15 hours ago, Defenderben said:

Having got it home, the previous owner has had the tips of the pipes painted Matt black, that's why they look a bit messy/dirty.

 

Just Gummi pledged all the rubbers, give them some moisture back

Can that paint be removed?  Or does it look ok? 

 

I was toying with powder coating the tips of my inbound Superb 280 as apparently that can be reversed but I'm not sure if I'll risk it. 

3 hours ago, vrskeith said:

and I love listening to this guys who never have a car for more than a couple of weeks and also have to fund the purchase & running costs.

Shame they don't read up detail on reliability , safety issue on road,from owners vlogs  etc.

Difficult parallel parking??? Did you notice the size of the parking bays....

 

As for the main question, do I really need to become involved / engaged with a car, especially in day-to-day driving, or should I reserve those emotions

for SWMBO?

Or... am I both old & lazy? It's a factor for sure, but after 1/2 a million miles maybe it's time to relaxxxx.

 

DC

1 hour ago, penguin17 said:

Can that paint be removed?  Or does it look ok? 

 

I was toying with powder coating the tips of my inbound Superb 280 as apparently that can be reversed but I'm not sure if I'll risk it. 

All 4 tips on my Superb 2 are carbon-dark, perhaps I should leave them in their natural state? 

1 minute ago, old newbie2 said:

All 4 tips on my Superb 2 are carbon-dark, perhaps I should leave them in their natural state? 

Nah get some Autosol on the case. 

6 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

Has anyone done the cost of ownership thing for them as a keeper.? 

 A cheap performance car, but main dealer servicing to schedule needs considering.

Car bought new, or 'nearly new', or well used, & kept 6 years or more. DSG or  Manual.

10,000 miles a year.

Fuel.

Annual VW Servicing, 2 yearly A/C if by VW Recomendation.

Brake Fluid @ 3 years and Haldex service @ 3 Years.

DSG Service at 40,000 miles so @ 4 years.

Tyres. 

Warranty years 4,5 & 6, and further Servicing if keeping, Haldex at 6 years.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes 

http://volkswagen.co.uk/need-help/owners/Fuel 

Yeah,would be good see some figures from an anal owner or two George. 

 

A shame some magazines don't examine ,with the help of owners, such details rather than annual review stuff or "long termers" that do 12000 miles or less.

Guess they pander to the PCP / Lease owners, who get rid after 2 -3 years. 

7 hours ago, vrskeith said:

Yeah,would be good see some figures from an anal owner or two George. 

 

A shame some magazines don't examine ,with the help of owners, such details rather than annual review stuff or "long termers" that do 12000 miles or less.

Guess they pander to the PCP / Lease owners, who get rid after 2 -3 years. 

Anal Owners? Who might they be, car-spotters perhaps?

 

Me confuzzled ....... DC

On 3/28/2018 at 13:42, penguin17 said:

Nah get some Autosol on the case. 

I'm not crawling about on the ground at my age!

+ If they were shiny then people might notice, I like to keep my Q-car as discreet as possible.

 

DC 

Talking anal, 

my favourite tail pipes. (on a car in my favourite colour if stuck in a snow drift)

I would be happy leaving them dirty.

Nice JCW. 

After the snow is past it will be time to go taking MINI up on the offers of road tests and see what they have for 2018.

Seriously going to look for a 3 year old though. 

57 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

After the snow is past it will be time to go taking MINI up on the offers of road tests and see what they have for 2018.

Seriously going to look for a 3 year old though. 

Your next motor George with auto box.

Please don't buy the jelly mould variant!

George perhaps you can do a deal with Furby Tom if he is up for it. lol

Edited 29 March, 20188 yr by vrskeith

I will put it on stilts and fit a Roo Bar.  (Soft touch...)

3 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

I will put it on stilts and fit a Roo Bar.  (Soft touch...)

I sense a new thread coming from you soon. lol

1 hour ago, AwaoffSki said:

After the snow is past it will be time to go taking MINI up on the offers of road tests and see what they have for 2018.

