STDOUBT
Veteran Member
What a beauty.
Idjuts probably went "electric" LOL. Sucks to be them.
Not Mine: Some fancy-pantsers finally poo-pooed the Diesel...Seattle, WA
- Thread starter STDOUBT
- Start date
What a beauty.
Idjuts probably went "electric" LOL. Sucks to be them.
larryscastle
Member
Already messaged them, wish me luck!!!
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
Good Luck, Larry! 
larryscastle
Member
Seller says I can pick it up tomorrow! Now I need to find a way up from Portland...
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
Sweet!
CantWrite
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2021
- Location
- Placerville CO
- TDI
- 2005 Passat Wagon (BHW/5-spd conv, 03T). I keep in touch with the (2) ALH's I sold.
Nice find!! That’s a well kept specimen of the “holy grail”!!!
Love the color too.
Good Luck Larry
Love the color too.
Good Luck Larry
I looked at this last night with a friend who is looking for a car: beat ya all! I turned it down.
The engine did NOT look like one I'd expect to see at 112k miles. The worst detail job I've ever seen: I couldn't tell what was oil and what was the stupid shine crap. Some staining on the head. Injectors and pump head pretty rusty looking*. It had all the feel of a replacement engine: I'll note that the sellers said the clutch was replaced- think the reason was due to their kids driving the car (<- this might be the tell-tale, younger kids trashing the car and now are older and trying to help peddle this thing- the son seems responsible for selling, I didn't see him, saw his wife or girlfriend [someone who has very little knowledge of details, handy...]).
* For this area and for this number of miles (yes, there's years here in this equation) the appearance just doesn't look right, doesn't look like it matches.
No engine cover. No splash shield. Battery box is missing. Front driver's wheel liner is all worn down on the front side leaving a bit hole; no idea how this could happen- I've had a few of these cars and never seen it, have had them broken but not worn through like this. While these things don't really condemn the car it speaks to its treatment- I don't thing that it was treated very well.
Suspension is shot but I did NOT see anything distorted/damaged underneath. Outer CV boots looked good, commensurate with what I'd expect a car with these miles to look like. No rust, just caked on dirt.
Seats and headliner were good. Nearly all the soft-touch plastic bits were scratched the hell. Again, replaceable stuff but not "pristine" as pitched.
Supposedly two FOBs but was handed a valet key! (should have been my first clue- bad first impression).
The body is pretty good. There's a good 1/2' long (more?) gash in the right rear rocker panel. Some pretty aggressive scratches on the hood, not nicks, but scratches (like something got drug off the hood), not a deal breaker. The rear bumper cover is really crapped-out, scratched up pretty good: used to shuttle a lot of stuff; understandable. Another bumper cover (repaint?) and done.
Wanted to scan it before driving. They wouldn't let me scan it: take it to a dealer if I wanted to scan it. I turned away and summoned my friend to follow. It was all too fishy...
I could be wrong on some of this. Obviously anyone interested in looking at it can, and should, do their own inspection. Hope that what I've provided here allows someone to dig a little deeper.
I suppose if one want a good project then it would be worth it. My friend needs a car and not a project: I am will do do a bit of work but not a lot.
The engine did NOT look like one I'd expect to see at 112k miles. The worst detail job I've ever seen: I couldn't tell what was oil and what was the stupid shine crap. Some staining on the head. Injectors and pump head pretty rusty looking*. It had all the feel of a replacement engine: I'll note that the sellers said the clutch was replaced- think the reason was due to their kids driving the car (<- this might be the tell-tale, younger kids trashing the car and now are older and trying to help peddle this thing- the son seems responsible for selling, I didn't see him, saw his wife or girlfriend [someone who has very little knowledge of details, handy...]).
* For this area and for this number of miles (yes, there's years here in this equation) the appearance just doesn't look right, doesn't look like it matches.
No engine cover. No splash shield. Battery box is missing. Front driver's wheel liner is all worn down on the front side leaving a bit hole; no idea how this could happen- I've had a few of these cars and never seen it, have had them broken but not worn through like this. While these things don't really condemn the car it speaks to its treatment- I don't thing that it was treated very well.
Suspension is shot but I did NOT see anything distorted/damaged underneath. Outer CV boots looked good, commensurate with what I'd expect a car with these miles to look like. No rust, just caked on dirt.
Seats and headliner were good. Nearly all the soft-touch plastic bits were scratched the hell. Again, replaceable stuff but not "pristine" as pitched.
Supposedly two FOBs but was handed a valet key! (should have been my first clue- bad first impression).
The body is pretty good. There's a good 1/2' long (more?) gash in the right rear rocker panel. Some pretty aggressive scratches on the hood, not nicks, but scratches (like something got drug off the hood), not a deal breaker. The rear bumper cover is really crapped-out, scratched up pretty good: used to shuttle a lot of stuff; understandable. Another bumper cover (repaint?) and done.
Wanted to scan it before driving. They wouldn't let me scan it: take it to a dealer if I wanted to scan it. I turned away and summoned my friend to follow. It was all too fishy...
I could be wrong on some of this. Obviously anyone interested in looking at it can, and should, do their own inspection. Hope that what I've provided here allows someone to dig a little deeper.
I suppose if one want a good project then it would be worth it. My friend needs a car and not a project: I am will do do a bit of work but not a lot.
Last edited:
CantWrite
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2021
- Location
- Placerville CO
- TDI
- 2005 Passat Wagon (BHW/5-spd conv, 03T). I keep in touch with the (2) ALH's I sold.
Dang that sucks, with the low mileage I thought it was a gem.
“good from afar, but far from good”
“good from afar, but far from good”
I personally wouldn't pay $3k for it. Again, and this is just my opinion, if someone were wanting a restoration project this might be for such a person; for my friend, however, such is not the aim.
I probably should have drove it so I could have reported on that aspect: I was hoping to be able plug in and take a look at injector balances (I bought a car from a really shady seller because the injector balance looked good on that engine- later on a compression showed a very healthy engine); iffy sellers (maybe they're OK, but this was just my sense) and not being able to check something that I think is very important (of course scan to see what all else might be messed up).
Never got to find out when the TB was last changed. Just another potential chunk of change to lump on the pre-existing pile of post-purchase expenses/costs.
I have another car to look at and that seller has VCDS in which case I know I'll be dealing with someone who isn't [likely] flaky.
I probably should have drove it so I could have reported on that aspect: I was hoping to be able plug in and take a look at injector balances (I bought a car from a really shady seller because the injector balance looked good on that engine- later on a compression showed a very healthy engine); iffy sellers (maybe they're OK, but this was just my sense) and not being able to check something that I think is very important (of course scan to see what all else might be messed up).
Never got to find out when the TB was last changed. Just another potential chunk of change to lump on the pre-existing pile of post-purchase expenses/costs.
I have another car to look at and that seller has VCDS in which case I know I'll be dealing with someone who isn't [likely] flaky.
03TDICommuter
Veteran Member
Thanks for doing the legwork on this. I was excited as I have family in Seattle that could use a vehicle, but not a questionable one.
turbodieseldyke
Top Post Dawg
Thus foiling the buyer's plan to inject errors into the OBD and haggle the price down?? What the f. I hope @larryscastle reads all this before heading up there.
larryscastle
Member
Hey you guys, I can’t express to you how grateful I am to this community for coming together/looking out for one another. You are all amazing! I was at the bank getting cash to head up and buy it, when I checked this thread and read @UhOh ’s posts. Saved my a$$ big time. Called the seller and told him to move on to the next buyer. Thankfully I already have a nice 2002 golf that I got last November from a forum member. Still looking for that perfect wagon, but this golf has treated me well and is from a trusted community member. Lesson learned. Thanks again tdiclub!!!
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
Honestly, y'all.
The only thing that sounds iffy to me is the every 3k miles oil change. These people obviously don't "know" these cars.
For normies to be skeptical about "plugging in my laptop and scanning the car" is not a surprise.
They don't want the car to get a virus!! I mean, non-car people just think that way. It's not a red flag IMO.
20+ year old car owned by normies who didn't know how (or care) to care for it, some scratches, no body rust, only 112k miles.
WTH do you guys expect? No, I would not pay their asking, but basically everything @UhOh mentioned is par for the course for a car of this age. You can tell a lot from driving. What you can't tell is if the suspension is "shot".
Jeeze, people, what happened to "Best cars on the planet"?
The only thing that sounds iffy to me is the every 3k miles oil change. These people obviously don't "know" these cars.
For normies to be skeptical about "plugging in my laptop and scanning the car" is not a surprise.
They don't want the car to get a virus!! I mean, non-car people just think that way. It's not a red flag IMO.
20+ year old car owned by normies who didn't know how (or care) to care for it, some scratches, no body rust, only 112k miles.
