Are Volkswagen Golf Estates reliable?
Are Volkswagen Golf Estates reliable? I've heard they have electrical problems. The one I'm looking at is 2002 registered.
Thanks
Gavin Ward (Dublin)Apr 2013 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Gavin,
Here's the checklist for a 2002 Volkswagen Golf (hatchback or Estate):
- Check that alloy wheels have had copper slip grease applied behind them at each service, or the alloy can react with the steel hub and cause corrosion.
- Make sure the headlamps are in good condition, as they're a bumper-off job to replace.
- The rear screen wash-wipe can leak and run into the lock, shorting out the alarm and central locking. The door locks in general can give trouble.
- Most Golf engines need a cambelt change every 40,000 miles (64,000 kilometres). Diesel engines tend to get through a lot of oil.
- Clutch release bearings can wear out easily leading to a hefty clutch action.
- Ignition coils can burn out.
- A whirring noise could be a water pump failure.
- Slow starting or engine management lights often mean a temp sensor has failed.
- A tapping noise on start up may mean you need a cylinder head rebuild.
- If the car has sluggish acceleration it could be a crank or camshaft sensor failure.
- And if there are any issues with any of the main instruments then he whole display has to come out and be replaced.
That's a long list, we know, but if the car you're looking at passes those tests then it's likely to be a good one.
For €5,000, what car would suit my wife, just learning to drive?
I want to buy the missus a car. She is just learning to drive and she'll need to ferry our one-year-old around too. I don't want to spend too much, about €5,000 maximum, no real preference for make or model, but I want something safe, easy to drive, with good visibility. Low tax a bonus. Any ideas?
Johnny B (Dublin)Apr 2013 Filed under: learner
Expert answer
Hi Jonny,
Right, there's a couple of easy answers to this question and they are Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. There are tonnes of them around, they're all safe and the Yaris can be had with a 1.0-litre engine so low tax and insurance rates are assured.
But... But there are a couple of possibilities that are a bit more fun and a little more interesting. How about a Suzuki Swift? Not as spacious as the above trio, but as your child is only one that's not really an issue for now. Besides it's way more fun to drive than any of the others and Suzukis are super reliable.
Or you could go for something a bit more trendy and exciting. €5,000 is the absolute bottom end price for a Fiat 500 but you might be able to track one down, and it's fun and funky as well as safe and cheap to run. Or there's the mother of all fun hatches, the MINI. €5,000 gets you lots of choice but we'd go for a MINI One (it avoids the extra insurance loading of a Cooper) and have a good shop around to find one with decent equipment. Fun, just about spacious enough (if you juggle the seats around), safe and with a great chassis and great all-round visibility, it's ideal for a learner.
Come back to us if need help to narrow things down further.
I need to replace my Focus and I need to carry logs
What to replace my 2000 Ford Focus 1.6 petrol saloon with? It's starting to rattle a bit and it's only doing 35mpg plus high tax for an old car. I recently purchased a stove and need a lot of timber to supply it. I have been loading up the boot of my Focus with timber logs, which is not ideal (I don't want to pay a few hundred Euro on getting a tow bar fitted as the car isn't worth it). A few bits starting to give trouble - steering linkage, engine missing sometimes, timing belt due, NCT due, four new tyres etc. I only do about 10,000km a year, live in the country (rough roads, potholes etc), two young kids. I was thinking about a 4x4 SUV or pick-up to cover both transporting kids around and for the timber work, or should I look for a more economical car with a towbar? I want to come up a few years (maybe stretch to 2008 for low tax).
Sorry it's a bit longwinded but any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks
K C (Cork)Apr 2013 Filed under: towing
Expert answer
I'm not sure I'd recommend a pickup for you, as, until the very recent arrivals of the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger, they were all a bit crude and dreadful. They're commercial vehicles, not family cars. That said, if you want something truly rugged, then what about a Land Rover Defender 130 with a crew cab? Iconic looks and unbeatable toughness, but they can be expensive to buy and run.
Actually my recommendation would be to track down an old-shape Kia Sportage. It's surprisingly good at going off-road, comfy and decent to drive on the road and circa €8,000 should pick you up a good one, potentially with still a bit of Kia's famous warranty left to run. Not as stylish as the current Spprtage it's true, but invest in a sturdy rubber liner for the boot and you should have the ideal log-carrying device.
Hope that helps
How much is my Volkswagen Passat worth?
How much would my 2007 Volkswagen Passat Highline be worth now? It's 1.9 TDI (with red DI), leather interior, air conditioning, 6 CD changer and heated front seats. It has around 170,000 miles on the clock.
Pierce Bowen (Wexford)Apr 2013 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Pierce,
Prices for 2007 Passat diesels are currently hovering between the €10,000 - €14,000 mark, so expect a bid of around €10,000 if you're trading in at a dealer. Mind you, the high mileage of your car will knock that back a bit more, so don't be surprised at bids of below €10,000.
Let us know how you get on.
What family car do you recommend?
Hi, what family car do you recommend for €6,000 budget and good resale value? I need this for only nine months.
