Help! Need some advice

[blueribbon]

Golf 2001 GL Man - 1 owner, great car, no probs, clockwork servicing, 75,000km.
Having an issue whereby after 15-20 mins of driving I experience random loss of power upon acceleration in 3rd gear and higher,started noticing problem at xmas, a couple of isolated times only on a longish trip, but not untill recently has it started happening regularly, even just putting round sydney suburbs.....so, now is much worse, had to pull over twice this week in a panic antisipating a breakdown - then rest a min or two and drive straight home.

I have booked into Barloworld for next week, for a diagnostic session - they charge $137
My dilema is: I have a great mechanic, however he's not a VW expert and does not have a VW computer (sorry, don't know the correct term for it). I have also been recently introduced to GTI performance at Campelltown, top people and I trust them, however don't think I can get the car there and couldn't handle a freeway breakdown...........

My Dilema is:
Do I take the car to my trusted local mechanic to tinker around with........or do I bite the bullet and keep my appointment with Barloworld VW for a full diagnostic? My hesitation with Barloworld, is that I am going to have to rob a bank on the way to pay their bill! I really can't afford to get ripped as I know that WV dealers charge a premium (been there, done that, got the t-shirt) However, if this is the best thing to do, for the car's sake...then that's OK.
My hesitation in going straight to my mechanic is, what if he tinkers round for a day, and doesn't do the best for the car - or perhaps can't get to the source of the problem, I want it to be perfect again.

Sorry for the rant, however I knew you guys would know what to do!

[Tim]

what area are you in? If Camden GTI is too far away there are many other independent VW specialists around sydney. All mechanics know how to charge though unfortunately.

[thepowercosmic]

Symptoms sounds like an issue with your coil packs.

Relatively easy to fix, just get new ones.

Not sure where in Sydney you are but like Tim mentioned there many independent VW specialists around that would be able to do a scan using VAG-COM to identify the issue.

If you're in the Blacktown / Parramatta area, there's Euromotive Girraween (Seb aka bug_racer ph 0410 541 322) and ExoticCars North Parramatta (Arthur ph 02 9737 0311)

I wouldn't bother with Barloworld.

My car has never been to a dealer for any servicing, all work has been done exclusively by Seb

[Manaz]

Definitely sounds like a heat-related issue, and coilpacks are one thing that can give that sort of symptom. Getting it scanned with VAG-COM is a good start (as much as your mechanic may be good, the car's computer often knows exactly where the problem is).