Diary of a Country Lad - VW V6 4Motion & Citroen C4
Discussion
Picking up from where I left off on my last thread.....
'Ten years of American Motoring'
The hastily penned tale of a self confessed technically incompetent yet enthusiastic car bloke.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asph=0&f=47&t=1429353&mid=159155&i=0&nmt=10+Years+of+American+Motoring+%E2%80%93+Audi%2FMorris%2FPorsche+&mid=159155|url
For those who can't be bothered to wade through the seven pages that briefly describes my automotive time in New Jersey a short summary follows.
Just an ordinary bloke, now forty-something, happily married, father to an energetic 19 month old son and co-owner of two terriers.
1998 - Went to the New York City Metro area to do something work related.
Drove a variety of hired Rent-A-Wrecks. Got very bored in the 'burbs.
1999-2003 Returned to Norfolk to do something work related while driving Fiat's Barchetta & Punto and a Landrover D-90.
2003 - Present: Returned to the NYC Metro area again to do something work related.
Got married to Ms. Whatty, bought and sold too many cars, helped to add to New Jersey's burgeoning population of 19 million = Master Whatty.
2014 - Returned to Norfolk for the greater good.
While my past is now, quite literally, a foreign country I'm now discovering my new Old World.
So that's me and here's our small, low cost and not very P.H car family.
Sourced by my brother prior to our arrival last month his brief was short, his budget v. limited.
Whatty: Low Key, Manual gearbox, fun factor trumps miles, colour irrelevant.
Ms. Whatty: Low key, Automatic, Lowish miles, NOT boring silver. Or white.
Turned out he was actually in possession of one but not the other.
1999 VW Golf V6 4Motion
Thanks to 7 Previous owners its a bit of a mongrel but not exactly a dog.
126k miles with lots of recent history and no advisories on the last M.O.T
Lovely super-comfy and hip-hugging big bolstered Recaro heated seats.
Having been a Saab owner and lower back pain sufferer my seating needs have been exceeded.
The sum of its parts might mean its worth more dead than alive.
But its definitely 'value-for-money' based on its bhp-pound ratio.
Being a high miles V.A.G product it will probably let me down.
And for Ms. Whatty, native New Jerseyan.
Professional artist and jewelry designer, occasional welder.
2005 Citroen C4 automatic
31K miles and climbing.
4 speed automatic
One owner with F.D.S.H
Now with a new cambelt just be on the safe side.
Gallic charm, oddball features.
Typically tinny noise when you ferme la porte.
I grew up in Lotus Cars Ltd country.
So simplify and add lightness.
Rear badge delete.
Cheers
Whatty
'Ten years of American Motoring'
The hastily penned tale of a self confessed technically incompetent yet enthusiastic car bloke.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asph=0&f=47&t=1429353&mid=159155&i=0&nmt=10+Years+of+American+Motoring+%E2%80%93+Audi%2FMorris%2FPorsche+&mid=159155|url
For those who can't be bothered to wade through the seven pages that briefly describes my automotive time in New Jersey a short summary follows.
Just an ordinary bloke, now forty-something, happily married, father to an energetic 19 month old son and co-owner of two terriers.
1998 - Went to the New York City Metro area to do something work related.
Drove a variety of hired Rent-A-Wrecks. Got very bored in the 'burbs.
1999-2003 Returned to Norfolk to do something work related while driving Fiat's Barchetta & Punto and a Landrover D-90.
2003 - Present: Returned to the NYC Metro area again to do something work related.
Got married to Ms. Whatty, bought and sold too many cars, helped to add to New Jersey's burgeoning population of 19 million = Master Whatty.
2014 - Returned to Norfolk for the greater good.
While my past is now, quite literally, a foreign country I'm now discovering my new Old World.
So that's me and here's our small, low cost and not very P.H car family.
Sourced by my brother prior to our arrival last month his brief was short, his budget v. limited.
Whatty: Low Key, Manual gearbox, fun factor trumps miles, colour irrelevant.
Ms. Whatty: Low key, Automatic, Lowish miles, NOT boring silver. Or white.
Turned out he was actually in possession of one but not the other.
1999 VW Golf V6 4Motion
Thanks to 7 Previous owners its a bit of a mongrel but not exactly a dog.
126k miles with lots of recent history and no advisories on the last M.O.T
Lovely super-comfy and hip-hugging big bolstered Recaro heated seats.
