What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[Cheggers]

I'm going car shopping today, I love car shopping.

 

Just to look though, not actually buying (but we all know how it'll end...)

[New POD]

Swan lake.

The version we saw had all male dancers doing the swans and they were proper visious.

It was very moving.

[Craig the Princess]

Swan lake.

The version we saw had all male dancers doing the swans and they were proper visious.

It was very moving.

They can break a man's arm you know.

[New POD]

They can break a man's arm you know.

These ballet dancers looked like they'd be hi good in a fight. Lean and mean.

[purplebargeken]

Ballet dancers, mean bastards, shouldn't feed them bread though.

[DeeJay]

Haven't seen "dinner or One" in years.

 

Ho,Ho,Ho. Merry Christmas.

 

A bit more protein?

 

(We don;t have a "Honk your guts up" thread).

[Skizzer]

Yes, it is hugely popular in Germany around Christmas, or was anyhow.

 

It’s still going strong - although it’s New Year rather than Christmas.

 

For Christmas it’s Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel, a rather camp Czech Cinderella film from the early 1970s. It’s sort of equivalent to the Sound of Music only not a musical, and without any Nazis for obvious reasons.

[purplebargeken]

Ah, thought it was one or t'other. I was only a kid when I saw it last. Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel - never heard of that. Now something to watch later in the week

[Parky]

Was cut up yesterday by a Peugeot 307 with the number plate EN15 FCE.

 

It looked like Penis face. I lol’d.

 

I was also overtaken by a Mazda Xedos 9 yesterday which must have been the first one I have seen since 1998. Made me wonder where all the Xedos 6’s went too...

[Parky]

Anyway in other news....

 

Three of the Leon’s doors had stopped opening on the remote. It wasn’t an issue if it was just me as I could access the car with the key, but if I had passengers it wasn’t very convenient having to reach back to open one of the back doors from the inside. Plus if you can’t open the doors from the outside, it’s an MOT fail.

 

Some research suggested it was the actuators in the doors that were playing up. Replacement is fiddly and I couldn’t be arsed with all that. But then I stumbled across this vid

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qWYkjlcR1Ws

 

Drill a small hole in the actuator? Fill it with WD40? I was somewhat cynical but it only bloody worked!. All it cost me was the skin on three knuckles grappling with brittle sharp edged trim, the lugs of which are now greased up to make future removal easier.

 

Super cheap quick fix but Christ my hands hurt now!

[Remspoor]

^^^^^^ watching that video makes me cringe. Why use a screw driver it can damage the plastic. for few pennies/cents purchase a set of these.

[Parky]

I actually do have a set of those so didn’t do any damage to the trim. I know what you mean though.

 

Surprised he didn’t suggest lubing the clips to make future removal easier because this fix isnt a permanent one so the trim will be coming off again in a few months. Nothing worse than pulling at a ten year old piece of plastic, undisturbed since leaving the factory and wondering if the clip will yield or snap as you remove it

[Cheggers]

I'm going car shopping today, I love car shopping.

 

Just to look though, not actually buying (but we all know how it'll end...)

Like I said, we all know...

[Cheggers]

What happened to the 6 series?

I drove one but just preferred the tighter, sportier feel of the TT...maybe one day

[Remspoor]

3 minutes and 20 seconds into the hubnut live Q&A and they are already asking to see Mr Hubnut in a mankini...

Maybe something like this is more his style?

 

[Guest Hooli]

Like I said, we all know...

Now you can be an aldi wanker with SiC

[richardmorris]

3 minutes and 20 seconds into the hubnut live Q&A and they are already asking to see Mr Hubnut in a mankini...

 

Watching it now. A throwaway line just had me- I had no idea pat moss was married to Erik Carlsson.

Yes, call me stupid!

[richardmorris]

Maybe something like this is more his style?

 

 

Grow your own glow-worms!

[Joey spud]

[LightBulbFun]

Maybe something like this is more his style?

 

 

nah thats bigclives thing 

[fordperv]

Popped to a lovely spot to take a picture of my car earlier

 

 

Saw a sunny van out in the wild

 

[Guest Hooli]

Ford²

[purplebargeken]

That's a heck of a radiator leak you've got there mate

[SiC]

Like I said, we all know...

I guess it's not a TTS? Looks like S-Line trim by the badge on the side. They're good cars but I find mine rather boring.

 

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Shame you didn't say you wanted one, I would have sold you mine for likely far less than you'll have paid for that!

[Cheggers]

I guess it's not a TTS? Looks like S-Line trim by the badge on the side. They're good cars but I find mine rather boring.

