Friday, July 23, 2010

First annual

Just picked up the car after its first annual service. Spent 721 EUR + VAT. I had about 521 eur worth, the rest were materials (mostly oils). The high labor charge is due to the immense ammount of work that these cars' anual entails.

I am quite thrilled about what I was told by the mechanic. Car was in great shape. Tyres and brake discs and pads are still going strong even after 5000 miles and 9 track days! talk about low running costs.

They installed a manual override for the fan. Hopefully that will solve the heating problems I have been having in traffic (having to turn the engine off because the needle was rising above to 100ºC and the fan did not kick in!). There's a track day this weekend and another one on the next! woo hoo!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

First footage of a TD

Here's are four videos which ammount to a full session at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, with a nice spin at the end. I was doing 2'38" which would put me in the 7 place from last in the grid of the Portuguese Graduates Cup when they raced at AIA. Feeling pretty proud of myself!







Sunday, December 13, 2009

TD at AIA

I had a great time on Tue 8th of December at AIA. First session was done with a wet track, lots of fun. The other sessions were on a dry track. My PerformanceBox blew a fuse, so no timing data LOL

I did feel much faster than in my previous visits and no leaks at all! yay!



Monday, November 16, 2009

Driving in the rain

The Lotus was like a delicate lady. This car is my bitch! As much as a daily driver as my toyota corolla. Took it to work under the rain this morning. Top tip that I got from the first time I did this: Leave the back window unzipped open. Otherwise no visibility and it gets too stuffy. The plastic leans against the rollcage, so the rain slides out :-D

I love this car!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I <3 my 7

I love it. It is much more 'me' than the Exige ever was. I have been twice to the race track at AIA and had a blast both times. Last time I was there, I felt great because I saw my lap times go down. Love it, love it, love it! It's also my daily driver. I've driven it in all weathers. I really feels like flying. What a superb little piece of kit!

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Vendo Carrinha Audi A4 de 2005 (da minha mulher)

Vendo uma carrinha Audi A4 1.9 TDI Diesel (Carro de senhora)



O carro é óptimo e apesar de ser uma carrinha familiar, proporciona muito prazer de condução.

A Automotor, num comparativo do modelo de 2005 afirmou:

"O Audi destaca-se pela boa dinâmica, que faz jus à sua imagem desportiva, para além de apresentar uma boa relação preço/equipamento."

A carrinha Audi A4 de 2005 foi um dos Tech Cars of the Year da CNET. A prestigiada revista Edmunds escreveu no teste a este modelo em 2005:

There are things in life you just don't think are possible. And then they happen. Things like the killing off of Oldsmobile, the Dukes of Hazzard on the big screen and Arnold the Governator. But the shocker of this young century has got to be Audi improving the A4.

Honestly, we didn't think it was possible. The last two generations of A4 saved the company and have been Audi's best sellers by a bunch. But the 2005 Audi A4 is better. A lot better. And almost in every way. It's more powerful, has new transmissions and its suspension has been retuned for a smoother ride and better handling. It even has a cool, new look.

Usei o carro essencialmente para fazer o trajecto entre minha casa e o meu emprego (Campo Pequeno - Oeiras via A5). Tem agora 107200 km. O carro nunca sofreu acidentes. Têm um conjunto de pneus Michelin Primacy HP colocados recentemente (12.000 km). O registo do carro é de Agosto de 2005, vêm inspeccionado (passou à primeira sem anotações) até Agosto de 2011.


O carro está em óptimo estado. Tenho o livro de revisões completo e sempre fiz as revisões sempre na marca de acordo com o programa oficial do concessionário.



O carro é de um discreto cinzento médio metalizado. Têm uma série de extras orientados para o conforto do condutor e dos ocupantes. Além da pintura metalizada, o carro tem ar condicionado automático com regulação independente para passageiro e condutor. O carro têm também um apoio de braço dianteiro com espaço de armazenamento (ideal para cartões, trocos, telemóvel, etc...) As janelas traseira têm cortinas laterais manuais. O carro têm fecho central com o comando integrado na chave, com abertura remota independente da bageira. Os bancos de trás são rebatíveis e o tampo da mala (toldo) é deslizante e amovivel.



O carro têm também extras orientados para facilitar a condução, incluindo cruise control, limitador de velocidade programável (emite um aviso quando o carro ultrapassa uma velocidade definida pelo condutor), e aviso sonoro de ajuda ao parqueamento atrás e à frente.

Tem ainda extras orientados para a segurança. Tem 6 airbags e controlo da pressão dos pneus com aviso em ecrã digital.



Apesar de todos estes extras e do óptimo estado mecanico, interior e exterior do carro, o preço é de apenas 21.000 EUR.