Had my first drive...
Well what's it like then Jim? I know a picture tells a thousand words but I think a thousand words is overdue! 
Yes, loving it so far. My first hot hatch which is a poor effort considering I will be turning 39 at the start of next month and have always loved cars. It had less than 10 miles on when I collected so took it pretty steady but had a few bursts of full throttle and it pulls well. I've been fortunate to drive some pretty rapid things on the road in the last 12 months or so (New M3, M4 Comp, 458 Italia, new RS3, S8 Plus) but the GTI still feels quick and think it's going to be a great car for the next 12 months. It's a company car so will be doing around 10k per year of mixed driving.
From a daily driving point of view, it feels as easy to drive as my previous car which was a new shape C200 AMG Line with the 7 speed auto. Also feels less crashy over the bad Sheffield roads as the Merc was on run flats with the sports suspension. The Merc was very well equipped so will probably a few things but the GTI has a very nice and pleasantly up market feel to the interior especially with the new glass panel sat nav.
Going to be doing a new car detail on it this weekend hopefully trying out some great products 
Nice one Jim.
Interesting observations.
The GTI is an excellent all rounder, are you really only keeping it for 12 months?
Exonian - imho Barcelona is a big pile of poo pants. A bit childish I admit, but I'm a fair bit into a rather lovely bottle of red Barcelona to me is the constant smell of wee from the side streets and pick pockets everywhere. I'm sure there are nice aspects but not that I recall. Perhaps a tad predictable but I love Paris, the atmosphere, small galleries and great food and wine. I'd thoroughly recommend Krakow though. A beautiful city with so much heritage and history (not all pleasant unfortunately). The Poles are so friendly, the vodka bars amazing and the architecture beautiful. Food superb and the booze plus, most important to us, you can go shooting. Proper shooting, Glocks, magnums and AKs, love it!
Interesting thoughts there Watts. You should do a review or two on tripadvisor!
I've got a Paris trip lined up in about six weeks funnily enough.
I can't see SWMBO enjoying Krakow as she doesn't drink and I really can't see her wanting to shoot guns unless she could bring them home and practice on the neighbours, random passers by, people driving using a mobile...
I was at the Cruilla festival near the beach at Barcelona so I didn't smell too much piss.
If you've never been, I would highly recommend it but I've only ever been to Barcelona with mates, never the wife : )
Apart from JK who I find amazingly irritating that looked to be a good line up, i'm even more envious now!
I'm sure the smell of wee would have been drowned out by other more fragrant things at the festival, which is probably just as well if the loos are anything like your average British festival portaloos.
I take it your were there as a paying customer not actually performing? Do you have a secret second identity?
