Lets start this post with an introduction about myself and the cars that follow. All car's are photographed via links in the highlighted text. Each hyphen is a purchase and each paragraph is a vehicle change.
- In 2007 when I was 15 my Father bought the Blue 98 Volvo V70 that has been my long term project/money pit every since. He didn't use the car much and after it sitting for a while he booked it in for it's overdue MOT and offered it to me to keep if it passes. He died unexpectedly the next day aged 51 after fighting respiratory diseases for as long as I remember.
Anyway, the V70 passed the MOT fine (despite sitting for 7 months at the time), this was December 2007. I wasn't 17 until April 2009 and passed my test in early November. Obviously insurance was stupid for a 17yo so I bought a different car to run for a year until I got a years no claims bonus.
- November 2009, 00 BMW 316i Sport Compact bought as 'first' car to build a good years driving experience. Sold precisely one year after getting it.
A years no claims in November 2010 so I started driving the V70 aged 18
. I drove the V70 until March 2011 when I thought there was a problem but that was just an excuse to buy the following...
- March 2011, still 18 I bought a lovely 95 Volvo 480 Celebration. It was on the road until the alternator died in June that year, I needed a car immediately for a trip so put it in our garage.
I got the V70 back on the road as I was desperate for wheels and it was ready to go, this was June 2011. It was on the road until June 2012 when I bought this other thing as it was cheap.
- June 2012, 96 Golf GTi Colour Concept. During the time I had this car I had the V70 on the drive too and the 480 in the garage under covers. I sold the Golf in October 2012.
October 2012 I decided to get the 480 out of the garage (as it was failing down on it!). I absolutely loved that car and this is the link to its thread on here. In July 2013 I decided to sell the 480 as I simply loved it too much and thought if I didn't sell it then I never would!
- July 2013, few days after selling the 480 I bought the newest car I've owned, 02 Volvo C70 T5 Coupe Manual. Great car but swapped it for the car in this thread's first post in October 2013.
There you go, up to date with my cars now carry on reading
_________________________________________
Well, after selling my near immaculate 95 480 in July I rather hastily bought a lovely 02 C70 T5 which I thought was great but awfully boring.
On Saturday though I traded the big C for this little 205...
At first I couldn't help but think I'd made a terrible decision! Today though, I scrubbed it up and it's not too bad.
Right, lets start with some positives.
- Firstly, it's already had a replacement rear beam with disc brakes (hence the wheels, the 1.6's don't fit over the rear discs!).
- It's got MOT until September, 5 months tax too. Currently on 128k
- In the last 5,000 miles it's had cambelt, waterpump, alternator and battery, 4 new Toyo T1Rs, a brand new standard full exhaust, new suspension all round and then of course the the rear disc beam with refurbished wheels to go with it.
- Half leather interior fitted.
- Non cat and non power steering model here.
- It's still even got all of its' original booklets with a fully stamped back from back in the day .
But, there are some significant issues...
- I've heard many times in the past that these cars seriously struggle to idle correctly and this one is no exception! On a completely cold start (i.e. in the morning) it will cut out if you let it idle. But, it seems it's a huge problem with these and the previous owner has (this was his 8th GTi!) fitted a K&N filter to help it run right which it doesn't seem to. I guess we'll have to take apart the throttle body etc and give it a good clean.
- The sills, just in front of the rear wheels have been repaired in the past so are solid but it looks messy, they really need grinding back and starting again!
- Also, there does appear to be quite a bit of rust behind the passenger headlight. OK, it's not an MOT area but I certainly wouldn't want to hit anything harder than a mattress in this!
Ok, once it's warmed up a bit it drives great. It's somewhat scary in a sense as there's no feeling as to when it's going to let go as there's that much grip! Maybe I'm just being a fanny and I'm not driving fast enough lol!
The last owner had lost his job so put all his toys for sale. He has had this car for about 18 months he said having bought this off a friend. As I've said this was his 8th 205 GTi. He just got a new job though which is a bit of a distance away on the motorway so when I offered him my C70 as a swap after he thought about it a bit he decided it'd be ideal for him as he gets a fuel card (luck git!). Can you really imagine driving a little french tin can from Bristol to London at 70mph and nearly 4000rpm almost daily!? Sod that!
Not done much to it except remove the stereo and fit a blanking plate, detail it, spray paint the light grey parcel shelf black, polish the rear badges to remove the worn away silver finish and apply a 'Made in France' sticker to a tiny chip on the windscreen near the tax disc.
Anyway...here are some pics after a good clean up today. Wash + polish + sealant = Shiny Pug!
