cainchapman

Not anymore. The have speed limits in the Northern Territory now.

Yes. Whilst doing the first task, if your car sounds like a motorboat warming up (budabudabudabuda), you have a rev-limiter (check the dash and record the level the needle is bouncing for future reference). If it screams like a 2 stroke and then goes bang (with smoke cloud), you didn't have a rev-limiter.I hope that was also helpful.

I'm sure Andrew has had shorter car ownership than that. Congratulations on the new car too. The Towrag isn't a bad choice.

Nice car. Welcome.

Ian, in your work carpark. Right hand down. Select D, Stomp on the loud pedal (the one on the right). Continue to do so for 15 seconds. If there are TWO lines going round and round. You have an LSD. If you'd like help demonstrating this technique. I'll be back in town on the 21st and will be happy to offer tuition.

Yes, Bremen is up North and not that large. I have also had a friend tapping along with Deb & I in his Mark 1 Golf doing nearly 200kph in the dark. And he is at least 70. Great fun. The wind turbines look freaky in the twilight. Bremen isn't that small though, it's a critical hub for the Aerospace industry (especially for Airbus)

Dan has just had his PCV cleaned and it didn't fix the issue. He then found that the piping from the AFM to the motor had a small leak in it, so air was by-passing the AFM.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/9/story....jectid=10502734 Autobahn gets a speed limit 11:44AM Tuesday April 08, 2008 Supercar owners have been known to use Germany's autobahns to push their cars to the upper limits. Supercar owners have been known to use Germany's autobahns to push their cars to the upper limits. GERMANY - The German state of Bremen plans to put a general speed limit on the autobahn. The German motorways are famous both for their ultra-safe engineering and their lack of speed limits. Aside from their legitimate purpose, the autobahns attract driving enthusiasts from throughout the world who take the golden opportunity to push their cars to massive speeds without fear of a matching ticket or a lost license. There are certain areas do have restrictions - like road works and built-up areas - but officials in Bremen have decided to set a maximum general speed of 120km/h on its entire stretch of the autobahn. State environment minister Rainer Loske told Associated Press that the new limit is for 'environmental reasons'. - NZ HERALD STAFF

Just had the VW signed off by the boss. Now to cancel the Ford order. Let's hope I've made the right choice.

Congratulations Brook (and Grant for spectating). You'll be needing a 5 series soon. You'll have to give me a call and I'll meet up and shout you a beer.

I agree with you Greg. However, they are just too different for me to be a company car. So Conti's came back with $1520 per month for a lease on the Passat. I have called them back and told them they are dreaming. I guess it just prives that none of the European car manufacturers are serious about the corporate lease market. Ford's discount is much better. Having 1600 cars on the road within our group. You'd think they be keen to get the business from their competitors. For the record, that is 50% more than the Ford. So I guess it's a new Territory for me. At least I tried.

Ah, yes Jeddy. Your research uses complete words that have had letters shuffled. Not a bunch of abbreviated crap, because people can't (or won't) spell.

Well a Ferrari driver (Kimi) is back at the top of the table, so all is well. BMW's 3rd and 4th, not a bad result for them too. BMW Sauber still top the constructers championship.

Very nice!

Doug, you're a comedian!

Whilst sitting on the waterfront today. I took my last copy of NZ Autocar and looked through the cars, I thought were suitable. The 300C Touring diesel would be nice. But it is a lot more expensive and an auto too. I looked at the vRS TDi too, but it is a bit like asking for a down-grade (it is an excellent car), that would be my next choice if the Passat got rejected. However, if I get a no from the VW request, I'll stick with the Territory. It's a 7 seater which is great for taking customers for a short drive to the pub and abandoning the car too. I need to get the new car in the first week in May, so waiting is out of the option. The Citroen C5 HDi touring could be suitable, but doesn't look like a company car in my opinion. It falls in with the Honda Odyssey as looking like a private school bus.

Welcome, nice car the 330i. I'm sure you'll enjoy driving it.