Having been a Saab owner and lower back pain sufferer my seating needs have been exceeded.
The sum of its parts might mean its worth more dead than alive.
But its definitely 'value-for-money' based on its bhp-pound ratio.
Being a high miles V.A.G product it will probably let me down.
And for Ms. Whatty, native New Jerseyan.
Professional artist and jewelry designer, occasional welder.
2005 Citroen C4 automatic
31K miles and climbing.
4 speed automatic
One owner with F.D.S.H
Now with a new cambelt just be on the safe side.
Gallic charm, oddball features.
Typically tinny noise when you ferme la porte.
I grew up in Lotus Cars Ltd country.
So simplify and add lightness.
Rear badge delete.
Cheers
Whatty
My V6 4Mo was a great cruiser. A very inefficient way of turning petrol into noise (worse than the Focus ST and that's saying something..)
Always liked the shape of the MkIV and lusted after the R32. Maybe I'll scratch that itch one day. I have a habit of choosing cars which deliver not a lot of horsepower for the fuel they consume!
Always liked the shape of the MkIV and lusted after the R32. Maybe I'll scratch that itch one day. I have a habit of choosing cars which deliver not a lot of horsepower for the fuel they consume!
Funk said:
My V6 4Mo was a great cruiser. A very inefficient way of turning petrol into noise (worse than the Focus ST and that's saying something..)
Always liked the shape of the MkIV and lusted after the R32. Maybe I'll scratch that itch one day. I have a habit of choosing cars which deliver not a lot of horsepower for the fuel they consume!
You make a good point about the 4Mo Sixer. Always liked the shape of the MkIV and lusted after the R32. Maybe I'll scratch that itch one day. I have a habit of choosing cars which deliver not a lot of horsepower for the fuel they consume!
This one however appears to have been tampered with. Hence the 'Mongrel' moniker. In fact it appears that my brother inadvertently bought someone's former 'track project' car.
For one thing its been lowered.
TBC....
See if it's got any receipts for a haldex fluid/filter change. I hated mine with a passion but it did sound good. Yours has better seats than mine, i had the non-recaro leathers.
I'd also double-check how it's been lowered, the 4mo has different rear suspension to the rest of the mk4 Golfs and the de-facto cheapo coilovers (JOM) aren't available so either someones spent some cash on something a bit better (Vogtland/KW etc) or worst case it's on ebay springs and standard shocks, which'll wear faster.
Apart from that, invest in a fault code reader off eBay and try to ignore any check engine lights
I'd also double-check how it's been lowered, the 4mo has different rear suspension to the rest of the mk4 Golfs and the de-facto cheapo coilovers (JOM) aren't available so either someones spent some cash on something a bit better (Vogtland/KW etc) or worst case it's on ebay springs and standard shocks, which'll wear faster.
Apart from that, invest in a fault code reader off eBay and try to ignore any check engine lights
Edited by Hudson on Friday 10th October 10:02
The handling was always a bit stodgy on the 4Mo; I drove a MkIV R32 whilst I had my 4Mo and the R32 was in a different league handling-wise. Suspension upgrades would've been the first thing I'd have done were I to have gone down the modification route. The 4WD never really seemed to do very much either, it just seemed to drive (and understeer) like a FWDer.
Just had a look at R32 values and they're surprisingly strong (£6-10k) but it seems it's hard to find one that hasn't been chavved or molested. If I get one, it'll be in that gorgeous dark blue.
Just had a look at R32 values and they're surprisingly strong (£6-10k) but it seems it's hard to find one that hasn't been chavved or molested. If I get one, it'll be in that gorgeous dark blue.
Thanks for the input chaps.
Having dug through the plethora of receipts I found one from '09 for an Apex lowering kit.
Quite impressed with the history folder, all stamps up to date.
Norff & Sarff London addresses of dealers/indies suggest she's been about a bit.
My brother bought it in Essex. Don't know why.
He already has South Norfolk's largest collection of low mileage Mk 1 Audi TT's including a very nice QS with 25k miles with rare factory sat-nav.
Anyway... up she goes...
I assume that's an APEX lowering spring?
Quite busy under there. And dirty.
I'll have to get busy with the pressure washer.
As my only frame of reference for modified cars is my old 964 on Bilstein HD's/H&R Greens I'll say that the Fo'Mo ride is acceptable.
