Gaz

i30 😁🤷‍♂️

They fitted a set of four new tyres for me last week. Three were at 41psi and one was at 42psi 🙄 (Cold, the following morning). Should be 36psi. It’s even got a label on the B Pillar that’s easy to read. Gaz

I think you're right. Looking back a page, I had the CC2's fitted in September 2021, two of which were still on the car. So 0921 is the latest possible date code any of them could have 🙄 Could explain why I got a health check I didn't ask for. I don't like the Dallas wheels at all. Those on my car are Milton Keynes. Gaz

I did indeed: Asked them to look after my alloys due to the recent-ish refurb, which they did 👍 But because they were paying attention, they reminded me that one wheel has a buckle 😢 That'll be from the pothole I clumped back in 2023 😡 Gaz PS: Interestingly, I got a subsequent email from them with a 'Vehicle Health Check' attached. I specifically unchecked the VHC box at the time of ordering, as I didn't want one. A couple of odd points on it though: Firstly, the NSR tyre has an 0524 date code. The last new tyre it had was in November 2023! Fickle thing this ol' space-time continuum 🙄 And it's the same for the Spare. It's a 2018 GTI, which I've had since new. The spare's never been out of the car, but it's apparently 3 years and 4 months old. Maybe it's getting younger..... maybe it's a girl, not a boy..... maybe I should call her Christine! 🤷‍♂️ G

Yours will be a Mk2 Octavia, not a Mk3. I'll ask a Moderator to move the thread to the Mk2 Area. Gaz

+1 And that’s without seeing the rest of the MOT history. Gaz

If you're driving for a few hours at a time, certainly consider the 2.0TDI (There's a nice looking (IMO) Black Edition in Sheffield). Rarer, but 1.4 TSI's (Petrol) and 1.6TDI's do come up. Gaz

Brake discs look tired. Matching, but budget tyres: reviews are quite mixed. No photo's of the seat bases (always a good reminder to look closely!). See if you can get the Reg. No. so you can look at its MOT history. Check its service history. I've always fancied a Yeti (though I'd want a 4x4). When looking I was surprised how small the boot is. A mate had a 1.2 Fabia from the same year, that I looked after from time to time - had a good little engine. If you're not mechanically minded, have it inspected. Don't buy it without seeing it, and driving it yourself, would be my advice. Gaz

That’s a good point. Totally different engine (EA888 G3), but the most likely cause of my turbo’s demise back in 2018 was the coolant check valve reporting itself open, when it was actually closed. Painful experience that. Gaz

If you’re losing coolant via a failed heater matrix, your car will be wet inside. Best lift the carpets and check the front footwells for coolant. There might be an associated sweet smell (of the coolant) as well. I’m struggling to see a link between a sealed liquid circuit and switching a blower fan on. Others will know better than me. If it’s getting blown out through your expansion tank getting pressurised, it might be time for a sniff test and other investigations to confirm the integrity of your head gasket. Gaz

When my 2015 vRS estate was new, it developed a front end creak that was resolved under warranty. It turned out to be particularly tight drop links, which were replaced and the creak cured. It noticed most on slow speed turning, in my case, reversing on to my drive. Gaz

I'd want to know what wrote it off. Did it have an argument with two bulldozers and a Humvee, or was it a new wing and headlight? If it was minor, but costly, then that wouldn't put me off in itself. The 1.2's a good little engine, just needs to be kept well topped up with oil to keep the cam chain happy. As skomaz, I'd probably check insurance costs, just in case the Cat N makes it stupid money - I doubt it, but best to play it safe. Go by condition, and what the car feels like. Could do you a good turn. Gaz

V70 on the way down to Paris last week: Gaz

Me and my scooter at Notre Dame: Gaz 😁 PS: It found its way to a few other places too - shameless tourist: 😁

Mrs Gaz walked up to the Chattri, just North of Brighton this afternoon: Gaz

The GTI's eight years old now (that's gone quick!): Not doing too bad on it. New tyres going on the week after next. Think I've decided on PS5's. Gaz

Hello and welcome mngxxx Can't help with your questions as it could be many things, but I've very fond memories of my 2005 V6TDI Elegance, which was my first Skoda 😎 Such a classy car - Ed. 100 even more so of course 👍 Gaz

I traded mine in 2015 and it dropped off all the online records in 2020. One of the last MOT's mention front bumper damage and an engine oil leak, so I wonder if something untoward happened to it after it left my ownership. Gaz

My 2015 vRS did it all year round, and would cloud the rear window for a few seconds. Perfectly normal. There are several threads on here about it. Gaz

You and me both The Fiesta brings up a completely different set of emotions, that the McLaren never will. Even Mrs Gaz was beaming while we were chatting with the owner (she had a 1980 1.1 and a 1981 1.3 back in the mid '80's). G

Saw this little gem from 1980 this afternoon: Spoke to the owner - it's his seventh Fiesta 👍 Tip top condition 😎 Then I saw this: I tried to get closer, but a McLaren can seemingly outrun my 8mph mobility scooter - who knew 🤷‍♂️ Gaz

More nice car with a not so nice backdrop: At my local shopping centre just now. Don't know that it's a real Harlequin, but it made me smile all the same 😁 Gaz

Decision time, as I got an advisory at today's MOT for the OSF getting low. The NSF also got a mention, so I've got at least two to change. The GTI's at 43,800 miles, so I'm quite impressed at getting 26,000 miles out of the CC2's 👍 I could get two CC3's/Sports (or four mebbe), but I'm quite tempted to get four PS4s's, or maybe try PS5's. Think I'll sleep on it. Gaz

Really good point. My DSG has clutches, no torque converter. I'm always in the gear that I want the car to be in. Quicker acceleration and gear changes. I have an auto only licence, but my first experience was driving a manual (Ford Anglia) on a farm. It came as a surprise and disappointment that I wouldn't be allowed to drive a manual on the roads. And back in the very early 1980's some of the auto's I owned had pretty dire gearboxes, making me dead envious of my mates in their manuals. But times have changed. Mrs Gaz is the same - won't go back to a manual. My Daughter passed her car driving test last year, in a manual. But her first car is an auto and she doesn't want a manual. This is despite her motorbike being a manual. I don't believe there isn't a demand for manual cars either. But I do think that demand is diminishing, and with some pretty impressive autos/DSG's out there, I can understand why. Gaz