The car of the week
Sustainability comes in different forms. It can also be: taking a long time with your stuff. And giving a car that is no longer underarm fresh a second life by carrying out a rigorous overhaul. That is why this Volkswagen Bora is quite special: more than six tons on the clock and just from the previous millennium.
Ask our experts
Post from Suzanne Timmermans from Epe. With the story of her Bora. Yes, it’s her Bora in the first place. Hubby has three BMW 3-series, more about that later. “In my circle of friends and acquaintances, two opinions compete for first place. The first camp says I should start driving a little younger, the second thinks it’s cool that I keep driving with a car that works fine, is just old and has a lot of miles. So I thought: I ask AutoWeek to take a critical look at whether what we are doing is responsible.” In addition, Suzanne believes that sustainability is not just about what fuel you put in your tank. “When I thought about getting rid of this car, I saw the Bora just driving on in another country. Or a car that still works fine, but is ground into pieces of scrap in the shredder. So you just throw away what still works well? Is that sustainable? I think it is a bit more nuanced.”
Test drive surprised
Suzanne is constantly talking about a 1999 car with more than six tons on the clock ‘that still drives fine’. But what does judge Joep Schuurman think of it? “I must say that the test drive surprised me in a positive way. At first I thought it would be another tough day, but the test drive was not disappointing at all.” Joep refers to a Bora from a while ago. Also a car with a nice story: the owner was being nagged to buy something new, but he preferred to put his money into setting up a children’s hospital in Africa. Beautiful of course, but that Bora was significantly less fresh than this brown rascal. What is also not disappointing: the neat appearance of this 23-year-old sedan. He is quite shiny. Suzanne: “He was hit from behind three times. My husband sees this as proof that I drive too slowly. But it really was always their fault,” laughs Suzanne. After another ram from behind, damage repair was necessary, but Suzanne’s husband Matthias, who used to be a car painter, thought the paint job was mediocre. “Then we made the decision together: we are going to tackle this car and freshen it up, so that we can enjoy it even longer.” The car was completely stripped in 2017 and then completely repainted. Suzanne was of course allowed to choose the color. “I knew Chestnut Brown from the Transporter and I thought it was a nice, special color, which was not available on the Bora in 1999. It could not be ordered.” Well, if you’re going to overspray… who has been a car painter, thought the paint job was mediocre. “Then we made the decision together: we are going to tackle this car and freshen it up, so that we can enjoy it even longer.” The car was completely stripped in 2017 and then completely repainted. Suzanne was of course allowed to choose the color. “I knew Chestnut Brown from the Transporter and I thought it was a nice, special color, which was not available on the Bora in 1999. It could not be ordered.” Well, if you’re going to overspray… who has been a car painter, thought the paint job was mediocre. “Then we made the decision together: we are going to tackle this car and freshen it up, so that we can enjoy it even longer.” The car was completely stripped in 2017 and then completely repainted. Suzanne was of course allowed to choose the color. “I knew Chestnut Brown from the Transporter and I thought it was a nice, special color, which was not available on the Bora in 1999. It could not be ordered.” Well, if you’re going to overspray… who was not on the Bora in 1999, that cannot be ordered.” Well, if you’re going to overspray… who was not on the Bora in 1999, that cannot be ordered.” Well, if you’re going to overspray…
Wild boar
The engine has also been addressed. Matthias turned it into a project. A younger donor Bora arrived, the engine of which was partly used for the XV-RG-52. The heart of this Volkswagen has therefore been on the operating table for a thorough, solid restart. With new piston rings, main bearings, connecting rod bearings and turbo, the Bora was given a nice kick-off to a second life. Suzanne works as a doctor in elderly care and therefore sometimes has to set out at night and during the day across a pitch-dark Veluwe. “I hit a wild boar twice. What a blow that was, terrible.” So she must be able to count on her car. Hence the thorough renovation.
What is also interesting: Matthias maintains the car himself; only for the MOT does the VW come into a professional garage. “Four new tires were needed last time, and the advice to replace the steering box. For the rest, he passed the inspection that way. The steering box showed an oil leak. No rejection yet, but we also wanted to get that right,” says Suzanne.
Unexpected result
Joep’s inspection is a rarity: his list is unexpectedly short. He always finds something, of course, but this time he is also pleasantly surprised. “I can’t write down what isn’t there,” says our Carrec inspector. So it will be a fairly rare good news show this day in Soesterberg. Suzanne is very happy that there is clarity about the path taken with this Bora. Son Michiel, in turn, is relieved that the Bora does not have to go. He is the one who wants to take over when he is 18. Silent power Matthias can be very proud of the work he has put into the Bora. And can continue to focus on his BMW 318 from 2001, the 330 from 2003 and the 325 Touring from 2008. In our opinion, the result of his efforts crowns the old Bora as Car of the Week.
Owner Volkswagen Bora
Name: Suzanne TImmermans
Year of construction: 1975
Place of residence: Epe
Profession: geriatric medicine specialist
First car: VW Jetta
Previous car: Nissan Primera
What would you like to change about your car?: Heated seats would be nice
What is your longest journey with this car?: Lac d Annecy, France
Maintenance history
Just a few disclaimers on this story. Suzanne’s husband is a gifted car mechanic, while that is not his profession. And of course the Timmermans family has also seriously invested in continuing the relationship with the Bora by even flying in a donor Bora. And then we haven’t even mentioned the hours of free time that have gone into it. But that was a choice. Not as cheap as possible, but ‘give your car a second life’ was the motto. And then the environmental zones of the big cities; Suzanne is no longer welcome there with the TDI. “We deal with that, then we take another car when we need to be there.”
This has been replaced over the years:
Clutch plus pressure group
Front suspension arms
Shock absorbers Brake
calipers
Brake discs all around
Handbrake cables
Headlights Muffler
exhaust
Radiator
Heater radiator
Timing belt
Water pump
The engine block was lifted in 2021 and replaced:
Piston
rings Main bearings
Connecting rod bearings
Turbo
Shortly before that, the first serious breakdown occurred: a broken valve spring. Then replaced the cylinder head and camshaft. Crankshaft, pistons and the complete gearbox are still original, never replaced or overhauled. The wheelhouse was recently replaced following the latest MOT.
What’s wrong with it now?
The car has some play on the steering wheel,
The car pulls slightly to the right,
Rear left door window does not work,
Front left door closes poorly
Our expert say:
“Hats off to the time and attention and energy that has been put into this!”