MY STEREO!!!! SHE FREAKIN' LIVES!!!

[manaheim]

My poor old car has 110K miles on her (9 years old now... 2004 VW R32 ... the miles per year is dropping since I've been using the commuter rail), but she's still old... of the MANY things that have fallen apart, my stupid amplifier has probably been the most annoying.

About three years ago it would start not working on the front right speakers. After some diagnosing, I realized I could just whack the amp and it would come back and behave normally for a few weeks. However, then that stopped working. So I took it apart and found a loose cable. Ok, reconnect. That worked for about a month and then failed again. Then I took the amp off the mount and set it on a bundle of towels on the bottom of the trunk... gravity worked for a while and kept the cable from coming loose... but that took up the whole damned trunk. (it's a great amp, but it's old and BIG) Ok, so tried taping it down... yeah that worked for a bit... and various other solutions. Everything worked for a little while, then failed. Finally, about a month ago it totally lost it and every damned pebble in the road would take out a different speaker channel. Maddening.

So, finally I begged my buddy who does embedded circuits to help me tear the stupid thing apart and hard-wire some connections in place.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

I'm so excited I could just spit.

Of course, I'd be out driving the car and enjoying the damned thing right now... except that I'm about to lose a tie-rod end or something on the front right wheel and I'm not even sure the damned thing will make it to the dealership tomorrow to get repaired before the wheel falls off.

SIGH. 110K miles.

She's lucky I love her.

 

[Awiserbud]

110k isn't an awful lot of miles if its well looked after, The main problem with the R32 is the suspension is a lot stiffer than standard Golfs so it does have a tendancy to shake things apart as you've experienced.
The V6 engine is a good lump, don't skimp on good quality oil though.
Most likely your suspension issue will either be a top strut mounting or bottom ball joint on the wishbone arm. both pretty common.

 

[runnah]

I always wanted one of those or a mk2 gti 16v.
It seems like vw electrical systems were designed in the 1930s.

My poor wrx is up past 150k

 

[manaheim]

110k isn't an awful lot of miles if its well looked after, The main problem with the R32 is the suspension is a lot stiffer than standard Golfs so it does have a tendancy to shake things apart as you've experienced.
The V6 engine is a good lump, don't skimp on good quality oil though.
Most likely your suspension issue will either be a top strut mounting or bottom ball joint on the wishbone arm. both pretty common.

Yes! The little car does tend to take a beating, esp on new england roads in the winter. It's definitely a wear/tear thing, so I'm not holding it against her, but it's still a bummer. Esp after I just spent $550 on her for a serpantine belt failure.

I always wanted one of those or a mk2 gti 16v.
It seems like vw electrical systems were designed in the 1930s.

My poor wrx is up past 150k

All German car electrical systems tend to be a mess. They're way better now than they were 20 years or so ago, though.

Mk2... were those in the 90s? Way underpowered for how heavy they were. The original GTIs were a freakin' blast. Little go-carts.

WRX is a fun car, though. 150k miles. Nice! How's it holding up?

 

[squirrels]

So, finally I begged my buddy who does embedded circuits to help me tear the stupid thing apart and hard-wire some connections in place.

PROBLEM SOLVED.
.

Hey, a new beginning!

 

[runnah]

110k isn't an awful lot of miles if its well looked after, The main problem with the R32 is the suspension is a lot stiffer than standard Golfs so it does have a tendancy to shake things apart as you've experienced.
The V6 engine is a good lump, don't skimp on good quality oil though.
Most likely your suspension issue will either be a top strut mounting or bottom ball joint on the wishbone arm. both pretty common.

Yes! The little car does tend to take a beating, esp on new england roads in the winter. It's definitely a wear/tear thing, so I'm not holding it against her, but it's still a bummer. Esp after I just spent $550 on her for a serpantine belt failure.

I always wanted one of those or a mk2 gti 16v.
It seems like vw electrical systems were designed in the 1930s.

My poor wrx is up past 150k

All German car electrical systems tend to be a mess. They're way better now than they were 20 years or so ago, though.

Mk2... were those in the 90s? Way underpowered for how heavy they were. The original GTIs were a freakin' blast. Little go-carts.

WRX is a fun car, though. 150k miles. Nice! How's it holding up?

She's got a bit of rust that is going to be an issue. Other than she still pulls strong and slides around corners nicely.

