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Looked at an 81S today - need lots of input (long)



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My opinion is if you are not going to go for a stock or near stock 
restoration then don't worry about the rarity of the car but the soundness 
of the chassis.... Champagne may be nice but solid is better.

You could always buy both, one to build and one for parts  :-)

-RGK-

At 02:50 PM 1/19/03 -0800, you wrote:
>Wusup, everyone?
>
>I went and looked at a Cosmos Silver 81S today and need lots of opinions. 
>Below will be the owner's description to me when I asked for more details. 
>After seeing it, the description is quite accurate and he seems like an 
>honest guy. He said he'd let it go for $800. But the fact it's been hit 
>makes me a tad uneasy. I also took a bunch (23) of pictures:
>
><http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&.view=t>http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&.view=t
>
>I've also been trying to get in touch with a guy who has a '78 champagne 
>edition (he's the only owner and it has lots of suspension goodies, 15" 
>BBS (older ones) and a Neuspeed big brake kit). The '78 doesn't run and 
>needs a front wheel bearing and has "rust issues" (the extent of which I 
>haven't seen yet). To this point, the guy's been a complete flake. I think 
>I could get this one for under $500 (probably much less).
>
>So - the question is:  do I hold out for the Champagne (which is more rare 
>and has more goodies), get this 81S which is a decent platform and runs 
>pretty well, or hold out for a sterling example?  My true vote is get the 
>78 and if it's not salvageable, pillage it for parts and hold out for a 
>better S. Let's just say it would take a LOT to get the wife to allow that 
>scenario!  :)
>
>  But my main concern is that nice S's or Champagnes don't come around 
> that often and when they do, they're $$$...
>
>The ultimate goal is a complete restoration/near-show-quality 200 hp JH 
>turbo which must be an original special edition...
>
>Thanks in advance everyone!   Jeff
>_________
>The two front tires are Firestone, while the rear wheels are 
>different.  It's dark so I can't totally make out what brand they 
>are.  All four tires look like they have at least 4000 miles on them, but 
>I'm by no means a tire specialist.
>
>The mileage just broke 195,100.  The miles on the engine are probably less 
>than half since much of the engine was rebuilt about 1995 or 96.
>
>I've personally replaced the heater/vent fan switch, rear brake shoes, 
>brake-light sensor, the starter, all the plugs and wires, distributor cap 
>and the battery during the time I've owned the car.  I also have a set of 
>front brakes that don't need to go in yet since the old ones seem fine.
>
>There were no aftermarket mods added to this this car that I can 
>tell.  There's no wing or spoiler, etc.
>
>The body is in great condition.  The backside was in an accident before I 
>before I bought the car, but I've seen no problem with the structural 
>integrity of the vehicle.  Everything seems aligned, there's just a little 
>bit of damage on the driver's side of the bumper.
>The engine runs really well.  I got a smog check about a year ago and it 
>passed with no problems.  The car was owned by a mechanic in the mid-90's 
>and he apparently rebuilt a majority of the engine.  I've taken care of 
>the car with oil changes every 3000, have done regular tune-ups on it 
>(twice I've done the plugs, plug-wires, distributor cap, rotor), and I've 
>been pretty gentle with the engine, always letting the car warm up for at 
>least 30 seconds before driving away, never jumping immediately on the 
>freeway.  I always use Unleaded Plus fuel, because the mechanic who 
>rebuilt it recommended it.
>The interior is really good shape and is clean.  I've kept the inside 
>armoralled, while nice seat covers and a dashmat have reduced sun 
>damage.  Since it's the limited S model, it has a nice jet-black dash.  It 
>also has a hertz gear shifter.
>The owner before me, about four years ago, installed a really nice sound 
>system.  It has a pioneer single CD player with two infinity speakers and 
>a woofer in the trunk.  The sound is excellent.
>
>The E-brake shaft was bent by a mechanic who pulled it too hard (I guess 
>the guy had never heard of using blocks at the wheels).  I disconnected 
>the E-brake and have yet to repair it.
>There's a crack across the windsheild.  It already existed when I bought 
>the car, but it has grown about an inch and half every winter.  It's below 
>eye level.
>The heater vent fan stopped working a few months ago.  The switch was 
>having problems (only the 2 and 3 levels worked).  The fan stopped working 
>altogether.  So I replaced the switch and the fuse, but the fan is still 
>not operational.  It may be the motor or resistors.
>The driver's exterior door handle came loose (the contraption on the 
>inside came loose), but the inside one still works.  I have yet to repair 
>this.
>The air-conditioning unit was removed sometime in the car's history.
>One of the sun-visor hooks broke, but both look like they need replacing.
>There's a spot of rust damage on the passenger side door handle.
>It tends to leak water into the car in heavy rains, like the one we had a 
>month ago.
>The dash lights flicker a little bit when the car is idling after a really 
>long drive.
>
>This is all I can think of I see wrong with the car.  The car has treated 
>me extremely well and I have treated it really well in return.  It's a 
>fun, zippy and surprisingly fast ride that I'm gonna miss.  People often 
>mistake my car for a pinto-like vehicle and try to pass me, but my car 
>still has a lot of power left and if I drop back into 4th, I can usually 
>pass them up again.  The car still has life and I want someone who is 
>going to appreciate it to take it over.  I know I would run it into the 
>ground with my commute to school, so I'm selling it.  $1200 obo as is.
>
>I think someone who knows a little bit about old wet-VW's would have a 
>very easy time with this car and have fun driving it.  I'm mainly looking 
>to sell it to someone who will take care of it and fix it up or at least 
>keep it running, which is the main reason I am selling it (so I don't 
>drive it into the ground with my 20 minute commute to school.)
>
>
><http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&.view=t>http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&.view=t 
>
>Wish me luck...
>
>
>
>Do you Yahoo!?
><http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com>Yahoo! Mail 
>Plus - Powerful. Affordable. 
><http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com>Sign up now

