hpoom they are Calibre Suzuka gunmetal 18s

Edited 10 November, 20169 yr by philpix

Couple of images of the new beast minutes after delivery, pictured with outgoing ST.

Couple of images of the new beast minutes after delivery, pictured with outgoing ST.

That blue looks great, is it the default paint?

Hi...no, the default blue is called Pacific Blue (I think). Mine is Petrol Blue (metallic). It has shades of green in certain light. Have just realised after all this rain and mud on the roads that it'll be a bigger to keep clean. Unlike my silver ST, which seemed to just absorb dirt!

As winter tyres (and their speed ratings) become topical again, here’s ‘proof’ you don’t need them to be rated the same as summer tyres:

 

Sticker on dash of rental car I’m just driving in Germany that says 240 km/h limit due to winter tyres.

 

I’ve been a good boy and have so far not taken it past 220 km/h.

Except they're "All Season" and not "Winter" tyres!  :sun:

I'm off to Germany for Christmas and I've been sent a photo of the deep snow around the house I'm visiting so, unlike last year, I may actually get to try my cheap W rated tyres in some decent snow.

On the other hand - I could just go north of the Watford Gap!

Winter tyres on here Ooop Norf BillyJim

Just rain and sunshine Darn Sowf.

Still, even down here winter tyres are valid with the temperature seldom rising above the pivotal 7ºC mark.

Just rain and sunshine Darn Sowf.

Still, even down here winter tyres are valid with the temperature seldom rising above the pivotal 7ºC mark.

It's always fun watching my neighbour (I wouldn't be seen driving a Skoda at my golf club) give up trying to move his beemer up our road. 

Except they're "All Season" and not "Winter" tyres!  :sun:

 

Who’s a smart arse, then?

 

Yes, it does indeed say “All Season” but then, somewhat confusingly, also “M&S”, which, as you will know, translates into ‘slush & snow’. Furthermore, the tyre tread looks pretty ‘winter’ to me – much heavier than I’ve seen on other so-called ‘all season’ tyres.

 

Anyway, mostly I just thought it was amusing for a rental car to bear a sticker that could be read almost as an apology for the car not being allowed to go over 240 km/h (a touch under 150 mph). Not that that particular car could do it anyway.

 

The car, incidentally, is an Audi A6, which feels awfully cramped with 4 people when accustomed to Superb standards of space. It’s back to the old “could you move up a bit (more), please?” First they offered me an A4 for the class booked, which supposedly included the Superb. How is that comparable?!! The A4 is positively miniscule against the Superb – I suspect an Octavia would be roomier than an A4 and indeed very close to A6.

Anyone changed the xenon bulbs?

I'm looking for more output. I don't think the S3 headlights are as bright as my outgoing S2

Yet another 280 spotted! Couple of days ago, just south of Street, Somerset. Brown hatchback. 66 plate.

 

These cars are not as rare as one might think?

 

Back to the ‘winter’ tyres for a moment: what the rental companies clearly do, is fit ‘all season’ rather than ‘winter’ tyres in the winter. That actually looks like a good compromise for mild climates where winter temperatures often exceed 7C.

If you never go under 7c then you want summer tires. Allseason are mediocre during summer, and plain dangerous in freezing temperatures ...

If you never go under 7c then you want summer tires. Allseason are mediocre during summer, and plain dangerous in freezing temperatures ...

 

If I may respectfully disagree, all season are much better than summer tyres in freezing temps, its the summer tyres that are dangerous!

 

My cars have full winters on one of them and all season on the other. Both are incomparably better than summer fitments at this time of year. 

 

Oh, and by the way, you can safely run full winters all year round without much of a compromise in the warmer months. Been there, done it.

 

Yves  

Allseason are only small improvement in winter conditions. Maybe you have been lucky enough to drive only on well maintained roads during winter. Check some braking tests if you doing believe me...

I have seen a lots of tests where they compare two cars: one has 4x4 and four summer tyres and one has 4x2 with four winter tyres. Why doesnt anyone make a comparison between 4x4 with four winter tyres and 4x2 with four winter tyres?! I mean, everyone drives with four wunter tyres in winter, but everyone doesnt have 4x4 vehicle....

Can someone do me a quick favour and post a photo of their 280 engine bay please?

I know the Golf is smaller, but before buying a 280 superb, did anyone do a comparison with a Golf R or R estate ?

the base price for a 280 Superb Sportline Estate isn't that far off the base for a Golf R estate, but I expect it would be different when specc'd up to the same levels.

Can someone do me a quick favour and post a photo of their 280 engine bay please?

 

Does this one from autocar magazine help at all?

 

Yeah I already found that one. I think I am going a bit mad because I thought there was a cover between the radiator and the main engine cover (the one with the logo and TSI written on it). It just looks like there should be something there and having just been for a service was wondering if they'd forgotten to pop it back on. I found a pic of the modified 280 and it has a cover in between but now I think that must be aftermarket fitment?

 

See those pics here: https://www.instagram.com/superbtte/

Yeah I already found that one. I think I am going a bit mad because I thought there was a cover between the radiator and the main engine cover (the one with the logo and TSI written on it). It just looks like there should be something there and having just been for a service was wondering if they'd forgotten to pop it back on. I found a pic of the modified 280 and it has a cover in between but now I think that must be aftermarket fitment?

 

See those pics here: https://www.instagram.com/superbtte/

 

Hi. That's my car. No cover comes with the car, you would need to order one from the USA that was modified to fit the superb 280:

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-european-volkswagen-audi-parts/lower-engine-cover-retrofit-kit/06k103925aakt/

Hi. That's my car. No cover comes with the car, you would need to order one from the USA that was modified to fit the superb 280:

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-european-volkswagen-audi-parts/lower-engine-cover-retrofit-kit/06k103925aakt/

 

Cheers for clearing that up :thumbup:

Cheers for clearing that up :thumbup:

 

No worries! Costs a bit more including postage and import taxes but I find that it really tidies up the engine bay.

That's why I thought I was going mad because it does look like something should be there!

The clue is in "On US-spec Gen3 TSI engines, the lower engine cover is not included and the intake manifold it covers definitely isn't the prettiest. ECS has found the proper cover from the European Market and paired it with the correct ball stud for direct fitment." 

 

Apparently you can order the "kit" from your local dealer if you know the part numbers