S18 RSG

This is sort of my thought process too. I have no idea if it's true, but I get the impression that if Shell and Tesco (for example) both bought in their fuel from the same source, they would sell it for the same price (they operate on very similar profit margins around the £2 billion mark, so I don't think margins are the reason). It's for the reason that they sell it cheaper, plus the various rumors akin to yours, that make me think there could be some truth to it. Again, no idea if it's true, but with how convenient Shell is for me (3 garages within a few miles compared to 1 Tesco), I've never had to worry. Having said that, when I'm away for work I'm often far more likely to run into a Tesco than a Shell.

My problem with Facebook is I feel it's a little too invasive. When I'm on Twitter/Instagram, I can browse away to my heart's content. On Facebook, it seems like any activity you do (liking/following pages, commenting on things etc.) can be easily seen by all your friends unless you're very careful with privacy settings. There are lots of people on Facebook who I would rather didn't know my every move throughout the day As well as that, I prefer the brief nature of Twitter and Instagram. Twitter is 160 characters max, which forces people to get to the point, and Instagram can be only about viewing photos without the need for explanation or comments. Both are good for just browsing for 5 minutes. Having said that, I stopped using Facebook properly in about 2010. Now I only ever use it to catch up with school friends or family.

Sometimes I forget that people on here don't know me as well as I'd like to think. Most of you know that I have a good sense of humor (especially you Keith) and that I'm equally opinionated, however it's a lot easier to communicate my sense of humor face to face than online, I accept that. I think it's worth mentioning, I write how I do because it's my job. As a journalist, it's my job to be controversial, it's what pushes traffic to the site I'm writing for. I'll try and filter myself for the forum.

I'll hold my hands up there, I misread your post and will apologise for that suggestion. You used the word fact, and I read it as you saying "some opinions being found out as fact", whereas you said "made out to be fact", which I've already addressed as something I've not done either. You mis-interpretted something I said, I mis-interpretted something you said. I think that makes us even

Interesting to hear that Tesco fuel gets a good reputation given the negative press surrounding supermarket fuel quality. I used Tesco a few times when they first introduced Momentum, but started avoiding it after hearing some stories relating to reasons why the fuel is comparably cheaper. I've basically used Shell exclusively since then. Might have to give them a try again. They're always a few pence cheaper around here.

I thought this was just a reason to choose good tyres, appropriate for their requirements. Track tyres certainly don't suit the conditions around here, but on topic, I feel like neither do winter tyres. I need best of both worlds, not something that only works in one scenario. It's not your point of view I have problems with, it's your opinion which you're completely entitled to, and have contributed very useful information to back up, exactly what we need to make this discussion healthy and worthwhile. My problem was just with how you seemed to suggest any opinion other than yours wasn't valid by claiming your opinion as "fact", and suggesting that opposing opinions were reducing the validity of the information here. I feel quite the opposite. The more opinions we have here, the better, whether they follow my opinion or not. As for the "salesman's dream" thing. I've addressed this already, but the strength of that term was an attempt at satire, based on what I feel is a perfectly valid thought process. Tom said he got his opinion from watching videos and reading articles. I don't feel like a well structured opinion can be formed without personal experience. Therefore, "salesman's dream" is quite valid, as it suggests that he is easily manipulated by any form of media and would therefore buy anything that someone says is good. For the record, if he was supporting my point of view, but suggested that he got his opinion from watching videos or reading articles, and not from actually trying it himself, I'd probably still think the same thing, though I'd have perhaps not felt I had a reason to mention it. I'm happy to continue the discussion in a civil manner as Keith requested. I don't think he wanted to completely shut down the discussion, as it's a very useful one

Perhaps all season isn't the correct term. I just mean any tyre that performs well in all weather. Uniroyal Rainsports, for example, were absolutely fantastic in the winter, but equally great in the summer. I don't believe they were an official all season tyre, but performed as such. I find the Vredesteins I run now to be of a similar quality, although perhaps not quite as good through periods of poor weather. Perhaps that's why I feel so strongly against winters. I've always managed to find a good summer tyre that works in the winter, rather than trying to find a winter tyre that works in the dry. In my area, running a track spec tyre, or a dedicated fast road tyre just isn't that sensible, as we have so much rain and cold throughout the year, you never know when you could get caught out.

If someone writes something passionately, and that suggests they think their opinion is fact, that's completely subjective. If someone uses the phrase "my personal opinion is fact", there's no interpretation of that sentence that suggests anything other than what is said, and is quite ignorant. At no point have I used that phrase, and throughout the thread I've accepted the opposite opinion as having some merit in certain scenarios. I've not been extended that same gratitude by others, and I will not be punished for my ability to write my opinions in a clear and subjective way. I'm not going to fall out with people over a difference of opinion, that's ridiculous, but if people want to have a discussion, they should expect a discussion, not a group of people accepting their every word as fact.

