I’ve had my 1.8t 4x4, Big Green, for a while now. Love the car, suits me and my needs to a tee, little heavy on fuel but whatever.

 

I’ve done a fair bit to look after it over the few years of ownership… new lock and window mechanisms all round, decent rims, poly bushes (for longevity) in the rear trailing arms, new rear control arms, replaced door card fabric, fixed a rusty patch on a back door, nice head unit, decent speakers, mini amp and sub, nice seats, new suspension all round, VRS brakes, R32 rear ARB, braided lines. 

 

anyways, just after some advice or inspiration really…

 

things Big Green needs:

- cambelt

- spare key

- A/C sorting (probs compressor)

 

things Big Green could do with:

- new headliner

- paintwork freshen up (maybe the odd panel re-painted, all-round polish)

- replacement, non-locked, non-mapped ECU, then properly mapped to hopefully sort the intermittent boost issue (though easily solved by turning ignition off-on)

 

things I’d like for Big Green:

- turbo-back stainless exhaust

- front and rear sub frames removed and fully refurbished with fresh paint and bushes

- R32 front ARB

- powder-coat refurb alloys (grey perhaps)

 

Don’t really know where to start though, or if any of the above (apart from the cam belt), is worth it. 
 

Can’t really justify a newer/nicer car. I did think about a 280 Superb estate, but don’t have the £12-15k spare. Suppose there are some aging S4 Avants etc around £4-6k mark, but anything that old will be wanting a similar list as above. 
 

So basically I think this car is still right for me. Just not sure what, if any, of the above list is worth it.

Edited 21 November, 20241 yr by wjspencer

Cambelt yes, air-con personally I'd junk it.

Everything else depends how much money you want to throw at it, how long you want to keep it.  If you did your subframes for example could you get by while it's off the road.

What you could end up spending could easily go to a newer car. fine balancing act, keep spending or move on, not easy decision, The Mk1 can be quite addictive.