-> CH> Any luck on your tool search?  How about western European brands?  They
-> CH> would be easier to find than US stuff, I'd think.

->I found out that Czech made King Tony are a good price/quality compromise. W
->also have Metrinch tools here as well as SnapOn, but I feel I'm not quite up
->to the price :)

Snap-On is often a bit rich for my blood as well.  However, when you need a
tool to work, it's a good choice.  I've never seen the King Tony brand.
They may be sold under a different name if they are here at all.

->Now looking for a really good spring compressor, strut job on my VW Golf is
->next.

Ah.  Can't use a piece of what's called all-thread or threaded rod?  I had
to swap springs on my AMC, and found a large piece of that.  Got some flat
plate for the ends, and used a clutch throwout bearing for the thrust.
Worked fine.

->Surprisingly, the roads in and around Moscow have been really upgraded, so n
->more need for an SUV. Moreover, on my road trip to Finland last August I fou
->that to get from Moscow to St.Petersburg and then to the border, you don't
->need an SUV either :) I sold my Lada Niva and bought a second hand Volkswage
->It's a cool little car with 1,4l 60 hp petrol motor, very economic and
->nevertheless fast enough for city use. Some minor repairs, and it will be as
->good as new. I'll junk the whole suspension, put in poliurethane mounts, Kon
->shocks and forged alloy wheels as I usually do with all my cars, and am goin
->to enjoy (I hope) driving the first foreign car in my life (not counting
->rentals).

The VW is probably the only non-US car I'd consider.  Japanese cars are
overpriced here, as are most European ones.  I have seriously considered
the Jetta TDI wagon.  I briefly had a VW Golf diesel and liked it.

-c-

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