Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Low miles & diesel is bad, isn't it?

Ah, makes sense. Will avoid! Would you want about 10k miles/year to expect it in decent nick?

It'd a dark art.

I remember doing fantasy procrastination quotes at uni. Insurance on a supra was 150% of a Boxster. (this was when Supras were a few K and Boxsters were in the 20s)

Have you looked at a Ford Ka? I had a mk1 as my first car, and although insurance was high, it wasn't as high as others.

Still shocked by the BMW tho, given parts cost.

Tbh I've no idea if it's worth avoiding a car for. When cars are that old it's quite a lottery if it'll work well or not. Ours had patchy service history, if yours has a full service history from a VW garage and it seems good, could be a good buy. Do you know anyone clued up about cars that you can bring for a test drive? Perhaps even ask to lift it up and have a look underneath?

I believe those 1.9tdis are meant to be bomp proof. A quick google would confirm.
But that would mean I'd prefer to buy one at 120,000 miles and £1,500. Not £4k!

What part of the country are you based?

If you're near London then in my limited experience seeking out these motorway only milers is a pipe dream.

We saw a car that had definitely been clocked. Based on the MOT record it was probably done prior to each MOT. My understanding is it's now easier to clock modern cars than old ones. You've just got to use your detective skills - internally: steering wheel wear, bolster wear, floor wear, etc. VW leather isn't all that so it would show.

The Govt MOT checker is useful. That one's showing the mileage as:

2009 5,798 / 5,798p/a (est.)
2010 11,597 / 5,798p/a (est.)
2011 17,395 / 5,798p/a
2012 25,884 / 8,489 p/a
2013 ? 3,336p/a (est.)
2014 32,556 3,336p/a
2015 35,084 2,528p/a
2016 36,665 / 1,581p/a
2017 39,197 / 2,532p/a
2018 40,406 / 1,209p/a

…and it doesn't look especially well loved. Knowing how many owners it's had would be useful. That would have been a high spec'd car with all those options, so it seems odd the owner wouldn't look after some basic items the car failed on.

1.9 PD tdi I favour over the CR stuff once they get older.
Its a DPF car and TBH VW's early DPF system wasn't the best. It gave the driver pretty much no idea what status it was in, often decides to go into regen just as your pulling into your parking space not when its out on the motorway. But they kind of all did that back then.
Its a dry system so uses diesel injection post combustion to throw unburnt diesel into the cat and the DPF, which then burns causing it to burn down the soot into ash.
Should do it about every 300 to 1200 miles depending on driving type.
Take someone with a VW tool to check how many regens its done over last few k and make your own judgement. Even if its doing above normal DPF cycles so long as the oil has been changed frequent enough it won't be an issue. Its an issue when the oil isn't changed regular.
But the mk5/mk6 estate with a 1.9 pd tdi manual is a solid car, very useful size, comfy and feel well built. Early mk5 would rust around rear archs and sills, ALL 00's VAG cars rust on front archs

I've got a very similar Golf estate on a 59 plate except mine's done 212k miles (bought at 208k). They like to do miles and mine drives perfectly and as said the engines are very robust. DMFs and DPFs are the big concerns although DPFs can be cleaned fairly inexpensively these days. The good thing about a big mile car is that it only cost me £645 so it doesn't matter if it goes pop.

I was pretty anti VAG before this, but it's a great motorway car with plenty of space and absurd economy (60+mpg average)

I’m up in Leeds, which may help.

Anyone interested in a cheap petrol Fiat Grande Punto? '09 reg, 1.4, ULEZ compliant, 12 months MOT, 117k miles? Good little runner, expanding family so up for grabs.

I've been offered a trade for my 159 Sportwagon. It's also an Alfa Romeo. A 2.2 JTS Brera Coupé, manual with 85,000 miles.

Has anyone any experience with fitting a bike in the back of one? Looks pretty spacious with the seats down! Will my road bikes fit with just front wheel removal? Will my mountain bike fit?

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How much?

Cant help with the bike hauling question but just look at it. Fuck the boot space, get one of those big sucker things for the roof.

159 Sportwagon

is it petrol?

Just sold my car and looking to get a ULEZ friendly petrol estate for the #dadlyf, under 2.0 litre. Looking at Alfa 159, BMW 3, Skoda Octavia and Volvo v50/v70. Any advice is appreciated.

Mine is the most ULEZ-unfriendly 2.4JTDM diesel unfortunately but they're great cars! Really would recommend them although they're not the most spacious estate if that's a consideration for #dadlyf?

Yeah, I really like the look of them. Any estate will be a massive upgrade to the car I used to have.

not the most spacious estate

Isn't the cm³ less than the saloon version?

Still unquestionably the best looking estate made.

I've heard that before alright although I'm not sure it's true or not? Certainly a very usable bootspace though!

we went for an Octavia, SE 1.4 petrol. Only been a couple of journeys, but so far, very happy with it. Plenty of power and very practical for families, the boot is gigantic. The only thing we need to get used to is the different steering sensation. I think its electronic power steering, rather than hydraulic (?) and so there is less of a direct feel of the road and it's super sensitive to hand movement so it tends to be a little more wavy on motorways. Little one threw up in it on our first motorway outing. I'm really hoping it wasn't the driving /handling!

I'm really hoping it wasn't the driving /handling!

Probably demon possession. I wouldn't worry too much.

Sounds similar to the Renault Megane my mother in law has. I fucking hate driving it. Feels like the steering wheel does nothing for the first 1-2 degrees of turning then suddenly it turns too much, esp while cruising the motorway.

Fiat is electric, no idea about the VW.

Great motor tho, loved it in the 156.

I've got a seasucker in my toolbox somewhere i could sell you

T
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/SeaSucker/Talon-QR-1-Bike-Fork-Mount-Rack-with-1-Rear-Wheel-Strap/3EKN?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&co=GBR&cu=GBP&glCountry=GB&id=158855&ds_eid=700000001845766&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=UK_EN_Profit_Google_Shopping_All+Users_Core+Brand_All+Products_Desktop&ds_cid=71700000050003341&ds_ag=C_B_158855_SeaSucker_Talon+QR+1-Bike+Fork-Mount+Rack+with+1+Rear+Wheel+Strap_Car+Rack&ds_agid=58700004909391220&ds_k=PRODUCT_GROUP&ds_kid=92700042505409191&ds_kids=p42505409191&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1_HOpvC65wIVWODtCh1waQyNEAQYBSABEgIMafD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'll keep this in mind if I make the trade!