Matty

Heh... no.  I brought it home, a trip I can walk in sixty seconds.  Then last night I had a meeting to go to, so I took the Jag, and it behaved, although it was slower to pump up the suspension than it ever was before.  This morning, when I particularly wanted it for an occasion in town, I went outside a bit early, started the engine, and waited for the system to pump up.  And waited.  And waited.  And wai- well you get the idea.  Ten minutes and still "Vehicle Too Low" and "Air Suspension Fault."  So I took the Suzuki.
Tomorrow I'm going to Lancaster for another day out with my sister.  I would have liked to take the Jag but was already thinking better of it because of the wheel alignment.  Now it's absolutely not going and I'll be in the Suzuki again.  This is 13 weeks since our last day out together, which is when the front strut called it a day at Chester Services.
What have I done to upset this car?  It's clearly retaliating at me for something, but I don't know what.  Is it just because most of what I ask it to do is short-distance crawling-around-town jobs?   Is it clamouring for more motorway and I haven't been listening?  Does it not like standard unleaded?  Can someone who speaks fluent Jag interpret for me?
 
@Matty: those "decent roads" are surprisingly sparse!  If you can find one, it's at least half an hour away, full of cyclists, tourists or tractors, and very likely littered with roadworks.

You should try my Kangoo.
I SAID YOU SHOULD TRY MY KANGOO

No point in having a fun daft car that's quiet 😁

I kinda meant decent as in not from the end of the street where the garage is to back home.

Old girl has done me proud again.
Another 12 months ticket.
Chuffed.

For your delight and delectation I give you . . . 

1958 Motor show feature
 
      
from 1923                                              1936                                            and  1944
                
.                                        From 1954                                                            and 1966
 
..so do you reckon they've got much experience in making weather resistant roofs ?
 

Sure, why not ?   I'm sure it'll all be fine by the time the big 'voiced' lady sings.! 
true, I may not get it as perfect as a seasoned professional might, but I've certainly done very much more risky things than this.  
Have faith my friend.  

Well you know me...
... despite meaning well & kindly warnings . . . .

         n.o.s. ! 
 
   
  
 

 



Nuff said  ?
 

*Unhooks caravan and backs away slowly, whistling* 
"Not me" 🤣

Dunno, is it not rear engined? Imagine the traction with a twin axle caravan on the back as well!!!

Not a lot of news to report, the only vehicle on the much reduced fleet in this 215k passat

Its got very little (ie none) history, but the front suspension isnt knackered, it doesnt fill with water and all the door locks work. So as a banger b5 goes its not bad. I quite like the dark green. A fastidious* former keeper has replaced the drivers door, from a blue one, then done no prep and rattle canned the door; so the paint is flaking off when you touch it. Bad match anyway. Rocking the banger vibe.
Its one of the “highline” models so you get heated leather. it also has circa 2003 sat nav

And it still works! although not updated so things that were industrial units/ petrol stations on the map are sometimes now housing estates.

So this has gone steadily down the food chain until it has been userped by the b6 as the banger passat of choice. But with the TDI PD AWX lump in it its  practical, swift, economic and from the era of possibly the apex of turbodiesel development. feels a long time ago! For some reason i find these very comfortable and very relaxing to drive so i just cruise about everywhere guided by my vintage “road navigation system”

Way ahead of you!

It’s not my day today when it comes to cars.
My partner had a piano recital for grading today.
First breakdown of the day was the Lexus with a failure to start.
Not to worry, my mum is coming over and she can bring the Merc.

