RichC

Another thing that might help is reviewing the fees the bank has charged you. I'm no expert - but have seen lots of info about claiming back unreasonable charges recently - might be worth a dig around to get some advice on that too - remember many years ago getting hammered on the bank charges taking me over limits and so incurring more bank charges.. etc. etc.

Sat outside a pub in Woking on Wed eve ... glance up and there's my old Red Gti driving past (X???MAP) - how surreal... wonder how she's doing now..... remember it being a really great car, and somehow seemed much better than the later one I had.. not that that one had any problems, perhaps it was just my memory.....

Anyone else facing this problem, or any dealers out there can confirm/deny. My GTi's belt needs changing - the power steering pipe had been rubbing on it. Perfectly driveable, but want to sort before selling. My Sis works at a VW garage so based on the reg # she got me a belt and sent it up. Didn't have a chance to do it myself, so dropped it into my local stealer (£45 seemed reasonable). Now turns out the belt I've got is the wrong one and the right ones are on back order - now I've been waiting for 2 weeks now and they still haven't sourced one. Can such a common part be so difficult to get hold of?

OK, thinking of selling the '03/03 GTi to make way for a trackday car. Car is absolutely immac and fully loaded - leather, sunroof, aircon, 53k, FSH, cambelt just done etc. but during last weekend the passenger door got keyed (about 18" long) Now I've worked my magic with touchup, polish, t-cut etc. and a pretty good job I've made too but it's still obvious it's happened - what sort of adjustment do you think I should make to the asking price. Historically I've been pretty good at selling cars by pricing them right first time, not allowing too much adjustment and being realistic, rather than prcing it high and hoping... anyway - this weekend I'm hitting it with the full Zymol treatment in preparation style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> ... that's probably guaranteed rain now style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />

OK, had any annoying buzz coming from the back of the car. Initially thought it was a blown speaker or similar - has that sort of frequency. Anyway a good listen around has now located it to becoming from below the back seat - going to have a poke around later but any ideas - worryingly thats where the fuel tank is IFC! Really annoying noise - and I'm doing about 800miles this weekend (3 peaks) - if I don't finally get on the spotted forum I'll be most disappointed!!! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

My techicians workbook hasn't arrived yet (thanks eBay!), and I fancy doing this tonight/tomorrow. Does anyone have the instructions for replacing this on the GTi? Apologies in advance for the ranting emails tomorrow as I c*ck it up!!!

Might be worth phoning the first dealer back - often they'll price match, save you the drive - then again, the drive is why we've bought these cars!!

Car's just come back from the main dealer - got the Cam Belt change done on the GTi to keep the warranty in check. I'd also asked about a squealing noise that had just started - turns out the auxilary belt had been rubbing on a power steering pipe. They've repositioned the pipe but the belt is very worn and needs replacing .. anyone know a good VW independent in my area?

Ahh, exams, I remember the days.... style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":coffee:" border="0" alt="coffee.gif" /> 20 years since my A levels - that's when they were 'proper' exams and meant something style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> @Pete.. 'Petroleum Engineering' the only one of that I know is.. fill up at BP, turn key, push down with right foot, go fast...

err. 'working' from home.... Now, where's Blue Velvet?

I've a 4yr old Gti which I love, but have been looking around to see whaty 'spiritual succesors' there are out there, but with all the increase in size, weight etc. that's been going on with models over the past few years nothing has really caught my eye... until now.... OK, it's still classic Auto Express photoshopping, but these could be nice... >> LINK <<

*sob* the memories make me cry.... I was born in the sixties (just) Playing on building sites, riding bikes off scaffolding. Rope swings, Budgie, Chopper and Griffin bikes. I had a ZX80, Camputers Lynx, Oric & a Dragon 32 etc. 'Cheeky' comics... before they merged which 'Whizzer & Chips' Who remembers Wordy from school TV? School milk.. 'O' Levels!!!! I'll just go and grab my zimmer frame now....

When the car has been parked up for a little while it stinks of... well let's just say it smells like something has died in there. I've done a search on the Forum and the most regularly mentioned cause of a smell is the air-con, but running it seems to clear the smell rather than add to it. Would I still get the smell after the car has been left over night for example? The smell is not sulphurous like you'd get off the cat. I've checked under all the seats / carpets etc. but to no avail (got some funny looks from the neighbours yesterday when I was smelling the carpet!). going to get one of those air-con disinfecting canisters today and try that.. but any other ideas?