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<html>
My opinion is if you are not going to go for a stock or near stock
restoration then don't worry about the rarity of the car but the
soundness of the chassis.... Champagne may be nice but solid is better.
<br><br>
You could always buy both, one to build and one for parts&nbsp;
:-)<br><br>
-RGK-<br><br>
At 02:50 PM 1/19/03 -0800, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2>Wusup,
everyone?<br>
&nbsp;<br>
I went and looked at a Cosmos Silver 81S today and need lots of opinions.
Below will be the owner's description to me when I asked for more
details. After seeing it, the description is quite accurate and he seems
like an honest guy. He said he'd let it go for $800. But the fact it's
been hit makes me a tad uneasy. I also took a bunch (23) of
pictures:<br>
&nbsp;<br>
<a href="http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&amp;.view=t";>http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&amp;.view=t</a><br>
&nbsp;<br>
I've also been trying to get in touch with a guy who has a '78 champagne
edition (he's the only owner and it has lots of suspension goodies,
15&quot; BBS (older ones) and a Neuspeed big brake kit). The '78 doesn't
run and needs a front wheel bearing and has &quot;rust issues&quot; (the
extent of which I haven't seen yet). To this point, the guy's been a
complete flake. I think I could get this one for under $500 (probably
much less).<br>
&nbsp;<br>
So - the question is:&nbsp; do I hold out for the Champagne (which is
more rare and has more goodies), get this 81S which is a decent platform
and runs pretty well, or hold out for a sterling example?&nbsp; My true
vote is get the 78 and if it's not salvageable, pillage it for parts and
hold out for a better S. Let's just say it would take a LOT to get the
wife to allow that scenario!&nbsp; :)<br>
&nbsp;<br>
&nbsp;But my main concern is that nice S's or Champagnes don't come
around that often and when they do, they're $$$...<br>
&nbsp;<br>
The ultimate goal is a complete restoration/near-show-quality 200 hp JH
turbo which must be an original special edition...<br>
&nbsp;<br>
Thanks in advance everyone!&nbsp;&nbsp; Jeff<br>
_________</font>
<dl><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The two front tires are Firestone, while the rear wheels are
different.&nbsp; It's dark so I can't totally make out what brand they
are.&nbsp; All four tires look like they have at least 4000 miles on
them, but I'm by no means a tire specialist.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The mileage just broke 195,100.&nbsp; The miles on the engine are
probably less than half since much of the engine was rebuilt about 1995
or 96.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>I've personally replaced the heater/vent fan switch, rear brake
shoes, brake-light sensor, the starter, all the plugs and wires,
distributor cap and the battery during the time I've owned the car.&nbsp;
I also have a set of front brakes that don't need to go in yet since the
old ones seem fine.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>There were no aftermarket mods added to this this car that I can
tell.&nbsp; There's no wing or spoiler, etc.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The body is in great condition.&nbsp; The backside was in an accident
before I before I bought the car, but I've seen no problem with the
structural integrity of the vehicle.&nbsp; Everything seems aligned,
there's just a little bit of damage on the driver's side of the
bumper.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The engine runs really well.&nbsp; I got a smog check about a year
ago and it passed with no problems.&nbsp; The car was owned by a mechanic
in the mid-90's and he apparently rebuilt a majority of the engine.&nbsp;
I've taken care of the car with oil changes every 3000, have done regular
tune-ups on it (twice I've done the plugs, plug-wires, distributor cap,
rotor), and I've been pretty gentle with the engine, always letting the
