I dont think there is much to beat a phase 2 (ie previous shape) manual d5 for lugging bikes in comfort. Even the 5 speed isn’t short geared. Can’t really believe its being compared to a mondeo, the d5 engine is far and above better than a tdci lump, my 163 bhp eu3 model pulled like a train and returned decent economy. Cambelts are every 108k or 10 years. Expect to replace a few suspension bushes around 100k and like others have said the clutch can be expensive if combined with a dmf, but then this is an issue with all modern diesels. I had issues with the air bag on mine but i have two friends whose v70’s have been faultless (one a t5 one a d5) its a heavy car so front tyres may only last 12k but 225 45 17’s dont cost the earth. If you can find a decent one with full service history that looks tidy go for it! Dont expect it to handle like a BMW, but if its capable, brisk and comfortable bike carrying you need (with a cool alternative image) then you are looking in the right place. There is a reason they hold their money.

1750 doesn’t seem too bad considering lowering and his age etc. To be fair a 1.0 micra would be faster than a 1.4 golf though, spesh if its a mk4

And besides the stress scenario that an aeroplane fuselage (effectively a pressure vessel of sorts)is subjected to is quite different to that of drilling a hole in a seat tube. Get off your engineering high horse, you aren’t the only engineer on STW, being a graduate doesn’t mean naff all til you have done your time on the job

As a mechanical engineering graduate, can I just chip in with the input that drilling holes in a frame is a really bad idea.

Well when you have a few years experience in the real world rather than in academia maybe you will realise that some times holes need to be drilled

Or pick up a second hand nukeproof mega tr frame or similar. I had a bfe, was alright but my mates ragley blue pig always seemed the nicer frame.

Codeine runs great with pikes, got 4 tokens in mine

Why would you want 20% sag? Most am/enduro bikes are best at 30% are they not? I have mine at about 260 psi 30% sag and it is superb. About 14 stone.

If I was getting an anthem and your size I would get the 29, awesome bike! Not much will touch it out on xc trails, seems a bit pointless give the type of bike it is to then get the 27.5

Ulverston, Cumbria. Pretty nice little town with a nice alternative feel, decent house prices, lake district on your doorstep for lots of gnar (maybe better than the peaks) and a tonne of jobs working on the submarines in Barrow – they are recruiting pretty hard at the moment and you could even get in on contract £30-70 p/h potentially through one of the agencies such as Jam recruitment, matchtech or faststream.

yes if you can trim it to the right width

avoid the endura ones when they wear they get rough and take the skin off your knees every ride!

obviously some people arent secure enough in their own image to consider driving a volvo over a bmw or an audi but each to their own. The seats in an audi or bmw are very shit compared to a volvo as is the boot space/width. The new v70s granted arent as nice as volvos of old but if you can find a decent phase 2 v70 go for it, dont worry about miles just make sure it has the usual service history, cambelt etc and check wishbone bushings for wear (need doing around 100k) you wont be dissapointed. I quite like the fact that it doesnt have the audi or bmw image too. Sure you dont get flashy dashboards but the interior of the P2 is better quality and much more comfortable. Id call bullshit on anyone trying to say otherwise. The old D5 163 euro 3 engine is economical for what it is (45mpg with hard driving), the newer euro 4 with 163 or 185 (in the facelift models) is 6 speed and not quite as economical but still OK. I swapped mine for a 180bhp D5 C30 manual and after 2 weeks in a golf with work i couldnt wait to get back into the volvo, better built, nicer to drive and 5 cylinder engines have a fair bit of character to them whilst still being nice and refined. I think the A6 2.7 is supposed to be a solid unit but i couldnt live with the seats, i read too many horror stories about 5 series e61’s – wanted a 530d but glad i chose my first v70 at 25, 3 of my mates also followed suite as they were so impressed! ideal fast, low profile and comfy enduro support vehicle

not all 29ers ride the same though, plenty of bad riding 26ers and 27.5’s about… you cant just generalise an entire wheel size based on one bike!

Fair play I have heard a few bad things about their customer service but mine has proved very reliable, totally bomb proof for smashing through lakes rock gardens where I live. I think they got the codeine right, is very similar to my mega in many ways except its much faster) and the mega was always ok. Just don’t think you will be able to buy the same performance for the same money that’s all. I was thinking about swapping my hardtail to a used c456 but may give that a miss now though!

Only have r’s and they are great too!

One thing that would put me off moving to Scotland would be SNP

A Volvo v70 d5 is a much better proposition if its mile munching and bike carrying you are after. Fairly quick, bomb proof engine, the best seats in the industry and amazing stereos if you get one with pro logic. I got 3 men’s mtbs in my boot no seats moved and parcel shelf across, can’t beat that! Wont handle as well as a 5 series but they are very smooth and will waft at a fair old lick without you even realising it. The 5 cyl engine is pretty legendary too.

Get an on one codeine and leapfrog your mates uphill and downhill!

is that golf gtd supposed to sound good? shame volvo have stopped making the 5 cylinder d5 engine, p1sses all over the 4 cyl vag 2.0 tdi

+1 on the smorgasboard, fast, tough, grippy (but very predictable when it does break loose)and also very cheap. great 29er rear tyre, what more do you need?

