Up at 4.45 every time I go into the office - I am allergic to traffic jams and trains 
So, first commute impressions...
I have a funny feeling that Mrs B - and possibly the neighbours - will have something to say about my departure... My garage is directly under the bedroom and it really is bloody noisy cold. Not a lot I can do about that though
I'm following instructions and driving like Miss Daisy until it's warm. A very chilled approach to leaving the house, and the engine got to about 75 degrees just before hitting the motorway. Was a bit worried about that, but once on it I can do a reasonable speed and keep it under 3,000 RPM in 6th until it's up to temp. In fact I didn't have to take it out of 6th until I was passing Sidcup. The torque when cruising makes the whole experience even more easy than my 3.0.
Speed bumps are less stressful, though my 3.0 has trained me well.
Driving through some mixed environments - open road, motorway, urban carriageways, built up areas etc. - has revealed that it's a talkative little bugger. Those of you with experience of children will understand when I say it's like a baby on the edge of speaking for the first time crossed with a really grumpy Rottweiler. It mumbles and grumbles and squeals with delight, a multitude of varied and utterly different sounds - Adamski got it spot on earlier in the thread. Then under it all is the Rottweiler waiting behind a garden fence that suddenly jumps up and barks and snarls and generally goes mental at you. I can't think of one word that captures it to be honest, I love it.
It's probably at least 50% my lack of smoothness and general excitability, but I thought my 3.0 fuel needle dropped fast
...21.5mpg on the computer, still better than my benchmark (Focus ST) so I just going to tape over the needle 
The hardest part is pulling away smoothly from a standstill. Couple of kangaroos, but I think I have it sussed - probably obvious to most, but the clutch doesn't want nannied, it needs to be given a job smoothly but decisively. It's a bit frustrating, but I've not driven a manual for 2 and a half years so I just need to get my seating position perfect and be patient I think.
I enjoyed the drive a lot - having that experience waiting at the end of the day is going to make the office much more bearable
So, first commute impressions...
I have a funny feeling that Mrs B - and possibly the neighbours - will have something to say about my departure... My garage is directly under the bedroom and it really is bloody noisy cold. Not a lot I can do about that though
I'm following instructions and driving like Miss Daisy until it's warm. A very chilled approach to leaving the house, and the engine got to about 75 degrees just before hitting the motorway. Was a bit worried about that, but once on it I can do a reasonable speed and keep it under 3,000 RPM in 6th until it's up to temp. In fact I didn't have to take it out of 6th until I was passing Sidcup. The torque when cruising makes the whole experience even more easy than my 3.0.
Speed bumps are less stressful, though my 3.0 has trained me well.
Driving through some mixed environments - open road, motorway, urban carriageways, built up areas etc. - has revealed that it's a talkative little bugger. Those of you with experience of children will understand when I say it's like a baby on the edge of speaking for the first time crossed with a really grumpy Rottweiler. It mumbles and grumbles and squeals with delight, a multitude of varied and utterly different sounds - Adamski got it spot on earlier in the thread. Then under it all is the Rottweiler waiting behind a garden fence that suddenly jumps up and barks and snarls and generally goes mental at you. I can't think of one word that captures it to be honest, I love it.
It's probably at least 50% my lack of smoothness and general excitability, but I thought my 3.0 fuel needle dropped fast
...21.5mpg on the computer, still better than my benchmark (Focus ST) so I just going to tape over the needle The hardest part is pulling away smoothly from a standstill. Couple of kangaroos, but I think I have it sussed - probably obvious to most, but the clutch doesn't want nannied, it needs to be given a job smoothly but decisively. It's a bit frustrating, but I've not driven a manual for 2 and a half years so I just need to get my seating position perfect and be patient I think.
I enjoyed the drive a lot - having that experience waiting at the end of the day is going to make the office much more bearable
:lol: