portland_bill said:

Fabia offers cruise at £195 if ordering a new car. There are a few around used, but most are bought by 'local' people, so no benefit with cruise on the trip to Sainsbury's. The 'enhanced' models tend to add cruise as a selling point, but getting a 4yr old one with just over 20k on the clock, at around half new price, seemed a better option for me, especially as I was about to inflict learners on it.

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Our was a boggo 1.4S, but the point is I think you can just get the stalk changed as on the Leon that is apparently all thats needed its plug in and go. I think the Part was when I looked £145 although that was a few years back. I was staggered it was apparently so simple to address. Certainly worth asking again if its something you would like. I suspect the bits are more expensive now. It probably needs the ecu telling it its got the cruise.

The alternative is an aftermarket one. I have seen one kit at about £300 fitted recently says it will fit just about anything.

portland_bill said:

SE came as standard with speed limiter, but no cruise. I had also seen the 'accessory' fit stalks with cruise, but it seems the ECU can only take this if you have keyless entry,
... Recently, my wiper switch got silly, refusing to turn off. So at that point I asked about adding cruise, if the stalks were being replaced anyway. Sadly, not possible, as above.

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The Panda Nut said:

Our was a boggo 1.4S, but the point is I think you can just get the stalk changed as on the Leon that is apparently all thats needed its plug in and go. I think the Part was when I looked £145 although that was a few years back. I was staggered it was apparently so simple to address. Certainly worth asking again if its something you would like. I suspect the bits are more expensive now. It probably needs the ecu telling it its got the cruise.

The alternative is an aftermarket one. I have seen one kit at about £300 fitted recently says it will fit just about anything.

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Not so simple.

The Panda Nut said:

On the Golf and Leon, I suspect amongst others, you can buy the cruise as an after thought from VW and the cost is surprisingly reasonable. I have come near to doing this with our Leon in its younger days but it never did that many really long runs so I never got worked up enough to do it.

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My brother has a company in norwich that builds camper vans.

Usually more often than not taking a T6 VW transporter and completely gutting it, cutting it up and fitting roof beds (poptop) kitchen, windows, etc etc

Now usually, if not brand new, these vans have been used a very short time, 20,000 miles? before he gets his hands on them, and many people who are planning to holiday abroad like to have luxuries like cruise control.

Theoretically you fit the cruise control stalk, code the cruise control into the ECU and off you go. VW even make a specific kit for the job....

Try and get your hands on that kit? there are places that claim to sell it but getting hold of one is a different matter, then there are no instructions for doing this unless you are a VW tech with access to internal only paper work.

Basically VW make this stuff possible but they do not want you doing it. They want you to pay their dealer network to do it, the price of the kit might be £100 (dunno what it is these days) but if you go to VW and get them to fit it, its more like £500

varesecrazy said:

Yes indeed..
Our panda and punto employ the same 85hp twinair.. bigger body gets an extra gear
The difference.. in driveability.. is massive. Top is no taller just far better overlap makes it far more forgiving.

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No taller compared to what? My 2006 GP 1.4 8v was running 3400-3500rpm at indicated 70 on its 5 speed, IIRC my TA Punto would manage indicated 70 at 3000rpm. TA definitely held motorway speed better than the 1.4 8v

StevenRB45 said:

I know I've been quite vocal about the twin air in the past but I think one the issues with it was it being a twin so it's firing half as often as a 4 at low rpm. To me it made it feel particularly peaky as it shuddered if you let the revs drop low which is easier to do with the longer ratios of a 5 speed.

You probably won't find a triple or a 4 cylinder are quite as picky about it. If memory serves the twinair did not like being below about 1800rpm a triple is more like 1500 where it starts to get truculutent. There's just literally gaps in the firing cycle on a 4 stroke engine with less than 4 cylinders which does affect low rev drivebility.

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Whilst I agree with you, it's a peaky engine I never found it difficult to drive, it would roll along in very slow moving traffic on my commute between tickover and 1500rpm easily without jerking around, helped probably by the DMF in the Punto TA's, I think 500 TA's lacked the DMF.
Power delivery is certainly uneven and of course not as refined as a 3 or 4 cylinder but I found it added some much needed character back into the rather lacklustre Punto we ended up with

Didge3 said:

, I think 500 TA's lacked the DMF.

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That probably explains it then drove it in an early 500.

