Car Trek

[eddyramrod]

Cyberspace... the final frontier. These are the voyages of Eddy Ramrod. My bank holiday mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out used cars beyond civilisation; to boldly meet Shiters I've never met before.

(Cue heroic music)

As mentioned in other threads, I've been looking for something that Mrs R can get in and out of with as little pain as possible. This is the top consideration, and given that, I would have actually bought a VW if they made anything that fitted the bill. Fortunately, they never have. Phew! So I was free to consider other things, and my thoughts turned to people carriers. Then people began offering suggestions; not mere words, but cars I could actually touch, and drive, and try the wife in. Strangely, they were all big-engined 4x4s.

Then I received a link to a Chevy Blazer for sale.

No, not that... in fact, this:

After a bit of email exchange, we stopped off to see it on the way to Hull to catch our ferry (this will make sense later, in another thread I haven't written yet!). Mrs R tried herself in and declared it a relatively simple exercise. MoT was produced, and tax promised, so a deal was struck and I left a deposit. And we went off on holiday for a week.

Once we returned, I realised Mr Duke had listed his Cherry on ebay. Now I really don't want to be using a big thirsty 4x4 on a four-mile commute, so a cheap shopping-trolley made sense. I duly flung in a bid. Two, in fact, as I was outbid and had to raise my game. I won.

Now... I suddenly had two cars miles away, and one here that I no longer needed. As you will have noticed, I offered the 406. Up stepped the legend that is Cavette, offering not only cash for the Pug, but also a staging post where Mr Duke, who lives on the beautiful island of Anglesey, could meet up with two blokes who live in the lush greenness of the English Lake District. Anglesey might have been doable within the day, but it would have added several hours to our drive.

So, I collared Roger (if you came to the Coniston meet you'll remember his Yellow Skoda) and arranged everything for Sunday May 5th.

We arrived to pick up the Blazer before 10am. In St Helens. The old Pug had made pretty short work of the M6 so far, and of the East Lancs Road. Blazer was, you will notice, on a farm...

There was a fair bit of farm left in the car too. Never mind, they say it's healthy, after all, the plants grow in it!

After a cuppa with the seller, and a nearby fuel stop, we had a little convoy to Manchester, for reasons that will become obvious. I say convoy, but Roger, driving my Peugeot, overtook me on the M6 and I thought he'd missed the M62 turn. Fortunately not!

The reason we were going to Manchester was to meet up with the American Auto Club North West at their monthly Sunday morning bash, which happens at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, by the Trafford Centre. Meet up and rejoin, as I used to be a member. In fact I edited their club mag for a few years. They welcomed me with open arms; literally, in some cases! I felt like a long-lost prodigal son. So this is what that monthly meeting looks like... (pic heavy )

(and up to now I bet you thought my Blazer looked big, didn't you!)

We actually followed this Thunderbird in...

Hot rod pickup sounded bloody glorious, like two thunderstorms arguing!

Now this is exactly what I wanted in a people carrier, a Pontiac TransSport. 3.8 V6, all the kit and American. Well ok, now I have all of that, but 4.3...

It isn't all American; I loved this Zodiac. The only Mk3 present, among several Mk2s. Right colour, right gearbox... got my name all over it. I wish.

Pretty sure this Oldsmobile used to belong to the editor of Classic American magazine. Don't know if it still does, but who cares, it's lovely!

I heard this one leave, it sounded like a diesel...

So, a takeaway box of doughnuts was purchased...

And Roger and I adjourned to a convenient McDonalds for lunch. Krispy Kreme doesn't do lunch, just doughnuts. And back on the road, this time heading for Chester to meet with two Shiters. Some frantic texting with Cavette produced directions I more or less understood, which worked out fine in practice. We arrived after Kes (Mr Duke).

I got my first glimpse of my "new" Cherry...

...and my first sit in it. Didn't drive it anywhere.

I produced the doughnuts, Cavette produced coffees, money changed hands and forms were signed. I am no longer a Peugeot owner, I am now the owner of a big American 4x4 and a tiny Japanese hatchback. Er...

