A Passion for Volkswagens

Suzanne Keane reveals an expensive addiction, it’s not smoking, alcohol or even shoes

There’s a thin line between being passionate and being obsessed. A passion embraces life but my love affair for German engineering and 4 wheels, which began as a child, has evolved into an unhealthy obsession, culminating in a garage full of Volkswagens.

For as long as I can remember I have been consumed by Volkswagens. Maybe it is in the blood, John Keane, my grandfather, owned one of the first Beetles in Listowel.  Childhood weekends in Kerry were spent with cousins pretending to drive an abandoned VW and summers were enjoyed touring Europe in an assortment of family Golfs.

Since I was 8 years old my dream car has been a VW Corrado; as I got older this became more specific- a Volkswagen Corrado G60. Seems I am not alone in my devotion to the Corrado, a couple of years ago, Car magazine in the UK, included the Corrado on the list of “25 Cars You Must Drive Before You Die”.

My first car may have been less ambitious but it was no less exciting. I can still remember the first time I saw “Charlie”,   a 1985 Gambia Red 1.3 Golf C, behind the Volkswagen garage in Castleisland. Covered in specs of white paint, leaking water and with a broken door handle… the instant I saw this car, I had to have it.

Less than a week later I had him stripped down to a bare shell, sealed, scrubbed and polished.  Then the “tweaking” started and with arrival of the Eibach anti-roll bars, Bilstein suspension kit, Goodridge stainless steel brake hoses and Ernst exhaust, this was the point that even my parents began wondering if my car obsession was even remotely tolerable. Three months of long nights and weekends later, he was finally roadworthy.

But after five years of faithful car monogamy my head was turned by an Inca Blue Volkswagen Corrado G60 1.8 Supercharged. Followed soon by a 1979 bright yellow Scirocco TX with blue racing stripes, that was being retired after a Rally of the Lakes. I’ve been slowly gathering parts for a restoration since.

My next acquisition was 1979 Mk1 Golf 1.5 Diesel “Fifi”.  Bought originally for parts this is another of my collection on the waiting list for bodywork.

No serious VW collection can be without a Caddy Pick-up and my 1986 model is also on the waiting list for tender loving repair.  Over the next couple of years a 1990 Mk2 Golf C,  a 1992 Golf Ryder,  a 2001 Skoda Octavia 1.8T 4×4 and a 2004 Mk4 Golf Trendline found a home in my garage.

But “Charlie”, my first love, will live again – and out of all my cars is still the favourite! He’s in hibernation in my garage waiting to be fitted with a new engine, Porsche tombstone seats and 8″ wide split rims.

Nine cars later, I’m now nearly 30 and priorities have changed. Concerns about the impact of engine size on insurance costs have been replaced by issues such as fuel economy, winter safety and simply having a car that will start every morning.

But one theme remains constant; from my first car to current – they have all been Volkswagens at heart, so contrary to popular belief – it’s probably not a phase I’ll grow out of.  Or is it? Although my penchant for VWs remains, I’m starting to look elsewhere for my next buy and a 90’s Mercedes E320 coupe looks very tempting……

Suzanne Keane

17^th December, 2012