Golf Now In Sight
- Thread starter John Disdale
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JD,
I think I'll give him a call. Like you I find the task of finding replacement money just to keep the standard of car I currently have in a few years time daunting.
£250 seems to be a good deal for peace of mind.
No I may be being thick here but is the £250 a one off payment or is it something that is an annual fee?
I think I'll give him a call. Like you I find the task of finding replacement money just to keep the standard of car I currently have in a few years time daunting.
£250 seems to be a good deal for peace of mind.
No I may be being thick here but is the £250 a one off payment or is it something that is an annual fee?
John Disdale
Member
To answer Roy & Jon’s questions. The premium is a one off payment covering the 3 years. I have no finance, so that it not my worry either. For those who wish to go down the same path as myself, whilst also protecting their finance arrangements then I’m sure this insurance agent could help.
One of the key aspects which always concerned me is that if you have a car with numerous extras most insurances companies in the event of a “write off” only view such options as being worth pennies. This is no good if one is about to replace the car in such an event, but the policy which I have described will return ALL past paid out monies (excluding road tax). This does however only include factory extras, and nothing fitted after first collecting the car.
Regards
John Disdale
One of the key aspects which always concerned me is that if you have a car with numerous extras most insurances companies in the event of a “write off” only view such options as being worth pennies. This is no good if one is about to replace the car in such an event, but the policy which I have described will return ALL past paid out monies (excluding road tax). This does however only include factory extras, and nothing fitted after first collecting the car.
Regards
John Disdale
You heard it here on the A2 forum! don't forget to mention my name to John Webley, he might even buy me a pint with all this extra business he looks like getting!
Seriously, all our Company and private insurance is with HGR - I find John Webley extremely helpful when there are claims to sort out, and over the last 20 years there have been one or three!
Hope you all ge a good deal from him.
MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
Seriously, all our Company and private insurance is with HGR - I find John Webley extremely helpful when there are claims to sort out, and over the last 20 years there have been one or three!
Hope you all ge a good deal from him.
MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
jonmerrick
Member
Well today's the day I think when Tesco actually welcome their new Golf baby!
Hope it goes well John.
Jon
Hope it goes well John.
Jon
John Disdale
Member
Jon,
I’m afraid the Manager at my Tesco’s has not finished laying the carpet in the carpark, and so the celebration party is off until tomorrow. As it is I am getting concerned when on Monday morning some money was electronically transferred to my bank, and should have arrived later during the day, but it has still not arrived. Without it I’m screwed so I just hope that the cockup gets resolved by tomorrow morning. My new insurance policy (required to tax the car) should have arrived this morning, but it has not, so its all becoming a little frustrating.
Regards
John Disdale
I’m afraid the Manager at my Tesco’s has not finished laying the carpet in the carpark, and so the celebration party is off until tomorrow. As it is I am getting concerned when on Monday morning some money was electronically transferred to my bank, and should have arrived later during the day, but it has still not arrived. Without it I’m screwed so I just hope that the cockup gets resolved by tomorrow morning. My new insurance policy (required to tax the car) should have arrived this morning, but it has not, so its all becoming a little frustrating.
Regards
John Disdale
I'll be interested to hear how you get on with your Golf PD130.
I drove the A2 1.4TDi yesterday - once I realised I didn't have to rev the nuts off it and that it went better at 2500 rpm than at 4000 rpom, I started to enjoy it. The acceleration feels much quicker than the petrol. I suspect my next car will be diesel, maybe golf or seat leon.
MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
I drove the A2 1.4TDi yesterday - once I realised I didn't have to rev the nuts off it and that it went better at 2500 rpm than at 4000 rpom, I started to enjoy it. The acceleration feels much quicker than the petrol. I suspect my next car will be diesel, maybe golf or seat leon.
MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
John Disdale
Member
I have driven the A2 1.4TDI and a VW Polo with the same engine, so I can and have compared these to the petrol A2 in the past. I need to recap my past claims in that where I initially stated that the TDI seemed so much quicker I was related it to my own petrol car, which eventually I ascertained was a poor performer relative to other petrol A2’s. That said the diesel does have a great deal of pull/torque at a given rev range, and the fact that it simply does not apply in the same way in a petrol model makes comparing difficult.