WTH do you guys expect? No, I would not pay their asking, but basically everything @UhOh mentioned is par for the course for a car of this age. You can tell a lot from driving. What you can't tell is if the suspension is "shot".
Jeeze, people, what happened to "Best cars on the planet"?
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
You won't find "perfect".
A manual swap to boot.
One thing to keep in mind is that it's a crap shoot no matter how you slice it.
No way in the World to know if that CarFax entry for "Timing Belt Service" means there was an "oops", and valves are now 10k mile ticking time bombs because the shop they took it to "just put a new belt on". <- selling point right? :eyeroll:
Any 20+ year old car is a "restoration project" by standards set by the likes of we here.
Last edited:
STDOUT, you opened this thread with "what a beauty." Now it's "par for the course."
The pictures DO make it look like a "beauty." In person it is a different story- less like a "112k mile" car and more like a "par for the course" car.
I still cannot say what "112k miles" means. I've bought ALH cars from mid 100k miles to pushing 200k miles. ALL PNW cars and none of the engines in those cars looked as crappy as the one in this wagon My Golf, which I recently sold, I bought from a dealer in Minnesota and though it showed all the hallmarks of a vehicle from back there I don't think that the engine was all that bad- I got it with 113k miles. And ALL had engine covers: about half had splash shields. And none had missing battery box parts- this was the first time I've seen ALL battery box pieces missing: go out on the internet and check out pics of engine bays and see how many are like this (if there are any I'll wager that none are low mileage vehicles). My gut tells me that I was looking at a replacement engine: otherwise it's neglect for sure.
The last recorded service entry from Carfax was around 80k miles: my friend had that info. The posting says there's a picture of the Carfax in the ad but there isn't. Just another datapoint supporting the notion of things being sloppy...
The scratches on the hood were like a good quarter inch wide. Not all over the hood but a few and very visible (unlike in the pictures*). * I like to make sure to show significant flaws so that people know what to expect- it's called good communication.
Pretty sure that these people aren't "normies." My friend was told that they're in to Porsches and, I think, Mercedes. That's the owners/parents, no idea on the kids. And given they're a bit on the upper side of the crust I'd wonder why they got such a crappy detail job done on this car: surely they know good detailers. Does a 112k mile engine really need a thorough detailing? I'll note that peaking into the engine bay I saw, highly visible to anyone bothering to really look, a ton of evergreen needles down on the lower frame rail (below firewall). Call me skeptical. To me the car looked like it was treated like it was disposable and now the seller is looking to dispose of it. Oh, and this was all by lightly lit street lights and a flashlight.
IMHO. Sloppy sellers and sloppy car.
If one just has to have a wagon then I guess one just has to have one.
Looking forward to hearing others firsthand experiences with this wagon.
The pictures DO make it look like a "beauty." In person it is a different story- less like a "112k mile" car and more like a "par for the course" car.
I still cannot say what "112k miles" means. I've bought ALH cars from mid 100k miles to pushing 200k miles. ALL PNW cars and none of the engines in those cars looked as crappy as the one in this wagon My Golf, which I recently sold, I bought from a dealer in Minnesota and though it showed all the hallmarks of a vehicle from back there I don't think that the engine was all that bad- I got it with 113k miles. And ALL had engine covers: about half had splash shields. And none had missing battery box parts- this was the first time I've seen ALL battery box pieces missing: go out on the internet and check out pics of engine bays and see how many are like this (if there are any I'll wager that none are low mileage vehicles). My gut tells me that I was looking at a replacement engine: otherwise it's neglect for sure.
The last recorded service entry from Carfax was around 80k miles: my friend had that info. The posting says there's a picture of the Carfax in the ad but there isn't. Just another datapoint supporting the notion of things being sloppy...
The scratches on the hood were like a good quarter inch wide. Not all over the hood but a few and very visible (unlike in the pictures*). * I like to make sure to show significant flaws so that people know what to expect- it's called good communication.
Pretty sure that these people aren't "normies." My friend was told that they're in to Porsches and, I think, Mercedes. That's the owners/parents, no idea on the kids. And given they're a bit on the upper side of the crust I'd wonder why they got such a crappy detail job done on this car: surely they know good detailers. Does a 112k mile engine really need a thorough detailing? I'll note that peaking into the engine bay I saw, highly visible to anyone bothering to really look, a ton of evergreen needles down on the lower frame rail (below firewall). Call me skeptical. To me the car looked like it was treated like it was disposable and now the seller is looking to dispose of it. Oh, and this was all by lightly lit street lights and a flashlight.
