Not a shoop.

LEGENDARY.

I hope they got the rims off

rat look only belongs in the aircooled scene sorry

i agree more with this than anything else that has been said in this thread.

the day i see a proper hotrod polo will be the day i accept 'ratlook' on this forum.

Without wishing to ruffle any feathers, might I offer my mk1 Derby up as a contradiction to your statement.

I rebuilt the rusty car, fully repairing any terminal rot properly by cutting out the crap and replacing with properly welded in and sealed fresh metal repair sections. While it looks like a bag of shite, this is no bodged-up rust bucket. However, I did as much as I could to retain the "barn-find" look. The mould and algae on the bonnet and windows is real, the rust scabs on the roof and panels is all original patina. Aside from repairing the rot, I've added a small few accessories, to my own taste: a modified beetle roofrack, some old suitcases, a "blue-spot" foglamp and a Golf CL chin spoiler. Oh, and the "peep" mirrors. Other than that, all the trim is original and unmodified.

Mechanically though, the car has had a full overhaul. I've basically re-shelled a mk3 Polo into it with EVERYTHING mechanical in it being mk3, from the engine and box to the fuel tank, front & rear suspension, even the handbrake mechanism is mk3 polo. I used the whole mk3 Polo loom. While the 1.3 SPI engine won't surprise many Honda owners, it does provide a nice boost in power over the original 1.1 4 speed. I lowered it on Ebay lowering springs over 14" Renault 21 mini-turbines and 175/50R14 tyres. I've been driving it daily since I finished building it a few weeks ago and it's great fun.

While building it, I did my best to resist the current "scene" trends: you know, the stickers, checker paint, deliberate rust, matt paint, ropes, chains, bike on the roof etc etc. I know the rack and suitcases are a bit "scene" but for a bit of fun at car shows, I think they tastefully accessorise the car. I'm aware that the car is in a vulnerable position to further rust so I make sure it's garaged every night and if I can avoid driving it in bad weather, I will. I don't want to have to re-do all the rust repairs.

I know I'm putting myself up for a lot of criticism here but while I built this car to suit nobody but myself and it's probably not to many people's tastes but my own, I think it shows that the rat-look can be applied to a polo without resorting to too many cliches, contrary to the views above. :)

anyway, the pics:

and the bullet points of the build:

http://www.southernvolksfolks.com/phpBB3/v...p?f=17&t=55

yeh fair play mate thats a nice car.

i think what i should have said was..

there is nothing quite the same as a scruffy aircooled. its just how this whole 'rat look' crap was first introduced to me on bugs and even though it might not be as officially rat look when looking at all the scene tax requirements bollocks, i think they just rock.

Edited 13 November, 200916 yr by CWA

to be honest, this thread is a load of crap.

like no offence, but all of these different 'looks' are just taken way too seriously. i won't lie, i use the terms 'euro' and 'rat' and shit sometimes when referring to certain cars.. but i can't believe people actually argue about it, and try and go into the precise definitions of these terms.

WHO

THE

FUCK

CARES!

!?!?!!?!?

it's like when i was building my polo back up after a little accident. i had a tempo bonnet on and sprayed it matt black for a laugh. There were a few old shitty panels hanging off the front aswell and it was rather low on some alloys.

this one guy came up to me and said, 'nice car man.. rat look - i like it. good effort.' i had not attempted to make that car follow the 'rat' look in any way. and yet apparently it was cool.

if i told him, 'actually i wasnt going for that at all, i just cant afford to get it repaired' he would have thought 'oh, what a piece of shit'.

it's like people need to know what kind of look you were attempting to achieve before they can give their own opinion on the car. like some will think, 'oh well he has obviosuly gone for the euro look there, but he has used oz wheels instead of bbs's so it can't be cool'. even if the car looks amazing, breaking this one rule means that people think they shouldn't like it, or that it doesn't meet the standards.

its such bullcrap. if a car looks good or cool, and you like it.. that is all that matters! who cares if someone wants to call it a 'rat car' or not. and if you build a car to meet standards that you feel it will be judged against and compromise its appeal to yourself because of that then you are a fool.

i have a couple of questions..

my car is a 6N. it's got clear indicators, badgeless grill, been lowered 40mm all round and I am running cheapo BBS RA's with monster truck tyres. i did it because it was the best visual improvement to my car i could afford, and i like it as it looks better than how it was as standard.

what 'look' is this?

and what is the difference between rat look and and just a sleeper?

sleepers tend to have ridiculous power.

my car is a 6N. it's got clear indicators, badgeless grill, been lowered 40mm all round and I am running cheapo BBS RA's with monster truck tyres. i did it because it was the best visual improvement to my car i could afford, and i like it as it looks better than how it was as standard.

what 'look' is this?

student look