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Lost a bank passbook and my damn passport a few months back. Ripped the house apart, ripped the car a part or so I thought. I knew that if I found the passbook I’d find my passport, but to no avail. Ended up cancelling my passport as reported lost 3 weeks ago as I need it for a holiday later this year. Found it today inside the dashboard of my Octavia. When closing the glovebox the passport and bank book had tipped out and landed behind the glovebox inside the dashboard. So if you are missing anything, selling or buy an Octavia check behind the glovebox, you never know what you might find. ****ed off is an understantment.

I'm no stranger to cycling but for a lot of years have been mainly Road/Gravel focussed after falling out of love with hike a bike MTB climbs here in the Peak District. My son is almost 15 and I have no chance keeping up with him now on the up-hills & as he is getting into MTB racing (XC and Downhill) I need to be able to keep up with him/challenge him on his training rides. I test rode a 2021 Trek Rail 5 at Dalby Forrest and the geometry was so close to my Trek Top Fuel (but with extra suspension travel) it felt so familiar but so much more capable so I took a trip to my local Trek dealer (only 8miles away) & bought a 2022 Trek Rail 7. Its a great spec & doesn't need any upgrades although in time I may change the Bosch Purion screen for the Kiox (I don't need the mapping but would like a better battery gauge/clock & info on my energy used vs power provided) I've only had it for a week & its fantastic, I forgot how much I actually enjoyed mountain biking & now being able to climb stuff I've never been able to before its giving me a whole new world to explore Matthew

I’d bet it’s impossible to get significantly less fuel to produce significantly more power. I’d also bet that as the tuning box sits between all the sensors and the ecu that it can tell the ecu it’s using whatever amount of fuel it likes. Trip computer may say one thing, but brim to brim will be different.

Thanks both, things appear to be moving in the right direction (it's possible that getting Skoda UK involved helped with this). Will provide more details when I feel things are concluded, one way or the other

Ha Ha 😂 Don't beat yourself up. In the Grand Scheme of things it probably doesn't make 'a heap' of great difference. It's just that it gives me the warmth glow of self-satisfaction to have them neatly sorted and racked up (legacy of military training?).

When I had a set of winters and a set of summers I always religiously cleared them of stones etc. and thoroughly washed & dried them before putting them away in tyre bags. Putting away tyres that possibly have contamination from chemicals etc. where you don't regularly see them would seem a bad idea to me. I'm not OCD but I do like to look after my possessions!

You need to tell the system it has a new battery. Usually by changing the serial number by one digit. If you don't then it will charge it like it's the old one (low rate of charge) and the new one won'tike it. OBDeleven or VCDS is the normal tool for this.

I don’t want to spend silly money as I just don’t how much I would actually play after recovery. Don’t get me wrong, as a teenager I was an avid gamer, but priorities change as you get old and just don’t play it that much anymore. Still got a few weeks to ponder over this and appreciate the food info you guys have passed on 👍

It may sound daft but I did a temporary fix on a friend's Renault 5 that had a similar arrangement using a piece of string wrapped round the rod and tied behind the piece it fitted to. It was supposed to be temporary but actually lasted about three years.

You're not being thick at all. Infections in the mouth have a direct feed to you heart, which can then attack the heart valve and destroy it. This happened to me in 2015, a condition called endocarditis and eventually turned in to full blow septicaemia. Having a full mouth checkup, including differing types of X-rays, will ensure that there is no pre-existing or potential future problems and / or infections that could ultimately destroy a new valve very quickly.

Well if you have any more questions then just ask. Been simracing for 20 years 😬 Had about 4 different wheels, though nothing upmarket (I don't have that budget!) but know people who have, so can give some advice based on experience

Never really been one for cleaning but as my jetwash hose burst it gave me the perfect excuse to get a new hose with a short quick release trigger and foam cannon. Also autobrite had an Easter sale so picked a few bits up. Doesn't scrub up to bad.

