tony_ack

May have been the best course of action if you hadn't have confronted him first tho, or reported it to the police. Still don't think the police will do much unfortunately. 2 times a worthless case for them to pursue is still worthless for them to pursue unless the other incident has bonafide footage, and even then it only suggests his liability for the other bump. Never realised indicators were so expensive, was pretty surprised when I saw the prices some people are asking on eBay.

Problem is that there is some stuff you just can't do yourself either through lack of space or equipment (or knowledge) sometimes. I got the wheels aligned by a 'professional' alignment place in Sheffield, and they pretty much guessed it and didn't tighten the strut bolts or tre nut enough (so it collapsed to full negative camber on both sides and chewed through a new set of conti sports). Got it done at Stealth in the end when I went for a remap, but it's a bit far to go every time it needs doing.

The 3rd prototype looks good on Le Casteletts

This kind of gave it away!

Listed on the 'bay of pigs, ends Sunday http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260989907090

Not going to make it tomorrow, sorry, was massively jet-lagged and just wanted to get home... plus the Corrado is very dusty after a week outside my parents' house!

I started to get fed up of the Corrado a bit when it was my daily since every so often, something else would go wrong - perhaps your latest problems are giving you a negative view at the moment? Other than the sound of imminent bottom end death on yours (or maybe not :-) ), I'm in a similar position to you Jim, where I have the Corrado as a second car, parked in a garage several miles away, and a more reliable, more economical, cheaper to run and quite fun (albeit older) daily, however at the moment I'm feeling good about having two great cars. I can choose to put the Golf away for a week and use the Corrado instead for a bit. I still love driving the Corrado, looking at it and the curious glances you get, even though I get many of the same kicks from the MK2. Incidentally, when I bought my Corrado, I was using a MK2 16v as a daily and the plan was to continue to do so with the C as a second car, but before long, the MK2 was in storage, and the Corrado was a daily, as it was so much more comfortable and better to drive. I got rid of the Golf eventually, and ran the Corrado on its own as a daily for a year, before deciding it was time for something more economical, reliable etc., and got an Audi A4 TDI, and garaged the Corrado. But after a couple of months I found myself in the C more and more as the Audi was so uninspiring, so ended up swapping it for... another MK2 which is what I started with in the first place.

Gave the MK2 a clean today, and it shines up very well. However it somehow manages to be both the best looking and at the same time, roughest MK2 I've had. The paint looks very very good, however there are a few areas where it has peeled slightly. Then there is the rust... all hidden underneath. There is some dodgy rust near the fuel filler (but strangely under the filler flap is completely clean) some welding around one of the jacking points, one of the sill lips looks a little... crusty... a couple of holes in the battery tray (battery is actually loose as the securing ridge is no longer attached) and a few other bits. Mechanically, it's rough as well. There seems to be a lot of blow-by through the dipstick and oil filler, so there could be some wear to the piston rings, but the crank breather is probably blocked too. She runs rich so probably needs tuning. She uses loads of oil which I suspect is escaping from the oil cooler. The front tyres are ditchfinders and the handling is a bit skittish in the wet. But I have to admit despite it's faults, I'm really pleased with it. It's got all the 8v smoothness, and still pulls really well despite the running issues.

That was the VR6 after a journey across Leeds (2 miles) in rush hour.

Sorted out a new daily at last! The Audi just wasn't doing it for me so I offered it for swaps for a Golf GTI (MK2 or MK3). After quite a long wait, something came up trumps: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=221254.0 A runout MK2 Golf GTI 8v, 5 door (for the little 'un). It looks very clean on the outside but it's quite ropey mechanically. But it's a good base for a new daily once I sort out a few of the issues. First task is to clean out the crank breather as there's a lot of pressure in the crankcase... if that doesn't work then it may be time to look for a new engine!

I'm flying back to Manchester on the Friday, so may stay at the parents' in Bury overnight and come along if I'm not too jet lagged!

