Sold 03 Lupo SELLED!

[Jim Bell]

I really like that.

 

You know how I was looking for a big wafty auto diesel barge for commuting?

One of these might be my big wafty auto diesel barge. Probably a manual pez one just to tick absolutely no boxes.

 

 

They are pretty good. Everyone probably says this about all good small cars, but its far more like a classic Mini than a Bini is.  Dead simple, very spacious, nippy on the throttle and park it anywhere.  I used to think Yaris's and K11s were good little cars, but I'm enjoying this more than either of those.

Youre welcome to a shot if youre ever up this end. 

[dollywobbler]

These were surprisingly high on my wish list when I ended up with the Sirion. I really like that, BORING COLOUR aside. Maybe paint some birds on it or something. Love your updates though.

[Pillock]

My friend had an SDI version which she swore by, but she was a girl and they don't know anything about cars so I'm more trusting of your views.

[purplebargeken]

That really is a smart little thing. I have no need of one as I have an i10, but if I didn't......

[Guest Lord Sward]

Its just a shame its a VW really.

[Pillock]

Its just a shame its a VW really.

Why?

[Parky]

Top work with the insulation tape there!

 

Oh hello, looks like Dylan Miles and his pastel trousers have popped by with an envelope with your post restoration valuation!

[cobblers]

These are ace little motors - the mechanicals are all off mk3 golf/polo so plenty up to dragging a lupo about. I had one for a few years, I loved that car and have absolutely no idea why I sold it. I had to put a new engine in it but at that point in my life I had had to put a new engine in 8 of the last 9 cars I had owned so I was used to it really

[vulgalour]

The Lupo is much more the proper successor to the Polo than the Polo was, it even has lots of styling queues from the old Mk2 breadvan.  This one looks charmingly basic and well made, something VW are very good at with their small cars.

[Jim Bell]

One thing I've noticed which pissed me off is that the door lock pins sit below flush when at rest in locked position. If you're sat in the drivers seat with the passenger door locked, and a passenger wants to get in, you have to take the key out of the ignition, get out of the car, unlock the passenger door with the key, then walk back and get in your side.

There's no way to unlock the door from the inside.

 

Obviously this only applies to cars without central locking, like mine.

 

 

Unless just pulling the handle opens the door from the inside, even when locked. I'll have a try of that tomorrow.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Unless just pulling the handle opens the door from the inside, even when locked. I'll have a try of that tomorrow.

 

It does ! Plenty of poorly engineered bits in VWs, but nothing that obvious

[Jim Bell]

Ah man. Cheers.

 

I should really think things through in my head BEFORE I start typing.

[cort1977]

"Lights are on!  Check out ALL of my accessory switch blanks!"

 

Not seen that many accessory blanks since my Dad had a 87 Carlton 1.8i.   Seemed like a good car at the time but it was probably a wheezing underpowered lump of shite.  

 

So pretty great then, like this Lupo.

[Ghosty]

Its just a shame its a VW really.

Seat in essence - I think Arosas came first by about a year.

 

 

also:

Lupo > canis lupus > wolf > Wolfsburg.

Which is also why the Fox is called Fox.

[Jim Bell]

The Looper had a canny afternoon in the bay today.

 

 

 

 

 

Has new fuel filter, oil, oil filter, air filter, cam belt, coolant and water pump.

 

 

Not before time either.  The belt that came off was OEM VW so I'm guessing its the original one.  Rather overdur at over 80k. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The waterpump that came off was likely original too.  With a gash plastic impeller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the needles point in all the correct places.

 

 

 

 

 

God knows how long overdue this big service is, but I'm glad its got new bits now where the old bits were before.

 

 

 

Last time I serviced a car that was long overdue was that 205 XS I got off MikeD.

 

That immediately thanked me by beginning to knock.....................................................

[stripped fred]

Is it a keeper then?

