I'd go for a belt too. Modern belts will last the life of the car/engine unless something they drive seizes. They don't elongate with use like chains do, with the associated problems of out-of-sync crank and cam, disintegrating plastic chain guides or even jumping teeth. Nowadays most belts have a precautionary change around 10yrs/100,000m, or even longer. The Ford ecoboost belt runs in oil with no change advisory at all. I recently posted a pic of the 18yr old belt on our 131,000m Ford Zetec 1.6 - looks as good as new, as does its poly-v belt. Even the relatively flimsy mid 20th century fan/alternator belt on my 1980 TR7 is still intact and working - admittedly only a mere 70,000m.

I'd go for a belt too. Modern belts will last the life of the car/engine unless something they drive seizes. They don't elongate with use like chains do, with the associated problems of out-of-sync crank and cam, disintegrating plastic chain guides or even jumping teeth. Nowadays most belts have a precautionary change around 10yrs/100,000m, or even longer. The Ford ecoboost belt runs in oil with no change advisory at all. I recently posted a pic of the 18yr old belt on our 131,000m Ford Zetec 1.6 - looks as good as new, as does its poly-v belt. Even the relatively flimsy mid 20th century fan/alternator belt on my 1980 TR7 is still intact and working - admittedly only a mere 70,000m.

One example proves nothing. And I take it you performed a full examination and test, not just eyeballing it? My VW Up had a belt change at 80,000 miles (or 5 years, whichever is the sooner). It cost £450 to change. A local indie would not do it cheaper because he needed a special tool costing £200 which was VW Up specific.

Typical example of ignorant British motorist conned by UK VW Garage Pseudoauthority advising unnecessary work - mentioned on a site you visit..........!

http://www.werkstattportal.org/zahnriemenwechsel-vw-up/

supposedly lifetime part which does not need change

Im Inspektionsheft vo VW ist folgendes vermerkt :Zahnriemen ab 240.000
kontrollieren.......das heisst;lebenslÃngliche Haltbarkeit ! Verstanden
Benner ???

The up belt is maintenance free. I do hope they did the job properly. I wonder what percentage of up owners will have their engines ruined by unnecessary interference, e.g....

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=92487

Edited by John F on 17/08/2018 at 18:20

If you're doing parties you'll need to get it plated up as a taxi. Check your local authority requirements for age of a car as most are 5 years or less.

You'll also need an operators licence, a personal taxi licence and to licence the car. Note that once a taxi is plated up it can ONLY be driven by a licences taxi driver.

If you're just doing weddings you might be able to get away with no private hire licence but anything else you'll probably need one.

I don't think anything "Golf" sized is really going to cut the mustard anyway. I'm not sure how many people would think turning up their wedding in an A3 or A150 particularly special! You really need an E-Class size minimum if you're going to do that sort of stuff.

If the OP is so hung up on image and badges why not delete or change them. Very few people out there know one car from another, many from the VAG stable have similar profiles.

One local chap obviously had image issues with his Chrysler 300C, replaced all the badges with Bently ones.

Some years ago another local swapped all his Vauxhall badges on his Frontera with Honda ones.

Most recent was a chap who has fitted BMW X5 front end parts to his Kia Sorento.

Just a thought, could it be the same sad, demeted person.