VW is the future

She's all shiny, well only for the first couple if days as already I've done close to 600 miles and it's looking more brown than black. 

Hope to be able to give a useful blog on the day to day running of this on, starting at 42000 miles on day of collection. 

Should double that mileage within a year and so far it's brilliant to drive. 

I've only gone and sold it

Well what is there to say, the MOT was out by a couple of weeks and time was short so i only when and sold the Cabriolet. 
Is this the end of the mid life crisis, probably not but in the short term there are only 2 cars in the current fleet. 
The boy has already picked out the next toy, and its only a Nissan GTR. 
Seen here at the Bournemouth Wheels Festival that we attended. 

More of what i was thinking was a Mustang. 

Weather is getting there

Bit brief, but we made the most of the weather that was nice for ten minutes, managed to have a little roof down fun and made the most of a few nice weekend days.

Apart from the rain coming back, it was a fun while it lasted.

Having some issues and am thinking that maybe the E46 would have been a less troublesome vehicle, so the search is on. And the Euro Car Parts orders are still coming thick and fast.

New Beast

Rubbish picture, but its a rare shot of the new motor.
Only 42000 mile when i collected it, and after doing a few miles recently i am hooked on the VW idea, head and shoulders better than the Mondeo in everyway apart from the lack of a bluetooth hands free kit.


Ok found another one, so better shot.

Ok, and found another, but that really is it.

Good News

And its good news, although nothing to do with a Dacia Sandero. 
I have almost got rid of the Mondeo Est, it was always due for swap out in March and with the recent resignation of our Manager at work, i have negotiated the VW Passat that the boss used to drive, and rather than a very boring Vauxhall Insignia Est, i can slip into a very nice Black Passat. Ever since my older style 59 plate I have been a fan and the MPG and also the range that you get are both out if this world. Unfortunately the Mondeo never set the world on fire and at one stage was only doing 42mpg, although this could have been mainly down to the rubbish weather and the very stop start M25. 

Now always been a VW fan, in fact i am going to a meet on Sunday so the new motor couldn't have come at a better time.

Will update more when the delivery is here, which should be Friday, so not long now. Also will promise pictures, as it's better than reading all this boring words stuff. 

March is VW month, well you have to have something to celebrate. Maybe Hallmark will make some cards for it !! 

Repair done with some surprises

Well firstly, the car spent a few days away, mainly caused as I was working away and dropped it off Wednesday night late, for being worked on Thursday or Friday. 

So Thursday morning and I get a call early doors, mechanic says good news or bad news ! Now in a slightly worried state, said both together and quickly please. Turns out the rear wheel bearings wasn't the issue and it was a front that also included the hub with abs ring etc, so the pair of rears went back to Euro Car Parts for credit. 

Late Friday I arrive home to find car had been landed on the drive with no bill or explanation, so after a quick chat it turned out that this has cured the horrible noise and there was a problem with the rear brakes rubbing and a lack of pads, so this was also done. 

Quick Friday test drive and it sounds lovely, and almost quiet which is a bonus, although I also went out Saturday which was a bit further and still impressed by how much one bearing can knacker the whole car. 

Not perfect but will work on a few other issues, the water level is now constant, so the E36 is a pain in the backside to bleed for future reference and after reading some others on forums, I have found that some say jack the front up to help it. 

Have added some antifreeze and hopefully this is the worst problems sorted. 

Need the rear window replaced now, so looking for a place to either supply or fit as well. 

Internet bound. 

Chicken

For reasons that i can only hope to explain, i have been a chicken and taken the Cabriolet to the garage, for the nice mechanic to put the rear wheel bearings in. 
Now feeling that i need to defend myself a little, i asked the question, How long is the job in a mechanics book and was told 3.3hrs so guessed that a home mechanic with average tools isn't going to get this to work at home. 
So local independant garage used and as i type this, its parked outside awaiting a very expensive mechanic to take the wheels off and have a butchers. 

Was good to get behind the wheel last night, but am a little concerned that the expansion tank was low of water, now after doing the thermostat i am keeping a close eye on this, surely it can't still be air in the system ? 

Forum time needed i guess.