Billy now has a fleet of green Peugeots and Kes has... well I gave him a lift to the station. Roger, driving the Cherry, doesn't know Chester and was sticking to my back bumper like he was painted on. Can't blame him, I suppose, he was a long way out of his comfort zone. We hit the motorway and headed for home, with a couple of service-area stops. And spottings.

And we arrived back in Barrow about 12 hours after leaving it.

 

But wait, this isn't the end! Bank Holiday Monday, I took both my purchases to Sergei's Shiny Suds (one at a time, starting with the agricultural Blazer) for a decent cleanup. The Cherry didn't really need it, but it got one anyway.

I thought it was a good idea to let them hand-polish the Cherry's bonnet, and it does look quite a bit better. Mind they did the rest of the car too, so now it's impossibly shiny!

Mr Duke warned me the tyres weren't up to much on the Cherry, so I put a plea up on Facebook. Dave862 came up trumps; he lives near me as you may have seen in other threads, and produced a handful of 155/80/13s that I can get swapped on, which will last until MoT time. That's better than I can expect from what it wears now.

Monday afternoon we took the Blazer on a bit of a road trip, to see family in Southport. It coped as one might expect, but bloody hell, it's thirsty. Mrs R said at one point "it feels like a 4x4." I said "it is a 4x4....." She likes it. Now she's done a 200-mile round trip, she's happy with it. I, on the other hand, went to work today in the Cherry. It's ideal. The unassisted steering is a bit heavy, and the clutch bite is rather high, but I'm hoping that can be adjusted. I'll be taking it down to Martin at the garage very soon. It's a sweetie. Everything is so dainty inside. Modern cars, even Japanese ones, are clunky and bloated, but this is such a pure little town car, just as they were in the 70s.

A friend of mine used to have a red Cherry with round headlights, just like this (only nicer, he was fastidious). Nothing inside mine would be unfamiliar, were he still alive to see it.

I'm well happy.

[Tayne]

 

I do believe that's the Cadillac of Minivans.

 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-foLd/g ... _minivans/

[KruJoe]

Super duper Eddy, isn't it great when a plan comes together? Great write-up, I'm so glad you like them both, and perhaps more importantly, MrsRR approves!

Big-up to all the helpers as well. What a bunch of gents.

 

OMG deja-vu!

Dunno where it was, but I spotted this on the way back from Shitefest last year:

 

[eddyramrod]

 

I do believe that's the Cadillac of Minivans.

 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-foLd/g ... _minivans/

 

...Which would be the Oldsmobile Silhouette. Close enough, it's the same car, just a bit of good ole Detroit badge engineering. Well remembered sir!

 

Joe, well spotted. I'm pretty sure that was at Charnock Richard Services northbound; M6, soon after J27.

[Spiny Norman]

Most excellent write up and pics Mr Ramrod.

 

This....

 

 

...is the dug's baws.

[skattrd]

Nice work Eddy, from a Pug saloon to a Yank 4x4 and A small Datsun in one trip.

It was good of Mr Duke to drive the Cherry from the depths of Wales for you, and is that now 3 green Pugs for Blly?

[Skizzer]

Great write-up Eddy, really enjoyed that. Thanks.

 

Judging by the state of the driver's seat, you're not the first Krispy Kreme fan to have had custody of the Blazer . Very good to see that sweet Cherry staying in the family too.

[michiel]

Blazin' cherries, good work.

[Pillock]

You're right, I thought it was HUGE till I saw the picture of it parked up at Trafford.....

Had I known you were there I'd have popped over, I had Sat-Mon staying at an utterly shonky hotel just down the A57 past Irlam using it as a base to do random stuff.

 

Weird seeing a picture (or two) of the Escort Dash cabrios - my mum had one of those, won it in a competition where Ford were running treasure hunts around various country parks and stately homes. There were two cars on offer, for one all the treasure hunt winners for each venue went head-to-head in a Crystal Maze style playoff - the other was a simple prize draw. There was a moment of panic when she got the phone call to say she'd won a car but luckily it didn't involve jumpsuits or crystals. K86CAR has been off the road for many years now though, it was a nice enough but crippled by the extra strengthening and a 1.4 engine. She was also tied into a company Astra at the time so we kept it from January til the summer and got shot with only about two thousand miles on it.

