Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 I felt very bad about this. I forgot to pack enough shirts for the week when I left home on Monday so only had Dress Down Friday kit with me. I promise to do better next time..Was quite glad of jeans when it came to grubbling around under the Rover to investigate the source of the frothy orange puddle, mind. You totes wimp. Just do the scratch and sniff test and put on the least minging shirt, same as you do with yer shreddies. Gonna end up skanky anyway: you should have seen the state of my shirt cuffs by the time I got home after all that car-botherage. I am hankering for more Granny riding. The SD1 is now going to be put away until I can get the gasket done, as although it runs fine, and has neither oily coolant nor watery oil, I need to get it sorted before I kershonkerate its insides. Skizzer and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Hang on a minute, this was all going so well yesterday and now I'm a total wimp in boring knitwear with man-parts the size of a FoMoCo door key? Jeez, you're a tough crowd on here. DeeJay and trigger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bangerfan101 Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Since a kid I've loved grannys. This was my Birthday present last year from the Mrs tattood on my calf trigger, HMC and danthecapriman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 There is no bloody way I'll ever end up with that Granny.That married couple out there has fallen in love with its baby sitter.What can I do? I knew this is going to happen. eddyramrod and Skizzer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldford Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 As a teenager working in car rental we had the Granada 2.8 GL saloons and estates on the fleet, the last lot of estates were the 2.8i Ghia X, it was always a bit of an occasion to drive one and the further away the collection point - the better. I had the opportunity one day to combine both cars discussed here, with a trip to London where we swapped a 2.8GL saloon for 3 SD1 Vanden Plas 3500 EFi, which we hustled back in convoy. As far as I know over 30 years later one of those Rovers is still on the road. danthecapriman, BorniteIdentity, Skizzer and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Actually, JM, I think you'll find that Skizzer has run off with the au pair, and neither of us will ever get near the car again. Pity there aren't any decent lawyers round here. Junkman, eddyramrod, Skizzer and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 It's true, I'm in lurve. I am an honourable sort of chap so I will reluctantly let you have hold of this one, but I'm seriously going to clear out some space and get another. If I find one with a beige/brown interior then you'll never get me out of it. Have another pic, just because. Mrs S likes it very much too. Six-cylinder, Mr Laurence, Junkman and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 When Dan's Capri is done, we really should have 'the Ford's of autoshite' meet with this, Dan's Capri, the Sierra bASe, my Mondeo, that mk1 granny coupe being restored, there's other Sierra mk1's on here I think too? All the mk1 foci as well! Stuboy's mk2 mondy etc Skizzer, danthecapriman, eddyramrod and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I feel I have let myself down by not getting involved with this great adventure! Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 When Dan's Capri is done, we really should have 'the Ford's of autoshite' meet with this, Dan's Capri, the Sierra bASe, my Mondeo, that mk1 granny coupe being restored, there's other Sierra mk1's on here I think too? All the mk1 foci as well! Stuboy's mk2 mondy etc Good idea. There's a lad called Sean who owns two of them (masochist) and he's on here occasionally. These are his two with my regrettably sold green sierra in the middle. Junkman, Mr Laurence, egg and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 When Dan's Capri is done, we really should have 'the Ford's of autoshite' meet with this, Dan's Capri, the Sierra bASe, my Mondeo, that mk1 granny coupe being restored, there's other Sierra mk1's on here I think too? All the mk1 foci as well! Stuboy's mk2 mondy etcThe way things are at the moment sadly I don't think the Capri ever will be finished. Not by me anyway.No idea wtf I'm going to do with it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I would consider spaffing some wedge for a Granada Coupe. It's Essex Man's Jensen Interceptor. Most other classic Fords I am meh about, including even the hottest of Cortinas and Escorts, although I quite like earlyish Capris with smallish or medium sized engines.. I always thought that if ever I became a bit skint I would smoke about in a not very high spec Capri, but that was before (1) I became a bit skint, and (2) the Scene happened. I agree with Skizzer that a Granny Estate with a beige or brown interior would be the nutz. I also like the light grey seats if the exterior colour is interesting. I usually think that grey inside a car is awful, but it works OK with some Granny paintjobs. One thing that is GR97 (in Autoshite terms) about the blue one is that from a certain distance the seat pattern looks like someone has fitted nasty aftermarket seat covers bought in Quidland or on eBay, but they are the proper seats. As Dan says, very appropriate for the age of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 PS: Skizzer, answer yer email! When am I getting the car again? Remember, I know where you live. Oh hang on a minute, I actually don't. Anyone got a map of Wales? eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 The way things are at the moment sadly I don't think the Capri ever will be finished. Not by me anyway.No idea wtf I'm going to do with it yet. Bon courage, Dan! You will get it done. PM me if you need any help on the thing we discussed. danthecapriman and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 PS: Skizzer, answer yer email! When am I getting the car again? Remember, I know where you live. Oh hang on a minute, I actually don't. Anyone got a map of Wales? The Moog, Magnificent Rustbucket, skoda_norman and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holbeck Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I think I might need that map tomorrow (unrelated shite collection form near Cardiff and Swansea). Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 DeeJay, Timewaster, anonymous user and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 PS: Skizzer, answer yer email! When am I getting the car again? Remember, I know where you live. Oh hang on a minute, I actually don't. Anyone got a map of Wales?Sorry, I was out skipping through flower meadows in soft focus with the Granada. Email now duly be-answered. Dan - wot BV said. Hang on in there, you'll get it sorted. Junkman, Magnificent Rustbucket, danthecapriman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 PS I'm not telling anyone where I live while I've got a mk2 Granada parked outside. I'm already sleeping at night with a piece of string tied to the steering wheel at one end and my big toe at the other. danthecapriman, Junkman, BorniteIdentity and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 egg, danthecapriman, Vince70 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 PS I'm not telling anyone where I live while I've got a mk2 Granada parked outside. I'm already sleeping at night with a piece of string tied to the steering wheel at one end and my big toe at the other. Bet it's not your toe it's tied to, you dirty beast.. Vince70, Junkman, BorniteIdentity and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Wales-Outline.jpg Middle Earth, eh? Actually, that is mostly in Warks and Oxon, and Mordor is Birmingham. I kid you not! Meanwhile, beam me up to the Tardis, Dr Watson, I've just won the Hunger Games so I need to get to Narnia. Winter is coming, and I aim to misbehave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 "Near Swansea or Cardiff" you say... but have you actually seen those roads? Near might be geographically correct but driving there will take... well, almost a Derian Gap expedition. Dan, how long the Capri takes doesn't matter. You still have two AS Fords, and you've seen the reaction one of them gets! We are all in love with that Mercury! Junkman, BorniteIdentity, danthecapriman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I had a bit of a ranty at Skizzer when he turned up in civvies, as I thought that we were doing the mid 80s Finance Director Giant Test. It is interesting to note the different ways in which Frod and Roofer tried to do posh. The Granada has power everything, including seats, and aircon (not working). It has the full six gauges. But it has a plastic steering wheel (albeit a good one, squidgy foamy and pleasant to hold), and the seat fabric isn't quit as lush as in the Rover. Each car has a manual sunroof. The Frod allows you to adjust the speed of the intermittent wiper setting, but the rear wiper has only one setting. It has map lights for driver and passenger. These work (door light doesn't, as noted above). Left armrest for driver, no central armrest in rear, but seats fold flatter than in Rover. Trip computers of needless complexity and dubious operability adorn both cars. The SD1, which is in the apparently rare SE spec that was replaced after a short run by VDP, has five gauges (no voltmeter), and the seats aren't electric. The intermittent wiper setting isn't adjustable, but the rear wiper has two settings. No left armrest for driver, but big central armrest in the back. Rear head rests too, not fitted in the Granny. The SD1 has red lights in the front door frames to let the cyclist see what he is about to hit. The steering wheel is chunky and leather covered, but is also too enormous, and slightly ovoid. The instrument lighting in the Rover is better than that in the Granny, but it may be that the Granny's dash lights are a bit fatigued. The Granny's horn currently sounds a bit rubbish, but at least the hooter buttons are on the steering wheel. The Rover has a typical BL-sounding horn, but the button is less optimally placed on the end of one of the stalks. Neither car wold win a prize for the best ever cockpit ergonomics, but the Rover's switches, tits, knobs and levers are a bit less higgledy piggledy in layout than the Ford's, I reckon. That may just be because I am familiar with them. The Granada is plainly the quicker of the two on the straights, feeling a lot more peppy and not needing to rev very hard to go fast. The handling really isn't too bad for a long bargey thing, but the SD1 is much the more sportif in the corners. Pirelli Cinturatos on the Granny, by the way. The Rover currently has three Toyos and (naughty me, mixing brands and tread patterns on an axle), one Maxxis. Finding good tyres for it is hard - the tyre size is a van tyre these days. You have to rev the Rover a bit to make it get going. Brakes pretty good on both cars, although I think that my calipers may be getting a bit weary. Both cars have good headlights. The Granny's tail lights are quite teeny. The Granny is quieter on the road, although the rear offside door-rubber on the Rover is currently a bit out of place, adding to the wind noise. I think that the Rover has slightly the better engine note heard from the driver's seat, especially when you are giving it some welly. The Rover is probably slightly the easier to see out of, but both cars have excellent viz compared to any modern heap. The photos do not do the Granny full justice. The colour is lovely, despite the paint and lacquer blemishes (and Dan has some awesome rattlecan SKILLZ). The car has a great shape, and although it is hundreds of miles long it looks quite compact in the metal, and very handsome on the road. I must say that it was also a pleasure to see, when driving the Granny, what a handsome thing an SD1 is on the road. I have never liked Fords, and never before owned even part of one, but I really do like this Granada very much indeed.The granny and the 2600 are pretty evenly matched - the granny has more low down stomp and the rover needs revs - granny better for towing. Fords of this era all had pish lights - however the high beam on the SD1 would not have been out of place in Close Encounters of the third kind. The granny has a more solid feel whereas the rover is a tad flimsy in comparison - however I love the fascia on the SD1 - looks like something from the film the fifth element. A 2.8 in either carb or injection is a btter bet than a 2.3 which is slower but just as thirsty. Our 2.4 is just the same. Top bombing. danthecapriman, Skizzer, Junkman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 There is one thing these old Fords can beat as far as headlights are concerned... Old yanks! The Mercury's lights are terrible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Wales.jpg Is it bad I can name most of those towns & I've never lived in Wales? Skizzer and Junkman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 There is one thing these old Fords can beat as far as headlights are concerned... Old yanks! The Mercury's lights are terrible! surely not? they would be sealed beams and there is someone on here who insists they are the best lights in the world Junkman and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 The trouble with sealed beams is they seal the light inside too. vulgalour, DeeJay and loserone 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 There is one thing these old Fords can beat as far as headlights are concerned... Old yanks! The Mercury's lights are terrible! What kind do you have installed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymous user Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 What kind do you have installed?Dim ones it would seem, but I'm sure they aren't as bad as the 5" pre-focus lamps that I had on my Austin Dorset. These were so dim I had to get out and go around the front to check they were on. Sigmund Fraud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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