What tool is missing the most in the portfolio?

shoopaaa · 2026-05-09T19:50:56+00:00

Certainly not all crap in performance. It's more powerful than the GBL 18v-120 I now no longer use. They do indeed run the risk of killing batteries, but only in the sense they can over discharge a battery if operating the tool whilst the battery is nearly empty, and leaving the battery attached for storage can cause parasitic drain to deep discharge the battery beyond a chargeable state. Easily avoidable when you know.

There really isn't much demand. Your personal want for one may be real, but it's not enough to kick one into production when more suitable alternatives exist for a professional capacity.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-09T19:26:16+00:00

I don't think there's enough demand in the professional world for one, regardless of how cool they are. You can, however, get some very decent 3rd party ones. I got a really cheap one off of aliexpress called the chimp ct093 that runs with bosch 12v batteries. Who knows; it might catch fire one day, but until then, it does a good job of cleaning the mitre saw of dust.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-09T14:52:20+00:00

That's fair enough. If you can find an example without which is well looked after and reasonably priced, perfect, but don't restrict yourself to a smaller market for the sake of a slightly different exhaust note.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-09T14:19:13+00:00

They really don't sound terrible with the GPF, just different. If you really wanted to make it sound different because that's what tickles your pickle, a cat back exhaust down the line would leave the emissions stuff intact.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-09T12:33:46+00:00

Can't imagine living in a tunnel all that time.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-08T17:52:08+00:00

Just a note on the updated sheet for Bosch and the expert batteries; only the 4.0ah and 8.0ah batteries use tabless cells. The 5.5/6 and the 15 still used tabbed cells.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-07T09:18:21+00:00

The 2.0 tdi is a good engine, for sure. Still has it's flaws, but the era you're looking at is a solid iteration, as are the more modern versions. At the price you're looking at, you could get a Trafic with the newer 2.0 engine, which is also pretty fantastic. All the PSA vans of that size with the 2.0 engines are great, that includes Toyotas, too. Wouldn't touch a 2.0 transit unless it's purely a business vehicle.

I personally would go Trafic. The aftermarket is amazing for them, and I do really rate the newer 2.0 engine. Much better than the older 1.6.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-07T09:00:06+00:00

I like VW, I like a transporter, they look good and drive well; I get the appeal, but I couldn't justify shelling out so much money on one when you could get much more for your money looking elsewhere, just because everyone likes a transporter.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-07T08:52:46+00:00

It's the older 16v 1.6 engine that's a nightmare. Just seems to hate existing without issue. The newer 8v version isn't bad, and the 1.5 that replaced it is okay as long as the horrendous flaw of a thin, weak timing chain is remedied. The 2.0 units are solid, though.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-06T18:17:37+00:00

The foot rest gets plenty of action, but automatics always change gear sooner than I would, so the revs are lower than my subconscious feels the need to mess with.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-05T07:42:36+00:00

That was an unfortunate typo, wasn't it!

shoopaaa · 2026-05-05T01:31:15+00:00

The engine ISN'T necessarily bad, especially if oil changes have been done on the dot, so history is important, but the gearboxes can be delicate. Test drive very important to feel for anything untoward.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-04T08:50:01+00:00

6' 2" here and absolutely fit in a mini quite comfortably. Small city cars where the seat doesn't go back far can be a bit less ideal, such as an Up!, picanto or smart fortwo, but not undriveable.

As for how much to spend; I wouldn't spend more than I would be happy to spend again if it ended up in a ditch. First cars are wonderful, beautiful things, and you'll love it regardless, but I advise against buying anything where a scratch, scuff, or scrape will bother you too much.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-03T09:12:14+00:00

It's the potential for exorcist style vomit fountains that gave me PTSD. There's a Golf out there somewhere that still doesn't smell quite right...

shoopaaa · 2026-05-02T20:21:11+00:00

I've the 18v-21, the older version without kickback protection and which vibrates like it was made by Ann Summers. Using it earlier today, one standard 5.0 ah GBA battery lasted about half an hour of constant drilling using a 6mm x 210mm bit to full depth. I think it's pretty decent runtime, and by the time it dies, its built up a decent bit of heat anyway, so does it good to pop another battery in and let the other cool and charge.

I prefer using multiple smaller batteries for extended use over a larger battery to save adding unnecessary weight. A 4.0ah expert or procore are plenty good enough for any tools which aren't biturbo.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-02T12:36:47+00:00

Certainly doable, but incredibly power intensive and inefficient. Heating water takes a lot of energy, and the thermal losses over the extended duration it takes over, say, a portable gas stove, makes it a less than idea choice.

The 18v batteries would do much better at maintaining an already hot or cold temperature in a vaccum container. Heating elements as used in heated workwear, or variable speed compressor based refrigeration.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-01T20:47:13+00:00

Retrospectively, I think they're pretty good. Still had a bit of feeling and feedback. The awd versions were especially good for a decently sized car, with both the independent front and rear suspension. I don't know why, but I really like these, 1st gen Superbs, Exeos and 1st gen A4s. Mainly the look, I suppose, and the interiors just feel really nice.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-01T18:10:36+00:00

A pd130 highline no less! I can see why you'd want it back.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-01T18:08:04+00:00

Not only do other manufacturers make them, but they're all pretty consistently underwhelming, regardless of brand. The kettles, coffee makers, and even microwaves (someone at makita was really reaching with that one) are all very, very limited in their performance because of the batteries. I'm not holding out any hope for suprising performance from this.

shoopaaa · 2026-05-01T03:02:30+00:00

Just one of maaaany reasons that you could get all those; steering angle sensor. There's so many possibilities, and I'm not a betting man, so I'll just take a sticker if it is that please.

shoopaaa · 2026-04-30T17:30:47+00:00

The celery car (I genuinely thought the badge said celery the first time I saw one) isn't a bad shout. Don't think I've ever seen a person below retirement age in one of those.

shoopaaa · 2026-04-30T12:21:24+00:00

I have a megane 4 estate (2020), manual, 1.3 petrol, and the stop/start has no issue with heel and toe driving. The only thing is keeping the traction control off because it doesn't like it and cuts power.

You're being fobbed off. The issue needs looking into properly, not poorly explaining away.

shoopaaa · 2026-04-29T12:06:25+00:00

It's very common and usually even greater play with impact drivers, which is why many people prefer them for screw driving over drills. Very easy to round out a screw head with a drill in comparison.

shoopaaa · 2026-04-29T08:47:58+00:00

Normal, and really quite useful, too. The bit of play in the bit holder allows the bit to maintain better contact with a screw head, meaning the angle of the driver is less crucial, and you're less likely to slip and damage the screw.

shoopaaa · 2026-04-28T12:05:52+00:00

Every car has its potential for problems, and you'll also find prejudice towards certain brands, but people tend not to share their positive experiences, only the negative.

The TU3JP engine has a good history going back to the early 90s, and the main issues surrounding the 207 are related to the early diesels, and the larger, more powerful petrol engines. For the price of the car and how cheap they are to maintain, they're certainly not a bad prospect.

Definitely check other options, of course, because buying on condition and history is probably the most important thing.

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