Not before time Fleet update..

Apologies again for the lack of communication on my part recently – despite the best of intentions, it has been a month since my last update.

In payment of dues, please let me assure you that things (both vehicular and in other facets of life) have been progressing apace. This short ditty shall endevour to update you on the motorised conveyance consternations contained in the last few weeks.

Lupo

After having the front suspension arms replaced last month, the plucky little Lupo passed its MOT with flying colours and was pressed directly into service straight away. Despite being initially discombobulated by the modern feel, and mild disconnection from the task of driving, I soon settled into it and figured out its little quirks (like being approx 1/2 the length of a parking space..)

I gave it a good clean too!

It became my daily – covering at least 300 miles a week for work, and it also managed to fit in trips up to Wick, and down to Cannock (including RAF Cosford) – all done in relative comfort, and at a happy 50mpg.

Wick, Orkney and the remenants of a Series 2a Landrover Chassis

A beautiful Rover P6 v8, The carpark at RAF Cosford, and a stop at the world’s smallest burgerking on the return trip from Cannock

I managed to stick 2400 miles on it during October –  a very capable performance! Obviously then, I had to do something odd, didn’t I? An impending new job meant that I needed something a bit more stout for the old M-way driving, so the Lupo was stuck up for sale. It went quickly to a couple north of Inverness, and I waved it off earlier this week. I’d have another!

Bye By Lupo:(

Toledo

With the Lupo out of the equation rather rapidly, it was time for the slumbering Toledo to step up. I’d parked it at the end of September with the intention of getting her rust proofed before any winter use. Suffice to say, she’s done a week’s worth of commuting, and the rust proofing has only just been ordered.

A leafy slumber

Despite this, she continues to provide dependable service, with much improved performance after an overdue service. Recently I have acquired a replacement passenger mirror and spare hubcap to improve the aesthetics (and rearward visibility!).

The current weather has highlighted a deficiency in rear screen clearing – this will likely need chasing with a blue peter, alongside the faults with the temp gauge and Rev counter.

The brakes couild do with another bleed, and I may fit 4 matching tyres, rather than the plastic circles currently present – other wise I think it’s ok at the moment, although it could do with some mechanical refreshing.

Vectra

What to say? it just trundles on and on. Occasionally chewing some oil, yet never failing. Obviously, with that being the case it is high time it was disposed of – its up for sale and should be departing shorty with some luck.. This is a necessary situation to stir both myself and the Burd into action on the Clio 172..

Clio 172

This has been removed from the hedge whence it has resided for quite some time. After a serious de-leafing, and a srcub it is up for inspection and MOT fettling this weekend. Intial viewing suggests rear pads plus a backbox/centre section should be the majority of the work..

No doubt I’ll have moe info shortly once I’ve had a Rate Guid Raid Aboot It:)

Citroen CX

This has languished in the lockup for man a month. I have finally taken up the guantlet and procured a welder – now all I need to do is learn how to glue metal together, rather than set fire to things, and we’ll be golden..

Scandinavian Sojourn

Back in August last year, we helped the Burd’s cousin in selecting a fine automobile to use in the very northlands (Mercedes e280 buyages). Sadly, due to a low speed wheel/wing interface caused by a wishbone/balljoint divorce, P399 YSH is no more.

 

It occurred at a most fortuitous time actually, as the ole Merc was nearing an appointment with the man from the ministry’s hammer of doom. A discussion ensued whereupon it was decided that the Merc should go to the garage in the sky, and a new barge would be selected.

Despite being told ” I want a large estate car” I had to spend my fair share of my time batting off MGF based proposals. Eventually we honed in on a spec:

Long MOT

Large comfortable car

Sub £500

Decent on fuel.

 

So what did we end up having to go on a mad dash to Edinburgh for last Sunday night?

The Saab 9-5 2.0t Vector

 

Its a 55 plate – the last year of the “low” £290 VED tax, and it has a 150bhp low pressure turbo version of the ecopower engine.

Cogs are shifted by a 5 speed manual (including the usual annoying “Key by the handbrake/must engage reverse to get the key out”). All in all, it feels fairly decent for what is a 200K mile car.

On the MOT front it’d had a new one at the start of March, so is good until 2017. All the tyres and brakes seem ok, and the previous owner had the rear suspension bushes done.

Inside, the interior is in good condition bar the tired drivers seat and worn gearknob.Its a pleasant place to be and seems to go pretty well too.

 

I got it to the unit on Thursday for a check over and discovered the cause of the oil leak/smoke I’d experienced.

Sump leaking onto the exhaust

 

I got it cleaned up and applied some instant gasket – telling the Button to get someone to look at it ASAP, and to carry out a clean of the oil pickup whilst the sump was off.

 

Everything else checked out ok, so it was time to get the bleeding thing up north.

 

The Alfa had been making an annoying click at low speeds, so it was replaced by the venerable e30 316 as chase vehicle.

Winning at delivering!

We thrust northwards with our speed tempered by the irritating nature of average speed camera driving. Pitlochry was achieved, and some tasty haggis nachos (really!) were consumed at McKays (McKays).

Both cars running well and apparently being miserly with the fuel – plus I managed to do my first ever video review – available here in all its gory details – Fu’Gutty Saab 9-5 review

Pitstop at Pitlochry

Next up was yet more A9 average speedery with roadworks thrown in for good measure. To alleviate this, we made a short stop in Dingwall to replenish our caffeine levels, and consume some poor innocent bunnies. The bunnies that were sacrificed were provided by the Courtyard Café (Bunny biscuit purveyors)

It never stood a chance..

The rest of the run was completed with no concerns, and a pleasing 40.1mpg showing on the OBC. This will likely be a true 36mpg or so.

An Idyllic view (and a no bad wee cottage)

The Button seemed most pleased and discussion soon turned to the possibility of converting it into an expedition car for some surfing trips.

After a cuppa we loaded into it and set off for Thurso for a delicious dinner at a little seafood place called the Pavilion Restaurant (Good fish N Chips!)

In Thurso by the sea

 

The next day dawned drizzly, but we decided to make the most of it with a varied itinerary.

First up was a visit to see Burger and co – the semi tame group of Icelanic ponies that is just along from the cottage we were in

 

Suffice to say, the ponies were uber friendly when you had a carrot in your had, and even reasonably amiable when the supply had run out.

I prefer to think of this one as Scouselandic due to the perm..

 

We then ran up to sunny Wick to see the Trinkie-  seawater swimming pool that the Button intends to use for diving training.

And then ended our visit with a run up to John O’Groats.

Can’t get too much more north than this (except Dunnet Head)

Despite developing a blow from the exhaust, the wee 316 got us home with no problem, battering along at the speed limit, giving 38mpg fill to fill.

 

Back to back runs complete, I’d still pick the e30;)