Datsuncog's Heaps: May 2025 - Fleet Addition, Avensising

[hairnet]

7 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

That's cool - I think I've enough breakfast for both me and Mel.

Stay hydrated, kids.

wtf

[hairnet]

6 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Mel must have gone on ahead without me; presumably he's already through security and in the departure lounge.

Security staff are always great craic before 6am.

Apparently my CD wallet was a matter of great concern, and potentially a threat to national security.

They took it away and rubbed it with wipes that they then fed into a machine.

Presumably it told them that Super Furry Animals' much-maligned third studio album was criminally misunderstood and critically underrated, and therefore did not warrant being taken away and blown up.

Which was a relief.

They also looked confused at my cassette tapes.

But...

CDs and cassettes?

Could this be a clue of some sort?

Naaaah...

bhd tho

mind boggles

[N Dentressangle]

22 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

That's a very attractive estate. Can't remember when I last saw an estate one 🤔

Looks much smarter than I thought it would.

'Do shut up, Wilson'

[hairnet]

least it wont smell of sheep shit

might smell of other things tho (bbradford)

[bramz7]

Cor an Avensis estate! As others have said, the estates have vanished. 

Great buy, hope the drive back goes well. 

[NorthernMonkey]

Bradford back to the M6?

You must be passing my house anytime now!! 😂

[hairnet]

boycott m6

woulda headed for wales or scouse

 

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

least it wont smell of sheep shit

might smell of other things tho (bbradford)

Be one of the smartest, rust free cars in oireland by dinnertime, he'll be beating away offers of mega€€ as soon as he's off the ferry, in a post motor car like that.

Looks like a Volvo v40 estate at a certain angle

[Datsuncog]

Well, made it to Tebay by lunchtime, so we're broadly on track to make the ferry from Cairnryan by teatime.

Stereo does not work at all, nor does the aircon; sunroof turns out to have been bodged shut with Sikaflex and small pieces of timber.

Hmm, I wonder why?

Luckily, the completely unconscious stereo unit isn't a total disaster, since I have a replacement audio hifi* system on hand.

This is about the size of a large postage stamp, so sound quality is obviously GR8 M8.

Overall impressions?

I love it.

[Datsuncog]

Proper pie - none of that 'casserole with a pastry hat' nonsense.

Great view too.

First time I've ever had occasion to stop at Tebay, and I can see why folks hold it in such high esteem.

[Datsuncog]

Good to see another elderly wagon making its way north...

Okay then, well fed and watered - all being well, next stop Cairnryan!

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

boycott m6

woulda headed for wales or scouse

 

They were my preferred choices, but timings weren't ideal with flights/ travel time.

Cairnryan was at least fairly cheap and deposits me about ten miles away from my front door.

[hairnet]

24 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Proper pie - none of that 'casserole with a pastry hat' nonsense.

Great view too.

 

 

mckees or moira

[AnnoyingPentium]

51 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

next stop Cairnryan!

Wave when you pass! 😂

[warninglight]

13 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Wave when you pass! 😂

Are you along the '75?

[Split_Pin]

Lovely car, safe journey Tim!

[Spottedlaurel]

Much approval here, nice one! No VVTi malarkey either, just the proper Camry/Celica/MR2-type engine.

I was impressed with how well the 2-litre went in the ex/now back with @BorniteIdentity Avensis SR compared to my Carina E, and it looks like the SR has done circa 3.5x the mileage of what you've just got.

[Bradders59]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

They were my preferred choices, but timings weren't ideal with flights/ travel time.

Cairnryan was at least fairly cheap and deposits me about ten miles away from my front door.

Ten miles from Larne is too close for comfort. 😄

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, warninglight said:

Are you along the '75?

I am now! Arrived at Cairnryan Port about an hour ago - phone reception's not the best, but have finally found a corner to begrudgingly give me a few kilobytes of data...

2 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Much approval here, nice one! No VVTi malarkey either, just the proper Camry/Celica/MR2-type engine.

I was impressed with how well the 2-litre went in the ex/now back with @BorniteIdentity Avensis SR compared to my Carina E, and it looks like the SR has done circa 3.5x the mileage of what you've just got.

It's a really smooth driving unit - lovely gearbox, and all very tight.

