Second SAAB

Pop to work in black SAAB then of to Liverpool that evening in blue SAAB.

Autumn Red

Ferrari to work.

Slow drive in as I was late, but a lovely - long way home - drive home in the sun set.

Overheard a divided conversation about it. Not his cup of tea, too expensive to run etc. She liked it.

It was going to be a Ford day but

There was no petrol in the Focus so opted for the SAAB again.

How much engineering ?

How much engineering goes into a cup holder - how much time and energy ?
SAAB run in due to mist and lethargy.

Aston in the Gloom

Well sun shone late on - but started with a slight drizzle. Still can't get the seat perfect.

308 a treat again

As autumn sun continues.

Open Gate

Traditional Ferrari: open gate, slider controls and toggle switches.

Nice run out in the sunshine too as autumn warms up.

3 in a row

Three journeys in the SAAB that is - as someone said SAAB's don't age that much.
That is probably part of their downfall - if you can't show off with the latest car as it looks like the last one then many people won't buy them.
And beardie wierdies who don't really care if the car is 1 or 5 or 10 years old don't change their cars much either.

Another blue SAAB day

Colder morning and the car harder to start. Run to the station and a bump from the rear suspension.

SAAB to the station again.

Drizzle and commuting - not the best combination.
SAAB went into administration last week so not sure how long the brand has got.

One-77 Album

Another "A" Day

Aston again as it was just a small trip to the office and back. Hardly gets warm - sounds so great though - I keep forgetting it's got a radio.

Looking Blue

Aston lookin a bit blue in the sunshine.

How much stuff ?

Second full car of stuff taken to Portsmouth for Oliver. Car now just past 172k.

It's One-77 day

I went with a pre-conceived idea that the One-77 would be an ugly brutish car.

The pictures in the press just lie - they do not represent the majestic beauty of the beast at rest.

In pure white this car stood like a medieval knight - ready to sweep a maiden away from harm.

It was stunning.

The drive back in the Vantage was even better for the memory.

Nearly Mist this Morning

Mainly just warm exhaust from the car in the cold air.

HeadIng for Norfolk in the early dawn

An early morning dash.

Blue Bus again

As the wind sweeps the tail of the storm towards us. Also need to get a post so have the roof rack.

Just backwards and forwards again

Rain so SAAB

Dashing here and there

Alpine in disgrace. Failed the MOT on Steering and brakes. So it's left to slumber under the cover until I can get round to it.

Also dropped the Aston off to get the seat belt replaced.

Will the sun ever come out

One into four does go

Getting to choose - one of every colour perhaps is a bit strong but ... then again.

SAAB in the September rain

Trusty SAAB splashing through the rain again. A year on and it's done 170k+ and still climbing.

Disgusting Car

I spent 15 mins clearing out crap from the Focus this morning.

Highlights were chips, MacDonald's Ketchup, paper, makeup bits, more paper crap etc.

Not to mention the clothes and shoes.

Ummm...

Edition 38

Letter sent to Classic and Sporscar - that they did not print.

I read James Butler's article in 'our classics' about his Golf GTi with more interest than normal this month. In fact I recently scanned all of my back issues for Golf information. This is because my younger son appears to becoming the next generation of 'enthusiasts'.

We saw this car at the Silverstone classic where it diverted the attention of my son (also a James) who has become besotted with Golf's since taking up learning to drive. An interest that I did help along the path by buying a nice MK2 Golf GTi for him to learn in - and I've noticed you don't see many with L plates do you !

After the e-type parade (we were in car 254) we went over to look at it and its great example if a near stock MK1, I was told. I'm now learning to spot MK1's by the narrow front wing.

I have been a serial offender when it comes to classics. So my kids have grown up around old cars - whether taking holidays in a Citroën DS, enduring long trips to camp sites in a cramped Ginetta G4 or taking their mates home 5 up, in a Series I Sunbeam Alpine.

All this exposure to fine motoring metal seems to have rubbed off on my James. He recently persuaded to take him and a mate to Edition 38. I discovered this was a festival of VW car culture (mainly Golfs) with 100s of well-maintained and beautifully prepared and modified cars gleaming in the weak sunshine.

What struck me having knocked around the classic car scene for 20 years was that it put a typical car club meeting to shame with the dedication shown to the cars. The level of cleaning that took place, put my efforts to 'detail' the E-type ahead of Silverstone under a dull shadow.

Finally I indulged in a spot of photo-shopping when I got home and produced the poster below - showing the colour, shine and above all variety of 'rims' on offer !  Made me pop out and polish my wire wheels as soon as I could the next weekend.

Come on the next generation I say !

Edition38 Shot

Off to Edition38

Well it's a car show in Northampton for VW's I'm told.

James drove all the 220 miles in the Golf.

Pickup from Brentwood

Collecting the Aston this afternoon.

It needed the four wheel alignment re-setting.

A Slight September chill in the air as I drove the SAAB to the station. That car passed 170,000 miles in it this summer and still going strong.

Aston Stories

It's been a long while since I have been treated that well in a garage

I guess that's what having an Aston us supposed to feel like

Grubby SAAB

SAAB getting very grubby. Not sure when it will be cleaned again. No classic action as the salt is still on the roads.

Just Looking out of the window

Not mine though

DB Time. How to impress the locals lesson #1. Park a DB on the drive for the day.

Just B&Qing in SAAB again

Not SAAB again

More Ice than Nice

Nothing

Fleet of Moderns

SAAB and Slush

Salt and Slush

Gritting even though the roads are ok. SAAB trips and looking at the classics. Ho Hum.

Back to 2 degrees

Minus 11

Minus 11 did not feel as cold as I expected. Roads had been cleared too - so most of the drive in was fine. SAAB doing well this winter.

London Snow

Drove into London first thing. A bit slow on A12 but small roads in the capital were bad. Could not get the SAAB up the hill.

Ice skating in a 308.

Might have been mad - picking up the Ferrari with heavy snow forecast and ice on the roads. But it wanted to come home for Christmas. Bad run back through lots of black ice - mid engine and no weight on front wheels did not make it easy.

Nice collection in Grimaldi's though.

Focus windscreen replaced and then put up the new bubble in a box and parked up the 308.

Busy and cold day

Just more minus numbers

Frozen doors

AA meeting

Keeping warm by hugging my iPhone battery as I sit in a snow covered golf in the airport carpark at 8:00 at night.

Modern cars. Electrical problems abound. And they want us all to drive fully electric cars.

Turn back the clock stop about 1996 before fly by wire and builde something robust.

Cracking up

Small chip in Focus windscreen - then a 3 foot crack !

A Garage Helps

Focus in the garage. No need to defrost. Started first time. I could get used to this...

Flat Focus

Tryes keep going down. Had to pump front on up again. Same on the SAAB.

Taken Away

308 on back of trailer to get the fuel pump fixed.

At least it's not on the salty road.

Final Focus Friday

For a while. 308 ON TRAILOR TOMORROW.

Thawing

Still zero and Focus doing well.

Just plodding through Winter

Focus week to keep it running. Heated front windscreen is nice this weather.

Smattering of snow on HPV.

Ice and Fig

Focus squeaks a lot when starting from cold.