Hi all, sorry, I had originally posted this in the Scottish meets section but had no replies so I guessed I'd give it a try here.

I'm looking at possibly buying this car subject to some inspection but as it has some mods I'm hoping I can find out who used to own it and what exactly they did with it. It has quite unusual wheels and the laquer is peeling on the spoiler if this rings any bells? The dealer is waiting for a new log book and has no service history which puts me off right away but I figure if I get the cambelt and wp done along with a good service and inspection there's not too much left to go wrong. I would normally not look at previously modded cars but this ticks a lot of the boxes for things I'd get done anyway. Provided i could get the price down a good bit just need to sort the paint probs and find a new drivers seat as there are some burns n it. However, it does have coillies and I'd like to know what brand for rebuild purposes, it may have been remapped and obviously for insurance reasons I need to know if it has for sure and if so what sort of BHP. Basically it would be good to know who used to have it and what they did with it servicing wise before I make a decision. Hopefully someone can help! See pics below, any info would be hugely appreciated!

If you have no joy here try over on www.scottishvag.net

Great thanks! I'll have a gander!

Not personally noticed it on here before. Like the stance but dont like the open mouth bumper

Yeh liking how low that sits. Looks very clean from the photos.

No service history - walk away!

No service history - walk away!

why?

FSH usually isnt worth the paper its written on these days unless its main dealer FSH

No service history - walk away!

Aye,I know where you're coming from, which is why I'm trying to get hold of the previous owner. Apparently he worked at a garage on the southside so it may be that he did a lot of the servicing himself. I'm going back to the dealer tomorrow to have a look and I've contacted a lad on here who is a VAG mechanic to arrange for an inspection. I'd normally be very fussy about FSH but on the other hand the TDI engines have a rep for being very robust so I can't think of many issues that I'm likely to have engine wise if I get a new cambelt and a full service with filters oil and coolant? If I can get the price down enough to cover the servicing and leave me a wee cushion then I could probably live with that. I'd find it hard to believe that the car has been bought and in 77 thousand miles never serviced or had anything replaced? Out of interest can anyone think of obvious signs that the car hadn't been serviced? I'm guessing the condition of the engine oil and coolant would be a good first port of call?

why?

FSH usually isnt worth the paper its written on these days unless its main dealer FSH

I'd want to know the car had been serviced with PD oil. I bought mine when it was five years old and wouldn't have touched it without the full Skoda service history (even phoned the garage to verify).

Evans Halshaw in Motherwell have an '05 red vRS for £5k, which might be a better bet.

Aye,I know where you're coming from, which is why I'm trying to get hold of the previous owner. Apparently he worked at a garage on the southside so it may be that he did a lot of the servicing himself. I'm going back to the dealer tomorrow to have a look and I've contacted a lad on here who is a VAG mechanic to arrange for an inspection. I'd normally be very fussy about FSH but on the other hand the TDI engines have a rep for being very robust so I can't think of many issues that I'm likely to have engine wise if I get a new cambelt and a full service with filters oil and coolant? If I can get the price down enough to cover the servicing and leave me a wee cushion then I could probably live with that. I'd find it hard to believe that the car has been bought and in 77 thousand miles never serviced or had anything replaced? Out of interest can anyone think of obvious signs that the car hadn't been serviced? I'm guessing the condition of the engine oil and coolant would be a good first port of call?

If you can get hold of the previous owner and he's a mechanic then that should give you peace of mind .

Out of interest, which garage is selling it?

Yeh liking how low that sits. Looks very clean from the photos.

It does sit really nice but its not that clean in reality, no dents or major scratches though there are a few smaller scratches and stonechips on the bonnet. The foglight fairings were painted black but quite chipped, the lacquer on the spoiler is peeling a bit, the mesh on the open mouth looks a bit tatty and the old number plate screw holes still need to be smoothed on the bumper. Oh and the drivers seat has a few small burns in it so yeah, a fair few things to sort out but nothing tragic and all ammunition for haggling on the plus side.

I'd want to know the car had been serviced with PD oil. I bought mine when it was five years old and wouldn't have touched it without the full Skoda service history (even phoned the garage to verify).

Evans Halshaw in Motherwell have an '05 red vRS for £5k, which might be a better bet.

