Not angry now

[cliveseat]

Hello all.
It's been a while since I last posted but anyone who read my last couple of missives might recall that me and the Exeo ('09 143 Sport, 53k, Urano Grey) weren't getting along too well. I'd decided the ride quality on winter roads had deteriorated to such an extent that I was seriously considering offloading the Exeo. It'd also picked up a few dings - my fault - and the alloys were a bit shabby - me again, although Halfords damaged one - so I booked it in for these to be taken care of.
In the meantime, I fitted two new rear tyres (Falkens) which seemed to soften the ride a little.
Things took a turn for the worse, however, a few days before the Exeo was due to visit the body shop. It had been a ridiculously depressing day for reasons I won't go into here, and was capped off by some kid in his Mum's VW Polo rear-ending me at some traffic lights, which were red at the time. Actually, I felt a bit sorry for him because he was truly apologetic and took full responsibility. The Polo was a mess - and I can only imagine the conversation he'd be having once he got home. The Exeo's rear valance was hanging off and there were a few cracks and scratches, but other than that, it wasn't too bad, everything still worked and it drove perfectly.
The following morning, I was contacted by the boy's Mum who said I'd be getting a call from her insurance company and that she wanted my car repaired as soon as possible and hoped I wasn't hurt or inconvenienced (I was on my way to a nursing home, visiting a terminally ill relative). Lovely woman - and Admiral then called to say everything would be taken care of and would I like a Ford Focus for a couple of weeks while the Exeo was sorted?
So, I booked it in, (it'll get new parts, not repaired) agreed to pay separately for the scuffs I was responsible for and I'm also having a machine polish done. So, bodily, the car should come back looking pretty good (assuming they get a good match on the pearlescent paint).
A few days before it went in, because the alloys were being fettled anyway, I had (slightly better) Falkens fitted at the front too. When I picked it up, they'd pushed the damaged rear bumper back into place too, so the car looked all-of-a-piece again, and the wheels looked a treat (Halfords paid for the one they'd damaged). The following day, the Exeo went in for paint, by which time I'd become aware of a real improvement in the ride, which bodes well for when it comes back to me - and that could be tomorrow or Friday! Well, they have had the car for two weeks, during which time I've been hooning about in the Focus. It's a 1.6 petrol and drives really well - the handling and steering are great, plus it's got DAB - but the engine's a bit weak (although smooth), it doesn't have half the kit of the SEAT and the quality of the plastics in parts of the cabin are a bit dubious, making me miss the quality feel of the Exeo. Plus there's millions of them about. And 38mpg - that's poor.
Anyway, after a fraught few months with the Exeo, I'm suddenly looking forward to having it back. Hope the sun's shining....

 

[Nath.]

You don't realise what you've got till you loose it.

 

[cliveseat]

Sage words. Haven't heard from the garage, though, so it might be next week now. Which suits me because the weather's chuffing awful up here right now.

 

[Dean14]

Have fitted Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2's to my ST - wow, they make a massive difference. Far smoother ride, far quieter ride, handles as well (if not better) and I am getting about 3 - 4 miles MORE PER GALLON.

 

[cliveseat]

For the life of me, I can't remember what brand the last set were. It's like I've deleted it from my memory because - I realise now - how awful they were. But because they were on the car when I got it and were pretty new, I'd not had reason to change. And they were durable (20k and still OK!) and, as we all know, big wheels cost. That's the price we pay for vanity. But Halfords were doing them at £90 a corner, which seemed reasonable. Initial impressions on the Falkens are that wet grip is up and noise levels down too. Whether the golden glow continues I'll find out tomorrow when I pick the car up. Yup, it's ready - and the forecast is for sunshine.

 

[cliveseat]

Well, it's back and I'm feeling very pleased. Firstly, the car looks fabulous, the paint match is spot on and the machine polish was well worth the outlay. Asked the bloke what they used and he said it was something called Harley, which is only available online at about £25 a shot. Anyone used it? He didn't rate Autoglym, saying it leaves a residue.
Secondly, my senses weren't deceiving me - the ride is definitely more supple on the new tyres, so that's good news. And after the Focus hire car - which needed plenty of revs, probably explaining the poor economy - the Exeo felt like a rocket ship. Still think I'll go the re-map route, though, so anyone who's already done it to the 143 engine with positive results - I'm all ears, because I haven't got a clue where to start or which is the safest, most reliable and beneficial system.
Before that, though, I've decided to indulge myself and get DAB fitted. Really liked it in the Focus and I've booked the Exeo in for next Saturday. The only problem I can see is where to position the PURE tuner. It's small, but the Exeo dash is pretty packed already and the wheel obscures the unit if it's mounted to the left of the clocks, which seems to be the only available space. Anyway, Halfords reckon it'll be a neat job and I'm sure we can sort something out. Not having it on the dash top, however. Might as well hang a neon sign over it saying "Steal Me".
It's a relief to know I still like the car, because it will never know how close I came to paying it off and chopping it in against something else. So I've been looking at alternatives while the Exeo's been away. I haven't driven one yet, but the Passat CC is a lovely thing for Exeo-ish money. But it's very large and a lot of the swoopy bits are invisible from the inside, suggesting it might be a handful in town. It's also slower than the Exeo on the same engine - and while there's acres of room in the back, the fifth seat option is a rarity. Still, I always look admiringly when one passes. And GT trim gets you adjustable suspension.....very tempting.
But, I suspect my next car will actually be........an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, probably a petrol MA Veloce with the Tom Tom dashboard dock, rear sensors, 17s and, if possible, BOSE. Drove two recently and was really smitten. The interior quality is nowhere near Exeo levels of course but it was beautifully styled and felt reasonably durable. But the way it drove was what swayed me and it's much more desirable than a Golf or Focus. However, that day is some way off so there's still time for me to come to my senses!

