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Messages - paulnewman

1
Mk2 Golf Chat / Re: Historic Vehicle classification
It seems to go deeper than engine swaps.  The legislation talks of "substantial changes" and even says:

Axles and running gear
Alteration of the type or method of:
    suspension
    steering
is a ‘substantial change’.

Based on this wording, swapping the stock suspension for coilovers could be classed as a substantial change and mean you will need an MoT.

What would happen if you got stopped by the police with an exempt vehicle and they deemed that it had been substantially changed? Would you be charged with driving a vehicle with no MoT and would it then get classified by DVLA as a non-exempt vehicle?
3
Members' Cars / Re: "Helga" the 1988 8v GTI
I think lockdown has finally got to the car.  I decided to change the flourescent lights in the garage for some nice LED battern fittings so needed to move the car.  In all the time I have had it, there hasn't been a time when it hasn't started on the first turn of the key so I was shocked when I was greeted with the normal whirring of the starter motor but not the slightest hint that it would start  :(

I can hear a pump prime and there is a good spark so I am guessing the in tank pump has decided that it's bored of pumping................hopefully I am not looking at a dead ECU or a dodgy immobiliser!

I did the only thing that I could think of and covered it back up, switched off the garage lights and crossed my fingers in the hope that the magic pixies would come and fix it over night :D
6
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Greetings from Finland!
Hi Sami, welcome.  Where in Finland are you? I work for a Finnish company and have had many drunken nights in Helsinki  :))  :))

Oh cool! I live in Oulu, northern Finland. Which company do you work for, if I may ask? PM me if you want to share it  :))

Company name is Basware.  I am based in our London office but we have 3 locations in Finland; Espoo (Company HQ), Tampere & Pori.  That looks like an incredible survivor as it is a pretty harsh place up in the north of Finland so assuming that the bodywork is sound then you can easily work on the mechanicals.
10
General Chat / Re: Investing in classic cars...
Classic car ownership in cities is going to become more of a challenge so being in a club could be the way to go.

As an example, in October 2021 they are expanding the emmission zone in London out the North/South circular roads and any vehicle that doesn't meet the emmission level (Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel) will be charged £12.50 a day to enter.

This is going to take a significant number of cars off the road (stuff like old Fords and Nissans being crushed will make the workd a better place  :))  :)) ) but imagine if you have a Mk2 as a daily and live within the expansion zone.  It would more than likely mean that it becomes uneconomical to own so the only way you could get a "classic fix" is to rent one on a sunny day.

The new zone will be less than 5 miles from where I live and I know it is only a matter of time before the boundary starts creeping out towards the M25.  If that happens, I will be resigned to keeping the car hidden away in the garage and every so often going to sit inside it and make brum brum noises..............................................
11
Mk2 Golf Chat / Re: Bottletops - were they ever a dealer/factory upgrade to the 8v
Brilliant replies - I hadn't expected the bottletops to open up all this info - thanks for posting the brochures, love that sort of stuff (don't suppose you have a 95 Corrado one you can PM me the pictures of?)

And the model year changes are great to read. Mine's an 88 F plate so i think a Digifant but hadn't realised it might be a type 19, however that said the two white cars above look the same to me!

The designation debate can be quite divisive!!!!   :))  :))

Check your VIN number. If it starts WVWZZZ19 then you could claim it as a an early designation model with the number 19 (otherwise known as Type-19) and if it starts WVWZZZ1G then you can't.............................

My Golf was built in June 1988 and has the 19 VIN rather than the 1G VIN but it's a Mk2 Golf at the end of the day and that is all that matters  8)

What's really important is that 8v, 3 door, small bumper cars are better than all the rest :D


15
Members' Cars / Re: 1988 8v GTI
Forgot I even had this!!!!  Not sure if I have any mini-discs left but hopefully can use that tape adapter......................