craigowl

Many British car workers of my generation contributed to the downward spiral of quality and the industry themselves. In 1969, my wife's British Leyland 1100, bought new in instalments from her hard-earned shift work pay only 3 years previously, collapsed on the tyre jack because of rotten sills. These are the things that colour your prejudices in life. A neighbour when we lived in the west of Scotland worked at the last major car factory in this country. He cited instances of workers cycling out of work after shifts with all manner of components - even car batteries - under their coats. Further, at an appointed time at an appointed factory gate, new tyres could be obtained from the back of a swiftly unloaded van. Workers like me, a scientific civil servant who only went on strike on 2 days in nearly 40 years in an era when major British strikes were in the news every day for years, can only say "Hell mend you" when companies like Rover go under. I know such companies are British in origin, but the facts are that greedy individuals (England-based union leaders of Scottish birth among them) led to the terminal decline of some of our best industries and employers. Thatcherism seems to have done for the ego-tripping union leaders and strikes, but generated misery in other ways. Only honesty, conscientiousness, hard work and general decency by 99% of the population can lead to Utopia. Unlikely to occur in our time.

phatvr6 is spoiling for a fight again! :D and a Stradivarius is only catgut and wood. :wink: :evil:

Greed, strikes which held the country to ransom, and smug complacency started the dismantling of the once revered British car and motorcycle industries in the 1960s and 1970s.

Done 3 of them OK. Two on 14-year old Peugeot, too! Had to cannibalize one set to get a few letters. Hope never to have to do them again unless an improved version becomes available. By the time I got to the fourth one I was able to get it all on in one piece. Expertise comes with practice. Sharp pointed tweezers come in useful, too, for the brain surgery! Timing chains should be a doddle after this. :roll:

Andi said I had a feeling it could be like a surgical operation. Mind you, the one I got on using the hair drier heat went on in a oner - not a letter at a time. Perhaps this is a technique that could be perfected. I will keep forum informed. Probably won't do it today or tomorrow as we are being swamped with air from the Arctic up here. 8) 8) 8)

What is the best way to get the interior stickers off the backing and then attach to glass? No instructions with them and method not obvious to the uninitiated, and I must have done a lot of sticking in my day. :wink: I bought a couple a while ago and screwed up with one. I guessed heat from a hair drier might help and got one on. Would be grateful for step-by-step instructions for new ones I have acquired. Thanks in anticipation.

I chalked up the following on my garage wall when I removed coilpack. top - 6 4 2 bottom - 1 3 5.

Many folks will not buy a car like a Corrado where it is suspected that the vehicle has been used for towing. :wink:

A few months ago I asked if any Storm owners were worried about having this badge nicked, or have any of them removed it for safekeeping. Did not get a response but, clearly, there is an increasing risk of theft.

My daughter bought a Golf 4 1.6 this week. I went with her to the dealers and test drove it during the week. We collected it today and drove it a lot more. It was registered in Jan 2002 and has about 28k miles on it. Frankly, I find it quite a good drive, solid, taught and comfortable. I know this version of the Golf has had a lot of adverse publicity, but do any of you think this was just Jeremy and Tiff types being hypercritical? My own feeling is that unless it's a tail-happy overpowered job you have to criticise many perfectly sound cars to preserve your macho/"I know all about cars" image. :evil: If you really know the car, let's have your views.

This morning (Saturday) in Edinburgh, my son (ex-VR6 C owner) met helpful gent with black N-reg VR6 with about 57K miles on clock. CCGB member.

Timo said Good one. Remember, those guys have seen it all, and "Burning brightly, rather than fading away" only sounds good in the pub!

So sorry to hear that, craigbeal. Since we have lived here, my neighbours' 20-year old son was killed in his XR2 when it hit an artic pulling out of side road. Jason was wild and was undoubtedly going too fast on a road that was known to be a race track for local young guys. Then about 7 years ago, two of my youngest son's friends (both about 20) going too fast on black ice hit a Volvo, one girl was killed instantly and the other is in a wheelchair for life. My doctor's daughter is also in a wheelchair - she was a passenger with a group of young friends driving hairily on a road in the highlands. The car spun and hit a rocky outcrop. Our doctor, younger than me, never got over it and had to take early retirement. All terrible consequences of joie de vivre/ignorance/lack of prudence and machismo. Do all take care - when you are older you will probably realise how foolish and wasteful it all is. Sorry for the lecture, but these are needless tragedies affecting good young people with great potential and most of their lives ahead of them.

Ultimate in tastefulness - "British", too!

Personality clashes and grudges, of which 90% of us know nothing of their origins - please cast them aside. 8) After all, we are all united in our enthusiasm for Volkswagen's Corrado and that should take precedence over everything else.

Corradostorm wrote Sorry, corradostorm, not really an attempt to get at individuals on the CCGB committee, but merely an observation of human behaviour. Think of a U.S. president of a few decades ago, too. Clearly, the stress of all this CCGB/Cforum kefuffle makes for paranoia. The best thing will be for everyone to bite their tongues, be patient and trust that the CCGB and the Corrado forum will now be able to progress on a new footing, either together, or separately.

It is amazing how many weak, greedy people are selected by apparently sensible people into positions of trust. (I have just renewed my subscription in the hope of a better future, though.)

I always remember Victoria Wood's comment about Readers' Wives many years ago, viz. "The thing that intrigues me whenever my boyfriend shows me Readers' Wives is how many ugly headboards there must be in this country." :D

I accept that in an island community you are accustomed to taking a different perspective on things like this than we might on the less restricted space and more populated mainland. We live and learn. Best regards, 8) Iain

Why agonise so? :?: :? Life can be megatons tougher than this. It's only a car and you want to sell it, so it cannot be that precious to you. Further, most material things can be replaced by something better. Take the guy's money - make sure you get it from him securely, though - and if he is such a prat that he writes it off in a couple of weeks that is his problem. Possibly you have him judged wrongly, perhaps he comes across as an obnoxious a##hole but will cherish the car a lot.

In Glencoe this afternoon - silver G60. Nice long-haired girl standing beside it and, er German number plates.

Andi said 'Tis because they are very functional, reliable, quality cars. The "secret" about Skodas is starting to become common knowledge now and non-believers are casting aside their prejudices! My son was lent one of the new top of the range Octavias a few weeks ago to do a write up in our county paper. We agreed it was incredible value and top quality. Three years ago I had Octavia Tdi on my short list before Corrado Storm appeared at Skoda garage seven miles away and changed my views (at least for the time being.)

Previous owner (from new) of my Storm traded it in at local Skoda garage for Octavia RS - that is how I got lucky. He is over 60, by the way.

GIXXERUK said Agree. Father in law's Marina automatic was worst wallowing car I ever drove. Very good at getting onto the wrong side of the road on bends.

mistrall - your avatar As a fishy person myself, :wink: I have to ask you what is that disgustingly bloated coarse fish you are holding? I know you will be itching for someone to ask you how you caught it and what it weighed, etc. For eating, we tend to go for salmon, trout and oysters up here - do you Anglo Saxons still eat pike, carp and swans, then? :wink: