malcolm.dobell

My 10 year old boy likes closing the boot. He climbs up onto the floor of the car, hangs onto the closeing handle and leaps off, bringing the tailgate with him. Much cheaper than a strap and good exercise too!

The design changed a little, but is just more important to do what Nickpv said

What a terrible experience - name and shame time I think - along the lines of a simple reply to this with the name and address

If you live somewhere where there's lots of roundabouts (eg Milton Keynes where I live), 15k isn't bad for front tyre on a big heavy powerful car like this. I've had three and they have all had different sized tyres but all wore out fronts in 12-15K miles

Does your computer runs Windows XP? If so use USB - it would be unusual not to have USB on a machine with XP. On any normal computer 5 years old or less running Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows XP you can be confident of USB. The alternatives probably have cabel length restrictions; for USB it's 5 metres, although I have no idea how long VAG.Com cabels are! Running on a desktop with a lead to the car will be a challenge. look out for injuries for when you trip over one or other of the leads. Chasing from one t'other will keep you fit, but as my wife is also a mum of 4 she doesn't need anything else to keep her fit!!!

Figures from my petrol flap on '04 Alhambra SE Part load F - 42, R - 42 Full load F - 45, R - 49 Hope this helps

unless something has changed since I last asked, it is not legal to use this device in this country, unless it's the type that actually plugs into the antenna socket

The rear heater draws its heat from the cooling water. That's why there's water pipes running under the car.

it's possible the 2nd fan comes on only if air con is on. Current car only has one fan, but recall more fan noise on old one when air con was working - worth a try.

In the old days "Cold Flow Improver additive" was petrol! About 10% petrol was added to diesel. Of course this can't happen today......can it?

I was losing the offside cover after a short period where it would jam open. I have since "adjusted" the peg that locate it in the bumper when it retracts. Adjusted means bending it a little.

If you don't mind your Gal's flaps being badged VW or SEAT, try one of their dealers

There's two outlets to the centre row of seats. One is between the front seats, and the rear heater blows under the centre row of seats. Have had three of these things (one Ford, trwo SEATs). No complaints about heating in winter. In summer even with only front air con, get complaits of too cold - the front glasshouse + dark windows in the back works well. Now as to the speed of warming up with the booster heater u/s, well that's another matter

Don't even think about it. Looks like an awful device, and would in all probability fry the wiring even if it doesn't blow the fuse. Old fashioned jump leads used exaclty in accordance with the instructions is the only way! At least, that's my view!

In general, hot air rises, cold air falls, so injecting hot air at roof level is not such a good thing. Don't have dual air con, but both front and rear heaters bolow warm air at floor level. Front one also from vents and to screen.

Confirm that 195/65X15 tyres accept normal chains - have used them

Dear Blatter We've had the increadibly fgood fortune never to need chains or Spiders for more than about 5 miles at a time. We have only been to France or Northern Italy in the winter and have been blessed with clear roads until in or just before the resort. Clearly it's different in Austria Regards Malcolm

Dear Blatter I have a set of Sport Spiders since normal chains wouldnt even fit the 215/60x15 tyres on my last Alhambra, let alone the 225/45x17's on the new one. There's not enough clearance between the tyre and the suspension strut for a normal chain. Have a look at this link: http://www.roofbox.co.uk/ for hire or look at the Autosock for "something completely different". I bought my Sport Spiders from http://www.spikesspider.com/. Have used them only twice, and theyre great - fitted in about three minutes.

Be persistent!

Well, When I started to get grinding noises on mk 1, I got it dealt with by a dealer and it wasn't 4 sets of pads but 4 discs as well. Grinding is a sign that the pad backin has been running on ther disc

If you're offered an Alhambra SE especially with 17" wheels check you like the ride; 2004 ones at least have sports suspension as well as low profile tyres and it's a lot harder then the non sports/16"wheels. I like it, you might not

I have used snowchains but only on 195/65/15 tyres - first galaxy second was an Alhambra with 215/60/15's. The clearance between the suspension strut and the tyre was so small that the inside cable/chain wouldn't fit. Even worse on the 245/45/17 Alhambra we've now got! All is not lost! Try this link and it's the sport spiders you want. http://www.spikesspider.com/whatis.htm They're also available from : http://www.roofbox.co.uk/spikes1.html and I think they hire if you want I have a set, and although you have to prepare in advance to use them, when you need to, it's a 2 minute job to fit them. Most times we've needed them for only about half a mile of so, but bow would we have been b*gg*red if we hadn't had them!

Andd by implication from Ivor's reply, the headlamps are different too. VW/SEAT ones are squarer than the Ford ones

Headlamps, bonnet, bumper, ?wings? End up badged as a VW at the front and Ford at the rear? Perhaps a unique selling proposition when you come to sell - or an absolute dog! When there was BMC and they produced Austin and Morris 1100's, it's said that they would occasionally make and deliver cars that were Austin at the front and Morris at the rear (or vice versa!) I wonder if they've ever made a genuine Galambran (some hideous combination of all three types) at the factory in Portugal>

Absolutely agre about good cruiser. Bit 250 mines on UK roads feels like 500 in France! Our roads are soooooooooooooo crowded!