Talking B____X

Post by **Tim Leech** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:07 pm

Nice picture, life is a funny old thing, but you have your health, a loving wife that puts up with your taste in strange old cars and two beautiful daughters (I can say that as I've met them).

Im hoping 2012 will be a good year all round. Roll on May, I cant wait!

Post by **Defender110** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:27 pm

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:24 pm

Still not looking much better this year

I have to say, the Challenge - for me - looks an increasingly unlikely adventure!

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:00 pm

Seems we might have a way to solve at least part of the problem...

In the meantime I'm putting my 18-yr old daughter on the Red Baron's insurance.

Maybe that's not such a good idea?

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:09 pm

Just found this pic. And now realise I officially miss my XM.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:33 pm

Philip Chidlow wrote:Just found this pic. And now realise I officially miss my XM.

Hmmmm, nah.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:59 pm

It's petrol, you might miss the idea Phil, but your bank balance at the pumps won't be missing it.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:27 pm

Actually, it was no worse than the Xantia. It was a manual so it would be more manageable on the economy front (but I would still have preferred it to be an auto), and around town it wasn't easy to achieve better than 24mpg but on a run I was getting mid-thirties. On an 800 mile run from SW France to home via Paris, I got 33.5mpg, three up plus luggage. I was not too upset by that.

Having said that if a nice automatic diesel XM was available - which had the legs of the 2.0 turbo (not that the 2.1 does and I think the 2.5 only came in a manual), but regularly managed over 40mpg, I might return to XM ownership.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:47 am

I guess this is a corner of this forum where I can have a quiet little whinge.

I have had a lot of support and interest from a number of people for the Challenge. I have a firm 10 teams taking part - including me (if I can possibly make it happen I will!), but there are probably another 12 who have said they're going but haven't as yet officially entered. People ask to be put on the e-mailing list, which I do, but the communication (with a few worthy exceptions - mostly signed up participants) is so one-way as to make my task pretty difficult (albeit self-induced, I know). With less than 100 days to go, I have to ask how hard can it be to say 'yes I am going if all goes to plan, here's my entry form and fee so you can get the printing etc. done' or 'Sorry, no can do' - or even a 'can't be sure yet so unless you hear from me soon, assume I'm not going' - something would be nice!

Well, at least those who are committed seem to be looking forward to it

(Whinge over).

saintjamesy89 · Post by **saintjamesy89** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:44 pm

Philip Chidlow wrote:Here's a picture that doesn't sum it up really, but the day it was taken was one of the best. We met up with friends at 'our' (that is, our favourite from the days before we moved out there) Gîte and it was just perfect.

Even getting 19mpg from the Merc didn't upset me lol!

Wow! That picture just about epitomises my plan for older-life, retire somewhere beautiful and remote with an awesome car. I might have to swap the big merc for a mulsanne or something similar, and add some pretty garages with my most cherished in. But otherwise!

Assuming it was a 420/500? That's not bad surely!

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:07 pm

Thanks

It was a 300 SE. Lovely engine (once we'd spent a couple of grand on it) and on a run managed over 25 mpg sometimes. Offset somewhat by the probable 15 mpg around town! And in today's money it would cost nearly £130 to fill up

saintjamesy89 · Post by **saintjamesy89** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:20 pm

£130 to fill up?! Gosh. I do approve of the straight 6, best engine sound in my opinion - I think a good one betters a v8. I have limited experience (i'm only 22) but they seem to be very smooth, especially when coupled to an auto 'box a consequence maybe of being used in more luxurious cars?
I'd really like a Rover SD1 2.6, even though they are renowned for head problems.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:28 pm

saintjamesy89 wrote: £130 to fill up?!

Necking it would take 97 litres of unleaded. And it rather excelled on SP98 too... not the 10% Ethanol rubbish they are increasingly doing, pretty exclusively, in France.

saintjamesy89 · Post by **saintjamesy89** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:34 pm

Wow what a large tank! Almost double my astra's wee little 52L. On the fuel, the astra does seem to run much better on the 98/99RON stuff, smoother and more responsive, not sure it effects economy as much as they claim though. I do use tesco's 99RON momentum if I can.

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:32 pm

Well, at least those who are committed seem to be looking forward to it

I certainly am - I just hope I don't spend the holiday budget preparing the GS for the trip