[GoldenBunip]

So I looked at an R32 last night and I have a few questions if anybody has the time please. It was a Mk4 with +100k miles, but in pristine body condition (almost a little to good condition for the milage). High miles I have no issues with the TT is on 160k and runs sweetly.

Firstly, I'm very used to the 1.8T 225 MK1 TT, so I was expecting the R32 to be of similar build quality.
So do the MK4 r32 usually rattle? This one had rattling dash and a glovebox that sounded detached. Not at all what I was expecting at all. Is this normal or a (as I suspect) a symptom of something else that may have happened.

Secondly, a sucking noise under acceleration? I have only driven turbos for the last 10 years, be that wiesel or petrol, so a large NA engine is still quite foreign to me. The car made a noise that could only be described as a sucking sound under acceleration at lower revs. Is that also standard on an R?

Third, the service book didn't have Haldex Oil as an option (unless I missed it) only haldex filter. I know the haldex has two service schedules, Oil at every 20k and filter every 40k, but I could only see the filter tix box in the manual. Is this right or did I miss something. The car had over 100k and only ONE tick for the haldex filter!

Needless to say I don't think that was the motor for me.
On wards and upwards,

 

[alexmac]

So I looked at an R32 last night and I have a few questions if anybody has the time please. It was a Mk4 with +100k miles, but in pristine body condition (almost a little to good condition for the milage). High miles I have no issues with the TT is on 160k and runs sweetly.

Firstly, I'm very used to the 1.8T 225 MK1 TT, so I was expecting the R32 to be of similar build quality.
So do the MK4 r32 usually rattle? This one had rattling dash and a glovebox that sounded detached. Not at all what I was expecting at all. Is this normal or a (as I suspect) a symptom of something else that may have happened.

Secondly, a sucking noise under acceleration? I have only driven turbos for the last 10 years, be that wiesel or petrol, so a large NA engine is still quite foreign to me. The car made a noise that could only be described as a sucking sound under acceleration at lower revs. Is that also standard on an R?

Third, the service book didn't have Haldex Oil as an option (unless I missed it) only haldex filter. I know the haldex has two service schedules, Oil at every 20k and filter every 40k, but I could only see the filter tix box in the manual. Is this right or did I miss something. The car had over 100k and only ONE tick for the haldex filter!

Needless to say I don't think that was the motor for me.
On wards and upwards,

The interior does rattle/creaks and little bit here and there but nothing bad.

Did the car have an induction kit or performance filter fitted? As this may be the sucking noise. Mine never sucked before I fitted the induction kit.

I have been told by mechanics that a lot of the time the boxes don't get ticked off when actually completed, so it's possible that the work on the Valdez has actually been carried out. But then again the service manual may be accurate.

If it was me I would not buy it from what I have read but that's me, and its hard to judge a car when you haven't actually seen it in real life. I don't know what your budget is but I have seen a few very clean examples for sale in the past month for around the £7500 mark. My advice would be to test drive a few more then you can get a feel for what normal and what's not.
Hope this helps

Alex

 

[CorradoR32]

No they shouldn't rattle unduly. Look for a thick gauge red wire coming off the battery that doesn't look standard. That means a previous owner has pulled bits of the interior out to fit amps etc and rarely do they ever replace broken clips or put the trims back on properly.
Another reason why interiors are pulled apart is to investigate climatronic flap positioning motor issues.

Mine rattled when I got it and that was the cause - previous bloody owners bodging things.

It's pretty much rattle free now I have sorted everything. The only things that rattle are the handbrake release button and the seat belt buckle!

Sucking noise - Yes if you press the throttle hard the engine will gulp air, but it shouldn't be making a loud sucking noise when cruising on part throttle or gentle acceleration. It could be the serpentine belt or one of the pulleys it drives. Check also for air leak noises around the intake.

A service book with missing ticks isn't uncommon, but I usually do both the filter and oil at 20K. Whilst you're under there and all that.

You'll work through quite a few sheddy MK4s until you find the right one, but hang in there, it's worth it!