$10k 2015 VW Mk7 Golf 110TSI R-Line Package 90000kms - Good Deal or Mistake

Got offered by a friend a 2015 VW Mk7 Golf 110TSI R-line package with 90000kms for $10k.

Full service history and looks in good nick aside from a few scratches. I know the reputation German cars have but this car seems cheap compared to the $15k+ similar cars on the market. For those familiar with this car are there any common issues I should watch out for?

I had a look at 2015 Toyota Corollas and they come up as $15k+ on the market. Unsure if it's worth paying 5 grand more for Toyota reliability.

Is buying a 2015 VW Golf 110TSI R-line package with 90,000kms for $10k a mistake or a good deal?

Poll Options

  • 143
    Mistake
  • 58
    Deal

Comments

  • +18

    I respectfully submit you may be asking in the wrong forum

    • +3

      Thats OPs first mistake, asking in Ozb 😂

  • +3

    Not sure if it's a Mk6 or Mk7 model in 2015. If it's a Mk6 I wouldn't touch it due to likelihood of DSG transmission failure. Mine failed four times in the four years I owned it, replaced by VW under warranty three times.

    • Mk7

      • +2

        Mk7 is just as bad, wouldn't touch a DQ200.

        Still wouldn't really touch a DQ250,
        I have a DQ380 7 speed in my tig which is made stronger for bigger cars and vans etc. wet clutch like the DQ250

        • Forget the R-line and get an R (or GTI). Those dry gears are a ticking timebomb

    • +1

      Luckily you had warranty , otherwise it would have sent you broke . Hopefully my DSG will last , but I'm hesitant in thinking that way .

    • you can replace DSG failure now for free. They have acknowledged it as manufacturer’s fault. Did one on my wife’s car

  • -2

    Do it. You only live once.

    • +11

      Everyone has to learn about secondhand euro cars at some point.
      They are more fun to drive, but lose all their value when the transmission fails at 150k.
      Best case is the electronics start randomly having glitches that don't prevent it being driven.
      That said, I know some dedicated euro drivers, usually of manuals, who are prepared to do the work themselves or have a trusted mechanic, and they can handle the reliability concerns.
      They have fun cars.
      If this doesn't sound like you, there is no way around it, unfortunately.
      If you really want to drive a euro, by new or with low KMs and sell before 100k and accept the depreciation hot.

      If I had to guess, a cheap VW has had the codes cleared and is aiming to sell before the next error.

      • Buying off a friend works if you know ylur friend well and understand why they are selling, and expect nothing of them once youve bought (if the car goes wrong)

        Personally, id consider it if i was interested in a hatchback. However, i'm interested in cars, would likely have talked to said friend about it and know its history. Id have some idea of potential issues and be fully aware its my problem if and when. Plus i also fix a lot of stuff myself and prepared to buy parts used or online to save coin. Eg ths centre diff wnet in my forester. $+700 by a mechanic, but i bought an impreza gearbox for about $200 and changed the diff in the driveway (gearbox was sloghtly different but thw diff was the same.

        • Just curious when u diy, is it a mixture of reading the car service manual and youtube videos

          • @ATTS: Used to have a manual for the car - before the internet. They were a great investment. Nowadays i have enough exerience to mostly not have to look up 'how to' I'll either dive in head first if i know what the problen is, or search online for similar symptoms or a how to guide.

      • Which ones have you driven yourself mate?

        • +1

          Polo and Golf, and a couple of Peugeots. Oh, and a work Alfa that was new with unreliable electronics. A new Audi that was faultless.
          Which secondhand euro cars have you driven that didn’t need costly maintenance after 150k?

          • +1

            @mskeggs: 2005 Golf petrol which was fine all the way to 230ish kms
            2013 Passat TDI (sold at around 170kms with no major issues)
            2018 Passat petrol (although I sold that way before 150k)
            2020 Volvo XC60 coming on 100kms with no problems.

            Regular servicing by myself and the previous owners no doubt helped

            • @charlierg: Does the xc60 burn oil? Are you servicing at manufacturer intervals or every 5k km?

              • @Jackson: Manufacturer intervals. It runs perfectly - we have had one issue - a timing sensor caused a check engine light, but was just a bit of dust on the sensor apparently.

                The XC60 has been an amazing car and the engine, the D4 diesel, has been shockingly good for a four cylinder

                • @charlierg: No worries, I thought it might have been the 4 cyl petrol

                  • @Jackson: Yes… I have another Volvo, a V60 with the four cylinder renowned for oil burning. I haven’t had the issue yet and it’s at 80,000 kms. That one I am a bit suspect on

      • How often would they need to clear the code before it lights back up?

        • Often errors like exhaust/catalytic converter, or electrical faults don't reoccur for days or weeks.

  • +5

    If you buy it you have to hand in your OzBargain membership.

  • +15

    Is buying a 2015 VW Golf 110TSI R-line package with 90000kms for $10k a mistake or a good deal?

    It's a good deal and a mistake.

    • Is he the only owner ?

  • +1

    Seems reasonably cheap for what it is. You know the reputation of 2000s and early 2010s VW. Maybe VW sorted the problems out by 2015. Good luck.

    • Hey it's me from the future, spoiler alert - they did not

  • Yeah it's good.

  • +8

    There are 2 types of Volkswagen's.

    Those that have had their mechatronic unit replaced and those that need their mechatronic unit replaced.

    Which is this one?

    • +11

      The third option is both at the same time.

      • +14

        Shroedinger's Volkswagon.

        • Yep, mechatronic unit always needs replacing when you look at it. So whatever you do, do not open the box - ignore those Check Engine lights!

  • +5

    Make a choice, friendship or car ownership, because in this scenario, the latter could obliterate the former in no time.
    My first obvious question is what the catch? I suspect if you do buy it, you'll be the second to find out what it is.

  • -2

    Does it still have VW badges on it? mistake.

    OMG and it's only an R-Line? Mistake.

  • +9

    2015 VW Mk7 Golf 110TSI R-line package with 90000kms for $10k

    Regardless of the 'deal', 100% chance this will sour a friendship when you eventually have a gearbox or engine issue. Hypothetically, if it broke down 1 day after you bought it of an unknown issue, would you be 'oh well, tough luck, guess I need to now find more money to fix it' or would you complain to your friend about the issue.
    If you arent comfortable with option #1, I wouldn't be buying a friend's car :)

    • Yeah, this is the point. But that kinda depends on what sort of person OP's friend is.

      If he's a real friend and is candid ("I cleared the CEL code before I gave it to you - these buggers have a name for doing gearboxes is why I'm getting rid of it, but so far there's no other sign of trouble. Car is great fun but") then OP should happily accept it at mate's rates. While putting some money aside.

      If he hasn't said anything like that to OP then OP should refuse while making a mental note about what sort of friend his mate is.

  • +7

    I actually own a 2013 MK7 103TSI golf.
    I’ve done 380,000km so far…
    At around the 200,000km mark the mechantronics unit was replaced (paid $1.5k cash to dealership).
    Always done a logbook service through mycar or what ever is cheapest on autoguru.
    Had an odd issue where the fuel cover flap got stuck locked. Luckily dealership was 100m down the road from the petrol station and they got it fixed. Apparently a common problem. They reprogrammed the fuel flap to never lock so I don’t get the issue again.

    I would recommend getting an OBDeleven and making some tweaks to the golf.
    I swapped out the infotainment system for a decent android head unit and added a sub woofer.
    Fun car to use as a daily driver.

  • Usually some pricey services at the 100k mark. Check it out with an independent service agent.

  • Stay away from Germany industrial rubbish after warranty.

  • The last good VW was the Beetle.

    • Seems you're saying it was only good when they were run by the national socialists. /s ;-P

    • What u liked about the beetle?

      The only vw i like is the golf R

      • 4 on the floor,twin system,bucket seats. Reliabilty,value for money(back then)economy,ease of repair and maintenance,longevity. Todays VW's? Disposable by accident

  • +3

    Most people complaining about VW's here have never owned one. Rather their mates, uncles dog had a bad experience once upon a time. You're asking the wrong people.

    • -6

      Absolutely BS. You don't need to burn your own hand on the stove to know it will hurt.

      • +8

        Rubbish. I've owned 4 Golf's over the years including 3 MK7/7.5's. One over 200,000km (current 110tsi) and one over 300,000kms. These have been the cheapest cars to maintain that I've ever owned.

        A water pump on the current car, being the biggest unscheduled maintenance I've had to undertake. And that was the easiest water pump replacement, ever. 30 min job, good on VW for designing that right on the EA211.

