Timbo

It's pretty simple. Before the aerodynamics got so sophisticated it used to an advantage to be following another car closely. These days the cars are so sensitive in this area and the airflow from the car in front is so dirty that it's a distinct disadvantage.

I wish that was true.

I'm pretty sure the new quali rules are low fuel in the final session. It makes sense; they're all going to be starting with the same amount of fuel anyway, what's the point in making them carry it in quali too?

I HPIed my car again and it's not marked as stolen and recovered. I guess that's good for me :shrug:.

Perhaps; it depends how much they would be willing to pay out though. I've put a lot of time and effort into this car, so the thought of having to go through that all again on a different car with the same problems makes me wince.

Well the insurance company's garage have had my car for a week now and have yet to call me back. What if I needed this car daily? (I don't). Anyway. I'm fully expecting them to write it off on the uneconomic basis. I'm hoping that I can convince them to sort out the bodywork problems and I'll deal with the steering column/missing trim/ignition wiring parts, only claiming for the second hand part cost (probably no more than 100 quid or so). Assuming they do write it off (likely) and they do agree to this (less likely), I'm hoping I can get the whole panel around the fuel filler replaced as the arch has a bit of rust on it too. Also, I found out how they got in. The passenger door has been levered open at the top, but the t**tface s**thead that did it made a relatively neat job of it, if that's possible. It's been bent back into position once the door was open and I simply didn't notice the damage before. There are some scratches and dents on the body where the screw driver or whatever was inserted and the plastic trim around the mirror has been snapped. The door still works, but could really do with being replaced eventually. I could live with it for the time being though :roll:. The whole thing is infeasibly aggravating.

I've been thinking about this too recently :roll:.

I was passed by a dark Corrado outside the Watson's playing grounds in Edinburgh earlier on this evening while I was on my bike. I couldn't make out the colour or model as it was dark and rainy, but the registration started L8110 (I think). Then I saw you again about 5 minutes later outside Margiotta in Morningside. Not stalking you, honest.

Sure, why not? http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/stig-versus-zenvo-st1

The fuel filler flap was made worse by all the rust; I was going to have to do something about this sooner or later anyway. At least it was working before though :(. I tried messing about with the filler lock and pneumatic pump thingy and couldn't get the central locking to do anything, so I think the theory here is probably a red herring. I'm back to having no clue how they got in since there is no sign of forced entry around the doors. The steering column is well ****ed. Basically everything from the adjustable part back to the wheel is going to have to be replaced. Dicks. Corrado conversion V2 (3).pdfDSCF4686.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] Book1.pdfDSCF4688.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] stromlaufplan_gamma4.pdfDSCF4691.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] ETKA Corrado.pdfDSCF4699.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] stromlaufplan_gamma4.pdfDSCF4700.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] Corrado92.pdfDSCF4703.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] passat climatronic wiring diags.pdfDSCF4705.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] climatronic wiring-Golf from May 01.pdfDSCF4706.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfDSCF4708.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro] DSCF4713.JPG[/attachment:18zbj0ro]

As far as the cops go they seem to have washed their hands of it. They didn't bother with talking to ASDA and the PC that phoned me said there wasn't any point in dusting for prints, though he didn't give any reason. I can't say I blame them to be honest. If whoever did it got caught they'd probably just get a slap on the wrists, such is the Scottish judicial system. It's a sad fact that as a law abiding citizen it appears that it is your responsibility to prevent crime. To actually solve these problems properly you either need effective punishment or social reform/education. It seems to me that the society we live in is a combination of too politically correct and economically poor, for these solutions. As far as the damage goes, scott-mk3 on Scottish VAG has an interesting point with respect to the filler flap.

I haven't spoken to my insurance company at all yet, should I have? I have an incident number from the cops and they say I can get a CR (crime reference?) number off them if the insurance wants it. As far as the doors go I suppose that's possible. I won't have a chance to look at the car again properly before the weekend as I've garaged it for now. I don't fancy leaving it on the street at the moment, especially in its current state.

