View Full Version : Hi from an Aussie currently living in Autobahn land.
Hi all,
I'm Taz, originally from Sydney but have recently moved to Germany from the UK a few weeks ago and i'll be living here for roughly a year. I was previously living in the UK for about 2 years.
Here's the low down...
Name: Taz
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Golf Model: MKIV GTI
How I found VWgolf: JDMST/Word of mouth
I like to take photos: http://flickr.com/tazphoto
What brings me here?
After looking at a few cars including some base model 5 door 1.6L auto Golf MKIV's and V's (the wife wanted an AUTO, preferably 5 door) and realising that...
A) I am in GERMANY = AUTOBAHN / Nurburgring
AND
B) This is EUROPE = Less than 10% of cars here are AUTO unless you want a big sedan or kombi (station wagon)
After a bunch of overpriced and uninteresting cars and encountering one too many shady dealers, I saw a one owner MKIV GTI with full service history with all the options, sunroof, etc. in excellent condition at a Volkswagen dealership.
After a test drive it was clear the car felt solid and still tight and could manage daily duties, some Autobahn Vmax runs and a few trips to the Nurburgring :cool:
RESULT! I did the deal, after seeing the price of a new MK6 GTI optioned to the hilt sitting on the showroom floor @ €39,000+ :eek: I felt much better with parting with the cash to buy the MKIV...!
It's a 2 door Manual LOL, which isn't exactly on brief, but it does have back seats! So now I need to teach my wife how to drive it :lol:
This is my previous car before I left Oz
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3947841706_3d3d990db5_o.jpg
And this is the car I bought in Oz when I last visited in December to drive around in. A JDM import Eunos Roadster 'S Special' that is starting to collect some mods even though I am on the other side of the world.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4187228786_c2be14b444_o.jpg
I pick the GTI up on Tuesday afternoon.
It's my first Volkswagen, can't wait.
Taz!!! Glad to see you on here!
Congrats on your MK6 GTI! Tis a great car, what colour did you get?
Frenchie
21-03-2010, 03:26 PM
Congrats and welcome Taz
Also checked out your flick'er alot of nice shots, you also have the''eye'' :)
Thanks guys,
It's a MKIV GTI
It's dark blue metallic.
Here's a crappy pic from the for sale ad, will be sure to take some better pics when I pick her up!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb287/Taz_79/gti1.jpg
Welcome, Taz.
It will be good to have you as a Euro correspondent. :)
I suppose it will be especially good if you can find some nice mods to buy from your AUD and to bring home for future VWs. ;)
I will be very interested in your reports on the great German driving roads. Forget the autobahn, dish the reports on the great 'ring' roads!
One question, considering your decent car purchase history and your experience with imports: do you intend to bring the GTI or perhaps another underpriced (aka verpriced in Oz) car home?
For example, when I was last in Oireland, there were some German cars in vast supply and were relatively cheap compared to Oz - such as Merc CLS.
Just interested if this is an option for you. Nice NA MX5, btw!
Cheers,
Bizi (I just installed my inpro mirror caps from tmtuning this arvo. :))
Welcome, Taz.
It will be good to have you as a Euro correspondent. :)
I suppose it will be especially good if you can find some nice mods to buy from your AUD and to bring home for future VWs. ;)
I will be very interested in your reports on the great German driving roads. Forget the autobahn, dish the reports on the great 'ring' roads!
One question, considering your decent car purchase history and your experience with imports: do you intend to bring the GTI or perhaps another underpriced (aka verpriced in Oz) car home?
For example, when I was last in Oireland, there were some German cars in vast supply and were relatively cheap compared to Oz - such as Merc CLS.
Just interested if this is an option for you. Nice NA MX5, btw!
Cheers,
Bizi (I just installed my inpro mirror caps from tmtuning this arvo. :))
Thanks,
In terms of bringing something over, I could have when I was in the UK since it's RHD there. The cars on average are at least 40% cheaper in the UK than they are in Australia, this includes German cars and Japanese imports due to their relaxed import laws and the large and flooded used car market.
The GFC and the car scrappage scheme (getting £4,000 for an old banger when trading in for a new car) has also contributed to very cheap cars.
I was actually planning on bringing something over, even a JDM import NA MX5 a while back but found the black one locally in Sydney so bought that instead. I had originally planned on bringing over a late S1 Elise or early S2 Elise but decided against it since driving one on the track - getting in and out of it and picking up groceries in it would have proved a struggle LOL.
In Germany since it's all LHD it's difficult to bring much back to Australia, the cost of cars here are quite expensive compared to the UK and not much lower than Australia so with import taxes and freight it's not economically beneficial to do so IMHO.
I went to the Nurburgring in June of last year and it was amazing, my first taste of Germany and the 'ring was every bit like I was expecting from reading about it in magazines and online. Disguised test cars and all!
I posted my experiences on JDMST but can put my write up on here for the VW folks if there is a demand.
The roads around the 'ring itself are amazing too, the countryside is truly beautiful and very quiet.
I am looking forward to finding the Vmax of my new car legally on the Autobahn!
The increased legislation and clamp down on speed/modified cars in Oz is very different to the approach to intensive driver training and a safe, fast highway system here in Germany.
PS. I was very close to buying a 2.0 TFSI DSG Jetta or MKV Golf GTI before buying the 350z, nice cars. The blue colour is really nice on the Jetta.
The roads around the 'ring itself are amazing too, the countryside is truly beautiful and very quiet.
I am looking forward to finding the Vmax of my new car legally on the Autobahn!
The increased legislation and clamp down on speed/modified cars in Oz is very different to the approach to intensive driver training and a safe, fast highway system here in Germany.
PS. I was very close to buying a 2.0 TFSI DSG Jetta or MKV Golf GTI before buying the 350z, nice cars. The blue colour is really nice on the Jetta.
OMG, Taz.
I'm so jealous.
Welcome.
Justin Fox
22-03-2010, 10:46 AM
Hey Taz! :) 3 door FTW!
Very jealous Taz, make sure you make the most of your easy access to the Nordschleife!
Cheers
Liam
Very jealous Taz, make sure you make the most of your easy access to the Nordschleife!
Cheers
Liam
Thanks,
Yes I am planning on checking out the 'Green hell' again, this time in my GTI. Also want to drive the newly upgraded GP track.
I've been a bit busy lately sorting out stuff but finally have a proper internet connection again.
Hopefully can take some pics of the car in the next couple of weeks when the weather is better and I am back from an Easter break in Budapest.
Welcome Taz!
Nice to have you on the forum.
Well my first trip didn't go so well when the waterpump decided to die and my car overheated in a major traffic jam just 30klms into my 360klm journey.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb287/Taz_79/golfphoto.jpg
The result was a blown head gasket.
Luckily the car is covered under VW warranty so they picked up me and gave me a hire car while the car was getting fixed.
I managed to make it to Essen for Techno Classica. (http://www.vwgolf.net.au/showthread.php?666-Techno-Classica-Germany-2010-%28Classic-cars%29)
5 weeks later and after I had come back from a 3 week holiday travelling to London (http://tazali.tumblr.com/post/669290325/london), Paris (http://tazali.tumblr.com/post/669308474/paris), Granada (http://tazali.tumblr.com/post/669328668/spain), Rome (http://tazali.tumblr.com/post/669368381/rome) and the Amalfi Coast (http://tazali.tumblr.com/post/669555238/amalfi1) I took it for a bit of a drive and she started without issues and all was fine.
A few days later I was driving around slowly looking for parking for about 30mins (There are no parking spots left in my street if you try in the mornings) and the water temp was at max. WTF!
After another tow and a visit to the local VW dealer and many checks trying to duplicate the issue they traced a separate issue.
A small electrical fire in the main engine fuse box.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb287/Taz_79/30601_1463610107267_1143908164_3133.jpg
Man, I am not having much luck with my first German car.
My last car in the UK was Italian and surprisingly trouble free.
Thank heavens I bought it with warranty.
Truthfully, this does not make me feel warm and fuzzy about my GTI at all.
Hopefully it survives the trip to Essen the 2nd time around for when I head past there on the way to the Nurburgring later this month.
I hope you can all cross your fingers and toes that this car doesn't break down again!
Sorry to hear about your issues Taz. Maybe that's karma for being in Europe when we're not, haha. Hopefully it's all good from now on.
Overheating and a blown HG - that's very tough luck with your GTI. As the first of two major mechanical reliability incidents.
Let's hope that the people looking after your car are fully aware of your disastrous experience and can check all of the car's systems carefully for the next likely breakages and to replace/service anything which is likely to go next.
With your luck, I'd have asked them to check the timing belt.
Third time's a charm - or get VW to promise you a long term replacement if you have another breakdown.
Best of luck and thanks for the reports!
That's bad luck! How are those auto barns?
Thanks guys,
They had already gotten to work on the head gasket before I could tell them about the timing belt since it was at a workshop in the middle of nowhere they had to get the job done quickly to get their hire car back.
Let's hope it holds together, but not the best introduction to VW land.
It hasn't done many klms less than 75,000 but I guess I must be unlucky.
The water pump is a common issue and a poor design, a plastic impellor on a metal shaft. Mine had separated from the shaft.
The Autobahn is pretty good, once the head gasket was worn in I could take it above 100km/hr again.
I have done 220km/hr on the unrestricted parts so far.
mrbrossnan
16-06-2010, 09:58 PM
welcome Taz! so what happened to the Z ? did u sell it before goin to Europe?
220Kms is insane man, compared to AU speed standards on public roads. Envious. Enjoy your stay in DE.
welcome Taz! so what happened to the Z ? did u sell it before goin to Europe?
Thanks, yes I sold it before I left. Well actually it sold not long after I arrived in the UK.
The Autobahn is great, wide and smooth and the unrestricted parts are very good stretches of road where it is safe to do 160+km/hr.
Right, so the car has successfully made the 4.5 hour trip to Essen. (Last time it broke down 30klms into the same 360klm journey)
Off to the Nurburgring in the morning!
Off to the Nurburgring in the morning!
Have FUN!!
Islos
26-06-2010, 05:06 PM
Right, so the car has successfully made the 4.5 hour trip to Essen. (Last time it broke down 30klms into the same 360klm journey)
Off to the Nurburgring in the morning!
Taz seems a bit of a supprize but cars can be a little pain full at times...
but welcome and have a ball in Nurburgring...
post some pics...
Taz seems a bit of a supprize but cars can be a little pain full at times...
but welcome and have a ball in Nurburgring...
post some pics...
True, I am liking my new old Gti more now since it didn't let me down the whole trip unlike last time. I am working on my pics and will upload some soon!
Back in Australia now for the last year.
Have recently sold the little Roadster.
Not sure what came over me, despite my previous VW woes I just had this delivered to me :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/7a6aa8ed-f5ce-602a.jpg
WELCOME HOME! im sure you missed australia - cept for the speed limits
nice new ride, needs LOW!
Returning from the IKEA carpark I couldn't help taking a quick snap with my phone despite having a handful of items :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/c094756b-0408-e3ea.jpg
You saucy minx.
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