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VW experts, need advice

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I, Coño
Joined
May 21, 2020
Member Number
858
Messages
517
Kid (19) is looking to buy his first car, he's buying it with his own cash (as I always said and maintained he had to).

He's looking at this:

https://www.kijijiautos.ca/cars/volkswagen/gti/#vip=16510079

Description is short:

2009 volkswagen GTI
138000kms
Stage 2 eurodyne tune
Two sets of wheels with summer and winter tires
Asking $6500 o.b.o
Click to expand...

Guy says it needs work (I wasn't privy to the call).

Gonna check it out.

What do I need to look for?
 
:laughing:

Oh wait, I mean :lmao:

-It's a VW (unholy unreliable high-tech BS)

-Stage ellebenty tunez (been fucked over, see also "needs work")

-For a teenager.

You're out!

There is no part of that ad that looks good unless you're a FastNFurious extra.

A different car is what you need to look for.
 
The russian roulette equivalent to owning a vehicle..

That's a big fat no all over the world.
They look, feel and drive all fine but I wouldn't want to own one even if it was free.
 
subybaja said:
:laughing:

Oh wait, I mean :lmao:

-It's a VW (unholy unreliable high-tech BS)

-Stage ellebenty tunez (been fucked over, see also "needs work")

-For a teenager.

You're out!

There is no part of that ad that looks good unless you're a FastNFurious extra.

A different car is what you need to look for.
Click to expand...

ikr?

I ran subies for 10 years in lower class rallies, so yeah, I know when something smells.

:lmao:

Don't think the kid is going to be beating it: he's paying for ALL of it. :laughing: He'll learn fast how pretending to be fast will cost. Gonna be his first lesson in reality, if so.

What I'm asking for is what "needs repair" when one of these urban wannabee racers can't fix their own shit.

What are the common problems with these? Bad tranies, blown heads, clutch (most likely, :laughing:),

anything?
 
No way said:
The russian roulette equivalent to owning a vehicle..

That's a big fat no all over the world.
They look, feel and drive all fine but I wouldn't want to own one even if it was free.
Click to expand...

I know, I know. :homer:
 
Icono said:
What I'm asking for is what "needs repair" when one of these urban wannabee racers can't fix their own shit.

What are the common problems with these? Bad tranies, blown heads, clutch (most likely, :laughing:),

anything?
Click to expand...

Sensors and wiring for just about anything.
Rust
Flywheel&clutch
Door and window mechanisms
Suspension, all of it
+ABS block, sensors, clockrings
+Parking prox sensors
+Remote central locking controls
+Immobilizer

Over here the best thing about them is that they sold insanely many of them so parts are cheap and easily accessible :laughing:
 
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Yeah, that's what I figured: fucking sensors/wiring. I've only had one VW, 91 (in 98) and even then it turned a few of the hairs on my balls grey.

Thx for the input. The boy will be turned to sites for research before he spends his minimal wage stash.

Either way, he's gonna learn and earn it.

:angel:
 
GTI is a very fun little car, but I would run from that cluster fuck. Look for an unmolested one, you will pay a little more, but it will cost you less.
 
IIRC that car has expensive cam chain problems, among other things. Run away.
 
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I wouldn't buy one modified by someone you didn't know. But I dd a 2010 Jetta TDI, bought it when it was a year old, almost 180k on it now. Other than basic maintenance, wheel bearings, springs, and a few glow plugs it's been a great little commuter car. Maybe I got a good one idk?
 
I have lost money (lots) on every VW that I bought

I spent 30 hours trying to unfuck a bad tensioner and chain on one to sell it for scrap price when done

Would strongly run from that car you have in the OP.

Have your kid stick with Japanese.

Older Lexus is a great deal now for low money and high reliability.
 
Smithy said:
I wouldn't buy one modified by someone you didn't know. But I dd a 2010 Jetta TDI, bought it when it was a year old, almost 180k on it now. Other than basic maintenance, wheel bearings, springs, and a few glow plugs it's been a great little commuter car. Maybe I got a good one idk?
Click to expand...

Been my experience with the VWs I've owned. No more problems than any other car. I'd pass on the one the OP is talking about because of the "tune". Any owner that tunes a car like that beats on it, HARD. If it doesn't need a clutch now, it will soon.
 
Thanks for the input, you've pretty much confirmed my gut instincts.

Was hoping for some good news, but alas that fantasy went out a long time ago through hard work and hard knocks with personal experience. Not much has changed.

Kid will read this thread before he blows his load on his first nightmare. If he does, then it's on him.
 
SanDiegoCJ said:
Been my experience with the VWs I've owned. No more problems than any other car. I'd pass on the one the OP is talking about because of the "tune". Any owner that tunes a car like that beats on it, HARD. If it doesn't need a clutch now, it will soon.
Click to expand...

Pretty much ever car with that motor loses the timing chain at between 50k and 100k.
 
Should have a cbfa or ccta chain driven engine. They're not TERRIBLE, but do have issues. It could probably use a walnut blasting on the intake ports at that mileage. Pcv failure is very common on any VAG car, and if they fail just right they allow boost into the crank case and blow out the rear main, which causes lean fuel trim faults. Sensor failure is not a common thing on those generation cars as opposed to older ones. Rust is generally NOT an issue on euro cars compared to domestic (I live in pa, and work at an indy euro shop, I specialize in VAG, BMW, mini, and Volvo). They also have timing chain tensioner issues, but there was an extended recall for the problem children ones. Those cars are peppy and handle well.

