Ex Driving Instructor Car

SaveyMcSaveface

Hello All,

I am looking to buy a car in Germany, I have found a 1.6L Diesel MK7 VW Golf (2 years old). It has 40,000 miles on it. It is being sold under VWs Das Welt Auto approved used scheme.

Given that it is approved used and therefore comes with a 1year warranty does it seem a reasonable purchase to get despite being an ex driving instructors car?

Many thanks.

Clive_Woody

I am no mechanic but I suspect a car used by learner drivers will not have had an easy life

My first thought is the clutch will have taken some abuse as new drivers figure out clutch control, plus for a diesel to do lots of short journeys I thought was not a good thing (assuming learners don't travel long distances in their lessons).

I suppose it depends how good the price is and whether it leaves you with funds for any repair if required.

pappa_golf

plus for a diesel to do lots of short journeys I thought was not a good thing


I would imagine the vehicle is actually in use for 10-12 hrs a day

Clive_Woody

pappa_golf wrote: »

plus for a diesel to do lots of short journeys I thought was not a good thing


I would imagine the vehicle is actually in use for 10-12 hrs a day

I thought the DPF thingy (excuse the technical terms) needed some decent long runs to regenerate rather than 10hrs of stop start short journeys?

Genuine question as I honestly don't know.

AdrianC

Clive_Woody wrote: »

I thought the DPF thingy (excuse the technical terms) needed some decent long runs to regenerate rather than 10hrs of stop start short journeys?

Genuine question as I honestly don't know.

What it needs is temperature.

Ten working hours running almost solidly, mainly at low speed or stationary, may well get temperatures in the exhaust higher than a hundred miles of gentle motorway cruise, with low throttle opening and load and a high cooling airflow.

peter12345678910

Not just heavy clutch use involving holding biting point on a hill, but the occasional rough handling of the gearbox.

So a clutch fluid and gear oil change may not be enough.

Head_The_Ball

There must be plenty of 2 year old Golfs for sale in Germany.

Can't you find one that wasn't used to teach learners?

almillar

One small detail - if this is a German car, are you planning to drive it in Germany? If it's left hand drive it's of less use (and value) in right hand drive UK.

SaveyMcSaveface

Car is for use in Germany.

Here learners also have to do motorway driving so will have also been driven at speed.

Near where I am it is harder than you would think to get a decent 2yr old one for a good price. Some with 75,000 miles on them cost near €12,000

---lee---

I think lack of mechanical sympathy in general on the components/subsystems would be a concern for me.

For example, think of the strain on the steering and suspension components from all the maneuvers whilst stopped. Hitting kerbs etc.

The engine would be an area of minimal concern to me. Different driving styles by different drivers would be good for it IMO, especially for a diesel. It won't have done short runs as lessons are usually at least an hour and I would expect a lot of people go for trips of far less than that in their own cars.

AdrianC

SaveyMcSaveface wrote: »

Near where I am it is harder than you would think to get a decent 2yr old one for a good price. Some with 75,000 miles on them cost near €12,000

There's a huge cross-Europe traffic in used LHD cars - and it keeps the values so much higher than we're used to in the UK.

As well as the nearer bits of Eastern Europe, go to Spain and Italy and you'll see plenty of car dealers advertising "direct from Germany". As they age further, they head to some of the further reaches of Eastern Europe. Some of them just head straight to dodgier climes, with or without keys and the owner's permission.