Dave Shepherd's New Swede Tat Collection Thread (MkII)

[davidfowler2000]

After making a whore of the last attempt by accidentally hitting "Post" before I even got to the first picture, I had to scrub that one and start again. A "Delete Thread" button would have been handy.

As previously stated in my previous topic, "I am Shed Shepherd and he may claim his five pounds", it was noted that one has purchased another Volvo. In this case a red 960 estate with an oddly low spec and the journey to collect it would be somewhat laborious. I live near Glasgow, the car was in Dinas Powys (Near Cardiff). All happened very quickly - the guy was phoned on Friday, insurance arranged on Saturday and the car collected on Monday. Handily enough I had 2 holidays in at work to give me Sunday / Monday off with Tuesday being my scheduled rest day.

So anyways, in the stlyeeee of my previous chod uplift story, shall we begin?

Oh and I had promised MOAR PHOTOS but I forgot to take some in some places so in those cases stock Flickr images shall be used.

08/07/13, 04:40, House
Today's collection will be in the company of my (work) mate Ryan - not a member on here but I have been annoying him about it - who is also picking me up. The journey will consist of cars, buses and trains with various stops and changes along the way. So, bright and early, he arrives to get me. Transport of the morning is a rather naff 55 plate Punto. It's on Gumtree just now if anyone wants to buy it. We set off in the direction of work. Yes - it's 0440 on a day off and we're heading for work. This will become clear.

08/07/13, 05:00, Stagecoach Glasgow (Blochairn Depot)
The way it worked out for transport to Cardiff was a bus to Manchester then 2 trains from there to Cardiff. With car parking charges in Glasgow city centre being bad enough to scare small children, we drive to the yard and get a lift down to the bus station with one of the buses heading down to start a shift. We arrive and after 10 or so minutes hurling random abuse at the drivers starting shifts at that time, we jump on 54029 with Mo who's going down to do the 05:20 900 service to Edinboghorror.


54029 SF07ANP CITYLINK/STAGECOACH by eastleighbusman, on Flickr

08/07/13, 06:00, Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station

 

DSC_3877 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

Our journey starts with the 0605 M11 megabus.com service to Manchester. Our driver is Eddie and he immediately informs us of an issue. As he came north from Preston, the bus broke down and had to be changed. It has been fixed so the bus we get on in Glasgow will be changed at some point down the road. He lets on the that bus we get in Glasgow is 54078 - this gives me some relief as I know it to be particularly fast as it has overtook me in my own megabuses as if I wasn't moving - so there's a delay to eat into our connection time at Mancland.


54078 (SF59FYX) Glasgow X74 by cms_Cumberland, on Flickr

At 06:00 the bus rolls in from Edinboghorror and we jump on. About 06:10 we set off - 5 mins late but that's alright.

08/07/13, Approx 07:15, A74(M) J17

Ryan summates that the dud bus that came north went to a Volvo garage near Lockerbie so we come off the motorway and do the swap at the side of the road for 54207. Everybody on, bags moved we set off back on the road. The change has taken about 10 - 15 minutes and we are scheduled for 55 in Manchester so that's alright.

We arrive in Preston bus station and after a driver change, MOAR passengers on, we're away again. 10 minutes down, we'll be fine!


DSC_3879 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3880 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3881 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

08/07/13, 10:30, Manchester Shudehill Interchange


2013-07-08 10.34.04 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

Well we arrived and only 5 mins late so that gives us 50 mins to walk to and get on the train. It's only a 10 - 15 walk to Picadilly station and after getting some food and drink, the train arrives and is immediately available to board. It's a CrossCountry class 220 Voyager and it seems rather nice inside. Rather a comfy trip was had to Birmingham with me having a cup of tea and Ryan a can of horrible Carling at some point, the journey passes quickly.


DSC_3883 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

08/07/13, 12:58, Birmingham New Street Station

 

2013-07-08 13.10.57 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

The 2nd change point - Brum. I've only ever been to New St station once in my life and my memories of it being a dank and dingy hole in the ground were immediately reaffirmed on arrival. A great idea for a city centre station - instead of flattening most of the city centre, dig a big hole and some tunnels leading to it - but it really could be so much better executed.

