Mrs decided on an import Mk5 Golf, how to avoid a bung auto?

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6614 posts

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#1682441 5-Dec-2016 13:02

Fred99:

TimA:

TeaLeaf:

TimA:

When buying a VW also. Please make sure that the "Campaigns" have been completed. These are manufacture recalls that are a must. If you see a car and its missing those recalls avoid it.

How do you tell? Ive never bought a car thats been recoiled. Is it just paper work or do they sticker the car? I know a LOT of Golf DSGs got recalled.

Edit: I see its the 6 speed thats a wet clutch DSG, not sure how long they were produced for.

They didnt recall the DSG, Just replaced clutches under goodwill warranty when they failed...
The service book at the front will have a section to put campaign stickers. You will find them there. Any Polo or golf should be chocka... Sadly..

The wet clutch is found in ALL .:R models and GTI. The give away is "6 speed"
IIRC they dont make a 7 speed wet clutch.

There was also a "voluntary" recall on the 7 speed DSG, to swap out the original OEM synthetic trans oil for mineral based oil, as the synthetic oil was damaging insulation on wires causing short circuits / transmission failure.

Heck, never heard of or completed that campaign during my time.
The best one was the early model Touraeg. The loom that ran into the transmission for shifting would get oil under the insulation, Pump it all the way back up the loom and into the trans ECU under the drivers seat.

Writes off every one it happens to unless you dont mind spending 5k+

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#1682464 5-Dec-2016 13:16

Dumb question, but looking at one on the internet is there a way to tell if its a 6 or 7 speed DSG?

Thanks everyone for help. She grew up in a town largely employed BY VW, so it has an intrinsic things for her. She also has 2 doctorates so she isnt stupid enough to buy one if its going to be a dogs breakfast. Its important enough that Im determined to make sure the Gearbox/Auto Clutch DSG is in good shape before purchasing. Im just not sure how too?

Batman

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#1682469 5-Dec-2016 13:19

By buying NZ New

Batman

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#1682474 5-Dec-2016 13:23

With a full service history. Then if it fails you can argue with the powers that be to get it replaced.

Although i gather the price difference between import and nz new os the cost of the new box ;)

Coil

6614 posts

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#1682479 5-Dec-2016 13:26

TeaLeaf:

Dumb question, but looking at one on the internet is there a way to tell if its a 6 or 7 speed DSG?

Thanks everyone for help. She grew up in a town largely employed BY VW, so it has an intrinsic things for her. She also has 2 doctorates so she isnt stupid enough to buy one if its going to be a dogs breakfast. Its important enough that Im determined to make sure the Gearbox/Auto Clutch DSG is in good shape before purchasing. Im just not sure how too?

Yes, You can enter the VIN into a decoder. It will give you a transmission number or the type. If you get the 3 letter trans code enter it into google and it will give you info on it. But i can guarantee you 99% of non R or GTI models have a dry clutch DSG.

https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=VW+vin+decoder

There is no way to tell how much wear is on the clutch.

Just take off on a slight upwards grade very gradulay and slowly and if it shudderes shes a gonner.
Also the mechatronic units fail so if it seems to get stuck in gears or stuck in 4th thats also a no go.
Always when test driving give it foot flat for 0-100 once warmed up and make sure it shifts well. Use the selector and shift it too and make sure there is no delay.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#1682480 5-Dec-2016 13:26

Easiest way to avoid dud auto seems to be to buy a manual.

When I was looking at golf's in 2015 there was a manual model available.

Mike

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1682501 5-Dec-2016 13:51

Thanks guys. yes I even talked her into a manual. But there are 0 mk4 or mk5 manuals ! ....house !

The girl can drive an HJ Landcruiser for her job but didnt want to get a manual due to hill starts, I reminded her of her hill starts on Grass and well over 45 degrees.

Would the GT model possibly have a wet clutch?

When you say R, you mean the R32 etc? Out of price range.

Really appreciate the help dudes. Reps for you all.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Coil

6614 posts

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#1682517 5-Dec-2016 14:10

TeaLeaf:

Thanks guys. yes I even talked her into a manual. But there are 0 mk4 or mk5 manuals ! ....house !

The girl can drive an HJ Landcruiser for her job but didnt want to get a manual due to hill starts, I reminded her of her hill starts on Grass and well over 45 degrees.

Would the GT model possibly have a wet clutch?

When you say R, you mean the R32 etc? Out of price range.

Really appreciate the help dudes. Reps for you all.

.:R is R32, Golf R.
An excellent little car with bugger all issues are the MK4 GTI. MK5GTI doesnt come in manual (Well you wont find one).
If you can avoid a golf just do it plz. They are getting old and have many manufacturing issues.
You can get a BMW 3 series and 1 series very cheap.

