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Linus Van Pelt

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Posts posted by Linus Van Pelt

  1. Posted

    Things to consider...

     

    When new, the Corrado was a £20K car. The youngest examples will now be at least 9 years old. A large proportion of them will have started life as company cars and motorway cruisers (since VW sold them at such a high price), which whilst good for the engine, will be hell on the mechanicals ('0,000's miles of salt and grit at 80++ is going to corrode most things :lol:). As can be seen on this forum, a high percentage have had some sort of fettling/tuning and there's always the risk that when you mess with the original balance, stuff is going to stop playing nicely (my CAT died within weeks of fitting the S/S Milltek :lol: )

     

    Anyone want to hazard a guess at how many '000's of components make up a single car? Realistically, all components are engineered with a lifetime, and most components either fail almost immediately or after a certain length of time. Could just be that major component failure is around now.

     

    Whilst the C was made by raiding the Golf/Passat parts bin, there's still quite a lot of bespoke kit on the C, hence the extortionate prices to fix them.

     

    Adding all this together, and you're chances of getting a "C in need of attention" vs. a "C with next to no maintenance required" is more acute than it might otherwise be.

     

    Me? Well I ended up spending a lot of cash on my C when I first got it. Mostly age related stuff and partly because it went from being used 'properly' to hardly at all for the 12 months before I picked it up. I admit I didn't know as much about them as maybe I should have, so I know I probably paid more for it than I should - note that I would still have got it. Anyway, now the work has been done, the costs to maintain are within normal figures. Yes I still have a couple of niggles, but nothing that can't be sorted (just finding the time.

     

    A combination of this forum, good mates and couple of decent garages to take the car too (and not pay stoopid labour rates) and what started out as "oh my god I bought a lemon" turned into, "the effort & expense was worth it for the C I have today".

     

    I fell in love with it when I took it for a test drive, and no matter how hard I try, I can't see any other car (new or otherwise) that I'd rather have.

     

    Viva La Corrado! :lol:

     

    DtM.

  2. Posted

    Yeah thats wat i was meaning,what about the mk3 8v?

     

    Cheers Fraser

     

    iIIRC there is a slight variation with the 8valver..............but can't remember for the life of me what it was :wink:

     

    I think I've got this right... according to what I've found (and this is the confusing bit) there are actually two different 2.0 8V engines :shock: . Both of them were used across the range (in the Corrado/Golf/Vento & Passat).

     

    The 2E engine dates from 93-94 and the ADY engine dates from 94-95, the difference appears to be in the engine management :?: Digifant vs Jetronic :?:

     

    Since the 2.0 8V is MY 94-95, theoretically early models could have the 2E engine, whilst later ones would have the ADY engine... (this would also help to explain why these codes both appear in ETKA...)

     

    :study:

     

    DtM.

  3. Posted

    Tricky one. If you already own a 2.0 16V (should apply to the 2.0 8V and 1.8 16V though), and you want more power, and you still want a Corrado then you have four choices.

     

    (1) Mod your existing Corrado (cams/head/chip/exhaust/turbo/supercharger) (Think Aposegil is the resident guru on this one)

    (2) Replace with modern engine (e.g. 1.8T) (more than a few on here that have done this)

    (3) Buy a G60

    (4) Buy a VR6

     

    I can make comments on what I've read about the G60 & the VR, but having never driven either, I can only speculate. What I can say is that it very much depends on what style of driving you want it for...

     

    I ponder this one myself sometimes (hence the 944/968 research), but until I've actually tried driving the other models I won't be certain where I'll end up. The VR does seem to be the 'obvious' upgrade, but there's going to be a trade off between more power and losing the inherent characteristics of the 16V engine.

     

    DtM.

  4. Posted

    2.9 litre V6 to get 194 BHP is not a brilliant ratio by any means (unless your American).

     

    Funny you should mention that... I was just reading some stuff on the 944/968 and I was suprised to read that the 3.0 lump in the 968 puts out 240bhp and that's from a N/A 4-pot :shock:

     

    Now that's some serious engineering!

     

    DtM.

  5. Posted

    now these do not change from 2.0 to 2.9 so why all the bitc**ing about the 8v.

     

    I don't recall any bitching about the 8V, not that I've seen yet at least.

