Gaz

We went to Bedgebury Pinetum on an absolutely glorious day today. Had to sit in the shade for our anti pasti lunch as the Sun was so strong. It was lovely and peaceful and the view was nice: Gaz

Crossing the Cuckoo Trail a little bit earlier this afternoon. Was 3 to 3.5" long. Not 100%, but think it's Hawk Moth caterpillar: Gaz

+1 👍 I'd certainly go back to Skoda - bottom right below the vRS badge looks like corrosion from the inside on its way out. My vRS Estate had to go back for rust on the tailgate at six months old! Even then Skoda quibbled until I sent them high res photo's and upped the anti, and which point they conceded. Gaz

Thanks George, I remembered you mentioning this before. I did check ATS as well as many others. And to be fair, had I used them I could have saved myself a penny a tyre. But I've decided to be frivolous! Gaz

Stupidity 🙄 Order amended to Crossclimate 2's 😁 Gaz

https://www.tyrecity.co.uk

Oh I certainly get that completely. Had the same with ECP over a new battery for my Superb, 5+ years ago. The branch wouldn't match their own online price, so I stayed in my place at the front of the queue, ordered the battery on my phone and they went and got undoubtedly the same battery, simply wasting my time, theirs, and the customers behind me. But why miss the opportunity of taking £52 off me - for every one of me there's probably several who pay up. What I don't get is when I tell them the price they are going to sell them to me for, why not save the farting about and just get on with it. Computer says no. Another nail in the branch's coffin. Gaz

The GTI has now done 16.5k miles and it's definitely time to change the fronts. I've decided to go for Crossclimate+ and am having all four changed on Tuesday. I really don't get some tyre places. I've bought them from local independent, who are now part of a chain. They quoted me £13 more per tyre than their online price, with the same date, time and place. And confirmed they couldn't match their own online price 🤔 So I ordered them online, on their own website, and am not giving them £52 for no apparent reason. Gaz

What a lot of grief you've had 😑 I empathise. I had exactly the same as this over a Clubsport 40 in a main dealership in Tunbridge Wells three years ago. I really wanted a Clubsport and this one was good, but not perfect. All four alloys needed a refurb, the glovebox had a deep gouge and needed replacing and the rear bumper needing fettling due to some nasty loading scratches. None of them deal breakers. They saw my vRS was in better condition than anything they have on the used forecourt and even commented they were unable to fault it. They brought the head sales chap out, who also turned the monitor around (which I found quite patronising) to show me the number of hits they were getting. Two weeks later it was down to the cash price I'd offered, and a week later was a grand below that. I don't know what happened to it after that as I'd then lost all interest in getting a Clubsport. I have looked at a Clubsport recently, but found my 7.5 is nicer. Keep the Mk6, it's a cracking looking example 👍 Gaz

As Dave has just said the difference in rear legroom is considerable. I have to have the driver's seat all the way back and in an A4 that meant no legroom behind me, but in the Octavia someone could sit behind me (just). My vRS had a Revo Stage 1 map on it, so was somewhere north of 300bhp. It handled it well in my opinion, just need to be a bit sensible with your right foot. Gaz

Hello Spong, welcome aboard the good ship Brisky Gaz

Beautiful Red Admiral sunning itself on our washing just now: Gaz

We have the 1.8TSI and DQ200 in our 2015 Polo GTI and both have been absolutely faultless. Gaz

Ola LSB Gaz

Bonjour et bienvenue Teom@n . Gaz

I was up in Stanmore today, which is a 200 mile round trip for me. Traffic nowadays can make the journey time both ways vary quite wildly, so I know now to leave in good time. Homebound, I hit a very busy M25 with all the usual muppets jostling across lanes to gain a few inches. I wasn't in a hurry, so I tucked myself in behind an A6 towing a caravan, set the ACC on and just steered. They were bobbing along nicely at 65 to 70mph where traffic allowed, which suited me. I know if a journey's over 20 miles I can get my mpg up into the 40's if I'm half sensible, but considering it's a 2.0 petrol and a GTI, I was quite pleasantly surprised to see this 35 miles in to the journey: Not bad I thought Gaz

It lives!! That was music to the ears. Gaz

QM team Cricket have moved on to vehicle inspection: Gaz

G'day SkR7 My first Skoda was a V6 Superb . When I swapped it for an Octavia vRS I had a Revo stage 1 map installed - made it a fair bit nippier! Gaz

Hello Gazza Gaz

I went to buy an Octavia 1.6 TDI hatchback when looking for a replacement for my Superb. We disagreed over a stone chip in the bonnet, so I didn't buy it. Went back in the showroom and took a vRS estate out for a test drive. Really enjoyed the test drive, so bit the bullet and bought my first ever brand new car. Had three very happy years in my Sprint Yellow vRS (TSI) Estate. I say go for it Gaz

Flying tonight, from my patio: All over in 20 minutes, but was mesmerising watching them fly up into the evening sunlight. Reminded me of glowing embers going up in the smoke of a bonfire Gaz

From when I sold a spare 18" Gemini to Auric on here: Gaz

That one must be one of the new hatchback estates! I went from a Superb to an Octavia estate and didn't miss the room. I'm now in a GTI and occasionally miss the benefits of an estate. Agree with George about trying the smaller engines if power isn't essential. One thing that'll be on my list for next car considerations is tyres. Our Polo GTI is on 17"s and sometimes feels like it hasn't got suspension, which I've had enough of. I'll be wanting some tyre wall on my next car. Comfort over handling. Gaz

Hello QK From my favourite County - we like to escape to Bridport and Pilsden when times allow. Gaz