Looking for a replacement for the current problematic runabout Focus i currently have.

Diesel at the minute is the prime option, and as modern diesels go i feel German diesels are the better out of whats out there, one problem im finding is every one i look at seems to have 100k plus on the clock?

Majority of Golf (1999 - 2003) approx,i rarely see one with under 100k on, anything up to 200k , one on there with 240k on (ebay) still wants £1750 for it, the ones around 140k still go for around 2000+ approx.

With Fords, Vauxhalls and most other high mileage cars you know theyve done the mileage, the suspension and underside is tired and feels tired when driving, bodywork also shows signs of this, and the engines always feel tired, you can pay £500 - £1000 for a higher mileage ford, vauxhall and it won't be a rolls royce but for the money you cannot complain, but paying £2000 - £3000 for a 150k mile, 8 year old VW diesel, are they really that good to warrant paying that sort of money for? even with full or part full history? Ive never owned a VW so unsure of what they are like.

 

1.9 tdi 130 bhp is the engine to go for and least problematic. My dad's passat on a 53 plate has covered 294k since he bought it new and is still as tight as a button and doesn't look tired at all. The only things that have been replaced are an alternator, rear shocks and 2 front suspension arms. All running gear is original and it still pulls very well!

When buying a car, I would say service history, condition and how it drives is more important than a number on a clock IMO. I've traded in high and low mileage ex fleet cars for 10 years and being low mileage doesn't necessarily mean you will get less problems

 

Cam belts need doing every 60k on the 1.9 lump so ask the question if you do go for one

 

as above my bora sport is on 197k and still fills better than most fords

 

Have a 01 Passat Estate with a PD130 on 125k (bought it salvage on 93k)... Have changed two CV boots... That's it - and obv a service when we bought her (it's best to do the water pump when doing the cambelt - it's right there and inexpensive)

We've also got a 06 Passat (2.0TDI 140)... It's got more electronics in than my wife's kitchen.. On these engines injectors are common for going, already have some on the shelf for when it does.

Go for a PD130 - remap if you want a bit more power and you should see about 160bhpish. (tuggin a dolly and the escort I got 38mpg (probably doing 80/85mph).. Empty I'd get 55mpg)

 

And... They come in both a 5 and 6 speed.

 

I think its just a instant eyebrow raiser when someone sells a 8+ year old car with 150k+ on the clocks and then describes it as excellent condition and drives fine, this focus is on 125k and its more clunks and rattles than me after 3 bike track accidents !

So PD130, 130bhp 6 speed is the engine to look for? Undecided between Passat and Golf at present.

Thanks

 

I've got a bora 130 6 speed as a daily mate can't fault it one bit. Had it 2 years never missed a beat. Its done 120,000 now.

 

That's the one that seems the best of the bunch. 150bhp is obviously quicker but slightly more laggy and seems to suffer from a few more problems. Then again I had a Golf GT TDI 150 @ 177k and proved reliable in the short time I owned it.

 

Did they add a bigger turbo on the 150bhp compared to the 130bhp?

Well to be honest, what will you be using it for? I've had a complete mini (albeit the shell, screen and wheels) in the back of the passat. I'm always carrying engines, axles, putting ramps in the back so I needed an estate.

 

yes the 150 had a bigger turbo and a front mount intercooler.

i've recently sold my 150, awesome car but i was the second owner and it had 88k when i sold it.
we have a galaxy with the 115 engine, thats done 120k but hasn't had any real issues, just servicing and it likes top mounts and drop links.

 

Is there anything to be looking for on these high mileage 130bhp passat's?

I did fancy a 1.8T but they are like hens teeth!

I won't be doing more than 3-5k a year so it's not like the car will be doing mega miles and the high mileage should be ok.

As a slightly off topic, does anyone know what the 2.0 20v engines are like? They are in budget and more common with normal miles on the clock.

Gavin.

 

as above the 130/six speed are best mpg, a quick remap an see better mpg,

 

I had an 07 plate 140 Passat and that was superb, never put a foot wrong, good mpg, nicely nailed together. I was gutted when one of the other guys borrowed it and bent it

 

ive been looking at passats and a4's and they are all well up on the miles, im tempted with a a4 1.8t with full audi history with 112k on the clock it drove like new as does my mates 130 passat tdi, good servicing seems to make them go on forever well compared to some cars

 

I have a modified A4 1.8T for my daily. It's just turned over the 152k mile mark and the only breakage I've had has been a water pump. NOt bad for almost 80k miles of my driving

 

I'm in the same boat as you mate and looking at the same cars!! Hard to find a good 6 speed passat estate at mo I've been looking a while now, know the bag lumps are good as I have a 1.9tdi seatToledo which has the golf engine and it's just gone over 200k now and engine is fine other than glow plugs shame the rest of car is falling apart

 

126k pd130 6spd passat as my daily.

Waft everwhere doing 40+ mpg. Faster you go better mpg I seem to get.

Climate / Aircon / Cruise Control / 10 disc changer / Trip Confuser / Electrics all around.

Still feels tight and well screwed together.

 

Ive fallen in love with this ! -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-AUTOV...item416265ecc5

 

Nice motor that.
Generally great cars but pricey.
Don't rule out volvos as well,built to very high standards and the d5 is a cracking lump.
Sometimes with high mileage cars at least you know that most of the heavy repairs have been done by now,I'd be shitting myself with a 50k Mondeo as I'd be certain the pump would fail at some point soon,but if I bought a 150000 miler with it recently done I'd feel happier.
Also Peugeot diesels are pretty immense for high mileage,those 406's seem to literally go on and on.

 

Seen loads of high mile Pugs and the engines do seem to just keep going, just a shame the rest of the car's crap. I've been in 3 year, 40k mile old French cars that have squeeked and rattled like mad

 

yes but the six speed box is nothing to boast about they are shite

 

why??????

 

i do occasional recovery work ect and deliver to garages and come accross alot of six speed box problems on vag also know someone who has had 2 boras 2 a4s and all had box problems crunching in second being common

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...arbox-problems

 

Could do with some advice from any vag experts here, ive seen a golf estate tdi 130bhp 6 speed im going to look at. Full histrory and belt changed at 133k with 160k on the clock.

Says its fine other than it looses a little power sometimes at high speed but is fixed when switching off and on again. Could this be the maf sensor?!

Their asking £1850 for it which as said above feels alot for the mileage but thats what they seem to go for ! ALthough obviously gonna try get the price down a bit.

 

it happends around 70/80mph, mates passat done that, it was caused by a leaking boost pipe(common) because the sensors arnt reading correct it sends a signal to the ecu an puts it in to limp mode

 

Ah cool cheers for that, will give the pipes a look over then when i get under the bonnet!!

Hopefully can get a few hundred off the price as theyve had it sitting around a while!!

 

If a maf sensor is faulty it has power loss all the time.

 

Sounds like turbo over boosting , quite common on the VAG diesels.

There's a ring in the turbo that actuates the variable vanes and they get stuck and cause over boost when driving hard/overtaking etc.

 

jesus i never heard many on about that, cheers mate

 

Going into limp mode can be a number of things....

1. MAF sensor
2. Map sensor
3. Boost & breather pipes loose/split
4. Turbo vanes

etc

 

well they said it was only occasional, so might be hard to find, looks like a nice car in the pic thou! Not many golf estates about and this is the 6 speed 130bhp which will be good for commiting