Heartbroken Cabrio Owner Needs Support...

[Phil303]

Hi all,

Just found this group and judging by the posts so far it looks as if I've come to the right place....

I've had my beloved '89 Clipper for 8 years now - got it when I was 21 (no GTI back then - insurance companies laughed in my face). I love this car to bits but 225,000+ miles later and I'm afraid time and toil are starting to show. MOT's are costing around ?200+ a shot, mainly due to things just wearing out. brake pipes, shocks, reconditioning the gear box, gasket seals, engine mounts etc. Now the horn keeps blowing the fuse and the garage is at a loss why. Despite the best efforts of a great mechanic even he said I can expect 2 years max and then maybe it's time to get another car. I've got to stress that it runs perfectly and looks great, it's just age is kicking in.

The big question is: Would you spend money on a new car (first choice is a mint MK2 GTI or a Corrado) or would you spend the same amount and more getting a 15y/o cabrio looking + running better than ever? I can't bring myself to sell the thing and I would imagine that if I did end up with another motor then the thing would end up stored away. Any suggestions? Thanks guys - Phil

[Madone_si]

For me a owner of a 21 year old Golf cab - restoring the car will win always hands down for me. Spend the time and effort and of course your money on the cab.

Remember you can always put the hood down in summer you can't in a Mk2 or Corrado and if you are going to do the car up, your have the car just how you want it with all the latest mods out you can turn the cab into something special, just have a look at AdamB's cab in the gallery and a few other owners of cabs on this site, they look the business...

[eyeletboy]

spend the money on the cab

[AdamB]

Phil
Firstly - Hi and welcome to the site. We have a growing collection of Mk1 Cabs residing here now, so there really is a fantastic pool of information at your fingertips. Hopefully you'll stick around.
Personally, having owned, driven, rode, or flown in most things, I can honestly say nothing puts a smile on my face like my cab. So the thought of getting rid of it would never cross my mind.
Things can only keep going wrong upto a point. Then, everything that is on its last legs would have been replaced.
Admittedly, I have spent as much on the cabs cosmetics and repairs, as I did buying her to begin with. But, we all need a hobby!
As for the Horn, It sounds like you have a short in the +ve feed from the horn button, to the horn itself. In which case, I would be tempted just to put a new wire from the back of the horn push, to the terminal on the horn.
Hope you get things sorted
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[8valvesgood]

well phil

mines 15 year old, ive spent ?800 servicing and replacing parts sweet as a nut, bought it for ?2500 the previous owner was warned to get rid and hence i got all the problems.

Honestly depends whether you have the time or the money to work on it. doing the repairs yourself is far the most rewarding

Bodywork is the killer of cabs i am affraid and if the structure is failing then it is time to get rid, anything else is repairable or can be sourced from scrap yards. you can buy replacement engines for peanuts, its all a question of how daring are you with the DIY.

your car will need parts replacing as it is over 15 years old, once repaired or replaced with uprated parts you will get another 15. thats what comes with owner an old car. you dont always buy to make money on these cars.

if your gearbox is crunching from 1st to 2nd thats a common fault that you can live with for time being.

do you have photos of your car?

you could end up spending more than the car is worth but say you bought the car for ?2000 today and you spent that on it ?4000 what could you buy with ?4000 modern today that has the same pedigree?

your mileage is rather high so the engine could do with reconditioning, taking that into account could be the reason your told to get rid.

[Phil303]

Thanks for the feedback, and so quick!

You've all said what I feel like doing, ie, spending cash on something I love and is a known quantity, although many (th girlfriend, relatives and a cynical brother) would see it as chucking good money after bad.

Bodywork is mostly okay apart from the odd stone chip and odd spot of surface rust. Engine is fine - I've spent money already on all the important bits like the seals and gearbox, and it runs absolutely fine, although the auto-choke gave up at 175,000 and the gearbox was reconditioned at 215,00 but even so I was expecting things like that. Interior is good too, no rips or stains on the seats although the roof is starting slightly to crack but again, it is 15 years old. Before the end of the year this will be replaced.

In an ideal world I would like to drop a beefier engine in and sort out the electrics and add some understated BBS alloys but ultimately make it look as stock as possible but with a bit more poke under the bonnet. Bit of a sleeper! Where do I start?

How do I add a picture? I've got one sat on my Mac but I don't know where to upload it to?

Thanks for your words of encouragement!! I haven't got a bottomless pit of money to chuck at it but i can get most things done given time and some determined saving.

And thanks for the positive wire/horn info but that's been tried! Apparently there is a black wire coming out of the horn relay which has melted through and we can't figure out where it is supposed to lead to without tackling the wiring loom... gulp!

[Dinky]

Hi Phil303,
Welcome to the forum!
I agree with the above-keep the cabrio!

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=2049
^link to add pic!

Diane x

[vixteris]

hiya phil,

i dont think any of us get it easy when it comes to keeping our cabs in shape.  theres always something that needs attention but thats what gives em character  

good luck getting it sorted,  if its any consolation i had about 7 things to sort for mot and im down to my last 2.  the horns one of them    all the best, i have faith in ur cab and many happy summers days together  

[Phil303]

Sweet, thanks for the  pic link. I've created an album and uploaded the pic but god knows where it's disappeared to...

I've had some pukka cars in the past (Pug 205, '67 Cal look Beetle) but none of them put a grin on my face like to Golf and thats just looking at it. I had a Corsa (!) loan car from the garage today and I could have cried. If that's an example of how cars are today then i don't want to know! Someone put it in their reply, what else could you get for the money? Uhm...... I can't think. An Escort Ragtop?

I'm going to do it. The rebirth starts here.....

First things first - anyone got a spare rear window frame?!!!!

[golfvr6]

I agree with what that 8v geezer said, if the bodywork is sound, then its just a case of replacing consumable items.