 

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Shame you didn't say you wanted one, I would have sold you mine for likely far less than you'll have paid for that!

It's a Black Edition TDI S Line Quattro. 13 plate, 1 owner with 60k on the clock and full main dealer history. After a bit of haggling I got it for just over £13k.

[SiC]

It's a Black Edition TDI S Line Quattro. 13 plate, 1 owner with 60k on the clock and full main dealer history. After a bit of haggling I got it for just over £13k.

Diesel!! Wtf did you do that for?!!

 

Funnily enough I walked passed a TT the other day and it started up. I am truly glad mine isn't a diesel... (I could never get past having a sports car with diesel rattle - even if VAG has refined their diesels to mostly whine when warm)

 

Especially as I have the A4 in a TDi flavour and post-emissions fix they're a bit of a shit engine. Low 40s mpg (admittedly it's done that low since 5k) but also gutless low down. I get mid 30s out of the TFSi in the TT and that few mpg less is well worth for both the extra power and it's delivery.

 

I paid £4.5k for a full service history (all main dealer bar last 3 stamps) for a 08 plate 2.0 TFSi DSG with 123k on the clock. Half tempted to spend the 250 quid and get a age hiding plate on it. The shape has aged well I reckon.

 

Does yours have the Magnaride suspension? I reckon it's one of the best bits on them.

[Cheggers]

Diesel!! Wtf did you do that for?!!

 

Funnily enough I walked passed a TT the other day and it started up. I am truly glad mine isn't a diesel...

 

Especially as I have the A4 in a TDi flavour and post-emissions fix they're a bit of a shit engine. Low 40s mpg (admittedly it's done that low since 5k) but also gutless low down. I get mid 30s out of the TFSi in the TT and that few mpg less is well worth for both the extra power and it's delivery.

 

I paid £4.5k for a full service history (all main dealer bar last 3 stamps) for a 08 plate 2.0 TFSi DSG with 123k on the clock. Half tempted to spend the 250 quid and get a age hiding plate on it. The shape has aged well I reckon.

 

Does yours have the Magnaride suspension? I reckon it's one of the best bits on them.

I've got to say I nearly didn't even drive it when I saw it was a diesel but was really impressed when I took it out for a run. Sound insulation seems pretty good and it actually sounds OK when pushed (I know, you can make up your own punchlines). If it's that bad I'll just flog it on and try something else...I never keep them long anyway.

 

It does have the magnaride, so I'll be interested to see what it's like to live with. I was surprised how composed it felt on a sketchy road surface, especially with 19" wheels and 35 profile tyres.

 

I should also add I love the look of the Black Edition which (being shallow) is part of the attraction.

[SiC]

I've got to say I nearly didn't even drive it when I saw it was a diesel but was really impressed when I took it out for a run. Sound insulation seems pretty good and it actually sounds OK when pushed (I know, you can make up your own punchlines). If it's that bad I'll just flog it on and try something else...I never keep them long anyway.

 

It does have the magnaride, so I'll be interested to see what it's like to live with. I was surprised how composed it felt on a sketchy road surface, especially with 19" wheels and 35 profile tyres.

 

I should also add I love the look of the Black Edition which (being shallow) is part of the attraction.

I never intended to get the TT. Infact I hated them for what they were and what they stood for. It's a generic German sports car.

 

I got it as my Civic was rear ended and written off. I needed a car and I didn't know how much I was getting the Civic back for. Also after 6yrs of ownership I fancied something different. The Civic I ended up getting back, fixing and giving to my in-laws.

 

Anyway my mate owned the TT but he listed after another 172/182 Clio. One happened to come up in a rare colour. So he pounced on it. As Brighton council only allows one car per person in their permit areas, the TT had to go. So he offered it at WBAC price.

 

It had decent performance and I hankered after a Sports car again. I didn't intend to keep it for this long and mostly intended it as a stop gap car. I knew it's faults and also knew that it was a fundamentally decent car. Really couldn't be doing with the hassle of car buying at the time. Especially given the amount of sheds around at the 2k-8k price bracket.

 

I want to hate it, but in truth it's a decent machine. There isn't much I can get performance wise for similar money.

 

Mine is on 255/35/19 too. Around £150 a corner for a brand you've heard of, so mind those tacks and kerbs. Yes they kerb easy and chunks aren't hard to be taken off them if you dismount a kerb badly. Magnaride makes those thin profile wheels bareable. Very little jarring over the bumps. Usually the s-line is lowered too, so it maybe that yours is a bit harder than mine.