Hi Guys, After much deliberation we've decided to take to plunge and get ourselves a new campervan/mobile home. We previously had an old Fiat based LMC camper from the 1980's that was gidted to us by family. We really enjoyed our trips away but missed some creature comforts with it being a little old. The ancient 2.5 diesel with only 70ps got a little tiresome lugging around over 3000kg! After that we got a caravan but sold this when we moved to Germany. We've since sold our house in the UK and made a tidy profit from it and since we're in no rush to buy something here (still on the cards) we've taken the plunge and ordered a brand new campervan. It's a Miller branded camper based on a Citroen Jumper 2.2 Euro 6 with 165ps and 6 speed manual gearbox. See if I can figure out the whole AdBlue situation. Thankfully you can fill up at most petrol stations here. They have AdBlue pumps for normal cars/vans and not just lorries. We went for the upgraded power (165 vs 120/140) as we're more than likely to be mostly up to or at the 3,500kg limit. We did want an automatic but that would have meant takinfg the Fiat Ducato for €3,500 plus the 9 speed ZF for €3,000! So we just stuck with manual. We've also specced it up a bit from the base spec: - DAB / Navigation with reversing camera - 4m awning - Gas oven - fly screens - Turbo-Vent (powerful fan in skylight to aid with cooling - the A/C was an 1,900€ option and added over 50kg) - 100w Solar - Blinds for the windscreen/side windows and a few other bits and bobs. Got a big shopping list to kit it out (plates and kitchen stuff etc) and also want to fit a couple of TVs (didn't fancy paying 900€ for 2x tiny 18" TVs from them). Delivery expected around August. Super excited!

Primary teacher I had sent a lad in my class to go and get a tin of paint from the janitor. Another cracker is a 'long stand' or a bucket of compressed air.

Me neither. My 2021Karoq did. Half the fun of a new car is taking the manual into the bathroom and reading it ‘til your legs go dead.

^ When I was 18 and working at a Ford dealership I was sent to the stores to ask for ''three blue sky hooks''. I argued that there was no such thing but the boss got arsey with me and said they were for fitting car radios and to get my arse there and get them! So I duly went and asked for them. Needless to say, the storeman had a good laugh at my expense

Now merged. 👍

If its the one i think it is, looks very nice, has some useful extras and should ride nicely as it has 17" alloys despite the advert saying 19"! Cant offer much other advice as mine is not 4x4, but does have virtual cockpit!

Compulsory fit since 2004 according to a quick googling. Where do you get your MOTs?

Try JKM Portsmouth as they are VAG specialists.

3m vhb or number plate pads maybe?

Glad not to be the only one that cleans / de- stones etc winter/ summer wheels at change overs.

I've never tried such a box, but the internet is awash with claims for these sorts of devices. I work in the car industry and I know OEM emissions engineers who would sell their own mothers for an extra 3% - never mind 20% fuel economy and CO2 reduction! More power is easy with a forced induction engine. Give it more boost and more fuel and it will make more power. These box (and remap) suppliers often produce dyno graphs showing the extra power - and they might well be accurate. However, they tend to rely on customer testimonials for their claims on fuel consumption. They could go off and do the same emissions and fuel consumption tests that the car manufacturer would have to do for type approval, but strangely, they always seem to choose not to...

My vRS is in for 3 year service today. The visual health check just came back and mentioned the front diff oil (amber) needing changed after 3 years, £110 I had no idea beforehand that it was a job needing doing (have had separate specific emails /adverts about servicing and brake fluid based on car age) nor did they mention it when I called to book it in. They haven't (yet) called me to ask if I want it done today either.

Ah okay, You must have mentioned this and I forgot there are 7kW posts nearby. Agree if going to park for a long period of time, use the slowest charging method.

It's actually a Sportline I've ordered. My current car is the SEL. 😂

Doesn't matter if it's free and no damage occurs. Placebos have their place.

. It is. Thanks very much. Smart socks too. .

Not so, changes in parameters of fuelling, boost etc are still logged and easily seen by any tech worth their salt. As above best getting a remap from a reputable tuner and declaring it.

Exciting news. I just had a call from my dealership to say my car is being delivered to them today. I've arranged handover for next Wednesday afternoon. In the meantime, I'm trying to haggle some adjustment to my part exchange valuation, given the accelerated delivery time of the new car. That's pretty rapid delivery time in the current climate, given that I ordered on 23rd of Feb. Can't wait!

OK, the speaker arrived, there are a few differences between the standard Superb speaker and the one from the L&K model. The cone is slightly different in appearance, the roll suspension on the L&K is both larger and more rubbery and the magnet is around 25 mm larger in dia, otherwise is the same. Fitted it the same way as the old was, with pop rivets and the difference in the quality between having a woofer and not, in a single door is staggering. I don't think the bass is quite as deep with the standard speaker, but I'll gladly make do with it as L&K model cars are extremely rare indeed on the road, out of 301 registered in 2013, 274 of those are still on the road. The 27 not on the road may just be stored in garages somewhere, not written off, but if I can get a proper replacement at a sensible price, I'll take it, so if anyone comes across one, I'd be grateful if they could let me know. The saving grace with bass is that it is not as directional as mid-range to high frequencies are, hence why some sound and cinema systems only have 1 subwoofer between 5 sound channels.

Look for broken wires between chassis and each door, starting with the most used one.

It is marginal, and don’t forget it will also depend on which tyres you choose. Generally if they have Eco or Sport in the tyre name will be harder. It is also weather dependent, as soon as you get cooler days and nights, anything that is a summer tyre will be lot firmer than an all season tyre or a winter tyre. To be perfectly honest, if you find the ride far too hard, (rather than a bit hard) then need a tyre with at least 55 (or even 60) sidewall which means getting smaller diameter rims. But the tyres are usually cheaper which offsets some of the cost of buying the rims (and can always sell the 19 inch rims). You might also save money by less damage from poor road surfaces, potholes, and kerbing with deeper tyres. The 19 inch rims only advantage is vanity (looks) and shaving a fraction of a second when cornering fast on the cars limit. The disadvantages are higher cost, more expensive tyres, harsh ride, higher fuel consumption, risk of kerbing, risk of pothole damage, lack of tyre choice in some obscure sizes. But it is your car and your choice which you prefer.

The clay mitts are a good job, but I use them more as a maintance it’s during washes. A clay bar will dive a much better and cleaner finish IMO. I’ve been using these from the bay of evil for years and find them a good sized and very good quality bar. Never had an issue with marring either. I use them with a quick detailer as lube. good luck with the job when you get around to doing it. 👍🏻

On the Thrustmaster side of things, most people go for the t300rs for PlayStation compatability. The higher end tgt-2 is priced a bit silly, as it sits in the same region as the Fanatec DD. It’s a slippery slope though. Once you start, you just keep adding things. Shifter, handbrake and uprated pedals etc. Im not sure what stores you have available, but CEX in the U.K. normally has some used examples of the Logitech and thrustmaster sets in stock. They are a bit cheaper than new and come with a 2 year guarantee. The Thrustmaster items are well catered for in aftermarket modifications. There’s mods for the shifter to make it feel more realistic, and magnetic shifters for the wheels. There is also a multitude of mods for the brake pedal feel and stiffness adjustment. Its all really going to depend on how much you think your going to enjoy it and whether you think your going to get into it or not after you recover from surgery.

Thank you for your post as it's worked. I've gone into the ACC menu and unticked the road sign recognition. I've driven twice with the ACC switched on and had no problems. Okay, it means I have to manually set the speed limit but it's a minor issue in comparison to how the ACC was functioning in the past, which in my opinion was unpredictable and at time dangerous. It is frustrating that when speaking to the service guys at my local dealership they said that the issue is unknown and unique to my car and yet I ask other Skoda owners who have the answer.

A few more from this evening (including White, Pink and Bluebells)

i had that error from time to time, it went away after i removed the maf and ecu and checked the continuity between the wires. Wires where not bad but some corrosion on some pins, i cleaned it and gave it some dielectric grease. Been perfect since.

Wouldn’t have that, I’m a Pump Duse kinda guy….. but I am already “chipped”

That's a bit of an open ended question without any context. Why would you be thinking about upgrading them in the first place? What are you hoping to achieve? Is it worth it? If you have a totally stock car and no plans to modify it - probably not. If it's a 500bhp modified monster and you're having problems with the ignition that's caused by the coils - it probably is worth it.

Edit - this is one by my wee brother when I sent him outside with the Sony Mavica because he said he was bored.

My nerdy spreadsheet suggest that eco saves me no more than 5%. Active eco-ing is likely a smidge slower too, so that might explain where the savings happen. It's more effective on my commute where I have the prior-knowledge to micromanage the coasting zones. Definitely a different drive and there *sorely* needs to be an option to easily flick from E to D, rather then E to S.

