1985 Ford Granada Ghia X Estate
Discussion
The aircon is one of the few amazing technowonders that no longer works on this car. If I tried to make it work, I might invent fire, but in the engine bay, so I'll leave it for now.
I can confirm that the power seats and the seat heating work. Toasty and irradiated Chernobyl nadgers achieved.
I can confirm that the power seats and the seat heating work. Toasty and irradiated Chernobyl nadgers achieved.
Not only do the lights regularly give you false warnings (my wife' s 2001 Saab 9-3 is almost as bad for this - its info panel constantly telling fibs about stuff that isn't broken, so you ignore broken stuff that really is broken), but the Granny's warning lights are in a dumb place, distracting you from the road. Still, looks cool to have airliner stylee lighty uppy stuff on the ceiling.
This one also does the thing where when you switch the headlights on the temp gauge shoots up. Switch them off, and it goes back to normal.
This one also does the thing where when you switch the headlights on the temp gauge shoots up. Switch them off, and it goes back to normal.
Better, I think, than other autoboxes of that era that I have sampled. The box does not seem to act as a massive power drain or make the car mega thirsty. There is a slightly rubbish kickdown, but you don't need that, as you just open the throttle and blat off. This all applies once you are up to speed. The car won't win any traffic light tearaways.
This car has done over 180K. It's still on its original gearbox as far as I know.
My dad's Grannycar had an autobox, which worked fine until one day it lost its fluid for some reason that I cannot now recall. It was OK once whatever caused the leak was fixed and new fluid was bunged in. The car was reliable while my dad had it, and after he sold the car (I can't remember why he sold it) he regretted the sale.
My dad's Grannycar had an autobox, which worked fine until one day it lost its fluid for some reason that I cannot now recall. It was OK once whatever caused the leak was fixed and new fluid was bunged in. The car was reliable while my dad had it, and after he sold the car (I can't remember why he sold it) he regretted the sale.
JakeT said:
Breadvan72 said:
I try to terrify and intimidate all of my cars by having cosumables and spares in the boot, but this plan does not always succeed.
The car is mega shonky in many ways, but also good fun and very usable.
A bonus feature from being shonky: I live in an area where people have appalling road manners, often combined with poor driving skills. Many people around here drive vast SUVs, and insist on always being in the middle of the road. Many drive at a constant 40 mph regardless of speed limit and road conditions (They trug along fast A and B roads at 40, and then go through crowded and narrow villages at 40. They are wazzocks). These t
ts never give way, never share the road, and so on. When they see the Granada coming, however, they immediately drive into the nearest ditch. This is good.
The car is mega shonky in many ways, but also good fun and very usable.
A bonus feature from being shonky: I live in an area where people have appalling road manners, often combined with poor driving skills. Many people around here drive vast SUVs, and insist on always being in the middle of the road. Many drive at a constant 40 mph regardless of speed limit and road conditions (They trug along fast A and B roads at 40, and then go through crowded and narrow villages at 40. They are wazzocks). These t
ts never give way, never share the road, and so on. When they see the Granada coming, however, they immediately drive into the nearest ditch. This is good. 
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff