Tempest

Nose-heavy, losing the Roccos main characteristic, that of excellent cornering capabilities. G60 would be a better match for the Rocco. Or even a 1.8T :-) Tempest

Hm, OK, let the pictures speak then as far as deciding whether it's a Mk1 or Mk2. Shouldn't have said that :lol: He may want more dosh :lol: Tempest

Would sound like a Mk1 Storm :shock: , if there weren't the inconsistency of the colour. Pictures are needed :-) OK, even if it is a resprayed Mk1 Storm, they're not as rare in production numbers as the Mk2s, but anything Mk1 is rare in its own right, because there's hardly any left, let alone Storm models ! Tempest

Just for you then Dom, piccie of a meet last weekend down in Beaulieu :-): Tempest

Hmm, sounds interesting. Storms are definitely worth saving: As only 300 were produced in Havanabrown and 300 in Cosmosblue (have that in writing from VW Milton Keynes even), so 600 in total, all for the UK market only, they are holding a premium value amongst all the Mk2 Roccos. Considering that the Storm was the first Mk2 with the big rear spoiler and colour-coded full bodykit (both of which later became standard on all Mk2 Roccos), Montreal alloys (which I don't like, but hey; they were later introduced on the Mk2 Goolf 16V), full leather interior (never available in any other Mk2 model again), automatic aerial, smoothed tailgate with VW and Scirocco-Storm decals on the rear panel, Karmann logos on the B-pillars, available in 2 colours which were never used again, the Storms were pretty rare at the time, and certainly now. It was the top-model Mk2 Rocco in its days, going for a cool 10k back in 1984, and they sold out like hot cakes (people must have had money back then :lol:). Tempest

Finally!!!! Karmann have presented a Polo Cabrio design study at the IAA in Frankfurt, and according to the Springer owned equivalent of AutoExpress in Germany, AutoBild, Karmann are now allowed to build this car. Soooo, the brothers and sisters driving this Polo cabrio will hopefully also come to realise that they, too, drive a car, that's been designed and built by Karmann. What I'm really hopeful for is that this may spell the beginning of another successful collaboration between Karmann and VW. Iroc cabrio springs to mind :-) Now if such a car would be designed and built by Karmann, I'd consider it, but the Portugal-built original Iroc is still a no-go for me. Tempest

That's certainly how I find myself driving when I'm in any one of my 3 toys, whereas in the company van, it's time pressures, moany customers, road rage with other rep cars and road warriors etc. :lol: Tempest

Just read in the ADAC mag that there'll be a cabrio version and even an estate version :shock:, both to be launched somwhere in 2009 or so. Tempest

That Citroen seems to have one heck of a low bumper/skirt/spoiler type thing on the front. Almost as low as my Mk1 Rocco :shock: Then again still fugly as heck compared to my Rocco :-) Take that Citroen over a few nasty speed bumps, scrape off some paint and hand it back to the insurance :lol: Tempest

Erm, can't really confirm that, I'm afraid. It is generally true that Germans just like to mod their cars more so than folk do in Britain (certainly true for outwards mods), irrespective of car brand and type. That's why i can't confirm that in D the C is perceived as a chav car, on the contrary: My parents' neighbours each time I turn up in my C, want me to sell it to them. They're in their late 50s and certainly no chavs. The C enjoys a similar status in D as it does here, it's very much admired by peeps in the know. Yes, you also get some tw*ts modding the crap out of the C, but that's the case in almost any country where you still find Corrados. Tempest

That's the only hope we've got to stop all these misguided people who keep on buying these SUV things from cluttering up our roads, blocking my view at roundabout when I'm in my ultra-lowered sports coupe next to one of these highrisers *yeuch* Tempest

Oh dear. Yes, I remember you going all soft on the Fiat (= "Fehler in allen Teilen" in German, meaning "Mistakes in all parts") 500 last weekend, when your C wasn't quite behaving itself. There was me, immediately to the rescue, trying to get any such thoughts out of your head, but I must have failed :lol: Anyway, on a slightly more serious note: I can't say I like the looks of that car, retro and all that as it may be, attractive (in whatever way) it may be, lightweight et al. Moreover, don't forget that new cars do very often suffer from as many, if not more, problems than our old cars. As a member of the ADAC I get the monthly club mag with a list of recalls on rather new cars. That list is sometimes quite shocking. That's only the tip of the iceberg, because the ADAC mag can't feature user comments, of course ;-) In addition, don't forget that if you may find it hard to work on your C at times, you can forget all that on new cars, where on forums like these, you'll increasingly find people asking for good garages where they can have their new bangers fixed at reasonable cost, because there's little the home mechanic can still do on new cars. Apart from the fact that quite a few C-owners enjoy tinkering on their cars, it's also cheaper than having a garage do the work (well sort of, because that's often compensated by expensive mods and parts that you ordinarily wouldn't stick on a brandnew car :lol:). Just some thoughts on the issue. Tempest

