This relates back to a post a few days ago by Alvin about the Moris Minor he bought for £410 in 1961 and a VW Beetle for £624 in 1964. - also the article in the Telegraph today on the Fiesta being 25 years old.

Looking at the rise in Retail Price Index since 1961(a factor of 13.625) and 1964(12.37) the Minor would cost £5586 and VW £7718 at todays prices. Given the much higher spec of today's cars they must be better value now.

With the notable exception of houses, I suspect most of the major items we buy are cheaper in real terms now. (A reasonable 3 bed Semi in SE England would cost £3-£3.5K in 1961 say £40-£50K now)

Discuss!

Bob H Read more

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of any good independent VW specialists to work on a 'p' reg MK3 Golf TDi in the midlands ?

I bought this car as salvage with 27000 miles only and its currently having the body repaired. My HPI report for the car shows that its on v-car twice and to cut a long story short my research shows no reason why the mileage isnt genuine, as the car has been sitting in a yard somewhere for the best part of a year before i got hold of it. Also i have checked with the vw dealer network who tell me the last time it was serviced was july 98 when it was showing 15000 miles.

Im expecting some wiring faults with the car with the repair work thats being done, but who could diagnose and cure them properly inexpensively and quickly?

Also if anyone knows what mileage or age the cambelt should be done i would be interested to know......

Thanks,
PRC Read more

Well folks, after sweeping my road behind the hedge cutter a few week ago, my dear wife managed to drive her Mondeo over a thorn which has now punctured the side wall, about one inch from the tread.

I was waiting in a long line at the tyre depot watching the sluggish movements of the "tyre fitters", some of them with the usual mouth agape look and the thick bottom lip I have found is often owned by a dumbkoff.

As they nonchallantly threw the trolley jacks under the various cars without appearing to check for correct jacking points, I recalled a previous incident, (different shop) when a tyre fitter managed to bend two box sections on my wifes Volvo by putting a trolley jack in the wrong place (both sides).

I could not stand it any longer and drove away.

I now notice that this depot usually has very young people working at weekends and most of the older staff are not seen. I came home and took the wheel off - tyre still inflated - and put on the spare. I shall now present them with the tyre and no doubt be told "OoooH, can't repair that, it's on the side wall"

Well maybe, but why can they not put a tube in the thing? They say we can put men on the moon ( if you believe it) and yet they can't vulcanise a tyre to seal a hole which must be like a pin @!#$ on the inside. It's the law, I suppose.

Has anyone else had this sort of problem with tyre depots employing people whose knowledge of jacking points appears a tad lacking? Keeping in mind some of the vehicles they are bending will be worth many thousands of £££££'s and the fact that I would not have known about the previous bending if it had not been pointed out the next day by the MOT tester.

Anyone had a tyre change recently and looked under the car? How do we protect our cars from this vandalism? Read more

The following link is an excellent reference source for wiring diagrams for all Golfs Passats Corrados.

volkswagen.msk.ru/vw_09.htm
The site is also a good source of all tech information if you can read russian!

But PLEASE can any body give me a copy wiring diagram (or link to ) for a Mk2 Polo 1050cc Feb 1982. They changed in that month to a 16 Fuse fusebox and only have the earlier manual. I have had problems of other sorts in the the past, I think it was a parts bin transition model! made when engine was changed over. I keep looking for a 'correct Haynes' manual which was published, but it never seems to appear in boot sales etc.

All I need is a scanned version of the part that shows the Ignition switch and feed to Fuses 14 15 16. I have lost power feed to wipers, fan (heater) and rear screen on daughters car and need to put on the road pronto. (Well it is on the road with a temporary direct feed from the battery via a 30A fuse direct to the fuse box, but I would like to do the job properly tomorrow, or I wont get a birthday present). If the fault clears itself, the reverse power feed may mean you cannot kill the ignition!

Thanks Read more

For those who have loyally followed VBH on Top Gear this year there is a treat for you today.

She's on One man and His Dog today at 4.20pm.

VBH......One Man and His Dog.....????

Errrr

David Read more