Your fleet running reports

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Rich B
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Rich B »

I’ve done 1000 miles in the Golf now and it continues to be a nice (if dull) place to be. I did my first motorway driving in it today, which gave me a decent chance to play with the adaptive cruise control and the lane assist.

Lane assist is a waste of time. But ACC is a bit of a game changer! I always hated normal CC as I don’t want to bumble along at exactly 70, so would always be adjusting/breaking m/accelerating around all the hoards of Qashquais, but ACC is great - set it to 75/85 or whatever you can get away with and let it do it’s thing.

It even did it in a pretty economic manner.

Image
Last edited by Rich B on Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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mik
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by mik »

I always switch lane assist off in any car that has it. If we only ever drove in one lane - it might have been a good idea. Unfortunately - we don’t!
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Alex88
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Alex88 »

Cheers Mito/SJ.

I’ve found a BMW specialist near me who’ll do it for £365. That’s for the Mechantronic sleeve, trans pan, and ZF fluid. Will go with that I think.

Brief fleet update:

650 is not being used much at all so it’s great to jump in it on the rare occasion the weather’s nice. Still love it, especially now I’m using it even less. Realised the other day that the front tyres have done nearly 25k! and still got a fair bit left. Sadly some arsehole hit it when parked a month or so ago, went down the front catching the wing/bumper. Luckily the PPF took 90% of the hit leaving a scuff where the impact went through. Was a PITA getting the film off.. About an hour with a heat gun, and once that was off there was a load of glue residue to deal with. Also means I have no PPF on the bumper or wing anymore, which is annoying. It was still looking fresh (no yellowing or peeling) and had been on for years.

Civic plods up and down the motorway every day and returns an easy 50+ MPG. A decent car that feels like it was destined to be a workhorse. Does that job well – loads of space, durable, economical. 2.2 turboderv engine is noisy but settles nicely once moving. Pretty quick, too.

Beetle (GF’s, not mine) is a fairly new addition but a great car. Really well built and the little 1.6 8V is a sweet unit. Smooth delivery mated to a surprisingly slick feeling manual box. Hers has heated leather and she loves it. I’m always amazed at how well it drives for a 12 year old car. Not had a VW before but I’m impressed. Amazingly frugal on short trips; just doesn’t seem to use fuel. Small issue. Driver’s side window is out of action. Passenger’s is fine, so probably switch or wiring. Might attempt this one myself, or at least see what’s going on.
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Matty
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Matty »

JonathanE wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:57 pm
- 1976 Mercedes 450SEL 6.9: fraudulently misrepresented by US seller, but my own stupid fault for not doing a PPI. Sold at a big loss (eliminating previous gain on the 1937 Lagonda :cry: )
Oh no :( What actually was it?
Alex88 wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:35 pm 650 is not being used much at all so it’s great to jump in it on the rare occasion the weather’s nice. Still love it, especially now I’m using it even less.
Not using a car always makes it feel a bit more special. If only we paid tax based on use, not on ownership....
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Sundayjumper
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Sundayjumper »

Alex88 wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:35 pm ...the Mechantronic sleeve...
Apparently we're meant to change some seals too, this lot:

Image

I only discovered this AFTER I'd done my oil & filter. D'oh. I don't think I CBA now.
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16vCento
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by 16vCento »

Only seal I've seen leak is the electrical connector (big round one) but if it's not leaking now I'd leave it.
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mik
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by mik »

Matty wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:58 pm
JonathanE wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:57 pm
- 1976 Mercedes 450SEL 6.9: fraudulently misrepresented by US seller, but my own stupid fault for not doing a PPI. Sold at a big loss (eliminating previous gain on the 1937 Lagonda :cry: )
Oh no :( What actually was it?
I had the same question.

Also - how/where do you sell something like your Lagonda? It must be a very specialist-buyer market.
JonathanE
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by JonathanE »

Not sure what you mean by 'what actually was it', but the 6.9 was completely rotten underneath, a problem not obvious from the carefully taken photos and also deliberately misdescribed by the seller. These cars aren't economical to restore once rust takes hold. It also needed a lot of mechanical works (much more than claimed). As I say, I should have known better and hopefully have learned something for next time.

The Lagonda was certainly a very specialist car, particularly as it was an LG6 saloon (there is more demand for coupes/convertibles, and for the V12). It was advertised for sale with a specialist vintage dealer for some time on consignment, but in the end I found the buyer myself via the owner's club website. He was a very pleasant American chap who understood exactly what he was buying and intended to restore it properly (quite a few of the saloons get turned into so-called Le Mans replicas, which would have been a shame). As with most cars of this sort, the owners' club is a great resource.

The only reason I made any money on it is that I bought it in US$ shortly before Brexit and sold it afterwards in US$ at a much better exchange rate - I can't claim much credit for that. Both the gain on the Lagonda and the loss on the 6.9 were four figure amounts, so my hobby can continue for the time being!

Jonathan
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Matty
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Matty »

Oh, I thought you meant it wasn't a genuine 450SEL 6.9 - in the sense it was a lower model that had been modified to look like one (or something along those lines). Still, bad form on their part.
drcarlos
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by drcarlos »

JonathanE wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:57 pm Quick update on my fleet as requested by Mik:

- 1976 Mercedes 450SEL 6.9: fraudulently misrepresented by US seller, but my own stupid fault for not doing a PPI. Sold at a big loss (eliminating previous gain on the 1937 Lagonda :cry: )

- 1993 Bentley Turbo R: I sold it in early 2019 as I fancied a change, but I missed it. So it was replaced last Spring with...

- 1997 Bentley Turbo RT. Very similar to look at (apart from colour scheme: this one is black/black, as apparently ordered by Prince Jefri of Brunei) but much, much faster than the standard R. This was the run-out model and it has 590 lb/ft of torque which at the time was more than any other production car in the world (according to Autocar). It might weigh 2.2 tonnes but it feels astonishingly quick, even by Countach standards :o . It was temptingly priced at auction, but I'm not sure yet whether I will keep it as I would like a 1960s American car at some point soon (a Cadillac DeVille convertible would be nice) and garage space is limited.

Image

Image

The last member of the fleet isn't actually running yet, but my 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith is finally nearing the end of its restoration. Full story here:

https://rrec.org.uk/storage/Documents/S ... vember.pdf

Cheers

Jonathan
If I was to have a Bentley it would be that shape. They have the classics good looks and proportions but still manage to look quite modern where the older ones have aged badly in my eyes. The modern ones are just too footballers wives for me. It's a lovely thing in black that one.
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ZedLeg
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by ZedLeg »

Yeah, that era of Bentley is the best imo.

I'd have a Conti T (I know it's considerably more money to get into one than the Turbo) myself which must have a similar engine tune to that as the torque figure is the same iirc.
An absolute unit
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Alex_
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Alex_ »

Alex88 wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:35 pm
650 is not being used much at all so it’s great to jump in it on the rare occasion the weather’s nice. Still love it, especially now I’m using it even less. Realised the other day that the front tyres have done nearly 25k! and still got a fair bit left. Sadly some arsehole hit it when parked a month or so ago, went down the front catching the wing/bumper. Luckily the PPF took 90% of the hit leaving a scuff where the impact went through. Was a PITA getting the film off.. About an hour with a heat gun, and once that was off there was a load of glue residue to deal with. Also means I have no PPF on the bumper or wing anymore, which is annoying. It was still looking fresh (no yellowing or peeling) and had been on for years.
That's a problem with PFF. I had mines removed all down the passenger side when I got hit by some twat on the motorway, and I don't want to get it done again on a 5 year old car.
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Sundayjumper
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Sundayjumper »

drcarlos wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:21 am If I was to have a Bentley it would be that shape. They have the classics good looks and proportions but still manage to look quite modern where the older ones have aged badly in my eyes.
I agree mostly. They look nice and stately but I had a poke around a couple at Brooklands last year and the interior felt very underwhelming to me. Lots of leather and wood, obvs, but behind that, very basic. I guess it’s old enough to feel old but not old enough (yet) to feel quaint & charming.
JonathanE
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by JonathanE »

Thanks for the various comments. I agree that the more modern Bentleys don't look any better as regards styling, and they are also more commonplace (at least in central London) as well as being even bigger.

I do accept that the interior is understated, to the point of being basic by 21st century standards. In some ways my previous 1993 model was nicer inside: it had a magnolia (i.e. light beige) leather interior rather than black, and a different array of gauges (including an outside temperature gauge, which was oddly useful). The RT is very black and very functional (albeit still with a very nice slab of dark walnut across the dash), but in my view that makes it different rather than worse, and gives it a non-nonsense 'East End bouncer' demeanour (rather than the 'gentleman's club' ambience of the earlier car) which arguably better complements the increased performance. One thing I appreciate about both cars is the almost complete absence of plastic - everything you can see is either wood, leather or polished metal.

