What have you done to your mk8 today?

[Exonian]

No covid jab for me, just a short trip to the DIY store... remembering the "Brocky lane assist kill" trick.... brilliant!

I can do that on the move and without even looking.

 

Hope you feel better soon Exonian!

Thanks Fred. Feeling loads better as the day goes on unlike poor Mrs Exonian who has really copped for it. She’s been very unwell with post jab nasties.
Still, it meant a rare day of self sufficiency so I made a chicken curry and followed it up with (cold) Sainsbury's hot cross buns! Choice of entertainment was a massive fail though, Borat 2 was an hour of my life I’ll never get back.

I’ve been using the Brocky Merhod every trip the last couple days. Saves having to remember to disable the feature via the screen at the start of the journey, it can now easily be done on the fly.

'The Brocky Method'.  I feel honoured.

Although I'm more proud of Exonian's use of 'Flicking the bean', which I coined a couple of weeks back. I think that one might have a better chance of sticking in Mk.8 lore than 'The Brocky Method'.

The bean flick I first mentioned in my tyre fitting parody in January but you’re welcome to take the copyright for that one, I’m a gentleman and don’t want such things associated with me   

Edging the car out of the tyre depot I flicked the gear bean into Sport mode...

[Brocky_]

Damn. I felt proud of that.   

In my defence against the crime of plagiarism, m'lud, I wasn't even a member in January.

[fredgroves]

I'm claiming "chicken nugget" though... And "clubby" 

[fredgroves]

Glad you are better though Exonian. Chicken curry with hot cross buns for mopping....hmmm I wonder if that will catch on...

[Exonian]

No, that one can be all yours Brocky, I’m disowning it 

Thanks again Fred. Fingers crossed I don’t follow it all up with food poisoning 

[fredgroves]

I had my first proper go at motorway driving today, other than the first day I picked it up.

Quite impressed it managed 40mpg on a decent run at 70mph.

I also let Travel Assist do its stuff on some a roads. It slowed down for roundabouts, corners and changes in speed limits. Quite impressive, i hovered near the brake pedal but didn't have to intervene.

Some of the getting back on the gas out of the corners it's slowed down on is a little terrifying but...

I also noticed it coasting for the first time too. That's interesting. It doesn't switch off the engine, but it does disengage the engine and sits at tick over revs.

[Exonian]

Is Travel Assist easy to set up?
No, I’m obviously not going to RTFM! 

I quite fancy testing it out on my way to work as the traffic is usually fairly light going both ways.

[fredgroves]

Is Travel Assist easy to set up?
No, I’m obviously not going to RTFM! 

I quite fancy testing it out on my way to work as the traffic is usually fairly light going both ways.

Yeah dead easy!

Make sure Lane Assist isn't disabled and press the Travel Assist button (on the left hand buttons, its the bottom right hand one).

The initial speed is set like ACC, with the + and - keys.

Once its turned on you get a green travel assist light up on the AID.

You will see as you approach a bend or a roundabout, on the AID it will say things like "bend, speed 31mph" and it will slow down. It will also slow down or accelerate as it sees speed limit signs.

Like ACC, hitting the brakes turns it off.

Just watch out though, assuming there are no cars in front of you, it will go at whatever the speed limit is, unless it THINKS the corner needs braking.... can be interesting/terrifying if you hit a country road bend at 60mph....

Also roundabouts, it slows but you need to watch for crossing traffic and brake... also a queue of traffic on the other side of the roundabout could be masked from the radar.... be careful!

[Si_Telford]

Is Travel Assist easy to set up?
No, I’m obviously not going to RTFM! 

I quite fancy testing it out on my way to work as the traffic is usually fairly light going both ways.

It's a piece of cake. Engage two buttons your travel assist top button on your steering wheel and if you have road sign speed / monitoring turned on just press the bottom of steering wheel then it's all controlled just need to set your marker distance between your cars

[fredgroves]

My other tip for it, don't have ACC set to sport mode.... or the speed pickup is a bit nuts, amplifying the out of the corner crazy rollercoaster ride!

I'm sure its perfectly ok really, you just have to get used to it driving nothing like you would normally, the gas comes on not when you or I would normally,  just concentrate on steering and hover over the brake pedal!

Probably works best on anything but English country roads!