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Everything posted by ExpatHotspur
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What about the things that annoy you?
ExpatHotspur replied to Iamholam's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
That the electric boot motor button won't close the boot from the drivers seat. Here in Czech Rep, electric boot is std equipment, but if I had paid £300 for the option, this would upset me. And they missed a trick not including a foot sensor ala Ford Kuga to link with the Keyless when you are carrying children/ pets/ boxes etc. I wouldn't pay for this if i had the choice to, since when was opening and closing a boot arduous ? Fin. I love this car Love the pan roof, love the petrol turbo, love the DSG, love Kessy, love the heated seats etc. The hatchbag boot liners makes moping up after a nervous Alsatian a doddle too. Check it out. http://www.hatchbag.co.uk/ -
So if you are using search engines, the price comparison websites ( and most modern retail websites) use cookies to track whether you have visited before. Ever checked car insurance, or train tickets, gone back to the same site to purchase the item, and the price inexplicably increased? This is why. Work out how to clear your cookies between searches, or use private browsing so your computer/ IP address can't be "remembered" For some perspective, the fully comp cover here in Czech Republic is twice the cost of cover compared to the UK, despite wages being 33% of UK wages.(same drivers, same car, same mileage, same occupation, garaged in a suburb of the capital city) For 250 GBP total, buy the insurance, move on with your life.
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Whats the furthest you've driven on your own in 1/2 days?
ExpatHotspur replied to Tomote's topic in Off Topic Chat
Greenwich to Prague through chunnel. 12 hours non stop on my own, with two car shy cats for company. Don't fight the tiredness, stop and rest. Audio books are good companions too -
Common problems with the Mk3 Vrs
ExpatHotspur replied to butchvrs's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
Get the Petrol, you won't regret it. 2500 kms and now its run in, goes like a scolded cat. You won't regret it This is my car performance car, and i'd say this: I've got some misgivings about the lateral abdominal support the leather seats give when cornering hard. They are comfortable on the straight ahead, and the heaters are great. And the lack of front traction on anything like full power can be poor. I also have park sensors fitted to a car for the first time and they aren't accurate enough (to within say 3 inches) to garage park, but sound off like a hypochondriac on acid when i'm within 4 feet of something, which mutes the tunes. However, the DSG, the panoramic roof, the KESSY, the adaptive cruise, and the Canton are wonderful. -
I've got more misgivings about the lateral abdominal support the Recaros give when cornering hard. In hindsight, the Focus ST was much better. And the lack of front traction on anything like full power. I also have park sensors fitted to a car for the first time and they aren't accurate enough (to within say 3 inches) to garage park, but sound off like a hypochondriac on acid when i'm within 4 feet of something, which mutes the tunes. However, the DSG, the panoramic roof, the KESSY, the adaptive cruise, and the Canton are wonderful. I wouldn't\ didn't buy the mk2, thought the styling was anonymous, but everyone is different, and I'm almost certainly in the minority on here.
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should I sell Octavia 1,9 TDi Elegance
ExpatHotspur replied to kthned's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk I (1996-2004)
Your mechanic has your interests in mind. My late father used an independent mechanic, and kept his cars until the guy told him large bills were on the horizon. You definitely not doing enough miles to warrant diesel, and short journeys wont do your power plant any good. Your mechanic seems to be saying " Sell your 2000GBP car, before it costs you 1500GBP to repair it (made up numbers). Question is, would you get like for like age/ mileage/ spec petrol version, or would you be looking to modernise. Because if its the latter, the depreciation hit on the new one will be far bigger than the impending parts bill on your current one. -
British Fabia Owner in the Czech Republic
ExpatHotspur replied to sambeckwith's topic in Hellos and Goodbyes
Welcome. Where in CR are you, I'm in a suburb of Prague -
Should a UK tax avoider be UK BBC sports personality.
ExpatHotspur replied to mellyboy's topic in Off Topic Chat
Mellyboy - It would appear I've upset you, I apologise for making generalizations about your finances. If I had the level of income Lewis does to run a private jet, so I could be in the UK to see family within 12 hours, I would definitely be minimizing my tax bill by emigrating. This is my personal opinion & preference, as a taxpayer. I can't choose to pay tax, I must, I like the idea of contributing to public goods, but when you see how it is spent sometimes, I would like more control on how much of my income is spent if that were viable. I don't, I have one source of income, from my employer, which is straight forward to track. -
Should a UK tax avoider be UK BBC sports personality.
ExpatHotspur replied to mellyboy's topic in Off Topic Chat
I find his public speaking irritating, so many false platitudes and religious references. That said, in the car, the guy is a demon, and fully deserving of this award. Lewis is only doing what you would do in the same situation, its what his fellow race drivers do, its what fellow international sportsmen do, just about any tv figure worth anything, and countless business owners with no public profile. Just happens to be LH on TV this evening. Financial astuteness and sporting prowess aren't correlated, go ask David James -
I have 205/50/17 Nokian winter tires mounted on Dezent aftermarket alloys. Any idea what pressure they should be set to, as the recommended pressures inside the fuel flap are for my 18" Gemini wheels. The tires themselves only say max 51 psi, which would be by far the most pressure i've ever put in a car tire. Ideas? Links? The info system has picked up that the tires/ wheels are different, and is asking me to check pressures. As i didn't witness the tire mounting procedure, it seems sensible to check the pressures before resetting the info system. Funny how its baltic in"we don't need winter tires" UK, but is was a sunny mild 12 degrees here in "mandatory or you void the insurance" Prague. :sun:
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Probable stupid question alert :| What's the significance of them being Diamond cut? Are they prone to corrosion. My Anthracite Gemini's saw salt for 3 days before I took them off, didn't bother cleaning them at 3 days old, should I have?