[Lacquer Peel]

Good work replacing the cambelt, the old one looked ready to pop.

 

I don't think pollen filters are fitted to cars without A/C.

 

I've always liked the look of Lupos, and I am on the lookout for an SDi one for Ms_Peel when she gets her license.

[Jim Bell]

Is it a keeper then?

 

Probably not, knowing me.  BAT ITS AWL ABAHT KEEPIN THESE AWLD CARS ON THE RAWD [\BREWER]

 

 

Good work replacing the cambelt, the old one looked ready to pop.

 

I don't think pollen filters are fitted to cars without A/C.

 

I've always liked the look of Lupos, and I am on the lookout for an SDi one for Ms_Peel when she gets her license.

 

 

You're right on the cabin filter man, and your plan for a dweezil one for the missus is sound.  Best of all worlds there, specially if you can find a nice Green or Yellow one.

[Sigmund Fraud]

What ? The water pump was not completely seized in the block ? This must have been a very well maintained car !

 

80K is respectable, belts on those can usually last up to 90K, but if they go they take the entire top end with them... Not a risk one should take for the sake of £60 and a couple of hours of work.

[Bear]

These were surprisingly high on my wish list when I ended up with the Sirion. I really like that, BORING COLOUR aside. Maybe paint some birds on it or something. Love your updates though.

 

Did you just suggest "put a bird on it"?

 

Are you a Portland hipster in disguise?

[Jim Bell]

Took this little nugget out for an hour on mixed roads to shake it down.

 

Engine seems quieter and smoother after the service* and it's a pleasure to pilot.

 

*possibly just my imagination, though when I picked it up from the tame local garage, the lad did say "sounds a lot better now doesn't she?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howdon viaduct. From Victorian times. Possibly Edwardian. Older than the car anyway.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Took this little nugget out for an hour on mixed roads to shake it down.

Engine seems quieter and smoother after the service* and it's a pleasure to pilot.

*possibly just my imagination, though when I picked it up from the tame local garage, the lad did say "sounds a lot better now doesn't she?"

Must be related to the lass who cuts my hair. Every time she's partway through her task, she enquires whether it feels much better now. One day I'll tell her the truth.

On a different note, well done for not buying the 1.9 sdi, with the cheese gearbox fitted as standard.

[Jim Bell]

It's probably the first thing they teach you at "trade school".

[Sigmund Fraud]

On a different note, well done for not buying the 1.9 sdi, with the cheese gearbox fitted as standard.

 

They all have shite gearboxes (apart from the 6-speeder GTi). The SDi just kills them more readily due to the extra torque.

 

The box of my own Lupo, with its 1-litre POWERHOUSE, only lasted 85K miles. I've been postponing its replacement for ages, as I expect it to be a royal PITA because modern VAG.

[Jim Bell]

Apparently the same is true of Polos of the period too?

 

This one seems alright thankfully.

[Lacquer Peel]

Good luck finding a 1.9 SDi Lupo, they are 1.7 engines. [/mr. logic]

 

I have heard about the gearboxes being rubbish, I think it was an issue with earlier versions of the Fabia SDi I had as well.

[purplebargeken]

Good call on the service and belt change, that did look on its last legs. Cracking car

[Sigmund Fraud]

Apparently the same is true of Polos of the period too?

 

This one seems alright thankfully.

 

 

Most small VWs between the late '70s and the early '00s had a version of the 084/085 box. They were pretty rubbish to begin with, but sometime in the mid-90s they re-engineered them to cut costs and made them even worse.

 

If I were you, I'd check the gear oil level everytime it's due an oil change - it's what often kills them.

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Yes, it was checked at topped at MOT but it didnt take much in.  I'll keep on top of it though.  Good advice, as ever.

[Ghosty]

Apparently the same is true of Polos of the period too?

 

This one seems alright thankfully.

It's Golfs IIRC.

 

The 4 speed auto in these and Polos of the same era is woefully slow.