philes

looks Just a bit short to sleep in, even at my 5'6". That's much closer to my current "MPV" ["minivan" here]--a 2002 Toyota Sienna. I've loved the practicality but I can't stand driving it anymore. I really, really want something that handles like a car. Really? I pictured a lot of mud at trailhead parking lots. Good to know. If you've got a spare bike that's anywhere close to my size (5'6"), I'd love a guided tour of your local trails in October! Our bikes will be arriving by container ship ~6 weeks later if all goes to plan. Ooh, hadn't heard about this. If we're settled enough (a long shot) maybe I'll rent a demo bike and give it a go. I did my first enduro race last year (https://www.pinkbike.com/news/california-enduro-series-round-7-kamikaze-bike-games-enduro-videophoto-recap-pro-stage-action.html) and am itching to do more. Haven't had time (for riding or anything else) this year because of the move.

DEFINITELY. They seem extremely different--in a good way. I'd spent enough time looking at the Dundee area on google maps to know that A90 was the main east-west artery. Then I was later poking around in street view, and was shocked to realize it was only 2 lanes in each direction--funny. Noted! I'd prefer to keep it under 15,000 pounds (need to learn the keyboard shortcut for that fancy "L"), but am flexible. Aha! Great to know. Yeah, I suppose I'll have to come to grips with that essential truth. I suspect the SECOND car I get in Scotland will be Japanese. THANKS for the input!

Hi all, moving to Dundee from Los Angeles in September, sight unseen (wife got a university job). I visited the UK 20 years ago, but I basically know nothing. I'm excited--I hope you'll indulge some outsider questions. We'll be looking for a used car. The best choice seems to be a mk3 Octavia estate DSG. Not too big/clumsy for your country's charmingly small roads, but big enough to fit an MTB inside and occasionally sleep in. Coming from a background of indestructible old Japanese cars, will the reliability be noticeably bad? There don't seem to be a lot of high-mileage Octavias for sale--are they all dead and off the road? Maybe I'm just used to a larger pool of used cars? I'd like to keep it for a long time, and would want it to stay quite reliable. I've seen a few high-mileage cars/vans for sale with rust "in all the usual spots"--rust is foreign to me. Do they salt the roads? Does it kill cars? In the US, used-car dealers are sketchy. Same in Scotland? I've clicked around the briskoda forum a bit, and it sounds like they're the same breed. Diesel or "petrol"? I've read a few faqs, but they were pretty weak. I understand the basics--diesel costs incrementally more per "litre," gets incrementally better mileage, has incrementally better CO2 emissions. When I think VW diesel, I think "scandal." I also think of diesels as rough/loud. DSG: Is it worth avoiding the 7-speed DQ200 for long-term reliability? Not sure what implications that would have for engine choices in the used models. Traction control: it looks like all the new Octavia models have this. Do I want it? Not sure how long ago it was introduced. If it would keep me from getting stuck in a muddy "car park," I'm intrigued. "CHEERS!"