Author Topic: In the words of Britney Spears…  (Read 5583 times)

Offline SRGTD

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Re: In the words of Britney Spears…
« Reply #40 on: 13 September 2026, 13:34 »
A “not quite a month” running report.

After not using the car for a couple of weeks I took the box fresh Ed50 down to Cornwall for a couple days under the premise of visiting my father. Instead of blasting down the dual carriageway I took the longer backroad route which I tend to prefer these days. It takes forever but is more interesting from a driving point of view. It’s also a decent route for running an engine and brakes in as it varies speed and gears constantly without putting undue strain on anything.

A lovely drive down and back, the suspension comfy enough, mid thirties mpg and I love the low speed eagerness of the engine.
Fresh out of the oven pasty at 11am from Philps in Hayle and a Chinese takeaway for supper.

The red seatbelts are still a novelty, the black paint is dulled down with a nice layer of grime and the car has been parked up and ignored for the rest of the week as I returned to work.

Can’t be bothered to clean it with the hosepipe ban in place.

I still can’t believe I sold a wonderful R Black Edition for yet another Golf but that’s life! I never did display any sign of sense despite being the world’s most boring person.
Great car though, the Ed50, even minus the de rigeur Performance Pack (which is actually quite good value for money all things considered). Plenty comfy enough to use daily sans PP (although I’m sure the optional pack isn’t much choppier) and feels really alive to drive. Mind you so is the regular Clubby and R

Seems that even though the ED50 isn’t getting that much use, you’re enjoying it. I also enjoy using the back roads rather than the main roads these days; maybe it’s an age thing, plus I have plenty of time on my hands, so rarely in a hurry to get to my destination (retired = time rich :smiley:). Did you manage to get your five a day from the pasty and Chinese takeaway?  :grin:

We also have a hosepipe ban. I did give my car a wash last weekend after letting it accumulate nearly 8 weeks of dirt (mainly a thick layer of dust due to lack of rain, plus a generous splattering of bugs). I bought myself a rinseless car washing product and was a bit nervous about using it but I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It does require a different approach to car washing and I’m not sure I’d want to wash a black car though without being able to use the hosepipe to pre-soak and thoroughly rinse after washing.

2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl

Offline Exonian

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Re: In the words of Britney Spears…
« Reply #41 on: 13 September 2026, 13:42 »
I still can’t believe I sold a wonderful R Black Edition for yet another Golf but that’s life!
I'm still wrestling with whether to buy an Ed50, so l'm always eager to read your feedback!  Yesterday, I went to see both a red and a green Ed50.  I'm not a big fan of red, it was always going to be the green for me, but the problem is, I really love my Lapiz Blue R black edition.  Having viewed the green, I was left a tad underwhelmed by it.  It was a dull day and the green looked, well, really dull.  The decision was not helped by the lad I was talking to at the dealership saying he preferred mine to the Ed50!  Before the viewings, I'd almost decided to go for it, but I'm now back to square one.  I wonder if VW will let me order a lapiz blue one!
It was a Lapiz Black Edition that left the biggest impression on me when I first saw one at my local dealership. Fabulous looking thing.

The Ed50 is more about the driving dynamics and to some owners it seems the hoped for retained values.
The Dark Moss seems to be popular but it didn’t blow me away when I saw one in the showroom. I preferred the red. 

I think you’d feel similar to me if you changed. No regrets as such but always the question of “why did I?”

I’m not wishing to take anything away from the Ed50 here, it’s just that the R Black Edition is bloody brilliant! Well, as a daily driver in soggy Britain at least, where as the Ed50 PP makes a perfect car for occasional use and turning up at car meets.

I have massive commitment issues but still went for a car in a colour and spec I’d never have chosen. I don’t regret it, but I’d not recommend anyone else to follow suit, I do odd things when it comes to cars.
I’d say if you have doubts then don’t do it. But then again in a few years time you might regret passing up on the opportunity…

A tough one isn’t it.


@SRGTD, my retired neighbour has a dark grey Kia EV that he uses a waterless cleaner of some sort on literally every time he gets home in it.
Not so much hose ban, I think he’s too tight to use any water as he does it all year round!!
« Last Edit: 13 September 2026, 13:56 by Exonian »
‘26 Ed50, ‘23 Leccy Mini, ‘25 8.5R, ‘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 

Offline Exonian

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Re: In the words of Britney Spears…
« Reply #42 on: 13 September 2026, 13:44 »
Oh, yes, the five a day - swede, potato, a few black eyed peas, rice and onion, bingo!!
‘26 Ed50, ‘23 Leccy Mini, ‘25 8.5R, ‘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 

Offline fredgroves

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Re: In the words of Britney Spears…
« Reply #43 on: 24 September 2026, 20:05 »
I see, I don't visit this forum for a while, leaving you unsupervised and you go and buy another golf!

Looks lovely though!
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC