Very high mileage Q's (long)

["Joshua Strait" <joshua13s@hotmail.com>]

In my search to find a Scirocco for my brother, I have come across one that 
seems promising.  It is a 1988 16v.  The only drawback is that it has 
277,000 miles on it.  The car is in great shape and the guy is also 
including two rust free primed doors, a hatch, another motor with 80,000 
miles, Euro lights, and some other odds and ends.  The car has a header and 
a Bosal exhaust.  He is asking $2000 for all of this.

I am looking for any warnings from people who have experience with high 
mileage Sciroccos or VWs in general, or any reasons why I should totally 
avoid this car.

It has a stock suspension that is a year old, and tires that are basically 
brand new.  The sunroof works fine, all of the power stuff works (power: 
mirrors, door locks, windows).  He said the owner before him commuted 3 hrs 
each day with it, so the miles are mostly highway.  It has also been garaged 
a good part of its life.  There is some bad rust damage on the driver door 
(a hole in one spot), and there is bubbling coming from under the body kit 
at the left rear fender.  Other than that, the only "major" damage is two 
good dents below the rear license plate, like it was backed into something 
(is that expensive?).  Beyond this, the car seems like it was taken care of 
really well.  The leather seats are a little rough, but there are no cracks 
in the dash and it's very clean.  If we get this car, I plan to sink about 
$1000 into it initially just to be safe.  This includes a valve job on the 
80k engine, replacing various engine gaskets, engine mounts, tie rods, ball 
joints, bushings, etc.etc....

Anyway, I guess I am looking for any reason not to buy this car.  What 
should I look for the next time I see it.  Sorry this was so long but I 
wanted to include everything.

I have a couple of pictures if anyone wants to see.

Thanks in advance,

Josh Strait
1988 Scirocco 16v (black)

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