Urgent thoughts appreciated - go ahead or run a mile?!!

[GE90]

Hi

We need a car for a few months as a stop gap, budget only around £2.5k. My wife will be the main user, and likes her VW's!

We have seen an EOS which checks out well, but has just passed an MOT, with a advisory on rear subframe corrosion. I only have the following photos, which I accept are not brilliant - what are your thoughts?

Thanks.

[thewarlock]

It's a no from me. That's beyond a bit of cosmetic surface rust IMO.

[Rushjob]

My 23 year old Discovery is cleaner than that underneath and they rust from the day they leave the factory

[lb3nson]

If it’s a few months stop gap and has more than that in MOT, then what have you got to lose?
It wouldn’t be a long term car in that condition, but for a few months it’ll probably be fine…

[cedrichn]

You should look under some Japanese cars....
No so easy to say without looking at the suspension mounts and car fixations, but from the picture, nothing dramatic

If the price is below average, buy some Built Hamber spray, spray it underneath, and you will be fine

[Sheepshanks]

I think all VWs look ropey underneath - there was a pretty bad picture of a Touran on here a while ago and I'm sure it was only 7yrs old. I recall being was suprised by the extent of rusty edges of suspension parts when I got the video health check during our Tiguan's first service.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 8th April 13:37

[Julian Thompson]

You need an archaeologist on that, not a mechanic. Run far away. (Speaking as a mechanic)

[wpa1975]

No chance I would risk that, looks like it has lived by the sea.

[_Mja_]

Personally I'd avoid anything from the mk5 Golf / Eos etc platform era. If the general person thought the mk3 Golf was bad for the rot, then they are in for a tasty treat of orange peril on that era of VW. I'm not just talking surface rot on subframes, I'm on about floorpans, sills, inner arches behind trims caked in rust. Never happened on the older cars. Avoid from me.

I've got mk2, mk3, mk4, corrados, mk5, mk7 and B6, B7 and B8 extensive experience on all cars stripped back. I own 5 right now from that selection.

[GE90]

Many thanks everyone - I think it has lived by the sea (or in it!).

I think I'll keep looking.

[Pica-Pica]

If you need a stop-gap, there will be better cars for your £2500

[Demelitia]

Isn’t it also a case of ‘when’ not if with this with regards to the roof having some sort of issue leaving it stuck open or the car wet through inside?

[Largechris]

Does it have to be a convertible as a stop gap? Would seem to narrow your choice considerably.

[anonymous-user]

Don't all of these leak from the roof, I would be checking the carpets under the mats for damp as well.

[mickyh7]

Parked on long wet grass, most of it's life by the looks?

[GE90]

Guys, my wife would ideally like to stick with VW. Facelift Polo or MK6 Golf are also on the list. Can stretch budget to £4k max.

Thinking the Eos would be easy to shift on after, particularly in the summer.

[georgeyboy12345]

GE90 said:

Guys, my wife would ideally like to stick with VW. Facelift Polo or MK6 Golf are also on the list. Can stretch budget to £4k max.

Thinking the Eos would be easy to shift on after, particularly in the summer.

If she wants a VW that's easy to punt on, I'd be looking at something ULEZ compliant that's cheap to tax and run, like one of these

VW Up 1.0 Bluemotion
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202262...

VW Polo 1.2 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203133...

[Demelitia]

GE90 said:

Guys, my wife would ideally like to stick with VW. Facelift Polo or MK6 Golf are also on the list. Can stretch budget to £4k max.

Thinking the Eos would be easy to shift on after, particularly in the summer.

I’d have my doubts over that; there’s a reason there’s not many about to begin with.

Shouldn’t be too hard to find a car on that budget, although if it’s for a few months, does it really matter what model or make of car it is as long it stops, goes and does them when you ask it to?

[captain.scarlet]

£2.5k with all that visible rust. Makes you wonder what's going on elsewhere.

Other PHers have recommended Japanese and I'm minded to agree and reiterate my thought that there's a reason why the oldest cars on the road after so many years and miles tend to be Japanese.

Possible to get yourself a far better car for that money without the likelihood of welding, though check MOT histories to see if corrosion is / has been an issue. I would abandon any badge/German snobbery for a cheap banger and get something that will be able to last a good while.

Also be careful who you're buying from. I.e. a car flipper who has picked up a car from auction and has just slapped it on Gumtree, who would just disappear into the sunset.

[soad]

Largechris said:

Does it have to be a convertible as a stop gap? Would seem to narrow your choice considerably.

I thought those flower-holding Beetles were cheap? Although you’d want a 1.8T version.