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Gas Guzzling Money Pits
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1635
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Author:  MrChris [ Wed Mar 22, 2017 22:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I think it covers the insane taxation you have to pay on cars in Singapore

Author:  Cras [ Wed Mar 22, 2017 22:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I did wonder!

Author:  Findus Fop [ Wed Mar 22, 2017 23:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

MrChris wrote:
I think it covers the insane taxation you have to pay on cars in Singapore


This. My boss out there paid close to 30k for a Suzuki swift. You do basically get the tax back when you sell it on though (i think)

Author:  Bobbyaro [ Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I am going to Johor next week, want me to put in a good word with the locals for you?

Author:  DavPaz [ Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Bobbyaro wrote:
I am going to Johor next week, want me to put in a good word with the locals for you?

Quote:
Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
I wish, I wish he’d go away

Author:  DBSnappa [ Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

So, we've been G's mother's old car. Renault Sport Clio 172. Owned since new, 66k miles, and in very good nick for an 18 year old car.

Author:  myp [ Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

You'll have a lot of fun in that. Great little cars.

Author:  Cavey [ Wed Mar 29, 2017 13:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I had a black one, back in the day!
An absolute giant killer, I lurrrrved it loads. Absolute cracking little hot hatch.

Author:  Trousers [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I did my PalmerSport track day yesterday. Hard to articulate just how much fun it was really - I was sporting a shit-eating grin for the entire day. Still am.

It was really professional with a wrist-based device that you scanned in on each car that gave you live lap timings, so as one half of the group was out the other could watch and follow the timings as they happened. The instructors had endless reserves of patience and I actually learned quite a bit from them, but you do feel like you're learning to drive for the first time where everything comes at you at once.

In ascending order of awesomeness the events were

Off Roading - boring shite hitting tennis balls and driving on rails - dead slow. I just kept thinking about how much I wasn't Grim... but then how he wouldn't fit in any of the other cars. SO NYER - came 72nd out of 75 on that. GRIPPED, SORTED.

BMW M4 GTP - came at the end of the day after two really light cars so seemed dead heavy and cumbersome and the instructor was a bit shite.

Ariel Atom - good fun but the first car of the day so you're getting used to things at that point - span it twice.

Karts - only because I won my heat

Renault Clio Cup - Front wheel drive, grippy as fuck, actually a lot of fun to drive. Best bit, however, was seeing who stalled it pulling off - the hooligan levels of revs required to get it moving without stalling it was insane.

Caterham - no traction control and a course designed to make you slide around like fuck. Utterly grin-inducing and I was actually laughing as I headed towards a tyre wall sideways to the point where even the instructor watching was shaking his head and laughing when I got out. Pedals are the size of stamps so I caught the accelerator and brake at the same time a few times. Revving to 4000rpm and shooting off at the lights like a missile is a feeling that can't be replicated.

Palmer JP-LM - super light, super grippy and the most beautiful noise. The instructor was just telling me to smash the power constantly but my first go and that just led to a few spins but the sheer sensation of speed and throwing a car round corners was unmatched except for..

Formula 3000 - you're in there, on your own, hunched into a tiny cockpit basically feeling like Lewis Hamilton with nobody to tell you when to brake or what gear to be in. The apprehension as you're let loose in the thing on your own is pretty intense but when you throw it round a corner and it just sticks to the road you really do feel like a God. I came 15th out of 75 for that one despite spinning it a couple of times. It's really hard work though and I've a new found respect for F1 drivers and their levels of fitness. I ache all over today.

You may now laugh at how much I don't stick my foot down - because fear



Only minor complaint would be despite internal comms on the helmets you only hear about 25% of what the instructors are telling you once the engine starts screaming.

Author:  markg [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Well jel.

Author:  Zardoz [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Sounds excellent, glad you had a good clear day for it.

Author:  myp [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Looks great, I've always wanted to do one of those. Incredibly pricy though?

Author:  Trousers [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Lonewolves wrote:
Looks great, I've always wanted to do one of those. Incredibly pricy though?


I thankfully didn't pay so couldn't tell you - a newly retired, rich uncle paid for 15 of us to go.

Looking on the website it looks like about £1,000 per person for the day. So yeah - pretty pricey.

Author:  Grim... [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Trousers wrote:
I I just kept thinking about how much I wasn't Grim... but then how he wouldn't fit in any of the other cars. SO NYER

:'(

Author:  Trousers [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Grim... wrote:
Trousers wrote:
I just kept thinking about how much I wasn't Grim... but then how he wouldn't fit in any of the other cars. SO NYER

:'(


I was genuinely sat there thinking - I am so shit at this - Grim... would smash, it whilst laughing manically.

Then 3 minutes later I was sat in a Caterham thinking - there's no way you wouldn't have been able to press any of those pedals independantly without significant foot surgery. Which made me feel sort of better about about my own inadequacy.

The 6'3 member of our team just caught his feet on the pedals constantly in the Caterham.

