Andy Ran's Driveway - My Car Journey from Past To Present

[Mr Tidy]

andy_ran said:

And a Ford Granada Scorpio - My dad used to love these when I was younger, we had 2 at one point! One was black like this but had the full RS body kit and the Cosworth 24v motor, so many fond memories of them

I love that photo of the Scorpio. I bought a Raven Black 2.8i Scorpio back in 1990 and I still haven't owned a car with so many gadgets!

[andy_ran]

Mr Tidy said:

I love that photo of the Scorpio. I bought a Raven Black 2.8i Scorpio back in 1990 and I still haven't owned a car with so many gadgets!

I remember as a kid having electric moving rear seats !! Mind was blown

[andy_ran]

Not much to report as of late other than the SLs battery seems to have died, it wont hold a charge

Bought a new battery only to find the one in the car is most likely under 5 years old and therefore under warranty- I was sure I had replaced it once before.

It went flat flat over the cold spell a while back and never recovered.

Shall hopefully get the new one credited back and given under a warranty replacement as I bought the same item

Done a few miles in the Murcielago recently, had a little run out with some friends which was well overdue

[J.R.B.]

Great car history. I’ve got two from your list as current cars - a CL63 and an L322 4.4 TDV8. I know exactly what you mean about the L322 - they get under your skin.

[andy_ran]

J.R.B. said:

Great car history. I’ve got two from your list as current cars - a CL63 and an L322 4.4 TDV8. I know exactly what you mean about the L322 - they get under your skin.

Thank you!

I loved my CL63 - It was such a capable car - I didn't suffer any issues apart from a wheel speed sensor failing the day I sold it - Typical.

Yeh the L322 is one of those, once you have had one, you will always want one affairs IMO

[andy_ran]

Bloody flipping roads

Front tyre has sustained damage on my way home on the outer side way and it's not loosing air. Bludge has appeared
I avoid potholes as best I can but that's one dead fairly new tyre

Cars not driveable now so now have the faff of ordering a replacement tyre, removing the wheel and wasting half a day as out poxy government can't maintain the roads

[andy_ran]

Spent some time getting the SL summer ready today - A few light scratches all over the car like this on the bonnet

So spent the morning doing a good wash then clay, followed up by a single pass with the DA and then sealant to finish



Finished off like this - not perfect by the car is a driver and not a show stopper



Need to get the new front wing fitted and painted but she scrubs up well




Also spent a bit of time removing the Suspension air compressor on the range rover as it failed yesterday - No warning was working perfectly then started making a loud "compressor noise"

Its rattling about like a box of stones now. I cant find a repair for the unit in the car so have just ordered an OEM quality one

Edited by andy_ran on Sunday 9th April 22:05

[andy_ran]

Bit more investigation this afternoon into the failed compressor

Its dead jim



Seems to be parts of the piston

[Eyersey1234]

Very varied car history. When did you have the Mk1 Focus?

[andy_ran]

Eyersey1234 said:

Very varied car history. When did you have the Mk1 Focus?

Thanks, I like to try different things

Had the focus from 2014 for about 2 years iirc

[andy_ran]

So it was a lovely day and lots of car shows last weekend in Saturday. So I had booked into Brooklands for the Festival Italia day

Left home nice and early, about 5 miles into the drive I noticed a puff of steam coming from the engine bay then nothing. A few mins later another, this time followed with a strong whiff of coolant!!

Oh dear.... So I pull into the petrol station which was my first stop anyway to discover the car is reliving itself all over the forecourt - Bugger!!



Doesn't look much here but this was after only a moment of pushing it to a parking spot

Coolant was pouring out and down the right hand side of the engine bay

I didn't have any decent tools in the car, so started to strip the engine bay covers and exhaust heat shield off with my pen knife screw driver while me friend who was with me went over the road to the handy car parts shop, and waited for them to open.

By the time he came back a lovely chap had come to me aid and given me a screw driver and I had the engine bay apart.

Small hose from the expansion bottle to the balance pipe between the two rads had spung a pin hole leak - Quick de-pressurise of the system by carefully removing the cap on the expansion bottle and the leak stopped.



Another trip over to the store and a new length of hose was bought, then fitted, only before a 3rd visit to get new hose clamps and off we set for Brooklands

I spent 20 mins when we had arrived and the car cooled down to put the engine bay back together, much to the surprise of all the other Lamborghini owners who all agreed they have never worked on their own car

[andy_ran]

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Excellent work. Working on the cars is half the fun, if you ask me. I get that’s not everyone’s view though.

You seem to have been lucky to have owned lots of interesting cars. Really nice to see that you’ve ended up with your dream car

[andy_ran]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

Excellent work. Working on the cars is half the fun, if you ask me. I get that’s not everyone’s view though.

You seem to have been lucky to have owned lots of interesting cars. Really nice to see that you’ve ended up with your dream car

I totally agree, I do really enjoy working on cars, I would love to have a proper size workshop / garage, but sadly where I live thats just not feasible.

Thank you too, I still have to pinch myself to realise I achieved my car goal

[andy_ran]

Small update on the Polestar. A small crack in the windscreen has been getting bigger while I was waiting for a replacement glass.

Cars in today for its new screen, which after 55,000 miles is welcomed as it was getting a bit peppered

Edited by andy_ran on Thursday 15th June 11:47

[andy_ran]

Small update

Aircon was getting a bit slow to cool on the Range so it had a re-gas yesterday. Nice Icey cold air con again straight from the off

Little wins make me a happy person

[andy_ran]

Couple of small updates from this weekend out and about in the Murcielago

First was for the PH25th Day at Bicester





Just have to say it was a fantastic day and so great to reconnect with so many people and meet many many new friends


Sunday was then off to Brands Hatch for Festival Italia







A good few hundred miles covered in the old girl this weekend gone and its just ticked over 23,000 miles

[andy_ran]

Range Rover has been doing family duties taking the lady and kids to Czech republic over the summer

Its thanked me by getting a sticky rear calliper and eating through a nearly new set of pads in the process

[andy_ran]

Had a fantastic time at Salon Prive all week last week with my Murcielago on the main lawn in the Yellow Collection

[andy_ran]

In not so good news....

The range rover was involved in a hit and drive away by a lorry while I was away.

Thankfully a neighbour saw the incident, got the reg and another neighbours CCTV caught the moment the rear end was hit

Lorry driver gets out, looks at the damage and just drives off!!

Its all being sorted now, but its not been fun