[Scirocco-l] Re: Santa gift to Uncle Rocco

[sirocco@telocity.com (Randy B)]

Larry,
I kind of agree with Steve and with you.
When I bought Mars (81 Scirocco), I decided to replace basically every part
on the car that could go bad in the future.
>From the engine and all it's components, exhaust, fusebox, brakes,
suspension, bushings, bearings, pumps, lines, hoses, everything but body
panels, glass and the wiring harness.
Granted I probably spent over $8K when I was done but it was well worth it.
$8K is a fraction of a new car that I wouldn't enjoy driving anyways (well
except for maybe a 911 Turbo S...:)   )

Mars is probably more reliable than most 1 yr. old cars (and definitely
anything american made)
>From here on out she will simply need consumable parts and routine
maintenance.
If a used car is purchased from some non auto enthusiast and no work is done
to it.....yeah it will probably be un-reliable.
Just my $.03

Randy

> Steve-
>   I know what you are trying to get across, but the fact remains that the
> older a vehicle is, the more more maintenance it requires in order to
remain
> reliable.  Ergo, the older the car, the more unreliable it is.
>  Most of us would give careful consideration before jumping in our 'rocs
and
> heading across country ( hey, I know many would DO it, but we WOULD give
it
> a thought first), yet we would also jump in a 2001, or a 1999, car or
truck
> and take off after tanking it up: just assuming it would make it.  (and it
> probably would).
> It boils down to this: every minute a component on/in your car operates,
it
> is one minute closer to failing.
> For whatever reason, older cars are less reliable.  Period.
> Peace
>
> Larry  sandiego16V
>
>
> > > OK, I'll admit it.  I drive a FULL SIZE Chevy G20van.  My love for A1
> VW's is
> > > profound, but their age doesn't make them reliable.
> >
> > I hate to disagree here, but, age of a vehicle has little to do with
> > reliability, its design of the vehicle and maintenance.
> >
> > There are only so many things that can break on a car, and if all of
them
> > are replaced before they have a chance to fail, then the car is
reliable.
> >
> > My daily driver is a 81 rabbit diesel pickup truck, i rebuilt the
engine,
> > replaced all the brakes (including hard lines), replaced 2 of 4 wheel
> > bearings, & on & on.
> >
> > If it does fail, its not because its an A1 but because I overlooked an
> > item that needs replacing or rebuilding (i'm using older coolant hoses &
> > an older alternator)
> >
> > However, I used to drive ONLY aircooled VW's for the past 6 years or so,
> > and the reliability of those I had problems with, but that was due to 2
> > things, the design of the engines is rather antiquated and they are by
> > design higher maintenance, and when its 15 degrees out i'd put it
> > off. And, I was too cheap to buy some of the new parts I probably neded,
> > thus when those parts gave me problems i had no-one to blame but myself
;)
> >
> > So, from my persepective an A1 is new and plenty reliable, but everyone
> > has different faith in their mechanical & diagnostic abilities and
> > threshold for annoyances, if my a1 crapped out on me majorly like my bus
> > has once or twice, I might go get in line at the VW dealer or audi
dealer
> > for a new ride... but it wouldnt be the cars fault, it'd be mine for
> > neglecting maintenance or cheaping out on new parts ;)
> >
> > take care,
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >
>
***************************************************************************
> >              Fashion Twins, activate! form of: a lemming.
> >                       http://westfailure.org
> >
>
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> >
> >
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