Family car - $12k Budget - Mk5 Jetta TDI smart move?

[itsanobscureid]

Hi all,
It's that time again - 4 years after finding a great Mk4 golf and more importantly Jmac I am in need of a new car.
Budget is around $12k - looking for something family orientated (mum+dad+bub), reliable, cost effective in the Brisbane area.

After a bunch of reading around I've set my sights on a Mk5 ( 2006,2007,2008 ) Jetta TDI 6 speed manual. Browsing carsales, ebay, gumtree @ $12k I'm looking somewhere in the range of 100,000 150,000kms it seems.

Key questions:
- Does this sound sensible to you?
- What would you spend $12k on if you had similar requirements?
- Is there anything special I should be looking/looking out for?
- Do you want to sell me your / or know of a well looked after, Mk5 TDI Jetta?

Anything I find I'll be getting Jmac to do a pre-purchase inspection on - but as ever, your advice is much appreciated.

Cheers
Dan

[gldgti]

2 years ago I was in your position but I was budgeting $20k, and I bought the Octavia.

Personally I wouldnt buy a jetta over an octavia, simply because from a purely practical perspective, I think a wagon or a liftback is more practical than a sedan any day - but other than that aspect, they are mechanically the same cars. But, you might prefer the looks of the jetta.... I dont know

There are probably other reasons to choose one or the other but I didn't care about those so much at the time.

In todays market, you can find either (jetta or octavia) in your price range. But, generally you will be looking at higher km vehicles. Go nuts!

If you dont care too much about lots of power, and budget/running costs are your primary concern, I would be looking only at the Skoda, because you can find the octavia in the 1.9 TDI (rather than the 2.0l) which in my experience is slightly more economical, and has not had any injector related problems as with the 125kW TDI, and for different reasons, in the 103TDI (but far rarer!). You wont find a 1.9 Jetta in australia.

Also, the 1.9's servicing costs over the life of the car will be a bit cheaper. Again, all depends on your motives. I would still buy a 2.0L if I wanted more power, etc.

[jessv3]

Mk5 2.0tdi jetta is a very sensible choice for what you've described you need. The manuals are less common but worth waiting for one as they are less to worry about in the long run. The diesel is probably the best of the engines although the petrol 2.0turbo (147kw) is pretty solid as well and about the same money, they are dsg only though. My brother is selling his 06 mkv jetta 2.0t petrol dsg with 105k, leather, sunroof etc for 13k. If you're interested pm me.

[Steve879]

You will be very happy with the jetta. We were in the same boat as you. We sold a prado and wanted medium size and efficient. We picked our jetta up for $10500. 103 tdi, dsg. 160km, full vw service, and was immaculate. Ours is a late 07 so is a my08 model so has the full size display on the dash. Wife just loves it! I drive an i30 diesel for work and the jetta eats it for power. For 10k, I was happy to have a bit of a gamble with the dsg. I could have spent 30k on a car with no warranty and have had issues.

[Bora Sport]

I've just been through that exercise. I looked around for about 2 months and drove an 06 and and an 07 manual, both had around 130,000k's and one had a tow bar. Both had the hood lining sagging but drove quite well. One was asking $11,500 and the other (no tow bar but a newer better car) $13,400. I wanted a tow bar and in the end bought an 07 tdi dsg with 130,000k's from Sydney. It was $11,000 including a brand new tow bar and a new mechatronics in the gearbox (with 2 years warranty). My son flew to Sydney and drove it back to Terranora on the Gold Coast with fuel left in the tank and he loved it. It also has the sat nav with the latest maps. So far I am happy with the result. It is a very clean car and the hood lining is fine, bonus!

[anthony]

The Jetta is a great buy as they are all feature packed,and IMHO look way better than the Octavia,with better resale value and a bit of image.

[thezoneR32]

This 1971 Holden Kingswood HG

[Jmac]

Hey Dan, I'll be happy to check whatever you set your sights on. Just give me a wee bit of notice. Happy hunting , plenty out there now. Although plenty out there hiding skeletons. Most second hand vehicles do, minor accident damage etc, it's the nasty ones we have to lookout for and that's where ill help ya bud.
Cheers
Jmac

[dubster99]

Im in the same boat aswell! Selling the partners fiesta so we can either purchase a Mk4 bora 4 motion or a mk5 tdi! Love both cars and looking around 10k-13k
Good luck with your search mate, hope i find something soon too but having to wait for the fiesta to sell :/

[brad]

jetta diesel + manual would be a winning combo.

I agree about looking at Octavia. There's a diesel Ambiente hatch in QLD for $12k but this Elegance Wagon is better buying at $13k

You'll get into a Honda Accord (either a Euro or a Seppo) for similar money.

[itsanobscureid]

Thanks for the info guys - looks like this is a smart move.
Have considered the Octavia (although aesthetically I prefer the Jetta) - not many in/around Brisbane though.

Anyway, now I'm decided re model/transmission etc I'm happy to wait for the right one to come along.

[brad]

Thanks for the info guys - looks like this is a smart move.
Have considered the Octavia (although aesthetically I prefer the Jetta) - not many in/around Brisbane though.

Anyway, now I'm decided re model/transmission etc I'm happy to wait for the right one to come along.

I could probably give you a dozen practical reason why the Octavia is a better car than a Jetta but if you can't get past the looks it's a bit pointless.

When i bought my pre-FL Octavia hatch 5 years ago i thought it looked like it was designed 10 years ealier but for some reason I think it looks great now (Stockholm Syndrome??).

Why not keep your options open & search for a corker in either model? Possibly extend the search beyond BNE?

[anthony]

As Brad said,Accord Euros are in your price range as well,and are always brilliant buys...

[Bora Sport]

Finally got to drive the Jetta yesterday after we got back from holidays. We drove from Terranora (bottom end of the Gold Coast) to home on the Sunny Coast. We did around 250k's including a couple of stops in Brisbane to visit some fellow forum members. We filled the tank at Sunnybank on the south side of Brisbane. So far we have done 146k's since then and the distance to empty is showing 1,020 k's which is quite mad. If is like my Polo it will fall faster towards the end of the tank. Although it did Terranora to Sunnybank with the distance to empty dropping from 160k's to 60k's for the journey which coincidentally was actually around 117k's. Average so far is 5l/100 according to the trip computer. So far I am quite impressed and what's even better as my wife (it was bought for her) loves it too.

[DirtTurtle]

I purchase an MY08 Jetta TDI manual for $13000 in Vic about a year ago, been a very happy drive ever since. Had a tick over 100,000kms on the clock so new it had to have timing belt done but it was the first one I found + looking for silver and already had bootlip spoiler on it. Never looked back ever since, dont think you would ever for the price.

Im sure with shopping round you will get a fairly good buy and alot cheaper(my old cars gearbox was a ticking time bomb so needed replacement fast).