Window cleaners visited today, now raining hard. (Perhaps that should be a smile)

Just saw some women's weightlifting on the telly. Made me wonder why these souls do this to themselves. Straining, belts and bandages to help keep muscles from tearing, none of them looking happy to be there. 123kg, then 125kg, and on to 131kg, which put most of them out. Then one sauntered out, and picked up 141kg, with apparently less effort than the others did with 10kg less. Strangely, not yet a medal position, as they seem to total the lifts, so an earlier 123kg, plus the 141kg, is less than some others with more lifts of lesser weights. Makes no sense to me, but I do not need this explained, really. If I wanted to lift that weight, I'd use the engine crane.

I shall go off to my weekly exercise class tomorrow, with my two 1kg weights, quite enough, thank you.

Rain getting heavier. Might need a boat.

portland_bill said:

Window cleaners visited today, now raining hard. (Perhaps that should be a smile)

Just saw some women's weightlifting on the telly. Made me wonder why these souls do this to themselves. Straining, belts and bandages to help keep muscles from tearing, none of them looking happy to be there. 123kg, then 125kg, and on to 131kg, which put most of them out. Then one sauntered out, and picked up 141kg, with apparently less effort than the others did with 10kg less. Strangely, not yet a medal position, as they seem to total the lifts, so an earlier 123kg, plus the 141kg, is less than some others with more lifts of lesser weights. Makes no sense to me, but I do not need this explained, really. If I wanted to lift that weight, I'd use the engine crane.



I shall go off to my weekly exercise class tomorrow, with my two 1kg weights, quite enough, thank you.

Rain getting heavier. Might need a boat.

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When I was working as a carer, one of my female colleagues was a weight lifter, an Irish Granny no less. She was a slight wee lady. She had the wickedest sense of humour, right up my street. When we were working together we would be practically hanging on to each other in fits of laughter. She used to flex her muscles at me Both of us happily married, but we did have great fun.

I recently bought a cordless Dremel. Its a great tool. At the time I had just had mt B&D corded Wizzard pack up and needed a new one fast. It really is a good piece of kit but was eye wateringly expensive. The Wizzard had a broken spring in its drive. I think I got the last available spring in the EU and its now repaired. Well grumpy doesn't cut it when I saw Aldi offering their cordless equivalent for under £20.... I have a pile of their stuff and its all been decent enough and saved me a fortune. Perhaps the Dremel is a better tool but at 5X the price it B well ought to be.

The Panda Nut said:

I recently bought a cordless Dremel. Its a great tool. At the time I had just had mt B&D corded Wizzard pack up and needed a new one fast. It really is a good piece of kit but was eye wateringly expensive. The Wizzard had a broken spring in its drive. I think I got the last available spring in the EU and its now repaired. Well grumpy doesn't cut it when I saw Aldi offering their cordless equivalent for under £20.... I have a pile of their stuff and its all been decent enough and saved me a fortune. Perhaps the Dremel is a better tool but at 5X the price it B well ought to be.

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Ach I’m at the stage of not buying tools, but at times I just can’t resist. For the occasional DIYer Aldi stuff is good enough.

All my rattles disappeared before the service...oddly enough a heavy metallic rattle disappeared when I moved the wheel key.

Today it's back..Oh no!

That'll be because I've moved the wheel key back...took me far longer than I'd like to connect the two.

Been a long day

Yesterday was weekly shop for me. I tend to visit Aldi or Lidl for most things, I do go to other supermarkets but the cheaper markets are both at my side of town so less hassle. Both places had empty shelves, especially Lidl. No idea what was missing, but a few isles were totally empty, haven’t seen that for some time. I managed to purchase everything that I wanted, no big deal but curious as what’s missing.

jimboy said:

Yesterday was weekly shop for me. I tend to visit Aldi or Lidl for most things, I do go to other supermarkets but the cheaper markets are both at my side of town so less hassle. Both places had empty shelves, especially Lidl. No idea what was missing, but a few isles were totally empty, haven’t seen that for some time. I managed to purchase everything that I wanted, no big deal but curious as what’s missing.

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We went to the library at Drum Brae today, in Becky of course. Very steep hill to be negotiated near the library but she stormed up it in 3rd without hardly breaking into a sweat! Drew a blank on S.F. stuff, nothing on the shelves I'd not read before so chose a selection of thrillers just for a change.

Mrs J uses skimmed milk but I like filtered because I can't get by with her "white water" as it just doesn't make a decent cup of tea. I like the filtered milk because it keeps for ages without turning. Lidl is one of the few places I can buy filtered milk so we decided to do a medium sized shop there, as we are passing their door anyway, on the way home. As you say Jim, some of the shelves are definitely bare but it's very patchy. Pasta sauces have been thin for a few weeks now. There was no Batts tomato ketchup (I find it's just as good as Heinz). On the other hand Broccoli heads have made a reappearance. Doesn't seem to be much of a pattern to it, I think it's probably down to available transport rather than product shortage?

My little estate is really just two roads, parallel to each other, meeting together just before the main road, with a short section to the main road, like a tuning fork. The short section to the main road has parked cars on one side, ending about 3 car lengths from the junction.
The main road is about to be resurfaced, along about 1500m, and will be mostly done overnight, so traffic light working during the day, closed overnight, except for resident access. Traffic lights have been set up today.

Heading out for shopping, I got to the fork, and unlike most, observed the run to the main road before committing. Our light red, vehicles entering, so best stay put, so they can come in as far as the fork and go either way. First car comes through, second sits, awaiting my passage as the parked vehicles are on thier side. But there are several behind him, awaiting entry, so now the main road is stopped. By this time, there are two more with me on each side of the fork, so five of us in all. I doubt any of the others will look ahead and wait.
A horn sounding from behind got the waiting car to come through, followed by two others, then another decides to be 'courteous', although we still have nowhere to go. This one gets stroppy, insisting through lots of flashing headlamps and waving out his window, that we absolutely must come through. So off I went. As expected, followed by 4 sheep. At the red light, we all queue. Incoming, who insisted we come through, is now trapped, as the way is blocked until the lights change. Now he starts getting cross with the ones behind me.

Hands up anyone who thinks any of them will have learned for next time.

I have paid a deposit on a 'German car'

Ive bought @40 Italian and a handful of French..

How bad can it get.. :shrug:

Might even do a 'membersmotors'.. as its destined to be a 'keeper'

varesecrazy said:

I have paid a deposit on a 'German car'

Ive bought @40 Italian and a handful of French..

How bad can it get.. :shrug:

Might even do a 'membersmotors'.. as its destined to be a 'keeper'

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It'll be interesting...well maybe not but do like a look round a new car.

That and it's always interesting to see how people get on with something long term. Not the usual journo have it for a week and then savage it for not having American sized cup holders and a soft touch dash.

varesecrazy said:

I have paid a deposit on a 'German car'

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As you'll know I have quite a liking for the cheaper brands from VAG. So I'm very interested to know what you have decided to buy. Looking forward to more from you on this.

Pugglt Auld Jock said:

As you'll know I have quite a liking for the cheaper brands from VAG. So I'm very interested to know what you have decided to buy. Looking forward to more from you on this.

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The 'Czech's' in the post

Shouldhave covered a hundred plus miles in it this time next Sunday..
So will start the info then

varesecrazy said:

The 'Czech's' in the post

Shouldhave covered a hundred plus miles in it this time next Sunday..
So will start the info then

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We're going to need a new forum section, 'VAG', at least for you, me and Jock.

Decided to check my worn out discs and pads as recently reported to me. Discs are indeed rust on the back so all removed and cleaned with a flapper wheel Very small lip on the disc removed and the thickness checked at 11.067mm so not worn out at all. My 30% pads were all 50% left but rusty so cleaned it all up and put it back together. By the time I had 'finished' I could barley stand and its taken 5 hours to normalise. It was a shame when I was patting myself on the back for a good job done to note the spare part left over.....

I really didn't want to go back but at least this bit is quick and simple to reinstall. Duh!

portland_bill said:

We're going to need a new forum section, 'VAG', at least for you, me and Jock

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Well I am sincerely hoping I won't be involved. Our Leon went in for pre MOT and o/s/f spring today. Its 20 in March. It will indeed pass the test once the spring is done so Friday its a spring and an MOT then I hope its off to be PX'd with new MOT it may be worth £500 to Arnold Clark. I think a Tipo is the likely replacement as £7500 will get a 68 plate with 5K miles if we are quick. Its just too cheap to miss. If we go for another VAG ar it will be 30K and we will be lucky to scrape up a 2016 and in view of ULEZ I think anything older will be useless to the lady concerned. At least this time I am assured Bank of Mum and Dad will be repaid. Its either this or transfer of our 1.2 Lounge. That would be a more sensible move but she will no doubt over rule common sense. Option 3 is two springs and try for 1 last year...