Introducing Hermann - no really...

[320touring]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Right need to do some modding! One issue with Hermann is the time he takes to get warm - not surprising as its a big, Diesel engine. So want to help him get warmer quicker. A heater will be pondered later in the year, for now I'm going for the lower cost option of grill blocking. This is the "Goatee" at the front.



Pretty much all of the fuzz area is open which is a lot. Blocking is going to have to be from the front as there is zero access behind without removing loads of stuff. Plan would be to block the upper section (above the place) first and then the lower one - leaving a gap for the CAI which is just above the OOOOs in the slam panel.

I'm thinking either Correx (Coroplast here) and gaffer tape or something clear and some neat use of zip ties.

Or indeed any other ideas ?

EDIT - One other idea already pondered is pipe insulation in the openings of the grill ?

The pipe insulation worked well on the golf (about the only think that did!)

Some poundshop primer and black also makes it stealth!

[RedDevil]

I got pipe insulation in mine. Lost one the other day; need to wire lock them.
Did cut the pipes in the back to fit the vertical girders. They lock between the horizontal ones but apparently not too well.

I painted mine black, did look nice for a week. Apparently spray paint does not adhere well to pipe foam.
Dunno about piping the upper grill. Might look tacky.
I have a clear Lexan sheet that wants to hug my upper grill in stock.

[Vekke]

I would gues that if you loose the front bumber upper plastic fasteners you are able to get it that much open that you are able to put 3mm thick abs plastic sheet behind the upper grill. I have done that to many cars and it can be done. Just be careful with the radiator not to make holes in it while installing.



Usually there is some rubber there in newer cars but that can be bended away so you can slide the block in place.

On the lower block you can put it over the bumber so its easy to remove.

[Arragonis]

@Vekke - The radiator is much farther forwards than it looks due to the curvy nature of the engine and because the engine is mounted north-south. I'll take a better look in the summer though.

I started blocking using pipe insulator I had in my loft from when the gas people fitted me a new boiler the other year :



This is as far as I got as progress was interrupted by some storms, some kind of annual festival (not sure about it, it seems to involve a baby and sprouts...) and a very bad cold, so this is as far as it got.

On the other mod front I did manage to fit my Pure DAB Radio thing that Mrs A got me for that festival thing - I could be inside and relatively warm for that but it has caused a relapse in the cold.

Hot Toddy is on thecards, or maybe 3.

Happy new year everyone.

[Arragonis]

Just uploaded a video of my current daily route home with the A6. Should appear below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_XAn15rSaU

[Joggernot]

Are you in the Toyota or the Audi? Just watching you drive on the wrong side of the road scares me! Thanks for the video. What time in the evening is your commute?

Joggernot :Motorcycle:

PS: nice music, too.

[Arragonis]

Damn I meant to mute the music so that the YouTube police don't pull it...

Its in the A6, time would be about 4-30 ish at the start, usual coming home time for me. We are as North as Moscow so its dark.

[Arragonis]

OK Mk1 installed, we shall see how it goes.

[beluga]

Car purchases seem to be 90% emotional based on my past experience working at a dealer, and being a buyer out in the world... otherwise we would all drive a Yaris or hybrid Yaris ("C") or Yugo or VW Rabbit diesel..

this isn't just a US phenom, the rest of the world wants the biggest fanciest car possible too. It's certainly a "first/developed world problem."

I read that carmakers did psychographic studies in neuromarketing to figure out that SUVs would be good for vain, insecure people, which much of the US is for various reasons. but in general "most people are sheep" seems true. go with the flock. (anywhere in the world.)

it's just that here, we had access to cheap oil for decades, so it manifested a certain material way.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by beluga

Car purchases seem to be 90% emotional based on my past experience working at a dealer, and being a buyer out in the world... otherwise we would all drive a Yaris or hybrid Yaris ("C") or Yugo or VW Rabbit diesel..

this isn't just a US phenom, the rest of the world wants the biggest fanciest car possible too. It's certainly a "first/developed world problem."

I read that carmakers did psychographic studies in neuromarketing to figure out that SUVs would be good for vain, insecure people, which much of the US is for various reasons. but in general "most people are sheep" seems true. go with the flock. (anywhere in the world.)

it's just that here, we had access to cheap oil for decades, so it manifested a certain material way.

I wouldn't argue this, but I would disagree that the cheap oil manifests to SUVs as a want, rather cheap oil is why they lean towards big gaudy SUVs rather than rim'd up Prii with candy paint, or even just fairly efficient vehicles with disposable money thrown at them.

I would think vehicles with poor fuel economy would be more of a status symbol in a place with high fuel prices. When I see a giant vehicle, I can't help but think...