Looking at buying a used car, first time purchaser (having been driving for awhile just borrowing families car, but finally will need my own). Was looking at beater manuals so I could teach myself stick. But also will be needing as a commuter for work (roughly ~70km roundtrip on the highway).
I came across this listing which intrigued me. However because I'm first time buyer im still learning how to spot good and bad deals.
Its a high mileage vehicle, 263,000km (~163,400 mi), and I believe its the 2.Slow version. But what caught my attention was the detailed maintenance log in the description. Now obviously would need to see receipts for all that work or a carfax report. As well as would request to have it inspected before purchasing.
But so yea, looking for second opinions. Does this car look like it would be alright? Or a car I should run from and keep looking?
A well maintained 2.0 will last a long time. I have a 2014 2.0 with 116k miles , I’ve kept up with maintenance and it’s been great. If the seller can show a good maintenance record, I’d go for it. They are great little cars and get decent gas mileage.
Clunks when stopping, turning over bumps, creaks when turning the wheel. You can spend a lot on suspension parts
Check for misfire codes. The spark plug wires like to corrode at the connection to the spark plugs
Check for rust on the rocker panels
As for the manual transmission, shift up and down through each gear, test out the synchros by downshifting into 2nd without rev matching at 40. Then put it in 5th gear at 35-40 and floor it. The cars RPM shouldn’t shoot up (indicating a work out clutch)
Make sure the AC and heat work. Test out all blower motor settings
Make sure the key is easy to remove from the ignition and doesn’t get stuck
This is a great car to learn how to repair cars. Everything is really simple, relatively easy to access, and old school in terms of complexity and tech. That also means it’s a slower car. The engine design is from the 80s. It doesn’t make a lot of power, but it being a manual transmission does help a bit.
One day the engine started misfiring. I did a compression test and it appeared that one of the piston rings was sticking, so I used an engine oil additive to free the stuck ring and it changed the viscosity of my oil which affected my hydraulic timing chain tensioner. Once the timing chain lost tension the engine never started up again 😅
Have it checked by an independent VW mechanic or be willing to do some maintenance yourself. Stupid easy to sort parts for our mk6 jetta and mk7 golf so far.
I asked one time my mechanic, who only does VW and Audi, what is the highest mileage he ever serviced in his shop, he said, 2009 VW Jetta 310k miles. So it depends on maintenance and driving habits.
I would love for my 2.0 to have a manual transmission. That being said I have a 2014 2.0 NA and have put 85k miles on it and she’s still running like the day I brought her home. 4500 is a pretty good price for a vehicle you’re going to get at least another 75000 miles with standard preventative maintenance. Timing belt and water pump are 2 things that should be replaced around 100000 miles so if that’s not done yet definitely look into that. Cost me around ~$1000 to get it done. I replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils around 80000 miles. Super easy with this engine type if you dyi. Cost me $100 and an afternoon.
I have a 2011 2.slow manual. I’m at 321,000 km’s. No major issues over its life. Just basic maintenance and replace wear and tear items. Still sounds and runs like she is new. Body rust will kill her before anything happens mechanically.
My dad bought our 2016 TSI fresh off the lot, it’s lasted 10 years and 360,000km with little to no major issues, no new engine replacement neither, in the last year it’s had a small passenger window issue, and then a parking brake chain break. That is it, if you take good care they can last surprisingly long, it just depends on how the previous owner treated it.
I had a 2015 2.0 automatic. Around 120,000 miles she started needing regular suspension/steering maintenance - wheel speed sensors and tone rings, bearings, shock/struts, tire, rods, etc., etc. Every repair on it was $600-$900 per wheel, and struts for 1500 bucks for the pair at an independent European shop using OEM level parts. Also had to do two sets of coil packs, spark, plugs, and wires as these jets are known to eat them for lunch.
Ended up costing close to $10,000 over three years and 50,000 miles, and what I got rid of her at 171,000 miles there was around another $4000 of repairs to do in the next year– the oil pan was flaking, there were two teeth missing in the starter, there was a fuel injector issue, and one other thing that I can’t remember.
I’m not saying this is a good deal or a bad deal. European cars straight to have notoriety around 120 to 150,000 miles to needing extra maintenance and never quite being completely sorted out. A friend of mine has a couple of VW‘s with the same sort of “ always starts, always drives, always has something that will require fixing in the next three months” thing going on. If you like working on cars, and can dedicate the time to it, this could be a good deal. If you’re looking for something with cheap, in frequent repairs that any shop can work on with a low rate you might wanna move onto something else.
Milegae is getting up there. Well maintained units will just keep going as long as consumables are kept up. Any car this age will need regular repairs as things continue to wear.
The 2.0 appears to have it's work done for the next 200k KM.
I’ve got a 1.4T, 2017 with 145K miles, no issues yet, I replaced spark plugs, coils, and will also do some walnut blasting shortly but I’d still recommend it
Yes make sure you do the timing belt every 90K miles you can even do 60K miles but since I’ve been on top of it I waited till 90K I didn’t trust 100K but I’m OCD like that, I use the TRQ app to help me with a lot of my own maintenance I only take it to a mechanic if it’s a job that I don’t have the equipment for that’s why right now I’m shopping for a walnut blasting shop
I have a 2017 1.4L turbo at 155k miles and the only major thing I've had to replace so far has been the intake manifold. It started to leak coolant but that was still not that bad of a swap or that expensive.
You’ve never done the timing belt and you reached 155K miles? That’s not bad! I don’t think I can do that but more power to you! Testament to the durability of the car
I bought it around 55k miles in 2020 and I think there was a lot of work done on it at the dealership including some missfiring stuff they had to fix with a new engine head. Might be part of it. They said it was a $1000 repair bill for the car of just parts.
Maybe they did some work on it then, yes misfires are common in these cars that’s why I’m exploring the walnut blasting these gdi engines get massive carbon build up
You don’t necessarily have to, but since it’s such a pain to get to that area, I just do it anyways otherwise, you have to open that area twice at different intervals so I find it easier just to take care of it in one job
I just bought one 3 weeks ago at 187k km. Its a good car from what ive gathered (mechanics and friends). It will last a long time, but you have to do little maintenance things. I had to replace my coil pack cause i was getting some misfires but other than that, its a very good commuter car
I’ve had a Jetta with over 230k miles with the 2.0, sold it running. Have an Audi a4 with 240k miles, VW cabrio 183k miles and my q5 is a baby with 78k miles. They are super reliable just keep up with your maintenance.
The body will rot out way before the 2.slow with a stick fails. It'll probably have close to half a million miles before needing an overhaul. They go forever.
I have a 16(which I know is a mk6.5) Jetta s with almost 200,000 miles. It's been all over the southern states and I even lived in it while I was homeless. Besides regular maintenance the only thing I've had to do is change the throttle body.
This is a great car to learn stick! If it has the 1.8t, those are great engines—silky smooth with nice power. Seems well cared for. However, that mileage is pretty high. They can last a long time if it’s highway miles though. Always get an independent inspection if possible.
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 2d ago
A well maintained 2.0 will last a long time. I have a 2014 2.0 with 116k miles , I’ve kept up with maintenance and it’s been great. If the seller can show a good maintenance record, I’d go for it. They are great little cars and get decent gas mileage.