Only a day old and she's already been hit :(

[burble]

Have you been inside a MK5 GTI? How does the interior compair with the R32?

Some bits of my GTI aren't made as well as on the MK4 I had (the plastic used in the center console and gear box/handbreak tunnel isn't as nice).

But yeah, nicer looking and more up to date than the MK4, it was getting old.

I noticed the exact same thing when I test drove the Ed30 I was thinking of buying. The interior was definately more modern than the Mk4 but the plastics seemed to be a bit cheaper. It's a similar story in the R32 to be honest. I wouldn't say the Mk5 looks cheap or badly made, but it doesn't look like the plastics are as good as the Mk4.

The more modern look of the Mk5 (to me anyway) offsets that negative.

There isn't a massive difference between the GTI and R32 really, the R32 has some aluminium bits here and there and nicer seats but that's about it. Does the GTI have a dark coloured roof lining?

The stock audio in the Mk5 isn't a patch on the Mk4 though, infact it's pretty poor. I wasn't overly bothered as I've been abusing that V6 and making music of my own but a couple of days ago I fitted the new touchscreen hard disc sat nav and the sound quality is much, much better even with the standard speakers.

The place in Mount farm is really good, made my Micra good as new when I had my rear-ender in 2006.

If it's not too late by now of course!

I think that's where it's going actually. I was in a car being rushed around the Brussels ring road when I made the arrangements so it's all a bit hazy!

The car is going in for repair a week today and should be gone for 3-4 days. In the meantime I don't know what I'll be driving, but I've been told it'll be at least 2.5 litres and probably a straight 6. So a Beemer of some description I assume.

[schmunk]

it'll be at least 2.5 litres and probably a straight 6. So a Beemer of some description I assume.

[burble]

I like your thinking

[burble]

So then, about this hire car that has at least a 2.5 litre straight 6 engine. They gave me a 2 litre turbo diesel Golf GT. I am not amused.

[Howard]

It'll do for now won't it? Will make you appreciate your R32 more when you get it back

[arbitor]

Feel the torque

[burble]

It'll do for now won't it? Will make you appreciate your R32 more when you get it back

Nope, it won't do for now. I fail to see why I should have to use a lesser car (I'm not saying it's a bad car) for any period of time due to someone else being too damned stupid to look when reversing.

I fully appreciate the R32, that's why I bought one. I fully appreciate the power from and the noise from the V6 and this morning I was appreciating very muchly the heated leather seats. The GT has neither of these nice things.

[burble]

Feel the torque

.. and hear the rattles coming from under the bonnet? I didn't realise the 170PS diesel was quite so rough. There is no comparison between this GT and the Mk 4 GT TDI PD that I traded a few weeks ago.

[arbitor]

They are awful ( in terms of noise/fun) i wouldnt buy a VAG deisel if you paid me tbh.

But on the bright side your v6 will be cherised SO much more when you get it back

[Howard]

Nope, it won't do for now. I fail to see why I should have to use a lesser car (I'm not saying it's a bad car) for any period of time due to someone else being too damned stupid to look when reversing.

I fully appreciate the R32, that's why I bought one. I fully appreciate the power from and the noise from the V6 and this morning I was appreciating very muchly the heated leather seats. The GT has neither of these nice things.

At the risk of alienating myself from this thread completely, get over it.

If your car was written off and you had to wait weeks/months for various companies to jump through various hoops to get you a replacement, sure, I'd agree. But it's very minor damage and won't/shouldn't take long to sort out.

[burble]

Everyone has an opinion on this sort of thing. In my case I spent £30k on a car and I'll be buggered if I'm going to use a lesser car because of someone elses fault.

As it happens I won't get the car back until after the New Year so I'd say that was a few weeks.

[Howard]

OK. Hope it all turns out well

[burble]

Apparently I got the GT due to the hire company having nothing available in the group that the .:R lives in so they decided to downgrade me.

The nice lady at Helphire has spoken them and and I'll be picking up an Alfa of some description tomorrow. They would deliver it to me on Monday but I've got to go over Milton Keynes anyway so I may as well grab it.

[Funkstar]

Interesting. I'd like to have a shot of an Alfa. Not sure i would like to own one going by their reputation for reliability, but so many people rave about them and they are gorgeous cars too.

[burble]

Apparently modern Alfas are bolted together properly now. A mate has a 147 which so far hasn't gone wrong on him, but I can't help but think it is only a matter of time.

I had a 166 as a hire car in Germany a couple of years ago and until it refused to start at 2:30am outside the office in Munich in the middle of winter I was loving it.

[Funkstar]

Apparently modern Alfas are bolted together properly now.

wow. what on earth is the world coming too when Alfas are made properly?