Hadders

The back end gets filthy the instant you drive in the wet. I keep forgetting to take the wing mirrors out of heater mode. I miss the turbo pressure dial that my Saab has - if you haven't had one, you probably won't see this as a problem. The actuator rattles like hell in Race mode - must get that looked at. But generally, it's a wonderful car, an absolute delight to drive ... in fact, I think I'll go drive it now.

Even it you are caning it, you're going to have a 20 second slow-down to a stop. This is going to cool the turbo down a bit. The reason why you may want to cool the turbo is to prevent the oil carbonizing on the parts that it remains in contact with. A start-up while still hot will flush this through. It's only if you come to a full stop and cool that could cause a problem ... even then, it has to be many-many times to be an issue. This is what I do. If the traffic is moving steady or you know the lights are just about to go green, back off the brake just as you get to the stop, this will keep the engine running. I normally come to a full stop like this and then use a solid press to make the engine stop if I think I'll be there for a while.

Ditto. A performance car going 2 years without an oil change is madness. If you are leasing, go for it. But if its a keeper you want to change the oil at least every 10k. If you take the VW service plan it costs £15.99 per month (for 3 years) and that buys you annual servicing for 4 years.

OK. 98% of M5s and 7Rs will never see a track. So we're talking about 70mph max here (the odd blip to 85 perhaps) otherwise we are in licence losing territory. So max speed is utterly irrelevant unless you do motorsport or track days. The M5 has 575hp and with a competition pack costs £83k (just built it on the BMW website). 0-62 4.2secs but rear wheel drive. Very nice, but for 0.7 secs personally I'd rather have a £31k 7R and £52k in the bank. The AWD Golf will probably be a tad better than -0.7 seconds in all but perfect conditions. If you're still feeling inferior for some reason, a £600 Revo update will give 0-60 3.7secs (from Revo site). You now get to take an M5, you're still paying less for insurance and still have a spare £51k in the bank. Bottom line though, if you can afford to blow £83k on a M5 though, having a Golf tear away from some lights isn't going to embarrass you - you're probably a grown up.

Why don't you use an SD card instead? I bought a 64GB card for £10 last week.

Who says there will be loads of 7Rs around. At this rate we'll be sitting on rarities.

Just gloves. Sunnies in the roof box. CDs are so last decade. The consumption of food and drink is banned in my R. Pen, pad and ice scraper are in the natty under seat draw. A place for everything.

You can't buy a car and instantly love it. It may be fast, look great be comfortable, handle well; but to love a car it needs to be part of you and that takes time and you need to experience life with it. I loved my first car - a crappy old Escort, but it was MY crappy Escort we got into trouble together, racing other crappy cars and going on ridiculously long trips. My '92 Saab 900 16TS was beautiful, it followed me and the Mrs around when we first met, some idiot ran into me a wrote it off and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a few tears as I walked away from it for the last time in the garage where it was all bent up. My Saab convertible - still in my garage getting polished now and again took years to grow on me; but when it got to 13 years of owning it, countless glorious days with the top down, without a single breakdown and still as shiny as the day I bought it, I just couldn't part with it. The R is brilliant; but it isn't part of me yet. Give it a couple of years, you never know.

Were you signed up with VW Ensurance? I signed up for free and you call them rather than your insurance company and they say they guarantee VW dealer repairs.

TechieAli. Sorry for the silly reply earlier. Tell you what I did - I found a reg number on the photos tread, then went to: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/manuals You'll get a full online manual and you will find all the buttons in there. H

3-door model => only one door each side. DCC => Click Driving mode button next to gear level, Select individual mode, if suspension settings selectable, you have DCC. Dynaudio => speakers have Dynaudio written on them. ATC=> Has a phone strap and socket in centre box behind gear lever. Keyless => no holes for key in the doors. DNS Pro 8'' => screen is 8'' big. Lane Assist => On steering wheel use the right hand silver left/right rocker to select Assist Systems, Lane Assist is a check box. Reversing camera => put it in reverse. DSG => PNRD... rather than 1234.. on stick in the middle. Winter Pack=>Heated seat buttons. Sunroof => window in the roof. Tartan seats=>Somebody's trying to palm you off with a GTi No idea about climate windscreen though.

You tried calling your existing insurance company? Mine were very helpful and put both cars on the same NCD. I didn't get the best premium, but an extra £50 was a whole lot better that an extra £800.

Bet if you had an accident you'd lose it on both.

It is indeed. Blue skies and dry roads in Kent this morning. A chance to put a few miles on it and start working out how to use all the gizmos.

Danb. I have just posted a full detailing description that I did this weekend (on the detailing page). Total cost with all the gear would be £250 - then you would have the equipment and some leftover chemicals for another go next year. It took me 12 hours in total - good fun and very rewarding. Don't go for VW Guardex.