Bugger, that’s a bit flat.
Even better, the tyre pump battery went flat part way through pumping it up, so it was stranded.
I’ll chuck a tyre on it this week but that’s no good for today.
I had to leave work early and come home in the Land Rover, then rush my partner to the recital.
You know you’ve made some poor life choices when you’re relying on a Land Rover to take you to salvation as everything else is broken.
Oh well, all that stuff is done, shit luck. I’ll enjoy myself at least with an evening drive in the Pontiac to maccy d’s.
Wrong.
Flat battery, for the full hat trick.
Even worse, I forgot the golden rule: McDonald’s is shit and it makes me feel shit.
Oh well, at least I have some stuff to do for the next few nights… luckily it’s mostly straightforward stuff, but it’s new levels of success* to have 3 cars let me down in one day.

Not sure I'll be towing much with this one 🤣

Guy Martin , Martin Brundle and Steve Parrish

Life can be a shit house. Best to come out swinging. No surrender 👍

New car excitement has seen us take the Pontiac to the woods today for our morning walk.
I’ve got it set up with just 3 seats inside currently as I had to move a load of stuff last night. The dogs enjoyed the flat floor space, and our elderly lab hopped in through the sliding door which was a surprise as he can be fussy about what he will and won’t step up into. The golden retriever had her mind blown by the lack of a centre console and exhaust tunnel - she sat in between the front seats watching out the front as we drove.
It looked quite small after a modern transit parked behind it.

We then went for a coffee at the beach

My partner has given it her seal of approval, she’s impressed with how comfortable and versatile it is. She said she fancies running something like it, but the LHD would potentially throw her off. I reckon she’d be ok, it’s fairly easy to drive.
We’re now at a retail park, and I think my mrs is on a mission to fill the boot space with Christmas shite.
Later today I’d like to have a poke around the car and see if there’s any small bits I can fix like interior lighting etc., as I reckon the car could come up really nicely with just a little bit of work.

Now that I'm back home and fed and watered (and whisky'd...)
An addendum....
Tyre cover count: -1
I got to the pickup point today, disembarked and noticed that my protective cover for the trailer spare wheel had disappeared somewhere en route. That's irritating, as they are surprisingly expensive 🙃
 
Friend count: +1
Knowing I was stopping at Gordano Servs (not Strensham... D'oh! Autoshite: Service Station pedantry matters), I called up my good mate who lives nearby and asked if he fancied catching up briefly. 
He arrived in his new Autoshite purchase, a very tastefully specced 6 Series..... V8...... manual! I'm not the world's greatest BMW fan but I found it very hard to dislike this 

Close enough that I'll give you that.... It's the only brand new, galvanised, Carmichael Commando frame that anyone who knows about them has ever seen - hence why I was on it like a tramp on chips! 
Plan is (eventually, when the Sea King and Meteor and Caddy are done!) to add an extended Disco 2 shell and a Toyota 1hd-fte engine then IVA it, before keeping it forever more as robust, mechanically simple workhorse 😁

You know, you're not *too* far off there....
After negotiating the trailer down some rather tight lanes and loading up, a late lunch stop at Strensham
 

One of these……too dark for actual photos…..

The engine number is intact and readable, unfortunately the bonnet is stuck shut at the moment which is  preventing me from comparing it with the chassis number.  Should be able to get it open tomorrow when my assistant arrives.
If the numbers match then it should be possible to get the registration number from the Jowett Club,
There is also no oil in the engine, which according to my tame mechanic may be why the engine is seized. I'll be topping it up with red diesel this week, spraying WD 40  through the spark plug holes several times, then trying a breaker bar on the crank pulley.
Its looking increasingly likely that this will be a spares car, earlier this year a complete running and driving car which looked in better condition than this one and with a V5 sold for a grand.
If I do use it for spares I won't be bothering with getting a V5 as I suspect the ID is on another car and applying for the V5 will open up a can of worms.
Update tomorrow.
 
 
 

Sounds like a trite thing to say in the circumstances, but it occurred to me a few years ago to do as much as I can now with my dad and uncle. You never know how long you have with your family. Sorry for your troubles pal.

B series and box? Look suitably old, rakes about and with a small fettle will do roughly 100hp and 100 or so lbft. Should make a javelin go like, well a javelin I suppose