Experiments in boredom- The £645 Golf shed
Experiments in boredom- The £645 Golf shed
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W00DY

Original Poster:

16,676 posts

254 months

Sunday 22nd September 2019
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i was browsing ebay to see what to replace my V70 T5 which has proved to have a very difficult to trace fault and was using the search term estate in the classic car section. What it turned up was not a classic at all, but this




Possibly the dullest car in existence, but it seemed cheap and for once I thought I might try my hand and being sensible and responsible so that I may one day actually find myself on the property ladder. so I put in a bid and was surprised to win

Some numbers for you. 1.9. 208000. 645. The engine size, mileage and price respectively. It's a bluemotion which means it has a DPF which is a shame, but it does make it very economical despite VWs evil lies which combined with it being a dirty diesel meant no-one else wanted it. I think being the 1.9 it should at least be fairly tough.

MOT until June, new tyres and battery and an intermittent check engine light which doesn't seem to effect the running (it's like 4 cricket balls in washing machine) were all included as were the roof bars with no key to remove them.


Specification is fairly sparse, but it has cruise, rear parking sensors and a CD radio with an aux-in, so it's not all bad. The lack of arm-rest is a bit st though.


It is the newest and dullest car I've owned by far, but given that i picked it up at 4 today and have already put 260 miles on it that's perhaps a good thing. I am doing this thread as a sort of record to hopefully show myself how little motoring can cost, but I'll probably get bored and ship it off to webuyanycar next week (£470 apparently, not bad)




SydneyBridge

11,577 posts

186 months

Sunday 22nd September 2019
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Stonking bargain for £645

2Btoo

3,804 posts

231 months

Sunday 22nd September 2019
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SydneyBridge said:
Stonking bargain for £645
£645 for 260 miles. £2.48p/mile if you were to scrap it for no value right now.

That's cheaper than the depreciation on >InsertNewCarNameHere<. From this point on you are definitely winning. Well done! smile

EarlofDrift

4,717 posts

136 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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That would still be £1200 in my neck of the woods.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.108364...

MOT history seems fairly good, just failed on basic things and some daft things .

Previous owner seemed to believe changing tyres wasn't necessary though.

whytheory

757 posts

174 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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That's insane VFM, looks in fairly good condition for the miles too?

spreadsheet monkey

4,742 posts

255 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Strong work.

If you want to get the roof bars off, can you read the serial number on the locks and use this to get a replacement key from the manufacturer?

(Sell them on eBay if you don’t want them, to further reduce the cost of this car)

p4cks

7,475 posts

227 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Great buy, even with the mileage

With regards to the armrest, it's very easy to retro fit one from another Golf

bungz

1,965 posts

148 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Just because it is an estate would mean that's a £1200 car all day long in most cities.

Great buy!

bucksmanuk

2,425 posts

198 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Amazing value for money. This Is how you run a cheap car, just keep it serviced and running properly, the same as any other car, and even if it blows up on you – it was only £645 anyway.
Its only 3 months payments on a new boring euro box… and the car is still yours…

W00DY

Original Poster:

16,676 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
quotequote all
I am pleased with it and like the rest of you I was very surprised at the price. The engine light was a concern, but it runs fine.

One issue I have noticed is that the seatbelt warning bong and light occasionally comes on but a quick push on the buckle sorts it out.


EarlofDrift said:
MOT history seems fairly good, just failed on basic things and some daft things .

Previous owner seemed to believe changing tyres wasn't necessary though.
Yeh, it's not bad, I couldn't check it before bidding as it was between plates, but I thought it worth the risk seeing as most at this money are spares. It's got 4 new tyres so perhaps they learnt their lesson.

whytheory said:
That's insane VFM, looks in fairly good condition for the miles too?
The body is in fantastic shape for the miles a couple of small shallow dents and a very slight reprofiling of one of the doors, but no scrapes or rust and it really could pass for much lower mileage.


spreadsheet monkey said:
Strong work.

If you want to get the roof bars off, can you read the serial number on the locks and use this to get a replacement key from the manufacturer?

(Sell them on eBay if you don’t want them, to further reduce the cost of this car)
Possibly, I will investigate. I'd like top keep them, but since this a hyprermiler I'd prefer them off for both the MPG and the slight wind noise reduction.

p4cks said:
Great buy, even with the mileage

With regards to the armrest, it's very easy to retro fit one from another Golf
I will probably do something. Quite pricey on ebay, but there are some aftermarket ones of dubious quality which are cheaper.

W00DY

Original Poster:

16,676 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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A couple of the shots from the ad to get your pulses racing.






I've already bought a leather steering wheel from ebay for £20 as the plastic one is slightly crumbly now.

RC1807

13,629 posts

196 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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BILLY BARGAIN MOTOR!

I'd invest in some fabric shampoo, too ...looking at the front seat wink
... *hope it's coffee*

The Cardinal

1,380 posts

280 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Did it come with the private plate? That could be worth selling if so, making the car even cheaper...

W00DY

Original Poster:

16,676 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
quotequote all
RC1807 said:
BILLY BARGAIN MOTOR!

I'd invest in some fabric shampoo, too ...looking at the front seat wink
... *hope it's coffee*
hehe

It could definitely use a proper clean.



The Cardinal said:
Did it come with the private plate? That could be worth selling if so, making the car even cheaper...
Sadly not.

g3org3y

22,416 posts

219 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Top shedding thumbup

Are those steelies with plastic covers?

Worth getting an OBD scan tool for the engine light?

spaceship

922 posts

203 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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g3org3y said:
Top shedding thumbup

Are those steelies with plastic covers?
If they are, get them off for full-on shedding!

That is an awesome buy OP, even with the high miles.


W00DY

Original Poster:

16,676 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Top shedding thumbup

Are those steelies with plastic covers?

Worth getting an OBD scan tool for the engine light?
Yep, no fancy alloys here. I'm almost tempted to fit some moon discs which a quick and terrible photoshop suggests may actually suit




Of course that would be silly for a cheap shed, but perhaps if it behaves itself.

I've got an OBD II set-up, but I already know the code is exhaust pressure sensor (but that was replaced with no change). It seems to decide whether it wants to throw a code when you start it up and if it doesn't then it won't come on. Quick google suggests DPF possibly so we'll see if some good journeys sort it out, but if anyone has any ideas I'm all ears.

spaceship said:
If they are, get them off for full-on shedding!

That is an awesome buy OP, even with the high miles.
I quite like the fact that it looks like the sort of car normal people buy, almost respectable. I do get bored of explaining some of my more interesting car purchases to those who don't understand. I may even pass for a proper adult.

MC Bodge

29,238 posts

203 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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g3org3y said:
Are those steelies with plastic covers?
Remove them, store them and apply smoothrite to the rims -Give them a light coating every year.

Replace covers when selling on.

My old Mondeo rolled on its black steelies, to some people's bewilderment.

It looked quite smart when the wheels were clean.

phil y

567 posts

150 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Was expecting a Mk4 for that price, incredible price for a 10 year old Golf.

Northbrook

1,561 posts

91 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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W00DY said:
I may even pass for a proper adult.
Why would you want to do that?