OV9

I think it turns all the way off on my Polo. Press and it's only TC off, hold it for ages and it turns ESC off too. Without doing that if you pull the handbrake at speed, or throw it in hard and lift off it panics and cuts all power. ...which is obviously just what you need in a FWD car that you've just tried to initiate oversteer.

Mine's on a service plan. The look on the guy's face when it needed new tyres and brakes at its first service. I definitely think I'm winning on the deal so far. I still need to replace the front grille where I backed the Caterham into it though, will see how much that stings me.

The controller/jog wheel thing on our Mercedes stopped working recently.

We could still use everything except the sat nav, but it was a PITA.

A new one was £300 + VAT + fitting.

I found a video explainer on YouTube about a DIY replacement, and sourced a used controller from eBay for £70.

I'm a mechanical luddite, but I did it myself in ten minutes at the weekend and it's good as new.

Result.

Think it may be time for new tyres though (which is a pain, given the cash we're haemorrhaging while doing building/kitchen work at the moment)

ste wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:08 am I think it turns all the way off on my Polo. Press and it's only TC off, hold it for ages and it turns ESC off too. Without doing that if you pull the handbrake at speed, or throw it in hard and lift off it panics and cuts all power. ...which is obviously just what you need in a FWD car that you've just tried to initiate oversteer.

That’s ridiculous; what were VW thinking?

From the reviews the new Up GTi won’t allow ESC (completely?) off as well. For a supposedly ‘fun’ car...

Found out a neighbour of mine who has been leasing a Golf R is next leasing an M2 Competition
I hope to get a ride in that at some point.

Not surprised considering the ridiculous deals on the M2 Comps.

Coaster1 wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:39 pm From the reviews the new Up GTi won’t allow ESC (completely?) off as well. For a supposedly ‘fun’ car...

I call Emperors New Clothes on the Up! GTI. It's shit in so many ways. Fuck the buyers / journos frothing about them on social media. The wheels are way too big, the tyre sidewalls are too small, it has too little suspension travel and is set up in a boring inert way to jusyt understeer and yes, the ESC can't be turned off so it's always grabbing a fucking brake when it feels likek it. Utter bollocks modern car. People are blinkered to what fun cars can, and routinely used to, be.

ste wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:12 pm Not surprised considering the ridiculous deals on the M2 Comps.

Coaster1 wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:39 pm From the reviews the new Up GTi won’t allow ESC (completely?) off as well. For a supposedly ‘fun’ car...

I call Emperors New Clothes on the Up! GTI. It's shit in so many ways. Fuck the buyers / journos frothing about them on social media. The wheels are way too big, the tyre sidewalls are too small, it has too little suspension travel and is set up in a boring inert way to jusyt understeer and yes, the ESC can't be turned off so it's always grabbing a fucking brake when it feels likek it. Utter bollocks modern car. People are blinkered to what fun cars can, and routinely used to, be.

I've only read one review (I can't remember by who) and it definitely sounded underwhelming but the guy was obviously trying really hard to love it, but he was clearly not all that enamoured.

A friend has an Up! Beats (not a GTi*) and says it's bought back the fun into driving for him. He's a frustrated car nut I think, as he's been driving family wagons around for as long as I've known him.

* that sounds like one of those catch-all eBay ad subtitles


M2 - I've seen one deal at £3500+VAT + 35*£390+VAT for 6k miles pa. That's probably not the best deal out there.

M2 has been tempting me, but I now drop my little boy off to nursery 3 times a week and I’m learning what a hassle it is having a rear facing seat in the back of my M3. I think whatever comes next will have back doors...

Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:29 pm M2 has been tempting me, but I now drop my little boy off to nursery 3 times a week and I’m learning what a hassle it is having a rear facing seat in the back of my M3. I think whatever comes next will have back doors...

Do you not have isofix in the front? I think later E90s may have but mine doesn't. I'm sure the wife's E81 1-series had it but that was 12mo younger than mine.

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:34 pm

Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:29 pm M2 has been tempting me, but I now drop my little boy off to nursery 3 times a week and I’m learning what a hassle it is having a rear facing seat in the back of my M3. I think whatever comes next will have back doors...

Do you not have isofix in the front? I think later E90s may have but mine doesn't. I'm sure the wife's E81 1-series had it but that was 12mo younger than mine.

I do, but I’d rather have him in the back.

Once they get to forward facing, I think it's actually easier with a 2 door coupe as you can comfortably sit on the sill as you fasten them in. Assuming you can find a parking space wide enough to fully open the long door. I had the Monaro when my youngest was this sort of age and it was absolutely fine.

Yeah, I’ve got a bit of time before then, but useful to know.

I’m weighing up all sorts of options at the moment, it’s another thing to chuck into the mix, along with the fact I’ve just got a new job which is a bit further away.

It's fun watching someone talk themselves into buying a diesel dad van in real time .

Yep - we're losing him, aren't we.

Come off it - I’ve been daily driving M3s for the last 7 years, I’m not going to get something slow!

Plus I already have a diesel estate car too - no need for another!

You'll soon arrive at the "Why the fuck don't they make an M3 Touring?" followed swiftly by "I wonder if V10 M5 Tourings are as expensive to run as they say?" (Answer: No, they're more expensive than that)

NotoriousREV wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:55 pm You'll soon arrive at the "Why the fuck don't they make an M3 Touring?" followed swiftly by "I wonder if V10 M5 Tourings are as expensive to run as they say?" (Answer: No, they're more expensive than that)

i expect a V10 M5 is precisely 20% more than my V8 M3 to run and not a penny more.

Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:59 pm

NotoriousREV wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:55 pm You'll soon arrive at the "Why the fuck don't they make an M3 Touring?" followed swiftly by "I wonder if V10 M5 Tourings are as expensive to run as they say?" (Answer: No, they're more expensive than that)

i expect a V10 M5 is precisely 20% more than my V8 M3 to run and not a penny more.

Nope, they're exactly 66% more expensive, but they are 2 better.

NotoriousREV wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 4:03 pm

Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:59 pm

NotoriousREV wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:55 pm You'll soon arrive at the "Why the fuck don't they make an M3 Touring?" followed swiftly by "I wonder if V10 M5 Tourings are as expensive to run as they say?" (Answer: No, they're more expensive than that)

i expect a V10 M5 is precisely 20% more than my V8 M3 to run and not a penny more.

Nope, they're exactly 66% more expensive, but they are 2 better.

still cheap then!

Rich B wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 3:37 pm Yeah, I’ve got a bit of time before then, but useful to know.

I’m weighing up all sorts of options at the moment, it’s another thing to chuck into the mix, along with the fact I’ve just got a new job which is a bit further away.

How old is he now? They can go forward facing from 15 months so I expect you haven’t got that long left have you?