Seriously going to look for a 3 year old though. 

 

 

They have recently swapped over to production of the facelift (or LCI in BMW-speak) version which has come with an across the board price rise.
There's not too much that seems essential in the way of styling and gadgets, but the automatic has changed to a 7 speed DSG-style gearbox instead of the 6 speed traditional automatic.

 

It's had the handy effect of pushing prices down on nearly new cars as dealers look to offload stock. There are some cracking bargains about.

 

It's also looking like there will be quite a break in JCW production starting this year, so a used example seems like an even better idea to me.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2018/03/27/mini-stop-jcw-production-europe-temporarily-due-emissions-regulations/

 

I drove the car in the picture when new and loved as was.

Drove the new one, and lovely, not buying a new one, want a crashed one. Much Cheapness.

 

I would like a Clubvan, i was after one when the came out and then got something else,

but the odd Automatic is still costing too much.

There is a lovely black one on Autotrader.

Would make an ideal hearse for pet funerals. (or a nice Off white one for whatever... Cake deliveries.)

Edited 29 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

On the R has anyone got heated leather?

 

Reason I ask is my heated leather on the new (to me) R, heats up really nicely on the lower back but the actual seat pad is noticeably cooler but still warms up.

 

This happens on both seats and is relative to all heat settings.

 

My previous Golf SV had heated cloth seats and both the back and seat pad heated to the same temperatures according to the heat setting.

 

Also had a nice 90 mile round trip out to the Eden Project, getting into the manual more as each mile clicks on, definitely not as quick as the DSG from getting away but happy with the involvement of a stick shift for the twisty bits

Edited 30 March, 20188 yr by Defenderben

Being only a auto driver and never using paddles i move the DSG sticks manually when it suits the road.

Just my lack of manual experience of never driving manuals but i have never understood what is special about a gearstick and a clutch to press with a left foot.

Servo Clutch Porsche and Citroen were good, a gearstick and no clutch pedal.

There was an aircooled semi auto VW Beetle too, better rear suspension set up (semi trailing arm) as opposed to swing arm. Had a normal gear stick and 4 position H-pattern gate. VW built the World you know.

3 hours ago, AwaoffSki said:

Being only a auto driver and never using paddles i move the DSG sticks manually when it suits the road.

Just my lack of manual experience of never driving manuals but i have never understood what is special about a gearstick and a clutch to press with a left foot.

Servo Clutch Porsche and Citroen were good, a gearstick and no clutch pedal.

IMVHO, nothing at all special. Three pedals & a stick were all that was available / affordable back in the day.

It's taken a long time, but most modern automatics both enhance the performance & add some pleasure to the driving task, whilst reducing the workload.

I've driven some of the older auto's & I'm very happy to enjoy our DSG's, especially the paddles if I feel the need for involvement...

However, the automated manuals really are rubbish........

 

 

DC

 

10 hours ago, old newbie2 said:

IMVHO, nothing at all special. Three pedals & a stick were all that was available / affordable back in the day.

It's taken a long time, but most modern automatics both enhance the performance & add some pleasure to the driving task, whilst reducing the workload.

I've driven some of the older auto's & I'm very happy to enjoy our DSG's, especially the paddles if I feel the need for involvement...

However, the automated manuals really are rubbish........

 

 

DC

 

David,

Call me old fashioned and a bit of a Luddite but for me there is something special about conventional driving with three pedals. Coordinating the driving skills of throttle control, smooth transmission progression along with said throttle control and   the control and balance use of braking under speed and for road condition.

Combining the engine/gearing/ reverse for support to wheel braking.

It might be an ego thing but to me there is nothing like smooth engine progression under human control using mechanical means, combined with on the money gear changes to boost a driver's pride in the acquired driving skills/ precision over years of learning.  Nothing quite beats that buzz of the "perfect gear change".

As long as  my physical bodily elements , mental /coordination allow , my preference will always be  a manual change, it's not all about supper fast gear changes, launch control etc. computer /electronic controlled bells and whistles.

