What do I need to know?

[JumboBeef]

First Wedge on Saturday: any hints or tips to a newbie?

First drive is a 300 mile drive home........

[tunepipe911]

hey

Check water,oil and battery(do not run it to low on fuel,the crap runs trough the fuelpump)
If you get home(that should be no problem),you will want to drive back again and back home again ,because Wedges are fun to drive!

have fun

R,

[jmorgan]

Also.
Face ointment for the grin.

Lid on is a hanging offence. Unless it is a hard top.

[adam quantrill]

tunepipe911 said:

hey
Check water,oil and battery(do not run it to low on fuel,the crap runs trough the fuelpump)

Err if that is true then you are cornering too slow and coasting to a halt and not flooring it!
Normal wedge driving has the fuel sloshing from front to back and side to side so the crap doesn't stay at the bottom.
However there is a real reason - the petrol gauges often lie so until you are used to it stick a gallon in the boot. In a metal can.

tunepipe911 said:

have fun

^^^^^^^ wot he said!

[ElvisWedgely]

Join a good breakdown service! Only joking. Wedges are surprisingly reliable. Check and top up all fluids before you leave and keep an eye on all gauges and lights on dash. You'll be home before you know it. I believe you've just bought the twin brother of the one I used to own. Enjoy.

Tony. TCB.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

My daily drive is a Volvo convertible, and the roof is always down on that.

What about ticking over when cold? I have had V8s before, in Defenders/Discos/Range Rovers and have (for years) started them up when cold and let the car warm up (particularly in the winter). You're going to tell me that is a big no no due to oil starvation.......

[Number 7]

JumboBeef said:

Thanks.

My daily drive is a Volvo convertible, and the roof is always down on that.

What about ticking over when cold? I have had V8s before, in Defenders/Discos/Range Rovers and have (for years) started them up when cold and let the car warm up (particularly in the winter). You're going to tell me that is a big no no due to oil starvation.......

I think the general opinion is to let them warm up for a couple of minutes, and then drive. IIRC the tappets don't spin until above idle speed, so too long idling can cause unwanted wear patterns.

[jmorgan]

Never faffed around ticking over, always driven gently till warmed up. Keep revs low.

[pjac67]

You don't need to know the previous owner lived on the West Coast of Scotland a short(er) drive from you....

(unless you knew already through previous threads last year...).

Enjoy the drive - did 2 x 500 mile trips from Scotland last year (Wedge and Chim).

Good luck , Paul.

[RCK974X]

As mine is a V6, more general advice.....

The gauges LIE.... especially fuel. Until you get used to how they read, be suspicious... (Yep spare fuel can, but also keep a careful eye on temp and voltage, and make sure water is topped up and not leaking out.

Watch out for speed cameras - even the V6 goes faster than you think on a whisker of throttle !!

Other than that, pretty much the same as any other classic car on a run - check the basics, and all should be OK.

Even on Mway, it's still surpisingly calm with hood down, rear section up does help when weather is windy, despite it being a hanging offence. If it's sunny and you're not used to it, suntan cream is a good idea - arms as well as face !

[JumboBeef]

pjac67 said:

You don't need to know the previous owner lived on the West Coast of Scotland a short(er) drive from you....

(unless you knew already through previous threads last year...).

No, haven't see old threads. Hope they say good things.....!

[marcus1875]

What way you heading up from the border. I'll try and get out for a wee hoon.
Marcus

[PHJayV8]

Driving any convertible with the hood up if it's not raining should be £60 fixed penalty and three points on the licence

[stevoj]

Bobby Shaftoe said:

Congrats Jumbo, that's a tidy looking motor!

3- Driving with the roof up is strictly forbidden, and driving with the center section off but the pram hood up (aka the mullet) is grounds for death by firing squad

Enjoy!

Whoops, didn't know that.

[TOPTON]

It's been up those parts before, 886 miles there and back in a weekend. Brilliant



Hope it is as reliable as it was when it left my garage 15 months ago. Have fun TT

[pjac67]

If you owned it 15m ago then my mistake - there was a very similar red 400SE with SEAC spoiler advertised a year ago - must have been a different car...

[MeThlAtEdSpiRIt]

first £30 of fuel is easy. Then half an hour of trickling to brim it.

Handbrake is decorational. Leave it in gear.

A1 has speed cameras!

When I collected my wedge from down south, another 350i in silver/cream pulled along side me on the motorway!

[Wedg1e]

MeThlAtEdSpiRIt said:

A1 has speed cameras!

Why in blue bu99ery would you use the A1 when there's the A68/ A696 parallel to it, a bit further inland and much nicer (some might say faster ) roads...

[RCK974X]

MeThlAtEdSpiRIt said:

first £30 of fuel is easy. Then half an hour of trickling to brim it....

I didn't realise that the V8 versions kept that feature from the earlier ones !!

Not just trickling, but also rocking the car side to side (with other people watching and being baffled) and looking and listening for the air bubbles.

[JumboBeef]

marcus1875 said:

What way you heading up from the border. I'll try and get out for a wee hoon.
Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Not sure yet, either M6 > Glasgow > Forth Road Bridge > Up or Newcastle > A696 > A68 > Up. I will make my mind up on the day.

As I'm not sure of route or time I might miss you, but I do definitely want to meet up at some point.

RCK974X said:

Not just trickling, but also rocking the car side to side (with other people watching and being baffled) and looking and listening for the air bubbles.

Tell me of about this filling technique!

TOPTON said:

It's been up those parts before, 886 miles there and back in a weekend. Brilliant



Hope it is as reliable as it was when it left my garage 15 months ago. Have fun TT

I'm hoping too! Thanks for the photo.

Just one day left until W Day. I'm excited as a 7 year old on a sugar rush who is up too late.