W8 Diary
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
Last couple of things on the Golf:
1) Putting aluminium trim around the window vents may look nice, but it also means you see a reflection of said vent every time you look in the mirror.
2) Stop-start technology is pointless and annoying. For example, to use stop/start you have to sit with your foot on the brake. If you put the handbrake on it starts up again! But if you do that you also have to put the car into P (It's an auto) or the engine is pulling against the handbrake. Either way there's an awful delay between seeing a gap and actually moving into it. You might say that's a good thing as it forces you to wait for a bigger gap but in London you could be waiting all day.
3) It's a very bland looking car, no getting away from it
4) The centre console really is a pain in the (left) knee
5) Diesels are awful
6) Automatics are awful
1) Putting aluminium trim around the window vents may look nice, but it also means you see a reflection of said vent every time you look in the mirror.
2) Stop-start technology is pointless and annoying. For example, to use stop/start you have to sit with your foot on the brake. If you put the handbrake on it starts up again! But if you do that you also have to put the car into P (It's an auto) or the engine is pulling against the handbrake. Either way there's an awful delay between seeing a gap and actually moving into it. You might say that's a good thing as it forces you to wait for a bigger gap but in London you could be waiting all day.
3) It's a very bland looking car, no getting away from it
4) The centre console really is a pain in the (left) knee
5) Diesels are awful
6) Automatics are awful
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From: Survivalist enclave
Originally Posted by gaddafi' timestamp='1383261849' post='22856252
Gareth - please stop posting about diesels - it affects my sleep
I take it the code went away?
did you get the reader in the end?
I take it the code went away?
did you get the reader in the end?
And the code went away - at about the same time as the message got through to the mechanic that it had been remapped. It's being remapped today which should not only clear al old warning codes, but will prevent erroneous codes being thrown up due to the original remap. Possibly a needless expense, but given the possibility of future warnings due to the amount of use the car will get I thought it worthwhile. It'll mean a warranty on it too.
I may have chance to have a play with the reader at the weekend. And I promise, this next post will be my last on the diesel.....
The connection is under the dash, above the area of your right knee when in the driver's seat. You don't have to remove any trim to get at it, just get your head in the footwell and look up!
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From: Survivalist enclave
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
Just a brief mileage update after some very long trips in the last couple of weeks.
The lowest I've achieved in the last few weeks is 15mpg, the highest though is 24.5
So overall (and I haven't measured every tank but missed a couple) the MPG is 18, the last 600 miles though it's been 21.4
The lowest I've achieved in the last few weeks is 15mpg, the highest though is 24.5
So overall (and I haven't measured every tank but missed a couple) the MPG is 18, the last 600 miles though it's been 21.4
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From: Cheltenham
I'm sure having an engine like that and paying attention to the MPG is asking for grey hair 
I recently bought a similarly aged S4 and I'm studiously avoiding the MPG, as I'm thoroughly enjoying the V8. That said, my commute is fairly short or I'd have bought something else...
I recently bought a similarly aged S4 and I'm studiously avoiding the MPG, as I'm thoroughly enjoying the V8. That said, my commute is fairly short or I'd have bought something else...
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
To be honest though, if the MPG actually worried me I wouldn't have bought the car. I knew what to expect, so it's not a bother.
Having come from the Alfa I'm finding the mileage similar so again, no surprises in terms of economy.
The big surprise though was on the first fill up. The Alfa had (from memory) a 50 or 55 litre tank. This meant that if I did a trip back to Nottingham I'd fill up before leaving and fill up when I was there as I'd be empty on the return journey and didn't want to pay motorway prices.
The VW has a 70 litre tank, so apart from taking a newspaper with me when I go to fill up I can comfortably do Nottingham and back on one tank.
However I did have my first every over £100 fill up the other day, at a services on the M5 when I bottled it with the Sat Nav and the range indicator both showing about 15 miles.
What I do pay attention to is the sound of the W8, it's one of those engines where you don't think you notice it but then you put your foot down and the noise builds. Never what you'd call overpowering or annoying, just reassuringly deep and loud.
It's also a different kind of build to the Alfa which would rev quickly and loudly: not a vtec race to 9,000 rpm but quick to rev (it was a V6), the VW can't be rushed. Not that you'd want to gun the engine but you find the momentum and noise builds and builds - more tidal wave than bucket of water to the face if you see what I mean.
It reflects the different nature of the two cars. And as my first "big", 8 cylinder engine is a new experience for me.
