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OK, so I've been using the T4 transporter as a daily for the past couple of years; it's constantly full of bikes with the Rebike project steaming along nicely.
It was originally bought 3.5yrs ago as a base for a camper conversion project, to the point that I have a full set of cupboard/wardrobe units, carpet lining, stove, sink and fridge all in storage accumulated.
But...I never got past the insulation, soundproofing and ply lining stage, much to the amusement of the lads in Happy Campers in Wexford, who keep (sarcastically) telling me there's no point in rushing things!
I've always kept a lookout for something 'interesting' to use as a daily, so that I could take the van off the road and blitz into finishing the conversion. Unfortunately, nothing has ever come along.
A recent call from a work colleague asking if I could find someone in the VAG community to take his car for small money has changed this, however. He claimed his mechanic said it was beyond mechanical repair as it has suffered some kind of electrical and ECU catastophe. I rang the mechanic, who I know and asked his opinion.....''it's fu(ked'' was his reply.
I figured for 350 European pounds, it was worth a shot at salvation, seeing as she still had a few months test still in the window.
Plus the fact that the previous owner had looked after it meticulously, with regular servicing/valeting...hell, there was even 50 quids worth of petrol in the tank which had been filled about 25mins before she broke down!
And so, this has recently ended up in my driveway...01 Golf GTi, 112k, lots of history, ''macklet'', as the lads with the moptops and skinny jeans like to say on dungdeal.
IMG_20160411_222018.jpg IMG_20160411_221957.jpg
What's the first thing you do with a non-runner?
Buy new alloys, of course!!
So after a 4.5hr drive to Sligo, 12minutes in Sligo talking to the seller, then a 4.5hr drive back to Waterford, a set of 17'' Audi TT Comps which had been mirror polished ended up in my possession. They really suit the mk4 and are a wheel I've always liked.
golf4.jpg
Next step, better get her running I s'pose.
Off the the electrical/electronic genius Padraic Bolger in Customvolkz, better known as Podsy in the aircooled VW community. He had her running in 15minutes after diagnosing an aftermarket alarm unit that had shorted out, killing power to the ECU.
So, to date 350 for the car, 400 for the wheels/tyres, minus 250 I got for the original wheels/tyres. 500 quid for 150bhp? Not bad.
Bangernomics at its finest.
Better get the finger out and tear into this van....
It was originally bought 3.5yrs ago as a base for a camper conversion project, to the point that I have a full set of cupboard/wardrobe units, carpet lining, stove, sink and fridge all in storage accumulated.
But...I never got past the insulation, soundproofing and ply lining stage, much to the amusement of the lads in Happy Campers in Wexford, who keep (sarcastically) telling me there's no point in rushing things!
I've always kept a lookout for something 'interesting' to use as a daily, so that I could take the van off the road and blitz into finishing the conversion. Unfortunately, nothing has ever come along.
A recent call from a work colleague asking if I could find someone in the VAG community to take his car for small money has changed this, however. He claimed his mechanic said it was beyond mechanical repair as it has suffered some kind of electrical and ECU catastophe. I rang the mechanic, who I know and asked his opinion.....''it's fu(ked'' was his reply.
I figured for 350 European pounds, it was worth a shot at salvation, seeing as she still had a few months test still in the window.
Plus the fact that the previous owner had looked after it meticulously, with regular servicing/valeting...hell, there was even 50 quids worth of petrol in the tank which had been filled about 25mins before she broke down!
And so, this has recently ended up in my driveway...01 Golf GTi, 112k, lots of history, ''macklet'', as the lads with the moptops and skinny jeans like to say on dungdeal.
IMG_20160411_222018.jpg IMG_20160411_221957.jpg
What's the first thing you do with a non-runner?
Buy new alloys, of course!!
So after a 4.5hr drive to Sligo, 12minutes in Sligo talking to the seller, then a 4.5hr drive back to Waterford, a set of 17'' Audi TT Comps which had been mirror polished ended up in my possession. They really suit the mk4 and are a wheel I've always liked.
golf4.jpg
Next step, better get her running I s'pose.
Off the the electrical/electronic genius Padraic Bolger in Customvolkz, better known as Podsy in the aircooled VW community. He had her running in 15minutes after diagnosing an aftermarket alarm unit that had shorted out, killing power to the ECU.
So, to date 350 for the car, 400 for the wheels/tyres, minus 250 I got for the original wheels/tyres. 500 quid for 150bhp? Not bad.
Bangernomics at its finest.
Better get the finger out and tear into this van....
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