Scirocco Central

Hello folks,

My missus is after a new car having had a disastrous experience with a BMW Mini, we've found a 60 plate 1.4 tsi 160 that on the test drive feels smooth,pulls well, handles nice and tight and looks in good condition. I've checked and its a MY2011 car which means in theory it should be free of the edu caused issues that can afflict earlier models if my research is correct? My biggest worry with the car is service history, it has 3 original dealer services and one cam shaft angle sensor replacement (forgive me if that terminology is incorrect) in its time but didn't have the major plug change service or the minor service following it(although long life has been ticked on the history for the last service it had 2 years ago). This worries me as I'm reading the spark plug gapping can cause misfire issues that lead onto pistons deciding they want to commit hari kari.

VW are wanting £300 for a major service that just isn't in the budget right now, were stretching our budget to look at the lower end of the scirocco market as it is.

Now on 80,000 miles would you buy this car? It drives well,sounds healthy and seems fairly priced, but with nagging doubts over that major missed service I don't want another car disaster that causes undue stress.

Cheers!

Can u not haggle the price of a plug change with a reputable garage off the price? That'd be where I would be, but if it runs fine. And the idle isn't lumpy (obvious misfire) then I'd go for it.


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I've already haggled the price down, its from a dealers and I'm confident he won't go lower. If it needs a plug change I can do that myself as long as I know I'm putting the right plugs in I'm just worried the damage is already done? My other thought is that if the plugs were wrong from the factory surely the block would be in pieces by now and not running anyway at 80,000 miles?

I think ur worrying too much, if there are no signs of an issue - and as u say at 80k there would be if something was a miss then sounds like should be fine. When buying from a dealer u get. 6 month period where any faults that would have been present at purchase are covered by dealer anyway (sale of goods) . I'd change the plugs just make sure u get the right ones, if u r really that worried get the dealer to pop the plugs out or u can do it when u get car home to check for carbon/signs of an issue. If all clean and good then change them up and away u go. If there is sign of issue take it back .


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I would say, don't touch this, or indeed any 1.4 tsi 160s with a barge pole - especially one with 80k on the clock and without FSH. Certainty, I wouldn't look to run one without an extended VW warranty. Engine issues have been reported with MY2011, and I've seen a couple of serious engine issues reported even with MY2012. I thought it interesting that when my MY2012 11 plate failed its emissions (with just 30k on clock) VW told the dealer to swap out the injectors before even replacing a lamba sensor.

My car felt as smooth silk when I sold it, but I couldn't have recommended it as a buy to anyone.

Assume you're looking at a manual, since the clutches on the 1.4 autos are a nailed-on failure point.