The Car Thread ... !

[cyb3rdud3]

My usage is a little different from yours as I use our cars every few days. I have a full car cover but never put it on as its a real pain to fit, then deal with when you remove it and its soaking wet.

Main issue here is frost. The basic rule is if you cover the car/screen it won't freeze (but probably rain!). If you don't it will. Usually stick a hot water bottle or two on the dash whilst I take my shower. Then its good to go. I miss my heated front screen on my Ford Focus. Used to be great. Especially at work. Everyone would go out to their car and start defrosting. I'd get in and drive off!

Awww I feel for you My car has a programmable header and front, rear and side heated glass It nice and warm in the mornings. Although a nuisance is that I can't preheat the seats, nor the steering wheel, can only use those once started #firstworldproblems

Yeah I know Sport has better throttle response - you really notice the difference between that and the normal drive setting - though it really hammers the economy...adaptive suspension is standard on the Biturbo - not even an option (or it wasn't when I first got mine) on the others - again you notice the harder suspension but I don't think it makes much difference to ride height??? One of the first diesels I've driven that has instructions for Launch mode!

Yes, it is a lot more progressive, basically, a different map on the throttle so gives you more open throttle for less pedal movement. The setting by itself doesn't alter fuel economy though, your right foot is doing that Ah ok, so it has the variable damping control, not adjust the suspension. Another wonder of illusion to give it a 'sporty' (stiff?) feel. Never been a fan when VW does that personally.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I have a garage. Just full of stuff. U.K. garages are rarely very big. Mines not too bad, but I need to get a shed to dump stuff in.

I’ve got a one and a half size garage and just converted half into an office and the other into a shed/crap dump. I don’t think my car has ever been in it lol.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’ve got a one and a half size garage and just converted half into an office and the other into a shed/crap dump. I don’t think my car has ever been in it lol.

Mine is probably 1 and a half times my car as well. I live in hope!

 

[44267547]

I’ve got a one and a half size garage and just converted half into an office and the other into a shed/crap dump. I don’t think my car has ever been in it lol.

What’s a ‘crap dump’? Is this more British slang for like an outdoor toilet when you need more privacy for taking a deuce?😁 (Kind of like I didn’t know what ‘boot’ was for a trunk.) I’m still learning U.K. terminology here.

 

[Nütztjanix]

I'd say it's a location where you put stuff that you either don't need regularly or no longer at all, but are too lazy to dispose of properly. ?

 

[44267547]

I'd say it's a location where you put stuff that you either don't need regularly or no longer at all, but are too lazy to dispose of properly.

It’s called being facetious.😁Also, I like to razz that member, as I’ve known him for a while on here throughout various forums.

 

[Nütztjanix]

It’s called being facetious.?Also, I like to razz that member, as I’ve known him for a while on here throughout various forums.

Thought so, but answered seriously still. Should have known better, I guess … ??

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

What’s a ‘crap dump’? Is this more British slang for like an outdoor toilet when you need more privacy for taking a deuce? (Kind of like I didn’t know what ‘boot’ was for a trunk.) I’m still learning U.K. terminology here.

It’s my term for a stand at the door and through whatever crap I have until it lands somewhere where I won’t need it for a while

 

[bunnspecial]

It's alive again!

They've done a really good job on the engine. Yesterday was the first time it was started, and it hasn't been driven yet. After the first ~20 minute run, it needs an oil change, the valve lash reset, and then of course dialing the mixture and timing in dead-on. They'll get it on the road for probably about 50 miles then do all of that again. The goal is to drive it back with me at Thanksgiving...

 

[Apple fanboy]

It's alive again!

View attachment 1666753

They've done a really good job on the engine. Yesterday was the first time it was started, and it hasn't been driven yet. After the first ~20 minute run, it needs an oil change, the valve lash reset, and then of course dialing the mixture and timing in dead-on. They'll get it on the road for probably about 50 miles then do all of that again. The goal is to drive it back with me at Thanksgiving...

Just in time for the good weather!

 

[cyb3rdud3]

What’s a ‘crap dump’? Is this more British slang for like an outdoor toilet when you need more privacy for taking a deuce?? (Kind of like I didn’t know what ‘boot’ was for a trunk.) I’m still learning U.K. terminology here.

I'd say it's a location where you put stuff that you either don't need regularly or no longer at all, but are too lazy to dispose of properly. ?

Ours is our storage for all the empty online delivery boxes, nearly all have amazon on it Well until the next recyclable good rubbish collection and then we fill it up again ?

Seriously though, it is called a double garage, has a 14 foot wide electric sectional door, and 22 foot deep. So it isn't that bad for UK (low) standards. But I couldn't put two cars in it side by side. And the height is challenged as well.

I don't think I'll ever understand the way they build houses in the UK, most are just so small, too close to each other, and bedrooms the size you can just spread your arms (or legs ?) and touch both walls. Be glad when these lockdowns are finished so we can move out. As I'm getting kicked out in June 2021 anyway due to Brexit...

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ours is our storage for all the empty online delivery boxes, nearly all have amazon on it Well until the next recyclable good rubbish collection and then we fill it up again ?

Seriously though, it is called a double garage, has a 14 foot wide electric sectional door, and 22 foot deep. So it isn't that bad for UK (low) standards. But I couldn't put two cars in it side by side. And the height is challenged as well.

I don't think I'll ever understand the way they build houses in the UK, most are just so small, too close to each other, and bedrooms the size you can just spread your arms (or legs ?) and touch both walls. Be glad when these lockdowns are finished so we can move out. As I'm getting kicked out in June 2021 anyway due to Brexit...

Houses (and especially garages) are built small in the U.K. because it’s so densely populated. House builders can charge more if they can squeeze another house into the plot. It’s why we bought an older house. They’d squeeze 2-3 on this plot if they were building it now.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Houses (and especially garages) are built small in the U.K. because it’s so densely populated. House builders can charge more if they can squeeze another house into the plot. It’s why we bought an older house. They’d squeeze 2-3 on this plot if they were building it now.

Same reason we’d bought ours. They’d squeeze 3 or 4 houses on a plot nowadays. I don’t think the UK is densely populated though. It has pockets of densely populated areas and lots of people against building on plenty of green belt land. In our village all the old folk oppose everything constantly. Even when submitting planning permissions against existing property. There is plenty of space, just not being utilised smartly.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Same reason we’d bought ours. They’d squeeze 3 or 4 houses on a plot nowadays. I don’t think the UK is densely populated though. It has pockets of densely populated areas and lots of people against building on plenty of green belt land. In our village all the old folk oppose everything constantly. Even when submitting planning permissions against existing property. There is plenty of space, just not being utilised smartly.

Sounds like our village! But better than the suburbs where we were. We lived in a detached property and there was a 3ft gap between us and the next houses. Here it’s a bit more!

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Sounds like our village! But better than the suburbs where we were. We lived in a detached property and there was a 3ft gap between us and the next houses. Here it’s a bit more!

LOL Yes been there. Technically detached but barely is. And in such a property our garage was double length, and a double length driveway. It was a right pain swapping cars around all the time. So what do people do, leave them out on the road, made it all look very messy. I’m glad we move away from that.

I do appreciate they are “luxury” problems for some

 

[44267547]

Ours is our storage for all the empty online delivery boxes, nearly all have amazon on it Well until the next recyclable good rubbish collection and then we fill it up again 🤣

Seriously though, it is called a double garage, has a 14 foot wide electric sectional door, and 22 foot deep. So it isn't that bad for UK (low) standards. But I couldn't put two cars in it side by side. And the height is challenged as well.

I don't think I'll ever understand the way they build houses in the UK, most are just so small, too close to each other, and bedrooms the size you can just spread your arms (or legs 🤣) and touch both walls. Be glad when these lockdowns are finished so we can move out. As I'm getting kicked out in June 2021 anyway due to Brexit...

Interesting how it varies in different parts of the world for garage space, as someone else mentioned, it’s probably based on overpopulation in terms of what you’re actually allowed to have for dimensions.

A close friend to the south east of me lives in a nice neighborhood where they have a ‘covenant’, [which basically means that they have to follow strict guidelines of what they’re allowed to build and how they have to build it.] In Another words, he is micromanaged where they’re not free to build things the way they want in that specific neighborhood, that applies to anyone that lives in this neighborhood. So if he wanted to add a fourth stall on his garage, he’s not allowed to do that. He does fairly well, and he’s an IT director with a nice house, but I would never want to build in his neighborhood, everything looks like a ‘cookie-cutter‘ design with all the garages basically using the same Design, all the window panes in built into the garage are exactly the same, it has personal no customization whatsoever.

Oh, He also just purchased a New Range Rover in ‘Eiger gray‘. It looks super sharp.

 

[Apple fanboy]

LOL Yes been there. Technically detached but barely is. And in such a property our garage was double length, and a double length driveway. It was a right pain swapping cars around all the time. So what do people do, leave them out on the road, made it all look very messy. I’m glad we move away from that.

I do appreciate they are “luxury” problems for some

Our old garage was a shoebox. Never had my car in there and I lived there for 18 years. You’d have to climb out the sunroom to get out if you did!
Plenty of parking at the front though there so all good. You could get 3-4 cars on the drive side by side.
Here we have space to park two but like you describe, one in front of the other. We will extend the drive so we can park side by side at some point in the future. But we’ve already spent £100k renovating it.
No parking on the road in our village though. The lanes are far too narrow. No pavements either. Gets to be a pain.

 

[D.T.]

It's alive again!

They've done a really good job on the engine. Yesterday was the first time it was started, and it hasn't been driven yet. After the first ~20 minute run, it needs an oil change, the valve lash reset, and then of course dialing the mixture and timing in dead-on. They'll get it on the road for probably about 50 miles then do all of that again. The goal is to drive it back with me at Thanksgiving...

Nice. I wondered about the status of the engine build, etc. On top of it running great, it also looks terrific.

I’ve got a one and a half size garage and just converted half into an office and the other into a shed/crap dump. I don’t think my car has ever been in it lol.

Here [in the US] many garages are designated as "two car", but they're not really. I mean, maybe two small (narrow) cars, and nothing else in the garage. When we had a big storm headed our way last year, I pulled both our cars in, but it required moving just about everything away from the sides (we have like a step up area at the back where we piled stuff), __and__ I still had to exit the second car through the rear hatch

 

[Apple fanboy]

Got a call from Mrs AFB this morning. My tyre is flat. How flat I ask? Very flat. Couldn't even remember if her car had a spare (it doesn't). Anyway someone was in the house servicing the heating system otherwise I'd have driven to her.

So she drives it home (it was very, very flat!). Had a compressor in the boot (trunk to you guys!), so filled it up and could here the air escaping. Could even see the nail.
So drove it back to town (where she had been) and took it to the tyre place. Needless to say the tyre couldn't be repaired (can they ever?). Oh and all the tyres are cracked and will fail the MOT. Oh and just for clicks we can';t get them until tomorrow.
So tomorrow I'll be filling it up again to take a slow drive to town (about 6 miles).

Why are her tyres cracked? Probably lack of use!

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Why drive? Plenty of tyre places that come to you. Often even cheaper as welll.

Tyres on the Drive did me 4 Pirelli Scorpio Verde 275/40R22 for just £217 each on my driveway. And then had 8% Quidco cashback as well ??

 

[Apple fanboy]

Why drive? Plenty of tyre places that come to you. Often even cheaper as welll.

Tyres on the Drive did me 4 Pirelli Scorpio Verde 275/40R22 for just £217 each on my driveway. And then had 8% Quidco cashback as well ??

Well that’s true. But given her mileage I’m looking at £165 total!

 

[44267547]

Got a call from Mrs AFB this morning. My tyre is flat. How flat I ask? Very flat. Couldn't even remember if her car had a spare (it doesn't). Anyway someone was in the house servicing the heating system otherwise I'd have driven to her.

So she drives it home (it was very, very flat!). Had a compressor in the boot (trunk to you guys!), so filled it up and could here the air escaping. Could even see the nail.
So drove it back to town (where she had been) and took it to the tyre place. Needless to say the tyre couldn't be repaired (can they ever?). Oh and all the tyres are cracked and will fail the MOT. Oh and just for clicks we can';t get them until tomorrow.
So tomorrow I'll be filling it up again to take a slow drive to town (about 6 miles).

Why are her tyres cracked? Probably lack of use!

When I lived in Tennessee, I had a convertible at the time, and I remember I ran over a nail I could physically hear ‘clinking’ when I was driving down the road. I knew immediately how the nail ended up in my tire, I turned around in a median of the road, (which all that junk and debris usually ends up in the median) I had to find a tire repair shop, being I was out in the countryside. When I got there, they used one of those cheap tire repair kits where they insert a rubber stem that stops the air from leaking, but I personally don’t care for those types of repairs, it’s probably better just replace the tire, but worked short term. But from experience, nails/glass on the road usually end up in the median or on the shoulder of the road, which is why I never suggest stopping in those spots if possible.

But speaking of which, I was pulling out of my house on Sunday night, and a Cadillac Escalade passed me with their rear passenger side tire was flat and you could Audibly hear the flat tire/wheel grinding on the pavement as they were driving, and I flashed my lights multiple times to signal them, and yet he still traveled at speeds up to 40 mph. Well, I wouldn’t worry just about replacing the tire, I worry about now the cost of replacing the entire wheel that’s damaged.😁

 

[Nütztjanix]

Got a call from Mrs AFB this morning. My tyre is flat. How flat I ask? Very flat.

Good thing with tyres though: they’re only flat at the bottom. On the top they’re just fine!

?

 

[D.T.]

Why drive? Plenty of tyre places that come to you. Often even cheaper as welll.

Tyres on the Drive did me 4 Pirelli Scorpio Verde 275/40R22 for just £217 each on my driveway. And then had 8% Quidco cashback as well ??

I think I'm going to use an "at home" tire install this time around. There's a service that installs for a couple of major online tire sellers, and the one I'm thinking of using uses a road force type balancer, no touch mounting, can even do a nitrogen fill.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I like to support local businesses, but if the tyre is very flat like mine was, and I need it fast as my exhaust work was booked in, then it’s a good solution.

Here in the Uk they improved a lot, they couldn’t do wheels larger than 18”’in the past but now can do upto 23” on the drive. Quite handy.