Kollection Fred - Oh no! Not another one...

[CaptainBoom]

To start with, I'm knackered, I've just finished a night shift that although was busy, it seemed to never end.  A steady drive home, a quick power nap, get the kids up and make some brekker.

Faced with the impending ULEZ and whatnot (for which there is a very good lengthy thread.  If you want to talk about it, do it there) I can't keep running a diesel Saab 9-3.  I was just going to cope with it, but TfL just put up a camera up on a long pole on my route to work - I can't imagine anyone wanting to vandalise that 20ft up in the air.  I was going to drive most of the way, park as close to the camera as possible and walk the rest, but this scuppers it.

Anyway, I was looking on eBay for a submission for 'The Price is Shite' thread last week and saw an unsuitable car, put a watch on it and promptly ignored it.  My phone chirruped when I was talking to my brother with 15 minutes left on the auction.  In that time, we'd looked over the MOT history/ checked the road tax and checked its ULEZ/CAZ compliance and he offered to lend me half of the money if I won, (enabler!) I bunged a bid in with three seconds to go and promptly won it for £££, and not £££££££. 

So vital statistics as per tradition:

• Miles to go: 159 each way, London will be achieved by 12:00
• Turdification count = 0 (although my body clock is so messed up, literally anything can happen)
• Hayfever symptoms = mild to light
• Passengers = 1 Boom_daughter_elder (Boom_daughter_v2 is being looked after by my long-suffering brother for the day)

[Tickman]

Excellent planning*

Hope the post night shift doesn't affect the joyous experience too much!

[hairnet]

fell asleep on the train then

 

[320touring]

Sounds like you have followed the best decision making process available, hope it turns out to be everything you dreamt* of!

[Twiggy]

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

[CaptainBoom]

Train into That London was rammed, anyone would think that is was a public holiday or something!

Yeah, I fully left ULEZ preparations until the last possible minute, nothing like a bit of good planning.

I also got my first visit on the Elizabeth Line. Much excite and all that.

Big Chuff Chuff achieved, leaving Paddington, and heading towards Swindon for a change to another train…

Travelling companion (Boom_daughter) is tucking into a OMFGHOWMUCH lunch, I have a bottle of water and plan on watching the towns roll by.

 

 

[High Jetter]

Good plan taking daughter v1 to keep you broke awake. Chodspeed.

[Keymaster]

Ekiben ftw!

[CaptainBoom]

Chuff chuff no. 6 at Swindon.

Reading/Staying awake material:

Nearly there, actually getting a bit nervous tbh

[gadgetgricey]

Great book... Hope car is as good.

[SmokinWaffle]

Any hints? Following with excitement. 

[CaptainBoom]

28 minutes ago, SmokinWaffle said:

Any hints? Following with excitement. 

We can do that. Errm, it’s a petrol, 1998cc, has a turbocharger (well, it did when new, don’t know about now).

[gadgetgricey]

8 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

 1998cc, has a turbocharger (well, it did when new, don’t know about now).

Engine swap??

[EyesWeldedShut]

Is it a ???

[CaptainBoom]

20 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Is it a ???

Buggeration! You are extremely close, as in two away.

I’ll give you a trim level clue too.

[EyesWeldedShut]

Just now, CaptainBoom said:

Buggeration! You are extremely close.

I’ll give you a trim level clue too.

I kno' nuffink' about Saab trim levels - is it a ... Gatwick?
'Ang on I'll ask me friend Go Ogle (Dogging Search Engine)
He says:

So it's green, orange or brown?

[camryv6]

Got to be a Saab, i like the use of chop sticks, and i am amazed a train is running on a bank holiday

[Saabnut]

I was going to say it won't be as good as the Saab, whatever it might be, but in this case I would be wrong!  

[EyesWeldedShut]

Two out ... 9-5 so its a 7-5 or a 9-7? Go Ogle tells me that a Saab 9-7 is actually a thing (yet another car I never knew existed) but maybe unobtanium in UK

Saab 9-3 Aero Estate then?

[brownnova]

Would be epic… but… alas… must be a 9-3

 

[CaptainBoom]

3 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

9-7

I wish it was a 9-7, but I’ve never seen one in the UK.  it’s a 9-3 Aero with the ‘sick’ (as described by a 7 year old) cup holder.

Pez shot in Cheltenham.

It’s taken an age to get home and the kids want sausage and mash for dinner. 
Impressions after 180 miles of motorway and slow A-roads? It’s quick, too quick I think for me. Controls are light and sensitive, runs very nicely. On the down side; handbrake lever is a bit floppy, plastics rattle, rear brake pads are wafer thin, like Mr Creosote’s mint. Probably an iffy ball joint as well. Not a big list and I certainly don’t feel hard done by.

Other than that, really really enjoyable! Tomorrow morning’s commute is going to be great (unless is rains and the roof sticks down/leaks).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295882500648?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4toelvfusgg&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=rbG7_vnoRkG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 

[wesacosa]

6 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

 

I wish it was a 9-7, but I’ve never seen one in the UK.

it’s a 9-3 Aero with the ‘sick’ (as described by a 7 year old) cup holder.

Pez shot

soft top.  very flashy mate !

[EyesWeldedShut]

Top Banana! Excellent purchase. 
You can play Daddy Cool all the way home now.

Is it an Aero Converta-bubble?  

[CaptainBoom]

I’m a long way off @Saabnut’s level, and from some folk on here, but this has got a bit silly…

 

CaptainBoom, reassuringly lowering property values since 2004.

[CaptainBoom]

40 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Aero Converta-bubble

Borrowing that!

[EyesWeldedShut]

Just now, CaptainBoom said:

Borrowing that!

Be my guest - all* the cars here tend to have a name - you can have that one

*apart from a Pug 206SW 1.4 HDi that my wife bought after much research and deliberation. Four years of bland, painful motoring - I may have neglected to revive it from one of it's deep sleeps.

[bezzabsa]

How much for pez 😮 ffs only £1.447 here in yam yam land

[gadgetgricey]

2 hours ago, CaptainBoom said:

 a 9-3 Aero with the ‘sick’ (as described by a 7 year old) cup holder.

And a second one via a flap in the centre cubby behind the ignition switch.

As its an Aero, you might even have the remote roof via the keyfob. That'll really impress the 7yr old.

Great cars. Love mine with a passion. (Well like you, not just the one....  )

[GeordieInExile]

Jesus, the OG 9-3 hatch looks really small compared with the 2nd gen convertible.

[stuboy]

2 hours ago, CaptainBoom said:

nice