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I really liked the way Gabbo's grey VRS looked on the Dezent TD Graphite wheels, so I ordered some. Thanks for all your help & advice Gabbo, as undersized aftermarket ugly winter wheels go, I think they look the business. I went with a slightly different offset to Gabbo, 17" 7J ET45 5x112) with Nokian 205 50 R17. I even got some snazzy blue centre caps that match the car colour, unexpected retentive bonus! I've had the car a week, winter tires have been fitted 3 days. So far, I can report a distinct lack of traction from a standing start, but that might be more to do with my childish induction to 220bhp. :p Fitted them Saturday night, tuesday morning in Prague was black ice and icicles on the cars, so just in the nick of time. 4 tires fitted & balanced on 4 rims, delivered was 24,000Kc, which is about 700GBP. I'm pleased
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So, been driving it for a few days, a summary of my thoughts: what a car, what a car! Love DSG, love paddle downshifts, love the TSI torque, love the fake exhaust noise, love kessy, love canton, love heated leather, love the colour, love the panoramic roof. The paint in places up close is a touch "orange peely", and I managed to snap off the little key for the towbar. These are very small ownership flies in an otherwise very agreeable tub of ointment. Question: Can the sensitivity of the "Hypochondriac" park sensors be adjusted. I haven't got my English language manual yet, stuck with the Czech one.
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Congrats. I collected mine last night too. Drove it home in the dark at nose-to-tail rush hour, drove 10 minutes to work this morning. Its been sat in my eyeline "winking" at me from the car park all day. Hurry up 5pm!
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Question regarding V5 and previous owners
ExpatHotspur replied to thehulkster699's topic in General Automotive Chat
Stupid question perhaps, but i'm curious, why are you concerned about an extra owner being entered? -
Top work muddy boots. A few years back, I was sat in a layby eating lunch when a women pulled in with a puncture. I offered help. She had already called the recovery services but was fretting about missing an appointment. So I changed the wheel for her, nipped the nuts up, put all the kit back in the boot and, covered in brake dust, was just in the process of telling her to have the torque checked when she could when the RAC arrived. He jumped out and said "you do realize what you've done is illegal, you are liable if that women has an accident now, have you received training on how to change a wheel etc". So then I found myself apologizing to the grateful & quite bewildered lady for "endangering" her. I've also been told by a counsel worker (after clearing snow from pavements and gritting the clear surface for the 6 houses either side of us) that I would be liable for prosecution should anyone slip on the prepared surface. My elderly neighbors appreciated it though.
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Drive Mode Button Not Working...
ExpatHotspur replied to Yogi-Bear's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
Its sucks you've got an intermittent electrical gremlin in the system. Hope its gone forever. Off topic, what was your diving mode strategy for curry pickup. Save fuel on outward journey, time attack sport mode home to preserve curry temp? -
Opinions on the 19" Extreme Alloys
ExpatHotspur replied to Brooksuk's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
Brooksuk - I was in exactly the same position as you, umming & arring about wheel choice. I added and then removed the 19" from the order more than once. In the end I didn't take them, I went with anthracite Gemini 18", which I'm pleased with. Ultimately for me, this is my first "sporty" car, I felt the ride was too firm on the 19" shod demo. Everyone's different though, I suspect I was affected by a 'placebo' effect of some sort. No doubt you will be happy whichever you choose. -
I think Autotrader would be mighty interested to hear about this, as would trading standards/ the police. You had the foresight to recognize the warning clues, someone else might not be so lucky. [email protected] The escrow scam is written out on the PH forum link below http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/fraudwarnings.asp
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If SWMBO is game get something signed quickly while she is in the mood :coffee:
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5h1t - this probably signifies the end of the business case for the VRS-R then http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows/volkswagen-reveals-hot-296bhp-golf-r-estate
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This. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows/volkswagen-reveals-hot-296bhp-golf-r-estate
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Getting a Deal at a Dealer!?
ExpatHotspur replied to Brooksuk's topic in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
The dealership network is franchised, meaning Skoda themselves don't discount, the dealers do. On this basis, your local dealer should be receptive to matching the discounts offered by online agents. I wouldn't worry if they don't though, they will still still be happy to handle any future warranty/ service work for you, as that is clear profit they invoice the manufacturer for. If 'Drive the Deal' strike a deal with the Inverness dealer, the car will be delivered to you in Berkshire. When hunting for the best deal myself, after i'd decided on a spec, I rang a few dealers, gave them the config ID, best deal, and asked them to beat it. Ask your local dealer last. Extensive waiting times: I ordered my TSI DSG Estate 08/09. it arrived Thursday at the dealership, now awaiting PDI, hope to collect it this weekend 22/11 - 11 weeks. Some on this forum have spoken of dealers pre ordering VRS's in popular specs to reduce the delivery time, which has then conversely further slowed delivery times. Maybe worth checking when you call/ visit to see if the dealer has any "unallocated" orders in the system you can tweak the spec on. I didn't know about this when i ordered mine. Good luck.