That said, I drive mopars, and would never buy a vw....
 
The only point of a VW is a TDI.
There is no reason to put up with German electrics unless you're getting 50+MPG
 
On my second vw, had an 09 gti and now a 13 tdi dad wagon.

They are one of my favorite brands. Sure they have issues but if you want a car with no issues buy a camry. My gti only had 2 non-maint problems - the pcv failed, which was covered by a recall and the #3 coil burnt up. The coil was $25 and I just replaced it every 20k. There was also a cam follower on the fuel pump that needed replaced, but that was part of the maint. Sure it would fuck you if you didn't but so will not changing oil

They are super easy to work on. Everything comes apart in a obvious way. First timing belt on the gti and I was done in 3 hours. Easiest wrong wheel drive I've ever seen. Rust is not much of an issue. Also some nice things like body clips that don't self destruct, you can buy the terminals to add circuits to the actual fuse box instead of some hack ass spaghetti on the battery shit. Parts are easy to find and pretty damn cheap.

Easier to work on than Japancrap (seriously do their engineers hate mechanics)
Don't rust like most American stuff (I'm looking at you dodgejeepchrysler)
Not buying an appliance from people who eat dogs

Now, I wouldn't touch one that was modded with a stage x crap. I would consider one done by a reputable tuner or well known community member.
 
GTI, Gonna Take Investment, especially if it is used. I would step away.

I do however have a VW Jetta, it was bought is 2015 with 30K on the clock for just shy of 13,000 USD. It is a gasser. It gets close to 30 MPG. I have not had any issues with the car requiring major maintenance. It has 110K on it now and my 16 yr old has taken it over.

To me it was a decent commuter car, 2.5, 5 cylinder motor.
 
I guess I have had good luck with them, but the ones I bought did not run. I got them cheap and fixed them myself. For the most part I think the germans did good, but I would not buy something modified unless it was super cheap and you had the cash to put into it.

I've done a few timing chains and belts. Bent valves the whole bit. Not a hard job at all just time consuming.

So if it is a second car, spare, toy. go for it.
Main source of transportation? That is not a good option until you work out the bugs, meaning he will still be borrowing yours for a while.
 
kf4zht said:
On my second vw, had an 09 gti and now a 13 tdi dad wagon.

They are one of my favorite brands. Sure they have issues but if you want a car with no issues buy a camry. My gti only had 2 non-maint problems - the pcv failed, which was covered by a recall and the #3 coil burnt up. The coil was $25 and I just replaced it every 20k. There was also a cam follower on the fuel pump that needed replaced, but that was part of the maint. Sure it would fuck you if you didn't but so will not changing oil

They are super easy to work on. Everything comes apart in a obvious way. First timing belt on the gti and I was done in 3 hours. Easiest wrong wheel drive I've ever seen. Rust is not much of an issue. Also some nice things like body clips that don't self destruct, you can buy the terminals to add circuits to the actual fuse box instead of some hack ass spaghetti on the battery shit. Parts are easy to find and pretty damn cheap.

Easier to work on than Japancrap (seriously do their engineers hate mechanics)
Don't rust like most American stuff (I'm looking at you dodgejeepchrysler)
Not buying an appliance from people who eat dogs

Now, I wouldn't touch one that was modded with a stage x crap. I would consider one done by a reputable tuner or well known community member.
Click to expand...

How did you get an 09 GTI without cam chain?
 
Your kid needs to learn "You don't wheel your daily driver." Buy a Camry to get to work, then whatever broken VW you want doesn't matter.
 
[486 said:
;n117488]

this
and even then they're solidly "do not buy" after 2003ish
Click to expand...

Shit, My 2000 has enough electrical gremlins. The 2010 I just sold was a fucking crap shoot if it was going to start when it was over 90*
 
subybaja said:
:laughing:

Oh wait, I mean :lmao:

-It's a VW (unholy unreliable high-tech BS)

-Stage ellebenty tunez (been fucked over, see also "needs work")

-For a teenager.

You're out!

There is no part of that ad that looks good unless you're a FastNFurious extra.

A different car is what you need to look for.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Icono said:
Kid (19) is looking to buy his first car, he's buying it with his own cash (as I always said and maintained he had to).

He's looking at this:

https://www.kijijiautos.ca/cars/volkswagen/gti/#vip=16510079

Description is short:



Guy says it needs work (I wasn't privy to the call).

Gonna check it out.

What do I need to look for?
Click to expand...

ive got a stock plain jane 2015 jetta. I bought it 2 years ago with 18k on it and its got 99,xxx now

It does weird shit in the rain like with the electric. Like oh fuck this thing doesnt think im buckled but my phone weights 40lbs and the passenger air bag will go off..ok coo.

Everything cool for it is unbelievably expensive (like 700$ for 12 hp)

pros

get 35 mpg
will do 160 mph

pretty fun to bomb through rush hour traffic doing 30-40 mph over posted speed limit while getting 35 mpg
 
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