I've worked for the above company and Dixon motors before they went under (which was then bought by said company)...again referring to my previous statement, from what I saw going off at that dealership, I wouldnt have trusted it and/or classed it as an accurate SH.

If you want to make FSH a requirement do it right and get it from a main dealer, otherwise I wouldnt get too fussy about it.

Just my two penneth.

I've worked for the above company and Dixon motors before they went under (which was then bought by said company)...again referring to my previous statement, from what I saw going off at that dealership, I wouldnt have trusted it and/or classed it as an accurate SH.

If you want to make FSH a requirement do it right and get it from a main dealer, otherwise I wouldnt get too fussy about it.

Just my two penneth.

I did say it might be a better bet.

I totally agree with your comment about doing it right - main dealer or bust .

I did say it might be a better bet.

I totally agree with your comment about doing it right - main dealer or bust .

Yeh im not having a go lol, speaking from personal experience. Probably why I dont trust garages that arent main dealer for FSH.

Found it on Pistonheads -

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2123346.htm

I'd personally look elsewhere - a modded car with next to no background / history . It's not selling for a reason.

Fair enough I agree with a lot of what has been said, still worth another look though IMHO. From what I can see to get a decent 04 with similar mileage I'm looking at somewhere closer to 5k. If I can get this one a bit under 4k then it gives me a pretty large cushion to absorb any problems. I won't be buying anything without a good inspection in advance and if I can't get a really good price or feel confident that its mechanically sound then I'll leave it. I'm not in a rush so I can give it a bit longer. In fairness the first car I bought was a Citroen AX with about 120k and no history for £80 because it needed a new rear axle,new axle from an old pug and that wee diesel ran for ages and never broke down once. It took two write offs (non fault) before it was finally taken from me by a theif believe it or not :( You win some you lose some.

Out of interest can anyone indicate what they think the effects of being run on the incorrect grade of oil would be?

Found it on Pistonheads -

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2123346.htm

I'd personally look elsewhere - a modded car with next to no background / history . It's not selling for a reason.

tbh is you could get it for 3750, it maybe worth it, its exceptionally cheap and looks well, and although your odds are much much better with FSH you could still be buying a pig in a poke so to speak, there is nothing saying this is a nail or a good runner, so it would be down to you to tell, I would however get the clutch checked out and give it a thorough test drive.

I would say it would be easier for a vRS owner to pick up on any faults or unusual noises/characteristics so if you have a friend who has a vRS - take them along!

Otherwise I would say at that price its a bargain....

Alas I have no friends who drive a VRS, I do have a friend who is a bit of a VAG nut and has had a bunch of cars with the same motor. Might see if he's free...

It does sit really nice but its not that clean in reality, no dents or major scratches though there are a few smaller scratches and stonechips on the bonnet. The foglight fairings were painted black but quite chipped, the lacquer on the spoiler is peeling a bit, the mesh on the open mouth looks a bit tatty and the old number plate screw holes still need to be smoothed on the bumper. Oh and the drivers seat has a few small burns in it so yeah, a fair few things to sort out but nothing tragic and all ammunition for haggling on the plus side.

A car with no service history and cigarette burns on the seats tells me it more than likely won't have been particularly well looked after.

Or the guy smoked?!

Edited 15 October, 201015 yr by vRSsunroof

how many previous owners?

anyways...seat burns dont usually effect the mechanical side of things to my knowlege.

how many previous owners?

Says on the Pistonheads advert that he doesn't know as doesn't have the log book!!

I think if anyone wants to go down the remap route the best way is to buy a standard car and get if done yourself - that way you should (hopefully) have confidence that the job is a good 'un.

I might take a run past tomorrow and have a look at this myself out of curiousity.

I appreciate the concern from all parties, yes, I know there are a lot of things that ain't perfect (far from it) about this deal and that is basically why the price will be low. As with any used car with no warranty I'll be taking a risk. I know this and that's why I'll just go and have another look at it with someone who can do an inspection and see where it ends up going. The mods are not the reason I'm buying it and I'd rather have the remap taken off for insurance anyway, I just have to look at some of it as a positive. If there are some issues fine, as long as its all stuff that can be rectified without horrendous costs being incurred.

I'll be going for anoother look tomorrow Brian so you never know, might bump intae you.

Slightly off topic, does anyone know what splitter that is off?

Slightly off topic, does anyone know what splitter that is off?

Leon Cupra R