No, a free X5 would be nice. Absolutely no chance that work will pay for one of those. She likes the Territory. I was surprised that she didn't jump at the Passat. It's much better appointed than the Ford (no surprise there). She did like the torque of it though. As I drive the thing half of the time around Tamaki Drive and drive it only as far as Taupo (although Tauranga and Te Awamutu is as far as I've been), I don't want a manual (it makes it hard to drink my coffee). Hence the selection of VW as they are the only group (outside of Alfa/Maserati/Ferrari) that have some form of robotised manual. So when I want to drive it properly, I can. Otherwise, I slap it in D and leave it to it. Plus you get the drive characteristics and economy of a manual (because it is) and the laziness of the Auto when required. The rest of the year, I fly and have rentals. I did look at the Mondeo (nice car) and it's diesel option coming. But it would be perceived as a backward step going from a Territory to a Mondeo (and I don't want to ask for a pay cut, which is effectively what it would be). I already have a small car (Civic) and I would replace it for the New Fiat 500 which landed 8 days ago and I had a look at the importer before they hit the road. Overpriced (like the Mini) but cool (like the Mini), they'll sell well. I am looking for balance in the garage. So the Civic, 5 series and a Territory do most things I need.

It look like he has E30's, not E36's.

Well, they have to be happy about that! 2008 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX Pos No Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps 1 4 Robert Kubica BMW 1:32.893 1:31.745 1:33.096 12 2 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:31.937 1:31.188 1:33.123 12 3 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.750 1:31.922 1:33.292 13 4 1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:32.652 1:31.933 1:33.418 12 5 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.057 1:31.718 1:33.488 12 6 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW 1:33.137 1:31.909 1:33.737 15 7 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:32.493 1:32.159 1:33.994 19 8 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:32.903 1:32.185 1:34.015 22 9 16 Jenson Button Honda 1:32.793 1:32.362 1:35.057 17 10 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:32.947 1:32.345 1:35.115 17 11 10 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:33.194 1:32.371 12 12 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:32.944 1:32.508 12 13 12 Timo Glock Toyota 1:32.800 1:32.528 15 14 6 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:32.975 1:32.790 15 15 14 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:33.415 1:32.915 15 16 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:33.386 1:32.943 15 17 9 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:33.433 7 18 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:33.501 5 19 15 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1:33.562 9 20 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:33.845 6 21 19 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:34.140 9 22 18 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:35.725 5

Looks like you got to see some places most of us don't! That colour would show the dust a bit, I guess. So what was the Old Dunstan Road really like? Suitable for cars or not?

The 135d will still be a matchbox sized car (although close to the Passat in $), the 3 series starts at $90k, so 50% dearer than the Passat. It'd need to come with a boot load of gold bars for me to even consider it. Keep them coming though.

Let's put it this way, my wife thinks the 540 is a "small" car. I took it for a strop this morning out to Whitford, Brookby, Manukau and then back via the motorway to Newmarket. I was quite impressed with the power of the car. The DSG is still as good as I remember. It felt like it lacked punch accelerating from 100kph, but it actually accumulated speed well. And was still pulling (and quietly) as I hit a ton. Cruise control worked well on hills, cornered well and was doing 6l/100km at a shown 110kph on the cruise control on SH1. Pretty well optioned, I think the only thing I'd like is the I-Pod prep, maybe foglights (as I do go to the Waikato often). FBT, not my concern again. (is it? Work pay that too). I stopped at Alfa to have a look at the Sportwagon. They are on drugs when it comes to the pricing. $69,990 for the 2.4l diesel. As far as options go, it's got leather ($4,000 option in VW), so where do they justify the remainder of the $11,000? A little for style and character sure. But really. I love Italian cars, but I wouldn't spend my own money on that, so I won't ask work to.

Yes, I do. I got 7.25. Not being a celebrity didn't help me. I guess I made up for it by having a job.

I'd suspect it's a wild stab in the dark. It would be on the light side if it were in US dollars. I would expect. Never having tested or considered buying one. I'd be equally ignorant of the real value. All I know is that they are awesome to see in the air.