Discussion
With a slightly too large Bork factor, I have got myself a '99 passat estate, with 155k on the clock, for the princely sum of 590 of your finest english pounds... Much man-maths dictated that the only sensible engine choice was the 2.8 v6 with four wheel drive of course. At ~£3 per horsepower (193 of them!) it does seem like a bit of a bargain.
BUT... No history. A few jobs to be sorted (locks that work would be a nice addition), a new bonnet if one comes up in the right colour, maybe some new pads, and an exhaust repair, plus a cambelt+waterpump change before a summer run to France if i can learn how to do such things beforehand and we'll be ready to go!
Cream leather (drivers seat worn), heated seats that work, and a 6 disk changer in the boot make it a lovely place to be. Cracked veneer all round, lack of aerial, and a constant worry about fuel economy bankrupting this young gent slightly less so...
I'm on trend with the current lowering/stancing of every volkswagen product by loading up the boot with enough rubble to make sills meet floor, ready for a tip run in the morning before work. Well it's cheaper than coilovers! Photo's to follow when I can get photobucket to upload them (internet explorer on the works laptop may be to blame...)!
BUT... No history. A few jobs to be sorted (locks that work would be a nice addition), a new bonnet if one comes up in the right colour, maybe some new pads, and an exhaust repair, plus a cambelt+waterpump change before a summer run to France if i can learn how to do such things beforehand and we'll be ready to go!
Cream leather (drivers seat worn), heated seats that work, and a 6 disk changer in the boot make it a lovely place to be. Cracked veneer all round, lack of aerial, and a constant worry about fuel economy bankrupting this young gent slightly less so...
I'm on trend with the current lowering/stancing of every volkswagen product by loading up the boot with enough rubble to make sills meet floor, ready for a tip run in the morning before work. Well it's cheaper than coilovers! Photo's to follow when I can get photobucket to upload them (internet explorer on the works laptop may be to blame...)!
It drives pretty well to be honest for a fat lump, steering is a little numb but probably to be expected from a car like this. That said, the only other things i've driven for any time are a string of peugeot partner/citroen berlingo vans so it's superb in comparison! I've not used it much in anger tbh, or even at all as i'm working away a lot. Did a norfolk-southport run over easter in traffic, 32mpg according to the computer, and it's proved itself as a nice place to be for 5 hours, and surprisingly reliable.
There's a strange intermittent buzzing noise from in here. Happens with the ignition turned on, but the engine off, and also when the engine's running. I'm guessing an alternator/starter motor problem, but for all i know it could be the heaters!
Vid (with engine off): http://s1334.photobucket.com/user/Luke_Beirne/medi...
Started first time this evening having been sat for 2 1/2 weeks, which was a relief, right up to the point the plastic clip on the passenger side window snapped and the glass dropped...
Haven't got a large enough star driver to remove these screws so i'm stumped until tomorrow (anyone near bury st edmunds?)
hopefully the scrappies will be open to replace brittle 15 year old plastic with further brittle 15 year old plastic in a well calculated shedding equation, preventing this from becoming permanent.
If anyone can hazard a guess as to why a bonnet that seems undamaged underneath looks like this above then please do let me know!
Other gratuitous piccys;
So fix, drive occasionally, abuse, rinse, repeat, until i get some time to give it some proper attention before heading to france on holiday in July.
There's a strange intermittent buzzing noise from in here. Happens with the ignition turned on, but the engine off, and also when the engine's running. I'm guessing an alternator/starter motor problem, but for all i know it could be the heaters!
Vid (with engine off): http://s1334.photobucket.com/user/Luke_Beirne/medi...
Started first time this evening having been sat for 2 1/2 weeks, which was a relief, right up to the point the plastic clip on the passenger side window snapped and the glass dropped...
Haven't got a large enough star driver to remove these screws so i'm stumped until tomorrow (anyone near bury st edmunds?)
hopefully the scrappies will be open to replace brittle 15 year old plastic with further brittle 15 year old plastic in a well calculated shedding equation, preventing this from becoming permanent.
If anyone can hazard a guess as to why a bonnet that seems undamaged underneath looks like this above then please do let me know!
Other gratuitous piccys;
So fix, drive occasionally, abuse, rinse, repeat, until i get some time to give it some proper attention before heading to france on holiday in July.
That looks like plenty of shed for not much cash, nice one 
The bonnet, I would guess, has been vandalised years ago (keyed or brake fluid,etc.)
Was repaired at the time but not particularly well, paint has lifted, crazed or reacted in some way over the years, bit of rust has set in, and then it's been "repaired" again for resale with a tin of left over emulsion and a roller!!
The bonnet, I would guess, has been vandalised years ago (keyed or brake fluid,etc.)
Was repaired at the time but not particularly well, paint has lifted, crazed or reacted in some way over the years, bit of rust has set in, and then it's been "repaired" again for resale with a tin of left over emulsion and a roller!!
Well oil change at the weekend semi-successful (need to get an oil filter spanner), air filter and pollen filter easy! Interestingly the air filter was a nice looking K&N unit, not a cone, so i've thrown the cheapo new one in for now, with every intention of cleaning the k&n and re-instating once the new-one's crap. Trip to the scrappy in search of new lock barrels and a new bonnet less successful, but the electric window's fixed, and the car's left sat for another week before another 500 mile round trip on friday to see the gf.
3k miles in 2 months in a <£600 car. Touch wood everythings still ticking over lovely, but i'm not sure commiting the value of the car to do cambelt and a few other bits is really for me. I do enjoy the dub, and the occasional planting of the foot moment watching the horizon appear, 3am motorway blasts, and even shuffling it down the twisties make it a really enjoyable place to be. The seats eat up the miles in comfort, but i can't keep on with cam-belt roulette on holiday, and i'd rather change for something with longer T&T and better history and either better economy or more power... Lets see what appears soon then!
SO i go to france on sunday, and thought i'd drop the vw into the garage for a once-over as it's been running jolly warm. Thought my cheepo coolant might be the problem, apparently it's the head gasket... BUGGER. And so ends my love affair with the big dub. Still got T&T til end of september so i might hire something for the hols (if anyone will hire to a 23 y/o to take abroad?) and then run into ground, or buy another cheap motor (dropping £500 on a bike last month doesn't seem such a good plan now...) Ideas on a postcard?
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff