Going to buy a $5k Car......questions.....

[bigjohn]

It is time for me to pull the trigger on a school car for my 16 year old daughter.

We are VW fans, so this car for her will either be a Jetta, Beetle or Golf.....probably 1999-2003 to meet my price point. But, it must have an automatic transmission.

When I test drive cars, how can I tell that the transmission is good and what do I look for....as reg flags to avoid?

The other things like the engine and the body....I can handle that. For instance, I am aware that a 100k car must have had the timing belt and water pump changed.

One more question....What if we looked at a TDI (diesel)...how long do the glow plugs and injectors last and when do they need to be replaced? If the plugs and/or injectors are going bad, what are the signs?

Tips on buying a used car with an auto transmission is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[The_Jeff]

Don't get the 1.8T.

As VW fans do you do any work yourself? Are you on any VW specific forums (like vwvortex?)

I would look for a stack of service receipts to ensure AT maintenance, and the slowest normally apsirated gas engine... the 2.0?

The diesel is a good idea in theory but in practicality for any given price point will be in worse shape with much higher mileage.

 

[addyguy]

Under $5k VW's from 1999-2003?

Guess reliability is NOT one of the requirements for this car, is it?

Just making sure I'm clear on this......

 

[bluestream]

I bought my 2000 Beetle loaded with 89,000 Miles for $3500. It just had the timing belt/water pump replaced before I bought it. I would agree the 1.8T is not for the average buyer, Same for the TDI though

 

[Quattro Pete]

Auto transmissions in those care aren't known to be very reliable, regardless if fluid was changed or not (it's a lifetime fill, according to VW). Many problems by the time you hit 150K miles. So if you do buy one, make sure to get one with very low miles so that you have some life left before you hit 150K.

Not saying it's the norm, but it happens. Be sure to ask the guys on vwvortex for more info...

 

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Under $5k VW's from 1999-2003?

Guess reliability is NOT one of the requirements for this car, is it?

Just making sure I'm clear on this......



I am well aware of the history of VW's....no need to throw punches.

If I were buying a car for her to go off a long distance to college, it would be a new VW. But for the next two years, she will drive 3 miles to school and 2 miles to work. If the thing breaks down on the side of the the road, she will be close to home. Not worried. She will probably put 15k miles on this car in the next 24 months....and then we will flip it on Craigslist.

Once again.....I am mainly asking about the auto transmission. I am aware of the issues with the 1.8. Probably.....we will buy a car with the 4 cylinder....the 2.0L.

Also, I am not finding TDI's with any real mileage difference in comparison to gassers.....and the prices aren't that different.

Service records and CarFax are my wonderful friends....and I am combing those with detail.

My biggest concern is still.....the auto transmission.

And yes....I will probably do most of the service and work on this car.

 

[Barkleymut]

what I have always done in relation to a checking a used car for transmission problems is the same for every car. I am by no means a mechanic so feel free to suggest other things.

#1 pull the trans dip stick and note the color of the fluid. also smell to make sure there is no "burnt" smell.

#2 while the car is in park make sure the fluid level is correct. If it is way out of line just pack up and go home.

#3 while driving you will obviously note the crispness between shifts, but what I have done is go on a lightly traveled highway and really vary your speeds. Especially note downshifts...if it looks like the car jumps in and out of different gears I have found this to be a potential problem.

Good luck

 

[bigjohn]

Excellent advice....thanks.


Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
what I have always done in relation to a checking a used car for transmission problems is the same for every car. I am by no means a mechanic so feel free to suggest other things.

#1 pull the trans dip stick and note the color of the fluid. also smell to make sure there is no "burnt" smell.

#2 while the car is in park make sure the fluid level is correct. If it is way out of line just pack up and go home.

#3 while driving you will obviously note the crispness between shifts, but what I have done is go on a lightly traveled highway and really vary your speeds. Especially note downshifts...if it looks like the car jumps in and out of different gears I have found this to be a potential problem.

Good luck

 

[Quattro Pete]

Except that these cars don't have trans dipsticks and no way to really check the fluid level, so #1 and #2 is kinda hard to do...

 

[Barkleymut]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Except that these cars don't have trans dipsticks and no way to really check the fluid level, so #1 and #2 is kinda hard to do...


In that case, buy a Saturn or Focus hehehe I've obviously never owned a VW so there is no way I can help.

 

[bullwinkle]

I'd buy a Toyota, Honda,or even a Cavalier or Focus-unless you are a VW or ar least an import mechanic I'd steer clear of the "cheap" VW.

 

[sasilverbullet]

I own a 02 Diesel Beetle Bug - 36mpg city, 45 highway. Bought it with 90K, replaced the timing belt/water pump right away. Changed oil to Amsoil European Blend right away, with a 7K OCI. Also dropped the trans pan and changed the trans oil to Amsoil's auto transmission fluid. I think the trans was replaced at around 86k by previous owner. Car has always had a "lag" when you put it in D before it engages, worse on real cold days. It's always shifted fine.

