Cabriolet advice

scottduffy

scottduffy

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Hi guys,

I went today to view a golf cabriolet and although it's a stunning car I have one niggling issue.

The wind deflector was in its bag in the boot and had mould on the front. The salesman couldn't explain why and said maybe it's been kept in a shed or garage. This is a plausible explanation but under the boot opening was lots of water drops like condensation and I'm wary all is not as it should be.

I've never owned or wanted a convertible before and only came across this when looking for a normal golf hatchback.

Anyone know can't these things. Should I steer clear. I'm giving them a decision tomorrow.

For info the car is a 63 plate with low mileage 13000 ish so doesn't seem to have been overused.

I appreciate any advice.
 
Simples. If in doubt give it a miss. It might be a great deal for the price BUT you may have problems later on. Pass on by and look for something else.
 
I owned a convertible for years. There should never been any condensation in the boot.
 
Sounds like there has been a historic leak/spillage in the boot that's not been allowed to dry out properly, or there's an ongoing leak into the boot. Give the boot carpets a sniff, they'll soon smell a bit musty if the boot's been damp a while.

I'd watch the salesman strip the boot out - get him to peel back carpets and remove the spare wheel - before inspecting carefully throughout the noot and wheelwell for further water damage or water pooling. From the salesman's casual attitude to it the car's been sitting with them for a while and not looked after or checked over since it.arrived.

Are you going to garage it if you buy it or will it be stood outside over the rest of winter?
 
find a forum for the brand and ask questions.
 
It would be used all through the winter as my wife has just returned her qashqai so this will be her new car. I might see if I can muster a mechanic to go with me tomorrow. I know a couple but not sure if they're working.

I just assumed that these cars although soft top would be as dry if you like as the hard top version.

As for warranty as it's three years old there's none unless I pay to take one out. I assume that will be possible.
 
thats not correct ,all used cars from a dealer will have to have a minimum of 3 months warranty by law ,on low mileage vehicles they usually extend that to 6 months .if they are stipulating no warranty then something is VERY VERY dodgy indeed .you would also want a full years m.o.t put on it if you do go ahead
 
I'd lay odds that the dealer won't consider a damp boot as a warranty fix once you've driven it away. As someone else has already said, there shouldn't be any water in the boot anyway. How has it got in? Must be a failed seal or distorted panel gaps. I'd steer well clear.
 
scottduffy said:
I just assumed that these cars although soft top would be as dry if you like as the hard top version.
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It should be. But like hard-tops the seals can perish or get damaged, doors can be left open in the rain, and shunts/collisions can leave gaps between panels.

The worst damp problem I ever had with a car was self-inflicted. Absolutely cream-crackered after an afternoon coppicing I left a full load of freshly cut firewood in the car overnight. It must have sweated out a couple of litres of water and it took weeks to get the car fully dry again.

scottduffy said:
As for warranty as it's three years old there's none unless I pay to take one out. I assume that will be possible.
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You've 3 months statutory protection, walkaway if the even try to get you to waive this.
 
the black fox said:
thats not correct ,all used cars from a dealer will have to have a minimum of 3 months warranty by law ,on low mileage vehicles they usually extend that to 6 months .if they are stipulating no warranty then something is VERY VERY dodgy indeed .you would also want a full years m.o.t put on it if you do go ahead
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Thanks for the heads up, I didn't know that!
(I'm in the process of looking for another one too)
 
I didn't know about the 3 months protection. Thanks for letting me know.

Right now I think she's leaning toward leaving it and getting a focus. I just thought that car was a much better looking car albeit much more expensive.
 
Just to be clearer there wasn't any water in the boot as in puddles or anything. When I opened the boot the underside of the boot lip at the top had water droplets all along it.

Hope that makes sense.
 
Mrs Nod's convertible (20 years old next year) only leaked when a leaf blew in under the bonnet and blocked a scuttle drain, causing the accumulated water to drain into the driver's footwell via the washer tube and pedal box. After pumping it out and using a dehumidifier box, it's dry. The boot has never had condensation or damp. I'd pass on this car and keep looking for a good, dry one.
 
scottduffy said:
Just to be clearer there wasn't any water in the boot as in puddles or anything. When I opened the boot the underside of the boot lip at the top had water droplets all along it.

Hope that makes sense.
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The mould on the wind deflector demonstrates far too much moisture in that boot.
 
scottduffy said:
Just to be clearer there wasn't any water in the boot as in puddles or anything. When I opened the boot the underside of the boot lip at the top had water droplets all along it.

Hope that makes sense.
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That sounds more like condensation. It would still have to come from water (or water vapour) getting into the boot from somewhere and condensing on the boot lid so there's still a problem somewhere.
 
That's exactly what I thought. I suppose it could have been kept somewhere else but I'm not sure.

The top of the rear bumper had lots of little scratches on it which I immediately thought was from a dog jumping in and out so this could also have been the cause of damp in the boot I suppose but it's a big risk.
 
scottduffy said:
That's exactly what I thought. I suppose it could have been kept somewhere else but I'm not sure.

The top of the rear bumper had lots of little scratches on it which I immediately thought was from a dog jumping in and out so this could also have been the cause of damp in the boot I suppose but it's a big risk.
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A cabriolet boot would seem an odd choice for a dog owner to keep their pet(s) in, it's not impossible but seems unlikely. They wouldn't be the source of the damp if that were the case
 
Not as strange as a handbag though and there's plenty in them. I get what you mean but the boot is not small by any means. All except giant breeds would be able to fit in there. Either that or someone held captive in there p***ed themselves whilst clawing their way out.
 