Good news; I've got my car back. The police found it in an ASDA car park in Niddrie on Monday night. Let's just say anyone familiar with Edinburgh won't be too surprised with it ending up there. It had been taken to a garage/pound out near Tranent that the police use to store vehicles connected with crime. £150 later ( ) I'm allowed to take it away... after hot wiring it. The damage: Steering column cowling ripped off and destroyed[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] Steering lock broken in two[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] Fuse box cover ripped off and missing[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] Ignition switch loom ripped out of the plug[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] Fag ash and rubbish everywhere, but no wee or jobbies as far as I can smell[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] Fuel flap levered open and locking solenoid broken[/*:m:z2pi8rvk] The steering column is flapping about due to the broken steering lock; this made the 15 mile journey home interesting, especially at roundabouts :gag:. I think I've got off relatively lightly as it mostly seems repairable. The only really annoying part is the fuel flap as this has made a mess of the rear quarter panel, moreso in that having caused all this damage they haven't had the courtesy to actually fill it up :roll:. The other potentially troublesome part is going to be reconnecting the loom with the ignition switch plug, as I assume it's all crimped connectors and never supposed to be removed from the loom. Now the weird part. As far as I can tell, the door locks are all fine and the doors haven't been levered at all. How on earth did they get in? :shrug:. Also, the alarm is still working although it had been turned off. How the hell did they manage that? And another thing, they've not touched my brand new head unit. It's still there and working. Anyway, I'll probably be on the wanted and/or parts forum soon, once I've figured out the best insurance strategy. I've never actually claimed insurance before so I don't know the process, but I'm scared that if I try and get some professional work done on the filler flap and quarter panel, they'll write it off as it probably entails welding a new panel in and spraying it... The rest of the work I can do myself and just claim for the cost of the parts I hope. So I'm mostly relieved now, but still incredibly angry :censored: :bad-words: :mad2: :censored: :bad-words: :mad2: :censored: :bad-words: :mad2:.

The laquer on the roof was all peeling, does that count as distinguising? :) Nothing special about the interior really. Some rubber mats and a Sony BT head unit (which I installed about a fortnight ago :brickwall:). VAGCOM cable and a small AA road map in the glovebox. There was no glass no. The police said the gangs target older cars because they know they have a better chance of stealing them as apparently registrations N onwards all have factory immobilisers. But mine had an aftermarket one, so I don't know WTF is going on there. Maybe it wasn't working; it's a Corrado after all. Thanks for looking out for it guys.

Yeah a TOAD Ai606, so I don't really understand how they've managed to pinch it. I've had no news today, so I'm pretty pissed off over the whole thing. If I don't get it back, I have my doubts my insurance will pay up what it's actually worth. I hate insurance, it's such a ****ing con. I've put so much time and effort fixing it up and getting it how I want it. So frustrating.

Thanks. I didn't sleep a wink last night :(.

It has 17" TSW Imola's with red anodised centre nut/covers and had a roof rack with one bike carrier on it at the time. Registration L55 MRS. The car was parked in south Edinburgh. If anyone sees it please contact me; [email protected], 07821879474, PM etc. :censored:

The thing that annoys me is that they're now picking up on every recall and presenting it as some kind of car industry wide disaster. There probably isn't a car on the road that hasn't been subject to some kind of recall...

I was looking for some new heater controls the other day and found some on ebay that eventually went for over 100 :cuckoo:. I decided to repair mine instead. The most annoying thing though is that the same item for a Golf goes for 15-20 quid. The only difference to the Corrado is that it's mirrored horizontally so all the controls are backwards. Supply and demand I suppose.

Aye, but you can't live in a car either...

Ah, that's exactly what it is, thanks! Looks like I'm missing both of them. The other one is probably rattling around at the back of the dash somewhere...

I've been changing my ignition switch after I stupidly managed to fry it by grounding my stereo's switched live. I've got the clocks out and the cowling off the steering column and I've had the switch out. Trouble is, I've got this strange looking bracket thing that dropped out of somewhere, but I can't work out where. It's spring steel so probably supposed to be used for holding something in or stopping rattles :shrug:. 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfDSCF4670.JPG[/attachment:qil7m18i] While I'm here, this is the tool I made to get the ignition switch out from the top. It's basically a bit of old steel rod with some bends and a philips screwdriver head filed into one end, then case hardened. I suspect it's probably easier than getting the seat out and attacking it from the bottom. Still, why didn't they put the screw on the other side? DSCF4673.JPG[/attachment:qil7m18i]

citrado.jpg[/attachment:1642malz]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthp ... l?image=11 2, apparently.

How about in the medium of interpretive dance?