Your fleet running reports

[Sundayjumper]

Looking to get my daughter her first car, current thinking is new Twingo (if released in time), VW UP or Polo or convertible Beetle, or a Mini of some description - any experience with any of them would be appreciated…

Let her choose something in a colour she likes. If you push her into anything else, every niggle will be a drama and All Your Fault. If she has the car she wants, the niggles will be overlooked.

Example. My wife recently got an ID3, simply because of the turquoise colour. The touchscreen & infotainment is infuriating and it’s full of intrusive “assistance” to the steering & braking. I avoid driving it unless I really have to. But she loves it because it’s turquoise and she chose it.

Basically anything German and fairly new will be fine in terms of reliability.

[Jobbo]

My wife recently got an ID3, simply because of the turquoise colour.

That colour is lovely - they used a similar turquoise on concept cars in the 1980s such as the Futura and the Scooter:

[Sundayjumper]

Decent!

I always found wth my Golf it was significantly more economical in hot weather conditions. Low 50s when it was very cold, high 60s when hot.

I remember my E46 behaving similarly. Not sure it was so noticeable on the F10 (I’ve had two 530d) though. Smaller cars more affected I guess.

[Marv]

My wife recently got an ID3, simply because of the turquoise colour.

That colour is lovely - they used a similar turquoise on concept cars in the 1980s such as the Futura and the Scooter:

Now a forum approved colour then. The first ID3 I saw was in that turquoise, on someone's driveway on my back road commute to work. They still have it now. Think the colour is the only thing nice about it really

[John]

I’ve had a run out to Cadwell today to watch a test day. The only slight problem was that the mirrors I fitted started to work loose a go a bit droopy The fitting instructions give you dire warnings not to over tighten the grub screws that hold the arms in position once fitted. Obviously I was a bit of a wuss and once retightened properly they stayed in position

I also got a free refreshing wash from one of the huge sprinklers farmers use on their fields, totally mistimed it as it worked its way around and caught the road, I had to use the wipers to see where I was going

[speedingfine]

Fab looking thing John, perfect weather for it Cadwell is amazing in a 7, as I'm sure you're aware, are you going to book a day yourself?

[John]

Almost certainly although no idea when. Cadwell is by far my favourite circuit although I can't claim to have driven them all

[John]

Small detail added to the Caterham

I always thought it was strange that it had the bonnet stripe but was withought a stripe down the rear panel which to me looks too plain without one. I contacted a couple of vinyl wrap companies for a quote as I couldn't be bothered messing around and potentially ruining it. Yes it's a straight line on a flat panel but I class it as DIY and I'm hopeless at it The first quote came in at £130 with the second at £40, much more reasonable. But then radio silence from them

So I bit the bullet and visited another different vinyl company to get a match to do it myself, soooo many different shades of red

I'm pretty happy with it for a first attempt and I've got plenty spare if it falls off. It just needs a quick clean to make it shine like the paintwork once it's totally dried

[MikeHunt]

Picked up a stone chip at Donington which Autoglass unfortunately turned into a crack attempting the repair, so it’s now awaiting a new windscreen, probably end up with a cheap aftermarket screen, but hopefully I won’t notice the difference.

Other than that, the oil service is done at Allen BMW in Pershore and it’s ready for the road trip to Spa. Can’t wait.

[integrale_evo]

Small detail added to the Caterham

I always thought it was strange that it had the bonnet stripe but was withought a stripe down the rear panel which to me looks too plain without one. I contacted a couple of vinyl wrap companies for a quote as I couldn't be bothered messing around and potentially ruining it. Yes it's a straight line on a flat panel but I class it as DIY and I'm hopeless at it The first quote came in at £130 with the second at £40, much more reasonable. But then radio silence from them

So I bit the bullet and visited another different vinyl company to get a match to do it myself, soooo many different shades of red

I'm pretty happy with it for a first attempt and I've got plenty spare if it falls off. It just needs a quick clean to make it shine like the paintwork once it's totally dried

I have a vinyl plotter if you’re ever tempted by anything a bit more fancy

[John]

I know my limit!

[Jobbo]

Picked up a stone chip at Donington which Autoglass unfortunately turned into a crack attempting the repair, so it’s now awaiting a new windscreen, probably end up with a cheap aftermarket screen, but hopefully I won’t notice the difference.

Other than that, the oil service is done at Allen BMW in Pershore and it’s ready for the road trip to Spa. Can’t wait.

Good luck with the screen. Does it have much in the way of cameras etc mounted in it?

I’ve never heard of Allen BMW but googling shows they have a good rep. Did you not get a service pack? I’d imagine even an independent can’t compete on price with that.

[jamcg]

Clipped a kerb today. Shit, not horrendous but got a bit of damage on the rim

[MikeHunt]

Picked up a stone chip at Donington which Autoglass unfortunately turned into a crack attempting the repair, so it’s now awaiting a new windscreen, probably end up with a cheap aftermarket screen, but hopefully I won’t notice the difference.

Other than that, the oil service is done at Allen BMW in Pershore and it’s ready for the road trip to Spa. Can’t wait.

Good luck with the screen. Does it have much in the way of cameras etc mounted in it?

I’ve never heard of Allen BMW but googling shows they have a good rep. Did you not get a service pack? I’d imagine even an independent can’t compete on price with that.

There are cameras near the mirror, I have a service pack but BMW cant/wont do an interim oil service, there isn’t even a way to report it. With track days coming up, including 1 in Belgium I thought it best to change the oil.

Agree the £1,000 5 year service pack is difficult to beat, although I do think the indies generally do a better job. I wasn’t particularly happy with Worcester, but I’ve since found that Brades Road in Oldbury have a very good team and master tech.

[Matty]

Did a quick supply run this evening in the Evora. First time I've driven it since I collected it on Saturday, due to other duties. It's just a fantastic car to drive - but getting upto 4k to hear that exhaust noise is going to get me in trouble sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, age is getting in the way already I injured my right knee that's taken a good 9 months to get back to normal. It's been fine for 2 months now....until last weekend. The combination of the tub tucking in the footwell causing a slight bend/twist, then getting out (where you right leg, and indeed, knee takes priority here) is causing me all kinds of problems. I figured last weekend was just a 'getting used to it'....
...however as I hobbled across M&S car park I'm pretty sure I could have parked in a disabled space and no one would have questioned it.



New headunit turned up yesterday, so I'll try and get that fitted once I remember how to rewire ISO connections. It's like being back in the 90s!

[Jobbo]

Bizarre correspondence from the DVLA today regarding our Cayenne. Apparently Porsche registered it with an incorrect type approval number. They’re correcting it and a replacement V5C has arrived at the same time. It was Porsche who notified the DVLA.

So basically DVLA don’t check the info sent to them. It shouldn’t be possible to register a car with the wrong type approval. Amazing.

[Mito Man]

Had 15 litres of oil and an afternoon in a pit. I believe the youngsters call it a Diddy party but I was just servicing my Defender…

Need to order new steering bits as all the rubbers are cracking, brakes could do with changing too.
Bit disappointed with the Bilstein suspension, 30,000 miles and all the paint is coming off the springs, dampers look like they’ve been in an ocean. Another brand that is now shit.

[V8Granite]

UK Winters really screw them, my Old Man Emu shocks looked awful after just one year but still performed well.

Dave!