I think i am beginning to lose my will to live with this car atm :P

Only a week or so after I had the backbox done and I think another part of the exhaust is on its way out, as the car is once again loud, feeling down on power and fumes filling the cabin.

I have also noticed that that the car makes a metallic sound when you lift off the throttle in gear - what could this be?

To be honest, I do like the Golf when it works, but I seem to get about a week of it working properly before something else goes wrong. It does seem like I've got myself a baddun doesnt it?

To be honest, I am asking wanting some real honesty here, what would you guys do? I am contemplating selling it and buying a newer car, but at the same time, I am still somewhat hopeful that an end is in sight to all these problems and that the car eventually wont cost me too much, but at the minute its probably cost as much as the Skoda per month.

So far then, its had:-

New engine mount, oil filter, HT lead, fanbelt, timing belt, tensioner, backbox

The immobiliser has failed once, and the car has overheated once (but not quite into the red zone) due to the fanbelt snapping.

Next its going to get:-

New spark plugs, rotor arm, distributor cap, HT leads (the ones that havent already been done), and presumably, whichever part of it has gone wrong this time.

And to top it all off:-

Metallic noise when lifting off throttle / changing gear (mostly when warm) - why do i suspect a gearbox problem here? Faulty clocks. Mechanic has already said subframe mountings are worn, but advised to wait until they are critical (he said to look out of a metallic grinding noise).

So given all of this, what should I do?

You know my opinion. Keep it - you've almost sorted it now.

Thanks Nick. Thats the thing.... the more I fix it, the harder it is for me to sell, because I also believe the closer it is to being fixed!

You have to accept that "fast" cars of that age and price are unreliable and costly to run.

If you want cheap reliable transport to get you round the sell it and buy something boring like a micra that will start every day and give you no grief.

If you are want something with a bit more style and performance then you'll have to pay for it either by keeping this one running or buying something newer.

Personally from what you've said I don't see an end to the expense and as the change from the furby was to save money then I'd get rid of it.

It depends how much you rely on it - is it a workhorse, or a bit of fun. We're a one-car household so if it was mine, I'd get shot of it and buy something without the famous VW reliability issues, but from what I've read yours is more of a weekend toy so you're not dependent on it....

I guess the way to look at it is when these last few problems are ironed out, will the car be tip-top, or is this just the tip of the iceberg, and also can you afford to repair and maintain it if anything else goes wrong? Hmmm - this advice is sounding very sit-on-the-fence ... sorry about that

May be worth getting a VW specialist, or at the very least a mechanic to give it a thorough once over and give you his opinion

Chris

It's his only car AFAIK. We went through the figures last time he was wavering, and to my mind he's not spending huge amounts on it, but not getting the cheaper running (apart from depreciation of course) that he expected. However once the faults are addressed, I think this should settle down to a more acceptable level imho.

Hmm yes, i've posted this elsewhere, and the advise has almost universally to be to sell it ASAP.... so I dont know what to do really!

As for how much I rely on it, well I do use it for work, but if it wasn't there, then its tough luck for them really, I'd just have to rely on using work vans, when they are available. They'd rather I had it, but its not essential. And other than that, its just a bit of fun really to get me around to my mates and blat about in.

In other words, I can do without a car, but I sort of feel shackled by not having one, if that makes sense.

I think the main reason I feel this way guys is because i'm having "cashflow" problems as it is, and I need some relief from the constant repairs to get my funds back in order.

Ack, maybe some overtime is needed methinks.

Well it depends if you just want "a car" or whether you're interested enough in it to want to keep it running and improve it to a point where you'll feel some pride in it. If you want a newer and hopefully more reliable one, you'll have to sell it, and spend some more capital upgrading again. Decisions, huh? :P

Old cars are always a pain. We recently sold our 1969 VW Beetle, thinking it only needed a pair of running boards for its MOT.

Apparently it's cost the new owner nearly

Yep... thats the thing, I do like the car when it works. It handles very well, is very entertaining to drive (something many newer cars lack, IMHO), and its nippy - i'd stop short of calling it "fast" - but its probably fast enough to be entertaining most of the time.... when it works.

So what of these noises then, does that actually sound like a gearbox problem?

One thing I will say in the Golfs favour is, so far, that at least the parts have been very cheap.

It could be a rattly exhaust mounting - lifting off reverses the engine twist and stresses the exhaust in a different way.

Well... the exhaust guy did say that the heatshield and the like was rattly, so I guess it could be that.

Not the same car but my dads tourer does that too, again it's the heatshield vibrating when pulling away/letting off the power.

If I was you I'd make a mate of a good greese monkey and get him to give the car a once over and see what really needs doing before you make you mind up.

Bit of welding would sort that out, shouldnt cost too much (for a change) either

Paul, I think you should take it to a pro garage and ask them to sponsor you and just build that Golf up from scratch. Sure, you'll have decals all over the body, but you will ALSO have a fully new sports exhaust, possible bore/stroke upsize, turbokit, the works.

That old Golf is a nice car..don't throw her away :(