Practically Classics Forum

A sensor packed up on the current Golf in November/December and put the car in limp mode. Did I take it to the expensive main dealer? No, I took it to my local independent ("back street") garage. They read the codes and ordered a sensor from Europart. They did an oil change while they had the car (at my request!) and the oil cost almost as much as diagnosing, supplying and fitting the sensor (and collecting/delivering the car!) and the bill arrived three weeks later!

Please note that I am, in the original meaning of the word, disinterested in the discussion. I don't prefer newer to older classics or vice-versa and it's just "luck" that I have a relatively new Golf - I would have been happy enough with the ten year old version (and even happier with the 96 Passat!). It's sort of ironic that two hours before writing off the last Golf I had thought that it was wearing well enough to last me until I stop driving (for whatever reason) in at least ten or fifteen years' time (and hopefully a lot longer!). It would have been a classic then!

I'm even more jealous of Kevin now - a Vogue (that was bad enough to get me jealous) AND a 6/110 with new parts for it. Sheer heaven compared to the piles of rust that I have to refurbish for the tractors!

The Peugeot 205 was mentioned earlier in this topic - just picked up the latest issue of Classics Monthly which is celebrating the 205's 30th birthday with a 8 page article featuring 6 different cars from the basic XL to the 1.9 GTI Mi16 . . . . . .

Mike

Mi16? That was surely a 405 was it not?

I believe it used to be a popular mod to squeeze that engine in but I could be wrong.

Yes, since posting earlier I've read about this on the interweb. Mad as a box of very green cheese.

JPB wrote:Mi16? That was surely a 405 was it not?

Since my post above I have now read the article instead of just the headline - yes it's had an engine transplant - also a 309 rear axle and 306 brakes . . . . . .

Mike

Mi16 also went into the BX and the Xantia, and is a popular transplant into the 205- sadly resulting in the rapid extinction of fast hydro-cits in the same way that mini folk have wiped out the 1275cc Metros.

Thinking of Pugs, a friend of mine had a 1991 205 diesel until about three or four years ago. His sister bought it new and sold it to his son. The son got married and suddenly needed a larger car and my friend's 1984 Metro (that was ours!) was about shot and went to one of his nieces. He sold the Pug because it needed new front struts and they would have costed him about £300! I think they got about £100 scrap value for what was a virtually unblemished car with not a lot of miles on the clock.

The niece now has another uncle's old car, a "W" reg Focus (unless she's sold it). Talk about keeping things in the family!!