Ex-Roffle 323... In it's new highland home!

[TrabbieRonnie]

We had the great pleasure of meeting Uncle Fester of this parish this afternoon, and purchasing one of Mazda's finest from him.

I made contact after the car was mentioned a couple of weeks ago in a 'car wanted' thread, and the deal was done.  

I tickled the now rarely used Iveco into life for my first Autoshite collection...

 

 

I thought about doing my first live colleckshun Fred, but decided 'man uses recovery truck to transport vehicle' might have made for pretty dull reading compared to some of the classics on here!

 

Anyway, after waving goodbye to Uncle (absolute gent btw), we headed north and the wee thing is now comfortably ensconced in Ballindalloch.  A short drive up the lane has left an impression of real quality, it drives great and feels far better built than I expected.

 

My eldest has a year to go before test time, but this is his to learn in, and learn about.  He is extremely pleased, as his taste in cars is obviously inherited from his old man...

 

 

Anyway, will update any developments, cheers Lewis, and cheers to this brrrriilllliant forum!

[captain_70s]

Smart looking motor. 

Whatever happened to car styling?!

[JeeExEll]

Good choice of car for harsh snowy Ballindalloch winters, quite narrow tyres like a Micra. My family lived in that area till about 100 years ago, the cottage they lived in was derelict from the 1960s till sometime in the 2000s. It's now a restored holiday cottage for rent. My great great grandparents are in the cemetery at Kirkmichael.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Aye, lots of second/holiday homes around here now, more out towards Glenlivet...  We live in a far less desirable bit(!), but I love it... the freedom of rural living is to be treasured methinks.  The winters can be serious, but we're actually just off the main road (A95), which is kept clear as much as possible for the whisky lorries.  Sometimes though, nothing less than the Hilux Surf will do.

 

The wee Mazda has impressed us all, it drives really well, with nice tight steering and a smooth clutch/gear change.  It is a smart wee thing Cap'n, big and bright inside and with a nice low down look.  All the cars nowadays seem to be jacked up, even Fiestas etc... Just me getting old I suppose.  

 

Bonus sunny Ballindalloch pics...

 

 

 

[JeeExEll]

That really is a tidy looking car. Low miles for it's age too. Time to rustproof it underneath before it sees the winter roads.

[TrabbieRonnie]

The car should have an easy run for the next year, it isn't required for family duties, just for my son to learn to drive in.  Next weekend should see the thing up on axle stands for the removal of the plastics, a thorough clean underneath (not that it's bad at all), and a waxoyl sesh.  We've been out in it all morning today, he seems very comfortable driving it already.

[TrabbieRonnie]

First wheel arch plastics removed for cleaning.... I don't think we've ever had a car this clean underneath!

 

[Unclefester]

Miss it already lol was a pleasure too meet you and your boys both fine gents may i add.  So please it will be your lads first car he was so pleased.