Most people’s impression is that the diesel is the faster car, yet there is not one single statistic to prove this. Speed in many ways is an impression, and I reckon the diesel “seems” very quick and powerful early in the rev range, however once the diesel gets wound up and the rev counter climbs I believe that pro rata there is more engine noise than actual poke. The petrol model on the other hand has a different character, it generally feels somewhat gutless, but once the rev counter really climbs the car actually takes on a second lease of life. Funnily enough even my Audi Quattro was like this.
In conclusion I might describe the diesel as packing an early punch, but then running out of steam, with the petrol model starting off like a dead slug but coming on stream after a canning. The “impressions” are totally different, yet the stop watch confirms their eventual performance as being the same.
If the stop watch is thrown out of the window and one relates to everyday driving, then the obvious advantage of the diesel is that far fewer down shift gear changes are required when deciding to do a bit of overtaking, or climbing up a hill. This of course is a worthy advantage, however its likely that for shear speed (mph) dropping a gear in the petrol model, flooring the accelerator, and then changing up again would make for quicker progress than the diesel. That said the downside is that the screaming noise inside the cabin can become tiring – especially on long journeys.
My observations are of course hardly law, but that’s how I see the comparisons from my limited experiences.
In terms of the Golf PD130 you just cannot really compare this to any A2 when it comes to performance and tractability. This is an amazing engine and gearbox simply missing a nice body.
Regards
John Disdale
Most people’s impression is that the diesel is the faster car, yet there is not one single statistic to prove this. Speed in many ways is an impression, and I reckon the diesel “seems” very quick and powerful early in the rev range, however once the diesel gets wound up and the rev counter climbs I believe that pro rata there is more engine noise than actual poke. The petrol model on the other hand has a different character, it generally feels somewhat gutless, but once the rev counter really climbs the car actually takes on a second lease of life. Funnily enough even my Audi Quattro was like this.
In conclusion I might describe the diesel as packing an early punch, but then running out of steam, with the petrol model starting off like a dead slug but coming on stream after a canning. The “impressions” are totally different, yet the stop watch confirms their eventual performance as being the same.
If the stop watch is thrown out of the window and one relates to everyday driving, then the obvious advantage of the diesel is that far fewer down shift gear changes are required when deciding to do a bit of overtaking, or climbing up a hill. This of course is a worthy advantage, however its likely that for shear speed (mph) dropping a gear in the petrol model, flooring the accelerator, and then changing up again would make for quicker progress than the diesel. That said the downside is that the screaming noise inside the cabin can become tiring – especially on long journeys.
My observations are of course hardly law, but that’s how I see the comparisons from my limited experiences.
In terms of the Golf PD130 you just cannot really compare this to any A2 when it comes to performance and tractability. This is an amazing engine and gearbox simply missing a nice body.
Regards
John Disdale
martinw-I came from a Leon to the A2, and I find more room for me in the A2 than the Leon!. Boot space a little smaller, but the higher driving position is nice. Still love the Leon-don't know why I didn't go for the same again-wanted a change as I felt what's the point going for the same car again. Come change time for the A2, SEAT will get a very close look as the replacement for the Leon will have been introduced by then (probably the Salsa).
Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
jonmerrick
Member
John
I agree with your observations. However, just to add that in the 2 A2s (both 1.4 TDI) I have owned the engines did not even bear comparison with each other - let alone any comparison with the petrol alternative!
The 1.9TDI is a wonderful unit as I have said before. There is absolutely no comparison that can be made with the 3 cylinder 1.4. I am still salivating at the distant prospect of a 1.9 TDI A2. I have already told the wife she is not working long enough hours (well, to be more accurate, that is what I would like to do if I had the nerve!)
Hope this delay over the new Golf is extremely short and you are very soon behind the wheel.
All the best.
Jon
I agree with your observations. However, just to add that in the 2 A2s (both 1.4 TDI) I have owned the engines did not even bear comparison with each other - let alone any comparison with the petrol alternative!
The 1.9TDI is a wonderful unit as I have said before. There is absolutely no comparison that can be made with the 3 cylinder 1.4. I am still salivating at the distant prospect of a 1.9 TDI A2. I have already told the wife she is not working long enough hours (well, to be more accurate, that is what I would like to do if I had the nerve!)
Hope this delay over the new Golf is extremely short and you are very soon behind the wheel.
All the best.
