DeskJockey wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:11 pm
That's serious criticism of Audi. Crazy that they don't recognise the value in supporting the enthusiast community long-term.
Audi are an awful company for that.
I was doing the cambelt on the TT 18 months ago, I had to order a single new stretch bolt for the engine mount, I can't remember if they said I had to order 10 or 20 of them. So I asked what would happen if I had taken it in for a cambelt service and he just Gaelic shrugged me.
In the end I bought one from eBay from a guy who bought a load and then sold them individually.
Did a couple of airport runs in the x5 round to Heathrow, and while sat on the motorway realised I couldn’t actually hear the engine at all, only tyre noise unless giving it some throttle.
I did wonder whether the silence of an ev would really be the life changing experience some owners make them out to be. I guess getting more than 25mpg would be quite nice, but also think I’d miss the v8 noises.
This Saturday I did virtually the same trip again, only coming off the m25 at the m40. I was in the alfasud though. You know what, it’s actually fine for motorway cruising, didn’t ever feel like I was holding anyone up, spent more time than you’d imagine in the outside lane. It’s comfortable enough and has enough squirt to go from 70 - 80 quick enough if you either want to pull out or pass someone to get back in.
It’s comfortable enough, but it’s kind of intense. It’s spinning at just over 4K at 70 in 5th, so there’s some mechanical noise. Best driven with the window down a couple of inches so you get the wind noise you expect rather than closing it and getting the annoying wind noise of 70s aerodynamics and 45 year old seals. The main issue is you feel pretty vulnerable, always paying attenting to everyone around you and far more closely that perhaps you usually would. Outward visibility is great. Lots of nice clear glass and twig thin pillars. However the mirrors are small, rubbish and don’t like staying in the position you leave them.
On lightly trafficked roads I find it very enjoyable and relaxing motoring. Surrounded by heavy modern traffic which doesn’t like to respect your personal space it can be a bit stressful and rather tiring.
I’ve really enjoyed getting a lot of use from it this year, so bit of a shame the seasons are turning, roads will soon be permanently damp greasy and dirty and likely covered in salt.
integrale_evo wrote: Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:19 pm
roads will soon be permanently damp greasy and dirty and likely covered in salt.
I was doing my f-gas qualification near York last week, about an hour and 10 to get there and back each day, and the dirt all over the back of my car says they’re already starting to get that way
It’s not too bad here yet unless it rains. Will get worse with less daylight and the sugarbeet season getting under way.
We did have pigs in the field opposite which meant several tractors a day spreading a trail of mud up and down a hundred yards of road to get to / from the farmyard. It seems they’ve all been moved to the farm side, and hoping they stay there over winter as everything has stayed noticeably cleaner over the last few weeks.
I’m not that bothered by rain or a bit of dirt, but definitely do everything I can to avoid getting it salty.
Yep, unless you have a noisy exhaust then most cars will have more wind and tyre noise at 70.
Had the rubber gaiters on the i3's front suspension replaced and thought I may as well get top mounts done as it's no extra labour. Just as well, the old ones had a few mm of play after 70k miles. All sorted now, nice tight feeling front end. After tyres, 12v and that I'm hoping for a cheap few months.
Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 9:50 am
A big tyres EV like a Taycan is no quieter from the outside than any other car going past at 40mph ime.
On our school run if it's raining then big tires cars make it so you can't talk without shouting and it's only a 30mph limit. Mainly big SUVs and 5 series sized saloons etc.
Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 9:50 am
A big tyres EV like a Taycan is no quieter from the outside than any other car going past at 40mph ime.
On our school run if it's raining then big tires cars make it so you can't talk without shouting and it's only a 30mph limit. Mainly big SUVs and 5 series sized saloons etc.
Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 9:50 am
A big tyres EV like a Taycan is no quieter from the outside than any other car going past at 40mph ime.
On our school run if it's raining then big tires cars make it so you can't talk without shouting and it's only a 30mph limit. Mainly big SUVs and 5 series sized saloons etc.
Dave!
Your car is broken
We aren't scared of the rain so we walk to school.
In fact, I don't think we have ever driven to the school at all.
Well i worked out why my Elise battery went flat and didn’t seem to be working properly on the ctek. One of the ctek terminal connectors screwed to the battery terminal had snapped, so it was only attached to one side.
I temporarily put a new battery on it to check everything today though, and it did sound great still, even with the cat in place.
i have a day off to spend fettling in a couple of weeks - my aim is to try and get it MOTed and back in regular use.
Digging around the cupboard under the stairs I found some 3M scratch and swirl remover, application pads, and some high gloss wax.
I had a go on the offside rear quarter of the Galaxy as that's where the paint is worst (ignoring the peeling lacquer on the doors). It is definitely improved, but also in need of something more than what I can do by hand.
Applying the wax after helped mask the worst and brought back some shine to the paintwork.
When I've got an afternoon free, I'll try polishing out some of the other scratches to see what I can improve.
Cayenne having a new windscreen today due to a stone causing an immediate crack. Which means I dropped it off and it's the first time I've driven it despite us having had it 6 months now.
To drive I still prefer a Macan, though a Macan would be lovely with the Cayenne's engine. It's very luxurious, very good ride but corners flat, everything about it is incredibly polished and well developed. I think a Cayenne would be a very satisfying car to live with (as my wife will find out, because it's staying for the long haul). But it doesn't have the joie de vivre of a Macan and doesn't encourage you to see what it can do. It's obviously a fair bit bigger and not that much heavier really. It doesn't feel excessively large for UK roads; the width is very easy to judge, more so than the Macan because that has bodywork which curves out of sight more. I didn't stick it in Sport Plus so maybe I need to get to know it more. I'm still confident which is my favourite though.
Got the Alpine back again yesterday after it went in for some Warranty work. There was a fuel pump recall outstanding on it which also includes and ECU flash. This has stopped me from getting it mapped so far as it would have overwritten the map. I can look now to get to to Litchfield for their 310 bhp map. At the same time it was getting some paintwork correction under their corrosion warranty. I discovered a tiny bit on one wing and a tiny bit above the drivers door mirror. They must have discovered a bit on the other wing as well as its come back with both repainted. Looks to be a good job. I was concerned about that due to it being pearlescent white.
However...Its never that simple is it.
PPF - they "forgot" to re-apply it. So im looking to get that done locally at their expense.
Drivers door button for the keyless entry isnt working and im not overly happy with the alignment on one side of the bumper. its a few MM off. Emailed the dealer.
