I've decided to move on my towing/load lugging hack.
Two reasons, one is that I don't really need it anymore as the next company car will have a tow bar, and secondly it will need some patches welding for MOT, and in between house moves, I seem to have lost my welder!!
So bad stuff out the way:
MOT ran out a couple of months ago, I genuinely think the only thing it will fail on is rusty inner wheel arches on the rear. I've cut out a bit of one of them to check that the internal structure is solid, which it is. So they literally need some large patches welding on, or if you're less bothered, probably could rivet some sheet on and smother it in underseal. The outer wheel arch lip is pretty good on the N/S. A bit crusty on the O/S but nowhere near as bad as a lot of the ones I've seen, and completely covered by the plastic trim when fitted.
It's 1990's Japanese Car Red, which in English is called Sun-faded Pink. It polishes up fairly easily back to a red colour, which I did this summer.
It's got dings and small marks pretty much all over the car. One of the rear plastic bumper corners is pushed in so would need pushing back out if it bothers you.
The driver's side window switch is held in by gravity and string. The switches work.
The rear N/S tyre has a slow leak so needs a top up every couple of weeks.
I've never used the spare wheel/tyre so have no idea whether it has any air or rodents in it.
The towbar electric socket is held on by bungee cord. The towing electrics work fine, but the bracket holding the socket to the towbar has gone a bit too crusty.
There is occasionally some movement somewhere in the suspension (usually understeering and breaking on a bump). I suspect there is a worn bush somewhere, but I've not investigated.
It has one key. I believe it has remote central locking, but there is no remote key, so we'll never know.
Air-con doesn't work. I can't demonstrate this flaw at the moment as it's so curse word cold outside.
It's got the typical leaky fuel filler pipe which means if you fill more than approx 30-40 litres into the tank, it will slowly leak out.
Typical squeaks and rattles from all over the place, the worst one being the rear opening window latches.
Good stuff:
It (as expected to be honest) has been 100% reliable, and even with the unwelded arches, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it a thousand miles tomorrow.
Engine starts and runs well, power steering works, it pulls well through the rev range. Clutch seems fine too!
Brakes are functional and ABS works.
4WD and centre diff lock all work.
Tow bar seems solidly attached to the car. We towed a Jag S-Type on a fairly large trailer with it for 200 miles (I wouldn't recommend this though).
It has electric tilt and slide sunroof which works.
No warning lights (as in, no faults, the lights themselves are present!)
Really good off-road and in the snow!
It's had a service (by me, not a main dealer!) approximately 10 miles/3 months ago, oil + filters, spark plugs, + a new thermostat and radiator flush + new coolant. It now gets up to temperature without any issues and stays there.
I've had the car about a year, and used it to tow a garden trailer, but also some bigger stuff! It's carried lots of things, and driven through the beast from the east. Took it all in its stride. It's an absolutely addictive car, that's really fun but also surprisingly usable.
Absolutely no swaps etc UNLESS you have a AC model G-Wiz - I need one as a donor.
Note: Some of the "shinier" pictures are from a few months ago. The roof bars are NOT included, and the rear wheel arch plastic trims have been removed, but come with the car.
Car is located GL55 (North Cotswolds)
Two reasons, one is that I don't really need it anymore as the next company car will have a tow bar, and secondly it will need some patches welding for MOT, and in between house moves, I seem to have lost my welder!!
So bad stuff out the way:
MOT ran out a couple of months ago, I genuinely think the only thing it will fail on is rusty inner wheel arches on the rear. I've cut out a bit of one of them to check that the internal structure is solid, which it is. So they literally need some large patches welding on, or if you're less bothered, probably could rivet some sheet on and smother it in underseal. The outer wheel arch lip is pretty good on the N/S. A bit crusty on the O/S but nowhere near as bad as a lot of the ones I've seen, and completely covered by the plastic trim when fitted.
It's 1990's Japanese Car Red, which in English is called Sun-faded Pink. It polishes up fairly easily back to a red colour, which I did this summer.
It's got dings and small marks pretty much all over the car. One of the rear plastic bumper corners is pushed in so would need pushing back out if it bothers you.
The driver's side window switch is held in by gravity and string. The switches work.
The rear N/S tyre has a slow leak so needs a top up every couple of weeks.
I've never used the spare wheel/tyre so have no idea whether it has any air or rodents in it.
The towbar electric socket is held on by bungee cord. The towing electrics work fine, but the bracket holding the socket to the towbar has gone a bit too crusty.
There is occasionally some movement somewhere in the suspension (usually understeering and breaking on a bump). I suspect there is a worn bush somewhere, but I've not investigated.
It has one key. I believe it has remote central locking, but there is no remote key, so we'll never know.
Air-con doesn't work. I can't demonstrate this flaw at the moment as it's so curse word cold outside.
It's got the typical leaky fuel filler pipe which means if you fill more than approx 30-40 litres into the tank, it will slowly leak out.
Typical squeaks and rattles from all over the place, the worst one being the rear opening window latches.
Good stuff:
It (as expected to be honest) has been 100% reliable, and even with the unwelded arches, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it a thousand miles tomorrow.
Engine starts and runs well, power steering works, it pulls well through the rev range. Clutch seems fine too!
Brakes are functional and ABS works.
4WD and centre diff lock all work.
Tow bar seems solidly attached to the car. We towed a Jag S-Type on a fairly large trailer with it for 200 miles (I wouldn't recommend this though).
It has electric tilt and slide sunroof which works.
No warning lights (as in, no faults, the lights themselves are present!)
Really good off-road and in the snow!
It's had a service (by me, not a main dealer!) approximately 10 miles/3 months ago, oil + filters, spark plugs, + a new thermostat and radiator flush + new coolant. It now gets up to temperature without any issues and stays there.
I've had the car about a year, and used it to tow a garden trailer, but also some bigger stuff! It's carried lots of things, and driven through the beast from the east. Took it all in its stride. It's an absolutely addictive car, that's really fun but also surprisingly usable.
Absolutely no swaps etc UNLESS you have a AC model G-Wiz - I need one as a donor.
Note: Some of the "shinier" pictures are from a few months ago. The roof bars are NOT included, and the rear wheel arch plastic trims have been removed, but come with the car.
Car is located GL55 (North Cotswolds)
PM me if you want to pop by and have a look or if you want more details
Ax GTi Turbo