Collection Friday…….

[Arfur Foxache]

Was  going to do this collection on Saturday but work quiet enough tomorrow that I’ve grabbed one of the lads that works for me to come for a jolly and bring my daily back.
 Hopefully an uneventful one as the car being collected has a better reputation for reliability than the one taking us up to collect. 
I’d  usually trailer any new purchases home but I sold my trailer last year so will drive this one. 
Limited clues for now  as not much can be said without making it obvious. 
So - its Blue, done 218,000 miles and the last logbook was issued 2012 so coming out of long term ownership. 
Committed to buy and paid for already from pictures. 
And I have absolutely no need for the car but had one as a company car that was just a few digits away on number plate and I think this one was also one of ours from the same batch. 
Sat nav already set (not needed as a regular collection point) and shite collection box loaded. Oil, water, antifreeze, tow rope, gaffer tape, cable ties, WD40 etc. 

Will be heading off about 7am so expect to be collecting around 10am. 

[Tickman]

Well prepped 

[tooSavvy]

Elasticated gusset in kegs, for all them Kahoonis 🤔🙀

TresBon

🚙💨

[stuboy]

good luck

[Arfur Foxache]

Will now head from home near Leicester to Coventry to collect co-pilot then back past home on the way north. 
ETA to collection still 9.30-10.00 ish if traffic behaves. 

[Arfur Foxache]

And we’re off. Won’t be many updates as I’m steering on the way up. 
I’m not a great passenger 

 

[Arfur Foxache]

Maybe the new car is at the bottom 

[Arfur Foxache]

Quick pit stop 

[Arfur Foxache]

Collection made in good time. 
Had brought a Bluetooth speaker just in case but found radio code in the folder. 
wont be a PEZ shot yet as it’s got 3/4 tank in. 
Hopefully trouble free home but will update later. 
None of the windows are working so will investigate another day but heated seats are on. 
2.5 10v Auto 

[High Jetter]

Woolarding needs some work! Hope you get back OK.

[Arfur Foxache]

Just back at 1pm so 6.5 hours round trip including sorting the paperwork. 
 

It drives well, not as potent as I remember but the one I had was new in 1998 and I was only 21 and had previously had a 1.3 Escort. 

[wesacosa]

peak car for me, identical to an LPG manual one I wish I'd bought ten years ago. Great colour 

[Arfur Foxache]

I'd noticed when looking at the auction pictures that the boot was held up with a stick so took a chance and ordered a pair of gas struts. 

Swapped them since we got back. Had to find them first as they are internal so needed to remove some trim but 20 minutes from start to finish. 

I knew the last log book issued was 2012 but street view showed the car in the garage at the address in 2009 and a bit of homework shows that it had actually been in the custody of the gentleman since 2003 and another family member from 1999 - 2003. Came with 2 original keys and key fobs that still work, owners manual etc. 

Car was registered May 1998 and first keeper changed May 1999 so pretty much confirms my theory that it was in the same batch of our company cars at the time which were swapped every 9 or 10 months then put into the dealer network.  

Caravan Club Sticker and AA grille badge may stay for now although car will be moved on before long. I'll investigate the electric window issue next week and hopefully nothing too involved and it needs a brake light switch as I was nearly rear ended by my Discovery on the M1 when someone cut me up> Paul driving my car saw it but fractionally late as brake lights never lit up. He had suspected an issue earlier but presumed I'd just been coasting to a stop but then they had worked in between so it seems we have an iffy switch. 

[Shep Shepherd]

Top purchase. I had a very early (P-reg) V70  2.5 10v manual for several years and would love another one day. Sadly, there aren't many left in worthwhile condition these days.

[SEATMad]

Corrr blimey, great buy!

[Arfur Foxache]

43 minutes ago, Shep Shepherd said:

Top purchase. I had a very early (P-reg) V70  2.5 10v manual for several years and would love another one day. Sadly, there aren't many left in worthwhile condition these days.

My job at the time meant I should only have got a basic spec Volvo 440 but one of the directors had been got rid of just before his V70 arrived so I got that and his 850 saloon for a couple of week’s beforehand 

[Shep Shepherd]

Which company did you work for? I presume a Swedish/Scandinavian one if you got Volvos as company cars.

[Arfur Foxache]

Maxi Haulage but we had the contract to distribute parts for Volvo Trucks. All of our trucks and company cars were Volvo. The owner of Maxi Haulage at the time also owned a Volvo Car dealer franchise I believe. 

[Arfur Foxache]

3 of the 4 electric windows worked this morning so I'm guessing that maybe when we collected the car that the battery had been flat and possibly affected the windows. The 165 mile motorway run home has charged the battery well. 

Parked in the warehouse over the weekend and it was nice to not find the floor bone dry so no oil / water leaks. Boot area is dog hair free and no smell so I'm confident it was not a Labrador Taxi or that it had been smoked in. 

Took lower dash panel off to investigate the brake light issue. I got hold of the switch and it clicked into place so had maybe been disturbed so but all ok now. 

In summary, happy that 2 possible issues were sorted for £0. The fact it is leak free (or has no fluids in) is a bonus as well. 

I'll use it for a few days to make sure it is all good then probably get it advertised.