 

I don't have Quattro. Would like it but in truth it's something else that needs maintenance, can break and also speeds up wear on all 4 of those rather expensive tyres. Tbh even though the car is FWD, it is more capable than Mr Average Driver me is prepared to push it. Well at least what Mrs SiC allows me to.

 

I'm the type that would be sick in my mouth on the thought of a diesel Sports Car. However previous to the TT, I probably would have said the same about the TT in general. Likewise having an automatic 'box in a Sports Car. Especially as I've never tried a diesel TT, so I can't knock them too much. The 2.0TFSi isn't a great sounding engine when pushed anyway. A mate had a diesel MK2 TT and he raved about it. But then he was a tight-wad Welshman.

 

... I still could never do it though. Plus the petrol is still faster and has nicer power delivery.

[Cheggers]

I never intended to get the TT. Infact I hated them for what they were and what they stood for. It's a generic German sports car.

 

I got it as my Civic was rear ended and written off. I needed a car and I didn't know how much I was getting the Civic back for. Also after 6yrs of ownership I fancied something different. The Civic I ended up getting back, fixing and giving to my in-laws.

 

Anyway my mate owned the TT but he listed after another 172/182 Clio. One happened to come up in a rare colour. So he pounced on it. As Brighton council only allows one car per person in their permit areas, the TT had to go. So he offered it at WBAC price.

 

It had decent performance and I hankered after a Sports car again. I didn't intend to keep it for this long and mostly intended it as a stop gap car. I knew it's faults and also knew that it was a fundamentally decent car. Really couldn't be doing with the hassle of car buying at the time. Especially given the amount of sheds around at the 2k-8k price bracket.

 

I want to hate it, but in truth it's a decent machine. There isn't much I can get performance wise for similar money.

 

Mine is on 255/35/19 too. Around £150 a corner for a brand you've heard of, so mind those tacks and kerbs. Yes they kerb easy and chunks aren't hard to be taken off them if you dismount a kerb badly. Magnaride makes those thin profile wheels bareable. Very little jarring over the bumps. Usually the s-line is lowered too, so it maybe that yours is a bit harder than mine.

 

I don't have Quattro. Would like it but in truth it's something else that needs maintenance, can break and also speeds up wear on all 4 of those rather expensive tyres. Tbh even though the car is FWD, it is more capable than Mr Average Driver me is prepared to push it. Well at least what Mrs SiC allows me to.

 

I'm the type that would be sick in my mouth on the thought of a diesel Sports Car. However previous to the TT, I probably would have said the same about the TT in general. Likewise having an automatic 'box in a Sports Car. Especially as I've never tried a diesel TT, so I can't knock them too much. The 2.0TFSi isn't a great sounding engine when pushed anyway. A mate had a diesel MK2 TT and he raved about it. But then he was a tight-wad Welshman.

 

... I still could never do it though. Plus the petrol is still faster and has nicer power delivery.

Faster, yes, but I actually think the power delivery of the TDI works OK in the TT, especially for overtaking etc which for me is more "real world" than the traffic light grand prix.

 

Like I say, I'll give it a go and see if I take to it. It's hardly life-changing money one way or the other and it will look lovely on the driveway

 

I'm in the US until Friday lunchtime so the garage are going to service it and pop a new cambelt on as it's due at 80,000, so there'll be nothing to report until next weekend at the earliest.

[SiC]

Faster, yes, but I actually think the power delivery of the TDI works OK in the TT, especially for overtaking etc which for me is more "real world" than the traffic light grand prix.

 

Like I say, I'll give it a go and see if I take to it. It's hardly life-changing money one way or the other and it will look lovely on the driveway

 

I'm in the US until Friday lunchtime so the garage are going to service it and pop a new cambelt on as it's due at 80,000, so there'll be nothing to report until next weekend at the earliest.

Have you tried the VAG turbo petrols? The midrange shove from the 2.0 TFSi is very impressive. If you don't knock it down a gear the acceleration is a tad slower but once you're on boost it really tears along. I think their gearing helps on this respect too. The shove reminds me a lot of the Saab's I've driven & owned.

 

The petrols also rev naturally higher than the diesels, so you're still in the power band like you are in a diesel when on the motorway. That along with the DSG being able to knock it down a cog quicker than a human can do, for me I can't see the turbo petrol (especially auto) being slower or less usable in real world driving.

 

No idea what off the line acceleration should be like yet as mine is still wearing Chinese deathrings on the front... So it ends up scrabbling with the TC fighting to keeps things moving and stop the wheels spinning through 1st and 2nd gear.