Jagman

Wingin' in the rain . . .

Some of you may recall I posted a few photos of my new VW Golf 8.5 R Black Edition. It had lots of extras. What it didn't have was the extended rear spoiler. I wasn't that bothered until some of you started to say the car wasn't a legitimate Black Edition and so on. So I started to badger my dealer and asked him to find out how and why the car ended up without the spoiler. It took more than two months but VW in Germany did finally admit to a 'misbuild.' They have now given me the extended spoiler and, at the same time, discovered the cause of an annoying rattle in the hatch door (a fixing pin had become detached). It took them two hours to do the job. Splendid customer service in my view. The car drives beautifully and somehow feels a lot lighter, nimbler, faster than the Mk8.0.

At Castle Howard in North Yorkshire.

Spot the interloper. At Grantley Hall in Yorkshire.

Yes, the Waze system works very well, far better than VW's sat nav. But on the return journey we had our phone switched off and after about ten miles the Road Sign thing started to go bonkers. And the map didn't think we had reached Newmarket when in fact it was several miles behind us. Hey ho. Had a nice chat with a guy at our lunchtime pub complimenting me on the car and then another guy drooling over my Leica. I must get out more.

I quite like driving with the current speed limit available to see in front of me. The Dynamic Road Sign Assist should do this. Mine doesn't. I drove 150 miles today, along the A11, a dual-carriageway and my car said the speed limit was 5mph, sometimes 10mph, 20, 30 and all points up to 60mph, seemingly chosen at random. Never 70mph. I'd get messages saying the system was out of range or otherwise out to lunch and then it would say 5mph with an exclamation mark. Bonkers. And the map never knew where we were. This would be funny if it wasn't so annoying. And actually quite dangerous.

I've decided to call mine 'Orca.'

I have the number Rebecca, so delete as you see fit. Thanks for all your help.

Sounds OK to me. Needs to be a landline or mobile number as I don't do What'sApp and stuff like that.

Well done! Great car! I'll happily chat with you. I've tried sending you a personal message but you have that facility switched off on your account settings. I do have a few pics . . .

Hello SB-1. I sold the car to the dealer in Coventry and think he already had a buyer.

So that's a 0-60 time of about 23 minutes. Faster than a Lambo I recently saw Harry's Garage grappling with.

Me too, two days ago. Very weird. Saying 50mph when it has to be 70mph. My Waze was on as well and the speed icon top left wasn't glowing red. And people were flying past doing at least 80mph.

I took the Mk8.5 out for a fish and chips lunch today in Bray, chez Heston Blumenthal, rated by many to be the best fish and chips in the UK. At £31 not the most expensive (take a bow Tom Kerridge) but the battered haddock and the chips were historic. I might have preferred ketchup to the supplied dips.

I am trying to contact my dealer about the spoiler and see if there is an answer to your question. The car I originally ordered did have the extended spoiler but that car did not arrive in time. The car I now own is most definitely a Black Edition (it has black embossed on the pillar) but it doesn't have the spoiler. Now it may be that the car was originally specced up by someone else who cancelled it - I simply don't know. But I'll try and find out. It is a bit of a puzzle, though I'm perfectly happy not to have the extra bit.