[Closed] Buying a 2011 2.0 diesel golf (140bhp)

I had a mk5 (2005) rapidly drained battery turned out to be symptom of a borked Ecu and data bus or something. Glad it was an under warranty lease car....

I would want to see it running with a new battery in with no charge to me before even discussing a deal. Once it is idling it should generate enough from the alternator to keep it running. £96 charge to prep the vehicle is nothing I have ever seen when buying a car. It's a question of no new mot, no oil change no discussion...

My 2011 Octavia's battery ran flat somewhat unexpectedly a couple of months back after a brief hoovering out using a vac attached to the cigarette lighter - RAC came out and charged it up, all seemed OK but it then died again a few days later shortly after setting off. I'd get them to replace.

I'll make sure it's replaced or no deal. Batteries are usually f@oked if they're run that flat. He did say he'd do this as he didn't want any issues after I've taken it.

Trouble is I just don't trust second hand car guys. It's the old stereotype. You just think they're trying to shaft you from back in the day when you were buying bangers off second hand lots. Reality is now ex lease 4 yr old car can it be that bad?

I've never heard of a prep charge before, surely this should be included in the higher price you pay for buying from a dealer.

One more thing is if it's sat still and unstarted long enough for a modern battery to go flat without being run and is not the battery at fault then it's old stock and wants discounting accordingly

Modern batteries seem to have a sudden death habit. Last two batteries I replaced went from sufficiently fine to replacement in about two starts off the car.

sammaratti - Member

I've never heard of a prep charge before, surely this should be included in the higher price you pay for buying from a dealer.

Yep. Charging you to clean the car and make it road worthy before you buy it? I think I'd tell them to eff off with that one.

If the battery is flat it could be a duff alternator and that costs big money to replace. Very bizarre to find a flat battery on a car for sale, making sure it starts/runs is basic stuff. Golfs sell for good prices so if this looks cheap for a dealer it send me a bad signal. (Note I got stung by a "cheap" golf once turned out to have been an insurance write off)

£96 prep charge, jog on never heard of that before and certainly wouldn't be paying it for a car that already has potential issues, plenty of other cars and dealers out there.

there are plenty cars out there, you may as well get one thats perfect, id avoid that particular one.
£96 prep?, no way.

If they can't be bothered to look after something as simple a flat battery then move on to another. As Jambalaya says I'd be thinking it's something more than the battery.

If they can't be bothered to look after something as simple a flat battery then move on to another. As Jambalaya says I'd be thinking it's something more than the battery.

+1

Re: the prep fee, it's the norm at the "car supermarket" places, and wholly non negotiable, I imagine it's a similar thing.

Tell the garage that you have a money preparation fee of £196.

For that, you'll fully take the money out of your wallet and prepare to hand it over to them.

If they want to call part of the money you're prepared to give them a prep fee, fine. So long as it's not over and above what you were prepared to pay in total.

These places aim to move metal as quickly as possible, so they won't even have changed a battery if they could help it. I would be a bit concerned that a 4 year old, 60k mile car has a duff battery though. I run older cars and would normally expect 6-10 years out of a well used OE battery. Suggests either lots of cold starts and short runs or an underlying charging issue or battery drain fault.

Loads of Golfs on the market. If they aren't prepared to replace a battery and repeat the road test to your satisfaction before a deal, walk away. TBH, I'd be amazed if they didn't agree to that - nobody will buy it if they can't see it run under its own steam. They don't have to fit a brand new battery, just swap one over from another Golf and replace it later if the battery test on the pre-sale inspection dictates this (which it will as it's easier than dicking about trying to charge it and retest it).

Also, millions of reasons for a battery to die. Not something I'd be overly concerned about. Could be as simple as sat on the forecourt with an interior light left on.

Places that offer these 'preparation fees' are always of the arnold Clarke type, I'd stay away. I'm dubious about the whole thing, if you were to buy the car then find out a few days later say something like a switch doesn't work are they going to say you had your chance to check it over etc it's not agreed in the preparation. Just a way to make £ and shirk responsibility.

Loads of golfs about as said above, look for another?

Lots of golfs but not lots of 2.0 sport line estates!

I didn't go back and buy it as there was no negotiation on price. Now they've dropped the price on the screen online!

There's a couple I'm looking at around the same price. This one is oop North and a bit cheaper than the other comparable one that seems to be the going rate. Both ex lease as these usually are at 4yrs old.

I had the same issue at another place with another golf. No negotiation on price, I walked away then next day window ticket on auto trader was reduced by £500. Odd as I'd have bought it if they'd have knocked £500 off it as it needed a service.

Same yesterday. No negotiation, I walk away then today price ticket reduced.

They say they review the prices weekly and tweak but why miss a sale and then reduce? It is a car supermarket type place.

have you been to V12sportsandclassics in HInckley, they are cheap, most high mileage though. The thing with these places is that they don't even check the cars over at all, they are straight from auction and washed it that

Not after "cheap", I'm after good value for money.

They didn't want to negotiate as I didn't have a trade in and I didn't want finance. He smiled when I said I bet they make all their money out of the finance not the selling of cars.

Get yourself to the good auction houses and see whats on over.
I got a stonking 61 plate Seat Leon 170 FR with 40k on the clock and full history for 9K. Stuff the crap non existent warranties and rip off dealers.

I have bought at bca auctions xe lease before. I've looked at the bca car finder to see what's coming through and nothing that I want on the list hence the next step at a dealer!

Work out your monthly budget and see what PCP deals the dealers have. Sometimes they have some great deals on 1 yr old cars that may be cheaper in the long run. Bmw have some great deals. 18 month old 520d saloon 12k/yr all the toys etc £250/month for a 2yr deal with a 1k deposit. Talk to the dealers then leave them hanging. You will be surprised what they will come down to eventually. I'll never buy anything over 3yrs old again unless I know the history and the owner. I've spent 20 yrs keeping bags of crap going never again.