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The scariness will be those diddy driveshafts twisting.
We've got loads of those pointy "tents" up here...good for hiding under. .
General Murphio's Meanderings
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General Murphio's Meanderings
The scariness will be those diddy driveshafts twisting.
We've got loads of those pointy "tents" up here...good for hiding under. .Bigvtwin996
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I don't doubt a 500 can do most speeds... but on the open road..... I guess the feeling of what may happen brings home how fragile we are...
Sitting with a petrol tank over my legs and nothing more than two thin sheets of steel between me and what may happen....
The Original 500 Crash testing... they were probably pushed into each other
a 30mph frontal impact
a low speed impact
what happens when you run into the back of something higher
even bigger classics struggle... when they hit something bigger
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That petrol tank location was the best safety feature ever designed; always a prominent consideration in my mind. I call it my airbag and I want it never to go off.
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That petrol tank location was the best safety feature ever designed; always a prominent consideration in my mind. I call it my airbag and I want it never to go off.
Earlier this week I needed to top-up with petrol at a remote location called Tongue on the north coat of Scotlland. They still had a non-self-service pump and I made my usualy "witty" obdervation about this safety feature. The very literal and pragmatic woman serving me said, "It would only be a problem in a head-on crash"; she didn't seem to be trying to be witty herself.
In all we travelled more than 275 miles in a day, which is possible partly because even in the height of summer and with the increased popularity of the NC500 the roads are amazingly quiet.
I drove on a road which is new to me between Lairg and Laxford Bridge. It's about 40 miles with hardly any houses, no junctions and single-track. It's a stunning road from the driving and the scenery point of view and everyone should try it.
We stopped at one of the north's premier beaches, Ceannabeinne and it was quite busy, with a zip-wire setup above and glorious warm sunshine.
It was just a bit of proving for Murf who sets off shortly on our longest challenge to date.
FER_3416 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
FER_3410 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
FER_3060 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
FER_3052 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
FER_3057 by Peter Thompson, on FlickrBigvtwin996
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......
I drove on a road which is new to me between Lairg and Laxford Bridge. It's about 40 miles with hardly any houses, no junctions and single-track. It's a stunning road from the driving and the scenery point of view and everyone should try it.
We stopped at one of the north's premier beaches, Ceannabeinne and it was quite busy, with a zip-wire setup above and glorious warm sunshine.
It was just a bit of proving for Murf who sets off shortly on our longest challenge to date.
here we go again....
making us all jealous not only of you driving a 500 daily as part of your work, but then through such beautiful scenery..
I can imagine the camper photos that will come against a backdrop of the Pyramids of Gizer etc...
Keep the pics coming it really does make me want to get out to such beautiful places...
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I'm not so sure I'll ever get past the south of England after this most recent meander. We're now 1,600 miles into an SEVEN! day tour. 280 hard miles from Cornwall today almost entirely by motorway and fast A-roads.here we go again....
making us all jealous not only of you driving a 500 daily as part of your work, but then through such beautiful scenery..
I can imagine the camper photos that will come against a backdrop of the Pyramids of Gizer etc...
Keep the pics coming it really does make me want to get out to such beautiful places...
Sheila's suggesting I now set off north on my own and throw the plane ticket away.... I'm not sure.
Today we made it to Stonehenge and Murf was a bit underwhelmed as we couldn't photograph him in the centre of the stones. All is good on the mechanical front although four garages have now refused to fix a puncture in a tubed tyre. Petrol consumption is closely monitored and is around 58mpg. I have used about 250ml oil. I think the engine is run-in now. Attachments
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We usually stop about every 100 miles. The car will go all day at 60. I am leaning towards a rapid turnaround and I think that's goodbye to The South forever.
Bigvtwin996
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We usually stop about every 100 miles. The car will go all day at 60. I am leaning towards a rapid turnaround and I think that's goodbye to The South forever.
I am amazed that this slow, unreliable car that overheats as soon as you start it... can cover such a journey...
Have you reported back to Fiat?
Your trips are a true inspiration...
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I am amazed that this slow, unreliable car that overheats as soon as you start it... can cover such a journey...
Have you reported back to Fiat?
Your trips are a true inspiration...
Thanks for that thumbs-up. I'm still wondering what's the point of a bigger sump and an oil-cooler when I've been running all day at that speed "dahn sarf" where it's hot.
In fact I was at the low mark on the dipstick for three hours until I bought some more oil. So currently it's a mixture of synthetic 10W60, semi-synthetic 15W40 and mineral 20W50; so I can heartily recommend them all. I'm not home yet, so smugness is a bit premature, but I do feel we continue to counter all of the scare stories about this esoteric and temperamental old vehicle. This is the "weary" engine after nine hours on the road:
[ame]https://youtu.be/0STfiTx1N6Q[/ame]
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Poor, lonely car.... I chickened out and flew back home, covering the four day car journey in one hour and ten minutes. At least he's got luxury accommodation for the next few weeks.Thanks for that thumbs-up. I'm still wondering what's the point of a bigger sump and an oil-cooler when I've been running all day at that speed "dahn sarf" where it's hot.
This is the "weary" engine after nine hours on the road:
https://youtu.be/0STfiTx1N6Q
Thanks for that thumbs-up. I'm still wondering what's the point of a bigger sump and an oil-cooler when I've been running all day at that speed "dahn sarf" where it's hot.
This is the "weary" engine after nine hours on the road:
https://youtu.be/0STfiTx1N6Q
Sounds sweet. Does it normally tick over that high? I am only asking as I, even after all these years, I am not sure where it is happiest? I think it ticks over best when it runs higher than you would a modern to?
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Yep, I took your advice some time ago and stopped chasing that elusive, slow tickover that's just before stalling. It means that even when I have to stop suddenly after miles of driving on a high speed, dual-carriageway, such as you suvverners have tons of,
there's no stalling and plenty of fan speed for cooling. The tickover is very steady and I didn't have a single occurrence of difficult starting, hot or cold.
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Yep, I took your advice some time ago and stopped chasing that elusive, slow tickover that's just before stalling. It means that even when I have to stop suddenly after miles of driving on a high speed, dual-carriageway, such as you suvverners have tons of,
Yes I do remember that conversation
It’s easy to get caught up in the slow tick over game of perfection. If you do try it, as you say, it tends to have a tendency to drop in revs and almost stall after a long drive when you suddenly come to a stop.
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Not until the 9th September and it will be a drag waiting so long.When’s the return trip to reclaim Murf? You’ll be lost without him
I wish I'd realised that a few days earlier and my brother could have got me into Goodwood Revival. But the positive thing is that I won't need to rush back and will be able to visit some people and places on the way. I'm already benefitting from the lack of distraction as I've done a repair to my modern car for the MOT.
IanEmery
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You’ve found a modern car that it’s possible to work on? Which laptop do you use?
I know what you mean. But having been fleeced for so many servicing and repair jobs during the first few years of ownership, and occasionally having consequential problems caused by clumsy repairs, I gritted my teeth and gradually learned that whilst modern cars are heavily built and have complex electrics, mechanically they are in many ways simpler and certainly more consistent in design than older cars. So anything with the front suspension, steering and brakes is no problem to me now and oil and filters can be changed in under an hour. Good old C3 Picasso.
IanEmery
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I know what you mean. But having been fleeced for so many servicing and repair jobs during the first few years of ownership, and occasionally having consequential problems caused by clumsy repairs, I gritted my teeth and gradually learned that whilst modern cars are heavily built and have complex electrics, mechanically they are in many ways simpler and certainly more consistent in design than older cars. So anything with the front suspension, steering and brakes is no problem to me now and oil and filters can be changed in under an hour. Good old C3 Picasso.
Yes, it’s the electronics that scare me
With regard to your previous comment: A very real shame that you and Murf couldn’t have got to ‘do’ the Goodwood Revival.
Are you intending your return journey to Scotland being a bit more leisurely, with perhaps more time spent sightseeing?
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I'm working on the possibility of making it to the Revival but (don't tell my brotherYes, it’s the electronics that scare me
With regard to your previous comment: A very real shame that you and Murf couldn’t have got to ‘do’ the Goodwood Revival.
Are you intending your return journey to Scotland being a bit more leisurely, with perhaps more time spent sightseeing?
) having been involved with two Goodwood events already I'm slightly bemused by what people find so attractive about it. I feel it's a bit overpriced and over-hyped The event we participated in was fun because of our own company and a great achievement but it was under-attended and under-resourced by Goodwood. Not only did we not get anything physical or as a gratuity to signify our attendance, there wasn't even any mention, ceremony or reception at the end....damp squib was my impression. Sorry to be negative.