I thought it might be a good time to post a short summary of my feelings about my "new" i30 PD SR DCT after 8 months and nearly 17,000 kilometres of mixed driving.
This won't be as comprehensive as one of Alan Ho's reviews but I will try and cover as many areas of the car as I can.
StylingWhen the new PD was first released I had mixed feelings about the more conservative styling but it has certainly grown on me.
On the positive side I don't think it will date like something like the new Civic certainly will.
I never really liked the two tone wheels on the SR (silver with black centre caps) So, as most of you would be aware I got the wheels sprayed satin black by a friend after curbing the front left hand side wheel. I think it looks heaps better now. I initially thought I perhaps should have gone with a white one, but love the red and black wheel combo.
I love the LED tail lights on the SR.
FeaturesMost of you also know I had a top of the range Holden Calais V before the SR and I thought I might miss it, but the new SR has some features that I love which the Calais didn't have which offset the few things I lost. The only thing I miss a bit is the 100 odd litres of extra boot space in the Calais.
I don't really miss the Heads up display as much as i thought I would. The fact that the SR has a digital speed readout in the centre of the dials and Automated cruise means i don't really need to be as aware of my speed as I did in the past.
Talking of automated cruise, I love that feature just as much as I thought I would. I really miss it now if I drive Trish's car or a rental. The other feature I really like and use a lot is Android Auto.
I made this video fairly quicky without much planning, but you get the idea.
Android Auto - YouTubeFuel EconomyI haven't bothered to do a brim to brim calculation, but the economy seems to have improved from initially averaging 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres (according to the trip computer) for the first 5000 or so kilometres of mixed driving, to now sitting at 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres over the last 4,500 kilometres or so. I did fit a K&N air filter after that initial 5000 kilometres and have a feeling that may have helped combined with a general freeing up of the motor.
I am aware the Trip PC may not be entirely accurate, but happy if it is 7.5 or better in reality. I do notice a worthwhile reduction in the amount I am spending on fuel compared to my Calais which was averaging around 9 L/100kms.
After owning two Hybrid Camry's prior to my Calais I believe I drive reasonably economically, but tend to drive at the posted speed limits in the city and on the highway and am not scared to give her a bit of stick occasionally.
DrivingI am amazed how much like the Calais the SR fells on the road. The Calais had 19" wheels with low profile (40) tyres so it was also a bit firm riding and slightly jittery (and generated some tire noise) on course or rough surfaces.
The SR is nicer around town though as the steering (and obviously the whole car) was heavier in the Calais.
Performance of the two acceleration wise is also similar, although the SR with DCT feels a bit more sluggish off the line unless you select sport mode which definitely improves standing start pick up.
The brakes are excellent in the SR. Probably the best combination of feel and stopping power of any car I have ever had, although the Calais was pretty good in that regard too.
I've had a couple of minor intermittent issues with the Blind Spot monitoring shutting down, which has yet to be fully resolved but aside from that I've had a trouble free run, touch wood as you would expect in a new car and certainly don't regret swapping cars in June 2017.
One small negative. Although better than the entirely unworkable 7500 kilometre service interval in the earlier Veloster, I find the 10k service interval a bit restrictive. I have done one longish mainland road trip and intend doing more. I'm used to 15k service intervals which are a lot easier to work around.
I may edit this and add more comments as I think of them.