ExpatHotspur
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Posts posted by ExpatHotspur
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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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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.
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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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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.
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We'll be seeing more and more of this as these auto features glitch. I'd never spec them myself.
Money better spent on driving tuition if it's needed as it works on all cars.
I'm interested to see what happens when the lane hold function fitted to more and more cars
sends someone into the barrier on the motorway when the lanes all move over one but they
haven't burnt the lines off of the road yet.
Fine until one of these glitches costs a life then what? Sue the car for damages?
Lock the car up for causing death by dangerous driving?
It's only a matter of time until it happens. I think these driver 'aids' are very dangerous.
I don't even like auto boxes because they make cars into point and shoot.
If the skills aren't there to get around without all this help then frankly I question whether
or not the 'driver' (or is that attendant these days) should even have a licence
Hey, it'd be dull if we were all the same wouldn't it. I was sharing my pain with a brother who scuffed a wheel. Thanks for the salt in the wound. Shalom
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We have had ours 2 weeks. My wife reversed into another car using the auto park feature at the weekend. I said nothing, took the dog for like a 90 munute walk, and said nothing. **** happens, its metal and plastic, get out there and drive the nuts off it!
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Welcome. Where in CR are you, I'm in a suburb of Prague
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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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Don't forget that using winter wheels also means your nice diamond cut wheels(us Gemini and extreme wheel owners) and are not exposed to the salty minging roads
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 uglywinter 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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Stupid question perhaps, but i'm curious, why are you concerned about an extra owner being entered?
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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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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?
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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.
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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.
The escrow scam is written out on the PH forum link below
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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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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.
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Its arrived! :clap: :sun: :cocktail:
The dealer sent me a sneaky preview picture last night! I'm going to collect it sometime this week.
Ordered 8th September, they warned me it would be end of January originally!
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It must go there, the tollbooth reader won't pick it up if its elsewhere, i speak from personal experience.
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For goodness sake take her out and buy dinner with it, you lucky devil.
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What about the things that annoy you?
in Skoda Octavia Mk III (2013 - 2020)
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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/