Owner log of DBP MkV R32, Owner: Justin Perkins

Full Hand Wax with 3M, Mileage: 12,200

Today I applied a nice layer of 3M wax to the entire R32. It didn't take as long as I thought it would take and the result was astounding.

Ever since I bought a water filter setup for my hose, washing the car is so much easier. I don't bother drying anymore since the filtered water dries spot free.

Logged on: 03/12/2008

Removed EVOMS

I took my EVOMS intake off today. I'd been wanting to do this for a while and there seems to be a lot of demand right now for these intakes (because they're well made), so I couldn't think of a more perfect time to sell it.

I like OEM parts more than anything.

Logged on: 08/13/2008

Mileage Check

Getting close to 20k, currently 16,700. Everything is great, just been keeping it clean. I've been slowly tweaking my washing process since I purchased this car a little over a year ago. Currently I wash the whole car as normal, then dry with MF towel while occasionally spraying with quick detailing wax to help avoid water spots. I used to let the water dry, then hit it with quick detailer, but I got a lot of water spots with that technique. To get rid of them, I mixed up some white vinegar 50/50 with distilled water and washed the whole car with this stuff. Amazing how the mixture cuts through water spots like butter. Now I'm super anal about keeping water spots off the car and am much happier with the overall look.

I stupidly let a few small bird shits sit on my paint for a few days, wrongly assuming that it wouldn't be a big deal since I just gave it a nice coating of wax. Boy was I wrong, that crap etched right into the clear coat. Oh well, time to invest in a good buffer/polisher anyway.

Logged on: 08/12/2008

Washed & Detailed

I detailed the interior today, started by pulling the monster mats and vacuuming the heck out of it. Then clean all surfaces with Meguiars vinyl and leather cleaner. Then condition the seats and steering wheel with Meguiars leather conditioner.

Once this was done, gave it a wash. The pollen from the oak trees right now is going off. Park anywhere remotely close to an oak and you will surely get a fluorescent green powder (pollen) covering your car. How lovely.

Logged on: 04/07/2008

Hole-Free Grill Installed!!!! Mileage: 12,400

Today I drove down to San Antonio (from Austin) to have my hole-free grill installed at Rod East Volkswagen. I cannot express how stoked I am that I finally have a hole-free grill. In the last 6 months I've probably talked to 6 different VWoA employees, 1 supervisor, two service managers at the dealerships in Austin (at least on 4 different occasions) and finally, the service manager at Rod East who said "sure, come on down and we'll install it".

Hey Charles Maund VW and Hewlett VW, you've got a lot to learn about customer satisfaction and retention.

Logged on: 03/19/2008

EVOMS Intake Installed, Mileage: 10,700

Received and installed my EVOMS intake today. Well crafted, but a very tight fit. Haven't got to play with it yet because I'm getting ready for a vacation tomorrow.

Logged on: 01/30/2008

10k Service

Changed the oil today, at 10,002 miles, used Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck oil, 5W-40. Rotated the tires, cleaned/waxed the wheels while they were off. Removed the front fender liners, cleaned out a bunch of excess leaves and washed the fender liners. It's weird that the rear fender liners are a fabric-type material, while the fronts are plastic.

Logged on: 01/06/2008

R32 License Plate

Put the front license plate holder back on today and put my new R32 license plate from VW on there just to see how it looks. Probably going to put my real plate back on in a couple days.

Logged on: 12/28/2007

Interior/Exterior Cleaning

Finally cleaned the interior of the R, it was dying for a vacuum and interior cleaning. Washed the leather surfaces with Meguairs Vinyl & Leather Cleaner and followed with a treatment of Meguairs Leather Conditioner.

When I washed the exterior I tried out this trick I learned from the guys at VW Vortex to use Quick Detailing spray during the drying phase. I wasn't exactly impressed with the results (there was supposed to be less water spots, but I noticed more the next day), but then again by the time I was drying the R, it was dark outside.

Logged on: 12/21/2007

Car wash after big road trip

Finally got around to washing my dirty as hell car today, it was super dirty after the 4k mile road trip.

Whenever I wash the car, I put the wipers in service mode so they can be hinged away from the window, well my R outsmarted me this time because I popped the hood before attempting to put the wipers in service mode. After checking the wiper fuse (under the hood) and getting all freaked out because my wipers weren't working, I finally realized that the wipers will not operate if the hood is open. D'oh! I hate it when my car is smarter than me.

Logged on: 10/21/2007

TX to CA Road Trip Complete (mileage: 7133)

I returned home from my 8-day road trip to Sacramento and back this morning (3am). I had a blast with the R32 the entire time, it proved to be an excellent road trip car. Seats were very comfortable even during long drives (800+ miles). Never had a single problem. MPG improved greatly after the first oil change. On the last day I drove nearly 1000 miles and my average for that duration was 27.3 MPG!