     

    And why are you taking it so personally? Did you design and make the car? No, you didn't, so grow up and accept the fact we all have our own tastes and style.

     

    K

     

    Kev, in my experience, the 8V always get's slated for being 'underpowered', he's probably referring to the 0-60 times post :?:

     

    I can see where G-SEXY is coming from though. All cars have there good points and bad points, and comparing within the range (whilst unfair) is sadly something which is always going to happen (human nature).

     

    The really annoying part (and when It get's really, really boring) is to hear the same old tired comments come out every time comparisons get made - G60 vs VR6, 1.8 vs 2.0 etc.

     

    Sensitive or not (and I fully admit I am way too sensitive for my own good), everyone has a point at which the constant belittling will make them snap.

     

    It's precisely for these reasons I stopped posting to the Yahoo! group. (Only in this case I got fed up with hearing how the only 'proper' Corrado was a VR...).

     

    Maybe it's just an 'empathy' thing, but I feel that telling someone you don't know to 'grow up' is possibly a tad harsh. Yes, they need to deal with it, not sure that was the right way ;)

     

    However, playing 'Devil's Advocate', maybe G-SEXY could have expressed his point a little better...

     

    DtM.

  6. Posted

    Don't feel too bad mate. I've had my car at AmD a couple of times, with slightly unexpected results...

     

    The first time was to fit a new exhaust (Milltek). How long would you expect that to take normally? An hour, maybe a bit more? It took them over 5 hours to change it :shock: Basically all the bolts and fixings were totally fubar'd and various stuff sheared (which is an (_|_) to fix). The mechanics face was like thunder... probablty would have driven my car off a cliff if he had the chance :lol:

     

    Similalry when I had new front wishbones fitted, yet another bolt sheared and I was told that I might need a new subframe :shock: Thankfully they were able to recover it, but the job still took all day (and they had to work overtime to get it done)

     

    Any decent company isn't going to ruin there reputation by doing something stupid, but if they don't have a part, they probably stop working on it altogether, rather than carrying on with other stuff. It might also be the case that they only have one person working on it at any one time.

     

    I agree that 3 weeks is still a bit much though... fingers crossed for you!

     

    DtM.

  7. Posted

    ...think we went over this one before...

     

    It was pointed out last time that the official VW figures used two-up and luggage...

     

    (Mr brain could be failing of course, I'm not getting any younger :lol: )

     

    DtM.

  10. Posted

    :lol: ...reminds me of when I bought mine... I didn't know they came with a speed activated spoiler... :oops: ...you should have seen my face when I saw it go up 8)

     

    DtM.

     

    LOL LOL :lol:

     

    My mates constantly take the mick as even now when I hit 45mph I glimpse in the mirror to see the spoiler popping up.... :-P

     

    yes.gif

     

    (although 56mph in my case)

     

    Anyone want to guess how many times I bend the limit in a 50? :lol:

     

    DtM.

  11. Posted

    its a proper box of tricks :D

     

    any other funky stuff I should know about? Dont have a handbook

     

    The actual car key should have a transponder chip in it - it's effectively a built-in immobiliser - no chip and the car will cut out when it doesn't get the signal it's looking for 8)

     

    You could try stalking e-bay to pick up a genuine manual, or I can lend you mine to do a photocopy if you like.

     

    DtM.

  17. Posted

    I think the main problem lies with the fact that the vast majority of the motoring public see a car as a necessary convenience and nothing more. My mum is a classic example, she doesn't actually enjoy driving, but does so because she needs too. Her car is an average motor, nothing special, but it does the job it was intended to do, so she's happy. Sure it's irritating when a car get's scratched, but if you only view your car as an instrument of transport, chances are you'll treat other cars in the same way. Most people wouldn't get upset if their lawnmower got a dink and sadly it's this attitude that makes people think 'it doesn't matter'.

     

    Going with the hipothetical lawnmower...... if you damaged your own, you may well think...' bah, only the lawnmower' but...what if i damaged your lawnmower?

     

    That's what I meant (sorry I wasn't very clear), I personally wouldn't care, It's a lawnmower, it mows the grass, it's no big deal... I think this attitude extends to cars when they're only viewed as objects rather than (as we do) our pride & joy that usually costs three arms, five legs and twelve kidneys to fix :lol: They don't care about their cars whereas we do.

     

    DtM.

