I test drove a VRS yesterday, was quite nice, plenty of power though the front tyres seemed to struggle some. I told the trader I would think about it as whilst I enjoyed the car, I am (for personal reasons which I won't bore with) changing from a Merc C320, with all the bits and bobs, including sexy staggered AMG alloys.

 

Anyhoo, I was just a bit hesitant, not sure whether to go through with it but I didn't know why, though I suspect it might be that it was on charge when I got there, and yet the temp gauge on the car was at 90c when I started it (albeit labored), so I assume it needs a new battery or alternator.

 

However, it just dawned on what was odd, the instrument cluster appeared to be a standard VRS cluster, but my understanding is that middle part where all the warning lights live, is not LCD, like on other VAG cars. I've googled and youtubed and all mk1 clusters are warning lights only, but this one had a red LCD screen displaying door open, mpg etc etc, rather than being on the little LCD under the rev counter. 

 

Was there some sort update to the cluster late in the Mk1s life?

 

A side question, do these come with an intercooler as standard? I didn't think so, but this one appeared to have a rather large diameter pipe poking out from under the front bumper.

If it's on a traders website post the link to the car and we might be able to help you but as far as I'm aware it has the screen from a golf in if it says door open as it usually just shows the sign of a car with a door open

If it has this type cluster with the full LCD screen, then it has maxidot. It should also have the factory sat nav too as they went together.

 

yes, maxidot like this, but on the old style vrs clocks with the silver (white?) surround, and the factory satnav. So it seems it is a hybrid of the mk2 and mk1 cluster. Odd.

 

EDIT: found it, looks like this: http://img.auto.cz/moje.auto.cz/img/galleries/49ca75a9f29ef/4b80461b0eb3d.jpg

is the only one I've seen in a mk1.

Edited 19 February, 201511 yr by krisby

It's the normal cluster if they specced sat nav from the factory.

 

Most mk1 didn't as it was blooming expensive!

If the temp gauge was at 90C and the battery was on charge, it might be battery, or alternator, or even the Coolant Temperature Sensor (sounds a bit like the last to me, since I'd expect a poor start if the cold enrichment didn't operate, but no start at all if the battery couldn't sustain the starter motor at 250rpm or a little more).

Aha, sweet, puts my mind at ease then, though it was some sort of retro fit bodge.

 

Thanks

You can do quite cool things with a FIS Control box and a maxidot cluster.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/297152-fis-control/

looks good, though for the £2.99 Torque cost me on my phone, I can get near the same too, I hope. 

 

I think Maxidot might have just been enough to tip me over the edge, I'll go talk numbers after work and get the deal done.

So what happened, did you get it???