Have a read :-) Goes on for quite a few pages. http://the-corrado.net/showthread.php?53635-Ant-s-VR6-a-new-daily-soon&p=733298&viewfull=1#post733298

Sorry been away, but looks like you're sorted now. Let me know if you're still stuck.

I picked one up from the dealers a few months back? In fact I picked up a few bulbs as I was doing all the centre console bulbs at the same time. I have one bulb left but it's clear, so don't know if it's the same one - part no is 6K0919243. Think it is for the cig lighter illumination, but could also be used in the ashtray?

Glad your wife is okay, it looks like a pretty nasty accident. For the insurance, your best chances are to hold onto the car if you have somewhere to store it - don't let them take it away unless you know exactly where and why. They'll want to take it away (and they will have to assess the damage), which is fair enough, but make sure that it's on the understanding that you'll get the car back once the assessment is complete (you may have to pay trailer charges to and from the assessment garage). Or alternatively, you can get an engineer's report from a garage you can trust. When my MK2 was in an accident, the insurance company told me they wanted to pick it up and take it away for the assessment - I asked them where it was going and it turned out to be a breaker's yard! I argued with them, and they agreed to take it to a garage instead, and return it to me afterwards The car will be a write-off - no doubt about that - probably a Cat C from just looking at it, but as soon as the insurance company offer to 'dispose of' the car for you, you've lost your bargaining chip. Take loads of photos of the car before it goes in for the assessment - some rarer or novelty bits tend to go missing, especially if the garage is not expecting the car to be repaired, and photos will aid you if this happens, and also if the condition of the vehicle changes while it's away. Once you get the car back from having the assessment done, start stripping the car of anything you might want to keep (but hold off on full breaking for now), regardless of whether you can buy it back again or not. Reject their first offer always as it is only the book price for traders. Send photos of the car and classifieds of similar cars to support your case. Make it clear from the start that you will want to buy it back - most insurers no longer 'officially' allow this, but they will often let you do it if you argue long enough. To put it into perspective - I was offered £500 for the MK2 I had, but eventually managed to get £900 (still short of what I'd have liked, but isn't it always...), minus £60 to buy the car back (I then made £1500 from breaking it). If the same is true for yours, then you should be able to replace it with a decent condition Corrado (if you still want one)

I've been finding the Audi a little boring as a daily driver, so I've had the Corrado out for the last week or so. The first thing I noticed was that the battery was pretty much dead, so I've swapped that. It's been starting okay since then. The crank sensor played up a couple of times when I first got the car out, but after wiggling the wire a bit, it always starts. I had a go at replacing the sensor but the bolts were seized and I didn't have much time, so I gave up. Other than that, the Corrado has been well behaved. But I'm on a limited mileage insurance policy, so can't drive it indefinitely. However I've found someone interested in the Audi, who wants to swap for a MK2 Golf GTI... so fingers crossed I may soon have a new daily.

I have a Blaupunkt Woodstock which is a fairly old DAB stereo, but I only use it on FM in the Corrado as I don't have an aerial. I've looked into getting one but they aren't cheap, and as discrete as they are, they're still visible and spoil the car IMO. The stereo actually came out of a old MK2 Golf I had, which had the aerial too (I foolishly didn't take the aerial when I broke the car). What can I say about DAB... well, where I live it was okay. There are blackspots, and when you hit them you don't get interference, you get nothing - the radio just goes quiet and comes on again. Clarity-wise, I didn't notice much difference on FM but it was good getting the AM stations in digital. Unless you want to get 5 live in digital clarity, or there are some stations on DAB you simply must have that aren't on FM/AM then I'm not sure it's really worth looking into, as normal FM radio is good enough. I never used any of the extra functions (search by genre, ensembles, etc) as I didn't need them. I also don't think there is a great deal of choice in DAB headunits these days as it has kind of been abandonned as a technology. From what I understand about aerials, external aerials are miles better for reception, and hidden/internal aerials aren't too good. I heard of one guy sticking a large aerial horizontally under the rear bumper which may be a good idea.

