discounted used golf - has a number of scratches - go or no go?

[SoVeReIgN]

I thought it was planet Earth last time I checked
Ok, maybe I got it wrong, if so apologies
I could of sworn they were 19,990 in this TV ad recently but then maybe I am on another planet...
Anyway, back to the OP, if you can't live with the damage, I think you can do better elsewhere. You will nearly always get a better deal by purchasing privately. Dealers have many 'overheads' to cover when selling used cars.

Polo for 19,990 maybe.

[volx]

[QUOTE=iampivot;161004]I have a similar one offered me at $18200. It's in pristine condition paint wise and recently serviced, but it's a 2004 model and has 48000 kms on it. Both of these are from private sellers. I can probably jack both down slightly more though.

...iampivot, I'd jump up from the base - at least go a 1.6 comfort and get your auto headlights & wipers, alloy wheels, lumbar adjustment and leather steering wheel.

It is absolutely a buyers' market. Car sales have dropped off with the effect of interest rate rises starting to show - cars are worth the highest offer the seller has had. Often it's good to watch one remain listed on Carsales etc... watch it drop $500, then another $500, then prey on the seller's frustration/desperation and offer to take it off their hands for your $!

As for your partner not wanting a Euro car, any car is an expensive toy with myriad possible liabilities... but at least drive a liability package you love!

Forget the chipped one... I take it you're going manual for those prices... 2004/2005 - both out of warranty, so go on kms (check what km service is coming up - the 60,000km is expensive and at 40,000 ish you'll need new tyres and brakes), condition and service history. For the $150-$200 it costs to get your state's peak motoring body to check the mechanics, that's a wise investment for predicting cost of ownership, and general peace of mind.

Let us know how you go with the FSI!

[volx]

Polo for 19,990 maybe.

That sounds more likely... but no offence intended jdd! I wish it was Golf! (Actually if it cost the same as a yaris I probably wouldn't want it... price premium reflects positioning...!

[iampivot]

Let us know how you go with the FSI!

I just got back from test driving it the second time actually. The GF really liked it. I had her try both. She nack'ed the chipped one, so we might go for the FSI. It's white though, which is not my colour, but I can live with it.

It's got one weird thing though. From the rear wheels there is a sound like the brake is touching the drum a little bit for each revolution of the wheel. There's no sound when the car is not moving. Any idea of what this can be and if it will go away when the brake pads are a bit more worn off?

(I'm not sure if its from the brake pads, it's just a first guess.)

[volx]

I just got back from test driving it the second time actually. The GF really liked it. I had her try both. She nack'ed the chipped one, so we might go for the FSI. It's white though, which is not my colour, but I can live with it.

It's got one weird thing though. From the rear wheels there is a sound like the brake is touching the drum a little bit for each revolution of the wheel. There's no sound when the car is not moving. Any idea of what this can be and if it will go away when the brake pads are a bit more worn off?

(I'm not sure if its from the brake pads, it's just a first guess.)

...isn't it a dream to drive? I love the feel of that car - and funnily, the white paint doesn't seem to make a difference to that! But I'd get a mechanical inspection by your state's motoring body (NRMA?) or a European car specialist - a couple of hundred dollars max for peace of mind/certainty you won't be up for $1500 in 3 months' time. (Did you say it's under warranty?)
Get it!

[iampivot]

...isn't it a dream to drive? I love the feel of that car - and funnily, the white paint doesn't seem to make a difference to that! But I'd get a mechanical inspection by your state's motoring body (NRMA?) or a European car specialist - a couple of hundred dollars max for peace of mind/certainty you won't be up for $1500 in 3 months' time. (Did you say it's under warranty?)

Its no longer under warranty. RACQ charges about $175 for a comprehensive check. Are there other similar organisations that do the same checks cheaper?

Also, a dealer has quoted me a TDI 1.9 Comfortline at $19500 which has 90000Ks on it. Which one is the better deal?

[volx]

Agh, how frustrating, I just typed a half hour post for you iampivot, and it didn't post (disappeared)! So in a nutshell, one unforseen repair to either of these vehicles (and it's not unlikely at four years old or 90,000km), and you're up for wwaaaaay more than your $175 inspection fee - it's an investment, not an expense. This is at the low end - RACV charge over $200 for inspection on a hoist, taking off tyres etc.

As for the better buy, you'll almost always get the better deal from a private seller, who doesn't need to pay overheads with a fat profit... just wants to sell their car. Theoretically, if you know your prices, you could buy today privately and sell tomorrow at the same, or even a higher price. With a dealer you buy today and know tomorrow you won't get the same price in the private market. But hey, that's okay, if you're okay with that. You do get some statutory protection buying through a dealer.

However, in this instance, I would say the 48,000km car is a much better buy. Any price difference between it and the 90,000km car will be ameliorated by the fact that the higher kms car will need its $1600 service in a while and could need more trips to the workshop. Also, for resale, it's not so easy to offload a 150,000+km car (unless it's a classic, rare, etc).

Just go and get the white FSI... haggle like hell... know your prices and drive away in a fabulous, relatively young Golf! x

[iampivot]

You do get some statutory protection buying through a dealer.

However, in this instance, I would say the 48,000km car is a much better buy. Any price difference between it and the 90,000km car will be ameliorated by the fact that the higher kms car will need its $1600 service in a while and could need more trips to the workshop.

(It was actually 65000km vs 90000km.) However, the white golf slipped through my hands.. Someone else put a deposit on it while I tried to get a hold of the buyer.. Now it seems I'll settle on a silver 2004 Golf 2.0FSI comfortline for about $19750 all inclusive from a dealer. It's done about 62000km and seems ok, with only a few paint marks here and there.

[volx]

Iampivot - I've had the same experience. Pondering scratches and price, deciding to buy, and missing out! Golf FSIs aren't rare, but you do have to move fast when you find a good specimen. Now I think you've articulated your requirements (under 'x' kms, FSI not 1.6l, not necessarily perfect paintwork, definitely a good service history, and within a certain price range), you're better equipped to move swiftly. Let's know how you go with the next one! And good choice flicking the unserviced one... that would be a nightmare for you to onsell later/trade in!