Chrissy – FWD I assume and diesel? Not sounding all that promising. Always keen to drive any new car though so will see if I can get a test in one.

It's pretty but it will be cr4p to drive – just like every pug since the 106 GTi.

Hora – care to explain what these "indicator" things are? Never heard of them. Are they French?

And I think aka is spot on there re engine sizes.

Yes 4XJ what a fine first post.

Honda Jazz's are very good – and the Yaris was until they all broke.

It's a nice series but the kit he has it a bit OTT – new RIB, new Landy, quad, etc, etc – is it all needed and how much is it costing the BBC?!

Rich – you didn't happen to go to Swansea Uni by any chance did you?

Simon – do say hello. All I do is bite back when someone tries to get one up on me. I love cars – all sorts of car from the Hyundai Getz we hired in France to the 355 I was insured to drive for a while. I like my car (as you can tell) but it's appalling in snow or mud, is heavy and not all great. I just like cars (and vans) and love trying different models. Some are genuinely crap, some are surprisingly good and underrated. While I wouldn't buy a Meriva (it's quicker than our Jimny!) they do their job perfectly well at a decent price.

I'm happy to talk cars, MTBing, running, surfing, gyming and all sorts – but when someone (usually weird stalkers) just slates my car or whatever for the sake of it I will always bite – some think that's entertaining, others realise I'm just enthusiastic about a number of subjects.

So please DO join this thread.

Wow!

Mine (in the garden and our woods) are about to come out – will photo when they do.

Anyone remember when they had Metal Matrix Composite brakes? I used them in my disseration for my MatEng degree. Spoke to Lotus and everything. Also did a bit of the B5 RS4 wheels that kept collapsing.

Elixir CRs are £199 from Merlin. Just had a pair fitted and they are superb. Get some!

Ziggy – only got a new rear wheel (front is fine) so that weight is just for that one.

Carbon is very stiff but has iffy impact resistance and is almost impossible to repair. If I went for a top end frame, I'd go for Ti over carbon. It's great stuff (my bike has a few carbon bits) but I just don't 100% trust it for all applications.

It's just the right balance of strength and light weight now – for me.

4

Mol – I know. It's because I'm slightly insane.

Pigface – since leaving MSW, I've met plenty more people from it in "real life" who have also stopped using it so that worked a treat. The same will probably be true on Bikeradar. I already know many of the Cornwall lot.

The moaners, wingers (sp?) and snipers are all the same – not worth worrying about. They never actually do anything, meet anyone or contribute anything. Without question, every single one is a bit sad, a bit lonely and very bitter. I'll happily meet anyone in real life and in fact prefer it.

For those that stalk, slate, moan, bleat and think life has been unfair, I have this much time

>> . <<

And all this car baiting moaning cr4p disguised as "baiting" – how about a shared enthusiasm (or not) for them? Like on the diesel/petrol thread?

If you don't like them or have something crap that bores you, just don't bother. If you are into them and have something you like, have a chat about it.

Simple.

Andrew – and you drive? If you're going to get all narky about cars, at least demonstrate:

1) Any knowledge of cars
2) What you drive
3) What you want to drive
4) Why you don't drive it

Otherwise you're just another sniping cybergeek with issues.

Jon – my freehub was so knackered it was slipping constantly and was full of gunk. Hope Pro2 now on so that has improved many times. Elixirs CRs are also good – my Juicys were also very very dead.

Mol – BMWs are for tw4ts so yes they do. Unfortunately they are decent cars but they are still mostly driven by hateful people. Just like Audis. I enjiy driving the wife's Jimny almost as much as the Bimmer because of it's anti status.

Indeed Andrew, the 520d is indeed "above" the M3 and 335i/d :D :roll:

And the £39k 335d is of course mid range. Just like a Cayman is a poor man's Porsche. Usually to those with some hyper dull little company Ford/Vauxhall driver.

Carry on children – and don't forget to report back to those internerd mates on BR.

Just got an xc717 rear for my Stumpy. 13 miles later and it's still okay…! Seems light and pretty strong.

Pigface – your crappy one. It's so forgettable that I've forgotten what it is. Some lame "scrambler" type effort I think for those that can't get up hills under their own steam. Or some mid range thing that pretends it's a superbike (like a Fazer or similar). I don't do motorbikes as I believe I'm more useful to my wife and boy alive than dead.

