Car swap - who wants an AMG Merc for 3 months?

Car swap - who wants an AMG Merc for 3 months?

Author
Discussion

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Harry Flashman said:
Now beggars can't be choosers, but I don't suppose anyone has a late model L322 Rangie in TDV8 flavour that they would swap??
I can do better than that, a L322 in supercharged petrol flavour. None of your horrible children killing smelly devil fuel here


OscarIndia

1,126 posts

171 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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How about a chuck away car perfect for The alpine adventure.

£1500 gets you a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 V8 with an LPG conversion.

The most comfortable heated seats around.

As a bonus I can arrange for it to be delivered out there, and will even take it off your hands at the end if you haven't killed it.

Major advantage is that if it gets marked it doesn't really matter!

I had one during the beast from the east and can confirm that it was an absolute blast!

Edited by OscarIndia on Thursday 4th October 09:47

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Neil1300r said:
I can do better than that, a L322 in supercharged petrol flavour. None of your horrible children killing smelly devil fuel here
Neil, if that is a genuine offer, I would be very interested. Perfect winter car. Added bonus that Lady F would definitely approve, being an American who like big 4x4s with lots of presence (her parents' ski truck is a GMC Suburban).

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
OscarIndia said:
How about a chuck away car perfect for The alpine adventure.

£1500 gets you a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 V8 with an LPG conversion.

The most comfortable heated seats around.

As a bonus I can arrange for it to be delivered out there, and will even take it off your hands at the end if you haven't killed it.

Major advantage is that if it gets marked it doesn't really matter!

I had one during the beast from the east and can confirm that it was an absolute blast!

Edited by OscarIndia on Thursday 4th October 09:47
I wondered when you would make it to this thread! And great idea, and wonderful offer - thanks mate. And one I will definitely go for if this thread doesn't deliver. And I am really looking forward to seeing you out there this winter too!

That said, I'd rather not deal with the potential reliability issues of a very old throwaway car, and instead borrow one from a PHer who knows the vehicle intimately, runs it regularly, and has an interest in not passing me junk. Also, I'd like something vaguely nice/interesting for the trip - and offering my P&J to a willing swapper seems like a good way for both of us to have some fun.

And I really would like the CLS to be run regularly or semi-regularly through the winter by someone, frankly. It's a lovely car (as you know, having found it for me!), and whilst I could store it on a trickle charger, I believe that cars should be used. I'm already having to store my '94 E320 for the period, as well as the old Saab.

I like the idea of a poll (which I will probably ignore, as I am the king of bad decisions), and a thread diary showing the life of the cars in each others' temporary possession.


Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 4th October 10:00

OscarIndia

1,126 posts

171 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
I wondered when you would make it to this thread!

I'd rather not deal with the potentia.l reliability issues of a very old throwaway car, and instead borrow one from a PHer who knows the vehicle intimately, runs it regularly, andhas an interest in not passing me junk.

And I really would like the CLS to be run regularly or semi-regularly through the winter by someone, frankly. It's a lovely car (as you know, having found it for me!), and whilst I could store it on a trickle charger, I believe that cars should be used. I'm already having to store my '94 E320 for the period, as well as the old Saab.
It's coming in on Monday, I am seriously condidering keeping it for myself as it's in great condition.
I'm with you on the reliabilty front though, wife and baby stranded on the side of an alpine pass does not make for a quiet life.

You could of course borrow a slightly smelly LHD Renault Espace that just refuses to die......

Longtime Lurker

188 posts

82 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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I can offer you my "87 Sheepdog" i took it in part exchange for my motorbike a few years ago (good condition never raced or rallied in the best colour & fully loaded)

Very roomy......


Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
I like your Espace, and if you genuinely want someone to run it/check on it whilst you're not there, I'd do that! But I would like something to transport me, wife and Flashette Jr to the mountains with the associated kit we require, and I still think someone should have the CLS as it's wasted sitting around otherwise. If this fails I shall lend it to a mate anyway - but I really like the idea of a winter car swap.

I've done this before with friends: my best man's thank you present (which he deserved as he was absolutely awesome with helping with stage and wedding) was the use of my V8 Vantage for 6 months, so I really don't mind lending my things to folk, as long as they take care of them. If this thread fails, he gets the CLS for winter. I know he'll love it. Sadly he also has an AMG Merc (CLS55 in earlier saloon flavour), so isn't a swap candidate, and it also seems that it won't be as special to him as to someone who has never had one before.

