B5 Pisshat - Any buying tips? - He bought...

[beko1987]

Going wit ha work colleague to view a 2003 2.0 petrol passat on a 53 plate at lunchtime. We went the other day and had a poke around, but going for a spin in it today.

 

Any common issues with these? Noticed a weep of oil on the side of the block in the back drivers side corner, and the plugs on top of the block had a bit of old oil in them. Carpets felt dry and that's as far as we went.

 

It's up for £1600, going to try and get the price down if any small DIY bits need doing.

 

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-53-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-2-0-SPORT-MANUAL-BLUE-/271144213739?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f21745ceb&_uhb=1

 

Cheers

[Rocket88]

WAAAAAAY too much if it's an n/a petrol......they're not great on juice, mid twenties round town 40 ish on a run. as long as you're in waft mode. Check for damp carpets [blocked plenum drains] if the ABS light is on , it's sometimes caused by the big fuse on top of the battery.....38 p as opposed to £750 + for an ABS unit.those fuses can throw up all sorts of faults if they're not 100% perfect, they'll look ok, but.....................

[beko1987]

I don't want him to pay £1600 for it! Got a fair load of scratches over the passenger rear quarter, seats are filthy and wheels are pretty crap. However, he is portugese and likes it, I just want to be armed with anything to look out for on the test drive!

[Cavcraft]

Rear foot wells flood with water, ekectrical problems, pollen filter seals go, scuttle drains block, central locking issues, heater fan brushes wear out, uncomfortable seats, very unreliable in general and because of the badge probably twice the cost of a better car. Which could be almost anything.

The only reason to buy one would be to get a diesel, and they're just as shit, if not shitter. In actual fact I'd recommend a Mk2 Mondeo over one of these hateful things.

[cort16]

The 2 litre is the worst motor. I think they're mostly crudy old 8v 115bhp jobs as found in old Golf Gti's and the like. There seems to be plenty decent sub a grand versions of these around.

I had the 1.8T for 3 years and it was a pretty decent car although look for creaking from the front as wishbones snap on higher mileage cars with alarming regularity. I know as it happened to me and you can still see the 100 metre groove I cut in the road where it happened.

[Rocket88]

Rear foot wells flood with water, ekectrical problems, pollen filter seals go, scuttle drains block, central locking issues, heater fan brushes wear out, uncomfortable seats, very unreliable in general and because of the badge probably twice the cost of a better car. Which could be almost anything.

The only reason to buy one would be to get a diesel, and they're just as shit, if not shitter. In actual fact I'd recommend a Mk2 Mondeo over one of these hateful things.

 

 

75% of the above are caused by blocked plenum camber drain holes.......the B3/B4 Passats seem more durable, diesel ones are pretty much bomb proof, although a bit gloomy inside. You should get a reasonable one for about a grand. I know I always say this, but the Octavia is a better car..............just seen the ebay link.....saloons are worth feck all, estates are worth at least 30% more

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

That will make about £800 in the auctions and they know it. They're pretty tough old things in general but I'd rather have an Estate - far more useful.

 

A mate of mine has a 51 plate PD 1.9TDI with 300'000 miles and it's still uptogether. Mondeos might be nearly as good, but you need a selection of tattoos, a tracksuit and be between jobs to drive one.

[Bobthebeard]

. Mondeos might be nearly as good, but you need a selection of tattoos, a tracksuit and be between jobs to drive one.

 

[R9UKE]

I hate it when people describe a car as "fully loaded" because it has remote locking and AC. That interior is extremely depressing....

[cort16]

I think they've used the instagram gloom filter.

[beko1987]

We walked!

 

Looks nice, but on the test drive it was evident that the clutch was right at the top of travel before it bit (but not slipping at all), there was an annoying squeak from the steering wheel and a little dribble of new oil on the plastic engine cover (I checked before we went)

 

Add a polish seller (back street 'garage' who didn't know if it had an MOT, admitted that it had no service history so did not know if the cambelt had been done (was just about to tick over 71k) and we walked!

 

Got in it with 20 miles showing as left on pez, and the bloke said we could go on the motorway for a test if we liked! From where we were it was straight onto the m25 for at least a 30 mile round trip to get back, we declined his offer and went on the local roads!

 

The hunt continues!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

You know you’re at the shite end of the market when you have to supply your own pez for a test drive!

 

A 2.0 NA petrol saloon one of these sounds like the absolute pits – slow, thirsty and flatter than a Wisbech ski-slope. AVOID

[cort16]

If you're going for a petrol one the 1.8t OMG IZ OWDI TT ENGIN is nice. 150bhp makes it pretty quick and it'll do 40mpg

[beko1987]

Will bear that in mind! We are going to look at a honda accord on sunday, from a more reputable looking establishment.

[cort16]

I never really liked those 1999-2002 accords. The interiors are 'orrible the ride is rock hard and the engines may be reliable but I always found them really thirsty.

 

I'd be after a Mazda 6 I recon. Good value, nice to drive and decent interiors

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

I'd be after a Mazda 6 I recon. Good value, nice to drive and decent interiors

 

Rust! They like to.

[Bren]

Electric windows can be a PITA.

[R9UKE]

Yep, the Accords are thirsty. I had one traded in last summer for a Mazda 323 as he couldn't afford to run the thing. It was doing about 25 MPG.

 

Laguna II? Seeing as we're looking for a petrol. That kinda cash can get you the ugly facelift one with ironed out electrics and a tried and tested 2.0 16v.

[beko1987]

Are the petrol lagunas prone to self destruction as I often read about on here? Seen some tidy ones but said no cos of the potential bork.

 

Seen a few at this dealers we are going to on Sunday, should be a fun day. There's an lpgd mk1 focus for a grand...

[cort16]

You could name any car in this price bracket and ring off a hundred potential things that can go wrong with any of them. It's best (as you did with the passat) just use your best judgement when you go and see it.

90% of the time you can tell it's a lashed up heap of shit . Just press all the buttons, check the carpets aren't damp, make sure it's not smoking and making rattling noises and generally treat with the maximum suspicion and contempt.

 

I was looking at a 2005 2 litre manual facelift Laguna on gumtree a few weeks ago that looked great value for under a grand.

[trigger]

Some cars are good, some are bad, You could find a well looked after and cared for car which is perfect then find another which has lived a harder life and full of problems, yet that's the car everyone will be talking about saying it's crap etc.

 

Those Passats are ace cars but only in 1.9 TDi form, The Honda Accord is also a good call, They are cheap considering what spec they come with.

[R9UKE]

No, the Laguna is an easy target on here!

 

To be fair, the diesels are SHIT. But the 2.0 16v is a gem, it's six speed as well. My mum's Meg has the same engine and its a real corker, will pull comfortably from 30 MPH in sixth gear. The only thing that goes wrong with them is the dephaser pulley which gets loud and needs replaced when the timing belt is.

 

The 2.0 IDE petrol was only in the early Laguna IIs, not the facelift, and it's the only petrol engine likely to leave you stranded on the hard shoulder of the M1.

[beko1987]

Well we went out again today, and after visiting a used car lot in Hayes, which was full of 2k premier as, a4s and mundanoes with flat tyres and mould growing out of the windows (and on the dash too in one case) we found a car!

 

http://www.pedestalgarage.co.uk/used-cars/nissan-almera-tino-1-8-se-5dr-high-wycombe-201305500655223

 

Drove very well, garage is going to fix and advisories when it gets an mot next week. Its a bit boring but will suit him.

[Spiny Norman]

Jeezus, did I read that right, £1700 for a 12 year old Almera?

I'd no idea these things fetched that much.

[R9UKE]

The dealer would've bought it for £5-800 at auction! My local has a steady flow of them at that money.

[beko1987]

He bought his Portuguese flatmate (another colleague) with him, and they were amazed that cars cost under 2k. As far as he is concerned he got a bargain. Me and the other Englishman were looking at the Chrysler pt cruiser they had, making jokes about the chevvy lacetti they had and being upset that the lovely Saab convertible we saw on the net was gone.

 

Lovely day!

[Guest]

I'm sorry, but he got done at that money.

[beko1987]

His money! He turned down the £700 vectras, astras, accords etc that we sent him. I think he may be mental, but meh, he is looking forward to it

[peter9000uk]

Didn't want to appear to be on a sales push earlier but mate has an 05 plate Passat like the one you showed earlier up for £1500 and can't shift it, justa had cambelt and waterpump too.

 

Oh and he reckons that Almera is about £500 too dear

[Cavcraft]

I'm sorry, but he got done at that money.

 

-1.

 

You can get done by buying a lemon, a car with a false/hopeless warranty or a cut and shut etc, but you can't get done on price because that's the one thing you can check yourself before purchase.

No offence, but I have absolutely no sympathy for people who buy cars from dealers then complain a week later or whatever that they've seen similar ones for a £1,000 less.