[JMBeach]

Found an ‘07 Eos with 108k miles. Two liter turbo. Top doesn’t work (current owner says “it needs a new motor”). Top is closed currently. Car in great shape otherwise. Asking $3500. I realize top could be as simple as replacing hydraulic pump or something more complicated. Questions-
1. Is that a good deal?
2. How reliable are the 2.0 T motors?
3. Other than pump, what are common failure points for top?

 

[voxmagna]

The car may look great from the outside top up but hide a ton of roof work underneath that can only be done by specialists. 'Great shape' for a cabriolet is whether the roof works without leaks or faults, otherwise it has little value. The only way I would look at a 2007 with a non-operational roof deal wise is if it the engine sounded ok and it was priced at near scrap or parts value. Then if you found the cost of putting everything right was too much for you, you would get back as scrap or spares value most of what you paid.

There's plenty to read here about the difficulties members have doing DIY repairs on the EOS roof if you search. Many make the mistake of buying a cheap EOS only to underestimate the complexity and repair cost of what they have bought.

 

[doregan]

The price is not bad especially given the prices of used cars today. In addition to the roof issue, I would want to know the maintenance history of the car, especially if the timing belt has been replaced. A Carfax would be valuable.

The problem with the roof means the you cannot get at the seals to make sure they are properly maintained and lubricated to prevent water leaks into the vehicle. Dry seals also mean a lot of noise. The top is quite a complex mechanism and not usually easy to repair. You may need to take it to an authorized VW dealer ($$$ x 10^3) or to a very good and experienced independent VW mechanic who has prior experience with maintaining Eos roofs. My mechanic, who specializes in VW, Audi, BMW, and MB, has told me he has no interest in working on an Eos roof.

Also, you want to make sure you can open the trunk.

It is generally an expensive car to maintain and operate since it takes 91 octane gas and synthetic motor oil. Tires are large and on the expensive side due to size.

It is an enjoyable car to drive and handles well (a roller skate with radial tires) . I hardly drive it with the top down. If you have some confidence in the reliability of the drivetrain, you live in a dry climate, and can generally park the car under cover, it could be a good deal.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[cb391]

$3500 might be too much. If the roof motor is bad, why wasn't it replaced? Are you ready to sink money into it? Not knowing what has been previously done, it may need a timing belt kit and trans fluid change. It may need plugs. There may have been water leaking into the car. It may need $1000 or more just on maintenance. The motor is pretty dependable once you get past the more than normal oil usage. I have a 2007 and if were to replace it, I would go 2009 or newer. If you want to find the value of the car, I would look it up on a site such as Edmunds. It the roof doesn't work, you may want to avoid this car.

 

[voxmagna]

The only 2007 EOS I would buy is my own because I know exactly what I have done to it and have had it long enough to know there are no hidden surprises.

 

[Nefos]

Found an ‘07 Eos with 108k miles. Two liter turbo. Top doesn’t work (current owner says “it needs a new motor”). Top is closed currently. Car in great shape otherwise. Asking $3500. I realize top could be as simple as replacing hydraulic pump or something more complicated. Questions-
1. Is that a good deal?
2. How reliable are the 2.0 T motors?
3. Other than pump, what are common failure points for top?

1. I can't really comment on that, I do not know the US car market. it should go below the average Eos 2.0T price, as the roof fault.
2. They are generally not too bad, this is the same engine as the golf MK5 GTI. Keep it serviced, change the timing belt, and it should be good. Over 1.5 years and 8k miles (starting at 140k miles) it is been good to me.
3. So that is the thing with the roof, I found getting parts challenging. I mean they do exist used, but I have a hard time finding them new. For example the seals, there is no after market, you have to go to VW, and the prices are steep (£200s for 1 part of the seal). Make sure the roof is good condition, that is the part that can make the car or turn it into a financial mistake.

 

[UKMOGG]

If it is a spare car and you have an extra covered garage space and you love your local VW dealer or have a passion for high-risk, computer-based car maintenance with very fiddly mechanical bits and specialized tools on a mechanism that is so powerful it can bend its own elements, go for it, you won't be disappointed! They are great fun, even without the top working, just roll down all the windows and roll back the sunroof and have a ball! HOWEVER, I'm not kidding about the first part.

 

[midician]

A non working roof is reason to scrap the car, in many cases. Too expensive to repair. If however you just want it as a sedan with a small boot space, then its OK. Just make sure the roof does not leak, and that the timing belt has been done, as those jobs can be very expensive to fix.

 

[SALBERS]

Found an ‘07 Eos with 108k miles. Two liter turbo. Top doesn’t work (current owner says “it needs a new motor”). Top is closed currently. Car in great shape otherwise. Asking $3500. I realize top could be as simple as replacing hydraulic pump or something more complicated. Questions-
1. Is that a good deal?
2. How reliable are the 2.0 T motors?
3. Other than pump, what are common failure points for top?

I recommend you offer the seller $5k for the car AFTER he fixes the top. My last dealer top repair cost $20k. (It works a treat now.)

 

[Palingman]

You really should compare it to an equivalent German car. You are most likely buying a 2-door sedan, not a convertible. Quick fix could be pump oil or worn hose. On the flip-side, the roof mech could be mangled. Buy it as a hard-top sedan only.

 

[voxmagna]

Even a working cabriolet roof is no guarantee it won't fail again and needs more money spent. If you want to buy a cabriolet, first decide if you want to start on the steep technical knowledge learning curve, have the skills to do DIY work on a complex car, or have deep pockets to pay somebody else.

A quick fix may solve one problem, but many more may be lurking unless you know its owner history from new and it spent most of its time garaged? You won't find any insurance company who will give you an any fault breakdown policy on the roof. That's because they learned the high cost of cabriolet roof repairs loses them money - and they are experts at risk stats and numbers.

 

[bobmoran]

My son has saved some money and is looking for a 2010+ GTI 6MT (only). The "problem" is that many of them around here have been thrashed and are priced ridiculously, IMO. He knows this so is sitting tight and keeping his money in his pocket (at my insistence ). A couple EOS 6MT have come across my radar in similar condition to the one you are interested in, and I told him that they are just a GTI "coupe" with far less likelihood of being beat on. He wants what he wants so I can't help that... I would definitely hook my VCDS to any one that I found to see what "treasures" lie within.

 

[voxmagna]

You do that after test driving it and having operated the roof several times when any new fault codes should be stored. I would expect any selling dealer to clear fault codes when it's sat on the lot waiting for a buyer. I'd take it once through a car wash as well before parting with money. They shouldn'y complain if you pay to get it washed, then you can really check around inside for roof or trunk seal leaks. It's a pretty aggressive test for an EOS, but at least it shows up the worst of any leaks.

 

[ABFAM]

Found an ‘07 Eos with 108k miles. Two liter turbo. Top doesn’t work (current owner says “it needs a new motor”). Top is closed currently. Car in great shape otherwise. Asking $3500. I realize top could be as simple as replacing hydraulic pump or something more complicated. Questions-
1. Is that a good deal?
2. How reliable are the 2.0 T motors?
3. Other than pump, what are common failure points for top?

I own

 

[voxmagna]

If you buy a car with no wheels and are told it's a runner when you can't try it, would you buy it?