Alexander

Guys/Dolls, My G60 has horrible misting problems. As in, I can get in it on a night and you can't see anything out of any of the windows. Condensation is so bad on the back window that it actually starts to run down onto the parcel shelf! What are the root causes of condensation? It's not heater matrix and last I checked all my carpets are dry. Is it as simple as making sure all rubber seals are good (should be, I've replaced most of them) or are there any tricks to keeping condensation at bay?

As above really, my G60 has an uprated wiring loom, which is great for the normal dipped headlights, but as soon as I turn my high beams on, it's more like turning them off!! You can see the beam change angle but it goes from bright and white to really dim and yellow. One thing I did think of was maybe the normal beams have had high power bulbs fitted (Philips BlueVision or the like) and the high beams are still on old standard yellowish bulbs. Am I right in thinking the uprated loom should boost both beams?

I'm glad I don't live down your way while you're "testing the handling" of your cars.

I must say I've never heard anything bad about the VRS's - both the Fabia and the Octavia. Good point above about a well-sorted VR6 as an alternative to the G60, still get the great looks we all love but with leather, AC, ABS and an updated interior. It would have to be an absolute minter tho!

SOLVED !!! Pretty simple actually - there was a big thick power wire going from the positive terminal all the way to the boot, where there used to be an install. This had an inline fuse that happened to be sat in a pool of mayo that had come from the rocker cover breather hose. I guess it must have had that leak into it over time and made a circuit. Anyway, I disconnected this extra wire from the battery and the car is now absolutely fine!! So what have I learned? Always check the obvious things first! Thanks a lot to everyone who helped in this thread! :)

Thanks mate, I'm looking at the wiring diagram now for the Alpine. Not had chance this weekend to pull the radio out, but I will if the problem persists. Last week I disconnected a thick positive cable from the battery - it goes to the boot and used to power an install there once upon a time, it's got an inline fuse as well. Today I started the car up after it being sat for 3 days and it jumped into life - normally it's a bit sluggish to start after that amount of time idle. Don't want to count my chickens but it's a positive step!

One thing I just thought of regarding the radio - every time I disconnect the battery, I lose all my settings, so if I change it to use the switched 12v, won't I lose all my settings every time I turn the engine off? I would assume the radio's supposed to have some kind of battery backup? Maybe it's run out... I will RTFM.

Right. That's awesome - the radio DOES work with the ignition off, so this definitely sounds like a potential culprit!!! I'll try disconnecting it in the first instance and see if that gives the battery extra life. Thanks very much!

Alex - at the moment, the 944 is one of the very few cars I could afford that actually makes me go "wow", fantastically sexy looking vehicle. Of course the S2 is the one to get, but finding a good one would be very important, a lot to go wrong and potentially very expensive. Lupo/Clio are great cars, but a bit too small for me. I can see how they'd be a nice change from a VR though!

Yeah I'm absolutely the same - I'm so fussy about cars, that's why it's worth giving it some thought well in advance. Oh and if the right car came up tomorrow I wouldn't do anything, as I'm skint!

Well, at the moment I have no reason to, but the engine is breathing heavy according to my mechanic, so it's not going to last forever unless I get it rebuilt with new piston rings etc. The charger was rebuilt this year so that's fine, interior is sorted, and there's just a couple of tiny bits of rust on the exterior and other than that it's running really well. Well, there's the battery drain problem but that's another story. Basically I've spent at least £1500 getting the car totally fettled, and I'm determined just to enjoy it now. I really believe it's one of the best examples of a G60 out there, it's that sorted. But! It took me about 8 months to find it, because I'm one of those kind of dudes who likes to do a LOT of research before spending big wodges of cash. Most of those 8 months were lurking on this forum, reading tons of reviews and technical articles etc. and only then did I go out test driving. The way I see it, if the C was to die tomorrow (god forbid) or someone drives into me and writes it off, I don't want to be left stumped on what to get next, and have to buy a shitter to trundle around in, absorbing my spare cash, while I figure it out. So my thinking is really "what's my next car going to be", whenever that is, rather than I'm actually looking to buy something right now. By the sounds of it it's the kind of speculation a few of us petrol heads engage in regardless of what we drive or how happy we are with it!

Haha, well, hatch or coupe, as long as it's sexy and quick I'm not fussed! Well, actually as I've proven I'm a fussy bugger so that's not strictly true! Way I see it, it would be good if my next car was: * At least as good looking/head-turning as the G60 * At least as fast * Less rattly! * Easier over the 2 million speedbumps I have to traverse every day, but still well-handling * Blessed with a leather interior * A/C equipped * Has some kind of decent boot space But, not: * Worse on fuel/MPG * More expensive to maintain * Longer/larger than the C I know my initial list contains some cars that contradict these, but obviously every car has pros and cons. Regarding getting another C, I just couldn't bear going back to square 1 again, hunting down fog lights all over the world, sourcing a non-ripped drivers seat, it'd be like Groundhog Day! Plus there's nothing wrong with wanting a change is there? :) *ducks flying chairs* Thanks to all who've given their 2p so far, you're all legends!

