Rightnider's past and present - Mercedes S210 test tour and Mk2 Granada progress

[Rightnider]

Today I drove the Mk1 Granada to my parent’s home on the east side of Sweden where it will be spending the winter. 
 

It’s finally running smooth again, so it was a joy to drive, apart from the suspension needing an overhaul, but that’s understandable after almost 50 years. 
 

What’s more amazing was the consumption.  I brimmed it at home, drove 286 kilometres and brimmed it again. It needed 24,89 litres, which makes 32.4 mpg. Not too bad for a 3 litre!

And has larger wheels than original.

[Rightnider]

As mentioned in the collection thread, I’ve bought a Mk 4.5 Mondeo 1.6 TDCI on a whim. I was going to have a look at a 2-litre with diesel heater and giffer dings in the front wings. This felt a lot more well looked after, had a tow bar fitted, clutch, DMF and timing belt replaced 20,000 miles ago. At 60 % of the price. 

 

It is one step in the upcoming remodeling of our fleet. Mrs. Rightnider has been driving a Kia E-Niro on private lease for two and a half years, and it ends in May. Looking at the value of used ones, it seems like it was a good idea not to buy it. We’ve paid less for the lease, including service, than it has fallen in value during this time. Still, it’s not cheap to have a new car, but at least the fuel cost has been negligible when charged at home.

The car has worked well but is mind-numbingly soulless. She has been very pleased with the ability to turn on the heating via the app; other than that, she’s been missing her old trusty 250,000-mile W204 C220 diesel estate.

Hopefully, she’ll be changing jobs soon, not having to do a 45-mile commute, and switching to public transportation. If so, we’ll definitely get rid of the Kia.

Anyway, she had taken the Mondeo to the shops yesterday, and she was highly unimpressed with the performance. I tried to explain to her why a small diesel engine in a fairly large car needs a lot of work with the gearbox, using terms like power band and torque. She seemed not to care and replied that the other Mondeo (Mk3 2-litre petrol) can be driven through a roundabout in third gear, yet is still not quick.

I’m still hoping for sympathy from our 20-year-old son. He’s taking it to work today, and he’s more interested in frugality than speed.

[Nibbler]

Looks nice! I’m on your team when it comes to the 1,6 TDCI. I’d take fuel economy over power and flexibility every day of the week.

[Rightnider]

It’s time for winter tyres. I splashed out on a set of part worn Continental’s rather than new budgets. 
 

[Rightnider]

The 2.8 Granada has been modelling. 
 

[EspenO]

Is Ronny & Ragge getting a sequel? 😄 Seems like a fun shoot!

[Rightnider]

Lovely weather! An oil change and a new auxiliary belt along with tensioner.

 

 

The air con pump has started to sound strained, it needs to be replaced. 

 

[Rightnider]

I’ve finally raided the rusty donor Granada for the five speed gearbox which I intend to upgrade my 3-litre coupé with. 
 

 

I feel too old for crawling underneath a car in the cold. 

[Rightnider]

Time for a collection. Nothing fancy. Maybe a replacement for Mrs. Rightnider’s Kia E-niro which will return to the dealer after three years next month.

Austrailan Shepherd disguised as Golden Retriever 

 

[Rightnider]

Forgot to mention; pc1 no breakfast. 
 

Second leg of the journey, train from Helsingborg to Lund. 
 

For all train boffins, a Bombardier Contessa. Called X31K in Sweden, ET in Denmark (I had to google) as they’re connecting the south of Sweden and east of Denmark. 

 

I don’t know why some pictures are upside down. 

[Rightnider]

Second mk4 Mondeo in less than six months. The black one has been reliable, but the 1.6 TDCI has a painfully narrow power band and isn’t that frugal in reality compared to the 2-litre. This is for my wife, if she doesn’t like I’ll have it instead.
 

I went to look at this as well in November, but the seller wanted the equivalent of £4,500 then, with timing belt due to be replaced. Too expensive, I said (even though used car prices are a lot higher here than in the UK). Now he’s done that, as well as front shocks, battery, water pump and clutch cylinder.

I offered £ 2,800 which was accepted. It is a fairly decent car, one owner since new, an 82 year old gent, sold by son. 123,000 miles. Unfortunately the Sony head unit has given up recently, but it should be quite easy to track down another one.

 

[Rightnider]

I’ve decided to become my own boss, becoming a consultant in public procurement, which is my current day job.

This means that from September I will no longer get the monthly payments, called salary, that are so very addictive, and I will have to reduce the fleet. First up is the Mk2 Granada. I’ve had it for sale for some time with not a lot of luck. It seems the market is quite cold, even in Norway, where most Swedish Granadas go. To be honest I haven’t presented it very well, advertising it as a package with the Recaro interior still in the donor car. Not ideal, if you want punters from far away. 
 

Anyway, this weekend I bit the bullet, removed it from the donor and put it in the blue car. 
 

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