Sunday, August 16, 2020

Economical, or what!

 A couple of posts back I mentioned that I was getting an economical 55mpg out of the Duster, but now we are back on the road and allowed out to play, things are getting interesting.

First we have been running from home to Exeter at regular intervals. Half of the route is along the A30 so cruising around 65-70mph is the norm. On the round trip we have averaged about 58mpg.

On days when my dear wife takes me out for a 'mooch' - touring the lanes, looking for some unsuspecting flowers and vistas to photograph - we rarely get above 50mph, and are usually under 30 (they are that kind of lane!). These times are when things get strange. Today, after filling with diesel in Bideford and resetting all the readings, we got home after some 35+ miles having averaged 67.7 mpg. Now I reckon them hybrid things would be pushed to get that - so I am well chuffed (not good English, but it conveys the appropriate emotion) with that!

Do you remember the antics on the Mobil Economy Runs of the 1960s?

What do you think?

Friday, April 10, 2020

Banged up in Devon

Certainly no chance of a motoring story now. One month in solitary and only allowed to make essential trips to the supermarket - but it does mean that I am so bored I washed the car!

I've never been a fan of the automatic car washes, nor the 'do-it-by-hand' offerings which always seem to have dirty water, and cloths that have washed a hundred vehicles before they get to mine. So I do it my self, which means not very often.

I have a method. Ideally the day is not too sunny and hot, nor windy and cold. Picky eh!
First, with luke warm (tepid) water and a clean sponge, I wash off the heavy accumulations - a mud and cow shit combo mostly. Sometimes I can use three or four buckets full. This reveals the colour of the paintwork below - already she's looking better.

Next, more tepid water with either a specialist car shampoo (if I've had a gift), or domestic washing-up liquid, not too strong. Most enthusiasts would not recommend the Fairy approach, but it does cut through the grime and grease nicely. I start with the roof, then work round the car at window level, bonnet, down to door panels and grill and bumpers. This keeps the dirt moving downwards. I wash the wheels last as they are the dirtiest. A stiff brush is good for getting between the spokes on the alloys.

Finish the washing process with a rinse with clean water and a fresh sponge, drying with a chamois leather as you go. Super job!

I don't usually bother with polish, but this time I did. It said on the bottle it was for motorcycles, but one shiny body panel is the same as any other, so I used it. A real good shake to get the creamy liquid nicely mixed and we were off. I do one panel at a time, spread the cream on with a circular motion - wax on! Once it has gone cloudy, polish it off with a soft microfibre
cloth - wax off!

By doing the job my self I get chance to inspect the condition of the paint close-up. I get to notice small scratches and blemishes that have been caused by normal day-to-day use, and I get to clean the parts others can't (or don't) reach - door shuts, bonnet edges, wheel arch edges, etc.

So that filled about three hours, I still had time to sit in the garden with a cold beer and admire my handiwork.

Stay safe, stay home, wash your hands, and wash your car - Happy Covid-19 lockdown!

Monday, February 24, 2020

Bit of a Duster-ing

The last post was in December 2017 - it is now February 2020! Strewth - time really does fly!

Anyway, 2018 was good. Settled in to retirement, stopped (nearly) pining for my old Honda NC750, and got to grips with life in the slow lane.

2019, and things got a little hectic. Son moved out, we covered ridiculous miles looking for a new home, them we moved out, and ran away to Devon.

So that was the short version. Continuing with a motoring theme, we found that the roads down here are not really suited to an SRi Astra. Wide, and low profile tyres, combined with low and slightly sporty suspension do not work well with potholes, mud, slurry, unidentifiable lumps, sheep, and random spring water.

The above, together with the prospect of new tyres, a service, and a new cam belt, made us look for something more appropriate.

High on my list was a Defender SWB, Range Rover, or Ford F150. Not surprisingly, Julie thought something a little more in the 'value' bracket was in order. We decided on a Dacia Duster.

Don't laugh. We have a '17' Plate, 2x4 version, which is returning 55mpg, and copes with every thing the south west peninsular can throw at it - including stupid old gits who drive in to it in car parks.

Although it lacks off-road ability, being 2x4 and not something I plan on needing, it has 'proper' size tyres, softer suspension with longer travel, better ground clearance, and being a little narrower in the beam, means it is most suited to life in the lanes.

So if you want something practical, comfortable, economical, and priced right, you can't do much better than a Duster - Renault technology, Romanian pricing.

I still miss riding the bike :(