[Shotimes] Looking to rejoin the ranks: Q on first gear
power
Ian Fisher
dataflash@yahoo.com
Wed, 6 Jul 2005 07:33:07 -0700 (PDT)
As a former ATX owner and a current MTX owner, I have
always felt that the 3.2 in the ATX was stronger off
the line than the 3.0 in the MTX. (more torque) I
don't know for sure what you are feeling with this 92
but over email, that would be my guess. Hey, you could
always do a 3.2 swap! :)
If I had a better more reliable car such as a Passat,
I would consider supplementing it with an SHO but I'd
never replace a newer, lower mile car with an SHO. You
won't come out ahead. :)
Ian
93 mtx -3.2 any day now!
--- David Early <dearly@quallaby.com> wrote
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> First a little history:
>
>
>
> I am a former addict/owner of a SHO (white '95 ATX)
> that was totaled early
> in 2001 by some idiot in a Durango. At the time, I
> tried to buy a very
> nice, literally driven by a little old lady SHO
> locally, but the guy
> chickened out at the last moment on the sale (long
> story.another post).
> Everything else locally was garbage. Ended up
> buying a 99 MTX Passat.not a
> bad car really, kinda fun to drive but not quite in
> the same way obviously.
>
>
>
> Anyway, on a whim last week I did a search on ebay
> and other places to see
> what a SHO would cost me, mileage on the cars, etc.
>
>
>
>
> Was surprised to find a red '92 MTX, black leather
> interior, just 20 minutes
> south of me with "only" 81k miles on it. Since the
> wife was out of town, I
> figured what the heck and went and looked at it.
>
>
>
> Very nice car, really, Outside is beautifully
> maintained (has a few chips
> here and there, but this is Colorado), inside needs
> a detail job and some
> leather treatment, but the leather isn't any worse
> off then my Passat ('99,
> 66k miles). Drives quite well and had meticulous
> records. This guy is the
> second owner, a DIY'er who showed a good general
> knowledge of cars and it
> showed in the three vehicles I saw.
>
>
>
> Which brings me to the question:
>
>
>
> Is there anything that would make the car feel
> "weak" in first gear?
>
>
>
> There wasn't any obvious hesitation or drop in power
> at low RPM, but the
> first gear power seemed a little lower off the line
> than I remembered. Now,
> this may be me not remembering the power curve
> properly, but it seems to me
> that my old ATX had a bit more poop off the line
> than this one did.
>
>
>
> Having driven an MTX for several years now, the
> clutch seemed firm,
> responsive and fast (no obvious slipping), and at
> higher gears the power
> seemed OK, but still not what I remember my first
> SHO having..better than my
> Passat, but maybe it is just me remembering the past
> in glowing terms.
>
>
>
> The car is no slouch, and had decent power.just
> seemed a bit weak off the
> line.
>
>
>
> A few things need to be done: the valve shims were
> never done, timing belt
> needs to be replaced, probably do the water pump at
> the same time plus all
> the sensors. The temp read just below the "M", but
> that temp sender could
> be weak. Front brakes need new pads.probably
> replace the stock rotors too
> but they had plenty of mass left. There is a
> noticeable slop of ~1" in the
> center of the steering (will check tie rod ends and
> do the pinch nut
> adjustment). Plugs and wires were done at 60k. Car
> has no obvious fluid
> leaks.
>
>
>
> So here are my thoughts: My current car is worth
> about $8.5k. I can get
> the SHO for $3k. I put $1.5k or so into obvious
> repairs/preventative stuff
> I do myself (timing belt, underdrive pulleys, valve
> lash adjustment, water
> pump, most seals and sensors, new brake
> rotors/pads), spring to have the
> interior detailed and replenish the leather (which
> really is in decent shape
> for its age) and re-pad the front seats. I bank
> about 3.5k after all is
> said and done.
>
>
>
> Over the next 5 years or so, I won't put a load of
> miles on the car (work
> from home.doing a whopping 450 miles a month), so I
> could probably sell the
> thing for $2500 at the end of that period.(can you
> tell I'm practicing my
> argument for purchasing?? Wife gets back tonight).
> The Passat, meantime,
> would probably loose $4k in value over the next 5
> years. And yes, the
> clutch will have to be done on the SHO in the next
> few years, but so will
> the Passat's clutch.price is (nearly) a wash.
>
>
>
> If I assume mostly equal repair/consumable costs,
> the best case is I come
> out about $1.5k ahead overall. Worst case I think
> is it would be about
> equal costs to own either car.
>
>
>
> Besides, it's a bright red MTX SHO! I could rejoin
> the ranks of SHO owners
> and enjoy the car for a few years.
>
>
>
> Any thoughts on the power issues.and whether I can
> convince the AWA to let
> me do it..
>
>
>
> Dave Early
>
> Lafayette, CO
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