My verdict On my gapcar golf v6 4motion 2000/x
Discussion
So last year I owned a 2003 mk4 gti 1.8 180 anniversary, Subaru impreza 2000 turbo uk, mk5 gti manual 2006 and after selling the mk5 gti in order to get a mk5 r32 or mk5 ed30 I needed a gap car so I started trawling the usual places for a sub 2k car with decent mileage, long mot, good tyres... you know the score.
I came across a tidy looking indigo blue 2000 year, 5 door, 2000/x reg, 2.8 v6 4motion golf with 99k full history a lot of previous owners but in very good shape and a fairly honest seller who had owned it for three years. Full black leather of which the two front seats are heated and and electric sunroof.
I had a number of simple issues to sort which I discovered on the test drive or was informed of before coming to view the car;
Rear electric window needed some mechanical attention. (cost £0.93) to rectify.
Engine was not getting up to temp even in traffic (thermostat replaced at home on the drive for £15 inc coolant/part)
Oil and filter change for piece of mind
Engine mount updated to power flex (20 minute job on my ramps at home & £20 parts)
Passenger door actuator causing central locking to go ape shot
(£30 and 2 hours in the freezing cold with a lead lamp)
Rear window wiper mechanism replaced with ebay item (30 mins and £15)
All wheels off, washed inside out and tyres inspected, brakes inspected and calipers painted wurth silver.
Overall the car is a good one, and I wanted to give my honest opinion on it compared to the 20 to 30 cars I have owned all of a similar performance and nature, including some much more modern and much older "performance" cars.
Handling 6/10
This cannot be compared to the mk5 gti or impreza of the same age really, it's really not up to scratch for a 205bhp car in my opinion, and I know what to expect as its my 4th golf and 3rd mk4. The brakes are better than they were on the Subaru but cornering would not be comparable. Which to be far was expected from this v6 cruiser, kind of like a German budget jaguar in my opinion. It's a comfy car but not as comfortable as one would expect. The e36 Bmw coupes handled a class above the mk4 golfs which is kind of obvious to piston headers I guess. Although this might be a much more confident car/driver with coil over suspension fitted.
The springs and shocks are in good shape and have been replaced with new standard items over the years according to the service history.
I would say the handling was more like the e36 compact I owned a few years ago. Not particularly great, and not a patch on the e46 chassis!
Engine 7/10 (though I hate the timing chain design compared to bmws)
It's a good one in mine thankfully but still has a hint of timing chain rattle which my golf v5 also had exactly the same amount of. No engine fault codes, misfires or characteristics to suggest a worn chain or guide(s) so I'm not going to worry about that.
Plenty of power, 205 bhp feels about right but it's definately no quicker than my mk5 gti was, which had 197bhp. In fact I would say the newer, more modern 2.0 t was a better engine, bar the engine sound present with this vr6. A similar feel of power to the Bmw e36 328i I have owned but I much much prefer the 328i e36 coupes to this car. The golf v6 and a e36 328i saloon would be a slightly closer match for practicality and handling.
Economy 7/10
Insurance is fair, very reasonable, mpg isn't as bad as I read it would be, around 29mpg average mixed driving. Cheap parts compared to Subaru and even ford....yes ford! Due to being older than the 2006 focus St I owned I guess parts would be cheaper at places like euro car parts etc. not a bad car to run to work 30 miles per day. Tax is £125 ish for 6 months.
Bodywork/rust/interior 9/10
Very little rust and has hidden the years a lot better than the Subaru I had (yes that was a well looked after car) and even lasted better than the bmws I have had. Underneath is good and the interior is even better, bar the odd squeak and rattle which is bearable for a car this age. There is no wear on the leather to speak off, incredible really, some of the bmws I had with this mileage had very tired looking interior leather until I gave them a little tlc.
Cars I have had of a similar age put into order of most liked first;
Bmw 328 I coupe 1998 Samoa blue
Subaru Impreza 2000 turbo mica2 blue 2000 v reg
Several Bmw 330ci sport 2003
Golf gti 180 2003 03
Focus st170 2004 imp blue
Golf v6 4motion 2000 x
Bmw compact 318ti 2000 w
Golf v5
Bmw 318i saloon e36 (x2) 1997 p
Next car
The next car is no longer going to be a golf r32, more likely a mk5 gti edition 30 or impreza hawkeye wrx or gb270.
