I've got my eye on a golf mk3 priced @ £775. I'm having a look at it tommorow and just wanted some advice on what to look out for!
Thanks!

hi there sony check pm box

Or have an AA inspection done before you part with the cash?

Originally posted by Strix
Or have an AA inspection done before you part with the cash?

Its not worth it - they charge (IIRC) about £100, you're better off taking someone with you who knows abit about mechanics. Or better still join a Golf or VW forum and ask someone there.

Mat

Try and have some-one with you who is fairly knowledgable on cars. I'm assuming the car isn't the most modern you've ever seen so take it for a test run, make sureyou or some-one you trust is driving. Also let the engine idle for ten minutes and watch the warning lights closely also check under the engine on the ground for any drips of oil or other fluids. Ask what it failed it's lastt MOT on and look for body filler and check that the bottom of the doors is sound and not rusted through badly.
Golf's are a reliable car.

check inside the door frames for weld marks.
check all the lines where bits close, ie along the door to door frame, around the boot and around the bonnet. If they don't line up then it might indicate that it's been in a shunt.

Originally posted by mat1978
Its not worth it - they charge (IIRC) about £100, you're better off taking someone with you who knows abit about mechanics. Or better still join a Golf or VW forum and ask someone there.

Mat

I thought that the AA check had some sort of insurance with it? If the engineer failed to spot a major defect AA would be liable.

I can't imagine a mate doing the same.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/

try parkers site...gives you a good idea what car faullts are with each manufactorer and also good and bad deals .value etc.

Sony,
I'm in the same boat as you... I'm looking for a car, around £700-£900 low insurance group etc...
EG: Micra/Cincequento/Punto/Corsa/Fiesta/Polo
I've been checking the Star every night, and buying AD Mag twice a week but can't find anything that isnt a complete and utter joke... We've been to see tons of cars, but the head gasket has gone on all of them, or the car has resembled a scrubbing brush...

Would you let me know where you've been looking?

Originally posted by caprice
Sony,
I'm in the same boat as you... I'm looking for a car, around £700-£900 low insurance group etc...
EG: Micra/Cincequento/Punto/Corsa/Fiesta/Polo
I've been checking the Star every night, and buying AD Mag twice a week but can't find anything that isnt a complete and utter joke... We've been to see tons of cars, but the head gasket has gone on all of them, or the car has resembled a scrubbing brush...

Would you let me know where you've been looking?

As crazy as it may sound, ebay!! Good luck anyway, I've finally got mine, and up to now all the doors have stayed on!!

Very often car dealerships take cars as part exchanges and then as they don't want their forecourt or space filled with cheap runabouts they will sell them fairly cheaply. One place I've definitely noticed doing this is Woodseats Motors? at the top of Woodseats Road, they don't advertise these cheapies in the paper, you just have to go round looking and asking.