Interestingly, I was told by a marque specialist that an RT only attracts a significant premium over the Turbo R if it has all the Mulliner accoutrements (wing vents, drilled pedals, rear DVD screens etc) all of which are purely cosmetic and add nothing to how it drives. I will therefore continue to enjoy my under-specced, under-valued discreet car in the knowledge that a Continental T would have cost roughly four times as much!

Jonathan
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Coaster1
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Coaster1 »

Like the Turbo R / RT, and the Arange. Both ooze class.
drcarlos
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by drcarlos »

JonathanE wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 2:24 pm Thanks for the various comments. I agree that the more modern Bentleys don't look any better as regards styling, and they are also more commonplace (at least in central London) as well as being even bigger.

I do accept that the interior is understated, to the point of being basic by 21st century standards. In some ways my previous 1993 model was nicer inside: it had a magnolia (i.e. light beige) leather interior rather than black, and a different array of gauges (including an outside temperature gauge, which was oddly useful). The RT is very black and very functional (albeit still with a very nice slab of dark walnut across the dash), but in my view that makes it different rather than worse, and gives it a non-nonsense 'East End bouncer' demeanour (rather than the 'gentleman's club' ambience of the earlier car) which arguably better complements the increased performance. One thing I appreciate about both cars is the almost complete absence of plastic - everything you can see is either wood, leather or polished metal.

Interestingly, I was told by a marque specialist that an RT only attracts a significant premium over the Turbo R if it has all the Mulliner accoutrements (wing vents, drilled pedals, rear DVD screens etc) all of which are purely cosmetic and add nothing to how it drives. I will therefore continue to enjoy my under-specced, under-valued discreet car in the knowledge that a Continental T would have cost roughly four times as much!

Jonathan
It would appear you got yourself a bargin there too, I assume you were the winning bidder at SS auctions?

Black/black really suits it, I am torn between that and the dark blue/magnolia.
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Sundayjumper
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by Sundayjumper »

I wasn’t meaning to have a pop ! We were at Brooklands because my dad thought he wanted to buy an Arnage; the liberal use of the BMW parts bin made me feel quite at home :) But the cars on the day were a bit rough so we left empty handed.

Then shortly afterwards he went and bought a sixties Alvis instead.
JonathanE
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by JonathanE »

Yes, this was the car at Silverstone Auctions. I'm not sure 'bargain' is the right word as it then cost another £4k to deal with a lot of deferred maintenance, and there are a couple of cosmetic things still on the list (there is nothing as expensive as a cheap Bentley!). But it's basically a sound car and I managed to get nearly all the past service history from the previous owners, which is helpful if I ever want to sell (e.g. the head gaskets have been replaced, which is a common problem). The old invoices add up to probably twice what I paid for the car, which is either a good or a bad sign depending on your viewpoint, and the previous owners have some nice stories about the car too.

A 60s British classic would be lovely too (I do like the S1 and S2 Bentleys) but in my view the 80s/90s era is a good balance, i.e. old enough to be interesting but new enough to be relatively reliable and usable.
Last edited by JonathanE on Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
V8Granite
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by V8Granite »

A Bentley Turbo Arnage was one of my most memorable drives ever. It was from the Classic Car Club and the performance wasn’t particularly fast but it was a wonderful sensation. The nose lifted, the back squatted and you had airplane feeling surge and it just quietly grabbed another gear. It felt like it would feel the same if you had a caravan on the back, lovely. An engine which just had power everywhere.

I salute your choice 8-)

There is a chap on Piston heads who is turning his into a track car and things like the door handles being solid brass are what makes things like that special.

Dave!
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Re: Your fleet running reports

Post by V8Granite »

Coolant Temp Sensor changed on the TT and it runs better than ever. It was running like a sack of crap after a cold start and took a good 20 seconds or so till it was running cleanly, it felt a bit fluffy on the throttle which sucked but the live data showed it was under reading the water temp by 40 degrees, despite the gauge and actual gauge measurement which is t buffered reading 82. It’s a 4 pin sensor so I’m guessing the part of the sensor which sends information back to the ecu had died in some way.

More testing will reveal all hopefully and the problem is fixed.

Dave!
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