86 Scirocco found

["Kent McLean" <kentmclean@mindspring.com>]

Well, I passed on the nice looking one for $2400. It was an hour away
and I didn't feel like going back. But I found another on a local used car
lot.

'86 1.8L 8V, 61K miles, asking $995. Lots of Republic of Cambridge
(MA) parking stickers lead me to believe it was a student car that sat
more than it ran. But the clutch pedal rubber, worn through to the metal,
makes me doubt it.

Walk around:
- faded red paint, each panel a different shade of red or orange
- driver's door pushed in, but not creased
- three tires match
- mismatched tire on the heavily dented rim
- the front bumper cover is missing
- driver's door pushed in, traces of black (tire? bumper?) on door
- broken right rear taillight lens
- no rust (surprisingly) but the seams at the bottom of the rocker panels
  are dented (where a jack was used?)
- interior is clean
- drivers seat has cigarette burn hole and tear in one seam. You can
feel/see
   the metal wire frame along the right bolster.
- cracks on dash at defroster outlets
- clutch pedal rubber worn thru to metal
- Audiovox af/fm/cassette stereo

Start up:
- I tried to start it -- dead battery
- The lot owner tried to jump it with a portable jumper kit; the jumper kit
   was dead.
- He pulled up his truck, attached cables, turned the key, and nothing. No
   idiot lights, no noises. He gave up to talk to someone else.
- I looked at the battery. The cable into the terminals were all frayed.
- I diddled with the cables. Tried again, and idiot lights came on, the
engine
  cranked, and after about 10 seconds it fired.
- Rough idle, shaking like a hula dancer. Rear view mirror a blur.
- very noisey at idle. Muffler looks new, can't see the downpipe or cat.

With the engine running, checked the electrical stuff.
- A/C blows cold, but not freezing.
- Audiovox radio sounds cheap, or cheap/original speakers
- remote mirrors work
- manual windors and door locks; passenger crank fell off.
- lights, turn signals OK.

Test drive:
- gas pedal stiff, stiffer than clutch (normal?)
- clutch release high, but feels strong. Doesn't slip.
- rev's OK, but idles very rough
- 3000 rmp at 60mph in 5th seems high (normal?). Maybe its just the noise
   from the exhaust making it sound strained
- power steering feels smooth, with nice feedback.

Now the questions:
- can the paint buff out?
- how much trouble/expense for a full exhaust system?
- 13" wheels - upgrade to 14" or 15"?
- can it really be 61K original miles?
- is it worth $995?

Except for the exhaust system, most of this is cosmetic. But I'm inclined to
pass on it, unless I can steal it for $500. What do you think?

Kent McLean
still looking in southern NH



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