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As an update on the Fabia: I'm keeping it, despite my latest purchase being picked up on Monday. The main motivator behind the newest purchase was that the Fabia was only getting worse being run daily without the time to repair the issues that have been mounting up. So, it's going on a low mileage insurance policy, I'm going to begin a front suspension overhaul, and then going to use it for LEZ purposes, shows, and the occasional trailering as the new Vectra doesn't have a tow bar and I don't want to fit another.

Could be that that tyre was just bad in that size or just bad batch in general and I got unlucky. Once my Hankooks wear out, I might try 245 again, since I do like it when it is a bit wider. 10mm not that much, but every little bit makes it more aggressive. I agree with you that the stock superb is already very fast, but the feeling you get with stage1 vs stock is.. pretty significant. Especially so when you consider you dont really NEED any mods for stage1, its just extra. For me the intake is more for the sounds, love the noise it makes under boost. Intercooler is just to keep the IAT lower, car should put up with more that way. But those arent a necessity. But I guess the biggest difference you feel with stage1 is the torque.. going from 350nM to 540nM is.. a big increase. 😅 I've taken people on rides who are used to driving like 150bhp or lower cars with very low torque and they say they get dizzy and sick when I floor it. 😅 Though I do not feel sick, even when I am in the passenger seat. 🤷‍♂️

Spotted these (? mammatus) clouds whilst driving through Sheffield earlier: Wiki

Lets assume that a technician or fitter would not have plugged the car in, read fault codes, opened the bonnet, tightened the battery terminal and that results in the service desk presenting an invoice for £150. They would never do that obviously.

Sell it at a 'kind' price to a local friend Ryan, get them to put you on their policy as a named driver, then just borrow it whenever needed. That way they pay all the bills, you get to use it.

I've only started reading this topic in the past few months and didn't start at the beginning. It's 72 pages long now and you know what? I still don't know what the truth about electric cars is other than they don't use an internal combustion engine (Hybrid excluded)

What happens when it is 15 years old and some spotty oik is trying to get it going when the batteries are dead and they work on it like only spotty oiks can?

Brand new. 15 miles. Under £20,000.

On our roads there is... on a recent brainwashing course I was required to attend, there were three victims there who had been prosecuted for doing 21mph in a 20. I was there for 36 in a 30, previously I reviewed the video footage from my mirror cam and noted my actual speed I was being flagellated for and I thought, "OK, I'll take the 36!"😆

I view this thread as an on-going discussion of many different topics. I think I missed 10 pages while I was away last week, just ignored it and joined in when I was able.

That's what I'm doing with the Focus!

