parrot

There is no doubt there are some killer parts prices if things go bad. How do you get an engine consumption test done? Sounds like something that would require the car for a few days which isn't really an option when buying. I've snoozed the GTI forums on faceplant as all you see are a litany of fault codes and various other failures. Although most of the people on there are taking them to various states of tune. Of course they are not all like that, but varied stories of high oil consumption, leaking thermostats, DSG issues. Took one from a dealer for a test drive yesterday as a learning exercise. Lovely car but cosmetically a little rough. The wheels are a sitting duck for curbing. He wasn't happy when I pointed out the lake in the boot, or when I showed it to the other guy looking at it. The DSG shifts were a little ropy too until it warmed up, then OK. Went like the clappers. No surprises they weren't offering much of a trade in. Left salesman and used car manager scratching their heads looking in the wheel well. So I think I will look to sell the xtrail privately, register the AE86 and drive that for a bit while looking for a good GTI.

Is it a pusher or puller pump? If the former may want to consider relocating to the boot?

Woke up early this morning, couldn’t get back to sleep worrying about something or other so reached for the phone. And have had a fantastic hour reading over the last 7 1/2 years. You should be very proud of what you have achieved! Waiting for my K/3K to come back from the machinist, repair areas in high fill - in other words just what I needed to see! What a car you have built

The Golf R is a step too far dollarwise, but the GTI looks to be a very good car. The latest I’ve seen is that after changing the transmission fluid, the DSG computer - no doubt there is more than one, need to be reset to adjust for the change in viscosity in order to operate properly. Seems to be many things like that. I think I’ll be taking it to a dealer…. After I find one. Need to tiz up the xtrail first though. Think I might register the AE86 so I can drive that between cars

So kids are growing up, beach house sold and the Nissan Xtrail which has done sterling service is a bit dull and frankly I'm over driving a manual in heavy city traffic. Plus no one else in the family drives a manual, and daughter needs to drive an auto for her learners. Yes I'm developing a story for the wife on why I need to buy a Golf GTI! I'm thinking a 2015 which I gather is when they went to an improved motor and marginally enlarged interior I believe. Hoping to get one with leather interior around $25K. Anyone have any insight into these? They have a timing chain rather than belt, but am seeing they need waterpump changes around every 50k. I would be keeping mine absolutely stock. I seriously considered a WRX, but family shouted that down as a thug car! Plus they sound a bit of an effort to drive with not a lot of auto's around.

I’m 14 x6 on the AE86 and 13 x 6 on the TE27 (when it can roll). 13 x 5.5 on the KE15 for now which is overkill unless I can find some nice period 13 x 5 for it. Considering the Falcon GT had 6 inch wheels from memory. It’s just too much unsprung weight. And of course modern tyres are incomparable to what was available back then. I appreciate tyre choices are somewhat limited, but not impossible. Those wheels on MS car look phenomenal!

I’ve never understood the push to put huge wheels and tyres on such small cars.

Paint has nothing to do with anything, and isn't factory

I am. First modern car that's moved me since the original WRX. I'm less enthused by the price increase though. The GR86 however leaves me very cold.

It won't help you to learn that retractable belts were actually available in the USA. i've got one rear NOS belt I located along the way. I can't see why you couldn't retrofit something from a later model, but you would need to ensure the angle were set up same as in the donor.

Currently $54500 drive away (in Melbourne)

That’s your wiper motor

I want a red one

But would you have anywhere to drive. Perhaps you could switch to one of those K powered boats I saw somewhere recently. Fluffy pup is a miniature cavoodle. Not a lap dog, they are the toy breeds. Miniatures are the middle size, and he is 9kgs at 5 months old. If I hadn't got him, I could of bought Styler's K motor! He needs a good shearing but the groomer is grading him up to that over three visits. Today was visit two, so fluffier than usual.

I’m clearly no cool kid, but everyone wanted to pat my dog at our inaugural Bunnings trip today. Counts as car related as I was there for a new tin of contact cement to fix my $50 sanding block that shed its Velcro after one day