New tyres suggestions?

[Booth11]

I thought MH was going for Michelin PSS? 

Spending 90% of my miles plodding along the A19 between 50 and 80mph in straight lines to my new job at the moment, it's all been pretty mundane - not feeling the need to change yet (not been scared by the Bridgestone's lack of grip yet), the 4WD of the R hasn't allowed any initial traction issues when I put my foot down from a standstill (my main gripe with them on my GTD) and i've just passed 1000 miles today, so early days - although the longer I have them on the less likely someone is going to want to buy them. On this commute, the R feels like it is going to waste - I could fling the GTD around a bit on my old commute on varied roads. I need a new job that puts my commute on winding country roads!

A small part of me believes I would be having more fun in a MK3 TT 184TDI with a DTUK box on, hammering it and never seeing less than 45mpg rather than driving the R quite sensibly with the odd spurt of speed - the R seems to really leave the competition behind above 80mph, but I value my license too much to be taking real advantage of that fact! Below 80mph, unless you're absolutely wringing it's neck to 6k revs, it doesn't feel as quick as it is (the MK7 refinement overshadowing thrills again most likely).

One thing I have realised this week is that Tesco Momentum 99 is the best fuel the car has sampled yet for smoothness and mpg (and 5p/L cheaper than Shell V-Power also).

MH - sounds like the job is not living up to expectations which is very unfortunate.  Possibly the car not living up to expectation either, but perhaps that's because of the dull commute?  Anything else on the horizon job wise?  At least you can stick at it whilst looking around for something better, preferably at the end of a long windy route so you can stretch the R's legs a bit more 

Although I work in the city here, I have the opportunity every day to drive lots of twisty rural roads, so that's where I'll be having some fun in my R, as I do now in the Mk6 GTI.

The choice of petrol stations around here is woeful, mainly Esso and some supermarkets, our local Sainsbury doesn't have a petrol station.  Whenever I can, I use Shell which is 7 miles away but I make work site trips to coincide with fuel fill ups.  Never tried Tesco (not my usual shopping place) but that's also 7 miles away too.

[monkeyhanger]

Are you happy with your decision to change to the R as you don't sound it in recent posts ?

I'm just not being wowed by it right now - mainly due to the very mundane commute making up most of my miles which doesn't allow me to put my foot down, and the fact i'm not liking the new job very much right now, so driving to work doesn't put me in a great mood while behind the wheel. The car does get plenty of compliments though.

It's a canny bunch at my level in the new place, but their turnover of staff is horrendous as the operators are pretty poorly paid for what they are required to do and the place is run on a shoestring as far as staffing levels go. The parent company have just bought a similar operation down south that has 4 times the staffing levels for roughly the same output, that's how thinly spread our lot is. On the bright side, my redundancy cheque from the last job hit the bank!

It's a job for looking for a job I think!

There's a Tesco about 1/4 of a mile from the place of work, but none within 15 miles of where I live.

[am1w]

Matt:

It's time you moved down to the Sunny South and particularly to the Big Smoke. It's all happening here, plus you can pop over to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in a heartbeat.

[Booth11]

Matt:

It's time you moved down to the Sunny South and particularly to the Big Smoke. It's all happening here, plus you can pop over to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in a heartbeat.

If I recall from a previous conversion, MH used to live down south and moved back north, so maybe been there, done that?

I remember we talked about how people had nicer cars up north and the more basic models down south because the southerners have spent all their money on property    When I go home to Yorkshire I definitely see better cars in greater numbers.

Hope you find something better soon MH.  North or South.

[monkeyhanger]

Matt:

It's time you moved down to the Sunny South and particularly to the Big Smoke. It's all happening here, plus you can pop over to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in a heartbeat.

London's not for me - I love being a tourist and visiting the place, but I don't think i'd like to live there. We might not get the weather but it's much friendlier up here and I wouldn't have to spend half my wages servicing the mortgage. 

[Booth11]

Matt:

It's time you moved down to the Sunny South and particularly to the Big Smoke. It's all happening here, plus you can pop over to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in a heartbeat.

London's not for me - I love being a tourist and visiting the place, but I don't think i'd like to live there. We might not get the weather but it's much friendlier up here and I wouldn't have to spend half my wages servicing the mortgage. 

There's more to the south than London    I've never felt truly at home in Canterbury.  I loved living near Bath though.

[monkeyhanger]

Matt:

It's time you moved down to the Sunny South and particularly to the Big Smoke. It's all happening here, plus you can pop over to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in a heartbeat.

If I recall from a previous conversion, MH used to live down south and moved back north, so maybe been there, done that?

I remember we talked about how people had nicer cars up north and the more basic models down south because the southerners have spent all their money on property    When I go home to Yorkshire I definitely see better cars in greater numbers.

Hope you find something better soon MH.  North or South.

Yep, I spent the second half of my childhood in Southampton and was back up in the North East as soon as I turned 18 and went to Uni. My mates down there are all on the bones of their arse because they've got a mortgage twice the size of mine for a house half the size. My mates down there are all in £500 scrappers. 

Anyway, when I manage to get a bit more excitement in the commute i'll be getting the R some new shoes. There's a few pharmaceutical companies up the Northumberland coast from mine that I wouldn't mind driving to on a daily basis.

[am1w]

Matt:
I forgot about that little thing called a mortgage as I don't have one. Yes, it can be a damned killer especially with London Property Prices which are still going through the roof especially in my area. Lucky me. I can see you have a better quality of life in the NE with the lower cost of living. However, it would drive me mad being anywhere that is not as diverse as London. ETTO.

Rebecca:
I agree. Could happily move to Bath on a short term basis. Just love it and the countryside around. The only problem is that I am a Francophile and love popping over there at least a dozen times a year to the Fair Land of France. It is so easy from London.

[Booth11]

Rebecca:
I agree. Would happily move to Bath. Just love it to bits and the countryside around. The only problem is that I am a Francophile and love popping over there at least a dozen times a year. It is so easy from London.

My sister lives over Bath way so I have plenty of opportunity to visit still.  Gorgeous landscape and a very cosmopolitan city Used to live in Bradford-on-Avon.  Do you know it?

Yes, France is very conveniently and speedily accessed from the South East.  I did used to make an annual trip to St Malo in Brittany every year from the West Country via ferry, but it was a hell of a long boat trip.

[mcmaddy]

I don't think the ps3s were in that 17" autoexpress test and looking at all the sites they are rated at 72 which is exactly the same as the conti 5s. I must say i do love the conti 2s and would go conti 5 but seeing as the ps3s work out at 85 quid each i don't think they'll they be any different to the conti 5s.