but thats about it)

So the search continues...

[SoVeReIgN]

Generally need about 65~75% of the cars value needed in repairs for it to be written off by an insurance company and be re-registerable.

At 8000kms it was probably on the books for ~28,000?
Personally I'd want to give a car that has had $20,0000+ in repairs to it a miss, especially if it was done as cheaply as possible.

[Golf Loon]

I agree with you soverign up to a point, but 20k of a smash repairers inflated bill may not be the same as someone repairing it privately.

Also on the revs thing, if you dont have the engine number, type in a random one. The details should then come up with just a mismatched engine number. If it comes up with that and other stuff, at least you know.

I reckon the auctions can sell whatever they like by disclosing minimal information. I once purchased a VR6 that had a ground off engine number. As they dont list a number on their invoice, you cant prove it came out of that car and so they are in the clear. Beware of the auctions, they are not for novices.

[seno_123]

I agree regarding auctions. You can get a bargain but the good cars don't go cheepy I went about a month ago a 06GTi withe 40000 or so k's went for 35000- thats what they go for privatly. And you cant test drive them.

"Sure you can buy a nice MKv for 22k (+660 for transfer) or you can do your research and save 5k on one from auction, your choice... Oh and auction cars are always auto's... "

If there was a 06 comfortline that went for 18000 ($22000 less 5000) that wasnt a 1.6L I'd buy it now. But people are seriously over pricing their vehicles considering the bargains you can get at dealers on new cars.

[blue_reality]

Also on the revs thing, if you dont have the engine number, type in a random one. The details should then come up with just a mismatched engine number. If it comes up with that and other stuff, at least you know.

This doesn't work unfortunately, as I learnt 2 days ago. I typed in rego and vin into REVS with a random engine number of 111 and it came up saying WARNING: Police investigating vehivle and money is owed etc etc

I sms'd the owner and they sent me the engine number. Added it to the search and then it came back totally clean.

I'm now very interested in an 05 Sportline which I've negotiated down into the $18,000's. Will decide today.

[seno_123]

where the hell do ppl find such cheap cars. Can someone please find me one lol...