Srinivas Rao (Dublin)Apr 2013 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Srinivas,
It's a terrible cliche but you can't do much better in this market than to pick yourself up a good second hand Volkswagen Golf. It's spacious, comfy and reliable, and so long as you go for diesel and a dark or metallic paint job you should have no trouble moving it on again.
Hope that helps
Which diesel MPV would suit our family?
Could you recommend an economical diesel MPV or family car for a budget of around €10,000? Preferably to fit three car seats in the back, with a large boot space, low tax and suitable for country roads?
Thanks
Derek Mc (Newtownmountkennedy)Apr 2013 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Derek,
We're assuming you mean large boot space when the rear-most seats are folded down when it comes to the seven-seat models, but come back to us if not. Seven-seat cars are your best/easiest option for fitting three car seats in.
The first car we found in the classifieds that might suit you is Citroen's C4 Picasso. It's a brilliant MPV and with a little negotiation you should be able to afford a 2008 model with the economical 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine. We're not big fans of the 'EGS' automatic gearbox, but give it a go and make that decision for yourself. The five-seat version (not called 'Grand') is good too if you can live with that many seats.
Ford's C-Max and S-Max are worth a look too. The latter is a good deal bigger, but the former is economical and well priced.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of the Opel Zafira, though we have readers who swear by them. There are loads on the market too so shop around for one that suits.
Others to look into might be the Toyota Corolla Verso and Volkswagen Sharan and Touran.
Let us know if you need help narrowing down the search.
How much is a 2007 Volkswagen Passat TDI worth?
What is the value of a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI?
Martina Bannon (Tullamore)Apr 2013 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Martina,
Clearly mileage, condition, specification and history will play a big part in the value of any car. The 2007 Passat powered by a 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine fetches anywhere from about €7,000 to over €12,000 as there are so many different examples around.
Come back to us if you need to narrow it down a little.
Talk me through the Passat trim lines...
What is the difference between the VW Passat Comfortline/Trendline etc? The one that I am currently considering is a Volkswagen Passat 1.6 FSI four-door B6 115hp. Also are Audi/BMW generally expensive to service and maintain in comparison to a VW?
Bryan Molloy (Dublin )Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Bryan,
Trendline is a the most basic VW trim level, so it’ll be pretty bare inside, and lacking for ‘toys.’ Comfortline is a step up, and on a model of that age should include such things as climate control and cruise control, amongst other niceties.
Beware though — that 1.6 FSI engine was not the most reliable thing that VW ever made, so make sure it comes with a full and complete service history. As for servicing, generally a VW will indeed be more affordable to service than one of the premium brands, but if you’re interested in buying a BMW or Audi then you can bring your servicing costs down a lot by going for a good independent specialist rather than a main dealer.
Which seven-seater with boot space is best?
Guys - brother is looking for a seven-seater to accommodate a growing family. Needs to have room for buggy or two in the boot if possible. His budget is about €10k. Nothing too big engine wise to keep running costs down. Any advice appreciated - thanks.
Barry Delaney (Dublin)Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Barry,
The hard bit here is having buggy space in the boot in a seven-seater — seven-seaters keep their extra seats in the boot, so you can have extra seats, or luggage space, but normally not both. Our favourite ones are generally the VW Touran, the Ford S-Max, the Kia Carens, the SEAT Alhambra and the Toyota Verso, but all of those will have the seats/space issue. If they need something bigger, do let us know. In the meantime, our relevant reviews:
Should I go for a Skoda to replace my Golf?
I currently drive a 2009 Volkswagen Golf and am looking for something a bit bigger. I'm six-foot five and my problem is that, with the driver's seat in the correct position for me, you cannot fit our rear facing baby seat, or the first forward facing seat behind me. The only option is to place them on the passenger side, which leaves my older daughter sitting behind me, with her knees in my back, resulting in pins and needles for her and and an uncomfortable drive for me. The other issue is that the frame of the buggy takes up all the boot space, leaving no space for the weekly shop, or for luggage etc. I know the Skoda Superb has miles of leg room, and boot space but are there any other cars I should be looking at? I have always driven diesel and would prefer to stick with it, so I think 2009 would be best in terms of tax and getting two years before the next NCT. A lot of the Skodas on Carzone.ie seem to have huge mileage; what would you consider excessive for a 2009 car?
John Maher (Ennis)Mar 2013 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
The Skoda Superb or Octavia would have been our first suggestions. The Octavia hasn't quite as much rear legroom as the Superb, but it's still better than the Golf's - and the boot is huge. High mileages on diesel Skodas are nothing to worry about so long as it has a proper service history and is in good order. Taxi drivers regularly do hundreds of thousands of kilometres. Avoid high mileage DSG automatic gearboxes, but otherwise they are really robust. So long as the history and price are good I'd not worry about buying one with over 150,000 kilometres on the clock.
One last thing to consider: if you do less than 20,000 kilometres a year a petrol car may suit you better. They're generally cheaper to buy and better suited to low mileage use. They're also quieter!
Hope that helps, but do come back to us if you need more assistance and have a budget in mind so we can narrow down the search for you.