CasaPaulo

I ummed & arrhed over the

re Oilers, it's a involuntary reflex reaction with the Oil versus Petrol debate in defending Diesel, cos I expect a slagging off AND truth is known I DO reckon they're so much better and I've driven sorta everything. MPG for any 2.3 petrol? = always awful! More things: Water must run in my veins tho I like to think it's akin to real ale. I'd pay big bucks mostly not to use my sisters Porker 968, My wife was sick in it, harsh ride, service bills, fuel bills, insurance, cramped, grounding on local speed humps, speed cameras, looks of pure envy & hatred etc. Got a long bonnet though! All the go-faster striped lads just drool over it. One man's meat, personal choice etc. Now a 330D is THE absolute Dogs. Got to get a m/bike if'n you ever want to experience real speed anyway, only then is petrol acceptable by me! :blink:

Just had the MOT, ticket was dated as of today. But, it ain't officially due to it's third birthday on the 18th. With a 4 yr old onwards it can be tested upto a month in advance, does anyone know if this rule can apply to the 'first' test. Basically, have they robbed me of ten days? I get miffed too when I shove the thing into a dealer for a 10k service a bit before, then book is stamped a and the next service due 500 odd miles earlier, I'll be having a 70K @ 60K speedo reading. No doubt I'd lose any official warranty cover if I am overdue though. What is the mileage leeway? if any.

I shudder to think what a petrol auto would achieve in fuel consumption. I certainly wasn't a fan of "old" diesel Tractor like engines but the modern TDi is just light yrs ahead in development terms from those. It ain't just economy but the performance & torque figures. My petrol head brother in law is now convinced at last, he's always had fast (ins group 20) petrol cars, sister a Porsche 968, but they too are converted after test driving a 330D BMW of modern diesels capability. Each to their own I suppose. But 50p odd a litre in France/Spain makes me smile a lot. My diesel auto gives 42mpg, climate always on, 30mpg around London. Wifes petrol Micra struggles to achieve similar in town.

It's a Garmin Streetpilot 111 plus. Makros & Maplins are flogging it. Comes with 'all' Europe, which you partially download from a PC (2 discs) as and when to a 128mb media chip which then plugs in the back. Too much Euro info to store all areas. I think all UK would just fill it up. I knew nothing about the things apart from sampling my brother in laws OEM Ford Mondeo system, which was terrific. As said my main worry (part of living in London) was security, cos no doubt about it a dedicated system is aesthetically more pleasing, but this tranfers from car to car in seconds. So it has other plusses. When plugged into the cigar lighter the spk talks the route through with extreme detail. Maybe they all do. My aged brain is still getting to grips with all knobs & buttons. I notice that in the USA, the stores flog loads of mounts, even for motorbikes. If'n the OE bean bag/sticker/screw mount ain't best. So far so good.

I've heard that dedicated Sat Nav units are being stolen, as CD units are/were with all the aggro of broken windows & messed up dash etc. SO, since I wanted a talking GPS cos I got lost abroad I bought a portable unit that sits on the dash. The things are amazing. I'd like a custom fully fitted etc but as the guy in the shop said they're getting customers buying portables to replace the stolen fitted units. It certainly works perfectly tho I've bought a ext mag mount aerial cos I've a heated frt screen which partially blocked signals. It sits v/well on the dash on a bean bag. Solves all direction problems. Well pleased. Bit expensive but amazing bit of kit. I programmed a direct route from Marlow to SE London and travelled along so many deserted back roads that I re-directed it to go the "faster" M4 route. I'm still staggered by modern technology in such a small unit.

RE. The aerial amp. When I was pondering fitting a 'much better' Sony unit(s) as advised by suppliers on the net but later warned against by a local pro installer shop, instead of the OE Visteon 'Seat' & 'Ford' 2007 HU I discovered the various hurdles for me that must be overcome a by-passing the Amp b remote control compatibility c. The Auto Volume Control issue d. The handbook carries a warning re not connecting the AVC wire and potential Auto box (as is mine) problems e. Powering the aerial. I have read E's re poor FM reception on this forum, after radio replacement. Read of the usual solution elsewhere too f. And I bought a too big 10 disc CD changer.

the Visteon unit mated to the 2007 is OE and does play CDR. If'n you swap head units or whatever you then have fun bypassing the separate inbuilt amp, loads more aggro. The Visteon (an ex Ford Co) unit is

ALL motoring journalists list the Seat as best VFM from new. I'm a biased true believer, voted Seat with cash. No regrets. Holds it's value a tad better s/h as a small bonus Ford has no real MPV interest in Portugal see prev post. Ford in house ICE supplier sold off too The badge engineering is akin to the British Leyland days, Austin/Morris etc Ford to build their own in house MPV in Belgium, soonish (alleg) 'We' to get a new 2.0 TDi eng in VW/Seat models next year (alleg) If Ford was prosecuted for making MPVs there's little evidence to support, apart from badges or the least favoured 2.3 Ford engine. Most of it always VW sourced. Ford can't fully support V6 models!. I buy VFM I can now get

The roof bars are cheaper in France so too roof boxes. I know it's not around the corner but real easy for me in London. A

What do Fords charge? out of curiosity. I feel a bit smug since my W Seat came with 2 (FOC) as did my wifes' Nissan Micra, my mates' new Kia Seconda only 1 master key. It's never a question normally posed at sale time. On the same, value for money tack. The 'new' Seats don't come with the previously std extra carpets on the SE model now, it's