Nice car hire for a change

[ladymuck]

I was in the fine island of Ireland at the weekend and picked up a car from Avis (for the Avios). Asked for a fairly standard Astra type effort, got given a rather nice A3 saloon. Not having driven one before, I was quite pleased.

Pros:
It was black (all too often get given white cars)
It was manual (yeah auto is apparently easy but I just don't get them)
Lovely gear box - wonderfully easy gear changes
Nicely nippy, decent acceleration when needed
Cruise control easy to use and intuitive
Decent boot space
Good direct steering, felt like it was going exactly where I wanted it to, when I wanted it to

Cons:
The screen that automatically lauches itself on the top of the dashboard when you start up really pissed me off - very distracting. Had to keep pushing it down at the start of each trip. When I told the OH to put some music on, it (understandably) launched itself but then I kept being distracted by him navigating the system to sync bluetooth etc. Very poor design.
Diesel engine was really underpowered. It was nippy but I could tell it could be better
Way too many buttons and gizmos on the steering wheel

[northernladuk]

So in summary, Ladymuck is very pleased when she gets something bigger and even more so when it's black, has a good box and goes like the clappers when it's what she wants it to? The only problem was something kept popping up far to often for her needs.

Whodathunkit.

[ladymuck]

So in summary, Ladymuck is very pleased when she gets something bigger and even more so when it's black, has a good box and goes like the clappers when it's what she wants it to? The only problem was something kept popping up far to often for her needs.

Whodathunkit.

Pretty much, yes

[PhiltheGreek]

I was in the fine island of Ireland at the weekend and picked up a car from Avis (for the Avios). Asked for a fairly standard Astra type effort, got given a rather nice A3 saloon. Not having driven one before, I was quite pleased.

Pros:
It was black (all too often get given white cars)
It was manual (yeah auto is apparently easy but I just don't get them)
Lovely gear box - wonderfully easy gear changes
Nicely nippy, decent acceleration when needed
Cruise control easy to use and intuitive
Decent boot space
Good direct steering, felt like it was going exactly where I wanted it to, when I wanted it to

Cons:
The screen that automatically lauches itself on the top of the dashboard when you start up really pissed me off - very distracting. Had to keep pushing it down at the start of each trip. When I told the OH to put some music on, it (understandably) launched itself but then I kept being distracted by him navigating the system to sync bluetooth etc. Very poor design.
Diesel engine was really underpowered. It was nippy but I could tell it could be better
Way too many buttons and gizmos on the steering wheel

Top lady car review - I liked the colour

[GreenMirror]

Top lady car review - I liked the colour

I would have thought liking black would provoke one of racist outbursts.

Good to see your misogamy has not improved. Please forewarn us if it might change else we might get a huge shock.

[PhiltheGreek]

I would have thought liking black would provoke one of racist outbursts.

Good to see your misogamy has not improved. Please forewarn us if it might change else we might get a huge shock.

Nonsense, we've got one of our own now, times move on. Just a shame you can't.

[WTFH]

Cons:
The screen that automatically lauches itself on the top of the dashboard when you start up really pissed me off - very distracting. Had to keep pushing it down at the start of each trip. When I told the OH to put some music on, it (understandably) launched itself but then I kept being distracted by him navigating the system to sync bluetooth etc. Very poor design.

You can stop it coming on at start up by giving the little button in the middle of the controls a long press. That swtiches off the radio, bluetooth, nav, etc as well. And if it's all turned off like that, then the screen won't pop up.

Way too many buttons and gizmos on the steering wheel

Voice commands, volume control, etc.

[northernladuk]

You can stop it coming on at start up by giving the little button in the middle of the controls a long press. That swtiches off the radio, bluetooth, nav, etc as well. And if it's all turned off like that, then the screen won't pop up.

Summary - RTFM

Voice commands, volume control, etc.

You'd think she would appreciate having something that does everything she says without answering back or doing a half baked job of it

[original PM]

Summary - RTFM


You'd think she would appreciate having something that does everything she says without answering back or doing a half baked job of it

My experience of voice control in cars is that it is at best half baked!

[WTFH]

My experience of voice control in cars is that it is at best half baked!

Me, pushes button: I love you, take me home.
Alfa: WTFH, you're drunk again. We're parked outside the house.