Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Seems a waste of money modding a car like this. I'll likely move it on in 2-3 years so dont want to invest in it. Would like a proper stereo/speaker system but thats about it. Any other mods/fixes will be to keep it running smoothly and efficiently

Speaking of speakers...this is what the boot looks like. Can I simply connect the wires? Does it need an amp or something in between?

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I turned off the aircon for the last hour of the drive home and the fault never recurred.

Ac compressor issue maybe... Bearing failure or simply belts are slipping. The compressor is probably driven off the same belt as alternator so would explain odd readings.

Otherwise sounds like a slipping clutch but that would not come and go.

In Pathos, Cyprus on holiday at the moment and so many nice 90's Japanese cars, presumably still around from the lack of rain. Honda EGs, EKs, Integras, Celicas Isuzus, Evos and evens Skylines it's amazing.

Is it a dumb idea to change shocks (and strut bearings etc.) on an old car (29yo) but that has low mileage (~65,000 km)? I know shocks are typically more defined with a life span in kilometers/miles and not by an age which is why I wondered if it was still worth a change

My Caddy has had some vertical correction therapy!

I've already fitted Audi S-Line half leather seats, and insulated, deadened and carpeted the rear...The 19" alloys should be getting their rubber today!
I haven't modded a car for nigh on 25 years and I'm enjoying it muchly!

Which engine is it? the 1.4 or 1.0?

1.0, '998cc' according to insurance. Yeah its slow as shit but handling is fun because of the short wheelbase. Having said I dont want to mod it, im not considering a couple of minor upgrades to make the car a bit more usable. Central locking and power steering would be nice !

Anyone know of any good forums/sources of info that would help for these cars? Only to stop me asking a million questions in here

Yeah boii. Come pick me up and do a few LRT (laps round town)

Good choice for a first car!

Anyone know of any good forums/sources of info that would help for these cars? Only to stop me asking a million questions in here

If you don't know when the last time the oil and usual filters were changed then I'd look at doing those yourself. They're usually easy, especially with it being a popular car and having YouTube on hand. Do you know the cam belt history?

usual filters

Needs

Hahah for sure. Def going to sort a roof rack for trips to epping come summer! Build me a bike and you can have free lifts for life ;)

My aunt (who i bought the car from) said the oil didn't need changing. Not sure about filters or cam belt...will do some searching on youtube. Need to work out the actual 'code' for the car properly, searching '99 polo is far too vague. Going to be a steep learning curve I can tell

Deal. If it breaks do I still get lifts?

Def going to cut a hole in the bonnet for this, decat and lower the car 6 inches

As long as it doesnt kill me when it breaks :)

You will need to sign a waiver

Picked up a 2003 Mazda b2500 a while ago and conveniently the abs light came on just a few days ahead of the MOT. I took it to Mazda who charged me 60 notes for a diagnose that told them nothing, not a single error code on the car. They suggest they'd get their multi meter out for £120/hr but I politely declined.

Changing abs sensors seems easy enough, abs rings a bit harder, but it's a bit too much work and monies for just guessing what the fault is.

Any ideas?

clubpolo.co.uk
uk-polos.net

If it's a 1.0 after 1996, it'll be the 999cc alloy block with 49bhp. which is cool because it's multi point injection and much lighter than the earlier ones.

Central locking is quite easy to retro fit if you can get everything from a donor car with it. You could actually get a remote central locking version of that too, but it's less common.

Power steering is a less simple retro fit, it's a solely hydraulic system and you need the rack, pump, lines, column and alternator to make it all work.

'1999 VOLKSWAGEN POLO L 999CC', sounds like it. Donor car ie at a scrapyard/wreckers? Remote central locking would be amazing. Power steering I could live without but speakers will be the first thing I sort for sure. The radio barely works, doesnt have an AUX and the speakers are crap

It's a cost benefit question and depends partly on the role the car is serving for you as well as your goals.

A better way to put is... "Will I notice and improvement in the ride and handling..... ?"

In my experience, absolutely you will notice it. I personally think it's never a dumb idea to change struts and springs after 40-50k. Makes the car feel new again. After 65k, I'd say "definitely do it".

Thanks for the reply ; the car is my daily driver, and after last inspection in the garage they told me that the rubber mounts of the front suspension were starting to show signs of wear and will probably need a replacement in a more or less close future. The thing is, since they will need to drop the front suspension to replace them, I wondered if it would not be a good opportunity to have new shocks on all four corners since they will have to perform alignment etc. afterwards anyway.
However, the bill will start to rise pretty quicky with shocks+strut bearings+front suspension rubber mounts (and if the front is showing signs of wear, what about the rear? etc. etc.) and I am afraid of the thinking approach of "while I am here..." haha

I saw a black EB110 today. Beat that

Yeah it can add up, but it's probably the right thing to do... and to be honest with you, you do get your money's worth out of it, unlike like say, timing chain replacement where you don't notice a damn difference.

I’ve had a new diesel vw sharan as a hire car for the last 10 days.

Fuck me, are all new cars this neurotic? It beeped, chimed and needed two steps to do absolutely anything. Annoying as all fuck to have sensors going off willy nilly on the tiny lanes in Cornwall. Especially with the little boy asleep.

Nice to also prove that I was right all along about oil burners too.

Apart from that it was a pretty good car. It tows two tonnes, too [great sentence]