Re: I can no longer drive my car the same

[TRedGLX@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/11/00 6:08:36 PM Central Daylight Time, 
achtungvr6@hotmail.com writes:

<< Quite so. I am perfectly in accord with you in these matters. I have known 
WAY too many snobs in Bimmers. Especially in college, when mom and dad  sent 
them off to school with a 328 or M3, and they would drive around as though 
they'd earned it. I, however, am interested in an M3 purely for motorsport 
value. 50/50 weight balance, superb tranny, and great engine. PLUS teutonic 
styling. >

Like I said in reply to another post, they're probably better than our GLX, 
but I don't care for them. 

< As for the satisfaction aspect, please don't misunderstand me. I  
understand the value of what I have, and the fact that we all need to be 
content with what God has placed in our lives. I'm not trying to sound like 
my VR6 is 'beneath' me. I love the car, but have always had it knowing that 
it would be replaced. It's a GREAT car in my opinion. Better than all others 
that I've owned. BUT it doesn't necessarily meet all of my expectations in an 
automobile. I just couldn't afford anything other than a three year old Jetta 
GLX at the time I bought it. >

My first VW was a 6 year old Jetta with 77k on it. I bought it from my 
brother, who drove it all over Europe, and the eastern seaboard of the US. I 
bought it because I loved the way it looked, drove, handled. It was a great 
car for me, and continues to be a great car for my daughter. I knew (know) 
there are much better cars out there, but that is what I wanted, and could 
afford. So I know what you mean.
     
<Regarding how much the noises bother me (and your suggested solution), I 
 HAVE indeed removed all the door panels and double or triple insulated and 
 checked all 'conflicting' surfaces. I have lined, layered, and lubed more 
 parts than I thought the car had. I've even removed parts of the seats, trim 
 (those pieces that I could figure out how to remove), etc in order to 
 isolate and eliminate the sounds. There's always something more, though. And 
 my radio doesn't mask all of this. Perhaps the persistence of the sounds is 
 part of my present frustration. The noises that bother me are not solely 
mechanical,    either. There is a constant whistle over the windshield, and 
the hum/buzz of road noise/wind noise is a little much to bear - I am one for 
LONG trips (say, 1600 miles in two days), and from a physiological standpoint 
(as with my experiences in Naval Aviation), noise can be just as fatiguing as 
lack of rest. >

Yep, VWs are noisy, always have been. So, just how many parts have you lubed? 
:)  I guess the noise just doesn't bug me. I've become used to it, or I can 
effectively block it out, I reckon. I do the long trip scene several times a 
year, but the biggest problem I have is needing to stop and walk a few 
minutes every so often, or my arthritic knees refuse to work.


 < I wanted to address these points IMMEDIATELY, because from your post, it 
 sounds as though you think I am one of those snobs, and that I have no 
 respect for what has been placed before me. That is not the case. I am not 
 one of these 'kids' who runs around 'fronting' (is that the right word?), 
 trying to 'pick up chicks' in my 'phat' ride. I am simply a young Christian 
 professional who happens to be an automotive enthusiast, with different 
 wants than my current vehicle addresses. If you have any doubt as to my 
 intentions in discussing future automotive ownership, please let me know. >>

Sorry if it read that way, I'm no Shakespeare, as you can tell (fronting? 
phat? I must be out of touch. Turning 40 will do that to you...) . 

That wasn't what I meant, sorry if you took it that way. I was making an 
(obviously tenuously worded) observation, that's all.

If you want a BMW, go ahead and get one. By all means, enjoy life. It's just 
that I have no use for them. I see myself aging into a Passat wagon, or 
similar. After all, 50 ain't so far away anymore....

David Steele
1998 JettaGLX TRed
1988 JettaGL White
1987 Jetta Marine Blue
northern IL / west TN rep.

VENOM Motorsports

http://www.venommotorsports.com