http://www.car4play.com/forum Car4play forum en-gb Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:20:17 +0100 Copyright: Car4play webmaster@car4play.com (Technical) 5 car4play688541 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:20:17 +0100 https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/28/vw-id-3-now-germanys-most-popular-battery-electric-car/ http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688541&v=e car4play688525 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:50:12 +0100 Reminds me - I was surprised to see the lower range in my newer MG5 EV compared to the pre-facelift. Cos it has larger wheels, so they say... getting on for 10% less I think. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688525&v=e car4play688523 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:17:24 +0100 Pretty much, yes. Apart from the slightly bigger boot capacity in an ID5 as previously mentioned. Couple of miles more range in an ID5 I think too, because of lower drag. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688523&v=e car4play688517 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:16:24 +0100 Is the only difference between ID4 and ID5 is that one is an SUV and the other is a "hatch"? Everything else identical? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688517&v=e car4play688516 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:41:40 +0100 The VW climate screens also reflect the sun to help keep the cabin cooler - it was a £300 option which I wish I had had om my GTI. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688516&v=e car4play688502 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:21:32 +0100 >> I forget I'm one of the youngsters on this site (nearer 50 than 60) Good Lord, I'm (just) nearer 60 than 50. I thought I was an extreme yoof in these parts. No retirement in sight for another 4 years though. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688502&v=e car4play688501 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:01 +0100 My VW ID5 has a heated windscreen, so it's odd the Explorer doesn't, given they were Ford things originally and this is a common platform. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688501&v=e car4play688480 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:12:04 +0100 Get back to F/T to keep earning my pension. My triple lock won't pay for itself y'know!! :-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688480&v=e car4play688476 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:31:45 +0100 I assume the principal way in which an EV is heated is through largely conventional resistive heating - although the more up market may have heat pumps to increase efficiency. This being the case, an EV does not need a heated windscreen when the vehicle already has the capacity produce hot air on start up for general cabin heating. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688476&v=e car4play688465 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:14:56 +0100 >> I just stay in if it's like that :-) I forget I'm one of the youngsters on this site (nearer 50 than 60) though have been semi-retired some the end of 2021 - 5 day weekends are nice! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688465&v=e car4play688464 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:10:01 +0100 I just stay in if it's like that :-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688464&v=e car4play688463 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:09:05 +0100 >> In fact I dont know anyone that has a car that a frozen windscreen is fully defrosted in and out in 2 mins All of my EVs could do it, and all but the MK1 ZS could do it from a tap of my phone screen while I have a cuppa. Resistive electric heating FTW (other than the range gobbling thing...) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688463&v=e car4play688452 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:03:08 +0100 >> Weirdly whilst scrolling Autotrader I realised that the Ford Explorer doesn't have a heated windscreen? >> All these years of being almost unique selling point for Ford and their electric car >> doesn't have it? >> Perhaps because it is more VW than Ford? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688452&v=e car4play688448 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:25:37 +0100 Diesels, of course, take somewhat longer to deliver decent heating via normal coolant "exchange" than petrols. My diesel Mondeo had the luxury of a (standard) supplementary PTC heater that delivered warmth from "engine-on". That was pretty effective at thawing the windscreen quickly on frosty mornings (and also meant that the first few miles weren't quite as chilly as they might have been!) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688448&v=e car4play688447 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:02:21 +0100 Not more but additional to those things. Pre heating the cabin will clear all the windows in five minutes. You just don’t need a heated screen any more http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688447&v=e car4play688446 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:56:28 +0100 >> Air con reduces humidity to the point that any ice and mist on screen is gone in >> 2 minutes. >> I must have the poverty spec, as my aircon doesn't do that for the outside of the screen. Must be why Volvo fit a heated screen. ;-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688446&v=e car4play688444 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:48:46 +0100 dunno what car you have Terry but thats certainly not the case on my diesel BMW or my wife's petrol Beetle. In fact I dont know anyone that has a car that a frozen windscreen is fully defrosted in and out in 2 mins http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688444&v=e car4play688443 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:47:14 +0100 surely not any more of a drain than heated seats / steering wheel / rear window. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688443&v=e car4play688418 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:38:18 +0100 Heated screens used to be highly desirable when the alternative was a 5 minutes plus warm up on a cold morning assisted by a low speed fan directing luke warm air towards the windscreen. Current car starts providing warm air within 2 minutes on a blast detting. Air con reduces humidity to the point that any ice and mist on screen is gone in 2 minutes. Heated screen, particularly in the namby pamby South West of the country is hardly worth ;paying extra for. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688418&v=e car4play688416 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:06:35 +0100 Kind of redundant with cabin heating and a significant drain on battery. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688416&v=e car4play688414 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:39:40 +0100 I wonder if it’s got a cabin pre-heater. Even so, having had a heated windscreen, I would prefer to have it as an option. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688414&v=e car4play688402 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:12:16 +0100 Weirdly whilst scrolling Autotrader I realised that the Ford Explorer doesn't have a heated windscreen? All these years of being almost unique selling point for Ford and their electric car doesn't have it? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688402&v=e car4play688325 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:06:10 +0100 Leo, Pooh, Tony, Tigger, TC, Nelly, Mickey and Minnie, Pluto, Roland, Ed, Skippy, Shergar, Flipper. There, 14, not bad eh? :-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688325&v=e car4play688322 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:46:11 +0100 >>but the simple test he does is coming back as tickety boo. Try this one: Name as many animals as possible in 60 seconds. 14+ is ok, 20+ is very good. 80%) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688322&v=e car4play688306 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:27:11 +0100 >> https://www.oakley.com/en-gb/category/sunglasses?show=Page&categoryCode=oo_ew_sun&q=:oakleyRelevanceSort:oakleyLensTechnologyFacet:POLARIZED&hingeDistanceFilter=&productTypeFilter=&sort=oakleyRelevanceSort >> Why don't you use tinyurl? https://tinyurl.com/4pxtn92w http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688306&v=e car4play688300 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:46:03 +0100 >>I preferred the ID5 as it looks less SUV-like, and counterintuitively I believe it has a larger boot capacity. No problem with my dog cage. Also 6'3" son has plenty of leg and headroom in the back. Just checked and the ID5 has slightly bigger boot size according to the autotrader dimensions - didnt realise the ID7 was over a foot longer - nearer to 5m! My current X1 is about 4.5m and I am happy with the space etc that gives, nearer to the ID5. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688300&v=e car4play688299 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:41:24 +0100 >>The car doesn't seem to want to comply with the timed charging schedules I set for example. Which I can work around buy using the timer on my charger instead. I have grown accustomed to the system already and it's fine overall, bar the charging thing which I can't explain. This seems to be a common theme in EV owner FB groups that I delve into - conflicts between car / electricity supplier and charger company - probably one of these things that once you find out which one controls the others then it will be fine for ever more. Would be very annoying putting the car on full charge for a big journey the next day and wake up to find it hasn't charged! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688299&v=e car4play688296 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:19:03 +0100 >> Reason - tunnels on autoroutes and many main roads are common because of the terrain. >> Go into a poorly lit tunnel from bright sunlight with fully darkened polychromatic lense and >> vision is reduced to b***** all. I had that problem when driving in Madeira, even without sunglasses. Many of the old tunnels had no lighting, some weren't straight (so you couldn't see the other end) and they all seemed to drip water! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688296&v=e car4play688294 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:26:16 +0100 >> Your shades are probably polarized, the two cancel each other out. Yeah possibly. Interestingly the prescription sunglasses I also have, I can see the HUD fine with them. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688294&v=e car4play688293 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:43:18 +0100 > >> Are polarised sunglasses still a thing? >> > Yes widely available. https://www.oakley.com/en-gb/category/sunglasses?show=Page&categoryCode=oo_ew_sun&q=:oakleyRelevanceSort:oakleyLensTechnologyFacet:POLARIZED&hingeDistanceFilter=&productTypeFilter=&sort=oakleyRelevanceSort http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688293&v=e car4play688292 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:44:40 +0100 >> >> Your shades are probably polarized, the two cancel each other out. >> >> Are polarised sunglasses still a thing? >> >> Remember them being odd with toughened glass in Dad's seventies cars. >> In Southern Spain they still seem fairly popular, particularly amongst the 50+. Reason - tunnels on autoroutes and many main roads are common because of the terrain. Go into a poorly lit tunnel from bright sunlight with fully darkened polychromatic lense and vision is reduced to b***** all. The ability to simply flip up the lenses to remove the tint which may filter out 50-80% of the light seems a good idea. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688292&v=e car4play688289 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:08:57 +0100 >> >> Assumes of course you made a note of the router settings before it was turned >> off. :> >> ...and also that your new router/ISP let you change both the SSID and password to the same as previous. Done that for years when changing, with a password that was OK for years (but not particularly secure by today's standards/demands). Virgin routers expect a password rather more complex than that, and won't allow the change. Don't ask me how I know.... http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688289&v=e car4play688287 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:47:05 +0100 >> Hate photochromics. never at the right shade at the right time, specially driving. Dont need >> them now, I have a set of rayban clubmasters in the car, with mirrored green >> lenses, put on and take off when needed. Funny old world how different people see the same thing so differently. 99% of the time I find my photochromics have enough tint when driving. Occasionally, perhaps heading into a setting sun, I use a pair of prescription sunglasses but as they're single vision they mugger up reading the speedo etc. They did bother me years ago as a walker where they'd massively darken while I was trying to follow a compass in Cat IIIC conditions on a mountain top!! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688287&v=e car4play688286 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:37:47 +0100 >> They worked well before I could afford photochromics. >> Hate photochromics. never at the right shade at the right time, specially driving. Dont need them now, I have a set of rayban clubmasters in the car, with mirrored green lenses, put on and take off when needed. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688286&v=e car4play688284 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:04:44 +0100 >> I wonder what other 90s fashion items there is still a niche market for? Clip >> on sunglasses ? They worked well before I could afford photochromics. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688284&v=e car4play688283 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:03:41 +0100 >> Your shades are probably polarized, the two cancel each other out. Are polarised sunglasses still a thing? Remember them being odd with toughened glass in Dad's seventies cars. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688283&v=e car4play688281 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:56:24 +0100 >> Do magnetic clip on sunglasses count?? (interestingly which, when worn driving, completely removes the heads >> up display in my car) Your shades are probably polarized, the two cancel each other out. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688281&v=e car4play688279 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:14:01 +0100 >>I wonder what other 90s fashion items there is still a niche market for? Clip on sunglasses ? cough cough Do magnetic clip on sunglasses count?? (interestingly which, when worn driving, completely removes the heads up display in my car) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688279&v=e car4play688276 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:40:10 +0100 >> My son in law uses one but we've known him since birth - Mothers at >> school together - and it's entirely possible some osmotic process has occurred. >> >> I've found getting them the right size to be a snug fit for the phone >> a bit hit/miss. There are fancy leather ones too but I'm quite happy with nylon >> or whatever it is. >> I wonder what other 90s fashion items there is still a niche market for? Clip on sunglasses ? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688276&v=e car4play688273 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:18:07 +0100 >> Got the main stuff done but the plugs , lights and ring can wait till >> I have more patience - ring wanted me to remove the doorbell and scan the >> QR code on the back of it to change wifi ffs! Its easy peasy,. You just rename the SSIDs, change the ip address of your new router to the exact same name and same IP as the old router Reboot all the home automation stuff and bingo. Assumes of course you made a note of the router settings before it was turned off. :> http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688273&v=e car4play688272 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:07:42 +0100 >> I had no idea you could still buy them. I can't remember the last time >> i saw anyone wearing one, 20 years perhaps. My son in law uses one but we've known him since birth - Mothers at school together - and it's entirely possible some osmotic process has occurred. I've found getting them the right size to be a snug fit for the phone a bit hit/miss. There are fancy leather ones too but I'm quite happy with nylon or whatever it is. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688272&v=e car4play688271 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:04:06 +0100 >> >> Can you still buy them for phones. Is it not uncomfortable? >> >> Not at all. >> > I had no idea you could still buy them. I can't remember the last time i saw anyone wearing one, 20 years perhaps. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688271&v=e car4play688270 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:59:43 +0100 my brother suggested this to me as I was half way through the process and when I tried accessing the hub from my phone with the signon and password it gave me, it kind of froze and it wasnt really giving me the option of doing anything and by that time i was spitting the dummy out http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688270&v=e car4play688269 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:10:54 +0100 Yes that’s the way to sort it. I’m always surprised that people don’t change the code from the difficult to remember string of digits and letters provided to something more easily retained in the memory http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688269&v=e car4play688268 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:49:07 +0100 >> Virgin sent him a new router which I installed yesterday and then had to start >> changing wifi on all his devices. Had a similar router issue when we moved to full fibre. Solved it by changing the router access code to match the old one. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688268&v=e car4play688267 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:43:32 +0100 every time I read one of your smart/techy posts Smokie it stresses me to have all that automation and prompts going on in my life! My 94 year old dad has Alexa device in every room of his house, in his halls, as well as robot hoover, smart ceiling lights and smart plugs. And ring doorbells. Virgin sent him a new router which I installed yesterday and then had to start changing wifi on all his devices. I dont have Alexa or ring myself, but the system made it b***** hard work to change everything. Its all controlled in the Alexa app so you would think there would be a setting to change the wifi on all devices at once but no theres not. Got the main stuff done but the plugs , lights and ring can wait till I have more patience - ring wanted me to remove the doorbell and scan the QR code on the back of it to change wifi ffs! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688267&v=e car4play688266 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:35:20 +0100 >> Can you still buy them for phones. Is it not uncomfortable? Not at all. Used a belt clip of one sort or another pretty much as long as I've had a mobile. My fist in 1996 was a Motorola MR 20. Civil Service colleagues used to rag me about looking like an IT tech as they apparently carried theirs that way. The one I have now is similar to this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ykooe-Mobile-Holster-iPhone-Samsung-Black/dp/B0C8SFC7WT/?th=1 The mini carabiner is a useful touch as it stops the whole shebang dropping down the side of a car seat or wherever. I almost never wear trousers or shorts without a belt. My default for both a Rohan Bags which pretty much require a belt as there's no stiffener in the waistband. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688266&v=e car4play688265 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:17:05 +0100 To "keep an eye" on my internet banking I've set a loud chi-ching* on each notification in all of my finance apps (where possible, which I think is 100%). So (usually) the second a transaction or other activity prompts a notification it is hard to miss - and I'm more than slightly deaf! Usually happens before I've even left the desk after paying!! * useful free sounds here if anyone is sad enough to want any https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/search/ (I have a long term project to make the phone even more useful - latest fun thing is I have the ability to adjust stuff like message volume, which I can combine with sending notifications as spoken messages - haven't yet thought of many useful entries for it so so far have "the doorbell has rung", a few time based messages (e.g. reminder to turn off any heavy electric usage devices before 4pm deadline, and vocal reminders of certain calendar events. Oh, also that the house alarm has triggered.) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688265&v=e car4play688264 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:53:32 +0100 >> >> I am ashamed to admit I couldnt tell you the last time I left >> my >> >> phone anywhere. It pretty much lives in my pocket when not being used. >> >> It should live in a holster clipped to my belt. >> >> Can you still buy them for phones. Is it not uncomfortable? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688264&v=e car4play688263 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:08:59 +0100 >>it should live in a holster clipped to my belt. I remember the days of my Nokia 3210 and the like that I kept in a holster on my belt to make sure everyone knew you had a mobile phone! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688263&v=e