Jon
John Disdale
Member
Jon,
You really should not feel embarrassed in asking your wife to work longer hours. Simply bring to her attention the incredible internet report that you have read by Doctor Disdale, where using the reputed “Tesco Test” it has been firmly established that married females working a minimum 60 hours a week gain so much. This of course has been proven in extensive tests at the Disdale Institute where most females were found to be more healthy, more physically attractive, more sexually alert, and more likely to let their hair down in Tesco’s.
I’m totally convinced that your wise wife would not dream of challenging scientific research, so start getting those car brochures in and put your mind to work in all the extras that you could easily have. You know it makes sense.
Regards
Doc Disdale
You really should not feel embarrassed in asking your wife to work longer hours. Simply bring to her attention the incredible internet report that you have read by Doctor Disdale, where using the reputed “Tesco Test” it has been firmly established that married females working a minimum 60 hours a week gain so much. This of course has been proven in extensive tests at the Disdale Institute where most females were found to be more healthy, more physically attractive, more sexually alert, and more likely to let their hair down in Tesco’s.
I’m totally convinced that your wise wife would not dream of challenging scientific research, so start getting those car brochures in and put your mind to work in all the extras that you could easily have. You know it makes sense.
Regards
Doc Disdale
John Disdale
Member
Well, I collected the Golf this afternoon, but what a day. It started off not very nice in my wife having to visit a surgeon so that he could inform her of the risks in having to undergo a nasty operation in the future, and then it got worse in that money being transferred into my account had turned out to be a major cockup. I spent almost 2 hours in the Bank refusing to go away until someone sorted out the mess, and eventually after feeling exhausted I got my money.
The car drives and handles fantastically, and upon reaching home (after a detour) I thought I would give it a polish to my standards. Having given it a little wash I started to apply the polish, and then with my nose a few inches away from the bonnet I become aware of thousands of tiny rust colour dots – although many were actually black. The polish removed about 20% of them, but the remainder could not be shifted. Closer examination of the entire car highlighted that the pin prick “dots” were everywhere.
I am but guessing, but its possible that the tiny dots are rust or iron filings which I know some people experience when parking their cars near a railway line. The car has been polished by a contractor appointed by the dealer, and I think it’s likely that they have polished over these particles thus making them more harder to shift. Anyway come tomorrow morning the dealer is going to be very aware of mt presence.
It’s perhaps humorous that the Polo which I had been loaned was way short of immaculate when it was first given to me 9 weeks, ago yet I returned it shining and gleaming like a new pin (1 coat of Autoglym resin polish, and 3 coats of Autoglym high gloss). The dealer said I should not have gone to such lengths, but I stated it was all a matter of standards. Of course now I see that my standards make a professionals look like the work of a halfwit.
The bad jokes do not quite end there, when I now establish that the owner of the VW dealership (JCB Medway) is the son of the Managing Director of Whitehouse Audi (the company who I regard as lower than scum).
Oh well, perhaps tomorrow might be a better day. Who knows by Saturday I might be driving a Toyota.
Regards
John Disdale
The car drives and handles fantastically, and upon reaching home (after a detour) I thought I would give it a polish to my standards. Having given it a little wash I started to apply the polish, and then with my nose a few inches away from the bonnet I become aware of thousands of tiny rust colour dots – although many were actually black. The polish removed about 20% of them, but the remainder could not be shifted. Closer examination of the entire car highlighted that the pin prick “dots” were everywhere.
I am but guessing, but its possible that the tiny dots are rust or iron filings which I know some people experience when parking their cars near a railway line. The car has been polished by a contractor appointed by the dealer, and I think it’s likely that they have polished over these particles thus making them more harder to shift. Anyway come tomorrow morning the dealer is going to be very aware of mt presence.
It’s perhaps humorous that the Polo which I had been loaned was way short of immaculate when it was first given to me 9 weeks, ago yet I returned it shining and gleaming like a new pin (1 coat of Autoglym resin polish, and 3 coats of Autoglym high gloss). The dealer said I should not have gone to such lengths, but I stated it was all a matter of standards. Of course now I see that my standards make a professionals look like the work of a halfwit.
The bad jokes do not quite end there, when I now establish that the owner of the VW dealership (JCB Medway) is the son of the Managing Director of Whitehouse Audi (the company who I regard as lower than scum).
Oh well, perhaps tomorrow might be a better day. Who knows by Saturday I might be driving a Toyota.