my apologises about starting this new thread, few reasons to keep it separate: 1. Mk3 coding's thread is grown hugely and isn't easy search something in it. 2. FL codings has several differences. 3. coding procedure has been also changed - before do coding, must be opened bonnet and activated handbrake what have been tested on Mk3.FL MY23 280ps L&K 23.02.21 OK ** Scandinavian Daytime Running Lights 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptations -> Leuchte23SL HLC10: --> Lichtfunktion C 23: nicht aktiv -> Tagfahrlicht --> Dimmwert CD 23: 0 -> 100 --> Lichtfunktion C 24: nicht aktiv -> Tagfahrlicht --> Dimmwert CD 24: 0 -> 100 23.03.20 OK *- - Daytime Running Lights only with switch on ‘Auto’ *** Daytime Running Lights off with Handbrake *** Daytime Running Lights Setting available via Menu 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Aussenlicht_Front ---> Tagfahrlicht nur in Schalterstellung AUTO: not active -> active ---> Tagfahrlicht Dauerfahrlicht bei Handbremse abschalten: not active -> active ---> Tagfahrlicht Aktivierung durch BAP oder Bedienfolge moeglich: not active -> active 23.03.20 ok, Fogs added, headlights didn't gone *** Set Fogs Lights as Coming/Leaving Home Lights 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Aussenlicht_uebergreifend ---> Coming home Leuchten: Low beam -> Fog light ---> Coming-home Einschaltereignis: driver door -> ignition 23.03.20 OK ** High Beam Memory On 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Fernlicht_assistent ---> Fernlichtassistent Reset: active -> not active 23.03.20 NOK, + Foglight ERR - - Coding Eyelashes always on in the headlights 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Change (8)Leuchte17TFL R BLK ......... C17 to Daytime running lights -> Change (10)Leuchte17TFL R BLK ......... CD17 to 100 -> Change (8)Leuchte16BLK SLB ......... C16 to Daytime running lights -> Change (10)Leuchte16BLK SLB......... CD16 to 100 23.03.20 OK ** Comfort Blink Cycle 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Aussenlicht_Blinker ---> Komfortblinken Blinkzyklen: 3 -> 2 23.04.03 OK *** Tear Drop Wipe For Front Wipers 09 Central Electrics Subsystem: 48x LL 221122 Long coding 164DDD -> 1E4DFD -> Byte 0 Bit 3 "Adaptative Post/Tear Wiping Active" -> Byte 2 Bit 5 "Post/Tear Wiping Active" or Adaptation -> Front_wiper ---> Traenenwischen Front Status: not active -> active 23.03.20 OK ** Smoth Dimming / Brightening Internal Light 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Suchbeleuchtung_allgemein ---> KL58 Einschalten mit Rampe: not active -> active 23.05.09 OK * Dim Emergency Flasher Button on Dash 09 Central Electrics Adaptation -> Leuchte 35 LED Warnblinktaster C48 --> Dimmwert AB 15: 100 -> 55 23.03.28 OK *** Change Light threshold 09 Central Electrics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Light sensor ---> Helligkeitsgrenze_Licht_ausschalten: orig. 2200 lx -> 1200 lx ---> Daemmerungsgrenze_Hysterese_untergrenze: orig. 2200 lx -> 1200 lx ---> Helligkeitsgrenze_Licht__einschalten: orig. 1200 lx -> 800 lx ---> Daemmerungsgrenze, Hysterese_obergrenze: orig. 1200 lx -> 800 lx 23.05.09 OK *** Enable Autolock(based on speed) option in Car Settings 09 Central Electronics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> Menuesteuerung ZV Autolock-Unlock: not active -> Adjustable 23.04.20 OK *** Enable Fob with Car Running 09 Central Electronics Access Code 31347 Adaptation -> ZV allgemein(Access control) ---> Funk bei Klemm 15 ein: not active -> Active 23.05.09 OK *** Enable passive lock/unlock via door handle sensors (KESSY) with ignition on B7 - Access Startsystem Interface Long Coding 0F20000723 -> 1F20000723 or -> Terminal 15 characteristics of passive entry exit function orig. value: Function only allowed for terminal 15 off new value: Function only allowed for terminal 15 on or off 23.03.20 OK ** Enable Fan Level display on Climatronic Auto 08 Air Conditioning Long coding 11010004004411011005100D00109136 -> 11010004004411011005104D00109136 or -> Blower display in auto operation: Not activated -> activated 23.03.20 OK ** Retain Heated Seat Setting 08 Air Conditioning Long coding 