Your fleet running reports

[V8Granite]

Tested my auxiliary battery in the Defender and it is only putting out 25% of its previous amp hours.

So ordered a replacement and will permanently wire my fridge into the seperate fuse board. Should have a true 50 amp hours from the 85 amp hour battery.
I’m hoping I can wire a quick connector for my solar panel too.

Dave!

[16vCento]

In a change of heart (and possibly in a moment of stupidity) I'm off to look a Jag this weekend, a 2013 XFS Portfolio.

I'll have to do my B+E test if I buy it, as its a heavy thing, but they do look and drive superb, and if its as good as it looks I think I'll have it.

The Merc is a no go, they really are numb to drive.

[Sundayjumper]

But a featherweight compared to the Disco ?

You’re going to go full circle and come back to that 5.0 D4 you promised

[16vCento]

When I had the Disco I still had the S60 for towing which kept me in the weight limit. I was ok using the Disco with my dad with me as it works the same as on L plates, so I would be ok doing that with the XF, but it will be a while before I can take him anywhere with me sadly so ill have to (finally) get my full licence.

Now my S60 will be gone and the 308 will be gone, and I don't really want to tow with the 3008 as its very, very slow.

[16vCento]

Took the S60 to my parents earlier and it doesn't half pull well in the cold air, it sounds superb as well, 5 Cylinder engines really are tuneful, I'm glad to have experienced one and it will be missed.

Hopefully its not too cold on the roads for the drive to see the XF on Saturday, as I know the roads very well so it may be my last time to have a bit of fun in it.

[V8Granite]

Fridge wired in.
Solar panel connector in.
New battery in.
I want to beaten the wiring a bit more and also put a different lid on the battery box.

Annoyingly when testing everything is ok I think my transmission brake linkage is seizing up so need to strip that down and clean and lubricate it all. Plus I need a new wiper switch as mine is t feeling right.

Nothing dramatic luckily considering the 9 months of abuse it has had.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

SORNed The Compact. I won't be driving it until the next event and gawd knows when that will be.

Put the MINI & the Touareg up for sale. MINI is being replaced with a slightly newer MINI. Touareg not sure. Tempted by a FFRR but also terrified of the reliability.

740d will be next to go if I can make my mind up about anything.

[16vCento]

Are you going to replace the 7 as well as the Touareg or do you want one car to do both?

Are Velar's decently rated for towing weights? Might do both jobs?

[Sundayjumper]

The Q7 was meant to replace both the Touareg & the 740 but that didn't work out. I was very glad I'd not sold or part exchanged either of them ! I work from home now and will do for the foreseeable future so the 7 is rather unnecessary, I bought it just over a year ago as I was starting a new job and was commuting over 100 miles per day. I now commute a few metres per day

Velar not my style. FFRR not *really* my style but it seems that's the only 4x4 that comes close to the 740 in terms of luxury and the TDV8 engine will be OK for towing. I actually rather like my Touareg, but this generation is long in the tooth now, and the newer ones are a step down in quality. When they first launched the Touareg, VW were trying to take on Range Rover, and it really shows. New ones are more like big Passats.

If LR had put the TDV8 in the Disco that probably would have done the trick for me. Oh well.

[DeskJockey]

Clearly the only right answer is an F450 dually.

[Jimmy Choo]

The Jag has some advisories (tyres, bulb discolouration, pitted discs) and failed on rear drop links. It's all been fixed and serviced and I got the oil and water flushed. It feels like it's running smoother, which is nice.

The DSC is the latest electrical niggle. It will decide to go on strike at random times, such as the point whenI decide to pull out of a junction on the way to the test centre, which left me at 45 degrees to the direction I wanted to be going and deploying all the mashing and sawing to get it to stop fishtailing up the road. I'll try to find my code reader and see if it's thrown a code.

[16vCento]

Unless its a proper all module code reader just remember you won't get any codes other than EOBD ones.

My Autel one is very good, they're 50 quid off amazon and can do epb resets, suspension pressurise/depressurise, read all modules.

Its bluetooth as well and seems to auto turn off so you can leave it in.

You get one brand for free and for unlimited time, can add others for 20 quid a year if needed.

Edit; this one

[Sundayjumper]

Clearly the only right answer is an F450 dually.

It’s not quite up to your standard, but I do have this on my eBay watch list:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174575279375

[DeskJockey]

Clearly the only right answer is an F450 dually.

It’s not quite up to your standard, but I do have this on my eBay watch list:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174575279375

As the ref in Celebrity Deathmatch used to say...

[Sundayjumper]

Brilliant. I've just been out hoovering the Touareg before taking some pics for the advert and found the driver's footwell is full of water. That's going to be a major downer for any potential buyer and I don't think I CBA messing about outdoors with water this time of year. I might be stuck with the car until it's time to scrap it.

[Beany]

Might be worth doing a bit of online sleuthing to see how it got in, and if there are any ECUs down there or in the path of where the water likely came from. Friends BCM got fried by that in her A4 cabrio, couldn't use her wipers, etc.

[Sundayjumper]

Yeah, I will, I'm just sulking for a bit first.

[Nic]

Common issue, drain holes in the sill and air con drain in the footwell. Takes about 20mins to clear them all. Unless you have a sunroof and then it’ll take a while longer.

[integrale_evo]

New toy turned up, didn’t realise quite how big it was going to be. Feels like a quality bit of kit, hopefully last a good few years. 32kg, so won’t be slinging in the boot of the car and carting it about very often.



In comparison to a halford low entry jack, which is already longer and wider than the usual 2ton jack



Drops 12mm lower and raises an extra 120mm, so hopefully a lot less messing about with blocks of wood and multiple lifts.

[mik]

Ooh that looks serious

I have the Halfords one and it’s a bit pony - I can get under the Evora to the rear jacking pad, but whilst the saddle is low enough, it won’t do in deep enough to reach the front jacking pad....hits the sills. So working on the front requires jacking up the rear to lift the whole side of the car then sticking a std trolley jack under the front.