The IAA (Frankfurt Motorshow) is on the way, so time for more Iroc reports in the German press :lol: Tempest

Had it back since beginning of August, when I first took it to a huge Scirocco/Rado meet whilst still in Germany, before driving the C back to Blighty again. Repair's been an incredible job, very pleased with it. Tempest

Love my G60, will have had it for 4 years end of this month. Yes, it did have some frustrating teething and expensive problems to sort since the day I've owned it, but mine seems to have had a varied, not always good and looked after, life. I do not use any of my cars as dailies, however, so that greatly simplifies any projects i wish or have to undertake on any of them. I could be working on all 3 at the same time, all 3 off the road without any problems, since I fortunately don't need a daily. So I can't comment on the reliability of a G60 C. So far, however, touch wood, mine's been reliable, both on short distance and long international trips. The G60 definitely does not like town travelling as far as the fuel economy is concerned. Things do improve on the motorway though. Tempest

Yeah, happened to me recently, because my neighbour had observed that my C was no longer in its garage. this was during the time that it was being repaired over in Germany after the slight hic-up on the Ring recently ;-) So I was pleased to bits being able to inform my neighbour that, yes, my C will be back, and I still own it :-) Tempest

It is in Germany, and it amazed me when I came to the UK to hear, that it isn't part of the driving lessons package in this country. In Germany you're trained to put your foot down, here's how: During my 2 hour obligatory motorway trip as part of my driving lessons, I approached a slower car on a 2-lane motorway (most motorways in Germany are still 2 lane). The driving instructor just casually asked me whether I wanted to overtake that car. Yes, I replied. "Well, put your foot down then!" was the response. The car was an Audi 80 (end of 80s), doing 150 km/h I overtook. "How did that feel?" was the question. I just grinned. THAT's what I call driving instructions. No Green Party nonsense and other environmental BS now please :lol: Tempest

6 16V G60 Rados were built by Karmann. One was trashed by Karmann on their own test track near Papenburg. One belonged to an ex-CEO of Karmann, Rainer Thieme (ex Recaro CEO), which is the one now residing in Karmann's oprivate car collection basement. This one at Thieme's request had a central armrest fitted to the driver seat. Tempest

Ah well, yes, but it's all fixed again, just a bit painfull on the old wallet :lol: Ready to go back for some more insult and injury (NOT!!). We also had a Rocco that spun a few times, hitting a barrier here and there, but he kept on going back for more damage each time :lol: 3 out of 4 cars in our team that day came off with damage, not bad, eh? Must all be crap drivers, I reckon :lol: Oh, and the Mini team from the UK didn't quite have their day that day, rolling one of their Minis. Tempest

Now imagine what it may feel like when you're 38 and drive this: So what, do I care? Nope, let people think what they like, as long as I'm happy. It also fools the cops sometimes, after which they leave me alone. Higher age = sensible, it would seem from a cops' point of view :lol: Tempest

Prototype shown in Berlin had the 2 Liter TSI, or so we were told by insiders, because no-one was actually allowed to lift the bonnet. Tempest

You lucky so and so :-) The previous owner of my US-G60 seemed to have had an accident at the front of the Corrado, replacing the bumper with a Eurospec bumper :-( At least he had the sense of keeping the side markers :-) Tempest

Congrats on your prize :-) Shame you weren't in Hohenroda during weekend of 3-5 August, so I could have had a good look at your C. Tempest

Did find a piccie of my crashed Rado after all. Tsts, one tries to be intellectual here, and gets replies like that :lol: The pizza was much more enjoyable than the one on the evening after the crash at that pizza place near to the ring. This time we had a stunning setting along the Rhein, making Wagners "Ring der Nibelungen" setting (also the Rhein, OK, for you folks, it's of course the Rhine, but that just looks wrong :lol:) look like fake. 4 more days, and I'm back in Germany, driving my Rado :-) Tempest

Not yet, but you can't see anything anymore. No pictures of the actual work-phase, other than this one, when the panel work was completed, and the C went into the spray-booth. Tempest