car warm up for at least 30 seconds before driving away, never jumping
immediately on the freeway.&nbsp; I always use Unleaded Plus fuel,
because the mechanic who rebuilt it recommended
it.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The interior is really good shape and is clean.&nbsp; I've kept the
inside armoralled, while nice seat covers and a dashmat have reduced sun
damage.&nbsp; Since it's the limited S model, it has a nice jet-black
dash.&nbsp; It also has a hertz gear
shifter.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The owner before me, about four years ago, installed a really nice
sound system.&nbsp; It has a pioneer single CD player with two infinity
speakers and a woofer in the trunk.&nbsp; The sound is 
excellent.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The E-brake shaft was bent by a mechanic who pulled it too hard (I
guess the guy had never heard of using blocks at the wheels).&nbsp; I
disconnected the E-brake and have yet to repair
it.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>There's a crack across the windsheild.&nbsp; It already existed when
I bought the car, but it has grown about an inch and half every
winter.&nbsp; It's below eye level.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The heater vent fan stopped working a few months ago.&nbsp; The
switch was having problems (only the 2 and 3 levels worked).&nbsp; The
fan stopped working altogether.&nbsp; So I replaced the switch and the
fuse, but the fan is still not operational.&nbsp; It may be the motor or
resistors.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The driver's exterior door handle came loose (the contraption on the
inside came loose), but the inside one still works.&nbsp; I have yet to
repair this.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The air-conditioning unit was removed sometime in the car's
history.&nbsp; </font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>One of the sun-visor hooks broke, but both look like they need
replacing.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>There's a spot of rust damage on the passenger side door
handle.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>It tends to leak water into the car in heavy rains, like the one we
had a month ago.</font><font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>The dash lights flicker a little bit when the car is idling after a
really long drive.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>This is all I can think of I see wrong with the car.&nbsp; The car
has treated me extremely well and I have treated it really well in
return.&nbsp; It's a fun, zippy and surprisingly fast ride that I'm gonna
miss.&nbsp; People often mistake my car for a pinto-like vehicle and try
to pass me, but my car still has a lot of power left and if I drop back
into 4th, I can usually pass them up again.&nbsp; The car still has life
and I want someone who is going to appreciate it to take it over.&nbsp; I
know I would run it into the ground with my commute to school, so I'm
selling it.&nbsp; $1200 obo as is.</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<font face="arial" size=2>
<dd>I think someone who knows a little bit about old wet-VW's would have
a very easy time with this car and have fun driving it.&nbsp; I'm mainly
looking to sell it to someone who will take care of it and fix it up or
at least keep it running, which is the main reason I am selling it (so I
don't drive it into the ground with my 20 minute commute to
school.)</font>
<dd>&nbsp;<br><br>

</dl><a href="http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&amp;.view=t";>http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/jtoomasson/lst?.dir=/Work&amp;.view=t</a>
<dl>
<dd>Wish me luck...<br><br>

</dl><br>
<br>
Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com";>Yahoo!
Mail Plus</a> - Powerful. Affordable.
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up now</a> </blockquote></html>

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