[Micrashed]

This lives not a million miles away from me.

[eddyramrod]

It was good of Mr Duke to drive the Cherry from the depths of Wales for you, and is that now 3 green Pugs for Blly?

 

Yes it was, and I very much appreciated it. And yes, I believe three is the correct number.

 

Had I known you were there I'd have popped over, I had Sat-Mon staying at an utterly shonky hotel just down the A57 past Irlam using it as a base to do random stuff.

 

Damn, yes, it would have been great to meet up! Irlam is only down the road. Never mind, there's a whole summer of events to meet up at yet...

[eddyramrod]

Mr Duke did warn me (all of us, I think, in the appropriate thread...) that the Cherry's OEM Nissan radio doesn't work. I've tried; he's right. He didn't want to mess about with the dash, and neither do I, but it occurs to me, someone here must have a usable 1980s Nissan radio? I would expect the same item to have been used in Micras and probably other models too. Sunny? Stanza? If not the same, at least compatible. One with FM would be good too, as what's there now is only LW/MW. If you have one, and you'll be at Arley Hall, I'd love to take it off your hands. For a consideration, obvs...

[Cavcraft]

Pleasure to have met you, Eddy and Mr Duke (again) of course. Quite chuffed with the 406 as it goes,as is my Doris who likes the room and the comfort. I'll see you again on Sunday, cheers!

[dollywobbler]

Brilliant. A last minute shite-shuffle before the weekend. (even though this started a while ago by the look of it).

[eddyramrod]

Quite chuffed with the 406 as it goes,as is my Doris

 

I'm so glad! I was very impressed with it, and if we didn't have the access issues I'd have kept it. That says a lot! This is one car I was really sorry to see leave me. Oh, and, pleasure to meet you too. Excellent coffee!

 

Ian, you don't know the half! I've had a frenzy of tyre-swapping this week, so both cars are now at least fairly well shod.

 

We will be coming in the Blazer. It's a year too young really, but being American usually gets you around cutoff dates as there simply aren't many of whatever you're in, in this country. I've done Greenwood shows in American autos of the same age, should be ok. I reckon we will be among the last on site, it's going to take us not less than two hours from here, probably more. And that's assuming the motorways are clear! Spare batteries for the camera, everybody!

[brickwall]

Great stuff Eddy!

 

I had a load of an early 80s Blazer and it was pretty good. Not sure about the noo ones.

[eddyramrod]

Well, we've now reached the "other" May Bank Holiday, and I've put a fair few miles on these two cars.

Blazer: is horrendously thirsty. I'm seeing the Engine Management light intermittently and when it appears, the engine loses power, like it's being starved of fuel. It may be significant that this usually happens when going uphill. Anyway, I ordered a load of filters and stuff from Rodley Motors, which have now arrived, so it goes in for a damn good thra- er, servicing, next week. I'm hoping we will be able to improve things...

Cherry: looks like I've done nothing but run back and forth to the tip with loads of rubble in the back (in fact I've been using the Blazer for that!). So much for giving it a Number Four wash and polish! However, I'm adjusting to the clutch and steering, and/or the car is adjusting to me. Whatever, I'm finding it ideal for the light commuting task I've chosen to give it, and the more I drive it, the more I like it. The exhaust fell off, sound familiar Joe? Not as badly as the 406 did though, I was able to tie it back into place with some galvanised wire we had at work. It'll probably need a little weld for MoT. That's coming up soon, so when the Blazer's been serviced, Cherry will be going in. Service, cambelt, MoT. Spend, spend, spend!

[eddyramrod]

Blazer is available.  Bring me a TransSport or derivative, or a PT Cruiser, cash either way.  I've had enough of the Blazer, I'm totally failing to bond with it in exactly the same way I did with my BMW.  On paper, brilliant.  In the metal, never going to happen.

I'll also consider a Voyager, Previa, Picasso, or maybe you can think of something else suitable?  As long as the engine drinks petrol and the gearbox does all the work for me, and the body is in colour not monochrome, I'm interested.

