Departed

Not A Lot Of People Know That (which, incidentally, he claims never to have said, but which most impressionists use) Ray

I thought that it was a one-tick selection too, until I tried it and found that the selection was lost after re-entering the car (I checked as a result of an earlier post on here). I suppose that this may have change over the passage of time and the development of software/firmware, but it was certainly the case on my Superb. Might be interesting to look and see if the selection on your car is still ticked, as your previous closure was not rain-dependent, but time-related. Looking back, using the search, I found that you can alter the setting with VCDS to make it a "once-only" setting, so I suspect that it's an "every time" otherwise. Ray

You need to do this EACH TIME you quit the vehicle if you expect it to work - it's not a "once on" option. NALOPKT! Ray

Why would I need good luck? I'm not getting a car from two years ago and I have never fancied a coupe, which is why I've ordered an Estate. The C-Class is significantly smaller than the Superb and with black leather and a black roof lining it will feel claustrophobic in comparison.

It's NOT a handbrake, is it? The E-Class doesn't need or use a handbrake, how many more times have I got to say this? A parking brake is just that - for PARKING, not for use during any part of normal driving. Like any other parking brake, you apply it before leaving the parked vehicle - one action - then when you return, you release it - one action, and set off again. How that's like having a separate lever to engage reverse is beyond me. I like to think that if someone I knew was buying a car that they liked and preferred, I'd be pleased for them. Ray

I remember the thread well, but I can't find it. I think this is because the search only goes back as far as the last major change to the forum itself (i.e., when the Superb content was split into Superb I and Superb II). I may be wrong, but I think the car was purchased from James at Allams. Ray

I understand your reason for the comment now. As I explained earlier, in the current E-Class it doesn't intrude at all into the left foot area when driving and the release is sweet. Ray

What makes the parking brake awful? It's part of the design of several other makes and models and - given what it does - it's more than fit for purpose. The 2014 Facelift E-Class has the Eco system, which includes a "Hold" function for inclines (just an extra press of the brake pedal), thereby removing the need for a conventional handbrake for such purposes. The lack of a central gear-change and/or handbrake allows the central console to be really clean and attractive, together with a very effective central storage compartments. It does not reduce or interfere in any way with free space for the left foot when driving. If I'm ever going to use the parking brake, it will be as backup to the "P" position of the transmission, if required. If it has to be used as an emergency brake, I'd guess I could put more physical effort into a foot pedal than by hauling up on a handbrake lever - and I'd still have both hands on the wheel - but I hope I never have to find out! Ray

I'll let you know when it arrives. Ray

80 litres Ray

Looks like delivery will now be on the 23rd. July. BTW, anyone looking for Replacement Gap Insurance might want to look at http://www.gapinsurance.co.uk Ray

Third-hand info is difficult to rely on. To remove the window from the outside is quite a feat, but I suppose it's not impossible. Seems to me that you'd need to remove the runner linings, trick the glass from the bottom arm, drop it below the runners then remove it, which would need the weatherstrip off too. I'd like to hear the owner's version of events. Ray

Rachel, Clare and Samantha haven't seen each other since school. They rediscover each other via a reunion website and arrange to meet for lunch in a wine bar. Rachel arrives first, wearing camel Versace. She orders a bottle of chilled Chablis. Clare arrives shortly afterward, in gray Chanel. After the required ritualized kisses she joins Rachel in a glass of Chablis. Then Samantha walks in, wearing a faded old Barbour anorak, blue jeans and work boots. She too shares the wine. Rachel explains that, after leaving school and graduating from Cambridge in Classics, she met and married Timothy, with whom she has a beautiful daughter. Timothy is a partner in one of London’s leading law firms. They live in a 4000 sq. ft apartment overlooking Hyde Park, where Susanna, their daughter, attends a nearby drama school. They have a second home in Paris. Clare relates that she graduated from Harvard Medical School and became a Consultant Gynecologist. Her husband, Clive, is a leading City investment banker. They live in a large house on the Thames and have a second home in the South of France. Samantha explains that she left school at 17 and ran off with her boyfriend, Ben, a cabinetmaker. After 30 years he retired and they now run a bird park in Devon and grow their own vegetables. Ben, a typical cabinetmaker, can stand five parrots, side by side, on his erection. Halfway through the third bottle of Chablis, several hours later, Rachel blurts out that her husband isn't "Timothy," he's Tom, and he's a cashier at ASDA. They live in a small flat in Clapham and have a travel trailer parked at a nearby storage facility. Clare, chastened and encouraged by her old friend's honesty, confesses that she and Clive are both nurses in St. Thomas’. They live in Dartford and holiday at a motel in Brittany. Samantha admits that the fifth parrot has to stand on one leg. --o0O0o-- My father was one of the first ever Elvis impersonators. Shame, because there was no call for that in 1938. I think that you’d have loved my Dad. He had a plate in his head and if he sat with his back to the TV we got a lovely picture on Channel Five. They did some experimental surgery on his spine, involving mercury. It was a success, but he was 7’3” in the summer. He had a great work ethic. He was still staining floors when he was 75 – but he didn’t mean to. When he got really ill, Mum smeared his back with lard, following an old wives’ tale but, as you can imagine, he went downhill very quickly after that. Ray