I definitely need something with some space. My wife is claiming I need to leave one of my 5 pairs of skis at home, to make more space for baby kit. I respectfully disagree.

Jaybee1981

52 posts

118 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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May as well throw my hat in the ring although a defender it is not!

66 Plate X1 20d X-Drive
Hardly the last word in all climate motoring but should/may/could do the Job


Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Longtime Lurker said:
I can offer you my "87 Sheepdog" i took it in part exchange for my motorbike a few years ago (good condition never raced or rallied in the best colour & fully loaded)

Very roomy......

Where's the "like" button on this thread., eh? I know it's unlikely, but I would love it if you actually owned that. I would also question your sanity.


Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 4th October 10:24

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Jaybee1981 said:
May as well throw my hat in the ring although a defender it is not!

66 Plate X1 20d X-Drive
Hardly the last word in all climate motoring but should/may/could do the Job

Thank you, and that would be perfect but for the size. I have a load of kit to haul...if I can roofbox it, it may work really well and definitely ticks the modern/reliable/nice boxes. Thanks! Definitely on the list (although I'm holding out for the FFRR Neil tantalisingly suggested earlier biggrin)

OscarIndia

1,126 posts

171 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
I like your Espace, and if you genuinely want someone to run it/check on it whilst you're not there, I'd do that! But I would like something to transport me, wife and Flashette Jr to the mountains with the associated kit we require, and I still think someone should have the CLS as it's wasted sitting around otherwise. If this fails I shall lend it to a mate anyway - but I really like the idea of a winter car swap.

I've done this before with friends: my best man's thank you present (which he deserved as he was absolutely awesome with helping with stage and wedding) was the use of my V8 Vantage for 6 months, so I really don't mind lending my things to folk, as long as they take care of them. If this thread fails, he gets the CLS for winter. I know he'll love it. Sadly he also has an AMG Merc (CLS55 in earlier saloon flavour), so isn't a swap candidate, and it also seems that it won't be as special to him as to someone who has never had one before.

I definitely need something with some space. My wife is claiming I need to leave one of my 5 pairs of skis at home, to make more space for baby kit. I respectfully disagree.
The offer of the Espace is there, there maybe times you need a second car, so knowing it is tucked up inthe garage not far away gives you options.
I'll get you a key to the garage so you can just help yourself. As you said cars need to be run.

I'll give you a call later anyway to catch up.

TheJimi

24,860 posts

242 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Not sure if I'd want the stress of being custodian of someone's P&J for that long, tbh.

Outstanding thread though, and you're a good guy, Harry smile

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
OscarIndia - thanks (as always) - and look forward to a chat. I'm about this evening, let's catch up!

Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 4th October 10:42

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,283 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
TheJimi said:
Not sure if I'd want the stress of being custodian of someone's P&J for that long, tbh.

Outstanding thread though, and you're a good guy, Harry smile
I know what you mean, but it's only a car at the end of the day. We would agree to fully comprehensively insure each others' cars for the period, with an agreement to forward proceeds of an insurance payout if there is a serious problem, so I am pretty relaxed about it.

Obviously we would meet and assure each other that we are not psychopaths and have some sort of respect for other peoples' property, before handing over keys...

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Neil1300r said:
I can do better than that, a L322 in supercharged petrol flavour. None of your horrible children killing smelly devil fuel here
Neil, if that is a genuine offer, I would be very interested. Perfect winter car. Added bonus that Lady F would definitely approve, being an American who like big 4x4s with lots of presence (her parents' ski truck is a GMC Suburban).
Off to convince the other half. Her current thinking is as we live in Surrey (and just wihin the M25) the worst weather in Northern Europe will hit us and a rear wheel drive car is a stupid idea!


SF89

5 posts

68 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Not sure this would be entirely suitable...




p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Harry, ask the guy on here to ship (from Oz IIRC) his Trackhawk over! biggrin

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Unless you REALLY want a 4x4, I'd just stick some winter or all season tyres on the Merc and throw some snow-socks in the boot.

Even BSS speed skier Jan Farrell uses a CLS 63S AMG as his 'winter utility vehicle' and he's driving about the alps all winter.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Swopz for ifone 6 mate?

Dg504

263 posts

162 months

Thursday 4th October 2018
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Harry, can't offer anything 4x4 I'm afraid (Saab man) but do live around the South Circ. in Hither Green - if you get stuck I could, i.e. would love to, get a permit for it and imagine thoroughly enjoy ensuring it's used and maintained.

P.S. where are you off to? I know Chatel & the surrounding UK contingent rather well!