Yes, it did occur to me that I've (almost) gone full @BorniteIdentity now, with a Mk1 Yaris, E110 Corolla and Phase 1 Avensis in the fleet - dunno what my chances of tracking down my old Mini are, but doubt I'll ever own a bASe Sierra...

[AnnoyingPentium]

2 hours ago, warninglight said:

Are you along the '75?

Depends which way DC goes, I'm nearly at the end of the A713. About 40 minutes from the A75...

[SiC]

9 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

And the reason for tapes and CDs:

Although I'm informed 'the stereo has a mind of its own'.

Just as well I've a backup plan...

 

That temperature control I think must have been designed for Mrs SiC. It's either TOO HOT or FREEZING COLD and never quite perfect as the control constantly gets moved back and forth. 

[Datsuncog]

So then, a rather long and sweaty drive up the remainder of the M6 and then tacking west across to Cairnryan via the A75.

Working air con would be quite handy, I'll now admit.

As it turned out, I needn't have bothered packing all those CDs as the head unit seems to be dead as a dead thing (could be a fuse, admittedly), so I rigged up my rubbishy little novelty Bluetooth boombox thing (bought from Poundland a few years ago) and that had to provide tunes for the journey.

Unfortunately I only had three albums downloaded to my phone, but Air, Death In Vegas and Chappell Roan managed to do the job.

Arrived at the check-in just after 5.30, so basically five hours hours on the road and half an hour for lunch - probably could have done it a bit faster if it weren't for all the tootlers along the A65 - it was marvellously scenic around the Dales National Park, but also full of biddies out for the day in their Picanto looking for somewhere to have a cup of tea and a nice sit-down, refusing to exceed 32mph just in case the perfect tea room appeared...

But! Here now.

Half a tank of fuel, 215 miles.

It definitely feels hotter than 19°C.

I feel the assorted sweetmeats from Tebay might agree with me.

I'll do a full writeup of the car, and the slightly unorthodox selling process, in the coming days, but I'm broadly very pleased with it, and I hope MrsDC will be too.

Her instructions were "as long as it's no worse condition than the Corolla or the Yaris", and I think it's ticking that box.

I really like the look of these.

(No, that's the roof of the check-in booths, not a groovy roof rack).

So, should be boarding soon, and...

That's right kids, I'm Premium.

Because after a 4:45 a.m. start and being thorough sweated for five hours, I reckon I'm worth it.

Now to see how many complimentary Tunnocks Wafers from the Stena Plus Lounge I can put away before the staff notice (I brought some carrier bags this time)...

3 hours ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Wave when you pass! 😂

I certainly did, when I saw the turn-off for Ayr!

[IronStar]

17 minutes ago, SiC said:

That temperature control I think must have been designed for Mrs SiC. It's either TOO HOT or FREEZING COLD and never quite perfect as the control constantly gets moved back and forth. 

Is she related to Mrs Star? 
 

Why is aircon cold now?
Because it reached X degrees and is now keeping it as we’re heating up the car by being inside.
*turns up zone 2*
It’s too warm now!

😄
 

[bunglebus]

10 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Nice pink wheels, they match your eyes

[Datsuncog]

And we are go.

[hairnet]

the snacks

if theyve got a wrapper - have one with tea one in the bag

*repeat for two hours

just eat the cake on the middle island before they disappear

was planning to do a loop last week of here felbast do bike ting cairnryan then new galloway then home

it turned into selby then home due to complications

hoping to do kilbroney in june if things let me

 

[Datsuncog]

I'm relying on the ship's WiFi from here on in which is... patchy.

I do, of course, have the option to purchase access to the satellite link internet for a mere £15, but needless to say I won't be doing that.

Safely stowed.

Nearly ready to cast off.

[Datsuncog]

3 minutes ago, hairnet said:

the snacks

if theyve got a wrapper - have one with tea one in the bag

*repeat for two hours

just eat the cake on the middle island before they disappear

Absolutely - I'm lovin' that Stena Plus lifestyle.

This'll do rightly.

Plug for the phone and everything.

And buns galore:

Sadly, I have competition.

Still, a couple of well-placed knees to the groin and an elbows-up approach netted me some scran.

Now to be comatose for two hours.

[andy18s]

When I saw the plane pics I did wonder if you were flying over to collect this beauty....

[hairnet]

food gathering effort 

3/10