        • -5

          Rubbish. I've owned 4 Golf's over the years

          You're delusional to think your small sample size is indicative of the whole.

          There's a reason why euro trash depreciation jumps off a cliff after the warranty period

  • +3

    Buying this car will be the cheapest part of owning it

  • I had an mk7 110 highline Golf. Overall it was a good car. I think the clutch wore out around 50k km. It was still fine but was making some weird/grinding noise going from 3rd into 4th gear. At first only occasionally and it progressively got worse. Car was under 3y old at the time (still under warranty) so VW fixed it. I reported it on the 2nd service (couldn't reproduce) when I first noticed it and they fixed it on the 3rd. Put some money aside for repairs and maintenance. Dry clutches overheat easily in crawling traffic or city driving which is what I did most of the time.

    • That's the point with DSGs generally. Great on a twisty mountain road, on the highway or (even better) on track days. But those double clutches do not like constant stop-start traffic.

  • +2

    It's certainly cheap! I would have thought somewhere around $15k-$17k would be near the money. We paid $23k for our 2017 Alltrack wagon last year which was a reasonable price. It's our(my) 3rd modern VW product so I'm used to the higher maintenance costs and need to fix problems as they arise. They are engaging cars to drive whereas a Corolla is a bit "antiseptic" (which people obviously like because they sell lots).

    If it's a friend they won't mind if you get a specialist VW workshop to check it prior to purchase.

    The problem areas I'm aware of on the 1.4 are the timing chain & tensioner & the 7 speed dry clutch DSG. The interiors tend to fall apart after about 10 years of parking on the street.
    Parts from the dealership are expensive, less so when bought from other sources.
    Where would you be getting it serviced?

  • +2

    I had a look at 2015 Toyota Corollas and they come up as $15k+ on the market. Unsure if it's worth paying 5 grand more for Toyota reliability.

    You'll pay that 5 grand difference fixing the VW

    So if you want the more fun of the two cars then get it but don't be blind about it not becoming a money pit.

    Best thing to do would be to get an nrma inspection. Just because they're a friend doesn't mean the car won't have issues.

  • +1

    Asking in the wrong place. I myself would buy it. They are great cars.

  • So what have you decided OP?

    • +2

      Gonna have a look in person and take it to a mechanic. My friend has been clear about how the car may blow up in no time so I won't be blaming him when it does.

      • +2

        Lol. This actually happens.

        Mechanic: it is fine.
        Mechanic 🤷‍♂️ (3 weeks later, bad luck mate she's dead)

        • EDITED:The mechanic is highly unlikely to look properly (dig deep enough where required) , let alone find a ticking time bomb.OP> And if when it does shit itself all you have to show is his bill added to the burial costs of your new baby. Walk away, take some anti FOMO pills and sail on into the sunset. Ask yourself, "was I deliberately looking to own this specific make/model at this time".
          It's not like it's an investment,dude.

  • -1

    So it’s averaged 9000km pa. Red book valuation minus $10k leaves breakdown buffer if needed. You’ll have fun with the R. Join a Golf forum for positive advice going forward. Find an independent Euro mechanic to continue logbook servicing (or your mates).

    • +6

      You’ll have fun with the R

      Did you read R-Line wrong?

  • 90k it may be due for a tranny service, did mine at 70k it cost me $1100 not a biggy mk7 auto needs more service than other models. Still a good buy I love my R line.

    • Good idea. A lot of wet DSGs need a thorough fluid, filter change and preferably opening the cover near the mechatronics to remove iron sludge from the magnets before 90k km or risk damage to the valve body.

      • +2

        DQ200 is a dry clutch 7 speed

  • +1

    Great deal.

    I've been driving MK7 and 7.5 Golf cars (2016 TSI110 Comfortline and 2020 Golf R) since 2016 and have never had to do more than the logbook.

    Both cars have been great daily drivers, particularly the R. I've enjoyed great fuel economy, and from my experience, no hassles with maintenance.

    Enjoy!

  • +6

    Lol R-line, poser badge.

    Save the cash and get a TSI or keep saving until you can afford a GTI or R.

  • i dare say if the DQ200 was going to have issues it would have had them already in the last 10 years, i think seeing as its lasted that long and done 90k already its probably good for another 100k

    i had a 2015 polo GTI with the DQ200 and never had an issue in 195,000km including track days and bashing it around the hills

    any codes cleared will come back once the cars warmed up on a short drive for sure

  • -1

    If you do purchase this car, please have at least $8,000 set aside for when the dsg gearbox decides to fail.

  • Chick lives next door to me bought a tiguan. Had a mechanic look over it before purchased, said it was fine. It died 3 weeks later, would be more cost to fix than what she bought it for. 2 mechanics said should never buy secondhand euros.

    Also bad luck she has a perfectly working Calais 2003 she sold to the wreakers for $500.

    I was going to buy it but was gone the day i was going to ask.

  • -1

    RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN - Any VW product, even in warranty…. problems problems problems

    • not to mention the higher expense on logbook service and parts 🥲

  • Very unreliable car at that age, but price is great. I'd buy and resell to make profit but in no way I would use a 10 year old golf as my car. I had a similar one and at the 8 year mark started crumbling and got rid of it after the first few bills and before it closed me a fortune. Got 13.5k few months back (when it was 10 year old), so your price seems great

  • +2

    Owned a fair few VW/Audi/Porsche performance cars. I personally love them.

    I also love French cars. Especially Renault Sport vehicles as they are often a bit cheaper then the german equivilents.

    However, if someone comes to me for advice. I always tell them to just stick with petrol Japanese/Korean cars. Unless they are an enthusiastic and are happy to deal with some niggles or wrench their own cars. Then I recommend euro.

  • Personally think it's a good deal… But I haven't had experience with euro cars… But what can go wrong…

    I would just stick to the trusted Japanese or Korean brands if I can. But I think your mates offering a good price… May be worth it.

  • Look up the price of a dsg, that is the ganble you are taking.

  • +2

    In 2008 I bought an 8 year old Audi, which is a VW all the same.

    All the window regulators broke, brittle plastic bits kept snapping off, the instrument cluster screen gave up on life, the ABS module died (quoted $3000 from Audi), clear coat flaked away on every panel and for some stupid reason I threw good money after bad getting it repainted. Airbag light would come on when moving the drivers seat, despite endless contact cleaning and attempts to fix.

    I would source parts from around the world to avoid Audi Australia’s ludicrous spare part fees.

    Traded it in for $1500. No more euros for me.

    Thanks for listening to my story.

  • +1

    Just resell it before it writes itself off.

  • please, i beg you, don't put yourself through the misery of owning a vw.

  • this is DQ200 transmission (dry clutch) right? Stay far far away from it.

  • 10K is a good price. But VWs alfrom that gen are notorious for dying 🥲. GLHF

  • Those cars are not that bad. however as soon as you see 90k, it's probably hitting the major service point in which the likes of the timing belt needs to be changed. Which may be expensive.id also check it, to see if it's been in a crash.

  • Long-term not a good investment imo. 10k now which seems reasonable but long term with maintenance and problems may not yield a positive experience. Especially for your wallet.

    I suggest reading up on problems with this car. I know majority of the internet will be vocal on negative long term issues of the car. But gather as much info and conclude if it's the right car for you.

  • Decent car and decent kms. you gotta use it for a while to know it's limits though.. it's tiny interior so if you wanting to go on a road trip on it with family or friends would be a stretch. I personally would not spend that much money on a 9 year old car, but that's just me.

  • -1

    Meh, Golf is one of the most boring cars imo
    Take a Corolla 😂

    • Ah yes, down voted by an upset Golf owner for voicing an opinion.. Proves my point exactly 😂😂

  • buy it and resell it straight away to make a profit. Then buy a more reliable car

  • +2

    Haha DSG go bang

  • $10k is a good deal. I'd do it for a 2015 Mk7 :)

  • "Unsure if it's worth paying 5 grand more for Toyota reliability." you couldn't be more wrong, that should answer your question about which car to buy

  • Second hand European car out of warranty…steer clear

    Old VW transmissions are shit as well, if it hasn't blown up and been replaced already then it's yet to happen

  • Just sold my golf recently. Nine years with no out of pocket repair expenses. No squeaks or rattles. They are very high quality vehicles. DSG is the best transmission i have ever driven. Dry clutches on previous models mk7 and below is a real issue but the rest of the car is bulletproof. Had mine replaced 2 times under warranty/ good will in 140k. The new Golfs use torque converters in non gti/r golfs and they should be bulletproof and long time keepers but nowhere as a good drive as DSG models. VW has gone expensive so I switched to another brand.

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