It also comes as a welcome relief on the motorway - while I loved the Alfa a long motorway trip with someone in the passenger seat could be frustrating. Constantly juggling between hearing the stereo or the other person. I actually preferred being on my own in that car. It wasn't noisy per se, just "racy". The VW is so much more relaxing in that sense, you can hear the stereo without it having to blast out at top volume and you can talk to the passengers without shouting over the noise of the car or the stereo.
A long answer to a short question, apologies.
Having come from the Alfa I'm finding the mileage similar so again, no surprises in terms of economy.
The big surprise though was on the first fill up. The Alfa had (from memory) a 50 or 55 litre tank. This meant that if I did a trip back to Nottingham I'd fill up before leaving and fill up when I was there as I'd be empty on the return journey and didn't want to pay motorway prices.
The VW has a 70 litre tank, so apart from taking a newspaper with me when I go to fill up I can comfortably do Nottingham and back on one tank.
However I did have my first every over £100 fill up the other day, at a services on the M5 when I bottled it with the Sat Nav and the range indicator both showing about 15 miles.
What I do pay attention to is the sound of the W8, it's one of those engines where you don't think you notice it but then you put your foot down and the noise builds. Never what you'd call overpowering or annoying, just reassuringly deep and loud.
It's also a different kind of build to the Alfa which would rev quickly and loudly: not a vtec race to 9,000 rpm but quick to rev (it was a V6), the VW can't be rushed. Not that you'd want to gun the engine but you find the momentum and noise builds and builds - more tidal wave than bucket of water to the face if you see what I mean.
It reflects the different nature of the two cars. And as my first "big", 8 cylinder engine is a new experience for me.
It also comes as a welcome relief on the motorway - while I loved the Alfa a long motorway trip with someone in the passenger seat could be frustrating. Constantly juggling between hearing the stereo or the other person. I actually preferred being on my own in that car. It wasn't noisy per se, just "racy". The VW is so much more relaxing in that sense, you can hear the stereo without it having to blast out at top volume and you can talk to the passengers without shouting over the noise of the car or the stereo.
A long answer to a short question, apologies.
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
Oh, and I'm going to try to avoid using the car for the commute: 8.5 miles across London is not what this car was made for.
While I'm no big fan of public transport I've made an effort this week to use it instead of the car as I'm in the office every day.
The upsides are: better fuel economy over all and I get to read more. Unless I set off a lot earlier there's no difference in time really.
If I leave home at 7:40 it takes the best part of an hour which is the same as public transport.
If I leave home at 7:00 it takes 40 minutes, but then the time on public transport drops as well.
While I'm no big fan of public transport I've made an effort this week to use it instead of the car as I'm in the office every day.
The upsides are: better fuel economy over all and I get to read more. Unless I set off a lot earlier there's no difference in time really.
If I leave home at 7:40 it takes the best part of an hour which is the same as public transport.
If I leave home at 7:00 it takes 40 minutes, but then the time on public transport drops as well.
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
Well, due to a knee operation and deciding to not commute the Passat didn't see much use in late Nov and early December.
Christmas meant the first real usage with a drive up to Nottingham, some use in and around Nottingham and one trip slightly further afield. All on one tank. I filled up with 90 miles left in the tank having driven 294. Unfortunately the receipt for petrol didn't actually show how many litres I'd purchased and but I'd estimate I was getting low 20's MPG based on past experience.
Still can't get used to how infrequently I have to fill up, although I do get some shocks when putting in nearly £100 in.
Car feels steady as a rock on the motorway, even through standing water.
I'll be checking on the delivery date of the BMW early in the new year, fingers crossed it's late Jan as originally promised otherwise I may be cancelling the order and going for a Golf GTi instead.
Although it's the sensible decision to get something new (especially with the deal on the BMW) I will be disappointed to sell the VW but it's just not feasible to keep two cars.
Christmas meant the first real usage with a drive up to Nottingham, some use in and around Nottingham and one trip slightly further afield. All on one tank. I filled up with 90 miles left in the tank having driven 294. Unfortunately the receipt for petrol didn't actually show how many litres I'd purchased and but I'd estimate I was getting low 20's MPG based on past experience.
Still can't get used to how infrequently I have to fill up, although I do get some shocks when putting in nearly £100 in.
Car feels steady as a rock on the motorway, even through standing water.
I'll be checking on the delivery date of the BMW early in the new year, fingers crossed it's late Jan as originally promised otherwise I may be cancelling the order and going for a Golf GTi instead.
Although it's the sensible decision to get something new (especially with the deal on the BMW) I will be disappointed to sell the VW but it's just not feasible to keep two cars.