Logged on: 10/18/2007

Cross Country Road Trip (mileage: 2,889)

I left Austin, TX on Wednesday October 10th 2007 with 2,889 miles on the odometer and headed for Sacramento, CA. Took smaller roads most of the way, up through north-west Texas into Alberquerque on Interstate 40. Headed north out of Flagstaff, AZ and into the Grand Canyon and onward to St. George, UT. From there I headed through Nevada on Hwy 50 (a very fun drive), and kept on 50 through South Lake Tahoe right down into Sacramento. 1,995 miles later I am now in Sacramento.

Logged on: 10/11/2007

Haldex Gen II Controller Installed (mileage: 2,889)

Installed my Haldex Gen II Sport Controller today, just in time for my road trip to CA and back.

Logged on: 10/09/2007

First Oil Change (mileage: 4,976)

Performed my oil change today, I'm using Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w-40 (also known as Mobil Delvac 1). Yes this oil is 100% fine for the R32 engine. I use this oil in my diesels and like it very much.

Logged on: 10/13/2007

Flapper Mod

Did the flapper mod today. I opted for the simple route, which involves a lengthy process of removing the vacuum line that feeds the flapper, plugging it with a screw and pushing the vacuum line back into the hole it comes out of so that the screw head just barely pokes out.

Never has a 1 minute job yields such a :D

Logged on: 08/08/2007

Another Wash

Met up with 3 other MkV R owners today, so I gave the R a nice bath.

Logged on: 09/08/2007

MPG Getting Better

After 2,500 miles of consistently getting 18.8 MPG, I've finally started to see that number go up. When I filled up this weekend I discovered that I averaged 21 MPG which equated to 270 miles out of a tank instead of the typical 225 I've been getting. That's pretty cool.

Logged on: 09/23/2007

Monster Mats

Picked up some Monster Mats today and promptly replaced my factory mats with these awesome mats. Set of four, uses the R logo as the primary grip pattern and my favorite thing is they don't look all "heavy-duty" style like all the other Monster Mats I've seen.

Logged on: 09/23/2007

Rain-Closing Enabled

Rain-closing mod through VAG-COM was performed today. Now if I leave the car with windows/sunroof open and it starts to rain, the car will close itself up for me. Score.

Logged on: 08/14/2007

Wash Inside and Out

Now with 1000 miles on her, gave a full exterior wash and cleaned the interior. This was the second exterior wash and first interior cleaning.

Logged on: 08/25/2007

Window, Halogen and Seatbelt Warning Mod

Yet another day of mods! Today I got the center halogens working when you use the "flash to pass" and high beam modes. Before that, those halogen beams on the inside of the headlights would never light up.

I also can open/close the windows with the remote!

And no more annoying seatbelt warning bell!!!

Logged on: 08/09/2007

First Mod: Disable DRLs

A fellow Vortex member who I met the other day was kind enough to meet up with me today (he just got his R last week) to disable the Daytime Running Lights and get the Auto-Headlight and Rain-sensing wiper features working.

Logged on: 08/07/2007

My R32 is Here!!!

Just got off the phone with my dealer. My R32 arrived on Saturday and is being prepped for me so it's ready for pickup at 4pm today.

MkV R32 #134 is mine!!!!

Logged on: 08/06/2007

Haldex Generation II Coming...

The Group Buy prereq was filled and I've paid in full. My HPA Generation II Haldex Controller should be here in a month or two. First group buy I've participated in and probably the first mod I will do on my R32. Also probably the biggest mod I will do on the R32 for a long time!! Stoked.

Logged on: 07/24/2007

HPA Haldex Sport Controller Ordered

Added my name to a list of people who want in on a group buy for a Haldex Generation 2 Sport Controller offered by HPA. We don't have the prerequisite 15 people yet so I hope this doesn't fall through :(

Logged on: 07/12/2007

My R32 is on it's way

Just got an email from my dealer, sounds like my R32 has left the factory and is on it's way here.

Logged on: 06/15/2007

Production Status

A fellow 'texer just checked the status of my R32 and apparently it will be done on the 6th of June! That's tomorrow! Then the long voyage to Austin, Texas will begin.

Here's the direct quote from Brendan: "Your commission number is Y67862, and it's in production status, ETA of being done is 6/06"

How about that?!

Logged on: 06/05/2007

No Holes in My Bumper!

Just talked to my dealer to make sure that they don't drill any holes in my front bumper. He wasn't sure if it would come pre-drilled or not, but assured me that if it arrived with no holes in the bumper, I would get it with no holes in the front bumper.

Cheers to keeping your word Mr. Dealer :)

Logged on: 06/05/2007

Preordered!

Today I went to Hewlitt VW, just north of Austin and dropped my deposit for a 2008 VW R32. Due for delivery in August, 2007. I am super excited!!!

Logged on: 02/12/2007