The board says platform 12B for the train to Cardiff so we make our way there with about 20 mins to spare. While on 12B we see that the board says ours will be to the 2nd train to arrive (The first being the Plymouth train 10 mins in front of ours) however the one in front is running 8 or 9 mins late. This could cause problems - ours will likely be held up all the way down the line. Not to worry with a nice short notice notice, we get changed to platform 10B. We make our way there and our little CrossCountry class 170 trundles in at the same time as the late Plymouth one (on 12B). Hopefully we get out in front of him. !HAHNOCHANCE! Never mind, it's the last train anyways - we'll just end up late.

08/07/13, 15:30, Newport Station
"This is a passenger announcement, due to the late running of this train, this train will be terminated at Newport. Passengers for Cardiff are requested to make their way to platform 2 and use the next available train for Cardiff Central"
'nuff said.

08/07/13, 16:00, Cardiff Central Station


DSC_3885 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

10 hours(ish) since we set off we have finally arrived in Cardiff. The seller of the car is not home untill about 6 so that gives us time for a wander about and get our dinner. Obligatory photos were taken around the Millenium Stadium and Bute Park with a rather enjoyable dinner in O'Neills.


DSC_3892 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

DSC_3900 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3905 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3908 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

08/07/13, 18:30, Cardiff Central Station

 

DSC_3931 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

After a quick text message from the seller we have made our way back to the train station to head down the road. It's only 10 mins away thankfully. We only have to wait about 10 mins for the train and we're on our way.

08/07/13, 18:40, Eastbrook Station


DSC_3932 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

Our last stop on public transportation for the day and we're partically within sight of the new chod. It's about a 500 yard walk from the station and when we arrive, the seller sees us walking up the street and comes outside to greet us. He gives us a quick walkaround of the car, bonnet up etc, and makes pleasant small talk about the journey down, our wander round the city and the car. His wife comes out with the V5 and we go inside to make the changes. I give the man his money and we're all happy.

Time is now marching on. It's about 7pm by this point and we've got a marathon trek back up the road so we say our farewells and head off. No photos were taken at the house but after a quick drive up the road, we arrive at a small service station on the M4 where I managed a snap or two. The main reason for the stop was to get some paper towel - the inside of the windscreen is absolutely howkit! The seller made mention he was a carpenter and had used the Volvo to transport big stuff so the inside of the car is needing a real good scrub. A task for another day I think.


DSC_3935 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3936 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3937 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3939 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3944 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

 

DSC_3958 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

08/07/13, God Knows, Somewhere on the M50


DSC_3957 by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

Right it has been a while of driving so it's time to analyze the car. Ryan has fell asleep by this point so I have some thinking time:

Good Points -
It's a Volvo.
It's a 960.
Engine is smooth and powerful.
Gear change is silky.
Ride and drive is perfect.
Exterior of car is merely needing a good clean and polish. Maybe some T-Cut or similar.
Interior is generally good.
Radio quality is excellent.

Bad Points -
Door card vinyls are lifting away from the top of all 4 doors. A nuisance.
Head rest cloth is a bit baggy. No big deal.
N/S electric mirror adjust does not work left/right.

Shitey Points -
Remarkably low interior spec - 960s come standard with leather and air con. This one has the no cost cloth interior and air con is completely absent. Also - no cruise control.
Interior needs a proper deep clean.
CD Multichanger, apparantly, cuts out from time to time so you have to remove it, jiggle the wiring about and put it back in.

Strange Points -
Demisters (on full at least) die on their arse when accelerating. I originally thought it was at high revs indicating alternator issues but it seems to be at all revs. The harder you accelelerate, the more the demister blower cuts out.

09/07/13, 00:05, Todhills Rest Area
I want some tea. I also want to see what the fuel economy* is like compared to the London - Glasgow epic in my originaly tat collection journey with the 740. After fuelling up in Cardiff and discovering the car has the larger 80 litre tank, a fuel stop isn't required but after putting in 52 litres of fuel...over 308 miles this works out at 27 miles per gallon! Fuel Guzzling !!!WIN!!! The 740 managed 35.5mpg on the journey from Ashtead to Todhills.

