G40 coming out of six year hibernation

[Billywhizz1984]

Hi everyone, I'm bringing my Pearl Grey G40 out of its six year hibernation and thought I'd tell you a bit about her.

She was registered by VAG in March 1993 on a K plate and was used as a demo car by Windrush of Slough. My old boss bought it from Windrush 9 months later in December 1993 with 6k on the clock and immediately changed the oil for Mobil 1, a habit I've kept to this day.

At the time I had a 1989 Mk2 Polo Coupe "S" in Tornado Red and after much lusting I bought the G40 off my boss in November 1995 showing 22k. I ran it as my daily driver for 5 years up the M4 between Bracknell & London until I moved back to my native North East in 2000 and semi-mothballed the G40 in favour of the 1986 Mk2 Golf with 118K I picked up for £300 off a mate at work. Sold the Golf for £300 in 2003 showing 159k and still going strong.

The last time the G40 was on the road properly was in March 2002 and apart from the odd run round the block to keep things ticking over she's been in the garage ever since. Spec is totally original apart from clear side repeaters and being de-badged to avoid unwelcome attention. She has 83k on the clock and runs sweet, supercharger is still perfect thanks to the Mobil 1. The only parts I've replaced apart from the usual service items are the radiator last year (the original rotted through), the pressure regulator and the rear wheel bearings and brake cylinders.

I wish I could say she is mint but having bombed up & down the M4 every day plus a regular six weekly trip up the M1 back to Tyneside has meant she's picked up the odd stone chip and a few dings. The only damage was when I was at a mate's party and some scumbags tried to cut out the quarter light then lever the glass out with a screwdriver. Thankfully they failed but I have a nice "U" shaped imprint in the door to remind me never to go to Slough again.

I got some nearly new tyres of eBay recently and pushed her through the MOT. She only failed on rear brake inefficiency due to the slave cylinders being seized. When I get the rear brakes sorted she'll be back on the road and I'll upload some pics as soon as she's legal.

Cheers, Phil.

[hayesey]

owdo! welcome to the forum.  Sounds like an interesting car and you know the whole history of it 

get some pics up

[samg40]

Nice one glad you made it over here. Thats a brill story and nice to hear of someone who's had one for so long and kept hold of it. Looking forward to the pics.

Be good to see you at the RR day if you get it back on the road by then.

[vwmk3jon]

i wouldnt be able to leave mine alone for 6 years - impossible!

Welcome to the club.

[sohailG40]

dident you miss it when it was parked up all that time.
ive only owned my one for 5 mounths and i had it off the road for 1 week and i could not wait to get back in the driveing seat.

[Dirrt]

She's alive... She's aliveee 
Ooo sound bootiful! Can't wait to see pictures!

[NeilG40]

I thought I was bad enough with mine being sat in the garage for four years.

[SpikeyG40]

This is making me feel less bad for usng mine less than 300 miles in a year. 

Glad to hear your getting her sorted and back on the road mate!

[Billywhizz1984]

As for missing the G40 I've had a few motors in the interim to keep me busy - Octavia VRS, BMW E30 Convertible, MG Midget, etc.

In a similar story my Grandfather (aged 86) is currently driving a black Mk2 Golf Driver that another friend bought in Jan 1990 - I was with him the day he had it delivered. Then my old boss had it (same guy that owned the G40) then he bought my wife's black 1998 Polo 1.6 GLX and I took the Golf off him in P/X for my Grandfather. It currently has 160k on the clock and sailed through the last MOT.

Has anyone in the club had a G40 from new? Do I take the record for longest continuous ownership of 13 years (Nov 95 to Nov 08)?

[NeilG40]

Well you've got me beat, I've had mine since April 97.  I was only thinking the other I've probably owned it for 3 times as long as any of the previous owners.

[Billywhizz1984]

Scan pics of the day I got her in November 1995 - No digital cameras back then....

[Billywhizz1984]

And another

[Billywhizz1984]

Last one

[Billywhizz1984]

Well she's a bit dirty (the car not the wife) but here she is after six years in the garage!

[Billywhizz1984]

And another...