Do consider a 120D.

"Jump to Mk5 GTI - The Golf GTI features a 2.0 litre turbocharged inline 4-cylinder petrol ... 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) which ..."

Quoting Wikipedia one would suggest its a wet clutch. But we never got the GT as a NZ new car so as its a japanese import be prepared for a tacky japanese built autobox or something else random. Always check the VIN.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#1682867 5-Dec-2016 20:00

Only issue with BMW is they are expensive to import parts. The chances of finding a wrecked golf are high. The chances of a BMW less so.

My uncle, a high end mechanic of some 45 odd years would kill me if I bought BMW, even though I like them.

The partners Dad gets to trial all new BMWs like the hybrid i8, it was fun to drive and pretty quick for a hybrid (0-100 in 4.5~ from memory), its on the auto bahn we compared cars and bikes, rolling speed being practical.

He drives a comp packaged m6, I enjoy driving it, but totally impractical in NZ.

Its makes you wonder why every 3rd car I see on the road is a Golf, the others a Bmw and Merc and the occasional Maserati or other sports car and someones first car being a corolla etc. Perhaps thats just my location, but if Golfs were so bad, why are there still so many mk5s on the road.

Coil

6614 posts

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#1683015 6-Dec-2016 07:51

TeaLeaf:

Only issue with BMW is they are expensive to import parts. The chances of finding a wrecked golf are high. The chances of a BMW less so.

My uncle, a high end mechanic of some 45 odd years would kill me if I bought BMW, even though I like them.

The partners Dad gets to trial all new BMWs like the hybrid i8, it was fun to drive and pretty quick for a hybrid (0-100 in 4.5~ from memory), its on the auto bahn we compared cars and bikes, rolling speed being practical.

He drives a comp packaged m6, I enjoy driving it, but totally impractical in NZ.

Its makes you wonder why every 3rd car I see on the road is a Golf, the others a Bmw and Merc and the occasional Maserati or other sports car and someones first car being a corolla etc. Perhaps thats just my location, but if Golfs were so bad, why are there still so many mk5s on the road.

Correction - The BMW parts are the cheapest of the entire German fleet! Consider second hand parts from specialist wreckers and there are a tonne of BMW specialist workshops that dont rip you off.
They are mostly naturally aspirated so all the turbo woes are gone. The diesels are really really good.
The interiors are far superior that a golf and dont break. The exterior is the same, The golfs all get paint fade.

Girls love golfs. Especially Silver MK5's..
The imports flooded the country with them too cause they were and still are hot topic. Like the Suzuki swift.

If i was in your boat id investigate a 120D or an E90 320D or 325I/323I.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#1683127 6-Dec-2016 09:53

There are manufacturers of non-genuine BMW parts now and this brings the price down further.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#1683132 6-Dec-2016 09:57

TimA:

Girls love golfs. Especially Silver MK5's..

To be fair the most important factors in choosing a car are colour and what's popular right now.

Three words: Pink-Honda-City

Mike

Coil

6614 posts

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#1683140 6-Dec-2016 10:07

MikeAqua:

TimA:

Girls love golfs. Especially Silver MK5's..

To be fair the most important factors in choosing a car are colour and what's popular right now.

Three words: Pink-Honda-City

I have not seen the Pink Honda City trend catch on just yet. Fortunately. I could only imagine some matte half faded pinky yellow tinge paint.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1683271 6-Dec-2016 13:45

TimA:

MikeAqua:

TimA:

Girls love golfs. Especially Silver MK5's..

To be fair the most important factors in choosing a car are colour and what's popular right now.

Three words: Pink-Honda-City

I have not seen the Pink Honda City trend catch on just yet. Fortunately. I could only imagine some matte half faded pinky yellow tinge paint.

The original Honda Cities are pretty much extinct in NZ (you can still buy a few civic derivatives). They would have to be the archetypal car designed specifically for young urban females.

They did do one very pink colour variant. You could even get a version with a fold down vinyl soft top. Possibly the worst car ever made.

Edit: Found one http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1215316247.htm

Mike

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1683658 7-Dec-2016 09:48

Last year I looked at a MK5 GTI, but after research decided that I absolutely did not want a DSG gearbox. In my research, it wasn't that they were much more unreliable than auto's, it was more the fact that when they break, they tend to break big. Because of that I decided that I wanted a manual (Plus I rather manual anyway...more fun). Given how rare MK GTI manuals were and they price they fetched - I chose to downgrade to a manual Polo GTI.

Had it a year now and put on 12,000km - only 1 problem so far which cost $300 (Alternator clutch pulley - common problem around ~100,000km) - other than that she is just as reliable as any other car I've had - and I drive it with spirit :)

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