« Reply #93 on: 18 January 2019, 16:34 »
The Ed40 GTI hit a significant milestone this week, hold on to your hats...
It clicked over to 5000 miles at long last after a whole 20 or 21 months since being registered.
That triggered thoughts that I’d better find a bit of time and sit down to do a running report.
And, well, there’s nothing to report!
What’s gone wrong with it? Thankfully nothing yet. The only things I can point at it are a couple tiny pin prick stone chips and a few occasional rattles coming from “somewhere behind me” over certain irregularities in the road.
What do I think of it after 20 months?
Those that have been around on here a while will remember my chequered history with Golfs rarely being in my possession for longer than 18 months, just long enough for me to do a few modifications, a few retrofits and then moving on to a new project or simply moving the car on through lack of use.
My theory was to keep them turning over regularly to keep the financial jumps small and to keep projects ticking over without spending a fortune.
Considering I didn’t ever intend on buying a Clubsport in the first place this car has had quite an effect on me.
Aside from the de rigeur pedal box and changing the wheels (both kind of my signature) I’ve not been tempted in the slightest to modify the Ed40, I’ve not grown in the slightest bit bored of it and in fact it’s actually grown on me during my ownership which is saying something if you care to read back the first few pages of this thread.
Were you to take the Clubsport away, give me back what I paid for it and allow me to add as much money as I could afford towards another car I’d actually be stumped.
After 5 plus years of mk7’s I’m far from bored of them and still think there’s nothing better out there for my money.
I bought the Clubsport on a whim as I didn’t actually need another car.
I don’t know if it’s me finally growing up at the grand age of 50 or the car’s virtues themselves, but I suspect the latter!
The car has gone from occasional use to being used most days now. It was bought because I have another car for commuting but still wanted a Golf as they’ve always played a big part in my life. The Ed40 the perfect blend of a bit of rarity yet still a common old Golf. A car that you could justify not using much as a future collectible model but still a handy family hold-all when needed. Even using it almost every day now to do a 30 mile round trip commute it still has that same sense of occasion it had when I first purchased it.
So, running report.
Err, I like it. A lot!
Nothing has broken just yet.
Booth11’s old Conti’s are finally heading towards the wear markers on the Pretorias so new boots will be needed in the next couple months, PS4S the obvious likely candidates.
Aside from that it’s just needed one service as the only dealer visit.
This is the first turbo car I’ve had in nearly 20 years I’ve not put a stage 1 on. The car and engine simply don’t need it for road use. I’ve readjusted my driving style from using the massive stage 1 torque to lug from low revs to actually using the delicious rev-ability of the R engine. Unlike the earlier bigger turbo Ed30/35/Cupra R/mk6 R 2.0 engines this EA888 unit is amazingly flexible and responsive right through the range.
The lesson I learned was after removing the JB1 from my R on its last journey with me that although the car was slower per se it was actually more fun to drive as I could use the revs and properly drive the thing. With the JB1 fitted anything over 4000rpm saw licence threatening speeds which kind of kills the fun day to day.
Shortly after getting the Clubsport I had the opportunity to try a very well modified DSG R on a very early morning moorland blast.
I never thought I’d see myself say it but I actually preferred the standard engine tune for road use despite the seamless relentless power of the Stage 2 R. Power isn’t everything it seems.
I would actually like the 310 Clubsport S tune for the Ed40 maybe, just as a compromise if nit picking.
What more to say? 20 months in and I’m still devoted!
Logged
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten
