3 hours ago, Taz1987 said:

How did you get on with the DRL bulbs?

I haven't changed them; not sure if I'll bother as I have them switched off in the settings anyway.

Just a quick couple of pics to show the sub box in it's alternate location, seats down, ready for a tip run:

 

 

 

 

Works just fine and I now have vibro-massage function for my back if I choose the right music

Hey Defblade,

 

Great install and love the detail.

 

Very much reminds me of my past work, always did installs myself.

Though not convinced you made the best choice on the hinges... that detail would annoy me 

 

2 hours ago, Roberto280 said:

Hey Defblade,

 

Great install and love the detail.

 

Very much reminds me of my past work, always did installs myself.

Though not convinced you made the best choice on the hinges... that detail would annoy me 

 

Cheers

 

The hinges weren't a choice so much as what was in my tub of hardware! I haven't really even thought about them in use.

Not entirely about the car - one of my other loves is cycling - this came up and was a must-buy the second I saw the back

 

Well, it's been a while since I updated here.

This week is the 5 year aniversary of buying my Rapid, and to say I've never kept a car this long before should tell you most of the story

 

I've not ended up making much in the way of further mods - not helped by SuperSkoda not sending things to the UK after Brexit.

 

I have bought a set of 15" (Octavia) alloys for winter tyres:

 

 

Changed the Focals to a more sensitive (that is, louder for the same power) set of Audisons... yes, it annoys me they went in on the wonk, but that's where the terminals needed to be:

 

 

And not much else apart from drive it and give it plenty of servicing as and when.

Bought at 17k miles, just coming up to 60k now.

 

Had a day off today and it wasn't raining for once, so it got a full wash/clay/polish/wax today. Still comes up well for an 8.5 year old car, but it has certainly picked up some scratches especially around the boot from day-to-day use and tip runs. The wheels could do with a refurb now; I might get them done once I've swapped to the winters later in the year.

  

 

It has carried bikes inside and on the roof, has a roof box for running daughter's stuff back and forth to university, sits on cruise at 76mph with no fuss and little noise (if the stero is off!), lets me do those 7 hour drive university runs and get out without any great aches or pains, and does it all at 40-45mpg.

 

I did get the urge to swap it out for something less sensible earlier this year, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Even if I had, my wife said she'd rather sell her Citigo on and keep the Rapid for herself!

 

I have been considering performance mods for a bit more interest... I see mapping could take it to maybe 140 brake with no other work, but I'm a bit reluctant as I've had poor results from mapping in the past; or airbox/turbo from the 1.4/exhaust could see around 180... but I'd probably rather just buy a faster car at that point. So sticking with OE for now.

 

Just one problem has cropped up in the last couple of weeks - the scroll wheel on the RHS of the steering wheel has gone very intermittant. Googling suggests it's not uncommon across various models and new switches or a software update might sort it. I've tried a bit of contact cleaner and and air blaster with no improvement... the switches are £140-odd, and all the same info is availble on the HU, so I think that's just not going to be fixed

 

So, here's to another 5 years 🍻

I got on the internet after typing the last post, and a few more bits arrived today... new wheel bolt covers (a couple have gone missing, not sure how...); new wheel centre badges although i'm not fitting those yet - I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with the OE wheels yet, and I'll save these until something refurbed or brand new needs them; the LED boot light; and a boot-scratches-be-gone 😄

 

Had the wheels refurbed (in Audi Titanium):

Driver's front brake was getting sticky and hot, I think it was the caliper as I cleaned up all the sliders, pads, carrier etc and it kept happening (although not all the time). The MOT man said both sides were dragging a little on his machine, so I decided it was time to do a decent refresh on the front - discs, calipers, sliders and pads. Also a full brake fluid flush while I was there as it was definitely overdue.

It's not letting me upload a photo today, but it's clean silver brake parts ;)

New mats, with the correct model name ;)

Having done the front brakes at Christmas, the rears needed some attention recently, especially the passenger side where the disc was quite lipped and in a bit of a state - I think the caliper/handbrake might have been sticking at some point. So new discs and pads both sides, and a new caliper on the passenger side.

The car is coming up 10 years old either June or July, so no surprise to see the rear subframe was getting quite crusty, so while the wheels were off, I scraped off the worst of the crust, wire brushed what I could, sprayed it all down with brake cleaner and brushed lashings of hammerite on, should help it last a bit longer