Q: I'm looking at a car for my son. It's an awesome little car in excellent condition. Is this a bad idea for use as a daily driver? 2003 VW Jetta 1.8 T

asked by on March 18, 2017

I'm looking at buying a used 2003 VW Jetta 1.8t for my son. But since it is turbo I was wondering if this is a bad idea for a daily driver? I'm not familiar with how turbo works and have been trying to research it. The car only has 123,000 miles and is well taken care of and would not be used for racing purposes or speed. Any feedback is greatly appreciated THANKS!

My car has 12300 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Hello - awesome little car indeed! Despite the usual caveat of high-performance cars for (relatively) new drivers, a small sedan like this is a great choice. The usual cautions about taking care of turbocharged engines apply here - always use synthetic oil, service the engine on schedule, always let it idle for a minute or two if possible after driving it vigorously to let the turbo cool, and watch for any signs of overheating or smoke that would suggest a blown head gasket or turbocharger oil seal leak - clogs the catalytic converter. I would suggest a pre-purchase inspection of any potential purchase, performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to the vehicle location, inspect it thoroughly, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for any needed repairs.

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