My one beef with this car is the amount of little **** that keeps breaking and nickel and diming me to death. Power windows, blinker switch on steering column, seat belt sensors, and my favorite, replacing a burnt out headlight every 3 months! Those things are a bugger to get out and in. And little pieces of plastic trim that come off on the interior.

I have 145k on it now - engine and trans seem to be as strong as ever.

Personally, for me to drop my $$$ on another VW product would require them doing some serious convincing me that the quality of their product has improved.

 

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
......Personally, for me to drop my $$$ on another VW product would require them doing some serious convincing me that the quality of their product has improved.



You make some good points....causing me to think about this more.

Yeah, we own three VW's....but they are 2008, 2009 and a 2010 model. They are tight and solid and very well built. A heck of a lot better built than any other cars we have ever owned. So maybe.....

Maybe I should look for a Toyota or Honda.... Still the same deal though. Need an auto transmission.

The wife absolutely hates a Civic (her sister owned one and it was a horrible experience)......so probably a Corolla or Accord.

Thoughts about these two cars?

 

[Spazdog]

I'm not sure if you can get one in Colorado that still has a good top, but maybe a little bit older model Cabriolet.

It could have the SOHC 1.8 which is a little noisy in the valvetrain but seems to be an otherwise decent engine.

The Cabrios usually have higher end interiors.

16 year old girls dig Cabrios.

Colorado has a lot of sunny days.

 

[daves87rs]

2000-2003 Cavalier.

Should be easy to find a loaded one under 5 grand. Strong engines, quite hard to kill. 4 speed auto transmissions hold up pretty well to abuse.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: BigJohn
The wife absolutely hates a Civic (her sister owned one and it was a horrible experience)......so probably a Corolla or Accord.


A good friend of mine had a '97 Civic that got totalled a few months ago (rear-ended by a pickup at 45mph). He was hoping to see 333,333 on the odometer, but the odo at TOD was about 331,something. He did the timing belt every 100,000 miles on it, and changed the oil every 3,000 miles, and that's about it. He "might have" changed the ATF once, but he doesn't remember. He bought it brand new. The Civics from that era seem awfully bomb-proof.

I can tell you all you want to know about the 2003-2008 generation Corolla. Overall, they're good cars, and pretty solid for small vehicles. That generation is a bit larger than the 1998-2002 generation, and quite a bit better overall. The engine was mostly the same though, the 1ZZ-FE 1.8L 4-cylinder. Beginning in 2000, the engine got VVT; it had a conventional valvetrain in 1998 and 1999. My '07 Corolla had the 5-speed, and I never did drive an automatic one. As far as reliability, I was on a few Corolla chat boards and transmissions were never a problem.

If you are looking at Corollas, I'd look for an '03 or '04. The interior is really nice for a small car, and they'll well put together. Very simple, with struts up front and a twist beam with struts in the back. The ride is taut but smooth. I have a Camry now, but I often miss that Corolla I had. It sat really well on the road and just had a nice solid feel to it. Handling was typical small car tossable (good tires really woke that chassis up), and the brakes are strong. ABS was not standard, so if you want that, be sure to look for it. You'll see the ABS sensor wires in the rear wheel wells in front of the tires if it has it. If not, the little wire holders will be holding nothing.

I didn't have a single issue with that Corolla, and it ran great on good ol' conventional 5w30. Two reasons I sold it: great deal on new Camry during the height of the recalls and wife cannot drive manual because of bad left foot. But I loved the car.

 

[Barkleymut]

if you are going to consider makes other than VW then check out this thread I just started ---> https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2194151/

And let us know what you end up with.

 

[FL-400S]

$5k should get you a pretty nice cavalier...but their crash test ratings are pretty bad. The ecotec from 03-05 is strong and I havent heard of many problems with them. the automatic I believe is the same they put in Malibu's and of course a cavalier weighs a lot less.

I think you could get an 8-10 year old corolla with low miles for well under $5k, but you might have to spend a lot of time looking.

 

[PF52]

A Crown Victoria will do everything you need of it and more.

 

[bustednutz]

Look, for $5k I'd be looking at an Accord, or Civic, or Camry, Or corolla, or another Japanese make.
By all means stay away from the VW product if you are looking for a worry free car experience for your daughter.
And trust me, I used to be the biggest VW lover in the world. But for the last decade I am not at all impressed with any of their offerings.
I guess I became a Japanese convert a few years back when I just got so sick of throwing money at American, and German cars for stupid little problems.
I bought my 07' Mazda 3 brand new. Never once have I ever had it in the dealership for anything at all. 40K miles and still silky smooth and everything works.
My 96 Accord has 187k trouble free miles as well. Starts and runs everyday and all the features still work.
My dads 2000 civic with 170k still is as rock solid and reliable as the day it came off the new car lot.

For $5k.....take a look at the Japanese cars.