29-10-13 002 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 005 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 006 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 007 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 008 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 009 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 003 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
Not too bad eh?
- In 2007 when I was 15 my Father bought the Blue 98 Volvo V70 that has been my long term project/money pit every since. He didn't use the car much and after it sitting for a while he booked it in for it's overdue MOT and offered it to me to keep if it passes. He died unexpectedly the next day aged 51 after fighting respiratory diseases for as long as I remember.
Anyway, the V70 passed the MOT fine (despite sitting for 7 months at the time), this was December 2007. I wasn't 17 until April 2009 and passed my test in early November. Obviously insurance was stupid for a 17yo so I bought a different car to run for a year until I got a years no claims bonus.
- November 2009, 00 BMW 316i Sport Compact bought as 'first' car to build a good years driving experience. Sold precisely one year after getting it.
A years no claims in November 2010 so I started driving the V70 aged 18
. I drove the V70 until March 2011 when I thought there was a problem but that was just an excuse to buy the following...- March 2011, still 18 I bought a lovely 95 Volvo 480 Celebration. It was on the road until the alternator died in June that year, I needed a car immediately for a trip so put it in our garage.
I got the V70 back on the road as I was desperate for wheels and it was ready to go, this was June 2011. It was on the road until June 2012 when I bought this other thing as it was cheap.
- June 2012, 96 Golf GTi Colour Concept. During the time I had this car I had the V70 on the drive too and the 480 in the garage under covers. I sold the Golf in October 2012.
October 2012 I decided to get the 480 out of the garage (as it was failing down on it!). I absolutely loved that car and this is the link to its thread on here. In July 2013 I decided to sell the 480 as I simply loved it too much and thought if I didn't sell it then I never would!
- July 2013, few days after selling the 480 I bought the newest car I've owned, 02 Volvo C70 T5 Coupe Manual. Great car but swapped it for the car in this thread's first post in October 2013.
There you go, up to date with my cars now carry on reading
_________________________________________
Well, after selling my near immaculate 95 480 in July I rather hastily bought a lovely 02 C70 T5 which I thought was great but awfully boring.
On Saturday though I traded the big C for this little 205...
At first I couldn't help but think I'd made a terrible decision! Today though, I scrubbed it up and it's not too bad.
Right, lets start with some positives.
- Firstly, it's already had a replacement rear beam with disc brakes (hence the wheels, the 1.6's don't fit over the rear discs!).
- It's got MOT until September, 5 months tax too. Currently on 128k
- In the last 5,000 miles it's had cambelt, waterpump, alternator and battery, 4 new Toyo T1Rs, a brand new standard full exhaust, new suspension all round and then of course the the rear disc beam with refurbished wheels to go with it.
- Half leather interior fitted.
- Non cat and non power steering model here.
- It's still even got all of its' original booklets with a fully stamped back from back in the day .
But, there are some significant issues...
- I've heard many times in the past that these cars seriously struggle to idle correctly and this one is no exception! On a completely cold start (i.e. in the morning) it will cut out if you let it idle. But, it seems it's a huge problem with these and the previous owner has (this was his 8th GTi!) fitted a K&N filter to help it run right which it doesn't seem to. I guess we'll have to take apart the throttle body etc and give it a good clean.
- The sills, just in front of the rear wheels have been repaired in the past so are solid but it looks messy, they really need grinding back and starting again!
- Also, there does appear to be quite a bit of rust behind the passenger headlight. OK, it's not an MOT area but I certainly wouldn't want to hit anything harder than a mattress in this!
Ok, once it's warmed up a bit it drives great. It's somewhat scary in a sense as there's no feeling as to when it's going to let go as there's that much grip! Maybe I'm just being a fanny and I'm not driving fast enough lol!
The last owner had lost his job so put all his toys for sale. He has had this car for about 18 months he said having bought this off a friend. As I've said this was his 8th 205 GTi. He just got a new job though which is a bit of a distance away on the motorway so when I offered him my C70 as a swap after he thought about it a bit he decided it'd be ideal for him as he gets a fuel card (luck git!). Can you really imagine driving a little french tin can from Bristol to London at 70mph and nearly 4000rpm almost daily!? Sod that!
Not done much to it except remove the stereo and fit a blanking plate, detail it, spray paint the light grey parcel shelf black, polish the rear badges to remove the worn away silver finish and apply a 'Made in France' sticker to a tiny chip on the windscreen near the tax disc.
Anyway...here are some pics after a good clean up today. Wash + polish + sealant = Shiny Pug!
29-10-13 002 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 005 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 006 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 007 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 008 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 009 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
29-10-13 003 by AcidicDavey, on Flickr
Not too bad eh?