Author:  Grim... [ Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Trousers wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Trousers wrote:
I just kept thinking about how much I wasn't Grim... but then how he wouldn't fit in any of the other cars. SO NYER

:'(


I was genuinely sat there thinking - I am so shit at this - Grim... would smash, it whilst laughing manically.

Should have given me a ring, I was only five miles away.

To be honest, I'd probably be bored too (if I paid attention to what I was being told to do), off roading is about ridiculous hills and rivers and stuff. A good rule of thumb is "can I do the entire thing at tickover", which you can at 99% of off-road sites.

Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 13:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

£170 for a fucking battery, plus £50 for an hour of mechanic time as the battery needs registering and coding to the car once it's been fitted, if you can believe that.

NOTHING'S FUCKING CHEAP ON AN AUDI S4.

The old battery was fucked though, it's hardly been able to start the car for the last few days.

Author:  MaliA [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 14:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Hearthly wrote:
It's a bit 1980s having a car that won't start on cold mornings, very retro.

Memories of helping my dad bump start a knackered old Ford Escort down the backings.....

BUT THAT WAS MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS AGO.

Can't you at least get a cheap Japanese car?


Just leaving this here

Author:  KovacsC [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 14:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

MaliA wrote:
Hearthly wrote:
It's a bit 1980s having a car that won't start on cold mornings, very retro.

Memories of helping my dad bump start a knackered old Ford Escort down the backings.....

BUT THAT WAS MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS AGO.

Can't you at least get a cheap Japanese car?


Just leaving this here



:DD

Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 15:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Batteries don't last forever. The old battery was bust, it has now been replaced with a new one. Which was expensive.

But yes I agree with the astonishing amusement value of both old cheap cars, and more modern pricier cars, being vulnerable to not starting because of a flat battery.

Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 16:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

I suppose it's a good thing to be overcharged on a battery.

Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 17:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Zardoz wrote:
I suppose it's a good thing to be overcharged on a battery.


Whilst I doff my cap to your splendid pun, price-wise £220 for a new battery, fitted and coded is actually a perfectly respectable amount to pay, and certainly less than a main Audi dealer would want.

(I'm not saying it isn't a ridiculous price in and of itself, for a replacement battery on a modern Audi, you're going to get gouged.)

In simple terms you can't just put 'a new battery' in, it has to be an Audi-compliant battery, and the battery has to be coded to the car using a unique serial number. Without doing that the car won't 'accept' the new battery and will refuse to acknowledge one has been installed, and will continue to operate in power save mode and constantly moan about having a fucked battery in it.

So to replace a battery in my car you have to (a) Get an Audi approved battery with the serial number on it and (b) Code the battery to the car using a VAGINA-COM or similar, at which point the car accepts that a new battery has been installed, restores full functionality to all systems, and stops moaning all the time about the terrible state of its battery.

Modern technology eh?

Author:  MaliA [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 19:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Sounds like a printer cartridge model, to me.

Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Apr 03, 2017 19:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

MaliA wrote:
Sounds like a printer cartridge model, to me.


Indeed. By all accounts you can try to dodge the official route by using cheaper alternatives, same as you can with third-party printer cartridges. However, whilst I don't mind risking 'grey market' solutions with a £150 printer, I'm somewhat less inclined to do so with a substantially pricier car, there are plenty of stories out there of folks trying to save a few quid on batteries and being left with badly behaving Audis afterwards.

I was under no illusions when I bought the S4 that it was going to be an expensive fucker to run and maintain, so I'll just roll with the punches when it comes to nonsense like £220 batteries.

Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Hearthly wrote:
First thing that doesn't work properly on the S4, and it's hardly a deal-breaker, but the MMI system seems to have an issue with really long MP3s.

Basically, with these very long MP3s it's a bit hit or miss as to whether it remembers its location in the track from turning the car off to turning it back on again. Sometimes it 'forgets' where it was up to on the most recent session, and goes back to where it was up to the last but one time the car was turned off.


viewtopic.php?p=939665#p939665

Ahhh right, the new battery has totally fixed this.

Author:  Grim... [ Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

...

That's odd.

Author:  Zardoz [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 19:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Done my first oil and filter change today, pretty chuffed with myself.

Had to nip out for a 19mm socket as the ones I had only went up to 15mm.

The gloves I bought were too small, only 96 more pairs to use though.

Auto Glynn engine cleaner is superb at getting oil stains off Indian stone drives.

Next week, the wife's RAV4. Looks easier if anything.

Author:  Zardoz [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 19:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

While I was underneath I spotted a hole on either side of the exhaust pipe, just in front of the cat. :(

Author:  MrChris [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 19:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Ohohoho, title

Author:  GazChap [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 19:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Zardoz wrote:
Next week, the wife's RAV4. Looks easier if anything.

If RAV4 oil filters are anything like the ones on my Celica, it'll be glued on so tightly that you'll need He-Man to even just start unscrewing the damned thing.

Get yourself a good chain filter wrench ;)

Author:  GazChap [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 19:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Also, remembered that BMW made the last generation of M3 in a four-door saloon model and now my wallet's itching again. 730d or M3? :P

Author:  Zardoz [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 20:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Already looking, Gaz!

