vw golf panel gaps

[24lemons]

Ive just had a look at a 2005 VW Golf. Everything seems good, HPI is clean but I noticed the panel gaps between the drivers door and passenger door seemed rather big. I wonder what PH makes of this, could it be indicative of accident damage or is it nothing to worry about? Picture attached

[HellDiver]

It's got panel gaps. Like a Golf.

The Golfs at work don't have epic door gaps like that.

[Dave^]

What's the other side like?

What are the other gaps like? (Bonnet/Wing/Door)

[KenBlocksPants]

does look rather large.

As others have said, check the other sides and even other golf's. Need to know if its the norm.

If not.... walk

[24lemons]

Passenger side gap is similar. The gaps between the rear doors and rear bodywork arent as big. I am planning to pop out later to look at more golfs to see for myself

Edited by 24lemons on Thursday 15th April 13:24

[Dave^]

There's are hundreds of 5dr Mk5 Golfs for sale... I'd walk anyway to be honest...

[Pints]

Dave^ said:

There's are hundreds of 5dr Mk5 Golfs for sale... I'd walk anyway to be honest...

Yes. Like mine

[JB!]

undeclared knock?

if the repair is good, dont worry.

i know of a car that had one, get the gaps re-set by a bodyshop and be happy in the knowlege that its not ont he HPI report.

[anonymous-user]

JB! said:

if the repair is good, dont worry.

They couldn't even get something as simple as the panel gap right.

[JB!]

Dave_ST220 said:

JB! said:

if the repair is good, dont worry.

They couldn't even get something as simple as the panel gap right.

yes, but if thats the only tell-tale, thats nto a big issue.

does the paint match, any orange peel, damage to other pannels, little rust patches in odd places...

it might be that it was repaired using pattern parts, hence the piss-poor pannel gap.

have you ahd the car up in the air? look straight?

[24lemons]

JB! said:

Dave_ST220 said:

JB! said:

if the repair is good, dont worry.

They couldn't even get something as simple as the panel gap right.

yes, but if thats the only tell-tale, thats nto a big issue.

does the paint match, any orange peel, damage to other pannels, little rust patches in odd places...

it might be that it was repaired using pattern parts, hence the piss-poor pannel gap.

have you ahd the car up in the air? look straight?

Havent had a detailed look, drove it this morning, seemed ok. Its at a franchise dealer but they didnt know anything about history

[tinman0]

If in doubt, walk away.

Plenty of other Golfs and I hear they made at least 1 more in 2005. Maybe more infact

[Matt_N]

JB! said:

undeclared knock?

if the repair is good, dont worry.

If it has been repaired it obviously hasnt been done very well, pattern parts or not.

[Whitean3]

I remember back in 1998 when the Mk4 Golf was due out, the late great Russell Bulgin wrote in CAR magazine about the panel gaps on the Golf, saying how perfect they were- you could roll a 1 pound coin down them. He also made mention of the fac that almost all of the spot welds on the panels were hidden from view, as if to suggest the car was hewn from solid metal.

So I don't expect the Mk5 Golf to be any different. THe pics do make the panel gaps look big there- I don't remember our Golf having gaps like that!

[JB!]

Matt_N said:

JB! said:

undeclared knock?

if the repair is good, dont worry.

If it has been repaired it obviously hasnt been done very well, pattern parts or not.

cant see the pic @ work.

if its not a sought-after model, move on.

just beware that ALOT of cars get damaged before they are even sold for the 1st time...

[louismchuge]

The front door doesnt quite line up either

[Matt_N]

JB! said:

Matt_N said:

JB! said:

undeclared knock?

if the repair is good, dont worry.

If it has been repaired it obviously hasnt been done very well, pattern parts or not.

cant see the pic @ work.

if its not a sought-after model, move on.

just beware that ALOT of cars get damaged before they are even sold for the 1st time...

As a rough guess the gap is around 5mm bigger than it should be.

[Matt UK]

JB! said:

undeclared knock?

if the repair is good, dont worry.

So long as the price reflects the knock

[24lemons]

Well, I've had a good look around a few VW franchises as well as my neighbours Golf and the panel gap in this particular one isnt out of the ordinary. The car cleared its HPI and theres no sign of anything dodgy as far as I can tell. I was quite suprised at the variety of panel gaps on mk5 golfs but unless all the cars I looked at had some dodgy history then I suppose its par for the course

[pilchardthecat]

24lemons said:

Its at a franchise dealer but they didnt know anything about history

Funny how that always happens when there's something about the car that might make you question it.