NPoCP: What if I could have this car for $1500?

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/04/2018 at 12:45 • Filed to: None

119k miles, original owner.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/2004-volkswagen-jetta-gl/6602715538.html

DISCUSSION (22)

Tripper > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 12:58

That’s a NP at $1500. That’s about my limit for “whoops that was a mistake”, and that car seems to have been well cared for. I have heard that those Jetta’s are a pain to wrench on but have no actual experience with that era of VW’s.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tripper
06/04/2018 at 13:05

I know the owner(s). That’s the FFP: Friends & Family Price

I can be sure it hasn’t been abused, either.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:05

That’s the best engine of the worst Jetta. For $1500, it’s a fine deal (see if the fuel pump was replaced; if not, keep an extra in your trunk)...just don’t go on a long trip outside of civilization.

gawdzillla > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:06

only if its TDI

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/04/2018 at 13:11

Not ever ? Does it poop a fuel pump on a regular basis?

Tripper > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:11

I can’t see how you could go wrong for $1500 on that. Most cars are barely running at that price.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tripper
06/04/2018 at 13:12

That’s my feeling. As well, the original owner is also in the family.

punkgoose17 > Tripper
06/04/2018 at 13:12

I had a 2001 Jetta VR6 it was a horrible pain in the ass to work on and one of the reasons I am done with VWs, but this is still NP.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:20

I can say that I’ve never encountered a VW owner of a Passat or Jetta of that era (myself included) that hasn’t been left stranded by a dead fuel pump, usually every 75-100k miles. Something with the way the electrical connections, not the actual pumping part of the pump.

Otherwise the 2.0 is okay, as far as VWs go. Gremlins, sure, but I’d think they’d have sorted themselves out by that mileage.

Klaus Schmoll > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:30

Are you still looking for a car for your daughter? The Mk IV (called Bora over here) is considered a boring but reliable car over here, I don’t really understand where the hate for it in the US comes from.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 13:35

2.slow will never been fun but it’s a fine beater, maybe even too clean for beater status. Def a good deal for the price.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/04/2018 at 13:36

No ALH is best Mk4 engine. At least it has the potential to be fun.

Tristan > gawdzillla
06/04/2018 at 14:02

Triple that price for a TDI.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/04/2018 at 14:05

Thank you.

Tristan > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 14:06

The Mark 4 gets a bad rap. Sure, the interior armrests are made of cardboard and they fall apart, sure the door lock mechanisms need attention, sure everything (and I mean everything) is assembled with torque-to-yield triple-square bolts, sure they smell like crayons when left in the sun, sure the back doors are unnecessarily long and your kids will bang them into everything, but they’re very comfortable and pretty fun to drive when they’re working right.

$1,500 is NP for this rather nice looking example.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Klaus Schmoll
06/04/2018 at 14:06

My daughter bought a car. This one belongs to my brother and he’s offering me a FFP (Friends and Family Price). I kind of hate to pass it up.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/04/2018 at 14:07

Thanks.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tristan
06/04/2018 at 14:09

Thank you, Tristan. Everything you’ve said here is pretty much everything I’ve supposed. I’ve owned several VWs over the years, but older than this one. The car belongs to my brother and his wife bought it new. I hate to pass it up at that price.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Klaus Schmoll
06/04/2018 at 14:11

It is not considered reliable over here.

Tristan > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 14:15

My wife and I owned an ‘04 BEW TDI GLS 5-speed. I loved it despite its idiosyncrasies. The only reason we sold it was because we didn’t want to pay to ship it from FL to OR when we moved. Also, the notorious BEW PD camshaft wear was starting to show. Still, we drove that little guy from FL to MN several times. Comfy and 750 miles to a tank on the highway! The 2.0 isn’t fast, but it’s economical- though not as good as a TDI, it’ll be cheaper to maintain.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/04/2018 at 14:42

That’s rock bottom for a decent running car these days, so as long as you’re ready for the infamous millennial VW issues go for it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tristan
06/04/2018 at 14:49

Good info. Thank you. I wouldn’t wanna TDI, though I owned an ‘84 Jetta turbodiesel. That was a fun car until some idiot ran into it because STARGAZING...