hi
yes, have noticed on longer weekend drives that the mpg goes up, especially when i look at the 'trip' mpg as opposed to the total mpg. I was just expecting it to be higher, especially as i am in the nanny/dont punish the engine period...
...but i suppose if i wanted high mpg readings i should have bought a diesel!!! - not the case obviously.
Now, for what its worth, and to anyone who's interested in what i have to say; my initial thoughts on the car 500 miles in...
I've not owned a VAG car before, always liked them, especially Audi's etc, there is something about German cars that i really like. My past cars have mainly been BMW minis (which i love) and a quick foray into Porsche ownership (996 for 18 months) and i have also been lucky enough to be a member of ecurie25 and have driven lots of exotic machinery.
So, hows does the ED30 feel 3 weeks into ownership? Well first lets get the negatives out of the way. Maybe i am spoit with ecurie's stable, but there does not seem to be any aural drama to the car, i know i am running it in, so i am not using the engines full rev range, but i dont get any engine / exhaust excitment. The Cooper S Works has an awesome supercharger / spluttery exhaust combo which i loved. The turbo whistle is pretty cool though. Secondly i thought it would be a little more frugal, but its not really a major annoyance. Getting used to the DSG is proving interesting. Dont get me wrong, i love it, but it does seem to have some funny little foybles (sp?). And finally i thought the interior material quality was going to be much better. I have always read how the golf leads the field for interior quality, but i'm not so sure. The fit and sturdyness cannot be denied, but there are some cheap plastics (and leather) in there which took me by surprise. So thats the negatives out of the way, and to be honest they are so minor, that they have not spoilt the car for me and they have not had me having second thoughts...far from it...
... the car is so so solid. i love its integrity...the smoothness of the power delivery, the complete and utter absense of cabin creaks, squeaks and other annoying 'here comes another visit to the dealer' type sounds, something that i was very used to with the MINIs and the Porsche.
Something i loved about the MINI was the directness of the steering. I was worried that the Golf would be more grownup and not as involving, less of hooligan if you like. Well most of these things are true infact, but not to its detriment. The car is much more grownup than the MINI, it does not tramline, torque steer as much, its much more sure footed and still a hoot to drive.
I have not really driven many auto's before. My only experience being a Jag S type slush box, a mates Turbo tiptronic and a F430 F1 gearbox. The DSG pisses all over them, its truely amazing (bar some idiosyncrasies that i am trying to get used to). The gearbox has none of the negatives that the aforementioned autos have/had and i love it. One of the reasons i chose the car, was the chance to try out the gearbox having owned manuals most of my life. As i have got older (and more lazy) the DSG seems like a great option for me, especially as i spend alot of time stuck in London traffic. I just can't get over how smooth the gear changes are, it complety changes the way you drive, makes driving so much safer, and sort of involving in a different way to a manual. Don't get me wrong, when i jump back into sports car ownership (as a 2nd car) i will be choosing manual, but for a car i use 90% of the time, i think its perfect, i ask any doubters to try it first.
The looks - i love them. I really really wanted Candy white but part of brokering the deal to buy the car with the missus was that she got to choose the colour. Steel grey was my second choice, so i am very happy still. I am not one for in your face go faster stripe cars, so things like the Type-r etc were out before i even got a chance to drive them. I love the subtlety of the ED30, to its doubters > its so much better when you see one for real, and still commands real presence... i have had some admiring stares from R32 owners!!! The smoked wheels go so well with the Grey (although a pain to clean), there is nothing i would change really... i suppose the exhausts (in my eyes) look better in the center!
Apart from my worries with material quality, i love the interior, for all the germanic reasons i mentioned above. I love the grown up feel (never really got to like the MINI interiors), i love the half leather seats - not sure how well the leather on the bolsters will stand up, so will see there. The only regret i suppose i have is not specing the satnav (for cost reasons), i think it makes the interior look much better.
So, all in all i am really happy, no regrets at all, i get excited everyday when i know i am going to get to drive it which is the main factor when you want to know if you REALLY like the car or not.
And on that note i will bid you fare well for now, sorry for boring you with my thoughts, but wanted to get them off my chest. Speak soon, love treacle.
