OV9

mik wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 1:14 am Cheers. I know you don’t really exist, but I also know you have a stronng relationship with your (imaginary) dad. Soak it up whilst he’s still here dude. (That doesn’t read very positively, but it really was my intent).

Matty wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:23 am

mik wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:04 pm He garaged it as soon as we got home - never drove it again - and it deteriorated badly without use. Clutch and brakes locked on, lots of rust coming through, and unloved leather developed some cracks. When he decided he wanted it no more I had no money or space to take it on - and it needed loads of work. If he’d offered it to me earlier I would have been in the same situation, so no point whining about what might have been - it just couldn’t have happened.

Maybe it's just because I'm a car person, but my dads cars are always a key anchor point for loads of my memories. Unfortunately 80's Vauxhall Cavalier estates (with overdrive 5ths!) and Rover 214SEi's aren't quite as cool as a Jag!

Was the S-Type scrapped or sold?
Edit - sold I guess....last taxed in 2009

Broccers wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:44 pm

Nearly died today. Went out for a little drive as it was sunny. Top down, cruise through Chatsworth the world was good.

Stopped for fuel at Matlock and while paying the heavens opened and it hailed, hard. After putting up the top headed off through Matlock Bath the climb up to the A6.

Doing about 60 hit a river which had formed off a cliff. I literally had no control for 4 seconds and only by steering straight and not letting off the throttle managed not to crash big time.

Then it snowed.

All in all no good for my ticker.

Explosive Newt wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:40 am

Broccers wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:44 pm

Nearly died today. Went out for a little drive as it was sunny. Top down, cruise through Chatsworth the world was good.

Stopped for fuel at Matlock and while paying the heavens opened and it hailed, hard. After putting up the top headed off through Matlock Bath the climb up to the A6.

Doing about 60 hit a river which had formed off a cliff. I literally had no control for 4 seconds and only by steering straight and not letting off the throttle managed not to crash big time.

Then it snowed.

All in all no good for my ticker.

Despite some real hairiness through standing water on one or two occasions, the Porker has never gone awry but I think that is luck rather than skill on my part or the car’s. I really need a bad weather car as things have been a challenge this winter, even though I don’t drive it much. Although I thought about going back to the Porsche experience centre and going for their skid pan and gravel circuits to build up some experience of what to do if it really does go wrong.

In other news, I finally found out where the button to wash the headlights is.

JonMad wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 6:37 am Fabia battery really doesn't like being left off trickle charge. Tried connecting my charger and it complained the battery was too low. Tried my emergency starter battery pack and first off the car was still dead, then after a few tries it gave it enough so I could start the car. Went for a little run and put it on the trickle charger so hopefully starting it at the weekend for Bramley Targa Rally with @Sundayjumper will be a trivial matter.

I am also now 1/4 owner of a set of these.

mik wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:04 pm Found some photos (ie hard copy prints) of my late dad’s old ‘65 3.8 Manuel S-Type today. Delighted as I didn’t think I had any images of it!

Car was about 25yrs old when these were taken - just after he got it - as some are with the modern white/yellow plates as opposed to the black/silver ones I got him at his next birthday.

I was too young to get on the insurance for years, but after losing interest and taking it off road for 2-3 solar cycles he got it roadworthy for our wedding. We took it up North for a few days before we went off on foreign honeymoon - which was just awesome. Such an event to drive and people waved and flashed constantly. Detuned e-type engine with limited silencing - the XK straight6 makes a great range of sounds. Independent rear axle and 4-wheel disc brakes that the more desirable MkII didn’t have, so it was actually a better drive. Box was only a 4-speed, but separately activated overdrive on 3rd and 4th meant loads of shifting fun. Massive sliding Webasto roof was a rare option that added an extra element too.

He garaged it as soon as we got home - never drove it again - and it deteriorated badly without use. Clutch and brakes locked on, lots of rust coming through, and unloved leather developed some cracks. When he decided he wanted it no more I had no money or space to take it on - and it needed loads of work. If he’d offered it to me earlier I would have been in the same situation, so no point whining about what might have been - it just couldn’t have happened.

Look back with great fondness.

JonMad wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 6:37 am Fabia battery really doesn't like being left off trickle charge. Tried connecting my charger and it complained the battery was too low. Tried my emergency starter battery pack...

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:02 am 3 series in for MOT today - See how these LED bulbs fair.

integrale_evo wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 1:05 pm

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:02 am 3 series in for MOT today - See how these LED bulbs fair.

Technically they should fail for a light source incompatible with the light unit, but hopefully if the beam pattern is ok and the tester isn't an arse they should pass it.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 7:07 pm So, economical new car next month...

Jobbo wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 7:07 pm Best fuel economy ever achieved for my Volvo today: 33.4mpg. I managed over 38mpg on a shorter journey on my similarly powerful, similarly heavy, petrol 6-cyl BMW 535i Touring.

I’m not going to be doing my new commute in the Volvo for very long because paying the excess mileage on top of the fuel consumption isn’t cost effective. So, economical new car next month...

Jobbo wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:15 pm
Broccers, not sure exactly. 330d or 530d Touring most likely, but possibly Golf GTD. Or Merc CLS.

Broccers wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:47 pm

Jobbo wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:15 pm
Broccers, not sure exactly. 330d or 530d Touring most likely, but possibly Golf GTD. Or Merc CLS.

I'd expect some offloading of cars very soon. Be good time to buy.