Cohen Fain
18-11-2007, 10:48 AM
If Carlsberg made Golfs, they'd have shut up shop if they saw the one I saw a few weeks back. Why do people treat cars so badly? :banghead:
I sold my BMW recently and was on the lookout for something smaller, lighter, more economical but still fun to drive (go read my post on the New Member section for a fuller rendition, if you are bored witless currently). :biglaugh:
Thus, I was looking at Audi A3 1.8T and the Golf GTi 1.8T. £3,500 was our budget and 75,000-80,000 seemed realistic.
We went to Leytonstone in East London (part of my old manor as it happens) and looked, in the rain (great start) at a T-reg, 99 Golf. Yes, yes, never look at a car in the rain, I hear you holler - you can't see scratches! NOT A PROBLEM ON THIS ONE!!! :bigeyes:
Deep, deep scratches to the paint (9 in all), a hole in the bumper, chips in the glass, kerbing and aftermarket plates were all massive warning signs, but we wanted a workhorse, so it was still an option. After all, if he went down enough, we could have it all re-sprayed if necessary.
Then we went inside - massive scratching to the door interior, algae on the windows, missing buttons, missing ashtrays, holes (HOLES :aargh4:) in the uphostery, and the gear lever felt very clunky.
Then I looked at the engine - dirty, cable housing cracked and the oil - 1/5th full and black as night.
No service history and only one receipt (for the battery)... He had the V5 though (I am certain it belonged to him - that was nowhere near the major concern!!)
We virtually ran away. What astonishes me, is that it was described as 'very good condition - just had major service' and was on for - wait for it - £3,995!! :bigeyes2:
What a waste of a day THAT was... :(
I sold my BMW recently and was on the lookout for something smaller, lighter, more economical but still fun to drive (go read my post on the New Member section for a fuller rendition, if you are bored witless currently). :biglaugh:
Thus, I was looking at Audi A3 1.8T and the Golf GTi 1.8T. £3,500 was our budget and 75,000-80,000 seemed realistic.
We went to Leytonstone in East London (part of my old manor as it happens) and looked, in the rain (great start) at a T-reg, 99 Golf. Yes, yes, never look at a car in the rain, I hear you holler - you can't see scratches! NOT A PROBLEM ON THIS ONE!!! :bigeyes:
Deep, deep scratches to the paint (9 in all), a hole in the bumper, chips in the glass, kerbing and aftermarket plates were all massive warning signs, but we wanted a workhorse, so it was still an option. After all, if he went down enough, we could have it all re-sprayed if necessary.
Then we went inside - massive scratching to the door interior, algae on the windows, missing buttons, missing ashtrays, holes (HOLES :aargh4:) in the uphostery, and the gear lever felt very clunky.
Then I looked at the engine - dirty, cable housing cracked and the oil - 1/5th full and black as night.
No service history and only one receipt (for the battery)... He had the V5 though (I am certain it belonged to him - that was nowhere near the major concern!!)
We virtually ran away. What astonishes me, is that it was described as 'very good condition - just had major service' and was on for - wait for it - £3,995!! :bigeyes2:
What a waste of a day THAT was... :(