HELP: Viewing tomorrow, got a question!

[Jack_1992]

Looking at a GTi tomorrow and everything is good BUT steering wheel is severely worn and I was wondering why this might be? Obviously as it's a GTi my main fear is that it's been ragged around its whole life! Is steering wheel wear an indication of this or is it trivial stuff like wearing of rings/sweaty hands etc?

'03 model and 82,000 miles driven.

Cheers

[Jack_1992]

http://www.ebay .co .uk/itm/2003-03-Peugeot-206-2-0-GTi-3-door-in-metallic-Blue-/400737319721

this is the one

[Capncol]

Your link doesn't work. try this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-03-Peuge ... 0737319721

The best I can do is point you to the buyers guide I wrote.
http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14343

[GrandadMonkey]

Particularly with the 3 door cars check out the two front seats specifically. Make sure they adjust with no problem. Both forwards and backwards, but in particular the seat backs. Often part of the mechanism fails and the seat backs no longer lock into position properly and/or the seat rolls backwards and forwards on its runners without locking. Make sure you do a thorough check - you don't want to find out there's a problem days after you've parted with your money.

The steering wheel does look well worn - just wear and tear by the look of it. My friend has a 3 year old Hyundai i30 with 50,000 miles on the clock and his steering wheel has worn just the same. He's a builder and has rough hands.

[Jack_1992]

Particularly with the 3 door cars check out the two front seats specifically. Make sure they adjust with no problem. Both forwards and backwards, but in particular the seat backs. Often part of the mechanism fails and the seat backs no longer lock into position properly and/or the seat rolls backwards and forwards on its runners without locking. Make sure you do a thorough check - you don't want to find out there's a problem days after you've parted with your money.

The steering wheel does look well worn - just wear and tear by the look of it. My friend has a 3 year old Hyundai i30 with 50,000 miles on the clock and his steering wheel has worn just the same. He's a builder and has rough hands.

Thanks, you are absolutely right! Test drive was good today aside from two issues. One was the driver's seat would not lock in properly and every time I braked I would be jolted forward (any idea of cost to fix?) ... and the other issue was a rattling sound coming from the cam belt area (had new cam belt recently so maybe the tensioners weren't replaced or something....not sure on that one).

[Jack_1992]

"The best I can do is point you to the buyers guide I wrote."


Thank you - will have a read!

[Capncol]

issue was a rattling sound coming from the cam belt area

Walk away. There will be others.

[GrandadMonkey]

I agree with Col. High mileage 206s which have been neglected or maintained on the cheap can cost a fortune. They may have put a new belt on it but unless the tensioner and idler pulleys have been renewed, along with the water pump and new anti-freeze mix, you can bet your bottom dollar that the whole job will have to be done again properly in a short time.

As for the seat I should budget at least a couple of hundred pounds for a replacement.

[Jack_1992]

Well I'm not sure that is has been abused. Clearly there is a design fault with the seats and I will have to budget accordingly but the issue with the belt could be disastrous sure, but at the same time could be a simple issue and cheap to fix.

For this reason I'm taking my mechanic with me for another look/drive. He's a great mechanic and the slightest hint of dodginess he will definitely sniff out!

[Capncol]

See my post above. The seats are the least of your worries. The rattling could be an easy fix such as an aux belt tensioner, or..............??
Do you want to take that chance?

There are plenty out there for sale that don't need repairing, why buy trouble?

[Jack_1992]

See my post above. The seats are the least of your worries. The rattling could be an easy fix such as an aux belt tensioner, or..............??
Do you want to take that chance?

There are plenty out there for sale that don't need repairing, why buy trouble?

Because I don't necessarily agree that it is trouble. It could just be that whoever serviced the car on the last cam belt change (7,000 miles ago) tried to do it on the cheap and not replace tensioners etc. Everything else on the car is in fantastic working order (brakes, gearbox, suspension etc.)

As I say, my mechanic will make sure that this is the case and not something else that is expensive to fix and indicative of previous abuse of the car.

If it's a risk then I will just walk away but if we can conclude that it is a simple, fixable issue....then the remaining merits of the car will be enough to make it a worthy investment.

[GrandadMonkey]

Very few cars are an investment, at best they are generally depreciating assets, at worst they are definite liabilities.

Good luck should you decide to proceed.

[gazza82]

Very few cars are an investment, at best they are generally depreciating assets, at worst they are definite liabilities.

Good luck should you decide to proceed.

Peugeots definitely come into the latter category ... :-)