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General Murphio's Meanderings

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General Murphio's Meanderings

Vitesse said:
I demand Murphio's Meanderings continue.
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Murphio will continue to meander, whether reported here or not. But now he's been to every Scottish Highland destination that I have ever been to in my modern car and been photographed there as well, it's all getting very repetitive.
For instance, it's hardly worth reporting that he made it over The Lecht (very high road to a ski-resort) and back this afternoon and done well over a thousand miles over the last three weeks...500 (appropriately enough) this week alone.
I started this to prove that a standard Fiat 500 can be driven over long distances with no harm to car or driver; on that matter I rest my case...the job is done. (Well, not sure about the "harm to driver" bit.) :eek::eek::eek:
 
So how do we get this thread to become a classic 500 sticky at the top so it doesn't get lost. I'm sure people joining later who have just bought a 500 will find it very inspiring.
 
1500500 said:
I'm sure people joining later who have just bought a 500 will find it very inspiring.
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I hope it has, but I think that everyone who contributes here is helping in that way by showing real enthusiasm, bordering on fanaticism.:D

Today Murf just sat there and watched as lambs invaded the garden and tested out my slab-laying skills.
FOR_5099 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
He's up on the ramps as I took off the clutch cover plate between the gearbox and engine. This was the last place with a trace of oil from leaks. I degreased it and slightly tightened the sump screws. It looks like the oil originated from previous leaks as there wasn't any obvious front gearbox or rear engine leak. But Fiat did think it necessary to put a little hole there; probably to allow oil to drain.
 
The fluffy, garden bandit is being photographed through a window. They don't seem to see through it but get agitated by their own reflection.:rolleyes:
We have the hens, wild rabbits, stoats, owls and badgers in the garden, so we can do without the sheep.
The messing with that car never ceases and I seem to make my own problems. I did a short 15 mile return journey this morning and was really pushing it on the way back as it was past my lunchtime. I had previously noticed an occasional misfire on tickover and the engine sounded a bit strange at speed and it started misfiring more noticeably as we reached home.
A few weeks ago I had replaced the condenser with one off my van, just to eliminate it as the source of a problem, so that was my first target. The insulation at the end around the wire was coming loose so I put back the original, two year-old one and all seems OK again...must take out a bank-loan and buy a Swiftune.
 
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I have been away on Mallorca, but as has been noted, I still couldn't resist dipping into the Forum quite a lot. It's a lovely island away from the tourist centres and with some phenomenally exciting and challenging roads. How I wish Murf could have meandered there with me. He could have fit in the plane I'm sure. It's another target destination for the future.
Having returned here to amazingly similar weather, I decided to have another go at sealing the windscreen bottom corners whilst they are really dry. I was surprised to find that the non-setting sealant was very dry and flaked. Fingers crossed it will stop the annoying weepage.

Some of you will know that Murf has a half brother as well as his cousin Michio.;)
MAL_6048 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
I had welded on the front wing before the holiday; just a few tacks so if they ever go out of production:rolleyes::rolleyes: it can always be re-used. I had previously reunited the two halves that the panel had been cut into for practical carriage from Italy.
So now I need to prepare it for paint; the dilemma is, will I be allowed to paint it yellow or will it have to match the colour scheme of the room? We have a huge interior gable wall but when you put a Fiat 500 inside a house, the car looks massive!!!
 
You do realised that you can't paint it, then polish it up like a new car and then stick it on the wall. That wouldn't fit with current trends.

Once it enters the front door it no longer remains patinated! It needs to be referred to as "distressed look" or "shabby chic" that's what is currently en vogue.

I have no doubt you will be able to achieve this look successfully!!! :D:nerner:
 
Today's meander looks on the map like a straight line. It was the 140 miles along the big "split" of Scotland which Loch Ness occupies, all the way down to Kilmelford in Argyll.
I couldn't resist a 10 mile diversion to the island of Seil, which is separated from the mainland by a very narrow sea channel over which there is a 200 year-old high, arched bridge.
MAL_6275 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
It is referred to as "The Bridge Over the Atlantic" because the natural channel is technically a part of that expanse of water.
MAL_6285 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
So total mileage for the day was 290 miles and I am sure that the engine sounded better at the end than at the start of the day......like a brand new washing machine on the final spin-cycle:D
Latest fuel consumption.....a stunning 57.5 mpg.
 
