Sold

Time has come to move the Caddy on. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it - but I have urges to move on to something else, something a little larger, with a few more seats. I've also reached the point where if I was to start upgrading more bits (stereo etc.) it would start costing me more and more, and I'd rather put that in to the next project.

Simply scroll back thru the blog for history and more pics

So here goes, a quick 'for sale' ad:

2009 59-plate Caddy 1.9 TDI.
35,500 miles (rising by roughly 250 per week)
MOT until Sept 2013
Taxed until end of Feb 2013
Raven Blue
Regularly serviced by Aire Valley Workshop in Skipton.

Exterior:
Colour coded bumpers
Sliding door rail, supplied, painted and fitted by Reflex Auto Design
Rear spoiler (not VAG), prep'd, painted and fitted by Reflex Auto Design
Sump guard supplied and fitted by Reflex Auto Design
Yellow/gold tint headlights (I'm not a fan of these and never got around to changing them - they did go thru the MOT okay tho')
Clear side repeaters
Heko wind deflectors
Seat Leon Cupra front splitter
Genuine VAG mudflaps
UK Legal pressed metal plates

Interior:
Sound proofed and insulated
Fully carpet lined inside by Mark at MegaVanMats
New Caddy Life rear roof section
Ply rear floor
Audi TT half leather seats - super-comfy
Dashboard cubby-hole upgrade
MegaVanMats carpet mats
Genuine VAG rubber mats
Light smoke tint to side windows
Standard VW Radio/CD/MP3 head unit and speakers.

Chassis:
Lowered using V-Maxx coilovers and rear hangers
Bilstein rear shocks
Reflex Auto Design centralising plates fitted
I'll also supply the standard front struts, rear hangers and shackles should you want to return to stock.

Engine:
Stock with the addition of an Audi engine cover.
The sump guard helps to keep the engine clean and tidy. The engine is spotless.

Wheels:
Choice of either genuine VW Phaeton Helios wheels (refurb'd to high spec 12 months ago, almost spotless) running on Falken FK452 235/35/19 or stock VW steels.

Asking price:
£9,250 on Helios wheels (with steels supplied)
£7,750 on steel wheels only
Privately owned, no VAT to add.

Now sold. Thanks for looking.

No part ex's or swaps unless you've got a totally sorted Passat estate TDI of a similar age.

The Caddy has wanted for nothing and has been totally reliable. It sailed through first MOT.
Good points: Raven Blue - a much sought-after colour, it's already lowered and the suspension has been tweaked and refined to get it 'just right'. There's still scope for you to make your own mark on the inside. Everything works; every switch, button and dial. I also have contact details of the two previous owners should you wish to trace the van's history. It's a low-mileage Caddy that hasn't worked hard for a living, spending most of it's life empty!
Bad points: the front bumper and bonnet could benefit from a tidy up due to stone-chips. It's not a perfect show-pony, just a good, clean, honest daily-driver. And that's it.

Want to turn heads in 2013? Do it in this Caddy! Thanks for looking.

To express an interest, make an offer, arrange a viewing or ask further questions, please drop me an email: rpcreative@hotmail.com

I'm based in Leeds during office hours or Skipton at evenings and weekends.

Raising the roof

After what seemed like a long wait, the roof panel from Germany is finally in. Ordered through Mark at MegaVanMats, I left the van with him for a series of lining sessions that he fit in 'as-and-when' around his busy business.

Here's the results of the hard work and waiting:

The material is almost a perfect match for the standard cab headlining and joins pretty seamlessly. The four recessed panels mirror the panels of the van's walls perfectly keeping everything looking nice and symmetrical.

A slight adjustment was made by trimming the rear of the roof so it didn't wrap around all the way to the rear door rubber - I preferred the look of having the rear aperture carpeted all the way around.

Whilst the van was in at MVM, Mark also made up a set of footwell mats:

I'm fairly sure he does a range of colours and alternate edging colours. These have proven to be pretty good; well-shaped, hard-wearing, and fit directly to the standard VW mounts.

Just the floor to sort now. Or might that be a second row of seats...?

Putting on a show

With the T5 camper in for some bodywork, we have a free weekend and a local show, Dubs In't Dales, pretty much on our doorstep.

Time to give the Caddy a quick clean and venture onto the show'n'shine field:

The show scene can be a fickle place; we sat and listened to comments, positive and negative, that ranged from 'awesome bit of kit' to 'it's just a new van with some wheels on it'. Well, as the saying goes; 'haters gonna hate', I know how much blood, sweat and tears have gone into getting 'my' van the way 'I' want it.

And hey-presto:

Same again next year? Hopefully the show will be bigger, better and busier. Maybe with a few more Caddys there?

Front splitter

So the Caddy is looking much better after last weeks lowering - but I'd love to go lower. Practicality and an empty wallet stop me from going any further though. But there are some visual tricks to make the van appear a little lower to the ground - one of these is by adding a front splitter.

Part of the appeal of modifying vehicles from the VAG family is that every now and then you'll find a part from another vehicle that suits yours perfectly. One of these parts is the front splitter from Seat's Leon Cupra R - part number 1ML 805 903 if you're interested.

An extra horizontal line at the front draws your eye nearer to the ground

Just brushing the green stuff

The sill line is now followed around to the front of the vehicle

Only a small part but it makes such a difference visually.

One word of note: please don't go on eBay and buy from someone selling a 'brand new, still in the wrapper, RARE!' front splitter - they're not rare! Phone your local TPS or Seat Dealer and order one from them and hopefully you'll get one for a sensible (and not over-inflated) price.

Lowering tweaks

Finally, a free morning to get the rear shocks changed for something a little stiffer, drop the rear a couple of notches on the hangers, and then adjust the front coils to suit.

There's just a small matter of re-centering the rear wheels and we're done. Here's the results:

Much better I'm sure you'll agree.

Big thanks must go to the talented JC at JC Motors for taking his time to get that 'just right' stance.

Rear lining - a sneak peek

Just a quick post to show the progress to-date on the rear lining that's been taking place this week.

As much as I'd love to take credit for this part of the van's transformation, the applause must go to Mark at MegaVanMats.

More pics to follow this weekend.