Surely nobody would shut their dog in a closed boot? Our car is a saloon with a boot...we put the dog on the back seat.
 
Convertibles are quite prone to leaks. When I worked at Volkswagen we had a lot of problems with the VW Eos. Leaking/Creaking/Wind Noise etc.
If the Wind Deflector was mouldy, and there was condensation on the inside of the tailgate its very likely its got a leak.


Too be honest the amount of sunshine in this country convertibles are not really used to their full potential.
Always makes me laugh when you see drivers in the winter, wrapped up with Hats/Scarfs/Coats etc with the roof down??
 
scottduffy said:
Not as strange as a handbag though and there's plenty in them. I get what you mean but the boot is not small by any means. All except giant breeds would be able to fit in there. Either that or someone held captive in there p***ed themselves whilst clawing their way out.
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I'd bet more on the later TBH. It's not the size so much as anyone actually sticking a dog in a closed boot (as opposed to say a hatch or estate). Unlikely
 
Oxford_Matt said:
Convertibles are quite prone to leaks. When I worked at Volkswagen we had a lot of problems with the VW Eos. Leaking/Creaking/Wind Noise etc.
If the Wind Deflector was mouldy, and there was condensation on the inside of the tailgate its very likely its got a leak.


Too be honest the amount of sunshine in this country convertibles are not really used to their full potential.
Always makes me laugh when you see drivers in the winter, wrapped up with Hats/Scarfs/Coats etc with the roof down??
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Never had a leak in mine. The problem with the Eos is design, it's a 3 part roof (like the 3 series). That extra join is another seal that could potentially cause a problem.

I did have the roof down in winter sunshine, making full use of the air scarf whilst enjoying the sun.
 
boyfalldown said:
I'd bet more on the later TBH. It's not the size so much as anyone actually sticking a dog in a closed boot (as opposed to say a hatch or estate). Unlikely
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I've seen many people put their dog in the boot. Admittedly it was years ago when saloons were more prominent and there were less hatchback options available.
 
Don't forget to have an HPI check first before buying.

Golden rule about car buying = if in doubt walk away
 
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Oxford_Matt said:
.
Always makes me laugh when you see drivers in the winter, wrapped up with Hats/Scarfs/Coats etc with the roof down??
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I'm the opposite, I hate to see people in convertibles with the roof up unless it's raining hard. When I drove the sprite regularly (no roof so not even convertible) it's MOT ran out in February, so even if it wasn't being used I'd have to take it out to test it.
 
@scottduffy A couple of other things to bear in mind are the insurance and running costs. A Focus - presumably you are not thinking of a ST - will probably be cheaper to insure than the VW as, no doubt, will the servicing costs.
 
David_H said:
@scottduffy A couple of other things to bear in mind are the insurance and running costs. A Focus - presumably you are not thinking of a ST - will probably be cheaper to insure than the VW as, no doubt, will the servicing costs.
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My Focus ST is cheap to insure and run.
 
nilagin said:
My Focus ST is cheap to insure and run.
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I guess that will depend upon how many miles you do per annum along with the excesses you have taken and where you live, along with age and NCB.
Give us an idea on those parameters and how much it costs. That will possibly give the OP and idea of what he is looking at insurance wise.
What are your servicing costs?

David
 
David_H said:
I guess that will depend upon how many miles you do per annum along with the excesses you have taken and where you live, along with age and NCB.
Give us an idea on those parameters and how much it costs. That will possibly give the OP and idea of what he is looking at insurance wise.
What are your servicing costs?

David
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Insurance is £245 with £150 excess, Age 54, Full NCB. RM postcode in Essex, which has one of the highest car theft rates in the country. Mileage, anything from 9-10k per year. Servicing cost is exactly the same as any other Focus, 1st yr sevice - £150, 2nd yr service- £183, 3rd year service including MOT and air con service - £330.
 
Phil V said:
I'm the opposite, I hate to see people in convertibles with the roof up unless it's raining hard. When I drove the sprite regularly (no roof so not even convertible) it's MOT ran out in February, so even if it wasn't being used I'd have to take it out to test it.
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Exactly! What's the point of having a convertible if you don't take advantage of it.
 
Surely nobody would shut their dog in a closed boot? Our car is a saloon with a boot...we put the dog on the back seat.

I think normally the dog would be in there with the parcel shelf off. I didn't mean locked in. Haha.
 
I assume like normal cars the passenger shelf is removable. Maybe not. My wife has just agreed to buy an astra. Thanks for all the advice folks. Seemed just too big a risk.

[quote uid=16040 name="scottduffy" post=7675621]Not as strange as a handbag though and there's plenty in them. I get what you mean but the boot is not small by any means. All except giant breeds would be able to fit in there. Either that or someone held captive in there p***ed themselves whilst clawing their way out.[/QUOTE]<br /><br />I'd bet more on the later TBH. It's not the size so much as anyone actually sticking a dog in a closed boot (as opposed to say a hatch or estate). Unlikely
 
Phil V said:
I'm the opposite, I hate to see people in convertibles with the roof up unless it's raining hard.
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There are plenty of days I just look at the weather and think "nah", so am completely neutral about other people's choices with respect to their vehicle roof. I still prefer driving the convertible to the boring diesel Audi estate that lumbers along with only 180bhp.
 
Like most cabriolets, I don't believe Golfs have a removable parcel shelf to retain rigidity.
 
post: 7677049 said:
You want a 6-series BMW convertible. Proper car.
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Is that the one on which indicators are an optional extra, and front fogs used as daylight running lights? :D
 
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