Hi guys, I want a splitty. I have been doing some research on the net as to what to look for but haven't actually poked one in the flesh yet; just
hours of turning internet pages and looking at jpgs. So, I've found one for sale in the UK (I'm in the UK and am emigrating to Oz early next year -
with or without a van). And what I need from you guys is any help and advice on what to look for and what to ask the owner so I can find out if it's
a bargain or a dog. It looks like it's too good to be true (so it probably is!). It's a US import '60 and is apparently fairly original. The main
bad point is there's a new custom interior in it, though it has got IRS. Don't pay too much attention to the price - that's really low for us
suckers in the UK! It's also running a 1600 so that's obviously not original. Are there any problem areas I should look out for, and any searching
questions I should prod the owner with? Is there anything I should test out, or any noises I should be listening for, when I take it for a
test-drive?
Any advice gratefully appreciated, I'm going to see it this Sunday and I'm a bit in the dark here. Here's a link to the advert: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=336810
Cheers lads, I'll get the beers in when I get over there, Jez
Save your cash and buy an Aussie car when you get here. You will regret paying top dollar (compared to here) for an imported car that has been molested. She does look pretty solid though.
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For a daily drive you might get sick of the LHD
have a look here
http://www.dsk.com.au/dsk/forum/index.php
An Australian Split group
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hey jez. go look at kombiclub as well. and in particular 'roy'. he has a few that he gets a hold of, and although they vary in price, can help you
find what you might be after and have it ready when you arrive. like wise 'kombi rescue' on dsk.
happy hunting mate. half hte fun is in the chase!
** having a bit more of a look and that one you spy across the pond has a roof hatch and stuff. i suppose it is what you are after.
things to remember and look for is that they all rust. the fact is says rust/rot free is more the fact it hasnt come thru yet.
they all rot from the inside out. inside the sills, inside the front nose and inside the out riggers.
you wont know how bad until it starts coming thru or you go searching.
i remember when i first got mine. seemed rust free. had it on the road for almost two years then bubbles started coming up all over hte place. i could
grab an outrigger and squeeze it like hard foam. in the end all sills nose and outriggers etc replaced. she rust free now... but $$$$
so when you go looking give it a good poke and look under at the sills and see if you can leave a thumb print in the outriggers. it looks ok from the
outside in the pics. if your happy. get it and give it a good going over and soaking with rust kill. maybe you can slow the deterioration further.
as for the price. 7000 pounds. that used to be a lot. but on our ebay recently have been examples of less than daily driver or needed resto jobs sell
for the equivilant in aus dollars. (11-16k) so a daily on the road in need of a bit of love can be 15k or higher.
there is a panel for sale for that. its rego'd. there is also a couple of good buys going aorund, but you would need the help of roy, steve or
others.
as i said, good luck. happy hunting. but hey if you can bring us back a barn door or samba... it might be nice after all ours keep heading your way.
to get one back> a bonus.
[ Edited on 14/2/2007 by twoguns ]
LPG: Australia just about leads the planet on LPG technology and use so don't worry about that. And I'm not sure if a UK conversion would be legal
over here without re-certification. Plus, any chassis/driveline mods to your UK splitty would also have to be re-certified.
LHD is legal, but a PITA, especially for a 'working' car
I reckon you should buy one here even if it means having a stand-in Jap van for a few months