Edited 31 March, 20188 yr by vrskeith

The manual Vs auto opinions will rave on into eternity, as it's an individual's choice.

 

For me DSG, is awesomely quick and in the manual R there is no way I could get it moving like a DSG can but for me there are other factors.

 

I just never felt in total control, there is a little something missing but cannot put my finger on it. Anyway lovely sleeper cars and everyone enjoy whichever they have chosen

 

Anyone with heated leather got the backs hotter than the seat pad bits, on both driver and passenger seats?

53 minutes ago, vrskeith said:

David,

Call me old fashioned and a bit of a Luddite but for me there is something special about conventional driving with three pedals. Coordinating the driving skills of throttle control, smooth transmission progression along with said throttle control and   the control and balance use of braking under speed and for road condition.

Combining the engine/gearing/ reverse for support to wheel braking.

It might be an ego thing but to me there is nothing like smooth engine progression under human control using mechanical means, combined with on the money gear changes to boost a driver's pride in the acquired driving skills/ precision over years of learning.  Nothing quite beats that buzz of the "perfect gear change".

As long as  my physical bodily elements , mental /coordination allow , my preference will always be  a manual change, it's not all about supper fast gear changes, launch control etc. computer /electronic controlled bells and whistles.

 

 

Yeah but tbf in really quick stuff, theres enough going on without having to fuss about with a clutch aswel. 

 

Defo makes fast stuff faster. 

1 hour ago, Defenderben said:

The manual Vs auto opinions will rave on into eternity, as it's an individual's choice.

 

For me DSG, is awesomely quick and in the manual R there is no way I could get it moving like a DSG can but for me there are other factors.

 

I just never felt in total control, there is a little something missing but cannot put my finger on it. Anyway lovely sleeper cars and everyone enjoy whichever they have chosen

 

Anyone with heated leather got the backs hotter than the seat pad bits, on both driver and passenger seats?

Agree with you, it's nice that we do (sometimes) have a choice of transmissions. 

 

As for the seat query. all of our ours have heated seats, & we both think that the backs & seat pads are at the same temperature.

But, if you are wearing a coat or heavy sweater, the seat pad  "seems" to warm up faster.

If you have access 1 or 2 digital thermometers, if so try leaving it on the seat &, or  then taping it to the seat back.

 

DC 

2 hours ago, vrskeith said:

David,

Call me old fashioned and a bit of a Luddite but for me there is something special about conventional driving with three pedals. Coordinating the driving skills of throttle control, smooth transmission progression along with said throttle control and   the control and balance use of braking under speed and for road condition.

Combining the engine/gearing/ reverse for support to wheel braking.

It might be an ego thing but to me there is nothing like smooth engine progression under human control using mechanical means, combined with on the money gear changes to boost a driver's pride in the acquired driving skills/ precision over years of learning.  Nothing quite beats that buzz of the "perfect gear change".

As long as  my physical bodily elements , mental /coordination allow , my preference will always be  a manual change, it's not all about supper fast gear changes, launch control etc. computer /electronic controlled bells and whistles.

Keith,

Very logical thinking Sir, & won't argue with your thinking, but maybe I /we have become too lazy / old to enjoy / employ the skills that we (hopefully) still retain.

We both still think that for every-day driving, especially in this area, a really good auto is best suited to us & our driving requirements.

 

As I've said before we have many years & miles of manual driving experiences,  & have discovered that the DSG + paddles combination to be just what we require in our dotage...... 

 

Maybe if we could justify a proper "fun-car" that would never have to sit in traffic or be at all sensible, then we could buy a manual to play with, but it would probably never be used as a daily driver. It's the "been there, done that & had enough clutch-pedal ache" scenario.

 

We did try one of the new MX5's  not so long ago & the manual box suits the car, but it's just to tight a fit for us, & a Boxster /Cayman isn't much better.

 

Don't laugh too much, but I'm beginning to regret selling my last Mk3 V6 Mondeo, a nice 6-speed & enough torque to block-change when feeling lazy.......   

 

TTFN, DC

Well I never.