Happy days, despite the weather !
Discussion
Have been out and about this weekend in the GTR and covered over 300 miles in atrocious weather. Despite the conditions, I've had about as much fun as an actuary can have. I guess this post will serve as a quick "bad weather handling" post and hopefully be a "pick up" for those of you who have a few hiccups.
Saturday included a round trip to Derby then Manchester then Birmingham then Shrewsbury. Rain at times was very very heavy. There must have been something going on as there were quite a few supercars out there. I saw a yellow 911 and a yellow Lambo joining the M54 in convoy at Jn 4 (any takers ?). Had fun with a black Ferrari convertible (355, I think) between M54 Jn 4 and Jn 2 (driven by a blonde beauty with bloke in passenger seat) and saw a beautiful new Ford Mustang on the A38 to Derby (older couple, both in sunglasses despite the monsoon rain !). Best of all was seeing a grinning Westfield owner at the M6 toll (motorbike engine by the sounds of it), no weather hood and no doubt 6 inches of rain in the footwell but he clearly was having fun and left the toll sideways. I couldn't catch him, he was seriously on it.
Car spotting aside, the GTR ran perfectly. The rain-ex works very well (if you haven't tried it, get some). Just needed the odd wiper at low speed (30 or below). Tried the loud pedal in 5th at 70 or so and the rears spin, but as someone with very little sport-driving talent I remain astonished at how well the GTR DOESN'T throw me off the road.
Getting out of the car in the rain without drenching the side pods is another thing but I have found a quick "open and shut" then a full "open" shakes off most of the rain.
Today (Sunday) I couldn't resist an early run (7am) with snow still on the ground. The car needed a clean so what the hell. Again, no issues. Obviously not a lot of grip and a hint of understeer, plus the rears "skip" a little on the white lines, but no nasty surprises. And that's what does surprise me about the Ultima ! Ended up in Welshpool - I've never been in any other car where the sheer driving pleasure means you end up miles from home on an inpromptu blast - then home for a quick hose down and off to Tescos for a "shop and pose" (hey, we all do it ?!).
The engine bay is a little dirty now but the only sign of damage from my 24/7 use is very slight rust on the roll pins on the gear rods. Will WD40 them later. Under the front clip is always dirty and covered in stones but I find a piece of fablon keeps the cr*p away from those areas that are tricky to get to (same stuff as the sun strip, £ 3 a roll from B&Q).
Thanks to all the Shell cashiers in Shropshire for their help in me completing my second set of cars (the kids LOVE them, two speeds too !). Overall mpg for the weekend ? Haven't a clue. But if pressed for a best guess I would say about 12 to the gallon. I can't feel a difference between the super unleaded and ordinary juice but what else are you going to put in your GTR ?
Roll on the dry weather but I say get out there whatever the UK throws at you !
Tony
Saturday included a round trip to Derby then Manchester then Birmingham then Shrewsbury. Rain at times was very very heavy. There must have been something going on as there were quite a few supercars out there. I saw a yellow 911 and a yellow Lambo joining the M54 in convoy at Jn 4 (any takers ?). Had fun with a black Ferrari convertible (355, I think) between M54 Jn 4 and Jn 2 (driven by a blonde beauty with bloke in passenger seat) and saw a beautiful new Ford Mustang on the A38 to Derby (older couple, both in sunglasses despite the monsoon rain !). Best of all was seeing a grinning Westfield owner at the M6 toll (motorbike engine by the sounds of it), no weather hood and no doubt 6 inches of rain in the footwell but he clearly was having fun and left the toll sideways. I couldn't catch him, he was seriously on it.
Car spotting aside, the GTR ran perfectly. The rain-ex works very well (if you haven't tried it, get some). Just needed the odd wiper at low speed (30 or below). Tried the loud pedal in 5th at 70 or so and the rears spin, but as someone with very little sport-driving talent I remain astonished at how well the GTR DOESN'T throw me off the road.
Getting out of the car in the rain without drenching the side pods is another thing but I have found a quick "open and shut" then a full "open" shakes off most of the rain.
Today (Sunday) I couldn't resist an early run (7am) with snow still on the ground. The car needed a clean so what the hell. Again, no issues. Obviously not a lot of grip and a hint of understeer, plus the rears "skip" a little on the white lines, but no nasty surprises. And that's what does surprise me about the Ultima ! Ended up in Welshpool - I've never been in any other car where the sheer driving pleasure means you end up miles from home on an inpromptu blast - then home for a quick hose down and off to Tescos for a "shop and pose" (hey, we all do it ?!).
The engine bay is a little dirty now but the only sign of damage from my 24/7 use is very slight rust on the roll pins on the gear rods. Will WD40 them later. Under the front clip is always dirty and covered in stones but I find a piece of fablon keeps the cr*p away from those areas that are tricky to get to (same stuff as the sun strip, £ 3 a roll from B&Q).
Thanks to all the Shell cashiers in Shropshire for their help in me completing my second set of cars (the kids LOVE them, two speeds too !). Overall mpg for the weekend ? Haven't a clue. But if pressed for a best guess I would say about 12 to the gallon. I can't feel a difference between the super unleaded and ordinary juice but what else are you going to put in your GTR ?
Roll on the dry weather but I say get out there whatever the UK throws at you !
Tony
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff