Advice on buying a waterpumper

mcvw · Aug 27, 2009

Hi,

It's been years that I've had to go looking for a non-aircooled vehicle, but the day has come again - and needs must

I've spied a potential useful runabout in the form a Polo 1.9 diesel 5-dr (at least it's a VW eh

) The Polo is a 96/N and has 109k on the clock. It's taxed until Jan '10, and mot'd until May '10. The cambelt has been changed (so I'm told), and the exhaust is blowing. It's got alloys and a stereo and does look pretty tidy (haven't viewed it yet, but have seen pics of it) and the owner (female student) wants 750GBP.

Would appreciate all advice on what to look for/check on this particular car/model, and also price I might want to pay for this car (based upon replacing exhaust?).

Thank you,

Mike

ant · Aug 27, 2009

i've got the same engine(1.9 sdi) in my caddy van mike, as long as the cambelts/oil changes are completed they will soldier on forever. Fuel consumption is good too. With todays prices around Â£43 to fill the tank and you should get around 450 miles, well mine does anyway

mjknight71 · Aug 27, 2009

...I have the 1.9TDi on my daily and it is at 221,000....and just beginning to show signs of giving up...so i think the 1.9 diesel is goooood :mrgreen:

......there is something about mid 90's Polo's and the gearbox.....don't which one (engine/model/year) but they fail and are Â£Â£Â£Â£Â£Â£Â£Â£Â£ to replace as there aint no spares as they all broke

cberry868 · Aug 27, 2009

I had an N-reg Polo for a 3 or 4 years and they're good solid cars. Handle well, feel solid on the road and have reliable engines (although I had a 1.4 petrol) The only problem with that model was the bearings in the gearbox which have a habit of breaking down at about 50-60k miles. The bearing costs about Â£5 and is easy enough to replace, just takes a lot of time to get the gearbox out and open which racks up the fees at a garage. Likewise, a new gearbox ain't cheap. Had to have mine done twice (luckily my bro is a VW mechanic otherwise I'd be looking at a Â£1k+ job each time)

When you take it for a test-drive, listen for a milk-float like whine on the overrun between 1/2 and 2/3 (put your foot down in first or second, get the revs high and then hit the clutch). If you hear anything abnormal then you might want to do a bit of digging around. Likewise, if the whine is there when in gear, the bearing will be much more degraded.

Other things to check on that model are the wishbones and bushes (is that what they're called - I'm having a blank) as they can go quite easily and are an MOT fail. Few hundred quid to get them replaced too. Best way to check those is get it up on a ramp and in there with a breaker bar to see if there's any play. Again, had mine replaced twice although first time I didn't use genuine VW parts which was a mistake.

Don't let that put you off too much though. As I say, they're good cars and for that kind of money I don't think you could do much better.

mjknight71 · Aug 27, 2009

......last thought on this :roll: ...in the past I have put cars through an MOT before buying them....that way you get an idea of what is what...I usually use a main dealer too (if possible) then you can ask questions etc......and they know you aint gonna be waisting money on them repairing it at Â£100ph

Â£50 spent...but Â£Â£Â£ saved if it is a dog....and an old MOT is only good till it drives of their forecourt and sometimes not even that long

dubscum · Aug 27, 2009

head gasket and cam belt, history then just how it drives, steers, gearchange and stop mileage don't matter as long as its been servised, and always make the first offer cash WELL below asking price then you'll meet somewhere in the middle you never know how much they might need the money