Your fleet running reports

[Sundayjumper]

[mention]Foz[/mention], browsing random stuff on eBay I noticed that a 2005 Suburban has rear seats with integrated belts and thought of you.

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[Foz]

Ta there’s a few vehicles that have them!

[Foz]

Crafter remap completed on Saturday.

109 to 170 bhp
206 to 280ft/lb

Feels like the trailers been un hitched, massive difference And so much more relaxing to drive!

[Sundayjumper]

How much does the van weigh, out of interest ?

[Foz]

That’s a good question, google suggesting circa 2500kgs fitted out

[Sundayjumper]

Plus a tonne of trailer, pulled by 109bhp in the original tune equates to about 30bhp/tonne. That would have been horrific !

[Jobbo]

It turns out most Mercs from the last decade or so have a second battery; who knew? I didn't, until Auxiliary Battery Malfunction popped up in the display. Got an OE Merc replacement from a Scottish Merc dealer on eBay for £75 and it's a piece of piss to fit. Seems to be a motorbike battery size, not sure what else might fit, though the terminals screw in rather than the usual big pegs; not sure if that's standard on bikes.

[Sundayjumper]

Motorbike batteries look like this:

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[JonMad]

Megane has new rear pads and discs. And 13 months' worth of MOT.

[V8Granite]

It turns out most Mercs from the last decade or so have a second battery; who knew? I didn't, until Auxiliary Battery Malfunction popped up in the display. Got an OE Merc replacement from a Scottish Merc dealer on eBay for £75 and it's a piece of piss to fit. Seems to be a motorbike battery size, not sure what else might fit, though the terminals screw in rather than the usual big pegs; not sure if that's standard on bikes.

I put ours on a trickle charger for 24 hours every 6 months or so. Touch wood it’s both original batteries still.

Dave!

[V8Granite]

Plus a tonne of trailer, pulled by 109bhp in the original tune equates to about 30bhp/tonne. That would have been horrific !

Pah, 110hp, 2.5 ton of Defender and nearly 3 ton of trailer was ok.

It worked bloody hard for it though.

With 190 and nearly 300lbs of torque that will be lovely to drive and tow with.

Dave!

[Jobbo]

It turns out most Mercs from the last decade or so have a second battery; who knew? I didn't, until Auxiliary Battery Malfunction popped up in the display. Got an OE Merc replacement from a Scottish Merc dealer on eBay for £75 and it's a piece of piss to fit. Seems to be a motorbike battery size, not sure what else might fit, though the terminals screw in rather than the usual big pegs; not sure if that's standard on bikes.

I put ours on a trickle charger for 24 hours every 6 months or so. Touch wood it’s both original batteries still.

Dave!

What, nearly 30 years old?! [ETA: you mean the ML, not the 500E, don't you, oops ] Mine was on the original battery; I trickle charged it but to be honest, it should charge up fairly well in an hour on the motorway each time I drive it, so a new one seemed the solution.

Still not got a service booked; none of the Merc specialists near me have replied even though I've chased them all twice.

[V8Granite]

It turns out most Mercs from the last decade or so have a second battery; who knew? I didn't, until Auxiliary Battery Malfunction popped up in the display. Got an OE Merc replacement from a Scottish Merc dealer on eBay for £75 and it's a piece of piss to fit. Seems to be a motorbike battery size, not sure what else might fit, though the terminals screw in rather than the usual big pegs; not sure if that's standard on bikes.

I put ours on a trickle charger for 24 hours every 6 months or so. Touch wood it’s both original batteries still.

Dave!

What, nearly 30 years old?! Mine was on the original battery; I trickle charged it but to be honest, it should charge up fairly well in an hour on the motorway each time I drive it, so a new one seemed the solution.

Still not got a service booked; none of the Merc specialists near me have replied even though I've chased them all twice.

Haha no, the 500e has a huge great thing on it now.

The ML, which is 15 years old and 125000 miles.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

With 190 and nearly 300lbs of torque that will be lovely to drive and tow with.

You know where I’m going with this, right ?

[Swervin_Mervin]

Haha no, the 500e has a huge great thing on it now.

The ML, which is 15 years old and 125000 miles.

Dave!

Fairly sure my 330 is on its original battery - 2006 and 127k. It doesn't get trickle charged ever.

[V8Granite]

Haha no, the 500e has a huge great thing on it now.

The ML, which is 15 years old and 125000 miles.

Dave!

Fairly sure my 330 is on its original battery - 2006 and 127k. It doesn't get trickle charged ever.

That’s pretty good going, I only started as the wife was doing a lot of short trips and so the heated seats and screens went on. We started getting odd little faults in the first couple of miles during winter.

Dave!

[V8Granite]

With 190 and nearly 300lbs of torque that will be lovely to drive and tow with.

You know where I’m going with this, right ?

Absolutely no idea if I’m honest

Dave!

[Jobbo]

Haha no, the 500e has a huge great thing on it now.

The ML, which is 15 years old and 125000 miles.

Dave!

Fairly sure my 330 is on its original battery - 2006 and 127k. It doesn't get trickle charged ever.

That's quite impressive. Replacing batteries seems to be something I do when they get to about 6-7 years old, so on a lot of cars I've owned

Of course, this is the supplementary battery not the main one which I guess must work OK.

[Ascender]

End of term for the Golf R wagon....

It’s going back a year early because its basically gathering dust at the moment and out of curiosity I asked for an early settlement figure which turned out to be very reasonable. I had a figure in my head I’d be happy to pay and it was reasonably under that.

Car has done 17,100 miles, needs an first oil service which I’ve said I can’t get done, but its not put a foot wrong. Utterly reliable and loads of fun to drive, if a little bit soul-less. I’ve seen quite a few reviews of the R estate which says its a great option for anybody who is looking for something practical, fun, cheap to run and that’s pretty much my feeling on it. Loads of useable space in the boot and the back with the seats down.

It’s the most modern car (relatively speaking) I’ve had in a while, so the performance was a bit of an eye-opener in terms of a pretty “normal” car. I enjoyed hustling it down country roads but it was potentially a license-loser on the motorway - it just ate up the miles with no trouble at all - we did a few runs to the north of Scotland to see family and down to England for gigs with the boy.

What next? No idea... Really fancy another M5 wagon, Boxster or 911, but there’s really no rush given how things are just now. I had a mad idea this morning about a motorbike, an itch I’ve had for so many years but never given in to.

[Alex_]

Out of interest, did you get one on a cheap PCP or lease deal? I've been looking at the R estates and they suit my needs but they look a bit bland in R form for some reason.