Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[Hell Razor5543]

I also potter most of the time, that's why I'll keep the German car, and have the Focus ST as a toy! I shall be pottering up past you later on to look at a cat just North of you.

That is a long way to look at a cat, when you already have a couple!

[Michel]

That is a long way to look at a cat, when you already have a couple!

One can never have too many cats.

[CitroJim]

I shall be pottering up past you later on to look at a cat just North of you.

I have cats to the left and right of me... I look after them when their owners are away... Even though one is the devil incarnate

There used to be a black cat on a certain roundabout somewhat north-east of me that was worth looking at... Not sure now the roundabout has been reworked if it is still there...

[Zelandeth]

She's about happiest at 50 or so, so should suit pottering habits just fine. Is an easy car to drive really, fantastic visibility, light steering and decent torque for the weight meaning that so long as you're not in a massive hurry that gear selection isn't too critical. You'll get used to the...unique...gearshift behaviour after a while.

I think the big difference handling wise was mainly a vastly reduced tendency for lift-off oversteer compared to the earlier cars. I don't think in "normal use" there's any real difference really.

Will be nice to see the bushes sorted though which should restore the ride to the compliance levels that it should have.

One thing you can be glad of Jim is that the seats have plenty of padding and are among the softest you're likely to come across.

[Michel]

She's about happiest at 50 or so, so should suit pottering habits just fine. Is an easy car to drive really, fantastic visibility, light steering and decent torque for the weight meaning that so long as you're not in a massive hurry that gear selection isn't too critical. You'll get used to the...unique...gearshift behaviour after a while.

No, he won't. He will learn to accept whatever gear he's given, in a Soviet-era supermarket sort of way. "This is all that is available today"...

Agree about the seats, they're lovely.

[CitroJim]

One thing you can be glad of Jim is that the seats have plenty of padding and are among the softest you're likely to come across.

Excellent and just the job I'm as excited (or more) at this car as I am about my new Saxo

Light steering and comfy seats will be wonderful

She's about happiest at 50 or so, so should suit pottering habits just fine. Is an easy car to drive really, fantastic visibility, light steering and decent torque for the weight meaning that so long as you're not in a massive hurry that gear selection isn't too critical. You'll get used to the...unique...gearshift behaviour after a while.

No, he won't. He will learn to accept whatever gear he's given, in a Soviet-era supermarket sort of way. "This is all that is available today"...

plus lots of giggles and smiles....

[Zelandeth]

Have to admit I'm really looking forward to seeing someone getting enjoyment out of it. Seeing the poor thing sitting on the drive getting so little use has really been bothering me. Think it was out maybe a half dozen times since the last MOT.

[Zelandeth]

Well, the long trip home starts tomorrow morning - all being well, I should be back home in MK around 15:00 on the 25th.

Just decided to take advantage of the ridiculous tendency of tech in the UK to be priced identically to here but in pounds...new pair of headphones bought and a new tablet (first one I've had actually) to hopefully help me get back into drawing. Plus it gives me something to play with on the flight home. Having noise cancelling headphones will probably make the flight a bit of a different experience I think...

[CitroJim]

Have a great trip home Zel...

Looking forward to seeing you when you're all settled back in...

[Zelandeth]

Likewise Jim. Will probably be into next week sadly by the time I've recovered from the jetlag (it's a royal pain heading home from the US) and sorted everything for Scotiacon at the weekend out.

With some luck, a clutch slave cylinder for a certain violently orange car will be waiting for me at home.

Also: having been driving around in a 2014 Ford Explorer for the last two weeks, I'm so looking forward to driving the Lada again...

[CitroJim]

Likewise Jim. Will probably be into next week sadly by the time I've recovered from the jetlag (it's a royal pain heading home from the US) and sorted everything for Scotiacon at the weekend out.

I'm given to wonder, knowing how wrecked my body clock is, how I'd cope with jetlag now; I'd either not notice it at all or it would kill me - one or the other

With some luck, a clutch slave cylinder for a certain violently orange car will be waiting for me at home.

Excellent!

Also: having been driving around in a 2014 Ford Explorer for the last two weeks, I'm so looking forward to driving the Lada again...

I can understand that - having just looked at what a Ford Explorer is I will comment no further on it except to say it does not at all look appealing...

[Michel]

I quite like the Explorer, but the older version, with the petrol V6. The one I drove was a 1998 model. Nice old tub. I also drove one of either the same age or a year younger with a 5.0V8 that was a horrible, asthmatic old engine!

[myglaren]

Mt eldest son had an Explorer for a while and hated it.
Roomy and comfortable enough but couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
Caught fire when he was taking it to trade in against his current Leon Cupra.

[Zelandeth]

Well on the coach to the airport now.

The Explorer isn't that bad really, typically harsh ride and unnecessarily hard seats as seems to be the norm these days...

Definitely lacking in power though. It's a petrol V6, and makes a lovely noise - but performance is on par with the 2.5TD Range Rover...

[CitroJim]

The Explorer isn't that bad really, typically harsh ride and unnecessarily hard seats as seems to be the norm these days...

You sure it wasn't a Pug 207 in disguise?