Regards
John Disdale
Oh Dear!!!! JD on the warpath - no one wants to see that.
I've just been out for a spin in a Golf GTi diesel (150BHP) which a mate has just picked up brand new and I've got to say I was mightily impressed. Apart from the slight diesel rattle upon start up, it was very quiet and refined - and it shifts quite well too.
Almost a 1.4SE in Merlot Red, Biege interior, 16" 5 spoke alloys, DIS, Open Sky, Elec rear windows.
I've just been out for a spin in a Golf GTi diesel (150BHP) which a mate has just picked up brand new and I've got to say I was mightily impressed. Apart from the slight diesel rattle upon start up, it was very quiet and refined - and it shifts quite well too.
Almost a 1.4SE in Merlot Red, Biege interior, 16" 5 spoke alloys, DIS, Open Sky, Elec rear windows.
JD-congrats on picking up the Golf, bad news on the paintwork.
I often give thought to what should I do when I pick up a brand new car-polish it straight away or leave it?. If left, then small bits of dirt will be picked up that not be shifted by washing and then get coated in wax making then harder to shift in the future.
When I picked up my present A2 there were parts where the polish hadn't been wiped off-looked just like normal '£4.99' a bottle stuff. I had a fright-thought it was dodgy paintwork at first until I wiped it off with my finger!.
Anyway, good luck tomorrow and I hope they polish out whatever is on the paintwork. They may even give you another dirty loan car to clean!.
Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
I often give thought to what should I do when I pick up a brand new car-polish it straight away or leave it?. If left, then small bits of dirt will be picked up that not be shifted by washing and then get coated in wax making then harder to shift in the future.
When I picked up my present A2 there were parts where the polish hadn't been wiped off-looked just like normal '£4.99' a bottle stuff. I had a fright-thought it was dodgy paintwork at first until I wiped it off with my finger!.
Anyway, good luck tomorrow and I hope they polish out whatever is on the paintwork. They may even give you another dirty loan car to clean!.
Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
John Disdale
Member
Visited the VW dealer this morning. The first person I spoke to could not cope unless I treated him as the Pope, so I asked him to get someone else. The sales Manager duly looked at the car, and promptly involved their in house car preparation guy, both of whom rapidly agreed the paintwork was not acceptable. It was decided to give the car an acid wash using a product which I noted from the canister was called “Fallout Cleaner” (recommended by George Bush to schools in Iraq), anyway rather than go home in a courtesy car I volunteered to stay and watch, emphasising that under no circumstances would I accept the car be hammered with any strong abrasives.
Alas the acid wash followed up with a hot water pressure jet only removed about 20% of the particles, so the process was repeated but without much of an improvement. Then a tar remover and bug shifter was tried – followed by more thousands of gallons of water, and this made a good improvement so it was repeated numerous times. After 3 hours I suppose 90% of the dots had been removed, and although the offer was made to then re-polish the car I said I would happily do that myself in the further hopes that in perseverance I could remove the remainder of the specks.
It was said that a brilliant product for the task would have been a “natural clay” – however although Halfords once imported this from the USA they apparently stopped selling it due to some form of copyright legal action. As it is I can remember seeing this advertised on the internet, and so I shall see about ordering some in order to achieve a 100% perfect job. The name of “Karobar Clay” seems to ring a bell. Does it with anyone else ?
Anyway, amidst the rain showers I spent several hours this afternoon polishing the car with 1 coat of Autoglym resin polish, followed up by a coat of their high gloss protection. The alloy wheels had of course in the process had their wax removed, so I also gave them a new coat of basic pure wax. The overall end result looks reasonable, but it will take me a few more days of spit and polish before I am satisfied.
One aspect which greatly annoyed me was the fact that the Golf had no carpets. I had in fact ordered rubber mats, and received them okay, but I have never ever heard of a car being supplied without any carpets. Moreover I cannot believe the stupidity of those who took my original order, when with the extras which I had requested one might have thought I would have been asked if as a “luxury” I fancied some carpets. Oh well, I have now ordered some.
Having purchased a car to enjoy and drive I clearly had not reached that stage, so this evening I went out for a 80 mile trip just to remind myself what it all been about. Cruising along in the 80mph category I only managed to obtain a computer reading of 50mpg, but I guess the engine is very tight and I did have a lot of ballast on board (the wife). Bearing in mind that in the past I have not liked diesels this car just amazes me, and I feel I could drive to Australia and get out feeling unstressed and as a fresh as a daisy. It’s quite amazing how all my local bumpy roads have become smooth again, and even when I fell down a pothole waiting for that A2 spine jarring feeling it just never happened.
