skinnyman9000

In some cases its good that cars dont age well. For example, people dont believe that my Corrado is 17yrs old. When i mention the past problems they think its an unreliable 10yr old car, then when i tell thems it bordering on 18yrs old they say "oh, well thats not too bad then". Also, if i had a series 1 RST, i'd want people to know it was old skool cool

Oh definately, im not looking for another car to 'love' as such (without that sounding disturbing). But the Focus seems very reliable, handlines brilliantly, and looks decent. However, the performance figures are great, and the engines can achieve 200bhp easily, but beyond that i've been told to start looking at uprating the pistons, which is cack for a 30bhp increase, especially when you look at what the standard 1.8T pistons can handle. So i think the decision has been made for a Seat Ibiza Cupra. 190/200bhp with minimum fuss, thankyou very much

Haha, yes that would make an excellent daily! To be honest even if i got it fixed i still wouldnt be confident in the car, i'd rather it go to someone else as i would be afraid to spend any unnecessary money on it, which isn't a good thing. Problem is im now starting to look at Ford Focus ST170's........

This was the discussion i was having with my dad. He said i should sort the throttle/brake problem, and then get 12months MOT on it before i sell it. But then i pointed out, by the time i've done that there would be no sense in selling it, as it would be pretty much completely sorted? Its all swings and roundabouts really. Plus with the luck i've had with the car i can imagine deciding to keep it, getting all the problem fixed, and then having something happen like the gearbox give way, or have a major crash. I think i have fallen out of love with it, ive been driving it (despite it being rough) for the past few days, and im still perfectly happy to sell it. A few months ago that just wouldnt of happened. But then i guess with £5k there is the other choice, get a VR6.........

Well they only made 75 Ibiza Cupra R's, and at least 10 have been written off, so i dont think finding one of those is likely. Ive been looking into the Integra DC2 a little more though. Pretty much described as a 'drivers' care, very communicative steering and handling etc. The only think that puts me off is the fact that the suspension and brakes need regular work. Not sure how regular, but the braking and suspension system can prove to be the most expensive area on a car to buy for. Its still something to consider though. At the minute im just thinking that an Ibiza gives me what im after. They look perfectly good in standard form (unlike the mk4 golf 1.8T) and with a few small touches they an be made to be pretty nippy.

I understand that it wont depreciate and is a 'different' car. But the last time i went for something 'special' that would hold its value i got a corrado, and look how that went :lol: Ive seen the 1996/1997 Integra Type R's go for £5kish. Unfortunately though with the majority of Jap cars the interior is proper naff. I love the styling of them, and i know from my dad's Accord that they are reliable, and damn fast i should imagine, but i dont think i could stand being in that cabin all day.

I also got it for Crimbo, but mines still in the plastic wrapper, hmmmm

Ive been away over New Years so ive lost track of this topic. We've been to Portsmouth for New Years, we went down in my mates mk4 golf GTI. 200miles there, 170 miles driving here there and everywhere sorting things, then 200 miles back. and it didnt miss a beat. Now i know for a fact that the C wouldnt have managed to do the trip, and THAT is why its going. I know i'll want another one at some point, but i'll make sure i take a LONG time to get the right one. So now i essentially have £5k with which to buy a newer car. I did have a big list, but i think ive chosen a Seat Ibiza Cupra. 2001 models with 50k on the clock can be found for £5k, and they seem fairly reliable. I did have other cars in the shortlist, such as an Integra, Focus ST170, BMW 3 series etc. It came down to the Integra and Ibiza. My mate used to have an Integra and they're very nice cars, and super reliable, but unfortunately i know sod all about them, whereas with the Ibiza i do, plus i dont fancy leaving the VW scene in general. So, the C is on the way out and an Ibiza is on the way back in. The only was i'd own a C again would be as a 2nd car, and if i had at least £6k to buy a bloody decent VR6.

I can vouce for the Honda thing. My dad has a W plate Accord. 80k on the clock when he bought it, its at 122k now. Apart from a few braking issues he's only had to spend £10 on a suspension arm, sod all else. Its literally cost him bugger all to run. But then again he's the slowest driver in the world, the engine has never seen above 3k rpm. I want a car thats maximum 6yrs old, and for that in the Honda range i'd be looking at the 1.6 VTEC civic, but they dont float my boat, and the gear lever is on the dashboard! Either that or within my budget im looking at a very good condition older Type R, but they're not really a very good idea for a daily. Basically im going to have around £5k to spend. So i'll be looking at 2001 plate Cupra R's with around 70k on the clock

I've been put off Corrado's to be honest. Im swaying towards a Seat Ibiza cupra......