As the whole car cost less than a set of Bilstein HDs I'm prepared to make allowances.
Having dug through the plethora of receipts I found one from '09 for an Apex lowering kit.
Quite impressed with the history folder, all stamps up to date.
Norff & Sarff London addresses of dealers/indies suggest she's been about a bit.
My brother bought it in Essex. Don't know why.
He already has South Norfolk's largest collection of low mileage Mk 1 Audi TT's including a very nice QS with 25k miles with rare factory sat-nav.
Anyway... up she goes...
I assume that's an APEX lowering spring?
Quite busy under there. And dirty.
I'll have to get busy with the pressure washer.
As my only frame of reference for modified cars is my old 964 on Bilstein HD's/H&R Greens I'll say that the Fo'Mo ride is acceptable.
As the whole car cost less than a set of Bilstein HDs I'm prepared to make allowances.
That shock looks standard, so possibly increasing wear as the spring rate is different to what it's used to? happy to be corrected here.
Also dropping the 4mo without adjustable tie-arms creates negative camber at the back. Whilst this looks wikkid sik bruv, it'll also munch your tyres so it's worth seeing if that's been done as well.
Also dropping the 4mo without adjustable tie-arms creates negative camber at the back. Whilst this looks wikkid sik bruv, it'll also munch your tyres so it's worth seeing if that's been done as well.
C7 JFW said:
I've just purchased exactly the same, a 4Mo with 140k miles on the clock. I'll be interested to hear about your experience.
First up however, FULL service.
Glad to hear I'm not alone. In truth while stateside I was actually researching Alfa 145/6/7 as a cheap manual fix. My brother offered me dibs on this simply because it was sat idle. I'm not the only member of the family with CCBT. First up however, FULL service.
Having previously had a Mk IV GTi I was a bit reluctant until the V & 6 bit were mentioned.
The MK IV is a bit of a puddn* compared to the earlier series but the V6 does seem to add a bit of spice to the mix.
In my local driving environment I'm finding it quite tasty.
Edited to add>
Must remember, now back in Norfolk (rural county). Readers: U.S friends,neighbours, U.S Porsche folk Pelican'ista's etc.
- 'Puddn'- An olde Norfolk word for dessert commonly used to describe a fat girl/boy.
Edited to add>
Readership: International, I don't do FB/Twtr etc. Like the Golf I'm on the down low. And who wants to know what I had for pudding anyway? Oh wait.....
Edited by Whatty on Friday 10th October 18:59
Edited by Whatty on Friday 10th October 19:16
Hudson said:
That shock looks standard, so possibly increasing wear as the spring rate is different to what it's used to? happy to be corrected here.
Also dropping the 4mo without adjustable tie-arms creates negative camber at the back. Whilst this looks wikkid sik bruv, it'll also munch your tyres so it's worth seeing if that's been done as well.
Yeah, I thought the shocker was OEM, no fancy pants stuff here.Also dropping the 4mo without adjustable tie-arms creates negative camber at the back. Whilst this looks wikkid sik bruv, it'll also munch your tyres so it's worth seeing if that's been done as well.
Likewise I doubt that the tie arms/tie rods/ control arms are adjustable.
But if in anyone wants to correct me:
One more for luck.
But I think I've answered my own question.
Having been Stateside for eleven years I'll confess I reached for my Collins Oxford re: the 'wikkid sik bruv' reference.
Fail.
I did ask the newspaper boy about last weeks News Of The World but that's gone apparently.
I then moved on to my bedside porn stash.
C/O them I've determined that I probably won't be 'banging choonz' (sic)(innit?) at McD's anytime soon.
Likewise as the M.O.T is up next month I'm going to see what's what before determining a future course of action.
On the subject of the rear camber. Its not the usual VDUB crime scene.
Forensic investigation of the bill folder shows that 8 months/ X hundred miles after the purchase of the Apex kit in London SE6 an alignment took place in London SE4.
As owner, victim and lead investigator I'll concede that while the resulting rear camber is a mild 2 degrees 28'LH and 1 degree 49' RH I would like to avoid looking like a right tit.
So the regular springs might going back on.
Also, as lead investigator, I would like to ask you Mr. Hudson of Herts.
Two questions.
1. Have you ever lived in Bromley, Kent?
2. Did you slam my mongrel beatch?
The following evidence suggests you might have.
Exhibit A.
Exhibit B.
Feel free to drop by the station for a informal chat.
Bring some OEM springs and we'll go easy on you.
no sir, didn't fancy £500 on suspension mods so mine remained very much standard!Sunday October 12th
32 days since arrival in UK.
Done a lot.
Worn a lot of hats.
Best man duties completed.
Reluctant tourist.
Normally I hate just 'looking' at things. Rather be 'doing' things.
But I'll occasionally take one for the team.
At least there was a bit of car content.
H.R.H the PoW.
Midget race car driver.
Who ever would have thought it.
Pest controller.
Holding the zero nicely.
Two shots. One hole.
Vintage BSA Airsporter Stutzen .22
Copywriter.
Pork. Yummy
911 GT3 RS 3.8
Still tons to do.
Need a home. Need an income.
Fortunately Ms. Whatty & I have portable skills.
Her's a bit more tangible than mine.
Book Designer.
Credits include the definitive U.S guide to turning left.
Artist.
Equine horsey things.
Small business owner.
Which pretty much encompasses all of the above.
Albeit on a slightly small scale.
Shop early for Christmas.
And avoid the rush.
Your wife/mistress/mother/girlfriend/sister/cousin/granddaughter/niece will love it.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GwydionsGarden
Whatty?
Time to get busy. Time to get on the road.
Norfolk style.
Whatty...
Start your engine.
Hmmm...Which engine?
T.B.C
32 days since arrival in UK.
Done a lot.
Worn a lot of hats.
Best man duties completed.
Reluctant tourist.
Normally I hate just 'looking' at things. Rather be 'doing' things.
But I'll occasionally take one for the team.
At least there was a bit of car content.
H.R.H the PoW.
Midget race car driver.
Who ever would have thought it.
Pest controller.
Holding the zero nicely.
Two shots. One hole.
Vintage BSA Airsporter Stutzen .22
Copywriter.
Pork. Yummy
911 GT3 RS 3.8
Still tons to do.
Need a home. Need an income.
Fortunately Ms. Whatty & I have portable skills.
Her's a bit more tangible than mine.
Book Designer.
Credits include the definitive U.S guide to turning left.
Artist.
Equine horsey things.
Small business owner.
Which pretty much encompasses all of the above.
Albeit on a slightly small scale.
Shop early for Christmas.
And avoid the rush.
Your wife/mistress/mother/girlfriend/sister/cousin/granddaughter/niece will love it.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GwydionsGarden
Whatty?
Time to get busy. Time to get on the road.
Norfolk style.
Whatty...
Start your engine.
Hmmm...Which engine?
T.B.C
ManOpener said:
My best mate has exactly the same Airsporter. Inherited it from his father. Currently fitted with a Hawke 3-9x40 Airmax.
Nice thing to remember his Dad by. Edited by ManOpener on Sunday 12th October 12:30
Compared to the new style stuff its a bit Model T but still packs a punch.
Bought mine at a car boot sale 20 years ago and now showing a bit of patina on the stock. Maybe a project for the long winter nights ahead.
Cheers, Whatty
Edited to add another pic.
Edited by Whatty on Monday 13th October 09:03
PHers living in rural England will find the following a bit of head scratcher. What follows is a not very fast drive in the country. Its more a motoring ramble and something they might take for granted on a daily basis.
Likewise Urban dwellers will simply mutter 'yokel' before wandering off to find faster fruitier fare as I make visual comparisons with my old surburban locale in New Jersey with that of motoring in deepest Norfolk. More for my benefit than anyone elses.
Eleven years ago I was firmly in the rural camp. My commute a quick 12 mile B-road blast into the centre of a fine city. Size wise its more 'Championship' than 'Premiership'.
Those 12 miles at early o' clock were, in hindsight, a bit of a thrill.
Little traffic, sweeping bends, off camber blind corners and undulating straights made for a teenage playground where the Bros. & Sister Whatty learnt the joy and hidden perils of fast-ish driving.
On the nursery slopes of FWD hand-me-downs we learnt the driving basics. From a wheezing 998cc Mini in Black Tulip, through the original Whatty's 4 speed Mazda to a former Motability Metro we all got the hang of it. Tests passed we duly left the automotive nest, graduating to more interesting rides. While I can't speak for the other three I certainly executed most of our collective nine lives at the wheel.
A rotten then refurbished BMW 2002, restored MG's '66 BGT and '69 Midget, a woeful secondhand 1300 X-flow Dutton Phaeton, which even through squinted eyes didn't resemble a real Seven; that humble garage saw them all.
Originally home to Ma Whatty's 70's Mini Clubman, and a fraternal first engine start. The temptation of keys dangling too much, the sudden roar of a confined A-Series propelled a seven and ten year old back in front of the Banana Splits on ITV before you could say 'pre-ignition run on'. Thank god she always left it in neutral.
The 'big boys' never made it inside, twin cam Fiat 132, workhorse '72 Rangie, the fabulous Jensen Interceptor, the Mk II Scirrocco GTi, a sensible Saab 9000i, the E28 535i. Oh that 535i.
Pa Whatty really shouldn't have entrusted me with the keys the night before it was PX'd.
M Sport trim, RWD, automatic + sports button.
3.5 litre / 220 bhp, nothing now, far too much to entrust to a spotty 17 year old then.
W to W via K & another W. Not far, 8 miles perhaps. The performance a revelation, no manual shift to worry about, throttle down and hang on.
I swear that '40' sign wasn't there in 1988.
The bends definitely were. But it was inky black that night.
Much safer to straighten them in the dark.
If he knew how fast I was going when I popped my opposite lock cherry in a car he'd kill me.
Good reflexes? b
ks, I was lucky.
I knew a bit about the oversteer thanks to a couple of teenage years driving a VW LT35 van. RWD, slow AND loud. With a full load of 'stuff' it would top out at 65-70mph.
Empty it would only vmax 75, but it would also slip and slide beautifully on wet and snow covered roads. With a funf cylinder diesel between the front seats and five speed tranny behind it sounded like a boiler suited Audi Quattro on the overrun. With no weight it handled like an incredibly benign Escort in the wet.
By then my folks had another budding PHer in the form of my younger brother to worry about. Now with a fourteen ear old daughter of his own little bro' has horror stories aplenty to tell.
The now very tired 1972 Mini 1000, Black Tulip, with still only two owners on the log book, failing oil pressure and three up on a Saturday night in October (how apt) went into this bend at 60 mph.
It is much wider now, and it appears straighter, the six foot deep roadside ditch filled in. Who knows what caused the little deep purple buzz box to collide with one verge and then bounce off the other before coming to rest nose down in four feet of ditch water. We can definitely rule out surplus power. 38bhp when new.
Pre-mobile phone era and concerned Pa Whatty (only-son-of-the-original-Whatty) and I set off in search of the wannabe party goers. We found the three damp bodies sober in a dry farm house nearby and then spent an hour recovering the now crumpled but still start-able car with the help of never-very-cheerful local Chris and his trusty recovery Ford 7.5 tonner.
Registered in Norn Iron Black Tulip was driven off to a new life, straightened and hand painted in maroon and ivory. I used to see it occasionally, crabbing down the road like a lobster covered in custard.
The sale of the registration AIB 5575 made more than the car.
Somebody with serial amnesia in Newcastle bought the plates.
We know he had amnesia as he not only neglected to tell Swansea but he also regularly forgot where he'd parked his Mercedes.
A confused Ma Whatty got untold parking tickets for a year.
Present Day.
Pa Whatty, Baby Bimmer 120i with slush box, sensible motoring for the Saga generation.
These properly positioned hands showed us the art of the handbrake turn on snow, gravel and occasionally tarmac.
We nearly lost him four years ago, albeit not in a Mercedes or Newcastle.
Or a ditch.
Taken ill the day after my sister's wedding he was admitted to hospital. Two days later I had to leave for the U.S for work.
An emotional four days, gain a brother-in-law on Saturday, almost bury your Dad on Tuesday.
But thanks to modern medicine and the NHS we've still got him and a nice new scar to boot.
Plus with new found energy he's now got a new 45 year old girlfriend called Dawn.
That's younger than me. Racy eh?
Traditional style Norfolk Broads weekender/racer.
Pitch pine on mahogany.
Personally I preferred the last one he had.
In truth I'm just glad for chance to sail with him again.
Cheers, Whatty
Edited to add 'Dawn'
Likewise Urban dwellers will simply mutter 'yokel' before wandering off to find faster fruitier fare as I make visual comparisons with my old surburban locale in New Jersey with that of motoring in deepest Norfolk. More for my benefit than anyone elses.
Eleven years ago I was firmly in the rural camp. My commute a quick 12 mile B-road blast into the centre of a fine city. Size wise its more 'Championship' than 'Premiership'.
Those 12 miles at early o' clock were, in hindsight, a bit of a thrill.
Little traffic, sweeping bends, off camber blind corners and undulating straights made for a teenage playground where the Bros. & Sister Whatty learnt the joy and hidden perils of fast-ish driving.
On the nursery slopes of FWD hand-me-downs we learnt the driving basics. From a wheezing 998cc Mini in Black Tulip, through the original Whatty's 4 speed Mazda to a former Motability Metro we all got the hang of it. Tests passed we duly left the automotive nest, graduating to more interesting rides. While I can't speak for the other three I certainly executed most of our collective nine lives at the wheel.
A rotten then refurbished BMW 2002, restored MG's '66 BGT and '69 Midget, a woeful secondhand 1300 X-flow Dutton Phaeton, which even through squinted eyes didn't resemble a real Seven; that humble garage saw them all.
Originally home to Ma Whatty's 70's Mini Clubman, and a fraternal first engine start. The temptation of keys dangling too much, the sudden roar of a confined A-Series propelled a seven and ten year old back in front of the Banana Splits on ITV before you could say 'pre-ignition run on'. Thank god she always left it in neutral.
The 'big boys' never made it inside, twin cam Fiat 132, workhorse '72 Rangie, the fabulous Jensen Interceptor, the Mk II Scirrocco GTi, a sensible Saab 9000i, the E28 535i. Oh that 535i.
Pa Whatty really shouldn't have entrusted me with the keys the night before it was PX'd.
M Sport trim, RWD, automatic + sports button.
3.5 litre / 220 bhp, nothing now, far too much to entrust to a spotty 17 year old then.
W to W via K & another W. Not far, 8 miles perhaps. The performance a revelation, no manual shift to worry about, throttle down and hang on.
I swear that '40' sign wasn't there in 1988.
The bends definitely were. But it was inky black that night.
Much safer to straighten them in the dark.
If he knew how fast I was going when I popped my opposite lock cherry in a car he'd kill me.
Good reflexes? b
ks, I was lucky.I knew a bit about the oversteer thanks to a couple of teenage years driving a VW LT35 van. RWD, slow AND loud. With a full load of 'stuff' it would top out at 65-70mph.
Empty it would only vmax 75, but it would also slip and slide beautifully on wet and snow covered roads. With a funf cylinder diesel between the front seats and five speed tranny behind it sounded like a boiler suited Audi Quattro on the overrun. With no weight it handled like an incredibly benign Escort in the wet.
By then my folks had another budding PHer in the form of my younger brother to worry about. Now with a fourteen ear old daughter of his own little bro' has horror stories aplenty to tell.
The now very tired 1972 Mini 1000, Black Tulip, with still only two owners on the log book, failing oil pressure and three up on a Saturday night in October (how apt) went into this bend at 60 mph.
It is much wider now, and it appears straighter, the six foot deep roadside ditch filled in. Who knows what caused the little deep purple buzz box to collide with one verge and then bounce off the other before coming to rest nose down in four feet of ditch water. We can definitely rule out surplus power. 38bhp when new.
Pre-mobile phone era and concerned Pa Whatty (only-son-of-the-original-Whatty) and I set off in search of the wannabe party goers. We found the three damp bodies sober in a dry farm house nearby and then spent an hour recovering the now crumpled but still start-able car with the help of never-very-cheerful local Chris and his trusty recovery Ford 7.5 tonner.
Registered in Norn Iron Black Tulip was driven off to a new life, straightened and hand painted in maroon and ivory. I used to see it occasionally, crabbing down the road like a lobster covered in custard.
The sale of the registration AIB 5575 made more than the car.
Somebody with serial amnesia in Newcastle bought the plates.
We know he had amnesia as he not only neglected to tell Swansea but he also regularly forgot where he'd parked his Mercedes.
A confused Ma Whatty got untold parking tickets for a year.
Present Day.
Pa Whatty, Baby Bimmer 120i with slush box, sensible motoring for the Saga generation.
These properly positioned hands showed us the art of the handbrake turn on snow, gravel and occasionally tarmac.
We nearly lost him four years ago, albeit not in a Mercedes or Newcastle.
Or a ditch.
Taken ill the day after my sister's wedding he was admitted to hospital. Two days later I had to leave for the U.S for work.
An emotional four days, gain a brother-in-law on Saturday, almost bury your Dad on Tuesday.
But thanks to modern medicine and the NHS we've still got him and a nice new scar to boot.
Plus with new found energy he's now got a new 45 year old girlfriend called Dawn.
That's younger than me. Racy eh?
Traditional style Norfolk Broads weekender/racer.
Pitch pine on mahogany.
Personally I preferred the last one he had.
In truth I'm just glad for chance to sail with him again.
Cheers, Whatty
Edited to add 'Dawn'
Edited by Whatty on Monday 13th October 20:37
Phew, no comments, looks like I got away with that last posting. Oozing too much sentimentality for PH? Ma Whatty read it with a tear in her eye.
But only for the reminder of how much cash the Old Man spunked on car's and boats over the years.
Mustn't digress.
September 29th 2014
Mini-road trip.
Errands to run, favours to repay, old sights to see.
Time to tool up.
Nice to able to leave the driveway without my New Jersey driving 'license'.
It was a brave guy or gal who left their NJ home without ID. A police stop without it was NOT going to end in a politely issued 7 day producer.
Shell card, points may mean prizes apparently.
Tool boxes.
Lenovo Kneepad, Ye Olde iPhone.
Vodafone coverage in Norfolk seems hopeless.
Indestructible Filson luggage.
Will hold a VW engine if your local VAG dealer has run out of shipping crates.
Office keys.
This is going to be a busman's holiday.
Country commute so we'll be wafting avec Le Citroen.
Pork fob memento the only thing I've ever held on to having sold a car.
Riding shotgun.
Whatty Dog #1.
Personal assistant, st passenger.
One of these will keep the vom at bay.
Mile 1. Pit stop.
Sit at pump for two minutes before remembering no attended service.
Pumping your own gas in NJ illegal. Not safe for civilians.
Leave kiosk. My first UK PH spot.
Approach driver.
Bemused Seven driver not actually a PHer.
Returning to the 'North' after a Hethel trackday fun.
Five hours, in there on A roads and motorways on a damp day?
Norfolk cowboy out for a stroll.
'FFS hurry up mate' Things to do.
Must adjust to a slightly slower pace.
On the road, finally.
Cruise control on.
At 64 mph the fuel consumption is tolerable.
Meds working. WD#1 doing fine.
First stop.
Somebody else has a project. Needs something stripping.
Next stop somewhere else.
But wait, whats that noise?
A wailing engine?
Can't resist.
Good old Snett, looking a bit 'corporate' these days under the MSV umbrella. Possibly not a bad thing. Spent my weekend yoof here in the '80 & '90's.
Parc ferme.
WD#1 can go no further.
Shank's Pony for me.
The Bomb Hole. A reminder of the circuit's former use as a home to the USAAF in WW2.
Norfolk and Suffolk are dotted with airfields used by the mighty 8th Airforce.
I could have sworn there was a grandstand here once.
Normally its either windy and pissing down.
Or windy and scorching hot. And dusty.
Today its just very still and misty.
Not very quiet.
Track day? Test day?
Dunno, no time to find out.
E30 M3 the first to appear out of the gloom.
Hard on the heels of the Jerry.
A pair of plucky little Brits.
Cue 633 Squadron theme tune.
Cossie at work. Used to watch these competing in the Willhire 24 Hours back in the day. Freebie tickets blagged from a local shopkeeper.
2 tickets could get 3 impoverished locals in through careful packing of camping gear.
Crap photographer.
Neat Clio.
Out of time. WD#1 in car.
Striking sculpture testimony to Yanks of Old.
Little known fact, James 'Jimmy' Stewart, actor was based at RAF Old Buckenham with the 453rd Heavy Bomb Group.
Never mind Vmax, when these intrepid youths hit V1 the odds of a safe landing were stacked against them. Ironic really, those boys trundling reluctantly down the same perimeter tracks others now eagerly race down.
Must drive carefully.
Note to diary.
Bedford Trackday
October 25th
Prep Mongrel but not WD#1.
But only for the reminder of how much cash the Old Man spunked on car's and boats over the years.