So with the car suitably fuelled with V-Power, me fueled with caffeine and Ryan fuelled with Lucozade and chocolate we make the final push to Glasgow. The first big yawn wasn't far away so it was best not to faff.

09/07/13, 01:20, Stagecoach Glasgow (Blochairn Depot)

 

stage glas by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

That's it. we're almost home. A quick stop at the work, Ryan gets to jump in his car to go home and I make my own way back to the house.

09/07/13, 01:40, House

DONE!

Nigh on 400 miles and 22 hours since getting out of bed...I'm back. And so is the car.

Conclusion -
Trip : Epic. Thoroughly enjoyable. Would do again
Car : Marvellous. Not a minter but lovely to drive and bonus shitey points for the oddly low spec.

More photos of the beast to follow.

-Dave

[Spiny Norman]

MOAR VOLVOS... WIN!   

 

Look forward to seeing this beaut at this month's Scotoshite meet, assuming you'll be coming.

[Shep Shepherd]

Looks like you've got yourself a decent motor which will scrub-up nicely

[brickwall]

Great write up Dave! Superb even. It's nice to see a bit of the country from a Volvo isn't it?

[Brent_Crude]

Great write up and top looking bit of Swedechod. New Street Station is indeed an abomination, but they are working on it so it should be marginally more pleasant to wait around out for late trains in a few years.

 

Keep us posted on how she scrubs up

[Lacquer Peel]

Approval rating: HIGH.

 

Is it a 3.0 job? I bet it goes well.

 

Also, speedo pic - so much for using a six cylinder pez diff to lower the cruising revs of my 940TD.

[cort16]

The original cockup up can be put down to a near 24hr Volvo pickup marathon, which I imagine can be majorly mind altering.

 

The car looks great. Is it a 3.0 24v one?

[davidfowler2000]

Yes. This is the 3.0 straight 6 24v. And on the subject of the speedo pic I was surprised at the RPMs at high speed seeing as my 740 only does about 2500RPM at 80 and has comically long gear ratios so if you are wanting to do a diff conversion I would suggest a 740GLE pez diff.

 

Oh and yes, my mind has been altered somewhat.

[CreepingJesus]

Top stuff Mr Fowler. You've won on fuel economy too: mine was over 30 on the M6, and does about 29 overall.

I can't wait to see it either, considering the 960/ V90 is high up my bucket list.

[cms206]

HAHA! VAJ!

(Almost as bad as the fucktonne of FUD registered examples really)


Good work Twobricks, I look forward to observing it's largeness this evening. So to speak.

[rml2345]

That looks bloody nice Dave! Top bombing man.

I thought these were longer geared too actually but it appears to be doing the same RPM at 70 as the Manuel 2 litre 740.

+1 for bringing it to the next meet...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Great story and great write up, often it takes a few attempts before you really get into your stride, (just ask Andy Murray) Loving your work, including the detailed bus information which is rarely provided sadly even by experienced shite heeds such as myself. 

 

27mpg eh? I would be disappointed with that, but thats because I have unrealistic expectations, as witnessed by my experience with the Mondeo.

[ruffgeezer]

Great write up for an epic journey, if you don't mind me asking what did the public transport for this adventure cost you?

I think if I am to get a car I really want, I will have to cast the net further, although I should probably decide on what it is I want first!

 

This is how I imagine you on your triumphant return:

 

Tis a lovely looking slab of car that, but I'm going to have to put out a shitewide request; before I make an expensive mistake on ebay...

 

 

All these Garfields are making it hard not to bid on one, something I remember seeing a lot when I were still a lad

[davidfowler2000]

Cheers all for your praise at the write up. After much praise at my first attempt of a journey documentary to get the 740, the expectations were high to make one just as good. As for the detailed bus info - working for the bus company that provided much of the transportation does rub off some details. Being a bit of a bus and train nut also helps. Some details I did omit were the fact that 54029 and 54078 were 15 metre Volvo B12Bs - 12 litre, 420 horse with 12 speed automated manual iShift boxes. 54207 is one of the new Volvo B11Rs (11 litre 400 odd horse) with Plaxton Elite interdeck body. They are pants in all possibly conceivable ways.