True. The throttle issue could be something as simple as an air leak. To be honest, if someone offered me £1200 i'd let them take it, unfortunately i'd rather let it go for less than i should than have the pressure on my mind. Someone could come along, solve the brakes/throttle issue in a day, then get a mate to sort the bodywork, and have the whole thing fixed for a few hundred, but i just dont want the weight on my shoulders anymore.

I know how you feel mate. And it sucks. It was hard for me to even imagine selling mine. But I did. I've had girlfriends I've found easier to part with... a lot easier. And as much as I miss it now things are looking up and pretty soon I will be in a much better position financially for Rado ownership. Don't worry about the price, just get the best you can for it and think of all the money you'll save on repairs and the like, and look forward to getting another one at some point if that's what you want to do. I know what you mean! I know its purely a car, but i get emotional when i think about parting with it, daft as it sounds! I guess now i need some help with how much the car is worth, here's a breakdown: 1990 Tornado red 1.8 16V 129k 5 months tax MOT is due end of Jan 08 CAT 1 alarm It has full service history, and the receipts folder is massive! In the last 12 months its had: Disks and pads all round Throttle cable Handbrake cables Rear caliper Rear wheel bearings New sunroof (now works correctly) FULL engine rebuild be midland VW costing £1000 (this was done 4k ago) The exhaust was new 18 months ago, and is a genuine VW one Bad bits: Brakes work fine, there is just lack of pressure in the brake pedal. Not complete lack of pressure, just that the first 1" of pedal doesnt seem to actually do anything, return spring maybe? Throttle issue. When idling the revs raise and fall between 2k-1.5k, and it jolts when driving. This could be simple to fix, but ive just had my fill of it. There is a few inches of paint on the passengers side sideskirt that just decided to fall off when day when i was cleaning it There is a nice 'nipple' in the roof where my mate put in the long screw insted of the short one when the sunroof was being put back in. There is a dent in the passengers side wing where i had my crash. My local bodyshop (very good, always have in ferraris, bmws etc) have quoted me £600 to sort the side skirt, roof nipple and front wing, and to also plastic weld the headlamp clamp where the front wing has pushed it across. I've spent just under £2000 in parts since ownership. It has a service when i first got it, but hasnt had one for over a year, basically due to the engine rebuild, safe to say it had a pretty good service that day!! So, given the things that need sorting, what sort of price do people think i should be looking for?

After chats with my parents and various people i think its time to be sensible. In the past ive thrown money at it due to my love for it, but it never given me a break. Its cost me on average £300 a month in repairs alone. Add insurance at £50 a month, then tax at around £15 a month, then £100 on petrol, and this car as drained alot of my money. I just want a car then i know will be fine when i wake up, instead of wondering whats going to go wrong next. I know due to the problems i wont get what i want for the car, but if i spend money fixing it i'll only get it back in the sale, so its probably best to get rid and start again.

My Rado is pushing me! After being off the road for a month sorting the rear brakes, the throttle when awol. I thought i sorted that, but turns out ive not. Now also i've got very little pressure in the brake pedal, which points to a master cylinder. Ive also got £600 worth of bodywork to have done after my crash last year. Now after ive paid to get the bodywork done im then probably looking at £200+ to get the brakes and throttle sorted. so thats ANOTHER £800 i'll be spending on it. Im just getting sick and tired of it. I love it when im driving it, but it just continuously breaks. Its spent more time off the road in the past 18 months than on. I continue to throw good money after bad at it, and it continues to let me down. Sometimes makes me really depressed because i love the car to bits, but it just punishes me. Shortly after getting it i had to spend over £400 on MOT work. Then i had the engine rebuilt. Then it has new disks and pads all round, and wheel bearings. Ive recently spent more money on rear calipers, pads and handbrake cable. Then the throttle went dodgy, and im going to have to pay close to £1000 to get the bodywork done and MOT work, and im beginning to wonder what the point of it all is?!?!? I never thought i'd be saying this, but i think im going to sell up. Im sick and tired of feeling like im second guessing whats going to break next. Im seriously thinking my best bet would be to break the car, extend my loan, and go and buy a 2000/2001 plate ibiza/golf/polo.

