Adding up my bills, in that time I've spent just north of £60k on it. [Air-ride, Turbo, Charge-cooled, EFI, 310BHP, maintenance, upkeep, the list goes on and on.]
- When I drive it in the wet I get truly p1ssed off at how wet my feet get with safari "issues".
- The turbo means no heat exchangers so it gets bloody cold in the cabin.
- The thing drinks fuel as if it's free, particularly when I put my foot down, which is often.
- New noises are quantified by cost; "Oohh that sounds like an expensive noise. Best look at that" or "That's a cheap noise. Turn the stereo up"
On our return, I dropped £55k on a 2018 demonstrator California with 1100 miles on the clock.
- In the wet my feet don't get wet.
- I have climate control in the rear, front and remote controlled heating.
- I'm getting 45mpg on a run.
- Any new noises I experience in the next 3 years are paid for by VAG.
- It's got "upstairs" and "downstairs" for more comfort and negate the need to keep moving things to the front seats.
I don't look at it and think "That's cool"
I look at it and think "Yeah. It's a works van. An expensive works van."
It doesn't make me smile.
It's just not the same.
It turns out despite all its woes, I quite like my splittie