 

[cliveseat]

Meant to mention that I'll be trawling the huge number of previous posts on re-mapping, but there are a lot, so any impartial advice welcomed.

 

[LeonCR]

Do you have the rnse ?

 

[cliveseat]

Sadly not.

 

[cliveseat]

Just started re-reading old posts about re-mapping and there's loads - although they mostly refer to the 170 - so thanks to all for the previous information on this fine forum. I don't want anything too mad because torque steer is already an issue on some surfaces (not an issue in the Giulietta, by the way), so 170/180 would be sufficient, or I'll probably have to uprate the brakes too (although I think it might need new discs soon anyway). REVO sounds like a good benefits/price package...?
Incidentally, if anyone's wondering why I'm suddenly ploughing a few hundred quid into a car I was only recently thinking of offloading, I'm of that age where I suddenly found myself wanting a weekend toy and began scouring the Trader for a decent convertible (yes, I know...) as a present to myself for a torrid seven months. I'd have liked a BMW 3-Series, but - how shall I put this - there's, shall we say, That Image Thing. SAABs used to be my thing but it might have become an all-year-round car, rendering the Exeo redundant. No. Two seats, small-ish (no garage, terraced street) metal top, I decided. Did you know you can buy a mint 2001 Merc SLK with low miles for a mere £3k? I was quoted £300 for 6000 miles per annum insurance and, being pre-02, they qualify for the lower tax (£235). Unfortunately, I was an hour too late on two really nice ones, and now there's a load of over-priced rubbish cluttering up the ads, all because the sun's shining a bit. That will have to wait until next year, so in the meantime the Exeo gets the benefit. Some of the cash I'd been saving to feed my mid-life crisis can go on that instead. I think it will be worth it.
Oh - and before anyone starts posting SLK/hairdresser gags - I'm bald. So they don't count.

 

[Leodis]

Instead of remapping talk to Andy at DTUK about the CRD T2 box.

I tried a friends 143 Exeo with the box, massive change in performance and can be swapped to a future car for the cost of a reprogram (about £60).

See there web site link below.

http://www.diesel-performance.co.uk/box-details.php?id=10

PS I have no links to them just an enthusiast for the changes they can make.

 

[cliveseat]

Thanks for this. Looks interesting, although do you have to try all the different settings each time until you find the optimal performance/economy mix?
Quick update: no DAB fitted yet. Turns out they didn't have the right aerial connection for the rear sockets on the hi-fi, so it's on order and will be done later in the month now. The guy at Halfords said it had something he called a "phantom socket", which, unless it was plugged, wouldn't disconnect the FM aerial in the rear window - so when I switched on the DAB there'd be no sound. Said it wasn't something he could remember seeing before - and certainly different to the A4s he'd worked on previously.
He talked me through the installation and I think it'll be a neat job, no exposed wires and easily detachable, positioned just below the clock adjustment buttons to the left of the steering wheel, which won't obscure it too much. The aerial wires run through the A-pillar trim and the aerial itself is sited on the furthest edge of the windscreen, passenger side. This is the only bit I'm not totally sold on, because it fattens the pillar a bit and increases the blind spot slightly, which I already find an issue at some junctions. Is it just me, or are modern cars increasingly difficult to see out of anyway? The Exeo is nowhere near the worst. As mentioned earlier, the Passat CC (and Giulietta) are beautiful cars to look at but the amount of glass is so minimal it's like looking through one of those hides that bird watchers use. And many don't have sensors which I wouldn't be without. Sat in a Merc CLS at a car show the other day and, while everything was beautifully finished, it was a very bright day, yet it was still like sitting in a coal scuttle and, for a very large car, rather claustrophobic. Would I have one? You bet!
Also sat in the new Leon and couldn't make up my mind about it. My mate at work has got a new Golf - and I'm not sure the Leon's interior is on a par, quality-wise. I also think it look a wee bit bland in the lower spec' versions. Not much "wow" factor.
Maybe it's an age thing, but the car I think I would have liked to take home was a Skoda Yeti. No problems seeing out of that!
On a separate note, got the thumbs up from two guys in a mint Ibiza Supra today and we were even in convoy for a few miles before they peeled off with a farewell wave and a flash of the headlamps, which was nice. The car's looking very nice at the moment, but driving around with the windows hs made me aware of a squeak, possibly from the nearside suspension. No biggie, but anyone else had this? Does something need greasing?