I saw a blue VR6, parked up outside a garage near London Road/Bramhall Lane in Sheffield. Think it had a private plate.

Condenser off a MK3 VR6 fits nicely onto the Corrado VR6 rad but the top pipe fouls the slam panel - there would need to be some cutting involved to get it to fit. Compressor should be the same (make sure you get the correct one - there is a 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder one) Pipework will likely be different, wiring too but if you have a VR6 with a later fan controller, it will be a lot easier. The pressure switch plugs into the drier on a MK3 system which is a nice touch as it makes getting custom pipework easier (you should still get a new drier). Piritek will be able to make up any pipework you need. If you're going to attempt such big surgery then Climatronic may be a better option :-) For the money you'd spend on the Corrado switches (if you can find any), you could pick up a Climatronic heaterbox, loom and control panel, and then use any bits off the MK3 airon that would fit.

Have you tried jump starting off another car? Mine does a similar thing when the battery is flat.

The VR6 was fantastic last year on Speedlines and 195 tyres. Had no problems trundling up to the Snake Pass summit towards Glossop while countless new BMWs and Mercs were wheel-spinning sideways. Even had to stop on an incline when the car in front got stuck, but no issues at all moving off again and past the trouble spot. Was going to get winter tyres for the speedlines this year but garaged the car instead. The Audi has surprised me so far by being quite good in the snow - I came over from Manchester to Sheffield on Sunday morning with no problems, and it even coped getting up our street when I had seen lots of other cars fail. Or maybe it was because I attacked the hill with more balls than the other drivers.

I must admit that I was disappointed that the model I have didn't come with the full interior - just the cabin and the turret where Luke sits to fire the lasers. Wonder if anyone has taken on a project to build the interior of this? Complete with cargo smuggling holds? :-) I think the price of this set is the exception rather than the rule - it is Lego's biggest set and it is Star Wars, so it was always going to be a winner in terms of investment (though it was bought for the child in me rather than for money). Still wish I'd bought 2 :-(

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-CORRADO-2-9-VR6-/170773573946?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27c2e5f13a#ht_500wt_1287 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-VOLKSWAGEN-CORRADO-VR6-BLUE-FULL-LEATHER-FSH-1-PREVIOUS-OWNER-/330679694373?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4cfe0bb425#ht_2550wt_1270 May be worth checking these two out as they're a little more local - even if not to buy, it may give you an idea of what's available, and how much it is going to cost. Will look out for the nugget again next time I pass - it wasn't too bad to be honest, may have just needed a clean!

I've had a MK2 8v, a MK2 16v and now the VR6... and all have them have run a little cool on a run (about 80 degrees). All of them had a new genuine VW thermostat fitted and it made little difference. The MK2 16v sits at 80 degrees and rises up to about 100-110 in traffic, but no further (oil temp rises to about 112, though I did see 120 when I first got it) The VR6 is a weird one - I have replaced the thermostat (genuine VW), rad fan thermostat (genuine VW), radiator (genuine VW), water pump, crack pipe and thermostat housing and flushed the coolant a few times and it still sits at 80 deg under normal driving, and rises to 100 in traffic. Oil temp is normally 94-98 degrees, though I got it up to 116 once when I REALLY thrashed it.

Price inflation isn't the problem - the problem is that many insurers who would normally quote for a standard VR6 will not insure cars with more than a couple of mods, so you are reducing the number of insurers who want your business. As suggested, a specialist is the best bet for you, but it depends on your annual mileage. Classic insurance is by far the cheapest, but then most limit the miles on cars under 20 years old. Brentacre gave me the best quote on a modified VR6 (one in sig), not garaged, for 12000 miles per year, which was £890. Admiral were £950 for 5000 miles per year on the same car, but would have insured me on a standard car for £750. Went with Footman James in the end on a classic policy, 3000 miles a year and garaged, for £380.