Stay neutral and lean the bugger in and then just hang on, my Lt 29er handles flat corners better than any other bike I have ridden, lots more grip, especially with a chunky monkey up front.

On one codeine x9. You can spec this with a reverb and monarch plus or ccdb within your budget. Wheels brakes and gears are solid, even the on one tyres are great. Haven’t had to change anything on mine apart from a range expander out back and tubeless with some gaffer tape (easy with the tyres and rims) you wont get a better specced bike for that money given pikes etc. Ride wise it is an amazing technical climber, quick on the flats and is like a steam train downhill whilst still being nice and poppy/agile in the twisty stuff. Rate mine very highly much better than the orange 5 and nukeproof mega I had before. None of the suggested bikes really come close. Mine is also relatively light, everyone comments how light it rides.

On one codeine x9 is easily the best bike you will get for that money, pikes, bomb proof wheels and decent brakes/drivetrain. Such a capable bike

45 minutes to kendal is very optimistic unless you are on the road at 5am and 7pm (which if you are contracting you may well be).During peak times, particularly at night around 4.00-4.30 getting to ulverston can be 35 minutes if stuck in traffic, I wouldnt go as far as saying the A590 is decent, particularly between Barrow and Ulverston if they are doing any kind of roadworks, grass cutting, sunday drivers, loads of lorries etc etc etc. Definitely agree that Barrow is what you make it though, some very friendly people and access to western lakes is great! Contracting is a good gig and they pay for training etc still, I would if I could!

There isnt anything really wrong with the location given its so close to the Lakes and all the trails if mtb is your thing. Kendal is realistically going to be over an hour each way, my bet would be Ulverston if you wanted a nice place to live, close enough to commute but not too close if you know what I mean. There are a fair few bikers in BAE, I am one of them, loads of night riding etc.

I was going to try get a second set ready for when mine wore out but couldn’t find any in size 12, good job mine still look brand new :)

Teva Links are very tough, great to walk in, clean up smart for the pub, very warm in winter even when soaked but also fine for summer. They are also very grippy but do allow you to adjust your foot positioning at the same time. Shame they don’t make them anymore so if you can find them in your size still go for it!

My codeine sits on on-one tyres, chunky monkey front, smorgasboard rear. Wouldnt use anything else, they grip really well, very tough for ploughing through rock gardens, and are very reliable tubeless (more so than my maxxis UST’s) Look up some reviews, they are popular for a reason, will save a packet too.

Think vag 2.5tdi v6’s need timing belts every 40k, nice engine though. Volvo d5 is probably one of the best diesel units out there very characterful, smooth, bombproof and will pull like a train

I dont understand why people anyone would think Gatesgarth is dull dropping into Mardale, its as fast as you want to make it (even better in ice/snow) fairly loose and flowy if you like wide open high speed blasting – the climb back up Nan Bield is fun if you enjoy that kind of exertion, the drop down the grass after the long flat section at the bottom of Nan Bield has a few little drops that can catch out cold/tired arms and hands but all in its a fantastic ride that got much better when I got my on one codeine, done 4 times now.

Another vote for the Smorgasbord, I wouldn’t consider anything else these days, very tough and a great all rounder

I would argue that gorilla tape is much better than the ‘proper’ tape given how pliable and sticky it is, which is what you want really, also given its in the right width for your wheel once its stuck into the profile of the inner rim but whatever, have used stans and superstar tape before as well. I got sick of using the others so took a load of recommendations off the internet, went down to homebase, bought a roll for 2.50 and have had no problems since. 1 layer if your tyres are new and fairly tight, 2 if they are a bit waffy in the sidewall or a bit loose on the bead. Mine has lasted 6 months and I don’t expect it to fail despite a few dinks in my rim (pacentis are a bit soft so once tubeless don’t get carried away with low pressures)

I just use a layer of gorilla tape, seems easier than rim tape, more pliable and cheaper, its basically a 1 inch wide roll of gaffer tape. I use 2 layers if the tyre is a bit loose. I used this on my pacentis.

On one chunky monkey, awesome front tyre on a 29er. Goes up tubeless no problem too.

Just relax, I had glow plug light always flickering on when driving with my old vw 1.9tdi and never had a problem, still pulled like a small train

I had a mk4 “gti” easily the worst car I have ever owned and wish i hadnt have bought it but then it was cheaper and had lower miles than any tdi i could find. Terrible handling, which would apply to most mk4 golfs, crashy ride not great on country roads and drank fuel and oil. It would pull ok once up to speed and was a good cruiser but dont expect it to excite you. My caddy mk2 tdi was faster and more fun to drive. As others have said go tdi if you are set on a golf, or you could be a bit more imaginative and buy something else.

A degree only helps getting a job if it is a useful subject, not the case for 80% of degrees

You deserved it. Fog lights do dazzle people so why bother just to make your car look better? There is nothing more annoying. They aren’t intended as DRL’s so don’t use them as such and they don’t make your vehicle look any better. If I was a copper here I would be doing people all day for this oh and badly adjusted headlights.

I ride a large, I am a few inches taller than you and have fairly long arms. With a 50mm stem mine is fine.