Cheers all - that sounds like what I remember. Think it'll be a plug and play tonight, just to get the HU in. Then have a proper plpay with the wiring etc over the weekend and hopefully get the iPod adapter wired in as well

Hoping to install my Alpine 9835R tonight (thanks to Joe for the spare 'stowage shelf') Now I'm sure I read on here somewhere that I can't just plug and play on the ISO adapters.. nothing major but two of the cables I need to switch. Thing is I'm blowed if I can find the reference again.... Am I imagining it style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":confused:" border="0" alt="confused.gif" /> , or can someone point me in the right direction. TIA.....

OK, no comments on the standard of my photography, or car washing skills! But just a sneaky pic of where my money goes, surprised to find that one was blue and one was red under all the grime!!! border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" class="linked-image" />

Oh, dear now i feel really old... almost 38, but still at kid a heart.. remember a GTi is for life! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Was playing with the HU im my new toy today, felt it was really front biased... then noticed it was a Beta HU (with no apparent fade control). I'm sure I had a Gamma in my last Gti - which should be standard? And does the Beta power the rear speakers? Not that it matters really, going to put in the Alpine 9835R with all the iPod trimmings I've got stuffed in a cupboard at home. But will then need to get the tray to fill the space under the HU where the CD player currently is.. what are the best search words to use to find one of these from eBay? Or are they actually pretty reasonable (for a change) from VW?

THe buzz, yes it's a great one .. obviously different to the Aston (well, durr!) but a real grin factor none the less. Funny you should mention the Sat Nav, I was toying with the idea and had a look on e-bay last night, just trying to work out which ones will fit etc.....

Well a little jet lagged I went over to pick her up yesterday.. a little nervous, would it be the same.. you know what they say.. it's never as good second time around... well the blast back over Salisbury Plain proved that old adage is complete bo**ocks! Within 5 miles of leaving the dealer a big grin has spread across my face. At Andover we swapped driver to let my gf reacquaint herself.. after a couple of miles she wasn't too sure.. but then she repositioned the seat, got comfy (hmm leather border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> And yummy.. leather, heated seats, sunroof and air-con... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> I've a couple of stone chips to do on the front, and a couple of rattle to attend to,, but hey it's a 4 year old car and I enjoy a weekend tinker.. oo-er!

As for opinons when I bought my fist Loop Gti I compard loads of similar small cars and it was easily the one that had the biggest smiles per mile factor

Err, I'm 38! Damn the sensible.. life's too short. And the Loop is particularly good. It's actually my 'sensible' car to run alongside the Aston....

Village Green Garages? Sorry style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" /> Actually I thought I'd missed it, when I phoned to enquire someone had first refusal. They were meant to be driving down from Yorkshire to see it, so I left my mates number just in case. Sat morning he got a call as the other person hadn't called to say he was leaving, so I got first dibs.... Good luck with your hunt.....

Well a big thanks to all those who helped me find my new Gti. Subject to the cover note reaching the stealer by tomorrow I'll be driving over to pick it up Sun morning, then a nice blast back over Salisbury Plain to reacquaint myself with that GTi grin style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> A quick tip.. in future try not to organise buying a car when you're the other side of the Atlantic.. the dealer (a small independent) was great, but organising everything else was a right pain! So think of me tonight, suffering away in First Class, winging my way over 'the pond' whilst you're all out on the rag, or tucked up in bed... it's a tough life, but someone's got to do it! Now, anyone know someone who'd like an Eos?

Yep, can't remember what it was though, hence the new log in. Think that picture was taken 2.5-3 years ago. did have a deposit down for a 997 Turbo, which on all objective levels is a better car than the Aston, but having driven this one I fell totally in love with it - the whole 'experience' is something else.. and the noise... especially when you disable the vacuum valve in the exhaust! I've an option on a V8 Roadster at the end of this year I'm tempted with though..... The Vantage is no garage queen - you want to see how dirty she looks in the office car park today, but for little jaunts down the narrow lanes to work I want something a little smaller but still nippy.. and the Loop always brought a smile to my face and would fit the job nicely @biggaz.. post pics style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />