Name: Ian Cushway
Job: Editor
Drives: AmD tweaked A6 1.9TDi Avant

What’s occurring?

After all that faffing around last month swapping wheels I’ve now had some super sexy Dunlop WinterSport 4D winter rubbers fitted (see page 76-77). So far I am very impressed with their leach-like grip in the wet – as long as they don’t lure me into a false sense of security when it really gets really slippy. Despite being painfully aware of the plenum chamber flooding issue with the A6 I still had the nasty discovery of a wet passenger side carpet the other morning. Yes, the chamber’s drain holes were blocked – again – but fingers crossed I’ve acted quickly enough to avoid the shorting out problems I had this time last year

Name: Sarah Harrington-James
Job: Regular freelance contributor
Drives: 2001 modded Lupo GTI named Kojak

What’s occurring?

It’s been a quiet month VDub-wise for me. Saying that though, a drive to Surrey one Saturday morning paid dividends; I met up with Dale Spiers from Martins VW of Farnham (and a previous Lupo GTI owner too) who confirmed that the pesky wind noise on my car was due to the driver’s door window not being refitted properly after the car’s respray. Apparently the glass probably isn’t sitting on its runners perfectly inside the door - this’ll be another weekend DiY job soon!

Name: Steve Cresswell
Job: Brain
Drives: Octavia vRS, Polo GTi, Mk2 16v, Mk1 GTI, ‘72 Beetle

What’s occurring?

It seems that these Corrados just keep coming as I have four in at the moment. One has just been dropped off by its current owner for a huge list of work but I know the car as I worked on it years ago for the previous owner  who then sold it after a very nasty motorbike accident. A Lupo GTI I have had in for a while is causing me trouble with a replacement engine that lasted 16 miles and dropped a valve and the replacement for it is exhibiting the same noise. Looks like we will be sending it back again!

Name: John-Joe Vollans (JJ)
Job: Regular contributor
Drives: Mk2 Golf 16v GTI (track car)

What’s occurring?

It’s amazing how things can move along with a project once you have a straight shell. Working my way from the back I have now totally stripped the cabin, fitted an OMP rear upper and lower strut brace, GAZ Gold coilovers, smoked 16v tail lights and a very tidy rear small red stripe GTI bumper. Up front I now have a GTI steering rack and full polyurethane bushed subframe. I even found time to replace all the gear linkage bushes and washers. Keep an eye on the project pages in the near future...

Name: Phil Weeden
Job: Editorial Director
Drives: Mk2 GTI
What’s occurring?

The GTI has been in for its MoT, so that can only mean that I’ve now had the Mk2 for a year now. Where did that 12 months go? Still loving it though, but must sort those new tyres out next...

Name: James Wallace
Job: Raving freelance contributor
Drives: B4 Passat Estate / Mk1 Golf / Mk3 Golf 16v

What’s occurring?

Been out and about overseas this month and also paid a few trips to Brands Hatch for some demo laps in a 1.8T powered Dax Rush kit car. Any spare time has been spent sound deadening the red Passat ready for a decent stereo install and something to show off the air ride in the boot.

Name: Chris Hope
Job: Products Editor
Drives: Facelift Mk4 Polo 99N3)

What’s occurring? It’s been about three months since the Polo has been treated to a proper clean (and it’s been off road in the Lake District in that time) so, I decided to give it a decent clean, wash, polish, wax, the works. Nothing more satisfying than a gleaming motor!