1997 Volkswagen Golf

K2 Hatchback

4 - Cyl.

Manual

3VWKA81H0VM031341

Gasoline

- This 1997 VW Golf K2 was leased new by my parents in Feb. 1997 from the VW dealership in Warrington, PA, with 35 miles on it. This Golf served as a family car for its first 4 years. When the lease ended in 2001, we purchased it, and I have owned it since. As a result, this car has been in one family since it was new. The car has traveled an even mix of around-town and highway driving, and it now serves both as a commuter car and the weekend car that gets my husband and me into the mountains for snow-shoeing and X-country skiing, camping or other longer trips. From 1997-2007, it resided in PA.; it has been in Oregon since July 2007 when we moved across the country. It remains a great car that is versatile, clean, well cared for, a fuel saver, and very reliable. - Tornado Red; original paint and very clean. Please view the photos. The car did not have a clear-coat finish, so the paint has faded some over time, but regular washes and waxes maintain the shine. - Seats 5 with belts. - Non-smoking owner with no pets. - K2 Edition, which includes the original roof racks for hauling skis and the original pair of K2 El Camino 188-cm skis that came from VW in their promotion. The skis remain in their original packaging and have never been opened. The roof racks are in perfect working order and include keys for security. This K2 edition car also includes a dealer-specific pinstripe in white, yellow and black; it ends at the hatchback with a skier, which has faded with time (see photo). - K2 Edition also includes heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, and side-mirror and back-window de-icers, all in perfect working order. - Odometer: 109,684 (as of 2/17/2011) and counting; regularly garage-kept. - 5-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive; 4-cylinder, 2.0 liter, 115-hp, fuel-injected engine (regular unleaded gasoline); I average 25 mpg around town and 30+ mpg highway. - Dual air bags, daytime running lights, front and rear wheel splash guards, and fog lights. - Anti-theft alarm for car and radio. - Child safety rear door locks. - Power glass sunroof with tilt and slide and sun shade, also in perfect working order with no leaks. - Air-conditioning outputs very cold and works fine. - Original carpet, floor mats, & "Spirit" upholstery throughout with height-adjustable driver's seat. After years of having the original floor mats covered by another set, I have returned to the original set, and they look nearly new. The interior has been well-maintained with no stains or tears and little fading; it is regularly vacuumed. - Includes full-size spare tire in the back trunk (although this raises the carpet slightly). - Original Owner's Manual with instructions on installing the ski racks. - OEM sound system (4 speakers, AM/FM/Cassette), works like new. The digital display for the radio is starting to fade, making it more difficult to read the radio station number, but the sound system still sounds great. - Detailed Maintenance Spreadsheet (with paper receipts) for the life of the car. KNOWN ISSUES (it is 14 years old): - There is a slight crack in the lower corner of the windshield (passenger side) - due to a small stone kicked up from a truck while driving across the country to Oregon in 2007; the crack was repaired immediately, and there have been no issues since. - There is a minor oil leak; due to short-mileage trips around town during the week, the oil is changed approximately every 4-6 months. From the oil change at 108,420 in September 2010 to the oil change at 109,326 in January 2011, the oil was approximately a 1/2-quart low. - In April 2010, a compression test was run when the spark plugs were replaced. Lower compression was found to be in cylinder #2, indicating piston ring wear, according to my VW mechanic in Oregon. Although I must always use the emergency brake when parked on an incline, the car gives no other indications of this. It runs smoothly with no trouble on the highway. - As stated earlier, a clear-coat was never applied to the paint, so while the car has always been regularly washed and waxed, there are some areas that have faded when viewed close-up, such as the hood. There are no dents, and the only area of slight rust is on the passenger side near the back wheel (see photo). An in-person inspection will show the imperfections that have developed over the years. - My mechanic recommended a brake fluid change this summer during its most recent inspection in January 2011. - The battery is 4 years old and was tested February 2011; it was recommended to be changed this fall. IMPORTANT NOTICES: 1) A $500 nonrefundable deposit (via PayPal only) is required within 48 hours of auction closing. If the PayPal deposit is not received in full within 48 hours, we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle, sell it to the next high bidder, or sell it otherwise. 2) Full payment (via Paypal, certified check, or cash in person only at pick-up) within 10 calendar days of auction closing. 3) No "off-line" transactions will be accepted. 4) The title & key transfers will proceed only after all funds are clear, released & available to the seller. 5) Buyer is solely responsible for any transfer, notary, or registration fees or taxes from the purchase of the vehicle. 6) Delivery is not offered nor provided; pick-up or transportation arrangements are solely up to the buyer to arrange. 7) Pick-up of the vehicle must occur within 45 calendar days of the auction closing. A $10/day storage fee will apply for each day after 45 days. 8) This vehicle is offered "as is" - no warranty is offered or implied. Thanks for looking.