Finally a VR-4 owner!

[Throbbe]

I had a few money issues, partly selling other stuff, partly my bank being a PITA (initially at least, although on Sunday I think I discovered the worlds first intelligent and helpful call centre worker!). EBay vendor was superb throughout, and very understanding about the delay.

Initial driving impressions from Bath to Cambridgeshire were a little different from what I expected. It doesn't feel like a ton and a half of car for a start, it's rather nimble around twisty bits. I'm a 4WD novice, and the grip suprised me. In fact, I got caught out on a few roundabout as I was allowing for a bit of drift on the exit and the damn thing just went exactly where I pointed it. a bit quicker than expected. :evilgrin:

Brakes are OK, but not inspiring. Anyone that's driven an A1 chassis VW has low expectations of braking performance anyway!

It feels slower than expected, but I think that's relative to my old Scirocco, which was much lower, louder and more flimsy. I do love the overtaking ability though, 50-80 feels very fast.

Excellent as a motorway cruiser. 200+ miles in the Recaros left me with no aches and pains. Feels very unstressed at *ahem* around 70.

Overall, I'm very happy. Definately fallen in love with it already.

Minor niggles:
A bit noisier than expected, so I think I'll get someone to cast an expert eye over it to make sure all is as it should be.

The ratchet on the rear belt doesn't seem very keen to engage on Throbbe Jr's seat. Off to Kiddicare at lunchtime to see if they can advise.

[WildCards]

Excellent! Well done Throbbe, congrats on the purchase.

They are big cars, and while they are very fast, I don't think they are supposed to feel it. it is an executive level car remember, effortless speed it what it's all about.

Brakes are a common issue, uprate the pads to some DS2500 or Carbotechs and i'm sure you'll be happy. Do a search on the seatbelt ratchet thing, others have had a few issues too, although I can't remember the outcome.

Nice one

Steve

[MPBVr4]

Congrats mate, great Chrissy present to yourself ! Galants in general carry a fair bit of road noise, a change of tyres might help, certainly did on my old V6-24. As far as speed is concerned, I felt the same way when I bought mine about 3 years ago, it didn't feel much quicker than the standard V6, but first impressions were very wrong - it is quick .........very quick but does it so easily
it doesn't feel like it.

Enjoy !!/rally

[pezza]

Congrats on your purchase, I spoke to Malcolm (top bloke) yesterday and he was gobsmacked when he saw the condition of your veedub... so he is sure the VR4 has gone to a good home ;-) ...

Glad you ar enjoying the car....

the car is rapid and cruises well I think but the difference a bit of boost makes is shocking! Ask those if have upped it by a few PSI... but not wanting to twist your arm to mod so soon... :evilgrin:

There are a couple of *hot* VR4 in cambs.. apparently, but not sure how close they are to you... worth a ride in the suicide seat if you manage to arrange a meet, to see how different the modded ones drive.

[Nick VR4]

Congrats on the purchase hope to see a few pics soon :happy:

[Wodjno]

There are a couple of *hot* VR4 in cambs../pan apparently, /pan but not sure how close they are to you... worth a ride in the suicide seat if you manage to arrange a meet, to see how different the modded ones drive.

15 mins away from a VR4 and a VR2 going north and about 10 mins away from a VR4 going south :pimp2:

[diddingtonwizard]

About time we had a mini meet anyway

[Nutter_John]

Hmmm not that far from me either , how about a south mid east meet over the Xmas period ?????

[pezza]

:D .. works everytime

[Nick Mann]

I agree about the effortless speed thing. Boot it from a set of lights and then look in your rear view mrror at how far away everyone is! I also agree about a bit of boost, but it's not really needed! (He says, with his boost controller set to 1.3 bar!)

With regard to the rear seatbelt thing, if you pull the belt all the way out it locks the ratchet, so as it reels back in it won't reel out again. See what I mean? You should hear the effect when you get it right. It catches the occaisonal passenger out in mine, when they pull all the excess out whilst strapping themselves in. They get good and proper locked in place!!

