VASK Forum (VW Audi SportKlub of NZ)

GENERAL => General Discussion => Topic started by: Audidude on November 06, 2017, 07:32:02 PM

Title: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Audidude on November 06, 2017, 07:32:02 PM
My trusty old Amarok (well 2 year old one) burnt to death last week.

Seems some very busy starlings had built a nest in the engine bay while it was parked for several days in the open, as many utes are. I'm in a rural setting.

It ignited after a 17km drive home in the evening and despite emptying 3 extinguishers (1 medium size, 2 small) into the bay through the popped (not propped) bonnet, I failed to extinguish the furnace that raged inside. Then spent the next 20 minutes with a hose while waiting for the Fireys to arrive and finally put it out. Prevented the tyres from going up and any spread beyond the firewall. And purely fortuitously was parked several meters from house and shed (full of cars).

A well known rural issue but usually farm machinery not road vehicles, although it's not unknown.

It was scary - on my own in the dark, not knowing if it was going to.......

Message: check your engine bay if you park in the country in nesting time - starlings can build a big nest in about an hour, according to one fireman!!

Well insured fortunately - awaiting finalisation of claim.

In need of a good tow vehicle with huge load space for race car tow/service I went hunting.

After looking at a Skoda Superb (superb!), and driving a Passat AllTrack (very nice) - both of which were fit for purpose except with DSG (views on towing heavy stuff with that please), and a Hyundai Santa Fe (nice but only 2000kg tow - OK but should do better), I have settled on a Touareg.

The Touareg is on run-out now, new ones have dropped 10K, it's the last of a great model line, so good time to pick up a well sorted one, you'd think, and don't like the idea of waiting till next year for a bug prone newbie, despite how well specced it might be.

Impressions after a weekend test - far more impressed than I expected to be. Sluggish with 2.2T and 150/450 kw/nm, but adequate for task - hey I'm not looking for a hotshoe! A remap would make a BIG difference (180/560).

So having been devastated at the loss of a vehicle I really really liked (although was having increasing difficulty loading/unloading the high deck, and climbing in and out due to some arthritis), the new kid looks better fit for purpose with a lower deck, great load capacity with back seats down, and will tow my 1500-1800kg rig with ease.

The Touareg is 7 months old with 13,000kms, and in as new condition.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: le mans on November 06, 2017, 08:40:40 PM
Bloody hell Greg, that would have been quite an experience. Glad to hear no one was hurt and there was no collateral damage. Sounds like the new steed is well up to task.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Trofeo on November 06, 2017, 09:43:32 PM
Hell that was a lucky escape by the sound of it!

Did you look at the old shape discoveries by chance? I've got a couple of mates that picked them up on run out and they rave about them. One even traded his toureg for it.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Audidude on November 06, 2017, 09:56:31 PM
Quote from: Trofeo on November 06, 2017, 09:43:32 PM
Hell that was a lucky escape by the sound of it!

Did you look at the old shape discoveries by chance? I've got a couple of mates that picked them up on run out and they rave about them. One even traded his toureg for it.

No. I did a quick look on Trademe at Defender, but none there. Didn't consider Discovery. Have a deep ingrained distrust of Land Rover reliability. Might be not true now....
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: dummer on November 07, 2017, 09:01:31 AM
reliability on disco 4 has improved :-X
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: RobClubley on November 07, 2017, 09:46:00 AM
Wow, not good! Lucky it was away from the buildings.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: schattenblau on November 07, 2017, 10:50:11 AM
Ad;

glad to read you had things under control.

had a similar experience with those damn birds' nests years ago.
it didn't get to fireball stage but did enough damage under the hood of a diesel truck to melt the stop cable, the only way to turn the truck off was to intentionally stall it.

pre-internet days it took about a month to get a replacement fitted.

another amarok ?
maybe a v6 ?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/volkswagen/auction-1457060364.htm

Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Trofeo on November 07, 2017, 04:11:49 PM
Quote from: Audidude on November 06, 2017, 09:56:31 PM
No. I did a quick look on Trademe at Defender, but none there. Didn't consider Discovery. Have a deep ingrained distrust of Land Rover reliability. Might be not true now....
yeah I used to feel that way also. Sounds like they're much better these days. I'm sure you'll be happy with the Toureg once tuned.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Audidude on November 13, 2017, 04:18:03 PM
Took delivery Saturday afternoon, after confirmation of insurance settlement on Amarok.

Impressions so far:
Quiet luxury cruiser, with creature comfort ++, awesome sound system (Dynaudio), and having towed the race car home from a mate's car, brilliant tow vehicle .
And if fits under the car on the hoist which the 'Rok didn't, so will have better garaging away from foraging starlings!!!

Love it.

(https://www.vask.org.nz/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff248%2Faudidude%2FVASK%2FIMG_20171112_162303_zpsml8gqks1.jpg&hash=0197617d313dc2313a5f648f506e6e8c7c97210e)
(https://www.vask.org.nz/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff248%2Faudidude%2FVASK%2FIMG_20171112_162321_zpskrkjl7bv.jpg&hash=8915d4767f8aa8566f46b213dab8ad2a84eedb29)
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: FFS on November 13, 2017, 09:06:24 PM
Very nice, Greg!
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: GLIDN on November 15, 2017, 05:03:34 PM
awesome Greg,

But I see space for one more Integra in there.
Title: Re: Out of the ashes a Phoenix rises
Post by: Audidude on November 16, 2017, 05:42:11 PM
Quote from: GLIDN on November 15, 2017, 05:03:34 PM
awesome Greg,

But I see space for one more Integra in there.

Don't think so - two there, plus urq and Touareg ... 3bays and hoist - maybe a 1:18 model?  ;D ;)