I got the 1.8 16V because i couldnt afford to get a g60/vr6, and i preferred th earlier valvers over the older ones. Also i've spent that much money now on bodywork, brakes, engine rebuild, all the usual things like sunroof etc, that it wouldn't make finance sense to sell up for a g60/vr6. If i did decide i wanted more power then i'd more than likely look into a turbo package

SORTED! I took the ISV off, left it in some petrol for an hour then gave it a bloody good clean with come carb cleaner, stuck it back on and job done! Fired up the car, nicely idles at 1k, not lumpy or too high, so job done! I also took the throttle cable arrangement off, cleaned it all up, and played with the adjustment, thats sorted too. Cheers for the help guys!!

Im missing mine at the mo. Its still off the road with the throttle problem, after being off the road with the rear brakes issue. Ive been using my mum's focus for 4 weeks now, its just not the same. I sometimes think of selling, but then i know there's no point, as i'd only end up with another.

I think the first step is to clean and de-gunk everything throttle related. I have a mate at work that has a rado, currently off the road, but with a working ISV, so i might borrow that just to rule that out of the equation. I cant see it being anything more severe to be honest, i had a full engine rebuild last than 3,000 miles ago, so i cant see it being anything injector related. Judging by the 15 pages in the above thread though i can see this being fun. Looks like ive paid another 6 months road tax for 3 months use of the car :(

Wow Possibly one of the best threads ive ever seen. That new lambo is unbelieveable though!

Take the throttle housing apart etc and degunk all that? Reckon that will sold the random idling problem? Or am looking at replacing the ISV for that one?

Ok, had another play today, and it goes along a little something like this. Step 1, the throttle housing is in this position: Although you cant see it, the stop is on the switch in circle one, and in circle two the throttle is resting against the correct stop. Step 2, i start the car. It idles at just under 2,000rpm. So i begin to move the throttle. Now instead of moving to the other stop immediately i have to move the throttle round approx. 20mm, then the throttle 'snaps' to the other stop, like so: Step 3, i now let go off the throttle. The throttle does not return to the other stop as it should do, resulting in this: Now the car is idling at 3,000rpm, obviously because the throttle has not returned to the correct position. Step 4, this is where it goes odd. I push the stop back onto the switch, so the throttle returns the position that it should be in, like so: Now with the throttle in the correct 'rest' position the revs drop, BUT, the revs raise and drop between 1,000 and 1,500rpm, it just keeps going up and down, up and down. Then when the move the throttle again, it doesnt hit the switch properly, so the car idles at 3k, then when you push it back onto the stop it idles up and down again SOOOOOOOO, what the hell is going on?!?!? Obviously there is a problem in the throttle housing somewhere as it doesnt return to the correct position. But then when it does, the revs are very strange. Any ideas?

Your comments are perfectly inline with what my mate at work has said (also a corrado owner) so it would seem the next thing to do is sort that out tomorrow. Im going to try everything before replacing the ISV i think.

Do they just randomly break then without any prior warning? Because one day it was fine, the next day it wasn't. Originally when i started the car it was fine, 30secs into my drive the revs picked up on their own every time i dipped the clutch to change gear, and when i lifted the accelerator back up they dipped off again, hence why i replaced the throttle cable. Now ive replaced the cable it doesnt lift the revs on its own (altho i havent actually driven it to make sure, due to the high revs). I suppose the best thing to do would be to take it for a spin round the block, to make sure the initial problem of the revs climbing on their own is gone, so at least i know the replacement of the throttle cable has sorted that problem. I dunno, it was off the road for a week whilst the rear brakes were sorted, then 30secs after that job something else breaks!!

I've ran a search on this but it all seems to be with cars that are struggling to idle and cut out, mines the other way around! I've replaced the throttle cable and adjusted that accordingly, so i know that isnt the problem. Basically i start the car and it will idle at just above 2k rpm. Now it used to do this anyway, and a quick blap on the throttle would bring it back down to 1k rpm, but that is no longer working. So, does anyone have any ideas? The weather might not be helping as the warmest its been here for a few weeks is 3deg, and the car hasnt been started for about a month, so its constantly been cold for a while now. Also its still running cheap local garage oil from when i had the oil leak as i havent had the chance to get some decent stuff put in it yet. Anyway, anyone got any ideas?

Right, ive put my new throttle cable on, but its too long, so i basically need to know how i go about adjusting it. That is all.