Smart Roadster wrangling writing

[Mac69400]

Following a successful MOT, I'd booked it into 4 Smart in Toddington near Cheltenham for a service and a list of jobs that need looking at. 

I'd had a trip to Mansfield in the crap van yesterday to pick up some Hymer bits, and got back unexpectedly early. I dropped the car off yesterday afternoon and left in a 53 plate fortwo that went suspiciously well. 

I'd told Giles that I had time on my hands and wanted a list of jobs, rather than a big shopping list. He rang this morning to let me know the front engine mount would need replacing. One had come with the car, and while I'd been pissing about with the starter motor, it was at the back of my mind to swap it. Lazy fucker that I am, I didn't. I also didn't leave it in the car. While I walked the dogs I decided it would be better if Giles did it. Not even an hour's labour. I think it would have taken me a day. 

I've just picked it up. I wouldn't say it's transformed, but the gear change is definitely better than before. I'm off to make sure with an extended test drive. 

While I was there, he reassured me that it was a nice example that had clearly been looked after by previous owners. He also tempted me to a remap and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. It's at about 80bhp just now, he reckons he can take it to 125. I'm not sure I'm responsible enough for that. 

 

[Mac69400]

After such good news, I sat on my arse for a while to take it in. Then I realised everything else I had to do today could be put off for another time and fucked off for a drive. 

I moan like hell about the town I live in. Some of the moaning is justified, a lot of it is me being a dick. Anyway, while I moan about the town itself, it's surrounded by beautiful countryside. 

I pottered about aimlessly.

The dark blue line is what I did this evening. Between Broadway and Winchcombe are some beautiful villages. 

This will, in the next couple of weeks, be a wonderful lavender field just outside Snowshil. 

I didn't take many pictures, because the dog was a pain in the arse and I had the wrong shoes on.

Here's a lovely village. 

I think this might be the same village, or one with a very similar name. 

Here's the pain in the arse yawning at me. He's pretty good in the footwell on the move but as soon as I stop he wants to be out. 

We did about 60 miles in a couple of hours. It's fucking low. Even the slightest crest in the road is a blind crest. The automated gearbox isn't very good, putting it mildly. I keep forgetting to change gear with it in manual, though. I might have to spend money with 4 smart on the paddle shift, but I think I'll still forget.

As I said ages ago, this is the first car I've had that's just a toy. One ex wife in particular might dispute that. It's a great thing to play with, doesn't take up a lot of room and if I wasn't a lazy fuck, it's easy to work on and the information to help with that is easily available online. 

The fortwo I had as a courtesy car was a lot of fun, too. They're cheap, and I think they'd be great AS fodder. 

[Mac69400]

More boring roadster stuff. Today, I had to drop H off with my brother and his dog for the weekend. They live on a narrowboat, so it's always somewhere different. Today, he was going to be in the shade opposite the Boat Inn in Gnosall. Many years ago, I lived on a narrowboat, and I remember the Shropshire Union canal being astonishingly boring. According to my brother, that hasn't changed in the last 3 decades. No locks, very few corners, and arable land as far as you can see. Also, the Shroppie Shelf, a shallow bit just off the centre. When you pass another boat and give them enough room, you run aground. It makes mooring tricky, too. 

Anyway, I racked up another 130 miles on the roadster today, on some beautiful roads. I'm going to have a crack at sorting the air conditioning next. Cold legs and a hot head would be awesome, I think. And expensive, probably. 

To even up the canal/roadster balance, it's still low. In traffic, the headlights of the car behind are often at the same level as the mirrors. It gives the impression that the following car is very, very close. 

More practice with the gearbox makes it more intuitive, but it'll be a long time before I get used to changing gear without a clutch.  

Pleasingly, it uses almost exactly a litre of petrol per 10 miles. I've filled it a few times now. Yesterday was 27 litres for 278 miles. I think that's almost 47mpg, and I'm very happy with that. 

I'm off to a festival until Monday, then oncology stuff Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so the Hymer's coming out and the cars are staying home for a few days.