That's why people get so damn angry – I find ammo and chuck it back – heh heh heh heh heeeee!

Jon – indeed. whyamihere has apparently "warned" me before. Seems the mods are allowed to constantly swear on a forum read by many kids, but dare to suggest the person with an old Mondeo diesel,crapped out clio/old 206 that's slagging your 335d (hee hee) non stop might be a wee bit green eyed seems to get you banned. **** em I say.

How are you BTW? Just done my Stumpy right up and it's now sweeeeeeet!

Andrew – well when I tried to reply to a few PMs (in support) it said I am banned.

So I guess I got banned!

Who cares anyway?

Tim – this is before the new rear wheel was fitted:

That's it weightwise for now – it's plenty light enough. Much more and it'll get too fragile. Bar is 130ish grams, seatpost is just over 200g but super strong, stem is OEM and fine for me. The wheel combo gets rave reviews everywhere and it pretty light (920ish grams) so is fine for me.

Having done a MatEng degree I just don't trust carbon for certain parts (seatpost, stem).

I like it a lot! I'm no top level racer, just a fastish XCer. Did win an off road tri with it last year though.

What's wrong with it? It means you have to hate anyone that bothers to keep fit it would seem.

No – I got banned just after telling them to stop being such pillocks. Seems a few here agree with me.

So Pigface (I know who you are BTW), you are rather overweight, have a diesel Focus and a low rent motorbike. No wonder you stalk people.

And Bikeface – not been on here for seven months (and even then you were ignored) then suddenly you perk up – what a contribution you are to this forum huh?

Some decent folk here it seems but there will always be the weirdos with issues stalking anyone they feel upsets them. When you are one of life's failures, that's a lot of people.

Carry on ladies.

Did a quick blast on my bike earlier – had my rear wheel fitted yesterday (Hope hoop – Pro 2/xc717) after many many upgrades in the last week – bike is going REALLY well. Just about spot on (for me) now – really pleased with it.

Decent diesel + hill = :mrgreen:

fwb – fully agree. My opinion on that? A bit silly.

Ian – I tend to shoot them all.

Cheers all!

Just bought a Vango Equinox 450 (four man) which gets 10/10 reviews and was a decent price. They do a smaller 350 that's 3ish man – also very good. Extremely well made and very weatherproof. Also easy to put up!

The TT system is Haldex though (like the Golfs was) so very much FWD biased. The RS4 has "proper" torsen 4WD like Evos and Imprezas have.

I tested an Evo FQ360 (IX) a while back and was utterly gobsmacked at how well it stuck to the road while doing an impression of a ballistic missile. Proper weapon but shame it does around 15mpg and needs servicing every 4500 miles! It honestly made an RS4 seem slow in comparison (a mate has one).

MF – I had a Golf R32 (mk4) a while back with similar AWD to your TT (assuming you don't have a FWD one?). Very competent but not as fun as RWD.

This sort of chat got me thrown off BikeRadar – the car hating nazis got me…!

Often amazed at how many "experienced" MTBers who can't do a bunnyhop (with flats – no SPD cheating allowed).
Surely it's an essential trail skill?!

I'm no trail riding ninja, just a fastish XCer but a good (2ftish) bunnyhop is one of the most useful tricks around. Maybe it's why so many have FS big travel monsters even for a lamest of descents? They go through obstacles instead of jumping over them!

If you're brave you can go to DMS/Evolve and bump that up to 350bhp and 520lbs-ft – I'm not brave enough though – it can already be a bit of a handful in the wet (with traction off) and them tyre bills would be eye watering!

Well if you ever need any info, do shout. I'm am a total 335d bore! My first BMW though – the image put me off for years but glad I bit the bullet and went for one – it's a very good all rounder.

335d Touring.

Yes it's an auto, diesel estate but it has over 300bhp and 428lbs/ft ;-)

I like the latest TT – wasn't keen on the last one. I see a black TTS every day – nice car.

Our other car is a 1.3 Jimny (wifes) – about the slowest car you can get but great off road and for parking ;-)

BB – don't get me wrong, I don't "get" obesity and have been a fitness obsessive (with a fair few medals and trophies for various physical activities) since my early teens but in some jobs it simply doesn't matter.

Employing an obese football referee or similar could be silly though.

The Forces have a fat nazi selection process (I've done the RM POC and passed it) – they seem to be "allowed."

I wondered about the TT actually.

My diesel estate is much quicker ;-)