Mk2
http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab221/DuncanIrens/RandomVW1.jpg

Mk2 Rally - This is what i'd do with it.
http://image.eurotuner.com/f/eventc...p_0902_04_z+ngp_dyno_day_2008+mk2_gti_16v.jpg

 

[KenC]

You should try Honda - we've put many more miles than that (a lot of them not easy) on two of them now without major problems.

 

[runnah]

You should try Honda - we've put many more miles than that (a lot of them not easy) on two of them now without major problems.

I've had 3 hondas and all them had issues. Maybe I am just unlucky but they just didn't seem to have the reliability.

 

[cgipson1]

You should try Honda - we've put many more miles than that (a lot of them not easy) on two of them now without major problems.

I've had 3 hondas and all them had issues. Maybe I am just unlucky but they just didn't seem to have the reliability.

I have had a 2000 4runner that I sold at 250k miles... never had any issues with it... not one (I wish I hadn't sold it now!). I had a Honda Civic SI that I put 180k on.. never a single problem, and I even put that on the track a good bit.

I really wanted a GTI, but am glad I didn't ever buy one... VW reliability just isn't what it could be (My girlfriend bought one of the new turbo bugs against my advice... had to have it! It DIED in the first six months, and VW couldn't even figure out why.) Heck.. I wanted a Mini Cooper (one of the newer ones)... but will not buy something so trouble prone.

Subaru's are nice... almost bought an Impreza WRX before I bought what I drive now. Decided to go for MPG instead of power....

 

[KenC]

You should try Honda - we've put many more miles than that (a lot of them not easy) on two of them now without major problems.

I've had 3 hondas and all them had issues. Maybe I am just unlucky but they just didn't seem to have the reliability.

Perhaps we've had unusually good luck. Our record (for any car) is the 260K+ our '97 civic had when it was in an accident a little over a year ago and was not worth fixing; pity, it had been running so well.

 

[usayit]

I am pretty handy with cars... Usually doing all the work myself that doesnt need a lift (my dream garage would have one). Its part of the reason why i like the simple less complex ones... Many US domestic brands and even mazda. I have always liked VW Audi so I decided to buy a 2001 audi TT fully loaded wih about 14k miles on the clock. Damn thing ate its exhaust valve in piston 1 after only 65k miles. Freakin expensive parts. Never again! It now sits in my driveway looking pretty not quite sure the hell to do with it.

Should have bought an early corvette. Might have been in the shop a few times in its life but it probably would have lasted a lot longer.

 

[lonerunner]

If it's for consolation i drive old ford escort from 1988 with half broken engine that past 300k this summer

 

[HerkFE]

My E34 5 Series has over 237K on the dash and runs great

 

[runnah]

Let's see I've had:
92 Toyota Corolla - Blew engine
94 Honda Civic - Burned oil
96 Honda Civic - Got sideswiped, totaled
98 Honda Prelude - Burned oil badly Cylinder liners were junk from factory
02 Subaru WRX Wagon - Spun bearing, replaced block and sold
2000 Subaru Impreza RS Coupe - My all time favorite car
04 wrx sedan - Current, runs great a tad rusty.
06 Impreza Wagon - The family mobile. 250k

 

[Awiserbud]

I've had so many cars over the years, Being from England many might be strangers to you all, but heres what i can remember:

1st car (hand me down from dad) Morris marina
Ford Capri 3.0 ghia
Rover SDi 3500 V8 (bullet proof V8 engine)
Rover SDi 2600 (straight six, the worst straight 6 ever built. )
VW golf GTI Cabrio Mk11
Mini Cooper (original Austin)
MG Metro 1275 Turbo
Range Rover Vogue SE 3500 V8
BMW 320i 1991
BMW 325i SE 1993
Alfa Romeo 33 (flat 4 engine) your not a true car enthusiast until you've owned an Alfa!
Volvo 460 (don't ask me why)
MR2 G-Limited Import (loved that car)
Jaguar XJ6 (lovely motor, but was too thirsty)
Currently driving a Mercedes CLK 230 Kompressor, had this for about 4 years now, Never missed a beat in all the time i've owned it, hardly wears tyres, Ive replaced all 4 once in about 50,000 miles, probably the most reliable car i've owned.

Ive owned many more but can't remember half of them.