Should I Buy a MK4 SE 1.6 ???

[Suff]

Hi Guys

Ok new to the VW scene.. have had a lot of subarus etc, time to get something a little cheaper and more friendly to the missus!

I have found a MK4 1.6L SE Hatchback, 2002, 56k Manual, with factory fitted sunroof.. they are asking $18k, which seems a bit much compared to the redbook value, although, low k's :) question is..

Just how slow are the 1.6's, any problems I should look out for? and any other advice would be greatly appreciated.. as I said, always liked Golfs, never actually driven in one..

Thanks in advance guys, look forward to being one of the crowd soon :)

Chris

[Tim]

thats big money for a 2002 even with low kms i reckon. dont expect it to be a rocket!

[gtimk5]

Welcome to the forum Suff! Hope you enjoy it.
$18,000 is a fair bit to pay for a 1.6 SE. However, if its immaculate with low kms then it might be ok. I got $24000 for my 2001 1.6 but it was in great condition. I was lucky as well seeing as the dealer offered me $17,500.
The right person came along via 1 sms!
The 1.6s go ok considering the weight of the car and they are a classy drive. Bit soft in the suspension though. Window regulators and mirror adjusting switch are the problem things with em.
Cheers, Andrew :)

[Tim]

a new mk5 is $25490 drive away at the minute and its not 5 years old and has new car warranty! Id think long and hard as it may be a false economy if something goes wrong. Those 1.6 gearboxes dont last long if theyre abused.

[Suff]

Hey guys

thanks for all the info thus far.. I figured that 18k was a bit hi, was planning around the 15k max.. see what the dealer says :) seems that the MK4 isnt available much at the moment anyway, certainly not in WA..

Based on the photos, and the number of k's the car looks like it is in very good nic, will get a mate to head down and have a look at it tomorrow, im out of the country at the moment, so makes it a tad hard!

Also, Tim mentioned that the 1.6l boxes dont last, are they the same as the 1.8 and 2l? 5 speeders? and is it synchros going or the actual gear?

cheers guys!!

[Tim]

ive heard of the diffs exploding and blowing holes in the casing.

[Suff]

haha, that sounds like a commodore trait :P well better than blowing subi boxes, the major downside of awd i guess :)

[fuzion]

For the same amount of money ($18k) you can pick up a second hand 2.0 instead .. i suggest going manual as you will be really lacking the power.

$18+ you can grab a gti!

[Suff]

Haha, believe me, I wouldnt even consider a 1.6 and Auto :) Having owned one auto car in my life, I know I prefer manual.. thats the advantage of the SE for me, the Cruise Control + Manual tranny would be a major bonus!

Show me where i can get a MK4 2l SE or even better a Gti for that money (without a million k's on the clock) and ill put a deposit down now :)

Chris

[william]

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?PriceMax=25000&Model=GOLF&__Nne=20&__N=4294962746+83+413+4294962677+834+285+257&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&State=Western%20Australia&silo=1003&state_id=83&distance=25&Cr=1&seot=0&__sid=10F1E8D7ED87&R=786908&__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCo unt_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&trecs=5

this is a nice vr6 with reasonable ks for a fraction of the price :D yeh there is not much in wa i was on car sales and very little under $20000

[fuzion]

found a few in nsw

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1| |pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_Da teTime|1&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&State=New%20South%20Wales&PriceMax=25000&state_id=80&distance=25&__Dx=mode+matchany&trecs=11&Model=GOLF&__Nne=20&__N=4294962746+80+413+4294962677+834+285+257&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1003&keywords=gti&__sid=1126D59C8CA1&Cr=0&__D=gti&seot=0&__Ntt=gti&__Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&R=1220023

jazz blue, arrrhhh i want it!
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1| |pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_Da teTime|1&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&State=New%20South%20Wales&PriceMax=25000&state_id=80&distance=25&__Dx=mode+matchany&trecs=11&Model=GOLF&__Nne=20&__N=4294962746+80+413+4294962677+834+285+257&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1003&keywords=gti&__sid=1126D59C8CA1&Cr=4&__D=gti&seot=0&__Ntt=gti&__Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&R=1130468

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1| |pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_Da teTime|1&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&State=New%20South%20Wales&PriceMax=25000&state_id=80&distance=25&__Dx=mode+matchany&trecs=11&Model=GOLF&__Nne=20&__N=4294962746+80+413+4294962677+834+285+257&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1003&keywords=gti&__sid=1126D59C8CA1&Cr=5&__D=gti&seot=0&__Ntt=gti&__Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&R=1177501

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1| |pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_Da teTime|1&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&State=New%20South%20Wales&PriceMax=25000&state_id=80&distance=25&__Dx=mode+matchany&trecs=11&Model=GOLF&__Nne=20&__N=4294962746+80+413+4294962677+834+285+257&__Ntk=CarAll&silo=1003&keywords=gti&__sid=1126D59C8CA1&Cr=9&__D=gti&seot=0&__Ntt=gti&__Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&R=1185856

60k isnt bad, 100k isnt either really.. long its had the 60k major service your good!

what state u in?

[phaeton]

Welcome to VWwA Chris :D

Good Luck with purchase :)

[mikinoz]

Hi there, I think a 1.6 is a good car. 2000 model 90K $13,000 was on the market recently (with mods) so keep an eye out!

[Suff]

Hey Mikinoz...

Any Idea where it was on the market? seems all the ones i can find are up round the 20k mark, which is excessive!

chris

[Suff]

Other than yours that is, but I thought you had already sold that! (which is a damn shame, would have been perfect!!!)

[cusack]

Hey guys

thanks for all the info thus far.. I figured that 18k was a bit hi, was planning around the 15k max.. see what the dealer says :)

cheers guys!!

Hi Stuff

If you dont mind can you let me know how you go if you try to push the the price down? I have been looking for about 2 weeks now and found you can really push down the prices with private sales.
But I would like to know how much you can negotiate with dealers.

Thanks!

[SoVeReIgN]

I wouldn't bother with the 1.6 - Way too slow and they are reknown for having a weak gearbox.

Go for a 1.8 20V (rareish) or 2.0L if you can!

[mikinoz]

Other than yours that is, but I thought you had already sold that! (which is a damn shame, would have been perfect!!!)

Yeah, it was mine.

Now it is gone I realise I could have asked for 'a little' more considering all the enhancements and low miles! ;)

Sorry, I know of no others currently on the market...

[Suff]

Hey Cusack..

Will let you know how I go.. but fyi, I have bought a few cars from dealers over the years, and have always been able to get good discounts.. some examples

2005 Liberty GT Sedan - Asking 52K - Purchased for 44K Plus Towball, Tint & BT Car Kit for free
2001 Forester GT - Asking 29k - Purchased 22K
2002 Ford Falcon BA Wagon - Asking 32k Purchased at 19K.. (it was the baby **** acid rush colour though, so I knew they where having a hard time selling it, it had been in the yard over 3 months.. so that made things a bit easier!)

so yeah.., doubt that VW is going to be any different to anyone else, I certainly dont plan on spending more than 15k on a 1.6 golf :P

[cusack]

Thanks Suff

Those are great price drops! I didnt know they could drop it down that much.

But what about cars that are priced around $15K? how flexible do you the dealers would be with that?

Regards

[Suff]

have a look at redbook.com find the car your after, and it lists what dealers generally offer as trade in price.. you know that they wouldnt pay that price, so knock a grand or two off and try your luck :) it just depends how stubborn you are, and how much they want to shift the car on, but generally with 2nd hand they are keen to move them

[mikinoz]

However I have just sold my car for above red book value and could have gotten more, so it is swings and round abouts using the redbook.