I had planned not to say anything else after my last post, as it seems like very often having an opinion that differs from a Youtube video, or a web article, means you're just being "negative", as opposed to giving a real life counter argument. This is, after all, a discussion board, and discussions with one common opinion are quite boring. That being said, it's comments like yours Jeff that don't sit well with me. For starters, I gave my views as to why they've not worked for me, and offered info on the tyres I tried (which paraphrases the reason why your opinion counts for so much). So, if I offered the same information to support my opinion, why does mine count for so much less? Simply because it's not your opinion? Secondly, nowhere have I seen any information in this thread that would lead to anybody's personal opinion being made out to be fact. One external link has been posted in this thread, to a Youtube video testing two FWD people carriers, yet we're talking about RWD sports cars. Can't see how that video is particularly relevant, other than the fact that it supports what you say. I'm sure if I looked around hard enough, I could find evidence to support my own opinion also. Thing is, I don't feel like evidence is required when I'm basing my opinion off of my own experience, not what some journalist says, so I don't need confirmation from some journalist to validate my point of view. I'm fairly confident in my own judgement. Thirdly, I feel like this has been a very useful sharing of experiences, because there are two very different opinions, yet somehow you don't? Is that because there are people with opposing opinions to your own who can back them up? Would this thread be more of a useful source of information if everyone shared your opinion? I think that's a little bit shallow, to suggest that your opinion is the only valid contribution to this thread. Finally, and I left this til last as it's the most irrelevant part. Nowhere did I call anyone a "gullible idiot". I simply suggested that certain people (not even you) seem to be very easily influenced by a form of media which we know has the capability to be corrupted by money and advertisement. Really, people should form their opinions from unbiassed sources, such as this forum, in which case, there are two quite clearly different opinions which may persuade that same person to make a more informed decision.

Since when am I unable to accept an alternative point of view? I don't think it's exhausting for that reason, I think you just don't like that I can reply very appropriately to your posts. Plus, I'm not arguing, I'm discussing. "In heavy rainfall (with lots of standing water), light snow or slush, winter tyres have some benefits" That's a direct quote from my first post in this thread. To me, that sounds like I'm completely conceding the fact that your point of view carries some weight, but as I've said all along, it's just such a small window of time that I feel like your opinion is valid, from what my experience would suggest. All other times apart from those specific instances where you are getting a benefit, I feel you're significantly worse off than if you had what you run throughout the rest of the year. This was the reasoning behind my "salesman's dream" post. You got persuaded to buy a product you didn't need, and I'm sure you didn't buy through pure desire for the product, based on what someone who was likely paid to promote told you. That's my "on topic" response, now to put to rest the "off topic" bit (providing of course you have no further response). I want to remind you, it was you with your mention of the turbo that took this discussion away from the original topic. Even my "salesman's dream" quote was very much related to the discussion. Where I have a problem is with you suggesting that I have spent £4.5k of my own hard earned money because of a sales pitch. I'll have you know that I took on 3 jobs this year so I could save for some personal things, and testament to my hard work, happened to have some cash left over to treat myself. Whether you view my purchase as necessary or not, I couldn't care less, but I'm fairly certain you would do the same if you had the luxury, regardless of necessity. I seem to recall you actually mentioned you were considering forced induction. Funny how you now try to insult someone who's doing it.

Your edit deserves it's own reply, for sake of visibility. I would like you to quote reply to this post with anywhere on the internet where I have stated a turbo kit as "necessary". All my social media links are S18 RSG/S18RSG. Only when you can do this will I consider your edit as even remotely relevant. Spoiler alert: you won't.

Sticking with that very same logic, it must be equally ignorant of you to claim your opinion as fact: "they work and that can't be denied", based on your ability to watch a Youtube video or read an article, yet you cannot extend the same validity to someone with an opposing opinion to yours who has carried out years of trials and testing on his own car(s), in an area that justifies the need for winter tyres more than just about any other user contributing to this discussion. Why is your opinion, based on someone else's opinion, more valid than mine based on my own experience (and others in this thread with similar opinions based on similar experiences)? Need I remind you that the media is heavily influenced by advertising. It's a distinct possibility that many "winter tyre tests" you can find on the net, may have been influenced by *insert brand name here* paying that media outlet to make that video, in an attempt to promote their product. And now I've given an actual answer to your question, let me ask as a follow up: did you seriously not take my quite obviously satirical response to your post as such?

Quite likely the fuel pump. Common issue. Had mine replaced under warranty for the revised item.

You're a salesman's dream. While we're on the subject, I'm selling some household earthquake insurance. Obviously, the chances of an earthquake are very low, but you can never be too safe.

Admittedly, I've never tried the Nokians, but I have tried the best Michelin, Vredestein and Continental have had to offer at the time of fitting. The Continentals were the best all-rounders, but still performed like budget summer tyres in the dry.

I go out in the snow to have fun in some of the wide open spaces around here, or in an emergency, but I certainly wouldn't be going far or commuting to/from work or whatever. Need a 4x4 for that around here, especially when it's really bad.