[dollywobbler]

PT Cruiser?! Jeez Eddy, are you ok?

[Doctormop]

How much are you looking for Mr R?

[eddyramrod]

I've got a grand in the Blazer.  I'd like to get that back, but I'm realistic, it isn't likely really.  If anyone's interested enough to wave cash at me, that's the target. 

[eddyramrod]

PT Cruiser?! Jeez Eddy, are you ok?

Of course I'm not, I like shite cars don't I?   

Seriously: we have good memories of our first PT so it might be time for some comfort-buying.  The first one was more or less an impulse buy, but this time I'm deliberately looking for an automatic, and going to be fussy about a couple of other details too.  The only thing that worries me is, it's a bit too modern.  I'd feel much happier if they were available on 1976 number plates!  But, at least they turn up on dealer forecourts where I should be able to px the Blazer.  Two birds/same stone.

[MrDuke]

I know very little about PTs, other than when a friend bought a very nice auto example last year, with service history etc., only to discover that the parts are heart-stoppingly expensive (even when sourced through the owners' club). When it developed an annoying blip in the power delivery, he found out that there are around a dozen sensors that 'could' be to blame, and he'd have to swap them one at a time until it solved the problem... at £70+ a pop. Or take it to a main dealer for £bumrape.

I don't know whether the info he received was totally accurate, but he did his research fairly well, and ended up getting shot asap in favour of some random Nissan 4x4 bilge.

 

EDIT: I will definitely send the dealer plates & HBOL to you very very soon. Honest.

[maxpower]

That zephyr had me drooling.... then the box of doughnuts( especially 100's&1000's topping) sent me over the edge

[meggersdog]

Are the auto boxes in those PT's the same as in the Neon  i.e. internal parts sourced from Renault and made of cheese ?

[eddyramrod]

EDIT: I will definitely send the dealer plates & HBOL to you very very soon. Honest.

 

   I look forward to that!  She's already done her first show, but as it rained most of the day that doesn't really count, does it?  Have you sent off the V5 yet, btw?

 

I was looking at a 2003 Fiat Multipla today.  That has the required level-access and a suitable quantity of interior space.  Can I find one in colour, with a 2.0 petrol engine and automatic gearbox?  Not yet apparently.  Of course if you know different....

My internet access is very patchy at the moment.  I've had maybe 20 hours in the last three weeks, most of which was when I was either asleep or working.  Useful eh?  So this is all going to happen in slow-motion.  Fucking Tesco......

[Lacquer Peel]

I don't think there's such a thing as a 2.0 petrol Multipla automatic, so kill your search now.

[MrDuke]

Have you sent off the V5 yet, btw?

 

I was on the point of typing "Why yes, I posted it a couple of months ago before I moved house, useless twunts at DVLA etc etc etc" when I thought I'd best just double-check the desk drawer first...........

 

[eddyramrod]

   I only asked because I'll be needing to tax it soon.......  Thank you

[eddyramrod]

Well now, there has been A Development.  I stopped into a local garage a couple of weeks ago to see if he had anything suitable.  That's where I was looking at the Multipla.  Something was calling to me from the back lot, so after a suitable interval involving a trip to Blackpool to see a PT (rejected), I brought Mrs R to see the offering.  She tried herself in it, we took it out, she said "I want this."

Fatal, eh?  So a deal was struck.  I've actually bought a modern car, at retail, and traded-in what I had.  I must be ill.

So, bye-bye Mighty Chevy, and hello Slightly Chevy!  What Mrs R fell for is a 2007 Chevrolet (Daewoo) Tacuma 2.0 CDX automatic in Denim Blue.  I spent the first week driving it exclusively, to bond with it, and it is rather nice to drive.  Very relaxing.

I've still got the Cherry, and I'm still loving it.  V5 arrived for that yesterday, thank you Mr Duke!  Must get a set of new tyres ordered...  Cherry has been to a couple of shows now, and is entered in at least one more this summer, where it's usually the only one on the field.  I find that entertaining!