My 205 Does Exist

[GLPoomobile 958]

After mentioning the first bit of activity with my 205 in ages, it became apparent that some regulars thought I no longer had a 205.

 

So, here's a very boring picture of "The Bastard" in my garage, where it's been since yesterday

 

 

It's been very badly neglected by me for the last 3 years, since I moved back to Edinburgh. At that time I made the decision to buy something more modern and comfortable as a daily runner as I was very unhappy with various aspects of the pug. One key thing being a bad coolant leak as the block face isn't true so the gasket is leaking. I'd already spent about £800 with Miles to address this problem, which was both a poor block face and corroded cylinder head face that was skimmed before it was all fitted back together. I must stress that the fact the problem persisted is by no means a criticism of Miles, he presented the facts, and it was my choice to take the risk of having him reassemble without addressing the block issue as I didn't have the funds at the time to deal with it.

 

So 3 years ago, my honest intention was to take it off the road and start working through some of the areas I was unhappy with. Then......life got in the way.

 

Then almost 2 years ago we moved to a new flat with a separate garage, and the plan at the time was to move my 205 straight away in to the garage. Finally, with my own space, access to power, water, and shelter, I had no excuse now and things could progress. Then........life got in the way.

 

I guess this qualifies as being "abandoned". We moved out, and I had to hand over the plip key to the underground car park, which obviously made it a little difficult to get access to my 205 as and when I wanted to. I never set out to abandon it, but it started off as one of those 'out of sight, out of mind' scenarios.

 

A few weeks ago I managed to get the Minster For Home Affairs to sign off a request for a couple of hours to myself, and I finally got the garage organised. The recovery plan was kick started, and yesterday morning it was brought over on the back of a low loader. We had the fun and games that I'm sure many 205 owners will have experienced, which was that we couldn't get it off the truck as the exhaust was catching in two spots. I considered the "balls out" approach, but I could see it was only going to end with the car ripping up the sheet from the bed of the truck (which was already partially pulled up). Luckily I had some sheets of thin laminate from the back of some cupboards and we managed to use these as a slide.

 

Here's a pic (inserted rather randomly in to this thread, I grant you) for Tom Fenton. Tom, I don't have anything to show the 205 "on the move", but here it is on the way to Miles' a few years ago to tackle the aforementioned water leak.

 

 

Now I shall conclude this update in the most disappointing of ways. You're all hoping that I will pull my finger out and get The Bastard back on the road now I have it in my garage, yeah? Well I am a realist, so I'm afraid it won't happen any time in the next few years. Financial constraints means I can't justify spending any money, no matter how insignificant, for probably the next 3 years. There's stuff I could do for free, but at the moment all my time is monopolised by the challenges of being a new dad. I expect (hope) that I will regain some personal time in due course, but at the moment I'm made to feel like the most unreasonable person in the world if I dare to consider doing anything for myself. Steve, meet Thumb.

 

 

[GilesW 41]

Lol.

 

Sell it to her - she needs time to relax and do what she likes. Some special 'me' time. And you will have baby whilst she does that (cos you love her so much).

 

Then...... bang.

Come on love I need a bit of me time too.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Well there you go, Bastard looks nice enough to me!

 

By moving picture, what I meant was on the back of a lorry by the way. I reckon Giles has got the right idea as well, no matter how busy life is, its important to do something for yourself now and again, no matter how small.

[welshpug 1,657]

Indeed, all the guys i know with young uns make time for themselves, else they turn into boring sods!

[GLPoomobile 958]

I agree about making time for myself. But I'm also a modern man who tries to be considerate, and the fact is she doesn't get any time to herself either, and puts in far more hours of child care than I do, means that it genuinely wouldn't be fair for me indulge in a hobby while she doesn't get any downtime. It's a difficult balance to get right at this stage. But don't get me wrong, being a parent was a choice, and I expected to make sacrifices, and given how bloody amazing my son is I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Once Kurt is toddling, can hold a spanner without wanting to drum it off the nearest object, and can appreciate the concept of "Helping daddy", then I'll be able to take him down to the garage and we can do some very basic stuff together.

Edited March 18, 2014 by GLPoomobile

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

Always loved a white 205, must piss you off knowing your just gunna have to leave it there.

 

I could have got you a cheap deal on a truck to move it aswel, bit late now like.

 

To be honest you are showing your determination to keep it though as I know a lot of people who've sold nice cars due to not having time or money due to having kids and regretted it. So at least you've still kept it in the face of adversity

[GLPoomobile 958]

There were times when I thought it would be a relief if it had "disappeared" as it's felt like a ball and chain around my ankle. I've never really enjoyed this particular 205 like I have previous ones. It's pissed me off many a time. But with values rising it felt stupid to just let it go. It doesn't really bother me to just leave it in the garage, as it's spent most of the time I've had it laid up in one way or another. When we were down in London it spent most of the time parked on the street unused, so I could address various issues.

 

Part of me feels like I've moved on from 205 GTIs now, but there's still a little bit of me that knows I'd regret it if I didn't have a 205, as I'd want another in a few years time when prices are through the roof and availability is even more scarce.

