Guy

To be honest, the bad bits are SO bad, I don't think I've got it in me to put all the time and effort to see how good I could get the better parts. I've got plenty of other stuff to keep me busy in the meantime and I plan on hanging onto this car for the foreseeable future, so it's all good! Just realised who you are - I read your rescue some time ago. Great stuff! I find good resto threads really inspiring.

Thought I'd share the little progress my time has allowed since getting the car home. The exterior has been freed of its moss and mould to reveal totally shot paintwork. There's not a panel on the car that could be saved without paint. I'd always banked on a full respray at some stage, but it's going to look a little rougher than I thought until I get there. She's had a p-poor blow-over at some stage, so plenty of overspray in shuts too. Hey-ho... Other than that, I've removed the seats and carpet (which is in surprisingly good nick and will clean up like new) to dry out the car and replace sound deadening/underlay, and to do a thorough job of cleaning up and conditioning the dry/mildewey leather of the seats. I cleared the sunroof drains with a bit of welding wire and a lung full of air, which has sorted the leak out there, but today's rain has revealed another, lesser leak in the passenger footwell. I understand the first place I should check is the foliage seal in the scuttle(?) it's not pouring in - just a little drip, but I'm not going to even consider moving forward until it's 100%. So far so good then. The only other thing I've found is a hole the size of my little fingernail under the plastic strips on the door sills. I took a deep breath and gave it hell with an old screwdriver, but it got no bigger, so I think this will remain a minor job. This all seems insignificant compared to the scale of some folk's projects, but it's all relative! Cheers all!

That's interesting - not that Mine's near hitting the road at the moment, but good to know... Going on your username, I think I might follow you on insta(?) Really clean VR6 on fifteen52s?

Sounds like you've bitten off way more than me, to be fair! Mine's been off road since the end of '13,but it was laid up in favour of doing up an old Porsche rather than because it went wrong... Don't want to sound too confident in it's integrity though - I'll pay for it later! Whereabouts in Bucks are you?

Thanks, mate. Yeah he's a good boy - he's 10st of drool, clumsiness and year-round shedding, but I love the bones of him

You beat me to it! Can't figure out how to send a picture in PM so here it is (it seems to be trying to remove itself!). No rush whatsoever, just let me know when you're ready

She's home! Easypops, I'll drop you a PM, but the reg plate plinth IS carbon. The hole for the lock isn't finished particularly beautifully, but easily made good. If you're still up for a trade for an original... So far, before I get the bucket and sponge out, the only thing I've noticed that I wasn't already aware of is a couple of holes someone has seen fit to drill in the dash which I am a bit annoyed about, but I'm sure it won't end there! Immediate priority is to clear the sunroof drains as I'm fairly confident that's where the puddle in the rear passenger footwell originated. Planned on taking the whole damp, mildewy interior out anyway to dry/clean/restore, then replace various missing or damaged pieces of trim as I put back. Once I've got it to a point where it's not getting any worse, I'll give the rest of the car a more thorough going over (and under) and see how quickly the to-do list lengthens... This is never going to be of the same calibre as of some of the build/restoration threads I've read on here, but I'll post the odd update as I tinker away... Been waiting for the day I had a VR on the drive since my teens, so holes in the dash not withstanding; today was a good day!

You're on. Let me confirm it's carbon, and not 'great-value carbon-like' as I only looked at it for a second before deciding it'd be coming off... I'd swap it for a standard in a second if you wanted it. I'll drop you a line either way once I've got the car trailed back to mine... I'm in Northampton (or a few miles outside of)

Thanks, mate. You have one?! Oh dear, I'm off to a good start here aren't I haha! Oh well, it'd be a boring world if we all agreed on everything, wouldn't it!

Hi, long time lurker, one time owner of Aqua 2.0 16v (many moons ago at the tender age of 19)... Since my first C, I've been promising myself I'd own a VR one day, and today was my day! First came across this twilight violet example this time last year, but despite striking up a conversation about re-homing, I ultimately walked away due to being 6 weeks away from being a dad for the first time... Fast forward a year, and the car's still where I left it looking just as sorry for itself and I could take it no more! So today the little'n and I drove out and did a deal! Happy as a sand boy! The car looks basically pretty solid, and despite an immobiliser gremlin, jump starts and runs well. 101k. Black leather interior damp, as are roof lining and carpet, but mostly recoverable. Sunroof and spoiler working. AC. Non-standard parts: Spax adjustable damping kit (circa 40mm drop), a shouty air intake, and a carbon reg plate plinth (which couldn't really be less to my taste. No offence if you own one). The plan now is to get her clean, solid and drivable. I'm no purist, and there are a few things I'd like to change/upgrade, but I want to keep the car looking as OEM as possible. Although on a long enough time line I guess anything is possible. My time, money, and talents all have limits, so this will be a tinkerer rather than a race to get sorted, but wanted to say hello. I know there are some seriously knowledgeable folks on here, and I suspect I'm going to need some new friends on this adventure! The seller also has VW's own wiring manual he's throwing in with the sale. I know there are manuals on here, but possibly not this one(?) it's fairly enormous, but if anyone needs anything looking up (post me going to collect) id be more than happy to oblige, and if it's not already available to the forum, will endeavour to arrange getting it all scanned and uploaded at some point. I hope I don't regret saying that... Cheers, G

JKD/Filipino martial arts, also certified instructor of Paul Vunak's R.A.T system.

The story about his 'ard mate was pretty unimpressive - even if it's true, he's still human, and will have a little sit down after a decent forearm smash like any other f***er. That said, if he's enough of a b*tch to be sending messages like that, you can bet your batty he'd be the kind of person to be on the phone to the law before you even got to the top of the driveway if you showed up at his house looking to take out your (completely justified) frustrations on his face... I've been in similar positions, with similar sorts of oiks, and if you want my humble opinion, its keep it legal. I'd wash my hands of the lights before I got nicked for giving some little turd a shoeing over a (relatively) small sum of money, no matter how much he deserved it. Not saying let it slide, but don't screw yourself. (Christ I sound like my mother)

Sounds like a hoot.

Guy -Cheated death enough times to suspect superpower -Borderline famous dog ( ) -Related to Rudyard Kipling (Author - Jungle Book)

Yeah will do! When I find one, I'll give you a shout. You probably won't see a great deal of mine (when I have it) either, as it's not going to be my daily runner, but you're right, I've seen very few round here. All the ones for sale worth looking at so far have been 100+ miles away, and they turned out not to be worth the trip!

Hello! Been loitering on this forum for some time. Had my 2.0 16v headbutted and written off by a Seat Alhambra (HER fault, don't shoot me!) a while back. I then spent a few years banging on about it and telling everyone "one day...". Well, I'm sick of hearing the words come out of my mouth, and have finally acknowledged to myself that I just won't be satisfied until there is another 'rado in the garage. So I'm currently enjoying sniffing out my new wheels! Preferably VR, preferably blue, but could have my head turned by a white'n or an interesting conversion. Thought I should make myself known, as no doubt, there will be a time I need the help of some heads, and hopefully, a time when I can be of help in return... Guy