Great pictures, had my honeymoon week on the Isle of Seil.

Went over that bridge, great pub just up on the right hand side.

I must venture north in my 500.

H A
 
Unbelievable the amount of miles you do Peter and you get to do it in a beautiful part of the world too.
 
Paolo66 said:
Unbelievable the amount of miles you do Peter and you get to do it in a beautiful part of the world too.
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I have to do the miles for my work in any case, so why not have the pleasure/slight challenge/sense of achievement of the 500? The strange thing is that compared to a modern car, the Fiat is less tiring and despite choosing not to have radio/mp3-player, I don't get bored with the drive.
next week I'm off on three ferries to the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides and the week after we go to the Isle of Mull.
 
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fiat500 said:
The strange thing is that compared to a modern car, the Fiat is less tiring and despite choosing not to have radio/mp3-player, I don't get bored with the drive.
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It's the same with a Defender, especially in summer. Open the front vents, drop down the windows, ease off the pace, and enjoy your surroundings. Then you lean forward and turn the stereo off. ;)
 
1500500 said:
People thought I was weird when I said I preferred the sound of the car. Glad to know I'm not the only one?
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Me too!
In my modern, once I'm under way on a long stint of driving, the engine note (diesel) doesn't change when I stick (as I do) to 60 mph. Part of the pleasure of driving the 500 and more essential with the non-synchro, is to use the engine sounds to signal gear changes....often not a moment to lose!?
 
nzbobc said:
Wow, that is phenomenal mileage, Peter. What do you get on average? We're averaging ~32mpg (all city miles, tho).
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32???:eek: You must have the Lamborghini-powered model Bob.
I had never 100% properly checked the mpg until yesterday, although with no fuel gauge and big mileages in remote places I have have developed a sense for how far we can go on a tank.
I always reckon I can do at least 200 miles on a tankful. But yesterday I started with a full tank, right to the neck of the filler, and topped-up with just under 17.5 litres after 218 miles just about five miles after the red light first flashed.
The journey was perfect for a 500 on rolling, winding roads with no motorways and my usual cruising speed of 50 mph and the odd burst to nearly 60. A couple of slogging 2nd gear hills for maybe three miles in total. Bar from two small sets of roadworks there were no traffic lights. The air temperature was about 14C and the engine temperature seemed just right as always.
It's certainly a great bonus that the car is so frugal in addition to all of its other attractive assets.
 
I really can't justify the cost of £40, which is what the Swiftune condenser/or costs with postage. But it has been a pressing concern to get a good spare since electronic ignition is off the menu (at least for now).
The pattern part fitted to my engine for the last two years can't be bad as the thing buzzes along unfalteringly. But its time will come and I need to be ready; for instance, we will be on the Outer Hebrides tomorrow and I wouldn't want to get stuck so far from home.
I can't be alone in scanning Ebay regularly for spares and my main interest is original parts or those genuinely made by the original manufacturer.
This Marelli condenser was a bargain at £6.00 and it's easy to see, even from the outside, that this thing is built to a good specification. The bit not shown, the weak point where the wire enters the body is really neatly done.
MAL_6563 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
 
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I can't understand the need for electronic ignition.

Very simple design, mine works perfectly.

I think you have proved that it is reliable Peter.

I do carry spares, carb distributer etc, better to be prepared.

Much quicker to mend it yourself, if it is something simple.

H A
 
H A said:
I can't understand the need for electronic ignition.

Very simple design, mine works perfectly.

I think you have proved that it is reliable Peter.

I do carry spares, carb distributer etc, better to be prepared.

Much quicker to mend it yourself, if it is something simple.

H A
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That's where my thoughts are going.
The electronic version is still a distributor with moving parts and a pinion gear that can wear.
The one part that can wear for which there isn't an electronic equivalent...the points, is very easy to diagnose and adjust or even replace. I wouldn't know where to start if the electronics played-up. Even worse, I would always have an unknown quantity when tring to diagnose erratic runnng. Even the option to change the advance curve...so what? It seems like this is the equivalent of "re-mapping" on more modern cars, which is also something I wouldn't get involved in.
Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a rant against electronics, more a thumbs-up for genuine parts.(y)
 
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