If it's had the cambelt done recently, that's a big plus.

Same with the MOT - one of the few weak spots of this car is the front suspension top knuckle joint. It's all held together with a big bolt. To save pennies, VW fitted an ordinary steel bolt, not a stainless one. After a couple of winters it corrodes into a solid lump, so if the knuckle joint starts knocking, the bolt can't removed. So the top suspension arms need replacing too, and that's £400 to £500 each side for parts and labour. It's a pig of a job. But if it's passed the MOT it should be good at least until this time next year.

The VW diesels of this era with the 'PD' engine need a special oil as the camshaft operates the injectors as well as the valves. The oil has a special additive to prevent rapid cam wear, but as the car is 15 years old it would appear that the proper oil has been used. Just make sure you buy the correct oil for VAG PD diesels for topping up (you can get it in Halfords).

As the Elektrik&ACDoc said, feel the passenger side carpet. If it's wet, water is getting in via the heater plenum and will soak the 'comfort' ECU which governs electric windows etc. If it's dry, good.

Test drive if you can, it should pull like a train from 1500rpm to 3000+rpm. Older cars can have niggles with leaky vacuum pipes governing the turbo boost and EGR valve, causing jerky running or very low boost = low power. If it pulls hard from 1500rpm, good. Don't worry if the engine seems noisy - they were always noisy and clattery from new.

Good luck!

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Engine oil from eBay is a snip. Quantum long life oil (VAGs own brand) is only £25 for 5L but check the code you need. VW505 I think it is.

Edited by CHarkin on 25/10/2019 at 11:14

Went and saw the car yesterday. It's in really good condition body and interior are both very tidy. It drives really nicely, I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the ride was, but I've been driving m sport BMWs for the last few years so most cars feel smooth compared to those.

I took it out for a 20 minute drive on country roads and A roads. Gearbox was surprisingly smooth (only autos I've driven have been the latest 8sp BMW sport versions) and when I put my foot down it certainly responded and you could feel it pulling along nicely.

I quizzed him on why he's selling it and it's because the tax is due on it and he's got no work on until next June and needs to put a load of money in his business account. He's also selling a couple of motor bikes and another car, so is clearly having a bit of a clear out. Loads and loads of service records and receipts from garages over the years, seems like a very organised person with everything relating to his cars in a big folder.

The cam belt was done around 20,000 miles ago and passenger mats were dry. All in all I got a pretty good feeling about the seller and the car so I think I'm going to go for it.