 

Also I shall add that if anyone comes on moaning about the lack of picture of the actual car itself, remember this is the COLLECTION THREAD. The photos will appear when I take them and post them in the comments.

 

Transport Costs:
megabus: Glasgow - Manchester - £Free
CrossCountry: Manchester - Birmingham - Cardiff - £36 each
Arriva Trains Wales: Cardiff - Eastbrook - £2.50 each

 

To get cheap train tickets it's always worth a look on thetrainline.com unless you are going to be travelling by East Coast then it's usually better to go through them directly. Also, taking the slower, more changes journeys is usually cheaper as well.

[Spiny Norman]

Gearing seems about the same as on my Merc, which is a similar sized engine & weight of car I'd guess. Is it manual or auto?

27mpg isn't too bad for a high speed dash in such a big heavy brick.

[Jim Bell]

Vaj approved. Well played.

[davidfowler2000]

It's an auto, Ian. The 3.0 was not available with manual. The 2.5 however WAS available with it but those as are rare as rocking horse shit.

[Spiny Norman]

Odd, autos often have higher gearing than manuals.

Maybe being Volvo. they realised that it would likely be used for towing and didn't want an interstellar top gear ratio that would keep having to drop down a gear every time you went up a 1 in 100 hill with a big van on the back.

 

So no coo either then?

[cms206]

Maybe being Volvo. they realised that it would likely be used for towing and didn't want an interstellar top gear ratio that would keep having to drop down a gear every time you went up a 1 in 100 hill with a big van on the back.

Mine does that empty. It's fucking gutless.

[davidfowler2000]

Indeed this very high geared especially compared to the 740 which does exactly 2000rpm at lockup which is about 58mph. Lockup on the 960 happens at about 45mph though so it's locked more of the time. Also, it unlocks when you lift off at any speed above 45 and when you give it power again, it revs slightly and locks again. Strange shift pattern. The box also has 3 kickdown positions.

 

No coo, no. No wind either. Like I said orignally, leather was standard but cloth was a no cost option. I am sure that air con was standard equipment as well but mines is missing it completely.

 

 

Mine does that empty. It's fucking gutless.

 

Yours is humped. It needs a new exhaust and a proper service to fix it.

[hairnet]

small tip for the train to south wales from preston manc - get the train to newport first as its from pres or manc less than a quarter of the direct to cardiff fare

 

i do that to bristol now and again and its cheaoper to go newport first 14 instead of 67  then 6 quid to brizzle

[Lord Sterling]

Great write up Dave. Nice car too, oddly specced but nice all the same, I've always thought these later 900s were quite classy looking.

 

Love the Garfield in the window, these seemed quite popular in the early 90s. I remember my old man having an 'Edd the Duck' teddy stuck on the window in his Sterling when I were a kid. Don't know what happend to it since.

[Split_Pin]

Love the 960, guid sur.

[cms206]

I have driven this now and can proclaim it wafty. Still not sold on the front end but otherwise it's very pleasant.

[Cavcraft]

I take my proverbial hat off to you, that was some trek.

[skattrd]

Top purchase and write up David, I do like the 960's

[RichL]

That is a long way to go for a 960. Love it. Seen two or three for sale around here in the last couple of weeks all for less than a grand. I should stop looking for a S60/V70 and do the decent thing. I want a/c and leather though. Bus content superb.

[davidfowler2000]

Finally got round to taking some snaps around the new shite today. The rest can be viewed in the Autoshite set on my Flickr page...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55708022@N03/sets/72157630072459776/with/9282912965/

 

The Fleet by davidfowler2000, on Flickr

[Sigmund Fraud]

Excellent ! All you need now is an '80s flat-front 740 to replace the Golf

[Shep Shepherd]

How handsome do the two Volvos look in the company of the Golf?