Inherited car - what to do!

sigma said:
As above, really. I'd want to put some underseal on it before letting it out in the elements but it sounds like there isn't much time for that. Is there nobody you know who might have some spare space? Maybe look to rent a garage off someone?

Engine will probably be pretty easy to get going unless you have elec/fueling issues, but even then I guess they're quite simple cars.

Seized brake calipers would be my biggest gripe for getting it moving from where it is.

I reckon you should get it towed, find somewhere to store it and then have a go yourself. Storage costs should cover labour costs and hopefully parts won't cost too much, neither should tools. Working on cars isn't really that hard, just need the time, space and tools!
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I'm new to the Chester area so don't really know that many people here except for the work lot, who are all a similar age and don't have space. The car is also a good 70 miles from friends back home (my hometown is near Chelmsford) and again I don't think anyone could take it. Garage hire in Chester all look rather expensive for a long term basis like this too.

All elec works (even the ancient radio) and the engine was trying to fire but fuel isn't getting into the carb, bu even manually adding petrol to the carb didn't give us extra splutter.

I don't know if the brakes were seized - the car rolls and the pedal goes down and can be pumped - just has no effect on stopping!

Had a quote in from Shiply for £250 to deliver door to door transported which was about what I thought it might be. Might get in a few lower quotes though.
 
I'd also be seriously tempted if it popped up for sale, but as pointed out, I can't imagine there would be a shortage of takers.
 
It will be like working on a set of mechano. Very easy. If it were me I would get it going and then use it to go to classic car shows and meets. Something like that will be of quite a bit of interest in the classic VW scene and you may find you enjoy it and meet a lot of people.

Getting parts may be tricky as VW are not great with their older stuff. They do have VW Classic Parts which may be of help. It's really nice.

Quite near me too.

Being so simple it would be an ideal car to learn on. Before I owned the Corrado I never knew how to do anything either. An older car teaches you a lot.
 
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sigma said:
I wonder if these people would help you out:

http://www.mouldsworthmotormuseum.com/vehicle_storage.htm

This place might be more friendly than a typical storage place especially if they know your circumstances.

Or, from £39 a month: http://holmefarmstorage.co.uk/car-storage/2874420
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Both really good finds, thanks.

Can I also just say, I'm used to GD on these forums where good advice, other than pooing through a letterbox is hard to come by; you lot are being amazing. I am genuinely thankful to you all for taking the time to reply and help me out :)
 
GD is where we go to laugh at stupid people and regurtitate century old jokes in the hope that someone, somewhere equally as stupid gets a laugh and thinks we're awesomesauce.

I find that outside of GD, this is one of the best forums around (ok, inside of GD occasionally too).
 
sigma said:
Any pointers as to where you got that valuation from?

This car seems similar:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C668023

I suppose the one in the link is modified but still...
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I did highlight the could.

There was recently a mk1 Sirocco for sale up here, all original condition, and immaculate. It was going for something like £8-9k, albeit a couple years ago.

A concourse spec example, with original untouched paint, like this, in original condition (not modded), could be worth similar I would imagine. Cool old VW's have a decent following.

Depending on the actual spec of the car too, it could be incredibly rare. It may well be that there is only a couple other examples kicking about. For example, the Passat Variant LS only has 2 on the road and one SORN'd left. Where as the regular Variant has 28 left on the road and 3 SORN'd (according to how many left).

Either way, there is bound to only be a few left, and of them, how many will be in such good, original condition? Compared to that Saloon GL, of which there MAY be as close to 300 left kicking about.
 
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It's a difficult car to value. There will be very few left and almost none in an original condition like this. But mk1 Scirocco's are getting a following now and that example may well have been a Storm model.

For me the value in this car isn't money but the experience of owning something very cool, very different to modern cars, learning from it as you work on it and the community that you'll get to meet by going to owners clubs.

But it will need a lot of work even if it looks in good condition. A lot of the plastic and rubber (such as bushes) will have perished and need replacing. But please don't let them scrap it. Give it a try and you can always sell it on to the VW or classic car community if it doesn't work out.
 
I wouldn't get too excited about the potential value, it might be rare but it's not particularly desirable. Doesn't mean it's not worth saving though...
 
Colour me jealous! I'm a massive VW fag (despite owning a Toyota at the moment) and this really gets me going... :p
 
I love the way the number plate has been masked out... just in case someone with an identical yellow 1979 passat estate may clone it :D
 
Hades said:
I love the way the number plate has been masked out... just in case someone with an identical yellow 1979 passat estate may clone it :D
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Ha yeah I'd not really thought about that. Just did it without thinking.

Also I appreciate it likely won't be worth mega bucks, I'm not interested in this as a financial gain. Having said that, I'm not in it to be bankrupt getting it going again :P Just want to experience getting dirty (if I can) with a cool old car like this which has family history.
 
Arsonist said:
Ha yeah I'd not really thought about that. Just did it without thinking.

Also I appreciate it likely won't be worth mega bucks, I'm not interested in this as a financial gain. Having said that, I'm not in it to be bankrupt getting it going again :P Just want to experience getting dirty (if I can) with a cool old car like this which has family history.
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It's the perfect car for what you are wanting. Read a few guides and have a play you will be suprised by what you learn.
 
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