Today I.....

first time I did the oil and filter and I should have been doing it for ages just been too lazy and what a doddle it is apart from realising that the garage cut a big hole in the underside tray to get to the nut which I spotted after removing the tray. and when putting it back on 2 of the screw would not go back in as the inserts in the car had rusted and dropped to bits when I removed them. Oh well now to hunt for new inserts!!
 
I washed everything. Did it three weekends ago and I've only been to the office four-five times since. Well, Okay, that's 1000km, but still. My car was *brown*, not white.
Got everything done and thought it was really late when done as it was really dark out. Came in, checked the clock: 1600. It had been dark for the last car and a half.. roll on the solstice! At least the water didn't freeze on the cars like last time....

Also added a load of stuff to the definitive tyre thread first post to make the non-compatible tyre sizes clearer.
 
first time I did the oil and filter and I should have been doing it for ages just been too lazy and what a doddle it is apart from realising that the garage cut a big hole in the underside tray to get to the nut which I spotted after removing the tray. and when putting it back on 2 of the screw would not go back in as the inserts in the car had rusted and dropped to bits when I removed them. Oh well now to hunt for new inserts!!
inserts are 4.8mm, so easy to find.

- Bret
 
Today I agreed to loan Merlin to my brother-in-law and his girlfriend, who have just escaped London for good and have moved in 50 yards down the road from us in our village and were without a car.

Merlin has basically been basically unused for 2020 apart from having all the work done in October and has been parked up down the side of my parents’ house in Maidenhead since - with no use case in sight for the next six month, when I *may* be able to travel with work again. I’m starting to get worried about brakes seizing, diesel bug flowering in the tank, battery health declining (I’ve been charging it whenever I’ve gone to see them but with the current situation that’s not been often.

My bro-in-law has agreed to strict t’s and c’s around things like gentle use until warmed up, use of branded fuels only and a strict “if it breaks / needs it you pay for it” regime, among others.

At least this way Merlin gets some exercise, its a way of getting the car down here (parking is tight so I was under orders not to bring it if there’s no need!) and most importantly, I will have access should I have a need. I’m secretly hoping they’ll fall in love with A2 and get one of their own in due course - their last car before they bought their flat in London was a newish VW Polo which they really liked, so they appreciate a good VAG car.

So, the tyre have been pumped up (they were all down to around 20 psi), fluids have been checked (all up to the mark as expected since the major service and overhaul work), I The set of genuine Audi mats are in courtesy of @rosscanning (I bought the set with just the one rear as I have a storage box in the footwell behind the driver) and the battery has been hooked up to the Ctek once again in preparation for collection from Maidenhead on Monday.
 
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Well it was actually on Friday that I did it, but just have time today to report in.
I'd bought a set of barely used Continental winter tyres (£100), got the local Kwikfit to put them on and dispose of the old tyres from a set of pepperpots.
Feeling much safer on the road now in cold conditions. If it's a warm winter it won't be a great choice.
 
You are then prepared for the "worst" and that's the safest... is it not ? ?
On the one hand, yes. On the other, if it’s unseasonably warm then winters can feel a bit like running down hill in heels (I’m told this isn’t easy!) when a car is driven enthusiastically. I must say on a warm day shortly after fitting, a set of corners I usually glide through provided a bit of a surprise as I got as sideways as I ever have in an a2. It was 15c so the tyres would’ve been doing nowt to hold onto the road.
 
On the one hand, yes. On the other, if it’s unseasonably warm then winters can feel a bit like running down hill in heels (I’m told this isn’t easy!) when a car is driven enthusiastically. I must say on a warm day shortly after fitting, a set of corners I usually glide through provided a bit of a surprise as I got as sideways as I ever have in an a2. It was 15c so the tyres would’ve been doing nowt to hold onto the road.
Yes, that was my worry. Braking distances when warm are longer on winter tyres than on summer tyres.
But if there's snow I'll be safer, so long as no one drives up the back of me.
 
if there's snow you'll actually be able to move :) beware, though, as your car might have better grip that you do with your shoes :D

- Bret

I’ve changed my wheels over to the pepper Potts with winters on them. Always feels better for December to February
 
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2C here, too, but due to be below zero all next week, which is more like it.

Might even see some snow that will hang around...

- Bret
 
One word - Crossclimates, or is that two?
I can recommend the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons after my trip home on Friday afternoon. I passed both a van and a bus being pulled back onto the road but I couldn't break traction on icy snow using moderate provocation (I wasn't going to go mad!)
 
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