No Service Books... Should i run??

[ajgooding]

Hi all. Very new here so forgive me if i sound like a tool.

So I'm looking at buying a used 2006 POLO GTI privately in Melbourne. Test drive went unbelievably well and i loved how it moved etc and me as a not-so-mechanical-bloke, have no idea about the engine side of things. The only issue i had was the service books/history. He doesn't have them. The guy said his son never got them when he bought the car about 12 months ago and has now bought a Ute so is selling the GTI...
Now, My question is this: Should i forget this car and find another one or would a pre-inspection pick up any mechanical issues impending???

thanks in advance
Adam

[Umai Naa!!]

Organise a pre-purchase inspection.

Make mention to whoever inspects your concerns about it's unknown service history.

[h100vw]

Call a couple of local VW dealers and see if they know the car. Having the rego or VIN would be handy.

Gavin

[ajgooding]

Thanks for the quick reply, so you think its not a complete waste of time? That's encouraging. So I got quotes from stateroads and volkspower in Melb which both said about $300 for a "comprehensive inspection". Any preferencepreference one over the other? Or cheaper options?

[ajgooding]

Thanks Gavin,
Yeah I thought to do that but didn't know if they would willingly give out that sort of info?

[noone]

Pretty reliable engine, but missed oil changes could have implications.
How many K's?

[ajgooding]

Its done 135000kms. The guy couldn't tell me much at all about where serviced etc.

[noone]

Hm, I'd hold out for something with less K's, how much is it going for? Sounds like it might be chipped, does it have any mods?

[ajgooding]

He didn't say it was chipped which I woulda thought he'd want to promote if it was? He wants 10k for it. That's kinda pushing my budget as it is otherwise I woulda fine for one with history etc.

[shortshifter]

A lot can happen in 135,000km- if the km's were a bit lower service books would be less of an issue. Having recently sold my old car with no logbooks i can tell you it's going to be a lot harder for you to sell it in future, and worth less in the eyes of the buyer without them.

[ajgooding]

Ok so an update.
I did a ppsr certificate check on it and its listed as a repairable write-off from an accident only 2 months ago which the owner omitted to tell me about.
Now Im annoyed.
Im assuming i should just let it go? Prob why its so cheap hey???

[Bflat]

[h100vw]

Ok so an update.
I did a ppsr certificate check on it and its listed as a repairable write-off from an accident only 2 months ago which the owner omitted to tell me about.
Now Im annoyed.
Im assuming i should just let it go? Prob why its so cheap hey???

It wouldn't necessarily put me off, depends why it was written off.

Far easier to look for a genuine one though. If it's pushing your budget, you'll be well snookered if something goes wrong with it.

Gavin

[ajgooding]

Ha Yep that was pretty much my initial reaction!!

This is what the report said:

Encumbrance: NO
Written-Off Status
Written-off: Collision
Date recorded: 09 May 2012
State recorded: VIC
Type: Inspected
Written-off: Collision
Date recorded: 19 Jul 2011
State recorded: VIC
Type: Economic Repairable Write-off
Stolen Status NO STOLEN STATUS RECORDED ON THIS VEHICLE

and yeah if something stuffs up then i may be up sh.. creek as i'm getting married early next year so $$ are super tight

[JustCruisn]

You might want to check that you can get full insurance for a repaired write off, or see how much dearer the premium is on it.