clayts450 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 So tomorrow, the 820 leaves the Clayts' fold after barely being used. This 43K miler is being driven by my good self to the new owner after some very protracted, dithering and frankly woeful 'logistics' correspondence. Both parties should be ashamed of their lack of botheredness. For those who can remember that far back, this was the one that fought @The Moog like a bastard, to the extent that when he and @NorthernMonkey finally cracked it, he was so ecstatic he promptly roffled it. This ere Rover-lover promptly won it. It's never really found its niche in the fleet, as the 620 does the wafty saloon bit rather too well, so it barely got a look in. I briefly mentioned in passing a while back (pre CV19) the need to thin the fleet out to finance my new enterprise, and an excitable member jumped up and down and said 'me me me'. Cue the lackadaisical 'negotations'. Anyway, after much prevaricating and chin-scratching, it was agreed I would do my longest journey ever in it (which, let's face it, could be anything from 5 miles upwards, the journey back from The Moog's aside) and deliver it with a flourish to the lucky recipient. So this 'looks good from ten feet' barge will be heading er, south, east, south, west or something tomorrow. I can't see me putting many status updates on here, and the only photo I really want to share is the blank look of disappointment and horror on the recipient's face when I rock up in it. There may be a shot of a lay-by (for pissing reasons due to pea-sized bladder) and a Gregg's (for coffee and bacon cob/roll/barm cake/wotsit). Anyroad, she's fuelled up and ready to rumble at daft o'clock tomorrow. Next shot will be a miserable grainy picture of some Crunchy Nut cornflakes, a coffee and a vape pen. For now, behold the magnificence* MorrisItalSLX, Dan_ZTT, Tickman and 23 others 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Good luck with the journey matey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Lovely. Chode sped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 It'll all be fine* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 22, 2020 Author Share Posted September 22, 2020 As long as the Gregg's I frequent don't over-crispen the bacon, it'll be a breeze* Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 If you were bringing it to me, I'd be telling you to FRO Cavcraft, Twiggy, The Moog and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Ahhh it will all be fine* I have just remembered I was going to find that spreadsheet. Whoever is the owner of the big green bastard drop me a PM and I will get it sent. RobT and clayts450 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorRetro Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 It's not me, I'm sad to say. This car has never been available at the right time for me, otherwise I'd have loved a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Oooh very nice. Feel free to break down by my house if your coming down the m40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 sorry Sam, wrong direction.Anyway, as promisedSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk beko1987, Tickman and The Moog 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Live from the cockpit. Next stop GreggsSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk dome, Lacquer Peel, BorniteIdentity and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 A14 Thrapston. Greggs obtained. Bacon crispiness level - acceptable+Sent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk Coprolalia, RobT, The Moog and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Old girl doing very well indeed. Keeping up, nay outpacing, bimbling morning commuters.Comfort levels outstanding.Annoying rattle quotient via old car - highSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk privatewire, egg, The Moog and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Next and hopefully final leg involves some more motorway and then my arch nemesis and perennial traffic jam...Won't say more until arrivalSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk Saabnut 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 The only thing that would make that more miserable would be a manual gearbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 18 minutes ago, sutty2006 said: The only thing that would make that more miserable would be a manual gearbox As far as I remember, this is a manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Arrival at lucky weinerSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk Tickman, egg and The Moog 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 WeinerSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk BeEP, Vantman, egg and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 36 minutes ago, Supernaut said: As far as I remember, this is a manual. *shudders thinking of the misery* 2 randoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 God I look emaciated in that pic. Clayts is a gent for delivering this Viking-badged long boat, cheers m8. Looks swish. The Moog, Sealtainn, wuvvum and 25 others 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Train home HST heavenSent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk BeEP, RobT, Lacquer Peel and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 How socially distant was the journey across 'town'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Very although to be fair I was just platform hopping.Trains are dead. No more than 4 people in each carriage it seems. This one is especially emptySent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk egg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorRetro Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 1 hour ago, RobT said: God I look emaciated in that pic. Clayts is a gent for delivering this Viking-badged long boat, cheers m8. Looks swish. It's a winner machine that's for sure. Manual gearbox makesbit better in my viewpoint. 2 randoms please when / if it comes up for sale again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Back home, and a quick summary of my drive. For those (like me) who like a good road map, I took a couple of locals from mine onto A611 (formerly A6002), A610, M1 southbound to J19, A14 eastbound (via Thrapston services) -> M11 southbound to J4, A406 North Circular Road southbound, A12 westbound, my nemesis the A102 Blackwall Tunnel (which amazingly I flew through - a first) and a few locals to Rob's street. I chose the A14 route due to the ever present and fucking annoying roadworks between J13 and 15 on the M1, and the M25 - well enough said about that bastard, the better, especially clockwise with all the roadworks at present. It only added about 15 miles onto the journey, the time being virtually the same. This was the first time I'd spent any considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the 820 and I have to say, it is a bloody good steer. There is still some residue of wheel wobble at (cough) 70, but certainly nowhere near as bad as it was. It ate up the miles and had plenty in reserve to enable me to boot it past dawdlers and bad driving, of which there was plenty, esp on the M1 and M11. The one thing that struck me was 'proper waft', something this car does in spades. It truly is an awesomely comfortable car, both to drive and to sit in. A few minus points - the handbrake is pretty bad (was made known to Rob). reverse gear is a bastard (also made known) and a new issue of the temp gauge creeping up ever so slightly in stationary traffic (certainly not to dangerous red levels, but a notable upswing from C to H) - the old 70/80s car trick of banging on the heater at full pelt with the windows open soon solved that little conundrum. I just hope there isn't impending doom therein, but not having driven the 820 for concerted periods, I suspect this is just a 'feature', as I'm so used to Rovers which resolutely stick to between twenty to and quarter to the hour on their temp gauges unless something sinister is occurring. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, and I suspect this goodbye journey, had I been keeping the car, would have made it a firm favourite on the fleet. However, needs must and away it goes to Rob. Chodspeed, good Sir, it was a pleasure doing business with you this morning. Coprolalia, RobT, chodweaver and 6 others 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercedade Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 The handbrake is usually relatively straightforward to resolve - don't be tempted to purely tighten the adjuster nut under the centre console. You'll get many more years of service out of the calipers and cables if you take both sets of rear pads out, pump the pistons out a little and wind them back in a few times before putting them back together using red grease on the sliding pins. If you make sure the handbrake cable is loose enough at the caliper end when you put it back together, you should be able to push HARD on the pedal and hear the adjusters taking up slack. Only once you've done this should you touch the handbrake itself. If there's still slack - then it's time to use the adjuster nut, but allow more slack than in a modern. The first CM or so of travel should do virtually nothing, and it shouldn't be on full until it's about 5/6 clicks. Reverse gear crunch - I've got in the habit of just notching mine into fourth before putting it in reverse and all the crunch has gone. If you go straight to reverse, it'll grind away like your first day at driving school. Apologies if this is info of the egg-sucking variety LightBulbFun, RobT, chodweaver and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I always found these things had one of the all-time great driving positions. Super comfortable - you sit quite low but get great visibility with the low scuttle, gearstick in exactly the right place, steering wheel angle feels just right etc. Lovely stuff. mercedade, RobT, Lacquer Peel and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesacosa Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 1 hour ago, clayts450 said: Back home, and a quick summary of my drive. For those (like me) who like a good road map, I took a couple of locals from mine onto A611 (formerly A6002), A610, M1 southbound to J19, A14 eastbound (via Thrapston services) -> M11 southbound to J4, A406 North Circular Road southbound, A12 westbound, my nemesis the A102 Blackwall Tunnel (which amazingly I flew through - a first) and a few locals to Rob's street. I chose the A14 route due to the ever present and fucking annoying roadworks between J13 and 15 on the M1, and the M25 - well enough said about that bastard, the better, especially clockwise with all the roadworks at present. It only added about 15 miles onto the journey, the time being virtually the same. This was the first time I'd spent any considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the 820 and I have to say, it is a bloody good steer. There is still some residue of wheel wobble at (cough) 70, but certainly nowhere near as bad as it was. It ate up the miles and had plenty in reserve to enable me to boot it past dawdlers and bad driving, of which there was plenty, esp on the M1 and M11. The one thing that struck me was 'proper waft', something this car does in spades. It truly is an awesomely comfortable car, both to drive and to sit in. A few minus points - the handbrake is pretty bad (was made known to Rob). reverse gear is a bastard (also made known) and a new issue of the temp gauge creeping up ever so slightly in stationary traffic (certainly not to dangerous red levels, but a notable upswing from C to H) - the old 70/80s car trick of banging on the heater at full pelt with the windows open soon solved that little conundrum. I just hope there isn't impending doom therein, but not having driven the 820 for concerted periods, I suspect this is just a 'feature', as I'm so used to Rovers which resolutely stick to between twenty to and quarter to the hour on their temp gauges unless something sinister is occurring. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, and I suspect this goodbye journey, had I been keeping the car, would have made it a firm favourite on the fleet. However, needs must and away it goes to Rob. Chodspeed, good Sir, it was a pleasure doing business with you this morning. Oh no, you brought it close to the South side of the Blackwall tunnel. That's dangerously close to me for the next time it gets offered for sale 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Thanks for the advice mercedade. I'll have a go at sorting the handbrake this weekend. Hopefully it can be a free fix. As to the wheel wobble clayts mentions, I've noticed one of the front tyres has the rotation pointer in the wrong direction. Dunno if it makes that much of a difference, but will see what it's like when I go for a blast down the M20 later. HMC, clayts450, mercedade and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 7 hours ago, clayts450 said: Weiner Sent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk That could be the front cover of a Leonard Cohen LP. Abject misery in a photograph. RobT, catsinthewelder, N Dentressangle and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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