"A great mind once said 'I'm not going to modify it'. And for he was right. For he was not going to modify it... someone else was going to do it for him!"

Well with the Darkside Octi being stripped for bits because I've moved on (And sort of partly a blessing because ULEZ area and that car wouldn't have been a good mix!) I stepped up a bit and landed a very decent 2017 face lift VRS estate.

 

It's very clean, low miles and it's been looked after really well.

 

 

I had always been a bit meh about autos, but with such a heavy clutch in the old Octi and the M25 being stop-start all the time during home time from work, I thought I'd have another look at them. Took a bit of adjustment, but I'm quite liking it now. Not really used the paddles or the semi-auto with the stick, just slipped it into D and went on my way.

 

 

Because it was so clean underneth and hardly any rust at all, I thought this would be the best time to try out this Lanogaurd I see posted everywhere online. So washed the under carrage, dried it out with the blower and set to work with the spray bottle. People didn't lie when they said it smells like wet sheep... Will report back next year and see if there's any change or difference.

Other than that, I know I always say I'm not going to modify it to my parents... bbuuutttt...

 

I did say *I* wasn't going to mod it, someone else will 😂

5 hours ago, Volf said:

Not really used the paddles or the semi-auto with the stick,

A good auto doesn't need flappy paddles or a tip.

32 minutes ago, Paws4Thot said:

A good auto doesn't need flappy paddles or a tip.

*In your opinion* 

Edited 12 August, 20232 yr by Volf

And we're back.

Lowered on H&R
Maxton front, sides and rear bits
Hella Supertone Horns
New grill
Full custom Spyro the Dragon wrap
Ceramic coated
Rotiform SIX alloy in gold

Still left to do later:
New speakers/under seat subwoofer
RGB Underglow (Hashtag bring back neons)
Tints

Have the mods made any difference to your insurance premium?

29 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

Have the mods made any difference to your insurance premium?

Yep. Went up!

Everything accounted for under NFU.

 

One successful track day at Snetterton with no problems!
(Excuse the broken front lip, being replaced Monday) Partner misjudged a curb at a service station on the way back home from Scotland 🙃

Weighing up options for remapping and DSG map. Looking at OEM+, be interested to hear if anyone has used them before and had any thoughts.

On 27/11/2023 at 11:32, Volf said:

And we're back.

Lowered on H&R
Maxton front, sides and rear bits
Hella Supertone Horns
New grill
Full custom Spyro the Dragon wrap
Ceramic coated
Rotiform SIX alloy in gold

Still left to do later:
New speakers/under seat subwoofer
RGB Underglow (Hashtag bring back neons)
Tints

God help me, but I find like that wrap! 😄

1 minute ago, EnterName said:

God help me, but I find like that wrap! 😄

 

It's quite different!  At least if someone hits me I can say how could you not see it? 🤪

Racing Line have a very good reputation on the petrol, no idea about the diesel. Got mine mapped by Revo a few days ago and I’m shocked at the difference it made, it’s night and day. If you get the Revo DSG map, they change the shift points to keep it in the power band after the map, amongst other things

Oh boy. Have I got a story to tell about my experience with getting it mapped.

 

So much so, I'm seeing my solicitor this week about it.

 

As for the REVO map, so far so good, but they didn't have a DSG file for my box. However, I won't be going back for it.

 

Once I find out where my stand with this, I can share all.

 

🙃

I'm interested to hear...

So the garage did not respond to the solicitors letter.
I quote the following from the recording:

"Is this your mate with the Merc?"
"Definitely aint got any mates"
"Nah the one with the Mario kart"
"Nah this is just a wrap (My car) that was a charity thing (Guy with Merc), This is because I think he's a paedophile"

Personally I think this says a lot more about this guy than it does me. Pretty funny when his own Facebook page has a post which says 'If you're nice to me, I'll be nice to you'. I was nothing but polite when I contacted and visited for the first time. Clearly, will not be dealing with again. Also means I lose out on the REVO sale then for a DSG map which they didn't have at the time.

As in you overheard it on a dash cam recording when they had your car mapped? I cant think of any criminal offences it fulfils so I'm not surprised they haven't responded to a letter, no crime was committed. Not malicious communications or harassment. Sorry to say but that sort of appearance, most people are going to think negatively of you.

and this is why many garages are now starting to insist on dashcams being disabled when a car left with them....................

On 12/05/2024 at 11:34, sakta said:

As in you overheard it on a dash cam recording when they had your car mapped? I cant think of any criminal offences it fulfils so I'm not surprised they haven't responded to a letter, no crime was committed. Not malicious communications or harassment. Sorry to say but that sort of appearance, most people are going to think negatively of you.

No one said it was a criminal offence - It's a civil matter.

Are you 'Most people' then? Because most people I've interacted with be it at shows, days out, charity runs, driving down the street or being overtaken on motorways, have been nothing but smiles and thumbs up 🤷‍♂️ Either way, I'm over the one ****e comment, because the huge positive response I've had since then has completely outweighed the single negivitive.

Anyway:

Hashtag Bring Back Neons.



Had the front and back door speakers upgraded to Audison APK 6.5 and 165P, along with sound deadening.
Everything sounds so much clearer and brighter over the standard drivers.

 

And be strange. Life's too short.

 

Darkside inlet pipe work, open cone and down below, stainless steel charge pipe with turbo muffler delete.

Also off to Darkside in a few weeks for a custom remap.

 

Lanoguard working a treat still.
(Yes I'm aware one of the springs is upside down, only just noticed it months after they had installed them)

 

Bonus looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong 10mm socket

Have returned after visiting Darkside to change the last remap and a DSG tune which REVO couldn't do.

Very high EGTs to the point of being dangerous in the long run. (Darksides words)
So Darkside did their magic and I came back with a bit more power and torque and safe levels of EGTs.
In hindsight, should have gone there first to start with honestly.

 

 

 

Also changed out the expansion tank for one without the silica bag. Wonder who at VW thought that was a good idea?

On 12/05/2024 at 11:34, sakta said:

As in you overheard it on a dash cam recording when they had your car mapped? I cant think of any criminal offences it fulfils so I'm not surprised they haven't responded to a letter, no crime was committed. Not malicious communications or harassment. Sorry to say but that sort of appearance, most people are going to think negatively of you.

I am not sure about this at all.

When I saw the Spyro wrap I thought "Good Lord! You're going to get some attention with that." but I like the wrap.

I made no judgement on the owner of the car with the wrap, other than he REALLY likes Spyro and was probably a Playstation owner.

IMO, a more reliable indicator of a vehicle being owned/operated by a complete tool is a chameleon tint on the windscreen. (Very dark tints on front windows are also a good indicator.)

 

Not dead:

Started new job in mechanics, after ditching IT support for the last 7 or so years. Enjoying it much more.

VRS still going strong. Did have to change the water pump and timing belt, as the pump didn't want to be a pump anymore. Other than that, the Rotiforms suffering from stone chips and the rear creaks/groans over some bumps. DSG service soon which I can do at my new place of work, bonus having access to a four post ramp. Visited the Retro Cave/Retro Collective which the car went down well at. A handful of track days at Donnington and Snetterton without issue.

Other than having the underside treated/sealed, don't have much plans lined up for it. Working on another wrap design currently for future use, may also change the wheels when that happens.

So, just keeping it clean, looking after it. Knocking on wood, still not using oil yet 🤐

Edited 18 February18 Feb by Volf