Yeah that's the good thing about being 33 - insurance isn't really that much of a factor! I thought about an R32, but I really don't like the shape of Mk4 golfs, and a Mk5 one would be well out of my price range.

Interesting! They do seem a bit small compared to the C, I wonder how practical one would be for a daily driver? I tend to have to put a fair amount of musical gear in the boot generally speaking. They're not even that pricey anymore are they, although obviously like every car the sensible thing to do is spend a good amount on a well looked after one.

Really, the Fiat Coupe build quality is that good? I'm surprised to be honest... I'd love to have a go in one because everyone says they're terrifyingly quick. What kind of BHP do they put out?

*applauds* Bravo! Great read!

Thanks Steve, always good to hear first hand how some of these cars are like to live with. I'm sure I heard that Imprezas don't last much beyond 70k miles, but that could have just been "bloke down the pub" style wisdom. And that MPG isn't much less than I get out of the C to be honest - I average about 27mpg!

Nothing about an A4 really does it for me - bit too much of a motorway cruiser in looks at least, and practically, can't have anything longer than the 'rado as it won't fit on my drive with the wife's car! I did briefly consider a Scooby, but the chav implications are just too strong, and they don't last, so the ones I'd be able to afford would be about to explode. Evo is a classier option but a bit too fussy, and a bit too shouty. Beemers have such negative connotations in my mind thanks to the stereotypical BMW driver I'd be cringing whenever I "forgot" to indicate on a roundabout etc!

I don't really have the space to keep another car really, we're a two car family already and I sometimes use the wife's Polo to buzz about to the shops, or if I'm going out of town and have to park somewhere dodgy ;) Keeping *three* cars on the go would be a bit too much for my wallet to take! Also for similar reasons, not too keen on a conversion etc. as I don't have the mechanical know-how to troubleshoot it myself and keep garage bills down.

Nice one guys! Yeah forgot about an S3, budget might stretch to that - Audi build quality, with plenty of speed, loads of boot space and the facelift ones look rather sexy. Off to google to have a look at that S2 now :)

Still working on this... What are the main culprits for battery drain? The only bits of the car that don't work as they should (leading on from previous posters central locking woes etc) are: * Rear heated screen doesn't work * One of the heated wingmirrors doesn't work The car used to have a boot install, which I removed, but there's still a thick power cable going from the battery to the boot - I'm going to disconnect this. Would a positive cable touching the bodywork cause the battery to drain? If anyone can give me some examples of possible causes, I can try them one by one in a trial and error stylee.

I have no idea what car I'd want next! Bearing in mind the C won't last forever, and is only one shunt from a 4x4 away from being a write-off on any given day, I like to have in the back of my mind what I'd get next. Bearing in mind my budget will be about 5k max, I'm stumped. It'd have to be a daily driver, so has to be fairly practical. Things I'm considering: * Mk2 Golf GTI - had a 16v before the Corrado and loved it, just a case of finding a really good unmolested one that doesn't need loads of work * Seat Leon Cupra/Cupra R - not impressed with Seat build quality at all, mate's had 2 Leons and they both had loads of problems * Civic Type R (53/54 plate shape) - look good but not sure I could live with the VTEC. Ultra reliable though. * Porsche 944 S2 - probably wouldn't find a decent one for 5k, been warned off them by a mechanic mate * Peugeot 205 GTI - bet they're tons of fun, but the build quality is allegedly crap, and it's French! * Fiat Coupe 20VT - ultra rapid, but a bit small, expensive to fix * Alfa GTV V6 - again, it WILL go wrong and be expensive to keep on the road * Another Corrado! Might try out a VR6, but not sure if it would excite me as much as the G60 I have now, and if I got another G60 I'd have to spend a fortune getting it as good as this one. Obviously all cars have plus and minus points, but what else am I missing?

Hmm I think the main problem here is that I obviously don't know how to use a multimeter! I'm stumped, I think I'd better just bite the bullet and get a professional auto electrician on the job. :(

Hmm ok that was pretty inconclusive. I put the meter in series with the system - disconnected the + connector of the battery and connected it to the - of the meter, and connected the + of the meter to the + battery terminal. On the 200u Amp setting of the multimeter it showed a reading of 00.1, fluctuating to 00.2 occasionally. I have no idea what this means?

Ah nice one nmahi, I'll try that. Alternator seems fine, as the voltage goes up when the car is running. I think (after talking to my dad) that I need to put the meter in series with the battery with the car off to be able to measure the current being drawn. I'll do this as soon as it stops bloody raining!