[pezza]

(He says, with his boost controller set to 1.3 bar!)
..



What a hooooligan :evilgrin: :stop:

[Throbbe]

15 mins away from a VR4 and a VR2 going north and about 10 mins away from a VR4 going south :pimp2:

Ah, just discovered the member location map! I actually work in Peterborough, just by the A1(M).

Thanks for the ratchet tip Nick. I've refitted the seat (without a toddler throwing a tantrum next to me) and got it a bit more secure, but I'll give that a shot.

Will take some pics at the weekend, but will await warmer weather before I start getting obsessive with the cleaning (yep, another one with OCD).

[Wodjno]

Ah, just discovered the member location map! I actually work in Peterborough, just by the A1(M).



A1M is 4 mins from my house :D

[pezza]

Ah, just discovered the member location map! I actually work in Peterborough, just by the A1(M).




Have you made a will yet? :uhoh2:

[Nutter_John]

Will take some pics at the weekend, but will await warmer weather before I start getting obsessive with the cleaning (yep, another one with OCD).

Ah another person with Kieran disease /lol

[bradc]

They are very nimble, and they never feel as if they are accelerating hard, they are just so smooth.

You are right about the road noise, they are especially loud on lots of our b roads.

[Alex]

Many congratulations! I'm sure the car will live up to all your expectations :)

[ritch_w]

well done Mr Throbbe, there is something about pearl white - love it or hate it! my 51 vr4 definitely grew on me ;)

speed is deceptive on these motors - boot it on a dual carriageway and watch all the biscuit tins and alfas suddenly start reversing away from you

seat belts ratchet lock for safety they fully extend and then lock - great for securing kiddy seats ;)

enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

[Kieran]

Congratulations, enjoy!:happy:

[Throbbe]

A1M is 4 mins from my house :D

For now. :evilgrin:

I apologise in advance for putting traffic management on Fletton Parkway next summer. /pan

[Wodjno]

For now. :evilgrin:

I apologise in advance for putting traffic management on Fletton Parkway next summer. /pan

Is that the bit from Stanground to the A1 :inquisiti And what sort of traffic management and for how long ??

Edit: What time do you usually finish work :evilgrin:

[Throbbe]

Is that the bit from Stanground to the A1 :inquisiti And what sort of traffic management and for how long ??

Edit: What time do you usually finish work :evilgrin:

Nope, it's between the junction with Nene Parkway north of Tesco and the next junction to the west. Will be there for around 7-8 months, but we'll be leaving 2 lanes open in each direction, so shouldn't be too bad.

Not telling. :laugh: I may have to reconsider asking you to recommend a local garage too! (seriously, is the main dealer OK, apart from the usual price issue?)

[Wodjno]

Not telling. :laugh: I may have to reconsider asking you to recommend a local garage too! (seriously, is the main dealer OK, apart from the usual price issue?)

I shall hunt you down dear man :evilgrin:

I don't do garages for the VR :inquisiti

Main Dealers Schmealers /pan

[Throbbe]

I shall hunt you down dear man :evilgrin:

I don't do garages for the VR :inquisiti

Main Dealers Schmealers /pan

Now I'm regretting getting a white one! It's hard to miss it.

Just had a look at the 4,500 service schedule and apart from needing to shell out for a second pair of axle stands for the AYC fluid swaps I should be able to DIY it without breaking too much (I've got enough experience to know how bad I am at anything vaguely mechanical!). Cheers in advance for all the well written guides people.

Being a bit of a girls blouse though I might at least find out the dealer service price to save me from getting too cold. /dunce

[psbarham]

Nope, it's between the junction with Nene Parkway north of Tesco and the next junction to the west. Will be there for around 7-8 months, but we'll be leaving 2 lanes open in each direction, so shouldn't be too bad.

Not telling. :laugh: I may have to reconsider asking you to recommend a local garage too! (seriously, is the main dealer OK, apart from the usual price issue?)
oh really , right sounds like yaxleys in for a hammering then . welcome to the club , i'm 1/2 an hour away from p'boro and work in the p'boro and huntingdon area so i'll probably see you about . i really must work out how many of cvr4 are paying towards my wages :pimp2: it must be a fair few now

[Throbbe]

Being a bit of a girls blouse though I might at least find out the dealer service price to save me from getting too cold. /dunce

£300 buys a lot of warm clothing!!!! :speechles

Looks like I know what I'm doing over Xmas.

[Nick Mann]

Heh! Good luck. Have you found the service sheet in the library? A simple A4 tick list....

Also, from experience, if you are going to do the two fluids in the rear diff, Find an easy way of pumping the oil upwards. That job is a pain in the a$$ if you have to mess about trying to get the oil back in!

[Throbbe]

Heh! Good luck. Have you found the service sheet in the library? A simple A4 tick list....

Also, from experience, if you are going to do the two fluids in the rear diff, Find an easy way of pumping the oil upwards. That job is a pain in the a$$ if you have to mess about trying to get the oil back in!

Yep, found the list thanks. I'm a bit of an automotive numpty, but more through laziness than out and out ham-fisted incompetence (although I have my moments :happy: ). Current plan is to leave the 'major' services to everyones favourite specialist, as they're more likely to pick up on other problems that I'd miss, but do the 'in-betweens' myself.

The rear diff was the only bit that made me ponder on leaving it to someone else. Even with axle stands I'm never entirely comfortable lying under cars. I'm liking the look of the amsoil gear lube pump for the rear diff. Add something else to the order!

[Throbbe]

oh really , right sounds like yaxleys in for a hammering then .

Carpet bombing wouldn't go amiss. :evilgrin: (says Oxmoor boy!)

Shouldn't be too bad, unless we have to restrict the road down to single lane, and even then it would be re-opened for rush hour traffic. Fun will come if we lift in a footbridge over a weekend and close the road completely. My preference is to do it overnight, but I can see that upsetting a few people living near the road. Honestly, if I have to work through the night I don't see why anyone else should get some sleep! :evilgrin:

When did this turn into a work thread? :thinking: Still, only fair as it's on work time. :happy:

[psbarham]

Carpet bombing wouldn't go amiss. :evilgrin: (says Oxmoor boy!)

When did this turn into a work thread? :thinking: Still, only fair as it's on work time. :happy:

oxmoor !!!!!!!!! you park a VR4 on the oxmoor estate , christ we don't even leave the van there unless we can see it all the time . its turned into a work thread coz without work we wouldn't have our toys

[Throbbe]

oxmoor !!!!!!!!! you park a VR4 on the oxmoor estate , christ we don't even leave the van there unless we can see it all the time . its turned into a work thread coz without work we wouldn't have our toys

No problems leaving a nice car on the Oxmoor. All the kids assume you're a dealer and leave it alone! :thinking: :scholar:

I'm not quite Oxmoor really, nearer the town centre but outside the ring road.

[psbarham]

No problems leaving a nice car on the Oxmoor. All the kids assume you're a dealer and leave it alone! :thinking: :scholar:

I'm not quite Oxmoor really, nearer the town centre but outside the ring road.
pmsl , get some dark tints on it and you'll be well away . at least you aren't bang in the middle of Oxmoor , downtown Beirut would be safer

[Throbbe]

Apologies in advance for putting this here, but I don't currently have permission to post new threads so couldn't put it in the sale/wanted forum. If someone with the necessary permissions would like to cut and paste I'd be grateful.

I was clearing out the garage earlier and found a stock VR-4 facelift model intercooler and a set of wheel bolts! If anyone local wants them they're free to a good home, you just need to come and collect it. I'm in Brampton, Cambridgeshire. First person to PM me a phone number gets them.