Mustn't digress.
September 29th 2014
Mini-road trip.
Errands to run, favours to repay, old sights to see.
Time to tool up.
Nice to able to leave the driveway without my New Jersey driving 'license'.
It was a brave guy or gal who left their NJ home without ID. A police stop without it was NOT going to end in a politely issued 7 day producer.
Shell card, points may mean prizes apparently.
Tool boxes.
Lenovo Kneepad, Ye Olde iPhone.
Vodafone coverage in Norfolk seems hopeless.
Indestructible Filson luggage.
Will hold a VW engine if your local VAG dealer has run out of shipping crates.
Office keys.
This is going to be a busman's holiday.
Country commute so we'll be wafting avec Le Citroen.
Pork fob memento the only thing I've ever held on to having sold a car.
Riding shotgun.
Whatty Dog #1.
Personal assistant, s
t passenger.One of these will keep the vom at bay.
Mile 1. Pit stop.
Sit at pump for two minutes before remembering no attended service.
Pumping your own gas in NJ illegal. Not safe for civilians.
Leave kiosk. My first UK PH spot.
Approach driver.
Bemused Seven driver not actually a PHer.
Returning to the 'North' after a Hethel trackday fun.
Five hours, in there on A roads and motorways on a damp day?
Norfolk cowboy out for a stroll.
'FFS hurry up mate' Things to do.
Must adjust to a slightly slower pace.
On the road, finally.
Cruise control on.
At 64 mph the fuel consumption is tolerable.
Meds working. WD#1 doing fine.
First stop.
Somebody else has a project. Needs something stripping.
Next stop somewhere else.
But wait, whats that noise?
A wailing engine?
Can't resist.
Good old Snett, looking a bit 'corporate' these days under the MSV umbrella. Possibly not a bad thing. Spent my weekend yoof here in the '80 & '90's.
Parc ferme.
WD#1 can go no further.
Shank's Pony for me.
The Bomb Hole. A reminder of the circuit's former use as a home to the USAAF in WW2.
Norfolk and Suffolk are dotted with airfields used by the mighty 8th Airforce.
I could have sworn there was a grandstand here once.
Normally its either windy and pissing down.
Or windy and scorching hot. And dusty.
Today its just very still and misty.
Not very quiet.
Track day? Test day?
Dunno, no time to find out.
E30 M3 the first to appear out of the gloom.
Hard on the heels of the Jerry.
A pair of plucky little Brits.
Cue 633 Squadron theme tune.
Cossie at work. Used to watch these competing in the Willhire 24 Hours back in the day. Freebie tickets blagged from a local shopkeeper.
2 tickets could get 3 impoverished locals in through careful packing of camping gear.
Crap photographer.
Neat Clio.
Out of time. WD#1 in car.
Striking sculpture testimony to Yanks of Old.
Little known fact, James 'Jimmy' Stewart, actor was based at RAF Old Buckenham with the 453rd Heavy Bomb Group.
Never mind Vmax, when these intrepid youths hit V1 the odds of a safe landing were stacked against them. Ironic really, those boys trundling reluctantly down the same perimeter tracks others now eagerly race down.
Must drive carefully.
Note to diary.
Bedford Trackday
October 25th
Prep Mongrel but not WD#1.
coopedup said:
Still really enjoying reading this, please keep up the good work! 
Any plans in the future for a bit more exciting wheels perhaps?
Hi Mr.CoopedupAny plans in the future for a bit more exciting wheels perhaps?
Appreciate you taking the time to post on my rambling thread.
Future exciting wheels? Hmmm... In all honesty I doubt the immediate future will see anything very exciting in my garage. If only that I don't have one at present.
My immediate focus is going to be work and supporting Ms. Whatty as we start to put our roots down over here. Easy for me, a challenge for her.
So little time for four wheeled frolics and I still don't do spannering.
Though I did pick up a wheel brace and towing eye for the Mongrel last week
Was it you who asked on the other thread about bringing a car back from the U.S with me?
I rather wish I'd bought the Morris Mini home as I spent this afternoon with some folk very close to home doing some rather neat stuff for the A-series. And also for M52's/K Series etc......
Which is yet another story.
For now I'll be happily flogging the FoMo round East Anglia.
Sometimes its where you drive not what you drive*
Cheers, Whatty.
- Or shoot.
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