Golf VR6, opinions / tips please

[Rpmayne 0]

Alright all, a mate is just about to buy a Golf VR6 which he asked us to have a look at. There's a couple of things I just wanted a second (and more..) openion on if possible:

 

The car is a P plate, 71,000mls, black metallic, heated black leather, A/C electric everything, build quality that puts the Corrado to shame. Very good condition inside and out with service history, and mots.

 

The asking price was £3500, but after abit of haggling due to the following it's now £2800:

 

Rattle from the timing chains so that will need doing eventually. Asked my local mechanic about it and he said it's not likely to completely fail for a while.
 
Electric window doesn't work. Can hear clicking from the motor but the window doesn't move.
 
White residue on the inside of the oil filler cap. None on the dip stick and no residue in the water. There was evidence of some oil spray on the inside of the bonnet though so I'm hoping this is down to moisture getting in around a leaking filler cap seal.

 

What do you recon, worth the risk? Drives very well, only thing i did notice though was it seems to hold onto the revs alot longer than mine when you let go of the throttle. Middle aged owners who seem pretty genuine.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

[H8RRA 0]

decent price with the spec/year - a cylinder head gasket wouldn't worry me too much if that was the worst thing wrong with it but that depends if your mates up to it - they're far from difficult to do.

[andy 0]

Sonds like a good example, the faults you list aren't much imo. The electric window is never going to be too much, its probably the relay you can hear clicking, it's never going to cost a fortune to fix. The residue probably isn't much either, if its restricted to the filler cap it's unlikely to be a headgasket, more likely it's been used for short runs and not been warmed up properly for a while. The timing chains are potentially the most expensive to repair, are you sure its them, 70k is very low milage for them to start acting up. At that price...its a lot of car for the money.

[Rpmayne 0]

I think it's the timing chains because its coming from the gearbox end of the head and doesn't sound regular like at a tappit. When the revs are just over idle its most noticeable from under the bonnet. Inside the car it can't be heard. Mine was overhalled at 85k miles and the rivets had already broken on the upper tensioner. Changed that and the head gasket etc (albeit with the engine out) so should be able to give it a go.

 

Short journeys ties up with the miles, has been doing about 6000 a year, and going by the owners i doubt it's been thrashed.

 

Only other thing worrying me (probably over the top but i got stung) is wear on cylinders 1&6. Only way to really tell I suppose is to have the spark plugs out (services february) but not sure how the owner would take that. MOT test showed good exhaust emissions though.

[dr_mat 0]

Can't remember now, but I thought the Golf VRs of that age got the later-style (far superior by all accounts) solid polymer chain tensioner?

[NickRStorm 0]

Can't remember now, but I thought the Golf VRs of that age got the later-style (far superior by all accounts) solid polymer chain tensioner?

I believe you're right - happened at the same time as the switch-over to OBD2, IIRC.

 

One other point to look out for on the Golf (I have 2) is the suspension & bushes will be very tired if it's still the original stuff. Putting decent coilovers on will transorm the handling.

 

The rest of the points are nothing to worry about for that sort of money. I just paid £4200 for a very similar one with Koni's, SS exhaust & 17's, uprated cams & chip.

[Rpmayne 0]

Thanks for the info, seems like a good deal so think its worth it. Didn't realise the Golfs got a different tensioner though, can't think of anything else that would be making the noise. Definitely in the head and is a rattle which seems to resonate just off idle.

 

The car is completely standard so I would have thought all the suspension parts would be original. As of yet my mates had 1.6 escorts etc so will probably think the handlings amazing until he gets the money for coilovers.