Well all the bits that make up my "beginners polishing kit" have arrived, just got to wait for a good time and the nerve to tackle the job now 😄

So your car is a 2013 car, ie 9 years old and it has "used" 2 batteries in that time, first one would have been an EFB and the last one was an AGM, I'd expect a lot longer than 9 years to have "used" 2 batteries - though maybe that AGM battery from Kwikfit was not "good" quality, I wonder if Kwikfit recoded that car for having an AGM battery, just curious about that last bit.

Frustrating day today.....didn't have a CT scan this morning that was meant to determine if I could have my valve replaced by going up through my groin (called a TAVI), which has a 2-day recovery time vs up to 12 weeks for open heart surgery (OHS), but no update as to why. Spoke to several nurses who could not tell me anything. grr! Decided it was a nice sunny day so would take myself for a coffee and some "fresh air" 😛 Went to get dressed then realised that the cleaner has taken my T-shirt thinking it was a pillow case Eventually I had a visit from a consultant, an hour after the planned meeting where they were gonna discuss my case, and was told that the aortic valve currently in my heart is too small to be replaced by the only type of valve they can use for a TAVI procedure 😞 So, as it stand at this minute my chest is gonna be sawn open again, most likely this coming Friday. Far from what I wanted to hear, but I have been reassured that due to my (usual) level of fitness (6 months ago I would be running rings around 18 year olds on a football pitch despite being 41 ) my body will be able to take another OHS, but I will need this new valve replaced in the next 20 years so they plan to replace the Aortic valve with my Pulmonary Valve as this will enable them to do the TAVI procedure when it needs to be replaced again. Gonna be a very loooong operation, which scare the $h!t out of me if I am honest.

Welcome. Have all communications confirmed in writing. You are doing things correctly, If sales or workshop staff are not calling back then deal with the Dealer Principal. WHEN THEY DO NOT YOU CONTACT SKODA UK. They are not interested and say contact Dealership, but press them and they contact the Dealership. ( Customer Services has been contracted out.) Organ grinder not the monkey with Dealerships, so a named person, have their job title etc, always quote that to Skoda UK. The key issue is for the selling dealership to resolve at their expense. They do it or pay £75 for another Skoda Dealer to. So basically they foot the bill to have it done by someone else because their pre sales checks and preparation is crap & when you are not near them. This is as i had Arnold Clark do with a car i bought from them and they were not the franchised dealer for. (So not an Approved used car, just a used one with a key not synced to the car. I knew how to do it from reading online but why should i. ) The creaking suspension needs diagnosed as what is wrong if anything because if nothing other than Servicing & Maintenance is required that is not Warranty work. So the next thing is sometimes NAME AND SHAME THEM. They had their chance. Let others know who they are and even SKODA UK can see online how their Franchised Dealerships behave, as others can. They have do it for years someplaces, and others are excellent. The excellent ones should be big upped and the poor performing ones brought to the public's attention on Social Media. http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/289-skoda-dealer-reviews

Not possible with this unit, it must be replaced either with Bolero 5Q0035842x or Amundsen 5Q0035874x / 565035874 (x is a letter A, B or C). New unit must be hacked. If you are interested pls contact me on PM.

So I've started with the essentials - WiFi and entertainment! Lol Rather than buying an expensive router with 4g/5g built in etc I've gone and bought a cheap older FritzBox. FritzBox's are the go-to router here in Germany. They're made by a German company and have loads of features built in. The one I got for example (for just 15€ off eBay) has 2 USB ports and supports USB modems and even USB tethering from an Android phone. We both have unlimited data plans so can just plug the phone in to charge and share the internet. This also then allows me to use it as a media sever with a 1TB HDD I had lying around and be able to stream films and music etc either in the bedroom or sitting area. For the dining area I've decided to go with a small projector from Philips that also have a built in battery. The projector screen will then likely go at the front in front of the two chairs swivelled round. Also got the coffee side of things sorted and ordered a Tassimo since they were on offer for 27€.

When we bought our 3yr old kodiaq it had recently been serviced including the hald3x but the dealer was unable to answer my question about whether the haldex gauze filter had been cleaned. It didn't bother me tough as the rest of the car was good and given the low mileage and low cost to do it'll get done at the upcoming service by an independent.