Had My Car 3 Months - My Thoughts So Far

[thebear29uk]

I've had my car since 10th Oct and I've done 1700 miles in it. It is a company car but I don't use it for work - it's an out and out perk of the job. The first weekend I drove it from Exeter to Manchester via Oxford and back. Over 600 miles. I loved it. Previously I had a 1 Series 120d M Sport for 4 years. The difference was very noticeable but I was still taking it easy to run the car in. I don't necessarily have to worry about that as I give it back after 3 years and I've had company cars for the last 15 years, but this is the first one where I've changed my attitude. I want to get the best out of the engine once it has bedded on. I'm more cautious of where I park now because I don't want my doors bashing by somebody who either has an old banger and lets their door swing open carelessly or, worse, a people carrier where children don't understand the importance of not hitting the car next to them. Lol.

The things I love.
Keyless! No scratch marks around the door handle from opening the door with the key already in your hand. Automatic lights. Generally and, in particular, High Beam Assist for all these Devon country roads.
Adaptive Cruise Control. In those sections of roadworks on a motorway where there are average speed radars I can set it at 50 then if the numpty in front is only doing 45 the car deals with it.
Reversing Camera. Perfect for reversing off my drive onto a narrow street with parking both sides.

The things I find slightly irritating.
No surprise on here I'm sure when I mention the windscreen wipers. Just rubbish.
Not having the facility to turn Nav voice control off completely. I was listening to the football results on Talk Sport and even though I had the volume at zero the radio faded out for the duration of the directions. Worse still there seems to be 3 or 4 instructions per turn.
Not being able to move the car unless the seatbelt is on. Annoying if you just want to move the car slightly after assessing where you've parked.
How easy is it to scuff the alloys? 2 small scuffs already on driver's front. That will now be the sacrificed wheel whenever I'm parking. Damage limitation.

But that's it. By far it's my favourite car ever. I love the sound in Sport mode. I love the sheer power from a standing start. I love the way it holds in a corner or bend. I love the cabin layout and steering wheel controls. 

So overall I'm delighted I chose my 2nd GTI. I had the sober 1.8T Mark IV back in 1999 and this is head and shoulders above that for looks and performance.

Dave

[KyleB]

You can definitely get rid of the sat nav voice as I've turned it off on mine and the radio doesn't dim when instructions are read out.

[ChrisJL]

You should be able to take the handbrake off without your seatbelt on if you put your foot on the brake first then press the handbrake button down to release it.

Just make sure you put it back on as its kind of like a bypass of the safety feature where the car puts the handbrake on for you as you take your seatbelt off. Seen a horror vid on here where someone did that same process and the car slowly started rolling down their drive into a bush 

[ffrank]

You can definitely get rid of the sat nav voice as I've turned it off on mine and the radio doesn't dim when instructions are read out.

I think you have to turn the sat nav voice off in the options, as opposed to with the volume control? If you do it this way it doesn't dim the sound, but it's really annoying as I too just want to hit a mute button, and then unmute for when I need it!

[Exonian]

Yes, I think you do have to switch the voice right off or it will still interrupt the broadcast.

And yes, you have to put a foot on the foot brake and push down the toggle switch so the car moves sans seatbelt. I'd keep it parked in gear though if you've done this (I always park mine in gear anyway having had a handbrake fail many many years ago).

PS. I think I've seen the car on your drive!

PPS. I want a job like yours! I had to pay for my own car!! 

[p3asa]

You could change the setting to congestion and it will be quiet unless there is a problem ahead.

I tend to have it on brief which is a compromise.

[KyleB]

Didn't know you could do that p3asa that's great. I was hoping there was a way it could alert you to traffic ahead without it constantly whining out instructions.

[Tornado8]

You can switch the Nav announcements off using the voice activation menu.

[ffrank]

Nice tip p3asa, I didn't know that either.

You can switch the Nav announcements off using the voice activation menu.

Another one I don't know.. how does this work?

[thebear29uk]

Some really handy tips. Thanks a lot. Just goes to prove I should really read the manual. Lol. 

Exonian have you been driving just near the Cowick Barton pub by any chance?

Dave