My temporary daily driver and workhorse for the next half year… A BX 16 TZI automatic… Or at least, that’s what it used to be before one of the previous owners put an 8-valve 1.9 GTi engine and manual gearbox in it. And upgraded the spheres to GTi spec as well. So basically, it’s a frankenstein GTi =)
And it’s only done a modest +/- 320.000 KM. But mechanically and hydraulically, it’s kept in a rather nice condition.
Ok… So why temporary, and why use a classic as a daily workhorse?
Well… In two days time, my Berlingo is going for it’s final judgement: A fresh M.O.T. followed by a temporary break, to do more work on it… Or in the worst case, a ticket to the scrapyard… In both cases, I’ll be without a workhorse for some time.
At the same time, I still have my BX 19 TRI catching dust in the carport. With only a handful, but still very uncomfortable problems… Which’ll be very costly to fix, but totally worth it!
So… coming back to this Frankenstein GTi here:
One of my best friends bought it earlier this year, with the idea of getting all the GTi fun, for a lot less than an original GTi would cost… Unfortonately, his garage then discovered that it also has one very costly problem… Which was deeply hidden rust…
The rear axle had completely rotten free from the chassis on one side.
This has been made "safe for work" with some temporary welding, to hold everything in place… Safe for now, but eventually still fatal for the car… To bring it back in it’s original condition would cost thousands of euro’s, which unfortunately, this BX isn’t worth… However… Everything that I need, to get my 19 TRI to drive like a dream once again, is mounted on this one… =) The seperate parts alone would cost me more than this entire BX has… And so you can see where this is going. As I’m either fixing up my Berlingo, or saving up to buy another Berlingo, I’ll be driving this until the M.O.T. runs out in December. And in December, I hope to have the Berlingo issue resolved, have a proper workhorse again, and then strip this baby down, to get my 19 TRI back on the road in full glory!
At least, if everything goes according to plan, that is…
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B+W Cir-Pol
Tonemapped
