Flipping Country! Guys please read

[Liqui-Moly]

Hello Guys.

Please read the thread below....

For those who are lost... My mums friend asked me to help her find a nice MK4 GTi. I obliged and she sent me the details of a GTI she was going to buy.

Two days ago I posted a thread on another forum asking about ways I could look up the VIN of a vehicle and its history as I didnt want my mums friend to get a lemon... The hunt started and these are the results... Because of this c*ock up she now wont be buying a MK4 GTi... Which is a pity as Im sure you will agree. Take a read below.

The original Post: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index....rdseen#new

Quote:Alright guys... Today there is a lesson to be learnt...

If you remember In my first post I asked for a way to check the history of a vehicle by using its VIN. I didnt get much response from the forum but continued. Now to explain.

The car is for a friend of my mums who has always wanted a GTi. She found out from my mom that I was a GTI fanatic and begged me to help her with advice and help. I naturally obliged.

She then emailed me this description of the vehicle:

Volkswagen Golf 18T GTi Exec,
2003 Silver Metallic 114 600 km, Petrol, Hatchback, 5 Doors, Manual, 1 Owner, ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Air bags, Alarm remote controlled, Alloy wheels, Bumper and mirror in color, CD Multichanger, Central doorlocks with remote control, Chair heating, Chairs adjustable in height, Climate Control, Computer, Electric mirrors, Electric sunroof, Electric windows, Foglights, Full service history, Immobiliser, Leather interior, Power assisted steering, Radio/CD. Awesome!!R 114 495

This was taken directly off this link hosted by a company called Imperial Select. A very trustworthy and common car reseller:

http://search.autotrader.co.za/dpmza/car...185602743#

At this point I advised Jane (Fictional Name) that this was an absolute bargain and she must ask for the car to be kept aside for her. As the advert said. What an awesome vehicle.

I told Jane I would get the car sussed out and called Volkswagen Cape Town (Head Office). After supplying them the VIN they told me everything I already knew. They then told me they did the first service on the vehicle.

From there onwards the car should have had a 40 000km service. And a 80 000km service. VW could not tell me if this had been done as there was no record of it. They could however tell me that the car had been serviced at the Bellville branch.

I then continued to call the Bellville branch and after supplying the VIN asked for everything they had. The results were disturbing.

1. VW Belville Serviced the vehicle on 27/09/2007
2. At that time the car had: 120 936km on the clock. Anyone seeing the issue?
3. It was a big service. Cambelts, plugs, bearings and a variety of other issues. Even dodgier.
4. There is no longer a record of any servicing and no documents were processed to VW stating that Imperial Select now owned the car.

So two years ago this vehicle had 120 936km on the clock. Yet its selling for 117 000km on the clock? According to VW the car needed many parts replacing. Possibly from an accident?

I then called Jane and told her the news. Naturally she was flabergasted and upset as she was going to buy the vehicle this weekend. I have since talked to her about a MK5 TDI or 2.0 Litre Trendline. I personally am shocked as I never expected this.

So lesson for today.

NEVER BUY A VEHICLE WITHOUT CHECKING ITS HISTORY VIA A VIN CODE WITH AT LEAST 2 VW DEALERS!

Mike

Mike