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Post by Volktales on Sept 5, 2016 19:59:17 GMT -8
Had this outside the garage yesterday to take the pictures for collector plates. Less then four months to go before it qualifies! |
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Post by Volktales on Feb 24, 2017 10:03:45 GMT -8
Finally! I have waited nine years for this to happen... The GTI finally qualified for collector plates and is registered via the multi vehicle plate scheme. Now I can drive it regularly for the first time since 2008. So the first thing was to remove the old expired plates, and give it a wash. It has been regularly started over the years and had the odd temporary permit, so it ran and drove just fine. It will be nice to get some new gas in the tank however...
And now there is no longer a front plate! And this is perfectly legal in this situation. Can't wait until a cop complains about this as few are aware of the exemption for multi-vehicle designated registered cars. Anyway took it out yesterday for a bit of a rip during my week off. Picked the kid up in it from school, and he was impressed. For most people it is still an anonymous car as few paid attention. Guess it will have to age a few more decades first... Still fun to drive however... |
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Post by Wongai on Feb 24, 2017 11:39:51 GMT -8
That thing is awesome. Super clean!
I'm about to start the collector plate dance. I'll let you know how it goes.
Awesome car man.
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Post by CrazyBrit on Feb 24, 2017 19:42:21 GMT -8
I agree. That is one nice Golf. But them I guess I could say something similar about most of Russ' cars!
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Post by PICTUP on Feb 25, 2017 11:07:39 GMT -8
I was behind the wheel of this once. I was scared to put my foot down as it is just so nice, and at the hint of throttle it goes faster than any of my cars!  "Drive it regularly"...ha-ha! You crack me up Russ!   |
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Post by Volktales on Feb 25, 2017 19:30:44 GMT -8
"Regularly" is a relative term...
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Post by Brenticon on Mar 16, 2017 9:05:59 GMT -8
Oh, it's a 92 .... oh well, check this out anyways  |
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Post by PICTUP on Mar 20, 2017 9:27:32 GMT -8
I heard this was out prowling around on the weekend. Got it up to the redline yet, Russ? |
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Post by Volktales on Jun 11, 2017 20:01:30 GMT -8
Finally got my hands on an era correct license plate frame for the GTI. No surprise, it was Reagh who had one of these in his stash... Took the GTI for a trip to Coombs today. It liked 140 km/h...
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Post by Wongai on Jun 12, 2017 7:44:43 GMT -8
140 KMs/h ?! Cars can go that fast? I graduated the year that car rolled off the line. I was driving a 59 beetle at that time.
A nice plate frame is a sweet detail. I get many offers for my metal Speedway frame (found in the forest with a metal detector).
B
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Post by Volktales on Jan 3, 2019 21:22:22 GMT -8
Sooo, over the years a couple of people have expressed an interest to buy my GTI, but the answer has always been not interested in selling. Recently this happened again, and the usual answer was given. Except unlike previous people, this guy was prepared to step up with a substantial offer. And I actually started to consider thinking of moving the car on. The realities of owning more cars than necessary, and realizing that the majority of the 5000 km I drove this car, were all in the first year of ownership. Many people have reminded me that this car didn't exactly fit in with the rest of my fleet, and it was kind of a waste to have it sitting there and taking up valuable garage space. This is all true. Then I drove it again. And the same goofy grin came over me, as it does each time I drive it. This was the most expensive car that I have ever bought, and I felt guilty at the time. I remember telling my wife then, that it could be considered an investment of sorts, and managed a straight face when i said it too. Mind you I also said it would make a great winter car, and that never exactly happened...
Anyway I did think about maybe it was time for a change, as I am still constantly thinking about having a '60's Corvair in my garage. The GTI money would allow me to buy an extremely nice example of Chevrolet's finest that would need no work what-soever. And have cash left over for other things too... And then reality set in. My kid made it very clear, that this is the one car of my collection that he likes the most. He still has not forgiven me for trading away my '67 Cougar, all those years ago either... And despite the limited use I give the GTI, I still love the design, and Mk2 Golfs and Jettas were the cars I started my automotive career working on. So I am happy to say, the GTI won't be going anywhere after-all, and I am OK with that...
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Post by PICTUP on Jan 3, 2019 21:55:26 GMT -8
I bet you'd have the same goofy grin in a Corvair, perhaps even more so because it is an air cooled(knowing how you like the type). Just to play devil's advocate..... since when has Victor ever had the last say in the cars in your garage and if he does with the GTI, how willing/happy will you be when he gets to drive it the way he likes, not the way you like? And who's to say that he wouldn't like the Corvair and all its 6 cylinder, rear wheel drive goodness(get the 140 hp Corsa if you get one )? IMO reality is sometimes of our own making(once we look deep into our selfish hearts), not others'(even though lately I am finding the latter to be true).  |
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Post by Volktales on Aug 12, 2020 21:05:45 GMT -8
Sooo, I have not even looked at, let alone started the GTI for some time now. As there are changes coming in the garage soon, it was time to start it up and take it out for a bit of a rip. As I have always regularly charged the battery, it fired right up without issue. However when going for a drive, something felt a bit off. The shifter seemed stiffer than I remembered, and in fact squeaked a bit while changing gears. Once back at the house, I had some difficulty in selecting reverse as well. Time to investigate...
This car was never actually a full restoration like most of my others on the fleet. I did rebuild the engine due to intermediate shaft bearing failure, and then the transmission shortly after this due to the dreaded broken tooth on the reverse gear. Both these problems where common Mk 2 GTI issues. Naturally I went through the brakes and suspension as necessary. Otherwise I did a major detailing on the car, but that was it. One thing I did not do, was disassemble the shifter itself, as there was nothing wrong with it back then. Shifter removal on Mk 2's is actually somewhat involved, so generally you don't go there unless necessary. So as you might guess by now, there was a problem with the shifter itself now.
So why was it OK before, and not now after only another 6000 km was added to the odometer? Not many km have been added, but lots of years have since then. It seems the lubricating grease had gone all hard and dry and was no longer doing its job. Taking it apart was not an option today, but adding lots of Fluid Film lubricant was easy and made a fantastic difference. Goes to show you that old cars are needy, even when barely being driven...
The GTI still brings a smile to my face when I drive it however, and probably always will...
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Post by owdlvr on Aug 16, 2020 13:59:09 GMT -8
Excellent!
I might be getting to the point where I may have too many cars to keep running regularly/maintained. Went to go start the Rally Bug to move it for the Lotus Club visit this weekend, battery was nuked because I forgot to put it on the Tender last time I had it out. My new battery I bought in Jan. Le Sigh.
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Post by Volktales on Aug 16, 2020 21:07:49 GMT -8
The GTI made a longish journey today, and I forgot about how much fun it is on the highway. This morning while doing a final detail before the trip, my lovely wife (who normally shows little interest in my cars), sat in the GTI behind the wheel and said "I like this. You can't sell it. Ever." So there you go. This one is safe, I guess...
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