IMHO. Sloppy sellers and sloppy car.
If one just has to have a wagon then I guess one just has to have one.
Looking forward to hearing others firsthand experiences with this wagon.
Huh? (I've ridden in a number of these cars with shot suspensions. I've done four complete suspension jobs (all for family-owned and operated cars): TIP: Koni Active dampers are aweseome on MKIV TDIs. Might not be enough datapoints to qualify as being knowledgable?)
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
Here's one I'd buy for myself in a heartbeat if I was loaded and had the space.
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
For a 20+ year car, that's exactly what it is. But only because it's an A4 TDI!
Could it not be simply the owners power-washed it, added too much Sonax, and basically did a crap job?
It's probably that AND neglect.
So it had no service for 32k miles? Normal. I'm thinking Jiffy Lube doesn't show up on CarFax!
I.e., the vast majority, unfortunately.
SORRY I misspoke re: the suspension.
What I meant to say is you can't tell if the suspension is shot unless you drive it, which you say you didn't.
If the bump stops are completely gakked out, well, at least you know the struts are likely the originals!
I guess my whole point is people who know these cars rarely sell them. The ones on the market are going to be crap by our standards. Expecting NOT to drop some time/money into a for-sale car is expecting a lot IMO.
I wish the best of luck to all seeking the "prefect wagon" to find it for under $10k, and needing nothing.
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
UhOh, I want to say I do appreciate your perspective(s).
I just find it unrealistic a bit. And I do understand not wanting a "project", but as you say:
"If one just has to have a wagon then I guess one just has to have one."
I just had to. 240k miles on it.
Wife and I finally got the replacement car for her GF. It was going to be that Tornado Red sedan, I sold.
*sigh*, she woulda looked so damn good in that car.
Anyway, I "settled" for a wagon because she needs the cargo space.
Looks nice in pictures. Full GLS sans sun roof (thank heaven).
That PS headlight? Clouded over yellow. The DS is pretty new looking. Except the bulb shield fell off and is rolling around in the reflector chamber.
The car came from just over the pass from Seattle. The Dry side. Car was FULL of fine grit and pine needles. Basically the surrounding high arid soil throughout the car. Airbag light on. CEL after going boosty on the highway. No engine cover, no belly pan, the one side skirt that was left was cracked badly. Rain tray cracked badly. Fender liners cracked, rubbed into missing pieces. Car can't hear the key fob radio. Door locks are all "manual". Like 1970's manual. HVAC fan works only on speed #4. Car alarm goes off if you open the car without chanting Hail Mary. Fuel door clip busted off. No sound from the fuel door latch using the driver's door switch. Mirror heater found "ON". Mirror adjust motors inoperable. Aftermarket windshield. Leather on shifter knob stage 3 wound. Rear doors windows move sluggishly. Antenna gasket missing. Antenna casing missing. Car interior smells vaguely like Gasoline. No battery cover, weird, undersized AGM battery. Goofy in-line fuel pre-filter. Gakked out bump stops. Needs brake pads, and given the rust on the edges of the rotors, needs rotors too. NAPA starter motor (that actually works amazingly well. Car starts in a second with zero shudder. Feels like the engine doesn't freaking move a millimeter on start-up.
Not sure I want to tell what I paid, but I have $1800 of parts in the house, and a few more on the way.
When I'm done, it won't be "perfect", but it will be the best car on the planet.
I just find it unrealistic a bit. And I do understand not wanting a "project", but as you say:
"If one just has to have a wagon then I guess one just has to have one."
I just had to. 240k miles on it.
Wife and I finally got the replacement car for her GF. It was going to be that Tornado Red sedan, I sold.
*sigh*, she woulda looked so damn good in that car.
Anyway, I "settled" for a wagon because she needs the cargo space.
Looks nice in pictures. Full GLS sans sun roof (thank heaven).
That PS headlight? Clouded over yellow. The DS is pretty new looking. Except the bulb shield fell off and is rolling around in the reflector chamber.
The car came from just over the pass from Seattle. The Dry side. Car was FULL of fine grit and pine needles. Basically the surrounding high arid soil throughout the car. Airbag light on. CEL after going boosty on the highway. No engine cover, no belly pan, the one side skirt that was left was cracked badly. Rain tray cracked badly. Fender liners cracked, rubbed into missing pieces. Car can't hear the key fob radio. Door locks are all "manual". Like 1970's manual. HVAC fan works only on speed #4. Car alarm goes off if you open the car without chanting Hail Mary. Fuel door clip busted off. No sound from the fuel door latch using the driver's door switch. Mirror heater found "ON". Mirror adjust motors inoperable. Aftermarket windshield. Leather on shifter knob stage 3 wound. Rear doors windows move sluggishly. Antenna gasket missing. Antenna casing missing. Car interior smells vaguely like Gasoline. No battery cover, weird, undersized AGM battery. Goofy in-line fuel pre-filter. Gakked out bump stops. Needs brake pads, and given the rust on the edges of the rotors, needs rotors too. NAPA starter motor (that actually works amazingly well. Car starts in a second with zero shudder. Feels like the engine doesn't freaking move a millimeter on start-up.
Not sure I want to tell what I paid, but I have $1800 of parts in the house, and a few more on the way.
When I'm done, it won't be "perfect", but it will be the best car on the planet.
CantWrite
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2021
- Location
- Placerville CO
- TDI
- 2005 Passat Wagon (BHW/5-spd conv, 03T). I keep in touch with the (2) ALH's I sold.
@larryscastle did you see this one? That looks nice as well. Since you already went to the bank......Here's one I'd buy for myself in a heartbeat if I was loaded and had the space.
The Cream Dolphin
Veteran Member
This has me looking at importing to Canada... Wow.Here's one I'd buy for myself in a heartbeat if I was loaded and had the space.
I also just noticed, is your handle "stood out?"
Mine had 210̷,0̷0̷0̷km (130̷k mi) when I got it, and it had no battery top, front, lid or hold down. Still that way at 37,0̷0̷0̷ later. I think all of Uhohs input is very useful, But I also think it is buyable and not a write off. price seems okay.
I can tell if a suspension is shot by checking rebound rates of dampers and by LOOKING at components. Cracked rubber = shot (needing replacement).
STDOUBT, I get it that you like these wagons. I am looking at this at from an unbiased position: for me I am looking for someone else. Not everyone here is willing or capable of doing major work, and the initial "beauty" comment needed to be tamped down with reality lest someone here who isn't into doing a lot of work is thinking of buying it.
STDOUBT, I get it that you like these wagons. I am looking at this at from an unbiased position: for me I am looking for someone else. Not everyone here is willing or capable of doing major work, and the initial "beauty" comment needed to be tamped down with reality lest someone here who isn't into doing a lot of work is thinking of buying it.
Buy it! That would be about $9k CAD to you (and then there's the import and shipping costs). Not sure what you mean by "write off," I did not state or imply that the car was a junker needing to go to the wreckers.
STDOUBT
Veteran Member
It's a play on the programming term STDOUT, meaning "standard output".
I am full of doubt. Standard doubt, nothing major
GlowBugTDI
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2018
- Location
- Cambridge, MN
- TDI
- 2001 Beetle GLS TDI (BIODSL). 01 original Glow Bug TDI (sold)
I was with the dolphin ...always wondered what it meant.It's a play on the programming term STDOUT, meaning "standard output".
I am full of doubt. Standard doubt, nothing major
Which begs the question. Da heck is a "cream dolphin"??!
The Cream Dolphin
Veteran Member
Haha fair enough... I have been a treeplanter for 8 years. It is piece work 13¢ per tree planted, so naturally land that is easy to plant is coveted because you make more money. Good land is called "cream," and you are constantly bending over to tuck little seedlings into the ground and then standing up - like a dolphin leaping out of the waves... A cream dolphin was a jesting name between me and my friends, and now a somewhat regrettable username. I have debated changing it because it is such a terrible name, but oh well. I am already here and somewhat known.
Glad to hear it has nothing to do with STD’sIt's a play on the programming term STDOUT, meaning "standard output".
I am full of doubt. Standard doubt, nothing major
GlowBugTDI
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2018
- Location
- Cambridge, MN
- TDI
- 2001 Beetle GLS TDI (BIODSL). 01 original Glow Bug TDI (sold)
Ah, that makes sense. Not a terrible username given the context, I just always wondered what it meant or was
. Ya, we know you too well now. There's no leaving this group your stuck here now
.
jmodge
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2015
- Location
- Greenville, MI
- TDI
- 2001 alh Jetta, RC2 w/.205's 5speed daily summer commuter and 2000 alh Jetta 5spd swap, 2" lift, hitch, stage 3 TDtuning w/.216's winter cruiser, 1996 Tacoma ALh
Nice excuse, not buying it though