Just to keep things interesting, I got to help a friend out with their VW Passat that had a transmission issue.
Tag: VW
Useless thought for the day. The VW Golf R32 MK5 with DSG is one of very few cars that properly “wowed” me that i havent purchased. The reason i havent purchased one? They’re holding their values too well, its hard to justify the extra 6-7 thousand over a GTI. The GTI was a great car, but the R32 is next level.
One day.
So after that damn fiasco with the Integra i decided to be more sensible and get another German car, because im really a fanboy for German cars.
Had a look around, test drove some more cars, just the usual, and then stumbled on this MK5 Golf GTI. Took it for a drive, and wow, much like the R32 Golf it instantly left an impression on me. Not quite as good as the R32, but the combo of the turbo power and the DSG trans is a lot of fun to drive.
044 – VW Golf GTI
At some point I also decided to do something I hadn’t done before, and modify the exhaust further. I purchased a decat 3″ downpipe from Aliexpress (it was super cheap!).
So the Golf reminded me that the Germans have an awesome sense of humour. Today was the first time I’ve driven the car more than around the block since doing the work last weekend. I took it to work.
And then it stranded us.
FML, finally managed to look into why the electrics on the driver’s seat don’t work.
The Mark 5 Golf GTI with the FSI Turbo engine has a weak point; the High Pressure Fuel Pump cam follower. They like eating themselves and taking the cam with them.
One of the first things I tend to do to my new cars is service them. This car was no different.
After selling my M3 its been a long slog deciding what I want to replace it with. Long nights trawling trademe, lots of questions to various sellers about their cars yet nothing has really made me go “WOW, I MUST OWN THIS!”.
Today I decided to go try a few cars on the watchlist and see if I liked any of them. The lucky victims today were a VW Golf R32 MK5, a Toyota Blade Master G and a Nissan 350Z.
First was a trip to Turners, who had the Golf R32 and Blade. They also had a manual Golf GTI that I wanted to nosy at.
Registered to test drive, like usual (not my first Rodeo) and walked into the warehouse. R32 and GTI on the left, a pair of Blades on the right. First was to actually view the cars before driving them. I already knew what Golfs were like inside, so off I went to look at the Blades. First one I come to, stick my head near the open window. Ugh, stale smoke. Nope Nope Nope. Hope the other one is better.
Toyota Blade Master G
The first thing I should mention about the Blade Master G is that Toyota took their highest spec Corolla Auris (usually fitted with a 4 cylinder up to 2.4L) and shoehorned the 206kw 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 from a Camry into the front. They only came out in Automatic.
I jump in, no smokey smell here, yay. Its a 2007 Toyota Blade Master G in White. First impressions of this one is that it’s pretty low spec, no leather, no dual climate, no cruise and some awful fake woodgrain on the dash. Like a lot of imports these days it has a colour screen in dash radio, but of course being an import everything is in Japanese and it has no band expander meaning it’s restricted to lower frequencies. As mentioned this one had only single zone climate control, but one thing I did notice was how unintuitive the vent controls were. one button to cycle though and the display being on the passenger’s side of the console not the drivers. odd.
Along with the lovely woodgrain theres a helping of Alcantara in various places, like the usual seat bolsters and door cards but also strangely, on the lid of the passengers top glovebox.
Speaking of seats, comfortable but not very aggressive bolstering. Not heated in this model.
One quick note is just how awesome the name is. Blade Master G. Seriously, its like its a hiphop samurai or something.