Volkswagen Golf VR6

ENGINE 2792cc/V6/DOHC POWER 174bhp@5800rpm TORQUE 173lb ft@4200rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 137mph 0-60MPH 8.7 sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 26mpg TRANSMISSION four-speed auto MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 58,880 miles

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Overall this car drives as well as its low mileage would suggest, with ample power delivery and no distracting wobbles or vibrations. The automatic gearbox shifts smoothly and kicks down on command, and although the brake discs are a little rusty from a lack of use, the car does pull up well. The steering requires fractionally less effort to turn left than right, but it doesn’t interfere too much with the driving experience. The vendor is investigating a faint drumming sound from around the air filter housing on tickover.

BODYWORK CHECK

The car has been treated to a partial respray at some stage, and is generally very presentable, being devoid of dents or major scratches. The only blemishes are light scuffs on the door mirror housings and some excess glue revealing where a piece of trim on the nearside has been re-attached. The 15in BBS alloys are tidy, in spite of surface scratches and a deeper scrape on the offside front, and fitted with 205/50 tyres showing ample tread and even wear. There’s one isolated spot of corrosion on the upper part of the driver’s sill, but the door bottoms are solid. The rear wheelarches have recently been welded, as suggested by fresh underseal around these areas.

HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

The grey leather interior impresses with its tidy condition and overall lack of wear. There are only gentle creases on the seats – no rips or frays – and the plastic dash elements are free from serious scratches. We also found no sign of leaks in the carpets or corrosion under the boot carpet. The electric sunroof, heated seats and ‘Climatronic’ climate control are in full working order but the electric door mirrors are not and the nearside electric window is reluctant to wind down fully.

UNDER THE BONNET

The fluids are clean and up to their levels, wiring and pipes are intact, the radiator fins are in good condition and there appear to be no leaks but the brake discs are a little corroded at the rear and lipped at the front. There are ten stamps in the service book, the last being at 58,000 miles in 2016. A large number of MoT certificates are included, which show the car has covered just 4000 miles since 2010. There’s no evidence of restoration work in the service history but there are a few receipts, including one for an oil service in 2016.

THE CCW VIEW

An unusual colour scheme and combination of VR6 engine with an automatic gearbox make this an acquired taste. The enthusiast will find a few projects to edge it closer to perfection, but there should be nothing serious to detract from the ownership experience. It’s a very solid example.