Hey all

 

Haven't been on for a while. The car's been great. No problems since the #3 HT lead melted a few years back. Done all the tweaks I wanted. Very happy.

 

But.

 

It's 5 years old in April, so we'd been thinking about the way forward. Our needs aren't great. We don't do much UK mileage. I'm retired. The wife just does 2 days a week in the village. But we do take a leisurely punt down to the Dordogne in summer. This year, for a change, we're off to Lake Como via Bruges, Metz, Basel, and back via Lucerne and Luxembourg City. Might be our last big run, before the dreaded coaches and cruises ;-) 

 

Big service before, MOT, at least two new tyres - then when we're back, think about a new car.

 

Current vehicle was a 3 month old demo car. We paid cash. At my time of life, I don't want to spend big lump sums that way anymore, so was interested to see Skoda were doing 0% APR on PCP's and a £750 contribution. On a spur, off we go down to the local dealer.

 

Well. About an hour later, we've ordered basically the same car again, 1.2 petrol, DSG, but in SE trim, and this time Cappuccino Beige.

 

Very happy with the deal.

 

Satnav was on the list, but then the guy showed us how Smartlink worked via Android Auto. I'm an old geezer, but I do like tech, and was mightily impressed. £150, but still saved £600, and no malarkeys with map updates. He suggested downloading Google Map areas ahead, to avoid data plan issues. Although I thought phones used a GPS chip anyway, not data? Mine's a Nexus 6P, which does have a GPS chip.

 

Can anyone clarify this?

 

Anyhoo, spare wheel and mudflaps, and our limited list of extras was done.

 

Should be 12 weeks max, so with luck, will be here just before the MOT comes up at the end of April. So no more money needing spending on that one.

 

And a glossy new car to enjoy La Dolce Vita :-)

 

Happy days.

 

 

 

.

".....coaches and cruises"!

Next you'll be in a retirement home..........never give in!

Impeccable taste in car, engine, transmission and colour!

Your phone may have a GPS chip but you still need maps for the sat-nav to work.  Some apps need a data connection but some allow maps to be down-loaded and then you can use the sat-nav without needing a data connection (and cost).

....Quick!..... Start those Cruises now. :sun:

We've been doing them for 10 years now and not a Coach in sight ( for a very long time I hope.)

Hey all

 

Haven't been on for a while. The car's been great. No problems since the #3 HT lead melted a few years back. Done all the tweaks I wanted. Very happy.

 

But.

 

It's 5 years old in April, so we'd been thinking about the way forward. Our needs aren't great. We don't do much UK mileage. I'm retired. The wife just does 2 days a week in the village. But we do take a leisurely punt down to the Dordogne in summer. This year, for a change, we're off to Lake Como via Bruges, Metz, Basel, and back via Lucerne and Luxembourg City. Might be our last big run, before the dreaded coaches and cruises ;-) 

 

Big service before, MOT, at least two new tyres - then when we're back, think about a new car.

 

Current vehicle was a 3 month old demo car. We paid cash. At my time of life, I don't want to spend big lump sums that way anymore, so was interested to see Skoda were doing 0% APR on PCP's and a £750 contribution. On a spur, off we go down to the local dealer.

 

Well. About an hour later, we've ordered basically the same car again, 1.2 petrol, DSG, but in SE trim, and this time Cappuccino Beige.

 

Very happy with the deal.

 

Satnav was on the list, but then the guy showed us how Smartlink worked via Android Auto. I'm an old geezer, but I do like tech, and was mightily impressed. £150, but still saved £600, and no malarkeys with map updates. He suggested downloading Google Map areas ahead, to avoid data plan issues. Although I thought phones used a GPS chip anyway, not data? Mine's a Nexus 6P, which does have a GPS chip.

 

Can anyone clarify this?

 

Anyhoo, spare wheel and mudflaps, and our limited list of extras was done.

 

Should be 12 weeks max, so with luck, will be here just before the MOT comes up at the end of April. So no more money needing spending on that one.

 

And a glossy new car to enjoy La Dolce Vita :-)

 

Happy days.

 

 

 

.

I too have recently ordered a 1.2 SE and was debating the sat nav / android auto route. The things that swayed me towards ordering the Amundsen unit were as follows.

 

Android auto will use the car GPS reciever which should be better than the 'phone especially if the 'phone is tucked away in a neat place eg in the cubby near the USB connector.

Not sure if Android auto will give turn indication in Maxidot display which would be useful given the low position of the display.

'Phone needs Android 'lollipop' to work ...your Nexus is fine but I'm still waiting for my Samsung S5 mini to receive the update...some older 'phones will not be updated.