Pete has been fishing, in a small boat on Loch Lomond, all day. Not a bite, not a touch, a complete blank. Once and for all deciding that he’d had enough, he begins to reel in for the last time when “bang” and he’s into a really good fish. After a couple of minutes, the fish breaks the surface, rearing right out on its tail. It had a very deep red colour to it and Pete is mystified. After a thirty-minute fight, the fish is exhausted and ready for the net. As Pete heaves it up over the rear of the boat, the fish gives him a big wink and says “Don’t be frightened. I saw that you’d had a bad day and I thought that if I gave you some decent sport, you wouldn’t bang me on the head, but would put me gently back.” Amazed though he his, Pete agrees, saying “I’ve seen loads of fish, but never one your colour – I thought that you were a salmon, but you’re red.” The fish replies “I am indeed a salmon and because of my unusual pigment, everyone I know calls me Rusty. What’s your name?” Pete introduces himself, as he prepares to return the fish to the water. “What are you doing tomorrow, Pete?” asks the fish. “Working, I’m afraid, why?” The fish says “Well, I’ve just about had it with this Loch – I’ve been up and down it, side to side, diagonally, every flippin’ way. I was wondering if you’d put me out to sea if you can find the time?” Pete replies “You’re in luck. I’m just moving offices and I’ve got one of those pink crates still in my car. I’ll nip and get that and fill it with water, then I’ll drive you to the coast on my way home, OK?” This is what happens, Pete releases the salmon into the sea and drives off home amazed, but quite pleased with himself for acting so humanely. Years pass, Pete is promoted and moves to North Cornwall. He decides to try his hand at sea fishing and has a really miserable blank day. Reeling in to go home, he get a mighty take and “bang” – off goes a really good fish. A couple of minutes pass and the fish jumps – a reddish-coloured blur. After another brilliant twenty minutes of fighting, the fish is ready to be landed, as it goes into the net it gives Pete a great big wink. “Rusty, is that you?!” cries Pete. “Pete!” replies the fish, “what are the chances, it’s been years – what have you been up to?” Pete gave a resume of the past ten years or so, then says “What about you, Rusty?” “Well,” replied the fish, “after you released me, I popped across to the Caribbean and spent the summer with some dolphin friends. Then I went up the Eastern seaboard and had a look at New York harbour, but it was full of Coke cans and condoms, so I carried on North, intending to ride the Gulf Stream back here. I don’t know whether this ever happened to you while you were swimming, but I suddenly felt very hot and began to perspire, so I went a lot deeper and, much to my amazement, I came upon the wreck of the Titanic.” Pete was both impressed and amazed and sought further details. “Oh, it was great,” said the fish. “I swam through the great dining room and could imagine the waiters in their long pure white aprons, holding their silver trays aloft as they weaved between the beautifully-dressed diners. The gleaming linen tablecloths, the silverware, the floral table centres, the small orchestra playing quietly on a raised semi-circular dias, across the ballroom floor. I could imagine the vast chandeliers glinting and the romance of the whole occasion. I was there for such a long time, I wrote a poem about it. As a matter of fact, I was so drawn to the place, I kept going back and spent over a year there, in which I wrote a load more poems, enough for an anthology, in fact.” “You ought to get that published,” said Pete. “I did have it published,” replied the fish, “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it, it caused quite a stir when it came out.” “I can’t think how I missed it,” replied PETE, “what was it called?” The fish replied “Salmon Rusty’s Titanic Verses.” Ray

Looks very much like it, once I've gone. Looks like a 26th. July delivery date for the Merc. BTW, RedDog, I prefer the massive tri-star in the grille. The gun-sight is a vandal magnet, AFAICT. Ray