11010004004411011005104D00109136 -> 11010004104411011005104D00109136 Adaptation or -> Retention of driver's seat heater level active for 10 minutes -> active -> Retention of frt.pass. seat heater level not active -> active 23.03.28 OK ** Heart-Beat light effect on Start Engine Button for Keyless B7 Access Startsystem Interface Access Code 20103 Adaptation -> DeveloperCoding: Search lights ---> ZAT_illumination_concept_mybeat_clamp58xt Not activated -> Activated ---> ZAT_illumination_modus_mybeat_clamp58xt Not activated -> Activated 23.02.21 OK *** add Simple Cruise Control 13 Adaptive Cruise Control Long Coding 32057FD25DFFC728949C812481400680000000000000000066 -> 32057FD25DFFC728949C812481400680000000000000000076 or -> Cruise Control Mode: --> Activated 23.03.27 OK *** Start-Stop prevent Engine start when Car in front moves 13 Adaptive Cruise Control Adaption --> Expanded restart function: On -> Off 23.03.27 OK *** Overtaking Right Prevention 13 Adaptive Cruise Control Long coding 32057FD25DFFC728949C812481400680000000000000000076 -> 32055FD25DFFC728949C812481400680000000000000000076 or -> Overtaking_right_prevention: activated -> Deactivated 23.04.19 ok, option added, but works only first of three *** add Tolerance for Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control 13 Adaptive Cruise Control Long coding 32055FD25DFFC728949C812481400680000000000000000076 -> 32055FD25DFFC728949D812481400680000000000000000076 -> 32055FD25DFFC728979D812481400680000000000000000076 -> 32055FD25DFFC728979D812481400680000000000010000076 or -> Tempolimitassistent_CarMenu: Not activated -> activated or -> zul_Regelabweichung_CarMenu: orig. Off Small (nothing) Medium (nothing) -> Large (off; low; medium; high) or -> pACC_Learning_drivers_offset: Deactivated -> activated 23.03.31 OK *** Minimize Lane Assist's Ping-Pong Effect A5 Driver Assistance Long coding 00020898116E4020089F10001030008001418000000000000000000000000000 -> 00020898116E4020889F18001030008001438000000000000000000000000000 or -> Point_of_intervention: early -> early_setting_over_menu -> HC_Warn_Intensity: No_Setting -> Setting_over_Menu -> Lane_assist_off_text: disabled -> enabled 23.04.11 OK *** Lane Assist automatic ON from 60kmh A5 Driver Assistance Long coding 00020898116E4020889F18001030008001438000000000000000000000000000 -> 00020898116E4020889F18001030008001238000000000000000000000000000 or -> Hc_variante: Variante_0 (? Off ?) -> Variante_1 (automatic, when 60kmh reached) orig. Variante_2 (manually, by button on Steering Wheel) Variante_3 - 7 (?????) 23.04.11 ? OK ? Emergency Assit mode, what is diff ? A5 Driver Assistance Long coding 00020898116E4020889F18001030008001238000000000000000000000000000 -> 00020898116E4020889F28001030008001238000000000000000000000000000 or -> Emergency_Assist: Not_coded orig. EA_Variant_1 (?????) -> EA_Variant_2 (?????) EA_Variant_3 (?????) EA_Variant_4 (?????) 23.05.20 OK *** Disable DSG coasting(sailing) function on Normal profile 19 Gateway module Long coding 0B0900047F285900AB1042DE980F00010001070000000000000000000000 -> 0B0900047F285900AB0042DE980F00010001070000000000000000000000 or -> FPA_function_freilauf_defaultON active -> not active ^^^ ? ok 13 Adaptive Cruise Control Long coding 32055FD25DFFC728979D812481400680000000000010000076 -> 32055FD25DFFC728979D816481400680000000000010000076 or -> Sailing_function: not active -> no_predictive_sailing 23.03.27 OK ** Change Parking Assist Switch Off Speed 76 Parking Assistance Adaptation -> Switch-off speed for parking assist 15 km/h -> 10 km/h 23.03.01 OK ** Easy Entry driver 36 Driver Seat Long coding 0010000000000500018280808080000000008181000000D440 -> 0010000200000500018280808080000000008181000000D440 -> 001000020000050001C280808080000000008181000000D440 -> 001000020000150001C280808080000000008181000000D440 or --> Easy_Entry_front: not active -> active --> Easy_Entry_front_over_MMI: not active -> active --> EasyEntry_Enable_Passenger_over_DriverMMI: not active -> active 23.03.20 OK ** Easy Entry passenger 06 Passenger Seat Long coding 0010000000000500018280808080000000008181000000D400 -> 0010000200001500018280808080000000008181000000D400 -> 001000020000150001C280808080000000008181000000D400 -> 0010000200001500018280808080000000008181000000D400 or -> Easy_Entry_front: not active -> active -> Easy_entry_front_over_MMI: not active -> active -> EasyEntry_Enable_Passenger_over_DriverMMI: not active -> active 23.03.01 OK * Easy Entry options in Car Settings 5F Multimedia Security Access 20103 Adaptations Vehicle menu operation menu_display_seat_configuration Not activated -> activated menu_display_seat_configuration_over_threshold_high Not activated -> activated Vehicle function list BAP driver_seat_0x10 Not activated -> activated driver_seat_0x10_msg_bus Not activated -> Comfort data bus 23.03.20 OK * Date format 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C00080188634B1001000800600000 -> 05A5001AFF8C000A0188634B1001000800600000 or -> Date: dd_mm_yy -> yy_mm_dd 23.03.20 OK * Refuel Quantity 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C000A0188634B1001000800600000 -> 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B1001000800600000 or -> Byte 10 Enable bit 4 23.04.03 OK ** ICE Warning threshold 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> outside_temperature ---> p_ice_warning_entry_temperature: 4 °C -> 2 °C ---> p_ice_warning_exit_temperature: 6 °C -> 3 °C 23.04.11 NOK, but it deactivates Start-Stop - Efficiency assist. 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B0001000800600000 -> 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B0001080800600000 or -> Efficiency assist.: No -> Yes 23.04.11 OK 23.05.20 reverted * Disable Exit Warning 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B1001000800600000 -> 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B0001000800600000 revert -> 05A50019FF8C000A0189734B1001000800600001 or -> Exit warning: Yes -> No 23.05.09 NOK * Disable Ignition On Warning 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> Ignition active message, actuator Driver door(orig.) -> No display 23.05.09 OK * Dashboard Start Screen 17 Dashboard Long coding orig. 05A50019FF8C000A0188734B0001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A0189734B0001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A018A734B1001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A018B734B1001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A018C734B1001000800600001 -> 05A50019FF8C000A018D734B1001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A018E734B1001000800600001 05A50019FF8C000A018F734B1001000800600001 or -> Start screen: orig. Version 1 L&K Version 2 vRS Green Version 3 vRS Red Version 4 Scout Version 5 Škoda -> Version 6 Sport Line Version 7 Škoda Version 8 Škoda 23.05.09 ok * ??? 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> Leaving_warning_delay - -> Leaving_warning_delay: orig. 1.6 s -> 3.0 s 23.06.08 ok * ??? 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> Tubes illustration orig. Version 0 -> Version 1 23.06.08 NOK, err msg on dashboard "Vehicle is not secured against rolling away" * ??? 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> Shift exit warning orig. Car exit warning -> Exit warning, VW commercial vehicles 23.06.14 ok * ??? 17 Dashboard Adaptation -> Acceleration display: orig. No -> Yes 23.04.15 OK ** Wheel circumference 1 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C000A0188734B0001000800600000 -> 05A50019FF8C000A0188734B0001000800600000 or -> Wheel circ.: Version 3 -> Version 2 23.03.20 OK ** Wheel circumference 2 17 Dashboard Long coding 05A5001AFF8C00080188634B1001000800600000 -> 05A5001AFF8C000A0188634B1001000800600001 or -> Wheel circumference 2: Version 1 -> Version 2 Unit 17 Dashboard Speedometer value offset on 100 km/h Wheel circumference Tire 235/45r18 circumference +0% Tire 225/55r17 circumference +1.5% First Second 1 1 -2 ? 2 1 +2 ? orig. 3 1 +4 +3 3 2 +1 0 2 2 0 ? 23.07.05 OK OBDEleven App -> Tailgate Sound orig. ON -> OFF 23.07.05 ? ? OBDEleven App -> Steering Wheel Heating Auto Mode orig. Manual control via Button -> Auto wheel temperature Explanation of remarks before titles: Stars - how useful for me ? - i can't notice improvement or changes NOK - doesn't work or adds err codings were made by First Gen OBDEleven https://forum.obdeleven.com/

