Something to be proud of

 So I wasn't too sure what to title this post, but I thought I would just go ahead and type it out and see what fits best later on down the line. Oh, also, you'll also notice the edits to the photos, with this kind of post I wanted to add a little bit of character and I will probs do the same for future posts too.

This post is a bit different from what's been posted already however, it never hurts to try something new. With that said, I introduce to you, my girl's 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Now this wasn't the original car she had in mind to replace the VW Polo she was driving about previously, the plan was to get an M140i. However, after seeing Jeremy Clarkson lose control of it on that one episode of Top Gear, she quickly changed her mind and decided a Golf GTI was the better car for her. A decision I happily embraced. So after a few weeks of looking for a nice spec, we came across the GTI she ended up buying.

The viewing and whole buying process was entertaining, to say the least. Firstly, we thought we were going to look at a 5-door, but clearly, it was a 3-door. The wheels were to be re-diamond cut, but only a few days before collection, they told us they had to be painted instead as they had been refurbed before. Looking on the bright side though, the VW dealer we bought it from made a pretty big mistake. They priced the car on being a 5-door, non-performance pack, and base spec GTI. So this meant we got a big saving in comparison to what the car actually valued at.

After all the faff of the buying stage, she finally got to fully experience the car, and boy did she enjoy it. From proving to her Dad that she could drive just like he could, to showing me that same skill she clearly had handed down to her. I was super proud to see her get the car she wanted, yes there were some rather large speedbumps along the way but she stuck it out and got an amazing car. Some might even say it's the perfect spec too, being a 3-door variant paired with the DSG gearbox and Performance Pack. It also has park assist, something she is yet to use. And of course heated front seats for the lovely UK weather.

The first port of call not too long after purchasing, it went and had an aftermarket immobiliser fitted. Luckily it's never had to serve its purpose but just in case it's nice to have. Shortly after that, the rear wiper was removed in place of a Kill all Wipers delete kit and some paddle shifter extensions were fitted too. Nothing too in-depth, but starting small is the best place to start.

Although a wiper delete and paddle shifters aren't difficult, my girl did them herself, and apart from slicing her finger open when taking the wiper off, she did pretty well to keep on going and finish the job. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto got coded in to help bring it up to speed in terms of tech and just adds a nice feature when the time comes to sell.

Next up for the Golf is a little bit more noise, whether that comes in the form of an intake or exhaust we don't know yet. But for now, the Golf serves as a perfectly good daily that is reliable and can still be thrashed without the worry of something going wrong.

I will probably put an update out down the line on the Golf, and we'll see how much it has changed and if things go to plan or not.

So getting to the end of the post, I feel there's only one title I can give it. Something to be proud of. Because that's what it is, and it's not just the car either. My girl has been through a lot and worked super hard to get this car. Not to mention the work to keep it running exactly as it should. Taking pride in the way it looks and putting a bit of her own personality into it too. All in all, you probably wouldn't expect the car to be owned by a girl and she's had her fair share of people saying it's 'daddy's car'. It honestly couldn't be any more different from her Dad's car. But that doesn't stop her from enjoying it and it certainly doesn't make her want to get rid of the car either. If anything it fuels the fire that she wants to give those people the middle finger by owning a car like this.

As always, I like to impart a bit of knowledge and advice at the end of my posts. With that said, to any girl reading this, or anyone for that matter. Being into cars isn't a guy's thing. It's for everyone. Whether you're the girl who listens to Sabrina Carpenter on repeat and loves a trip to Starbucks. Or maybe you don't have anyone to share the enjoyment with. Sometimes all someone needs is a little push in the right direction to spark the love for everything automotive. I know myself the car scene can be a daunting place, in amongst all the hate and know-it-alls, there are pockets of good people doing good things. So no matter your background you can build something for yourself and have your own thing to be proud of. Just go out there and do it for you.

As always, enjoy the ride.

E.