I'm currently looking for a nice used VW, and I found this Golf on craigslist. I'm wondering if this is a good deal. It's a '98, the exterior is clean except for the border is detached from the driver side back door (could prolly glue it back on). The interior is clean. It's automatic. It runs and drives great as is, but it needs a power steering pump, the speedometer doesn't work, and the tranny "shifts rough" he says. He says the tranny will prolly last a while though. Besides that it looks real good. He will accept $700 for it. I can't really find another automatic VW that's as local as this one that's as nice as this one. Is this a good deal? Considering the repairs it will need and the fact that it might need a tranny repair in the future should I go for it?

 

That's a pretty good deal. I would start by offering him like 600 and go from there... The steering pump is not hard to replace. The speedometer, might be a bad speed sensor or the transmitter. About the tranny, try doing a flush and putting new fluid and see what happens...
Good luck!!

 

thanks for the reply and info. i already talked him down to $700 from $1000, he initially wanted around $900 but said he'd go as low as $800, then he said his wife just wants it out of the driveway so he'd accept $700. not sure if i want to talk him down any further, he might not do it. is it still a good deal for $700? although this one's the nicest local result i've found, it's not super close to me, it's an hour and 1/2 drive, so i'd prolly have to make two trips to buy it then to put the plates on so i can drive it back.

 

Yeah! Is still a good deal. I know those cars retail in excellent condition for about 3000 or even more...