Car pics ( and a few others) from 2011
Discussion
It was an interesting year, though very expensive in maintenance and unexpected blows to the wallet.
997RS.1
New clutch at 14000 miles...I have never had a clutch go this early. It had problems from the end of the 2010 seasons..very heavy, though no slip. Got progressively heavier in the summer and had to be replaced?..Under warranty,you say?..No. Porsche almost never replaces clutches under warranty despite an argument. It also needed new tires and after two sets of PS Cups. I opted for Supersports which have been great. I als stupidly scraped the tail backing into my parking spot, because I mistakenly packed into the wrong spot and angled it the way I always do.....100% bale to me, thoughI think the stancion monied.
2005 Smart ForTwo (12000 miles)
This has been an expensive little beast and relative to purchase price it leads the pack. In 2010 it blew a turbo, ( not uncommon), and I had a $2000 bill. In 2011 it developed an oil leak than needed a lot of work and a three hour compression test. Fixed, but more dosh.
2003 SL500 (14,000 miles)
This car has been bullet-proof, but I had never changed the tires. In December I had a complete tire failure at 60mph , which is hardly surprising given the age of the tires ( which looked almost unworn, as it has had an easy cruising highway life). Then my wife rode up on a fairly shallow kerb, which broke the bottom of the splitter. This seemingly minor item requires a single part for the front, unfortunately the part is the entire section from midway down the headlights to the bottom - here is no separate splitter....aargh. $3500.
2008 Cayenne S (45,000 miles)
Recall for a new fuel pump, no charge. Major maintenance and clear out of blocked drains, spark plugs etc...$2000. ( I was going in a very long trip towing the SL...6100 miles round trip. New front brake pads at the end of the trip, but they were the original pads. It will need new winter tires next Autumn and new sumer tires in the Spring. Overall it has been utterly reliable, though.
2010 997RS.2 ( 4,000 miles)
Recall for new centre lock hubs, no charge. Nothing but an oil change here.
2006 BMW M6 (19,000 miles)
Routine maintenance and a new set of Contisports.
Considering that I neither bought nor sold a car in 2011 it was a tough year
.....Anyway, here are some pics of mostly other cars for the year:
I spent New year in Rome, saw my first 458 on the street. They truly are very striking cars, and the nicest Ferrari for years.
Had to visit in-laws in Miami in Jan, and saw a quite inconspicuous old auto dealership sign above a clothing boutique. Imagine this place in its heyday.
Also saw the first Ghost I had come across....gigantic mirrors on the thing.
I came across a lot of Fiat 500s everywhere this year:
WInter came as usual to Canada, bt was not to bad. However, I was working in Texas when there was a fierce ice storm. THis would have been routine in Canada, but brought Dallas to a halt. Was unable;e to leave hotel for a week,and they almost ran out of food......apart fro a lonely Dodge pickup there was zero traffic
Tested a Fiat 500 for three days. I was impressed with the finish and preferred it to the Mini as a city runabout. Surprisingly comforttable seats, too.
Spring came, rallied the RS.1 in a few club rallies. Previous year we has won most of them and placed in all. 2011 was a disaster, got lost on EVERY rally, and failed to place.
RS.2 had first birthday. The most satisfying car I have owned, I think:
And now, the oddball
Veggie truck in Toronto
Tornado chasing truck in Toronto - they drive this shiny inside Tornados ..using long spears they secure it to the ground
London week after the riots -Portobello road. Met my son for a weekend there.
RS.1 tail damage
Rented a Ford Escape in Arizona when we were buying the house. Years out of date, this thing, but cheap to run and maintain. Despite the dated interior ti did the job well enough;
A few odd cars from various trips:
Towed SL to Arizona from Canada for winter and drove a lot of Route 66 at various times:
Afton Oklahoma:
Shamrock Tx...this building was used in the Cars film:
Shamrock Scrapyard:
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo Tx
It reminded me of the aircraft Scrapyard an David Mnnthan AIrbase in Tucson - B1 Bombers
Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari NM
Rpute 66 Auto museum, Santa Rosa NM
Kingman AZ
Offroaded the Cayenne and scraped the hell out of it on cactus
Seligman AZ
Took a short drive to Sedona last week, when I blew the tire:
Some local cars and trucks from last week:
Drove past the Barrett Jackson offices...and noticed the Kennedy Ambulance there, This was what transported JFKs body.....
A very strange MG TD..(real not Brazilian)...
Sounded like a V8 in the thing, massive spacers, false pipes...very odd
FInally, the dogs have settled into their winter home
Happy New Year All!!!
Tubac AZ
B36 at Pima air museum
997RS.1
New clutch at 14000 miles...I have never had a clutch go this early. It had problems from the end of the 2010 seasons..very heavy, though no slip. Got progressively heavier in the summer and had to be replaced?..Under warranty,you say?..No. Porsche almost never replaces clutches under warranty despite an argument. It also needed new tires and after two sets of PS Cups. I opted for Supersports which have been great. I als stupidly scraped the tail backing into my parking spot, because I mistakenly packed into the wrong spot and angled it the way I always do.....100% bale to me, thoughI think the stancion monied.
2005 Smart ForTwo (12000 miles)
This has been an expensive little beast and relative to purchase price it leads the pack. In 2010 it blew a turbo, ( not uncommon), and I had a $2000 bill. In 2011 it developed an oil leak than needed a lot of work and a three hour compression test. Fixed, but more dosh.
2003 SL500 (14,000 miles)
This car has been bullet-proof, but I had never changed the tires. In December I had a complete tire failure at 60mph , which is hardly surprising given the age of the tires ( which looked almost unworn, as it has had an easy cruising highway life). Then my wife rode up on a fairly shallow kerb, which broke the bottom of the splitter. This seemingly minor item requires a single part for the front, unfortunately the part is the entire section from midway down the headlights to the bottom - here is no separate splitter....aargh. $3500.
2008 Cayenne S (45,000 miles)
Recall for a new fuel pump, no charge. Major maintenance and clear out of blocked drains, spark plugs etc...$2000. ( I was going in a very long trip towing the SL...6100 miles round trip. New front brake pads at the end of the trip, but they were the original pads. It will need new winter tires next Autumn and new sumer tires in the Spring. Overall it has been utterly reliable, though.
2010 997RS.2 ( 4,000 miles)
Recall for new centre lock hubs, no charge. Nothing but an oil change here.
2006 BMW M6 (19,000 miles)
Routine maintenance and a new set of Contisports.
Considering that I neither bought nor sold a car in 2011 it was a tough year
.....Anyway, here are some pics of mostly other cars for the year:I spent New year in Rome, saw my first 458 on the street. They truly are very striking cars, and the nicest Ferrari for years.
Had to visit in-laws in Miami in Jan, and saw a quite inconspicuous old auto dealership sign above a clothing boutique. Imagine this place in its heyday.
Also saw the first Ghost I had come across....gigantic mirrors on the thing.
I came across a lot of Fiat 500s everywhere this year:
WInter came as usual to Canada, bt was not to bad. However, I was working in Texas when there was a fierce ice storm. THis would have been routine in Canada, but brought Dallas to a halt. Was unable;e to leave hotel for a week,and they almost ran out of food......apart fro a lonely Dodge pickup there was zero traffic
Tested a Fiat 500 for three days. I was impressed with the finish and preferred it to the Mini as a city runabout. Surprisingly comforttable seats, too.
Spring came, rallied the RS.1 in a few club rallies. Previous year we has won most of them and placed in all. 2011 was a disaster, got lost on EVERY rally, and failed to place.
RS.2 had first birthday. The most satisfying car I have owned, I think:
And now, the oddball
Veggie truck in Toronto
Tornado chasing truck in Toronto - they drive this shiny inside Tornados ..using long spears they secure it to the ground
London week after the riots -Portobello road. Met my son for a weekend there.
RS.1 tail damage
Rented a Ford Escape in Arizona when we were buying the house. Years out of date, this thing, but cheap to run and maintain. Despite the dated interior ti did the job well enough;
A few odd cars from various trips:
Towed SL to Arizona from Canada for winter and drove a lot of Route 66 at various times:
Afton Oklahoma:
Shamrock Tx...this building was used in the Cars film:
Shamrock Scrapyard:
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo Tx
It reminded me of the aircraft Scrapyard an David Mnnthan AIrbase in Tucson
- B1 BombersBlue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari NM
Rpute 66 Auto museum, Santa Rosa NM
Kingman AZ
Offroaded the Cayenne and scraped the hell out of it on cactus
Seligman AZ
Took a short drive to Sedona last week, when I blew the tire:
Some local cars and trucks from last week:
Drove past the Barrett Jackson offices...and noticed the Kennedy Ambulance there, This was what transported JFKs body.....
A very strange MG TD..(real not Brazilian)...
Sounded like a V8 in the thing, massive spacers, false pipes...very odd
FInally, the dogs have settled into their winter home
Happy New Year All!!!
Tubac AZ
B36 at Pima air museum
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 12:41
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 12:45
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 12:45
Edited by RDMcG on Saturday 31st December 12:46
Enjoyed that. The white/red Porsche looks incredible and I'm no Porsche fan. The dog is beautiful - suspect the blonde is too but need more pics please. 
Tornado truck = insane. I would probably accept any offer to sit in it inside a tornado though. Love the thrill of things like that.
Wish I had your job - whatever it is. Happy 2012.
Tornado truck = insane. I would probably accept any offer to sit in it inside a tornado though. Love the thrill of things like that.
Wish I had your job - whatever it is. Happy 2012.
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