July 2019
Semi-retirement is busier than working: I've been meaning to do a running report on the Q2 ever since it was a year old towards the end of April. Anyway a year and a bit now, 18,500 miles, and the first service was done last week.
Nothing has gone wrong or fallen off, as you might expect (but don't always get) with a new car. But it might be useful for others if I mention the equipment that I did and didn't have: one can go mad on options and push up the cost horrifically without necessarily getting a better price the other end.... Read more
Having a wee shot of a friends Golf R the other day got me thinking, why are today’s hot hatches not as much fun as those built in the 80’s and 90’s? Am I wearing rose tinted specs or is it true that too much power, too much refinement and too much safety gear has diluted the appeal?
I’ve driven several recent hot hatches including ST Focus, Astra VXR, Mk VII Golf GTi and Golf R plus a rare Volvo C30 T5 and I’ve found all of them left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Yes they’re all undeniably much faster than the hot hatches of the past but with overly hard suspension and electric rather than hydraulic steering the feel is removed. Too much turbocharged power tends to cause torque steer and there’s little to be gained from high rev antics whenever all the power is much lower down the rev range
Point to point they’re hugely quick but give me a Peugeot 306 GTi 6, Clio, R19 16v or 205/106 GTi any day of the week. All were fun and at much lower speed and far lower cost. The latest ultra hot hatches are £30k plus and boasting 250bhp upwards yet I wouldn’t thank you for one. They’re too fast to be fun on the road today Read more
It stands to reason buddy!
Try having a go on an old 1980s two-stroke Suzuki GT that's about to fall apart, it'll be the most fun of your life! ...
Its just simply endemic and off the scale
The penalties must be vastly increased. Immediate 3 year ban on the spot if caught by Police and the car crushed with in addition a £2000 fine.... Rogues gallery in national papers and just watch the usage drop 95% after the 1st month is up as everyone becomes aware.... Read more
Certainly looking for the common high not common low is great, problem is far too many overestimate their skills and ability, and when driving a car getting it wrong in finding one's sweet spot can lead to disastrous, possibly life changing or fatal outcomes (generally for others). Human life is too precious, injuries cannot always be repaired, hence the need to change habits.
Annoyingly far too many motorists have yet to learn this. Even something simple like changing gear can be a distraction, one hand off the steering wheel for a few seconds, holding a phone whilst driving is a greater degree of distraction. With a hands free situation the driver's thoughts are split, and for some that will be too much.
Another tatted yoof presenter, sigh. Read more
Andy doesn't have any tattoos and I'm 39, sigh.
My Mini has developed a fault in that coolant is leaking out somewhere but there are no obvious signs as to where ....
... Read more
It's been into BMW today, appears to be the water pump...This is the second one it's had before it is 5 years old.....is this a known problem ?
What could be the cause of difficulty shifting from reverse to drive on this car please?
The fluid seems a good colour and at correct level, linkages work well, I read there are solenoids that may be faulty..... Read more
I ran a K11 Micra auto for a couple of years. My post from 2017 refers.
"I ran a K11 with an auto CVT box for a couple of years as a second driving school car. Didn't have any problems with the car, or the CVT box- a lovely little car-it wasn't new when I got it and I put about 20 k miles on it....
What could be the cause of difficulty shifting from reverse to drive on this car please?
The fluid seems a good colour and at correct level, linkages work well, I read there are solenoids that may be faulty..... Read more
Hi,
I've been having some issues with the car. It seems to want to idle at 1000 rpm even when the engine is warmed up and outside air is 35°C. It does it intermitently and after conecting vcds i couldnt find any related error or malfunctioning sensor except an intermitent camshaft sensor error wich is most likely related to staling the engine when selected the wrong gear.... Read more
A y ideea on simptoms of bad clutch swich?
I'm finding the topic of left-foot braking in the Agony Column has become rather boring of late, so I'm thinking of asking a question to kick off a new controversy. Holding the steering wheel at ten-to-two or quarter-to -three might do it? Read more
Not forgetting that the arm attached to the single hand on the steering wheel should be rested across the steering wheel airbag.
Browse
Having had a cars with the 1.4 TSi (the 140 PS version in the Leon and the 150 PS version in the Superb) I have to say that its more than adequate. Never felt the need for more power in either car (especially the smaller Leon) even when overtaking and tackling the hills of Scotland with a full load at times. If the 2.0 TSi was available as a manual I would be tempted next time (if the kangarooing has not been sorted) but as an auto only its a non starter for us.