  18. Posted

    Is there something wrong with me? I NEVER seem to feel the urge to damage other peoples property. Is this wrong?? And if I did ever accidently do it, i would have the COMMON COURTESY to admit to it.

     

    I appreciate this is more of a rhetorical question, but it got me thinking (fallout imminent, must sit down :lol:)

     

    I think the main problem lies with the fact that the vast majority of the motoring public see a car as a necessary convenience and nothing more. My mum is a classic example, she doesn't actually enjoy driving, but does so because she needs too. Her car is an average motor, nothing special, but it does the job it was intended to do, so she's happy. Sure it's irritating when a car get's scratched, but if you only view your car as an instrument of transport, chances are you'll treat other cars in the same way. Most people wouldn't get upset if their lawnmower got a dink and sadly it's this attitude that makes people think 'it doesn't matter'.

     

    Had the same recently myself, despite deliberately parking out of the way with only one side of car exposed....grrrrrr.

     

    This one's easy. The driving test doesn't teach you how to park in parallel bays (i.e supermarket/multi-storey car parks). So, people just get the car in (not bothering to put enough gap both sides), or wuss out and park near a line of empty spaces... using your car - parked out of the way for safety- as their guide (becuase they're probably not bothering to use their eyes and look the for the two white lines painted on the ground).

     

    I'm fortunate to have a garage, but I still get dinks from muppets in the car park. After spending £x,xxx on getting my car repaired after some hit & run lunatic tried to remove the side of my car, it took less then 6 weeks to get a chip from some moronic cretin opening their door onto mine. I think my response to discovering it would have made Bill Hicks blush. :evil:

     

    Short of covering the car in bubble wrap, I can't see what else can be done... :roll:

     

    DtM.

  19. Posted

    wasn't the Passat engine the 2.8 not the 2.9 like the Corrado's? :?:

     

    Indeed, 2.8 as put in the Golf VR6. According to my little engine code list, the C VR lump only found it's way into a Golf III Synchro.

     

    Having said that, didn't the US VR's (SLC) come with the 2.8 lump too? Can't be all that hard to swap one in surely...

     

    DtM.

  20. Posted

    Thanks for that SoundsAlarming, I was afraid it might be that way...

     

    ECP say £200 and not in stock... (assuming I was looking at the right bit). I dread to think what one from VAG is then :shock:

     

    DtM.

  21. Posted

    My driver side electric window is sticking quite badly (1" down and up again isn't too bad, but it took the removal of the door card to get it back up again from fully open). I've already lubricated the bits you can get to without taking the door card off, but it didn't help. With the help of a mate, we got the door card off and having consulted ETKA I think I can see which bits I need to attack next...

     

    Whilst we had the door card off (boy is it a pain in the (_|_) to get back on again!), we found the window motor (in case that's eventually the real problem), but a) it appers to be pop riveted inside the door shell and b) how the hell do you actually get to it? :?: (The diagram on ETKA doesn't really show it in context very well).

     

    If anyone's done this one before I'd really appreciate any pointers...

     

    Cheers,

     

    DtM.

  22. Posted

    I've seen a quick scan of the pic in Autocar and all I can say is I think it looks nasty.

     

    Irrespective of whether Autocar are right or not (still waiting for their prediction on the RS3), I fear that in the unlikely event VW ever build anything other than their current range, it's either going to be a 2 seater (al MR2, TT conv) or a large coupe (al la Pug 406 probably based on the current passat) as in big fat & lardy.

     

    IMHO, part of the magic of the C, is down to it's size. We've all seen how the Mk4/5 Golf is twice the wieght of the original Mk1, if they don't do a roadster type, I'm fairly sure we'd end up with a barge coupe.

     

    Since 2+2 is so unfashionable these days, I don't seriously think anything equivalent will be made (at least not by VW).

     

    I have yet to see a modern car I would swap my C for (within realistic prices).

     

     

    DtM.

  23. Posted

    I remember this one as well. There used to be a photo section on the Yahoo! group which I'm sure had them, but it's gone now (saving space).

     

    A quick google turned up nothing :(

     

    However, whilst we wait for some kind soul to post them up, I did find this one whilst searching and it's not one I remember seeing before...

     

    Anime%20Corrado.jpg

     

    Tasteful, or tasteless? Discuss :mrgreen:

     

    DtM.

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