those two points say NO
I believe thay need a new radiator and flush out at around 100K to keep them running cool
Tell Me About a 1997 Golf VR6!
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those two points say NO
I believe thay need a new radiator and flush out at around 100K to keep them running cool
[TW]Fox;16981219 said:
The fact that it's 13 years old doesn't bother me as to me, there is something special about the VR6.
Also, mileage can vary from car to car though can't it, if i'm mistaken. Say 120k in a E39 is not much when compared to 120K on a Fiesta.The piece of road it's on is extremely common for people selling cars, i think things may be a bit different in Cornwall.
If i do go and have a proper look at it with the owner i'll be sure to check dampers, but if i do get it it'll be going on some proper GMAX springs, dropped to the floor and some wolfrace rims on her.......only joshing......
The trade price is £390 and the retail price of one is £1750.
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Soldato
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No complaints with mine been utterly reliable for the 3 years I've had it. I love driving it and definitely recommend one.
Because a VR6 has none of the above.
Ok, its 7 years newer than what I had. But its still a relatively old car.
before then the golfs had the previous generation o2o boxes (in fact a box carried over to the mk4 1.6 and youve prolly heard about the issues theyve had)
with something like a VR6 you have really quite a bullet proof package. my 16v shares a lot of the hardware underneath. for example i changed ball joints on mine about this time last year. they were still original and there was no actual need to change them, they were still fine
the CVs were all fine until i damaged the thread on one and had to replace it.
honestly, they are a good bunch of components
There is nothing that drives quite like them on the open road 
they'll easily do 200+K miles - but generally need maintenance, especially timing chains every ~70K so its probably got another 10K or so before it starts to need looking at again (if its been maintainted properly - if not as above it probably needs a bit of work around 120K).
I would say go for it but then I'm just a fanboy
they'll easily do 200+K miles - but generally need maintenance, especially timing chains every ~70K so its probably got another 10K or so before it starts to need looking at again (if its been maintainted properly - if not as above it probably needs a bit of work around 120K).I would say go for it but then I'm just a fanboy
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errr these arent free, why dont you do your own HPI check lol
I just thought some people might have access to a HPI checker like a car dealership. Asked my cousin now.
Associate
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the raw of the vr6 is lovely !
I had a Corrado VR6 and loved every minute of driving it.
Whilst high mileage isn't too much of an issue with these, they do seem to suffer from worn liners (most commonly on 1+6) which conveniently shoots oil directly at the spark plug. This isn't too much of an issue in terms of running, they'll carry on running like this for another 50K miles and beyond, but when it gets worse, it can mean cleaning the spark plugs on the offending cylinders every 500-1000 miles.
Ignition systems on these are terrible as well, mostly due to the heat they have to endure. They eat leads as fast as they do petrol, especially cheap pattern ones, although decent aftermarket ones are a lot better, but aren't cheap. The other issue is with the coilpacks, which have a tendency to crack and burn themselves out.
Other than that, rear subframe/trailing arm bushes on the MK3s are pretty common.
Whilst high mileage isn't too much of an issue with these, they do seem to suffer from worn liners (most commonly on 1+6) which conveniently shoots oil directly at the spark plug. This isn't too much of an issue in terms of running, they'll carry on running like this for another 50K miles and beyond, but when it gets worse, it can mean cleaning the spark plugs on the offending cylinders every 500-1000 miles.
Ignition systems on these are terrible as well, mostly due to the heat they have to endure. They eat leads as fast as they do petrol, especially cheap pattern ones, although decent aftermarket ones are a lot better, but aren't cheap. The other issue is with the coilpacks, which have a tendency to crack and burn themselves out.
Other than that, rear subframe/trailing arm bushes on the MK3s are pretty common.
I had a Golf VR6 Highline (black, 5 doors, R reg) and it was one of the best cars I've ever owned. In some ways I thought it was better than my current mk4 4Mo and the TT's I had after it. I loved it. The common issues with them tend to be rust along the lower doors, hatch and along the windscreen (if windscreen poorly replaced), electrical issues (check all heater/aircon settings work, etc) and most importantly check that the timing chains have been done if it is high mileage (doh, silly thing to say as they will all be highish mileage now). The VR6 engine is pretty bullet proof and will last easily a couple of hundred k. But the chains can need doing from anywhere between 100k and 200k depending on how it has been driven and how it has been serviced. Look on Youtube for some examples of the chain rattle they make. They can last a long time if rattling but eventually they will go, and this can destroy the engine.
Lovely car though. I'd have one again. In fact I'd probably still have one if some scrote hadn't stolen it.
I remember driving it back from Birmingham to London and every tunnel I went through I turned the radio off just to listen to the engine. Great cars. But don't expect it to go around corners that well. It will grip well but wallow a lot.
Other issues.. clutch and head gasket just like any other high mileage car.
But, oh, that sound
EDIT: Thanks for the above Corrado post. It all makes sense now. I used to find that my Golf VR6 ran much better if I replaced the spark plugs every year. I thought this was normal but it looks like a fault
Lovely car though. I'd have one again. In fact I'd probably still have one if some scrote hadn't stolen it.
I remember driving it back from Birmingham to London and every tunnel I went through I turned the radio off just to listen to the engine. Great cars. But don't expect it to go around corners that well. It will grip well but wallow a lot.
Other issues.. clutch and head gasket just like any other high mileage car.
But, oh, that sound
EDIT: Thanks for the above Corrado post. It all makes sense now. I used to find that my Golf VR6 ran much better if I replaced the spark plugs every year. I thought this was normal but it looks like a fault
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Well that's entirely possible without the help of oil all over them (plus, you'd know about this!)
Did you use the ridiculously expensive dealer supplied platinum/iridium plugs? Because these engines run so hot, they can kill plugs naturally quite quickly, so once a year isn't bad.
Did you use the ridiculously expensive dealer supplied platinum/iridium plugs? Because these engines run so hot, they can kill plugs naturally quite quickly, so once a year isn't bad.
They don't handle too badly if you muscle em, sure its a bit of work around town but IMO thats half the fun of them.
what spec is it? leather and all the other goodies etc? 3 or 5 door?
at the end of the day it's an R reg vr6 with (comparitively low) mileage. take it for a test drive and then make your mind up. knock 10% off the price atleast and see what the seller says
at the end of the day it's an R reg vr6 with (comparitively low) mileage. take it for a test drive and then make your mind up. knock 10% off the price atleast and see what the seller says
I've had mine for around 18 months now and it's been almost 100% reliable, this is the extent of the 'problems' I've had with mine:
- Starter solenoid. Replaced at a cost of £12.
- Gear shift rod broken at the bracket on the shifter. 10 minutes with a welding set and it's all good again.
Perhaps you were unlucky and I've been lucky :shrugs:
It's a 3 door. 10 CD Disk changer and air con/climate control. Not leather though but i'm not too bothered about that.
Cousin, who works at a ford dealer, HPI checked it and it's clean. 5 owners and the current owner has had it since 2004.
The only thing externally bad about it is that there is some corrosion on those lovely BBS rims.
Only thing that is really stopping me at the moment is the insurance.
Personally I'd rather have a 306 GTi-6 handles better, just as quick, more frugal, less to go wrong and cheaper to tax too! You'd only get a poor one for £1k though. ideally you're looking at £1.5k for a decent one and £2k+ for a great one.
handles better, just as quick, more frugal, less to go wrong and cheaper to tax too! You'd only get a poor one for £1k though. ideally you're looking at £1.5k for a decent one and £2k+ for a great one.