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VW Golf for under £4,000

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ed6666

Original Poster

30 posts

95 months

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Saturday 3rd February 2018

Dear Sirs,

I am looking to purchase a second-hand VW golf. My budget is £4,000 and I am very happy to travel anywhere in the UK to collect the car. I have no preference on colour.

I live in London and so the car is likely to be used for short city journeys as well as a 2/3-hour drive to Wales every two weeks for work.

My main priority is reliability and low running costs.

I am aware there is a huge range of VW golf cars and am really struggling to reduce down my search to a specific golf. Any advice on a specific engine size and model of golf would be greatly appreciated.

My current thoughts are to go either for a car with relatively low mileage (between 40k and 50k), which would be an older reg (2007-2009), or to go with a car that has a higher mileage (between 70k and 80k) but is a newer reg (2010-2012).

I have no idea which is the best strategy, so would really appreciate some advice.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kind regards,
Jamie

MorganP104

2,605 posts

151 months

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[news]

Saturday 3rd February 2018

Jamie, don't worry too much about mileage - condition of vehicle and a complete service history is MUCH more important.

In my experience of used Golfs, they tend either to be abused workhorses, or pampered and well looked after. Curiously, there's very little middle ground (i.e. cars in average/good condition). They all seem to be awful, or lovely.

Obviously, you'll know which camp any given car is in when you turn up to view/drive - it's often hard to tell from pictures in adverts, but dead easy to spot when you're having a good poke around.

I'd always go for a higher mileage, well historied car in good condition, than something battered with a lower mileage.

Hope this helps. smile

InitialDave

14,232 posts

140 months

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Saturday 3rd February 2018

Well, what is it that leads you to a Golf, specifically? There must be a reason you want one over something else.

City commuting with occasional long journeys rules out diesel to me.

MorganP104 said:

J
I'd always go for a higher mileage, well historied car in good condition, than something battered with a lower mileage.

Good advice, I take the same approach.

ed6666

Original Poster

30 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 3rd February 2018

Hi All,

Thank you so much for all your comments above, I am extremely grateful.

To summarise so far, I have gathered that going for high mileage and strong history is the best option.

What level of mileage would you consider acceptable, was my initial suggestion of 70-80k a good ballpark?

Also, Morgan, your advice on the two types of golf owners is very useful to know. With this in mind, you note it is very easy to workout which ones have been loved vs abused. Without wanting to seem to like to much of a novice, could you kindly share your best tips to try and gauge this at viewings, so I don’t end up buying a well used version.

Also, when you state find a “well historied car”, please can you let me know what you mean by this?

Can I also ask, what year (reg) of car would you suggest I aim for?

Thank you again for all your help.
Jamie

ZX10R NIN

29,890 posts

146 months

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Sunday 4th February 2018

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