Was hard enough getting the one out of my Leon.

Maybe I should have started turning it the right way from the beginning. :D

Author:  Zardoz [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 22:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Treated myself to a 6l oil pan too.

#yolo

Author:  Warhead [ Sun Apr 09, 2017 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Insurance renewal again. How I hate it. My renewal quote beggared belief, up from £443 last year to £644. Got it down to £363 after an hour or two off faffing around on comparison sites. Yes, it's a reeeeeesult, but I didn't enjoy it very much.

Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 9:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

My car ran lovely this morning :luv:

Next job: Front brakes (slight wobble lately when light braking so I'm guessing I've warped my disks)

Author:  Pundabaya [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 9:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Zardoz wrote:
I'm guessing I've warped my disks)


Ouch, get well soon.

Alternatively

Title

Author:  asfish [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 19:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Quote:
I was under no illusions when I bought the S4 that it was going to be an expensive fucker to run and maintain, so I'll just roll with the punches when it comes to nonsense like £220 batteries.


Each month a guy in the department forwards an email from a leasing company he uses.

It has various offers and deals on leasing cars.

This month there is an S4 Auto Quattro that appears to be well loaded (Sat Nav, heated seats, rear sensors phone system) for £288 a month with 10,000 PA on a 2-year deal.

A one-off payment of £3600 is also required, so that makes it around £430 a month, last time I looked at our work scheme you couldn't get a basic 320 BMW for that.

Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 19:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

asfish wrote:
Each month a guy in the department forwards an email from a leasing company he uses.

It has various offers and deals on leasing cars.

This month there is an S4 Auto Quattro that appears to be well loaded (Sat Nav, heated seats, rear sensors phone system) for £288 a month with 10,000 PA on a 2-year deal.

A one-off payment of £3600 is also required, so that makes it around £430 a month, last time I looked at our work scheme you couldn't get a basic 320 BMW for that.


That's not too bad, I assume it's not a brand new S4 though?

I have no idea how these leasing scheme things work we don't really have them over here, does the cost include servicing and maintenance, and fixing stuff if it breaks, or does that all come out of your own pocket?

Author:  BikNorton [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 22:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

The point of leasing is you get a new car. Usually includes servicing, not always tyres.

Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Mon Apr 10, 2017 22:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

BikNorton wrote:
The point of leasing is you get a new car. Usually includes servicing, not always tyres.

Servicing is an option. And normally an overpriced one.

Author:  asfish [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Hearthly wrote:
asfish wrote:
Each month a guy in the department forwards an email from a leasing company he uses.

It has various offers and deals on leasing cars.

This month there is an S4 Auto Quattro that appears to be well loaded (Sat Nav, heated seats, rear sensors phone system) for £288 a month with 10,000 PA on a 2-year deal.

A one-off payment of £3600 is also required, so that makes it around £430 a month, last time I looked at our work scheme you couldn't get a basic 320 BMW for that.


That's not too bad, I assume it's not a brand new S4 though?

I have no idea how these leasing scheme things work we don't really have them over here, does the cost include servicing and maintenance, and fixing stuff if it breaks, or does that all come out of your own pocket?



Yes its brand new, I know the work lease scheme includes everything, so you can have them come to work and do tyres and the servicing is included even insurance I think.

With the S4 deal I think you just get the car, these sorts of deals are really popular as you can get cars that were normally well out of you league financially. One of my mates at work had been saving for years to get a good deposit on a an A3 (not sure of the model but its the same sort of car as the 300bhp golf) he now just accepts the fact he is setting aside £200-300 a month and leasing it.

The S4 is tempting as my own car allowance would cover it, but with a car paid for already and a 2nd child due anytime there is always something better to spend £400 a month on.

This is a snip of the S4 deal

Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

12 months up front is fairly cheeky on a 24 month lease. I've only just one to terms with paying 6+36 next time out.

Author:  MaliA [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

EXCITING ROVER UPDATE!

It's MoT day!

Author:  Kern [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

MaliA wrote:
EXCITING ROVER UPDATE!

It's MoT day!


Are you running on a book on what it'll fail on?

Author:  MaliA [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Kern wrote:
MaliA wrote:
EXCITING ROVER UPDATE!

It's MoT day!


Are you running on a book on what it'll fail on?


It'll pass, because God hates me.

Author:  Zardoz [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Good luck?

Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

MaliA wrote:
EXCITING ROVER UPDATE!

It's MoT day!

Just picked mine up. Straight pass with no advisories. :)

Author:  MaliA [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Kern wrote:
MaliA wrote:
EXCITING ROVER UPDATE!

It's MoT day!


Are you running on a book on what it'll fail on?


Battery insecure, new tyre needed, wiper blade, headlamp adjustment. £125.

Author:  Zardoz [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Have you tried talking to your battery? If that doesn't work there's always counselling.

Give it my best wishes.

Author:  myp [ Tue Apr 11, 2017 13:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits

That reminds me, I need to book mine.

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