Golf 2.8 V6 4Motion.......

[Farky]

Got the chance of a 2001 5dr mk4 with 110k mls.
Car has full service history.
What do i need to know bout this car? How do i check if the 4motion is working? Is there a easy check?
Cambelt or chain? What goes wrong?
Mpg isnt an issue as i know it'll be horrendous but the car will be lucky if it does any more than 6k per year!
Any help in my hunt for a car is appreciated

[Pablo16v]

The engine is a variation of the one in my old VR6 Corrado and it uses a chain. Rattles on start up can indicate chain wear.
Suspension was a bit soft and floaty when new so don't expect a stiff sporty ride, especially with 110k on the clock. After market springs were fitted to my one (and the Corrado). Mid twenties MPG on average, high twenties/low thirties on a steady run.
I only had the 4mo for less than 5 months (and it had less than 50k miles on the clock) so I can't comment on other running costs.

[tomjol]

Get the car rolling, put the clutch in, turn round in a tight circle. Do this twice, first with engine at idle speed, second with revs in the middle of the range. If the AWD is operating, you should stop much sooner the second time.

[dogbucket]

Some common faults :

Switch on the aircon and make sure the engine cooling fans immediately turn on and run at low speed. If they stay off and then surge on and off at high speed then the resistor inside them had failed. Officially the whole fan assy must be replaced, unofficially there is a bodge mod.

Noisy twangy steering when going lock to lock - front strut top mount bearing assy.

Coil pack failure - I would expect a car of that age would have had that done by now. May have been a recall I forget.