nielsvanm
Active member
OK, so until I have more details, here's the quick and dirty.
car: A3 Golf, TD (not TDi), 280,000km, 5spd, 1997.
It was brought into the shop yesterday (the VW dealer), and the verdict is it needs over $2000 dollars worth of work. I'll have the full list tomorrow, but as I recall it needs: New water pump, New radiator, New front pads, discs, and clean/replace sleaves/bolts, New rear struts (and everything related, it sounded like. Eg, strut bumpers, and some other stuff), and I think thats it.
From the VW dealer it was about 1000 in labour and 1000 in parts (canadian). I feel that I can do the brake rotor/pad replacement myself, but not bleeding the system (which should probably be done, if it wasn't on VW's list). Otherwise, I don't think I can take on the rest of the project, realistically.
So, I guess I have 2 questions. first, does this HAVE to be done by a VW dealer, or could an independent shop do it as well? And second, is it worth it?
We will probably be getting a new used car in a year or two anyway, but we've already replaced the clutch, TB, and exhaust except for the cat recently enough. The weld around the cat will go sooner rather than later however, so that's another thing to consider. The body is certainly not perfect.
Is it maybe best to just sell it as is and not sink any more money into it, or would it probably have a good life after these items are replaced? If it will still have a few years left in it, it would probably be kept in the family.
Anyhow, anyones 2 cents is appreciated, and I will get the full estimate tomorrow.
Thanks!
Niels
car: A3 Golf, TD (not TDi), 280,000km, 5spd, 1997.
It was brought into the shop yesterday (the VW dealer), and the verdict is it needs over $2000 dollars worth of work. I'll have the full list tomorrow, but as I recall it needs: New water pump, New radiator, New front pads, discs, and clean/replace sleaves/bolts, New rear struts (and everything related, it sounded like. Eg, strut bumpers, and some other stuff), and I think thats it.
From the VW dealer it was about 1000 in labour and 1000 in parts (canadian). I feel that I can do the brake rotor/pad replacement myself, but not bleeding the system (which should probably be done, if it wasn't on VW's list). Otherwise, I don't think I can take on the rest of the project, realistically.
So, I guess I have 2 questions. first, does this HAVE to be done by a VW dealer, or could an independent shop do it as well? And second, is it worth it?
We will probably be getting a new used car in a year or two anyway, but we've already replaced the clutch, TB, and exhaust except for the cat recently enough. The weld around the cat will go sooner rather than later however, so that's another thing to consider. The body is certainly not perfect.
Is it maybe best to just sell it as is and not sink any more money into it, or would it probably have a good life after these items are replaced? If it will still have a few years left in it, it would probably be kept in the family.
Anyhow, anyones 2 cents is appreciated, and I will get the full estimate tomorrow.
Thanks!
Niels