Used Imported Car: Beware of Unexpected Repair Costs!? 600 Days with a Used Import

It has been exactly 600 days since I purchased my Golf 7th generation (as of December 2020).

Before purchasing the Golf, I was quite apprehensive and worried about buying a used foreign car, especially a diesel one. But now, 600 days have already passed since the purchase. Like me, many people considering buying a used Golf might be curious about used foreign cars or diesel cars, particularly regarding maintenance costs and potential repair expenses. So, I've decided to summarize my maintenance expenses over these 600 days.

1. Vehicle Condition at the Time of Purchase

• Model: 2013 July registration, Volkswagen Golf 7th generation 2.0 TDI
• Mileage at the time of purchase: 91,000km
• All original except for audio tuning at the time of purchase
• Flywheel, undercarriage, engine mount, etc., had already been serviced at the time of purchase, so I decided to purchase it, anticipating no major expenses.
• Purchased in April 2020

2. Fuel Costs

2020 (April 2020 ~ December 2020, 8 months)

• Total mileage: 13,620km
• Total fuel consumption: 939.433L
• Total fuel cost: 1,049,000 KRW

2021 (January 2021 ~ December 2021)

• Total mileage: 17,582km
• Total fuel consumption: 1,151.307L
• Total fuel cost: 1,578,000 KRW

Over approximately 30,000km of driving, I've spent about 2.6 million KRW on fuel.
Assuming a 50/50 split between highway and city driving, I can drive a little over 100km per 10,000 KRW of fuel.

3. Consumables and Repair Costs

• Prior to purchase, the fuel filter, flywheel, front brake pads and discs, stabilizer link, lower arm bushing, front shock absorbers, and engine/transmission mounts were replaced.
• The following are the items I've taken care of since then.

The items highlighted in yellow in the table above should probably be considered tuning rather than maintenance.
Over 600 days, I've spent approximately 2.3 million KRW on consumables and repairs.

I'm not an overly meticulous car owner. I typically change the engine oil every 10,000km and, if any parts need replacing at that mileage, I replace them at the same time. If the repair shop recommends any additional work, I usually get it done then as well.

In summary, over 600 days, excluding insurance and taxes, I've spent about 5 million KRW on maintenance.
Actually, this translates to about 250,000 KRW per month over 20 months, which is pretty reasonable compared to my initial fears. I've been able to enjoy driving it without any major issues.

I hope this information is helpful to those considering buying a used foreign car.