What should i check when purchasing a second hand "n" reg golf se?

Question

what should i check when purchasing a second hand "n" reg golf se?

hello! i'm buying a secondhand n reg, (96 yr) volkswagen golf. it has 108000 miles on the clock and a full service history. mot runs out in feb 09, and the owner has had the cam belt changed about 5000 miles ago. the advert appears to be a very honest advert and the seller appears to be a very friendly woman.

i know there are things to check when looking at the car before parting with my hard earned dosh, so apart from checking the vin plate hasn't been tampered with and the numbers match the documents, looking for rust under the wheel arches and checking the oil isn't white and foamy, is there anything else i should be looking out for with this particular make of car? thanks

posted in another catagory to get a full range of answers.

Answer 1

check sun roof opening and closing, plus heater blower works on all 3 settings, 2 minor faults l've had go wrong on my golf, not major but may give you some leverage to haggle on the price

Answer 2

the clutch and gears...listen for a noise. Bearings could be on the way out. As for the clutch, isn't too hard to press down. Ok, it would be hard, but not as hard as if your on a tread mill at the gym...

Answer 3

push on the front end ...and back if it feels springy (keeps bouncing it will need struts) if it dampens on the way back up they are good.

depending what you are paying is a huge consideration on what you should check....saying if its$500. i would check much of anything, if its $2,500. it should check it out good.....is it stick make sure all the gears are there EVEN REVERSE! they are known for that

Answer 4

Golf's, even older models, are usually quite reliable. Make sure you check all the switches work as Golf's can sometimes have problems with the electrics.

As with any car I would say check the tyre's for uneven wear, pull up the carpets in the boot and footwell to check for any welding and make sure the panels are flush and the gaps between them are evenly spaced (which could indicate repair work after an accident). Check the space between the top of each tyre and the wheel arch, if they're odd it could indicate suspension problems and always view a car in dry weather (nothing to do with mechanics but surface scratches are hard to spot on wet bodywork).

Answer 5

im not sure if there a cable gear linkage..check for sloppyness and play when changing gears..you sound as though you know the basics,more than many others who ask the same type of questions...there a very reliable car and shouldnt cause you any poblems..