Cars. Just wrong.
I don't go by halves - I've impulse bought a car.

Well, the worst part is that I've done it several times and regretted it each time.

The most recent? A £12k Seat Leon TDi FR - otherwise known as the "Money pit of danger" - it was dangerous, uneconomical and sucked up more money than a newly crowned politician.

If I'd dug a hole, taken that money, set fire to it and then thrown petrol on it, that would have been a more sensible thing to do.

After purchase I had to service it (full service history my arse), get it towed - twice, sort a break in (alarm? don't make me fucking laugh) put 4 tyres on it (handling, ha ha ha ha), got travel sick as the ride was sooooo bad and eventually get rid when it hit standing water and shunted me in to the other lane of the motorway (which, fortunately, was empty).

In 5 months, it cost me £1500 and I lost £2k on the purchase.

Hate it? That would have been an understatement....
(james_tiger_woods is going to start his killing spree on the, Tue 26 May 2009, 22:28, 6 replies)

Leon
Ah, yes, top dollar, possible total waste of cash.

Just bought a Leon 1.9tdi, which cost little, goes very smoothly indeed (16" bouncy wheels rather than sports alloys), is comfy, doesn't seem to give carsickness (no vomit stains yet in the back), decent mpg, etc, etc.

However it doesn't go like shit off a shovel and handle like it was on rails (like my old Clio sport used to- go-kart with a roof) and makes me look like I am cheap and can't afford a Golf (I am not, but I can't).

The relationship looks good at the moment. Just don't tell me it's going to go all Pete Tong. Just don't. I may cry...
(groover j lazerus, Tue 26 May 2009, 22:38, closed)

Haha...
...don't get upset, I'm sure your car will be fine! My Seat purchases have been problem-free, I loved my Ibiza 1.9TDi FR... had to sell it a few years ago when I moved to London... I miss that car! :(
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 27 May 2009, 10:00, closed)

Leon
Well, it was, in fact a dog - I sold it and posted on the Leon forum to not touch it - some idiot bought it and spent a lot of time and money fixing it.

He took the front numberplate off to find that the bumper was originally yellow. The car was black.....

I've actually had 2 - the first one was fantastic - a 1.9tdi 110 which I loved, but had to sell due to (then) child.
(james_tiger_woods is going to start his killing spree on the, Tue 26 May 2009, 22:41, closed)

Leon
Nearly bought an FR but ended up with an ex-demo TDi 140 Sport 'cos I was offered a better part-exchange on my Ibiza TDi 130 (on impulse too - the kitchen units I'd just ordered and paid for wouldn't fit in the Ibiza). 52k miles later, the shiny black beastie is well on its way to being the most reliable car I've ever had - annual services, a set of wiper blades and two sets of tyres. Not quite as much fun as the Ibiza, but should be when I have it chipped once it's out of warranty (180hp and 395Nm for £595 - cheaper than upgrading to an FR) - of course, that could be tempting all sorts of less-than-pleasant fates, but at least I know where it's been most of its life...
(CaptainParalytic, Wed 27 May 2009, 15:20, closed)

Chipped for how much?
£3-400 should be the most you should pay for a remap... Check out the VW/Audi forum for details...
(james_tiger_woods is going to start his killing spree on the, Wed 27 May 2009, 15:50, closed)

Chipping
Will definitely check the forums closer to the time - got the price from here, and it seemed reasonable. Cheaper is even better...

www.autoexpress.co.uk/buying/buying/203578/chip_the_engine.html
(CaptainParalytic, Wed 27 May 2009, 16:28, closed)