Re: Trip to Mexico Report (no Audi, some VW content)

[George Harrison <georgeh@iol.ie>]

Tom Nas wrote:
> 
> Rob Winchell <rbw@avs.com> wrote:
> 
> > There was VW that seemed to be
> >quite popular called the "Derby". It looked like a baby-Passat and looked
> >like a new model in the last couple years.
> 
> We used to have a Polo sedan called 'Derby' here- it lasted from 1976 to
> 1982(?) and was called 'Polo Classic' after that. It never became a huge
> hit (small cars are supposed to be hatchbacks here), and Derbys are quite
> rare nowadays. I came close to owning a 1977 example (asking price $150) as
> my first car, in fact. The deal fell through when some unexpected large
> 'ventilation apertures' in the metalwork were discovered.

A Derby?  I didn't think anyone knew about those things!  I hate to
admit it but I've got one sitting on my driveway for the last 3 years
now. It was known as the 'Formel E'...had a four speed box with 1st,
2nd, 3rd and 'economy'. Sure, it was economical, 75 mpg, but I reckon
you would walk faster. It now has it's own pleasant form of air-con (in
various places around the body).  My sister bought it new in 1980 and
stopped using it nearly 4 years ago.  I started it up a few months
ago...what a disaster...smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe, water
pump failed immediately, fixed that then the alternator belt broke,
fixed that and started it up again, more smoke from exhaust then oil
pressure warning light came on!  Put in fresh oil and oil filter but
warning light still came on once it warmed up a bit and still smoked. 
This was all before I even put the damn thing in gear!  Took the keys
out and washed hands.  It's still sitting there!
I asked someone what they reckoned I'd get if I sold it.......their
reply was "six months"


George Harrison
'85 ur-q
'86 80 Sport