If a comparison is possible between the A2 and Golf PD130 then off the cuff I make the following comments.
Audi A2 Better Than Golf For:
1/Better Panoramic Vision & Roadview
2/Better Dashboard Design & Finish
3/Better Paintwork
4/Better Sharper Steering
5/Better Headroom
6/Better Entry & Exit
7/Feeling Of Secure Brakes
Golf Better Than A2 For:
1/Smooth Ride
2/Quite & Relaxed Ride At High Speed
3/Superb 6 speed Gearbox
4/Superior peddle controls
5/Responsive Engine
6/Great Handbrake
7/Conveniant Driver Central Armrest
8/More comfortable Seats
9/More comfort for 2 Rear Passengers
10/Better Finish To Door Panels
11/Better Rear Visibility
12/A Hinged Bonnet & Conventional Dipstick
13/Bigger Floor Space To Boot
14/A Proper Spare Wheel
15/More User Friendly Size Fuel Tank
That’s about it. You now know as much as her indoors.
Regards
John Disdale
Alas the acid wash followed up with a hot water pressure jet only removed about 20% of the particles, so the process was repeated but without much of an improvement. Then a tar remover and bug shifter was tried – followed by more thousands of gallons of water, and this made a good improvement so it was repeated numerous times. After 3 hours I suppose 90% of the dots had been removed, and although the offer was made to then re-polish the car I said I would happily do that myself in the further hopes that in perseverance I could remove the remainder of the specks.
It was said that a brilliant product for the task would have been a “natural clay” – however although Halfords once imported this from the USA they apparently stopped selling it due to some form of copyright legal action. As it is I can remember seeing this advertised on the internet, and so I shall see about ordering some in order to achieve a 100% perfect job. The name of “Karobar Clay” seems to ring a bell. Does it with anyone else ?
Anyway, amidst the rain showers I spent several hours this afternoon polishing the car with 1 coat of Autoglym resin polish, followed up by a coat of their high gloss protection. The alloy wheels had of course in the process had their wax removed, so I also gave them a new coat of basic pure wax. The overall end result looks reasonable, but it will take me a few more days of spit and polish before I am satisfied.
One aspect which greatly annoyed me was the fact that the Golf had no carpets. I had in fact ordered rubber mats, and received them okay, but I have never ever heard of a car being supplied without any carpets. Moreover I cannot believe the stupidity of those who took my original order, when with the extras which I had requested one might have thought I would have been asked if as a “luxury” I fancied some carpets. Oh well, I have now ordered some.
Having purchased a car to enjoy and drive I clearly had not reached that stage, so this evening I went out for a 80 mile trip just to remind myself what it all been about. Cruising along in the 80mph category I only managed to obtain a computer reading of 50mpg, but I guess the engine is very tight and I did have a lot of ballast on board (the wife). Bearing in mind that in the past I have not liked diesels this car just amazes me, and I feel I could drive to Australia and get out feeling unstressed and as a fresh as a daisy. It’s quite amazing how all my local bumpy roads have become smooth again, and even when I fell down a pothole waiting for that A2 spine jarring feeling it just never happened.
If a comparison is possible between the A2 and Golf PD130 then off the cuff I make the following comments.
Audi A2 Better Than Golf For:
1/Better Panoramic Vision & Roadview
2/Better Dashboard Design & Finish
3/Better Paintwork
4/Better Sharper Steering
5/Better Headroom
6/Better Entry & Exit
7/Feeling Of Secure Brakes
Golf Better Than A2 For:
1/Smooth Ride
2/Quite & Relaxed Ride At High Speed
3/Superb 6 speed Gearbox
4/Superior peddle controls
5/Responsive Engine
6/Great Handbrake
7/Conveniant Driver Central Armrest
8/More comfortable Seats
9/More comfort for 2 Rear Passengers
10/Better Finish To Door Panels
11/Better Rear Visibility
12/A Hinged Bonnet & Conventional Dipstick
13/Bigger Floor Space To Boot
14/A Proper Spare Wheel
15/More User Friendly Size Fuel Tank
That’s about it. You now know as much as her indoors.
Regards
John Disdale
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