As has been stated, for full functionality you will need a data connection to provide the maps and real time information although as your salesman stated Google now allow downloading map data for offline use, but I think this is time limited and would need to be downloaded again from time to time (every 30 days?? )

Although I also 'like tech' I know it doesn't always perform perfectly so went for belt and braces....having the security of the built in unit (free map updates for life now) with the option to use the new tech if more appropriate.

Michael,

You are wise to skip the Dordogne this year. Your usual spot at Beynac is a nightmare as the road through is being widened over the river. This has meant alternating one-way traffic through the village. There is a 2m width restriction and traffic lights at each end. There is chaos every day with people jumping the lights and streams of traffic from both ends meeting in the middle. Chaos!

Enjoy Lake Como!

Haven't taken the car over to mainland Europe for years (have been on the m/bike though) and Lake Como is one place I'd like to drive to. Chap at work has been a couple of times (flew) and spoke highly of it.

 

Plan to take the TT though as that is what we bought it for, touring.

Your phone may have a GPS chip but you still need maps for the sat-nav to work.  Some apps need a data connection but some allow maps to be down-loaded and then you can use the sat-nav without needing a data connection (and cost).

Thanks philbes

 

I think I've got it now. The GPS chip tells you where you are, but knows not where you want to be. So on an old school satnav, the data already loaded on it comes into play. Same with a phone. It needs the data for directions - so I either download that in advance for offline use, or stream via 3/4G, with all that that implies. Thank you.

I too have recently ordered a 1.2 SE and was debating the sat nav / android auto route. The things that swayed me towards ordering the Amundsen unit were as follows.

 

Android auto will use the car GPS reciever which should be better than the 'phone especially if the 'phone is tucked away in a neat place eg in the cubby near the USB connector.

Not sure if Android auto will give turn indication in Maxidot display which would be useful given the low position of the display.

'Phone needs Android 'lollipop' to work ...your Nexus is fine but I'm still waiting for my Samsung S5 mini to receive the update...some older 'phones will not be updated.

As has been stated, for full functionality you will need a data connection to provide the maps and real time information although as your salesman stated Google now allow downloading map data for offline use, but I think this is time limited and would need to be downloaded again from time to time (every 30 days?? )

Although I also 'like tech' I know it doesn't always perform perfectly so went for belt and braces....having the security of the built in unit (free map updates for life now) with the option to use the new tech if more appropriate.

 

Indeed Microlite. And that was exactly my rationale, until I saw Android Auto in use. Voice commands via OK Google etc.

 

I might end up regretting the final decision, but we'll see. I have my Garmin currently hard wired in via a piggyback fuse so I'll be keeping that and have it as a back up plan.

Michael,

You are wise to skip the Dordogne this year. Your usual spot at Beynac is a nightmare as the road through is being widened over the river. This has meant alternating one-way traffic through the village. There is a 2m width restriction and traffic lights at each end. There is chaos every day with people jumping the lights and streams of traffic from both ends meeting in the middle. Chaos!

Enjoy Lake Como!

 

Hey M

 

Good to hear from you! I still get a page feed from Beynac so had seen the work under way. Looked something like what la Roque did a few years ago. I'm sure it will be better once completed but yes, I can imagine the chaos now, and can only wonder what it'll be like in summer. Chin up :-)

 

We've actually packed in the glamping now. We loved Capeyrou and Beynac and the area generally, but it was just too much like hard work in summer. So we sold up the kit, and will use concrete tents in future. Last year we took a 200 yr old winemaker's cottage nr St Emilion, and had a fab time. Two bags in the boot, arrive at vin rouge time, bliss. We did our best to recreate those bygone days.

 

Swapping claret for chianti this year. Roll on. 

Haven't taken the car over to mainland Europe for years (have been on the m/bike though) and Lake Como is one place I'd like to drive to. Chap at work has been a couple of times (flew) and spoke highly of it.

 

Plan to take the TT though as that is what we bought it for, touring.

 

Last 4 years we've been in SW France, going Portsmouth>St Malo. For us the southern ports are much of a muchness, distance wise, but you couldn't pay me to endure the hellhole of Dover>Calais and back. But a western crossing works well, as the crossing is the o/n.

 

This year we fancied a bit of a mini european tour. From home we can be on the Hull boat in 90 mins, and the north-east crossing means we can pick up Bruges and beyond with overnights in some nice places down and up.

 

Roll on. And a new car to do it in :-)

So, about 6 weeks start to finish, order/build, then collection today.

 

First class handover from D M Keith Bradford.

 

Now busy with manuals. Off for lunch out in the Dales tomorrow to celebrate