Any concerns buying a GTi that's been sitting around for over 12 months ?

[red]

They stopped importing Golf GTi's a while back, and the ones I'm looking at have been sitting idle for almost a year. Any need to be concerned about this ?

[h100vw]

I don't think so. Maybe order some different wheels so you get new tyres?

You would get a full warranty anyway.

Gavin

[faisan]

I dont think there would be any issues.

[Drake]

I cant see there being any problems paticularly if they have been getting started. l would recommend a oil change. The only other problem could be fuel going off but is unlikely.

[triode12]

How does fuel go off?
Can it go off?

[Big Yellow]

i'd be concerned as there was never a Golf GTi, but there is a Golf GTI though

[Swallowtail]

My last car was a Nov 2005 build, bought by me in Feb 2007 with 65km on the clock. Battery was flat when they sold it to me, but a new battery fixed that. Tyres weren't brilliant, but I chewed through them in 18000kms and bought new ones. The price I got was brilliant, more than made up for the car being an 05 build bought in 07. When I sold the car I got $ equivalent to an 06 model.

[Drake]

How does fuel go off?
Can it go off?

Fuel goes stale over time and can cause all sorts of problems with the fuel injection system.

[wagits]

Where are you finding GTI's sitting around for a year. That seems strange. At one stage there was a waiting period for them. However, a year is a long time. They should change all the fluids, power steer, transmission, engine oil, diff as there could be some breakdown from lack of use. I know a friend who bought a Fairlaine that was a deceased estate and sat for a year. Really low k's, but within 1 month he blew the transmission because the fluid had decomposed. Now, this was back in 1986 when fluids werent up to the standards they are now, and the car had about 20,000k's on it. All I know is that when you store a car you take certain precautions, and when you take it back out after a long length of time, you replace all the fluids.

[Zed!]

Nah shouldn't be a problem. I went overseas for 8 months & left my 350z sitting for 8 months. Spoke to Nissan and they said fill the tank up (to prevent rusting) and disconnect the battery. That's what I did & 8 months later when I reconnected the battery it started first time & ran like a dream.

[triode12]

Where are you finding GTI's sitting around for a year. That seems strange. At one stage there was a waiting period for them. However, a year is a long time. They should change all the fluids, power steer, transmission, engine oil, diff as there could be some breakdown from lack of use. I know a friend who bought a Fairlaine that was a deceased estate and sat for a year. Really low k's, but within 1 month he blew the transmission because the fluid had decomposed. Now, this was back in 1986 when fluids werent up to the standards they are now, and the car had about 20,000k's on it. All I know is that when you store a car you take certain precautions, and when you take it back out after a long length of time, you replace all the fluids.

The Pirellis in current stock now were built in August last year. So in a couple of weeks time, if they remain unsold, they will be a year old.

[KWICKS]

The only concern Iwould have would be wear to the paint surface. Ours was on the dock in Melbourne for 4 months before we had it delivered and as a result had splotches in the paint that required a professional detail to remove. Negotiate that in to the purchase if required?

Otherwise I would have no concern.