Update on my “To-get-used-to” List. 1. Press clutch to start – No problem.
2. Reverse Gear position – No problem.
3. Indicator stack on the left – Still kicking the wiper to use the lane change or turn. Habits die really hard.
4. Turbo Lag – Like I mentioned before I found a way to tame the Turbo and problem solved.
5. Driver's visibility, turning radius, slightly bigger length and width – Got over all these points and don’t matter anymore.
Having said that I want to say this again – Nobody knows how to make a driver’s car to match a Mitsubishi Lancer, not even Mitsubishi themselves. Man, I miss it and I miss it real bad.
It has been largely peaceful journey for past six months with my BlueJay. I had been to many places in Tamil Nadu and once to Kerala. I was driving most of the time on rural roads, sedately between 60 and 100 speed, enjoying the comfort and coziness of the German machine.
A Little talk about Mileage:
Well, the car behaved differently when driven differently. While driving between 60-100 for a full tank, it gave just over 15 kmpl. Once I did a straight Tenkasi-Chennai 620 kms with a 1 hour break. The car returned 13.2 onward and 13.3 on return journey respectively.
And it threw me a surprise when I took to Kollam. For a 450 kms drive, out of which 200 kms were Ghat section, BlueJay gave me 17.8 kmpl. The speed was in the range of 30-60 max.
Not that I am really bothered about the mileage, I am just posting the 1.4 L, Turbocharged engine’s behavior.
DRLs.
As I mentioned elsewhere, I had ordered through Amazon and got IJDMTOY DRLs (White). I got them installed during my recent First service by VW. Here are some snaps.
Though not too bright like Audi, it is powerful enough from distance. Besides, the white color makes people feel that it is really a DRL and they now refrain from showing five fingers to me (indicating that my headlights are on). The White color blends with the Silk Blue body color well and looks pleasant.
First Inspection at 6 Months/7,500 kms.
BlueJay was due on 28-Feb-2017 for the First free Inspection. I had done about 6400 kms in the past 6 months. I had an appointment for 21-2-17 and arrived there at around 10:30 am. They were waiting and my car was listed on the board for service. They check-listed the car and drove it in.
My complaints / requests were as follows:
1. Left rear door – heavy rattle.
2. Steering felt tight.
3. Replace the DRL with out of market LEDs.
Their floor manager insisted that after 5000 kms, VW recommends that alignment and balancing to be done and those would be chargeable. Good Old Trick. I straightaway refused to tamper with alignment and definitely not balancing. For my Lancer, I did the balancing and alignment only when tires were changed at 35K kms. It was running fine. I told them a big No. Somehow they agreed and didn’t take anything about warranty.
They fixed the door rattle. As far the steering wheel tightness, they said it is the same on all Jettas and I would have to ‘get used to it’. Again?
They initially said that the warning light might come up when we changed the DRL bulb. I told them that I had done enough research on these particular bulbs and the light wouldn’t come on. The bulbs were swapped and no warning lights.
Inspection was done by 1 pm and I was ready to hit the road. I started the Ignition and was hit with a pleasant surprise. The Needle Sweep had been activated, though I didn’t ask for it. I had to get back home so, I didn’t bother to ask them the details.
Well, with the white DRL’s and Needle Sweep the Jetta felt slightly more Audi-ish.
Navigation is still a big missing thing in the car. They said 'the software has come but, the activation key hasn’t come yet and will update when they receive'. Anyway that is my next project for the BlueJay.