Just fitted this to father's Octavia on monday. By using a split boot I was trying to save time by not having to remove the hub ect. ect. Didn't save too much time because of the limited space caused by components still being in situ. Also I did have an issue in that the joint end of the boot isn't a tight fit over the joint because of the universal nature of the boot, which the slack of which has to be taken up by the clip. But the glued joint seems to be holding up so far. Still probably saved £100 on dealer costs. If I can remember I'll keep updating on the long term reliability, in case others want to fit one.

Aug/Sept 2023. Driving home one evening I go to give the car a full dose of right foot in 2nd and it made some horrible juddering and a lot of turbo recirc noise aswell as throwing up the EPC light, so I limped the car home and looked on here. From what I found I though it could be a sticky turbo actuator, but got it into the garage the next day, doing this also threw on EML. Turned out to be a coil pack had gone down, coincidentally Racingline performance released there "uprated" units the next day. So I got some ordered along with a full set of NGK plugs as the plugs hadn't been done while in my possession. I went on a bit of a spending spree at the same time and ordered some Leyo motorsport paddle extentions. very expencive for what they are, but i couldnt bring myself to have some 3m sticky pad extentions on the car, and these look the part aswell as being really well engineered.

This may help:

TBH, I would have thought that that would have been one of the first steps the OP ( and anyone else!) would have taken to try to work out where the problem lies!

It reacts faster, not the matrix high beam, but when turning the steering wheel light moves faster.

Yes too flakey for me so I didn’t renew after the first couple of years. The main reassuring feature for me was the alarm alerts, though only had the alerts for one evening after multiple alerts at a hotel found a large moth inside the car! I did like that you could see where the car was and the door / window status too as the MIL left a back door open (not unlocked but open) all evening in a very rainy night, just happened to check the app and then found the rain soaked interior….

Where have they been in Storage across in Spain or just anyplace in the EU or since coming into the UK? They are not into having them hanging about they need the money. GBP money. My Corsa-e was in lock down in a compound for months after coming into the UK just about 3 weeks after being built. It left the port and the transporter could not continue north to Scotland. Covid years.

And want a "New" car. Not one that has been in storage for possibly months

That will be because of the 'Optional Final payment' required to be paid is it not if you want to own it after renting for 49 months.

In a Benz you can tailgate and flash people out of the way shouting "I'm in a Mercedes, get out of my way..." and get away with it, do that in a Skoda and people call you names.

Don't be too confused. It is a tongue in cheek post about what some cheeky barstewards would and do do.

The Octopus goes from strength to strength !

Wow impressive with your disks and pads, mine had to be replaced at 50k, just looking ahead when driving helps prolong them so much.

If you are referring to the first 'that' then swap it for 'if' and if you are referring to the second 'that' swap it for 'why' Apologies

Is that a double negative? It's the "not" in the first sentence which has confused me.

I bet you have LED or Xenon lighting. There never was dazzling from oncoming cars on inclines before their adoption. The diagram is incorrect because dipped beam lighting does not shine downwards to the extreme angle shown, well old school headlights never did, also the oncoming driver will be viewing the illumination from an angle and not head on which is much less dazzling.

If lights are adjusted properly, there's nothing you can do- just drop your look to roadside for few sec til cars changes with each other- to avoid blinding. As for others- don't argue with idiots, people will not recognize difference between you. If you'll lower lights with screwing, in garage (or by knob in panel, for halogen type), you will see nothing on the straight level road. But others will be happy 😉

I don't mind changing it, but they asked for 90 euros to change my air filter, I'd rather do it myself for 10... Either way, thanks a lot for your insight!

2017 vRS TSI here. 60k miles and on the original battery. Stop start always disabled on startup. Original discs and pads as well if you’re interested 🤷🏻‍♂️ (will be next years task).

In what way are they testing the battery to determine it's "healthy"? A battery charging correctly on 13.6+ volts or sitting there with 12.something volts when not under load is not a response. When it does crank, does it turn over well or does it labour a bit? Original battery? Probably 10 years old if it was installed in the car a few months after manufacture. Used with stop/start then sat during covid.....

Finally issue has been resolved by local dealer!! The window motor and regulator had become misaligned and causing the window to close incorrectly!! It took the garage 4 days to resolve, service manager decided to go ahead with repair even though skoda "Technical" had not authorised the work. On the plus side I has a Cupra Formentor Z2 as a courtesy car , 310 BHP and 4 wheel drive, 0-60 4.2 secs. It was awesome!!

Not quite new hubs. But Instavolt joins Octopus Electroverse today. They now appear as compatible chargers (with bigger circle) in on the Electroverse map.

Well, I DID try looking at my profile - but I could only get it to show me the posts from the last few months - which was obviously not back far enough, so that's why I asked the question!

I'm in Stevenage

Not much of a Service Plan or Schedule from Skoda or guidelines, recommendations or specifications. What engine and gearbox do you have? You can pay and check with erWin. But just go speak to the boss in the garage and ask why the staff are crap & unhelpful. This is Fixed Servicing intervals. DQ200 DSG,s have no servicing intervals.

Get the battery tested, that money would have bought you the new battery to replace the one that is that is probably causing the problems. Do the lights come on when turning on the ignition or when cranking the engine? What lights? You say all of them but that is improbable. Have you recently fitted a dashcam or similar?

@croquemonsieurthe real con is that you will have paid the same to have 3 not that expensive spark plugs replaced as someone might to have 4 that cost more if done at a Skoda Main Dealer in the UK.

4 people in what is a tin can (all cars are the same) with just 4 small patch's of rubber in contact with the ground and traveling at high speed, I do think in the future we will be shocked at how we traveled and put our lives at risk it only take a split second and 4 are gone. The human body is so easy to damage. Why have I posted this reply well I have lived a very long time and seen how humans value lives and others.

My TDI still have original Varta AGM. 150'000km / 6.5 years. All fine, StartStop disabled.

& there is no guarantee that the big brands sell safer tyres than cheaper brands because Pirelli, Continental, Dunlop. Good year etc can produce some real crap. Or Horses for courses, or tyres that are maybe All Season because they are on all year, but they are certainly not All Weather or All Seasons of a UK year tyres.

Briskoda luckily is not full of Spelling or Grammar police or into pulling people up on typing the wrong term or word.

I changed mine to the one found in a lot of VW cars, Tiguan, T-Cross, Golf etc. Essentially as long as the release button is in the same place (front) it should fit. The one I got came from a T-Cross I think after some messing about I was able to get the gaiter off and move it over. Let me know if you want a picture as not sure I took any. Nick

Dec 2022. Something that was always going to be happening with this car was. . .Mapping of course. So during the black Friday sales I bit the bullet and booked it in at Awesome Gti for a Racingline oem+ ecu and tcu map. I decided on going Oem+ long before booking it as these seemed to be the only company having GPF specific maps marketed, and knowing the head software guy is Ben from Shark performance. So Racinglines official figures for the gpf cars was 296bhp. With the intake and few other bits I'd done to the car I was praying it would break the 300bhp barrier. Car rolled 244bhp and 279 ft-lbs in "standard" form - so just bolting on an intake clearly makes no gains. After mapping, 310bhp and 354 ft-lbs, along with the gearbox mapping. . .well yeah it's pretty bloody quick. . Makes my previous mapped Mazda3 Mps feel not as quick as I thought it was. Awesome were great, I was late for my slot due to horrendous traffic and the car was still strapped to the rollers having the finishing touches done 30mins after they officially closed 👍 Literally 2 days after mapping it was time for a 300mile jolly upto Dundee for Christmas, sitting at speed limits where possible and with the car loaded up with 2 adults, a baby and all the gear for 4 days away plus Christmas presents the car returned 47mpg average over the journey. Who needs a diesel. 😬

In case anyone is interested, I also have a small clip of what the car sounds like now. The downpipe is still stock with cats and GPF in place. Not sure how much justice the video does to the sound, but while it does sound like most 2 litre engines, I feel it is a tone lower, atleast compared to other similar cars in my area with modified exhausts. I am quite fond of it. Drone is fairly minimal and I plan on getting sound deafening in the trunk next year.

The new MY24 will start building in Week 44 and according to Skoda the WLTP will be 354 and a top speed of 112 MPH. https://www.skoda.co.uk/news/details/new-skoda-enyaq-laurin-and-klement-extended-range-and-comprehensive-technical-upgrades (Not my image)

So I picked up a Business Grey Superb the other week. 116k kms at time of purchase. 150PS 4x4 TDI Combi, registered in March 2018. So yes, 45k kms per year for the first two years. We're moving up north and I will need to be in the office in Helsinki sometimes anyway, so it's been christened the Helsinki Express... I drove down the other morning in 3:20 or so to the present house and it would have been under 4:30 to the office. That's more than acceptable. And Katie is from the letters on the plate. Some time with ErWin the other day gave me the full spec: Ambition for the Finnish market (Bi-Xenon) with Winter package (heated screen + wheel, remote Webasto), Amundsen, Fondpaket (220V + USB in the centre console), rough road package (+15mm, extra plastic underneath). It's returning 6l/100 which I'm happy with. Problems so far: - there's a couple of dings in the door and the trim, I'll post some photos when I've washed it to show. I think I'm going to have to replace the trim around the rear window and the driver's door handle. Will try to get this done while the door card is off for the speaker replacement. - there was a bunch of white paint splats on the wheel and gearstick. Fixed - i'll explain more below. - rims and tyres --> more on this below - the tracking was way out, as were the tyre pressures - now sorted. So the white splats were quite easy - I'd seen what some hand disinfectant did when cleaning the wheel, so i used it again on a microfibre towel. Hey presto, all the splats are gone and the leather was matt again. I fed it with some horsey stuff we have and buffed it lightly - after a couple of days it's excellent. Lightly worn smooth, not shiny and polished. Very happy with this result. Other stuff on the to-do list: - Rear Camera - More light out the front - Stereo upgrade - clear the VCDS errors and see if they return. Should be out washing, claying and waxing it today.

So the Wheel and tyre problems: Summer and winter wheels are both 17", 215/55R17. I had a new set of Turanza T005s added before I bought the car. Problem: the Stratos rims are stone-pocked. We have lots of gravel roads here and the stones get thrown up despite mudflaps - and then they hit the spokes. Winter tyres are the second problem. The winter tyres have 7.5mm, 7.5mm, 6.5mm and 4.9mm. Winter tyre tread depth must be 3.0mm here and 4 is recommended for traction. The one with the least tread is currently on front right. It also has had an unscheduled meeting with a kerb or stone at some point as there's a bunch of gouges out of the rim. At least 15cm round the outside is damaged. The spokes also have some of the gravel pock marks as the summer rims have. Question becomes what to do. I like the Michelin X Ice Norths - I've driven them elsewhere and they're nice and progressive when losing grip and otherwise very tolerable. They're also around €175 each. I'm currently very tempted to replace two front tyres with X Ice Norths on the winter rims and keep the better of the two as a spare. I'll need a rim for that - that's easy, I drop the 6.5mm tyre on the damaged rim and replace the damaged one with a new one. But the car doesn't currently have a spare, so there's some work to be done to allow that. Replacing that rim is going to be at least €150 - 125 for the rim plus shipping plus fitting and balancing. That leaves me at €550 total, which is bearable. For the summers... refinishing those Stratos is going to be €500. A set of WIzards in grey is going to be the same price. I'll have to look them over and see how bad it is...