 

I only paid £35 for the recovery. I'd have paid the same for a 1 day insurance policy to drive it over (which was the original plan).

[notamondayfan 44]

I am in very much the same boat as you, 2 kids (one nearly 3, the other 3 months old) and "disposable income" is well and truly in the past! Like you, I think finances aren't going to improve for the next few years, and it's hard to justify spending money on a 2nd car, when your family needs the money first.

 

I do agree with others though that you need to escape from time to time, otherwise you become stuck in a rut, constantly moaning, and from then it's a downward spiral!!

 

My wife tells me to go out, go into the garage, or just do something, as she can see when normal day to day life just runs you down! Granted my short spells in the garage aren't exactly productive, but it's an escape and time to shut everything else out.

[GilesW 41]

I agree about making time for myself. But I'm also a modern man who tries to be considerate, and the fact is she doesn't get any time to herself either, and puts in far more hours of child care than I do, means that it genuinely wouldn't be fair for me indulge in a hobby while she doesn't get any downtime. It's a difficult balance to get right at this stage. But don't get me wrong, being a parent was a choice, and I expected to make sacrifices, and given how bloody amazing my son is I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Once Kurt is toddling, can hold a spanner without wanting to drum it off the nearest object, and can appreciate the concept of "Helping daddy", then I'll be able to take him down to the garage and we can do some very basic stuff together.

 

Agree with everything you've said. I've been the same with my kids each time, but......

 

She needs time for herself, as does you, otherwise there is a good chance of grumpiness and resentment creeping in.

 

And that's not me saying you don't love your kids - I bend over backwards to spend as much time with mine as I can. What I'm getting at is you need a balance - just like everything in life.

 

 

Anyhow - back on topic:

 

Who's with me that this is clearly a photoshop and the garage actually contains nothing other than an old exercise trampoline and a half box of stella.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Yeah I agree. We need a photo of you standing next to it holding a carrot.

[GilesW 41]

Custard photo.

[2-Pugs 57]

Or a tin of custard on the bonnet ;-)

 

I can concur with your sentiments GLP. I was in the same position, only we got the surprise of our life when the first scan revealed not one, but two!

 

I took my car off the road for the best part of 2 years and more or less forgot about it.

 

It's changed a lot now though. They're almost 3 and significantly easier, and I've got some life back. They come to the garage with me some times to see 'Daddys old car' and love nothing more than 'helping' by picking up spanners and sitting inside, turning the hazards on and getting footprints on the seats.

 

One thing we do, to aid our sanity, is that we both finish work at lunchtime on a friday, but we leave them in childcare till the usual time of 5 o'clock. Granted we have to pay for it, but that's my time to go to the garage, and my wife's time to go for a swim and do some shopping. Or whatever else we want to do before the onslaught of the weekend hits us !

 

Still, I agree with another of your sentiments. I wouldn't change having kids - even twins - for anything, and if I really had to ,the car and other hobbies would go. Luckily I am not there yet and hope never to be :-)

 

I would say don't look upon the fact that you have abandoned your car. It's just sat there patiently waiting for you to pick back up when you are ready :-)

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

Is it just me or are white GTi's fetching more than other colours already? I must admit, the phase 2 white ones are stunning to look at. Good shout keeping it in the garage for when you're feeling reinvigorated.

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

I can see me having to do this to my car in the not too distant future, really fighting it by trying to save as much as I can but if things go the way I see them going I'll be a single parent to my kids as I'm fighting for custody and winning. So might have to go part time etc. And will be skint. Luckily my mates have a huge unit to store it if worst comes to worst as mine are 5 and 2 so won't be long till both are a decent age and at school.

 

That's a good price for recovery lol I couldn't beat that like.

 

Just shows how much 205's mean to everyone, that they don't just flog them when money gets tight

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

I know the feeling.

I have a little one of 14 months,

I've driven my 205 about 250 miles since she was born.

It is road worthy, MOT'd ready to go. last summer holiday I managed to redo the copper brake lines.

That's about all.

The seat doesn't fit in the back and even if it did the buggy doesn't fit.

So I need to compromise my other hobbies even to get to drive the car!

 

The E91 is so quiet and refined and quite quick for a barge - but doesn't meet the noise / fun of the GTI.

 

Get on with it!

[GLPoomobile 958]

Yeah I agree. We need a photo of you standing next to it holding a carrot.

 

 

Custard photo.

 

 

Or a tin of custard on the bonnet ;-)

 

So just to confirm, you guys want me to take a picture of myself, naked, bent over the bonnet, carrot up the arse, tickle tackle dangling in a tin of custard? I think I should be able to do that. Will post tomorrow.

 

Just to elaborate on the parenting stuff (I know it's boring, but indulge me), I do expect things to get easier as I said earlier. My wife pretty much adopted Attachment Parenting from the start, and she knows she needs to cut the apron strings a little and make more time for herself (and I've told her so), but she finds it difficult to back off. She just enjoys being a mother so much, and it's all she's wanted for so long. And Kurt is absolutely thriving as a result. But he is also a very big character for 7 months and can be very demanding. When you've got Colic, then teething, then a cold, then another cold, then another cold, and then his 4th cold in as many months, plus more teething throughout, plus the difficulties of establishing a sleep routine, etc etc, every day is busy, every day is filled, and every day can be a battle. So right now, it's hard to see a time when I'll be able to relax and indulge myself, because right now this is all I know. But I know that it will get easier and we will both get some personal time back eventually.

 

In fact I was thinking about it earlier, and I don't see any reason why I couldn't get the odd hour in here and there in an evening during the warmer months. The wee man is settled by about 8pm and as he sleeps in our bed (I know I know, don't get me started on that. I refer you to the previous comment about sleep routines), and SWMBO is in bed reading from then onwards too. So providing I've done my homework and washed behind my ears a little bit of play time should be possible.

Edited March 19, 2014 by GLPoomobile

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Kurt is absolutely thriving as a result. But he is also a very big character for 7 months and can be very demanding. When you've got Colic, then teething, then a cold, then another cold, then another cold, and then his 4th cold in as many months, plus more teething throughout, plus the difficulties of establishing a sleep routine, etc etc, every day is busy, every day is filled, and every day can be a battle. So right now, it's hard to see a time when I'll be able to relax and indulge myself, because right now this is all I know. But I know that it will get easier and we will both get some personal time back eventually.

 

Yep, been there done that - add the noro virus taking down the whole family and requiring visits to A&E! I manage at best an hour a week on the cars/garage and often not even that but that time is a great reminder of what is to come when they get a bit older (I have a 22 month old boy and a 5 month old girl).

 

Having Samuel "helping" me mow the lawn the other day was also a reminder that you can sometimes get stuff done while looking after the kids and am looking foward to when they are a bit older so can "help" with the car (that is without using that spanners as drumsticks!).

[mowflow 67]

I'm sorry, I never realised i'd clicked a link into mumsnet.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Off you trot then. Door's that way ---->

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Do the Grandparents live local Steve? I find a day at Nan and Grandads frees up a nice bit of 205 time

 

 

Now wheres this photo you promised?

[mowflow 67]

Off you trot then. Door's that way ---->

 

Sorry, is it the wrong time of the month for such comments?

 

We've got 2 kids aged 3.5 years and 1.5 years. They are a pair of mentalists and I can't remember their ever being a night where at least one of them didn't scream murder n the middle of the night.

 

Before kids I was out training nearly every night of the week and away either snowboarding or surfing almost every weekend. Sacked all that in to deal with my share of the responsibilities. My wife doesn't work but it's bloody hard work looking after our pair for any prolonged period of time so i make sure she gets a break and always gets a long lye every Saturday. I trade my long lye for a few hours in the garage or doing whatever on a Sunday.

 

Kids are a great joy and I wouldn't trade these early years for anything. But all work and no play will drive a man insane.

[GLPoomobile 958]

So, apologies for the diversion in to Mumsnet territory. Let's resume normal service.....

 

Was a bit taken aback when I realised the other day that I've owned this 205 for nearly 7 years (next month). Didn't realise it had been so long! That's way longer than I've ever owned any other car.

 

I don't seem to have a record of the mileage when I bought it, which has annoyed me, but think it was around the 131k mark. It's now on 139k. So ~8k miles over 7 years. TBH that's more than I expected as it's never spent much time on the road.

 

Been thinking about what small tasks I can do, with small amounts of available time, and will probably start on stripping out the interior. I was going to remove the wing mirrors whilst it's in the garage so restoring them is a nice easy job that I can do indoors, and I might even have a look at tackling an idea I had years ago (think someone, probably Craig knowing what he's like, has also since mentioned doing this) to try and transfer a motor from some electrically adjustable mirrors in to the GTI mirror shells, and also fit heated glass. But I don;t want to get ahead of myself yet

 

Also had my first very brief chat with my new next door neighbour, and I suspect he may work in the motor trade. I know he has a track car and he mentioned he goes to Knockhill. So I think we'll get on, and he could prove useful

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Worth going and testing a few odds and ends. Mine has been laid up (in a garage) about 18 months now and the drivers electric window has now decided it doesn't want to play ball...one more thing for the list.

[GLPoomobile 958]

TBH Rob, I don't intend putting it back on the road until I've gone through it all and made sure I'm happy with everything, and that's going to be a few years away, mainly due to cost. I spent a lot of time and money refreshing certain areas a few years ago, but I just never felt happy with it.

 

Part of it is due to me growing up, but I really started to feel before I took it off the road in 2010 that it was just too uncivilised. Mainly due to noise. I've had a mild steel Group N exhaust on an 8v before and it was bearable, but the SS Group N exhaust on the Mi16 is just stupid. It needs an extra box. And I want to work on improving the sound proofing in the car.

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

If you need a hand with anything or needs to borrow tools give me a shout got a workshop full of em