As I said in my reply, winter tyres might make a difference in snow, but realistically you have to question your decision to drive a sports car in those conditions anyway. If the weather is that bad that winter tyres would make a big difference, you probably shouldn't be out driving.

On the contrary, I live and work in an area with one of the highest snow and rain fall figures in the UK (outside of Scotland anyway) and I find winter tyres to be nothing more than a fad. In extreme winter weather, such as heavy snowfall, there are very few road based tyres that will help. Sure, if you can get away with fitting skinny studded tyres you might get somewhere, but a 7+ inch wide road tyre with some slightly deeper tread doesn't make a scrap bit of difference. In heavy rainfall (with lots of standing water), light snow or slush, winter tyres have some benefits, but sensible people drive in those sort of conditions with extreme amounts of care. With that sort of driving, a decent all season tyre is every bit as good as a dedicated winter tyre. The only difference is the limit of grip. If you're never getting close to the limit of grip on an all season, you don't need the extra margin for error. For the conditions we have, I have found winter tyres to be a complete waste of money. If the weather is really awful (6+ inches of snow) I'm not even using my car anyway. If the weather is poor (heavy rain or light snow) I just drive more carefully. Another consideration. We all get heavy rain and ice for a few months of the year, but it isn't constant (maybe 1 week in 4). In the 3 weeks where the weather is ok again, winter tyres are a complete liability. In fact, I would say winter tyres perform comparably worse on a dry road than all seasons do in the winter, which is just a poor trade off. For the record, I have personally had winter tyres for 3 out of 8 winters since I started driving. My dad has also had 3 or 4 sets over the past 10 or so years. This also covers all ranges of cars (my Porsche Boxster, my old Ibiza Cupra, dad's old 911, dad's old Civic Type R, his current T5 camper and my mum's Scenic) and none of those experiences have persuaded us to go down that route again. If you have the money, or are curious to try for yourself, go right ahead, but it's really a pointless exercise.

My coilpack codes seem to always show up on a Friday, then clear by the Monday. Last time I went in they said "unless the code is there, we can't do the work". I think next time it's up I'm just gonna head straight there.

I just used them as an example. You can also look at Evo's tyre tests, where I believe the Sessanta's came third to the Pilot Sports and something else, and a few other magazine tests. Also, while tyrereviews may not be the be all and end all of review sites, when I was looking for tyres for the Porsche a few years ago, I looked around at the tyres I had tried in the past, and the general consensus was very comparable to my own experience. The thing is, rather than just looking at the scores, you have to read through the reviews and find owners with similar cars to your own. As soon as you start reading through the reviews, you realise which are the proper reviews and which are just on there to complain or otherwise (for example, the people who score tyres 100/100 or 0/100). There is just as much chance of the reviews being unfairly judged one way as the other. There are people on there who will judge a tyre as 0/100 if it lasts less than 20k miles, for example. Fact is, there are just as many clueless people as there are useful reviews no matter what tyre you look at, and from my experience the results of all that variety tends to be fairly accurate.

Hmm. Interesting. I guess we all have our tastes. In this case it's one time where I agree with the internet. They are one of the highest rated tyres around if you just read reviews etc. (tyrereviews.co.uk for one example) and my real world experience justified those reviews. I run the Vorti's on the 86 as they're a little better in the wet, which I felt was more necessary for Wales. Not sure if you'd like these more, but I haven't found much to dislike in either these or the Sessantas.

Which ones? There are 3 or 4 different models of very different uses. The Sessanta's are very good as a mid performance tyre, the Vorti's aren't so good in that aspect, but a good all season. I ran them on the Porsche for a few years, and now my first set on the 86.

I always urge people into Vredesteins, I think they're great. On par with anything I've tried in the dry (although I have never had Yoko's I admit) and up there with Uniroyal Rainsports in the wet, which is perfect for around here when it's raining a lot. They're also very quiet, and after nearly 10k miles on my current set, I still have probably 5mm of tread on the rear. All round very good. Only slight downside is they're around £95 a tyre in 225/40/18, but small price to pay for quality imo.

As this is the most recent insurance topic, just wanted to give a quick vote towards Greenlight. I got a quote from them today in preparation for the TD turbo kit, plus all my other mods (suspension, wheels, exhaust etc.), and it came back at £650. I'm 25 with 7 years NCB, which I'm sure helps, and the car is kept in a CCTV monitored, locked garage all night. I would also say, the guy I spoke to onthe phone was extremely helpful. Looking for ways to help me save money by giving accurate mileage, asking about track driving etc. and sounded like a real car guy himself. Looks like I'll be going with them when my time comes in a few weeks.

Despite showing up over an hour late, was good to see such a great turnout. Great to catch up with the usual bunch, and the few new faces I managed to speak to was good as always. Overall a rather long, expensive but very useful weekend. Thanks again @Lauren for putting me up Friday night, and @Mike@TD.co.uk for helping me get rid of a few grand of unwanted cash.......... Looking forward to the next one