I think the r32 would disappoint me slightly if the 4motion is much to go by, Im well aware the r32 handling is superior but I cannot see the r32 engine being THAT much different, not a car worth of 8 grand on top of this car. So I'm going to go for another turbo car and I will also be considering a 130i m sport if any naturally aspirated cars at all. I was very please with the 330ci bmws that I have owned so I would expect the 130i to be similar to own.
I came across a tidy looking indigo blue 2000 year, 5 door, 2000/x reg, 2.8 v6 4motion golf with 99k full history a lot of previous owners but in very good shape and a fairly honest seller who had owned it for three years. Full black leather of which the two front seats are heated and and electric sunroof.
I had a number of simple issues to sort which I discovered on the test drive or was informed of before coming to view the car;
Rear electric window needed some mechanical attention. (cost £0.93) to rectify.
Engine was not getting up to temp even in traffic (thermostat replaced at home on the drive for £15 inc coolant/part)
Oil and filter change for piece of mind
Engine mount updated to power flex (20 minute job on my ramps at home & £20 parts)
Passenger door actuator causing central locking to go ape shot
(£30 and 2 hours in the freezing cold with a lead lamp) Rear window wiper mechanism replaced with ebay item (30 mins and £15)
All wheels off, washed inside out and tyres inspected, brakes inspected and calipers painted wurth silver.
Overall the car is a good one, and I wanted to give my honest opinion on it compared to the 20 to 30 cars I have owned all of a similar performance and nature, including some much more modern and much older "performance" cars.
Handling 6/10
This cannot be compared to the mk5 gti or impreza of the same age really, it's really not up to scratch for a 205bhp car in my opinion, and I know what to expect as its my 4th golf and 3rd mk4. The brakes are better than they were on the Subaru but cornering would not be comparable. Which to be far was expected from this v6 cruiser, kind of like a German budget jaguar in my opinion. It's a comfy car but not as comfortable as one would expect. The e36 Bmw coupes handled a class above the mk4 golfs which is kind of obvious to piston headers I guess. Although this might be a much more confident car/driver with coil over suspension fitted.
The springs and shocks are in good shape and have been replaced with new standard items over the years according to the service history.
I would say the handling was more like the e36 compact I owned a few years ago. Not particularly great, and not a patch on the e46 chassis!
Engine 7/10 (though I hate the timing chain design compared to bmws)
It's a good one in mine thankfully but still has a hint of timing chain rattle which my golf v5 also had exactly the same amount of. No engine fault codes, misfires or characteristics to suggest a worn chain or guide(s) so I'm not going to worry about that.
Plenty of power, 205 bhp feels about right but it's definately no quicker than my mk5 gti was, which had 197bhp. In fact I would say the newer, more modern 2.0 t was a better engine, bar the engine sound present with this vr6. A similar feel of power to the Bmw e36 328i I have owned but I much much prefer the 328i e36 coupes to this car. The golf v6 and a e36 328i saloon would be a slightly closer match for practicality and handling.
Economy 7/10
Insurance is fair, very reasonable, mpg isn't as bad as I read it would be, around 29mpg average mixed driving. Cheap parts compared to Subaru and even ford....yes ford! Due to being older than the 2006 focus St I owned I guess parts would be cheaper at places like euro car parts etc. not a bad car to run to work 30 miles per day. Tax is £125 ish for 6 months.
Bodywork/rust/interior 9/10
Very little rust and has hidden the years a lot better than the Subaru I had (yes that was a well looked after car) and even lasted better than the bmws I have had. Underneath is good and the interior is even better, bar the odd squeak and rattle which is bearable for a car this age. There is no wear on the leather to speak off, incredible really, some of the bmws I had with this mileage had very tired looking interior leather until I gave them a little tlc.
Cars I have had of a similar age put into order of most liked first;
Bmw 328 I coupe 1998 Samoa blue
Subaru Impreza 2000 turbo mica2 blue 2000 v reg
Several Bmw 330ci sport 2003
Golf gti 180 2003 03
Focus st170 2004 imp blue
Golf v6 4motion 2000 x
Bmw compact 318ti 2000 w
Golf v5
Bmw 318i saloon e36 (x2) 1997 p
Next car
The next car is no longer going to be a golf r32, more likely a mk5 gti edition 30 or impreza hawkeye wrx or gb270.
I think the r32 would disappoint me slightly if the 4motion is much to go by, Im well aware the r32 handling is superior but I cannot see the r32 engine being THAT much different, not a car worth of 8 grand on top of this car. So I'm going to go for another turbo car and I will also be considering a 130i m sport if any naturally aspirated cars at all. I was very please with the 330ci bmws that I have owned so I would expect the 130i to be similar to own.
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