Car swap - who wants an AMG Merc for 3 months?
Discussion
Mods, I hope that GG is the right place for this. It is not an advertisement, nor a transaction, but an appeal/offer to the PH collective!
My local friends and I have run an informal car club for many years - by having each other as named drivers on our stuff. It has worked well as no-one is especially uptight about the odd ding or scratch, and everyone is responsible and trusted. So over the years I have regularly driven others' fun cars, and they have mine. I am thus very relaxed about loaning my stuff to the right folk.
However, the car club is leaving me hanging right now, as the one thing we lack is a capable, comfortable 4x4. And I am taking a career break and heading to the mountains of France with Lady F and our infant daughter from January, returning at the beginning of April. For which I need something capable in the snow, comfortable, and relatively luxurious (or at least modern). The last time I did a ski season was 5 years ago, and the tricked out Defender I owned then was fun, and cool, but in no way suitable for the needs of a family.
So here goes - I need a PHer, preferably SE based (for logistics, rather than anything else), who has a 4x4 vehicle that I can have for 3 months, during winter. In return, you get my 2012, 47,000 mile, fully loaded Mercedes CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake. Chris Harris' old car, in fact, so plenty of reviews available on here. It is an awesome machine, and I absolutely love it, but it has drawbacks for mountain life - 557bhp twin turbo V8 driving the rear wheels is simply no good up there. Also, these performance cars (RS6 included) do not readily take snow chains due to lack of wheelarch gap: and frankly if you need snow chains, you need front wheel drive at a very minimum. Not that chains would make any difference to this old school muscle car of an estate.
My friend was going to swap out his 2013 LR Discovery 4, but his fun-hating wife has kyboshed the deal...they borrowed the car last weekend, and she claims that it scared her
. Personally, I think that with all the comfort stuff and traction control etc turned on, it's a pussycat. I do admit that it should be treated with respect in the damp, though...hence my unwillingness to take it to regularly icy roads at 2000 metres altitude.
So, chaps - who's game? Anyone? I don't need a Range Rover, but a dicey old Toyota Hilux pickup won't really do. And it would be good if you don't have any criminal convictions, or addictions to Class A drugs.
I'm also looking to rent my newly refurbished house in SW2 out for 3 months, but that's a whole other ball game...
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
My local friends and I have run an informal car club for many years - by having each other as named drivers on our stuff. It has worked well as no-one is especially uptight about the odd ding or scratch, and everyone is responsible and trusted. So over the years I have regularly driven others' fun cars, and they have mine. I am thus very relaxed about loaning my stuff to the right folk.
However, the car club is leaving me hanging right now, as the one thing we lack is a capable, comfortable 4x4. And I am taking a career break and heading to the mountains of France with Lady F and our infant daughter from January, returning at the beginning of April. For which I need something capable in the snow, comfortable, and relatively luxurious (or at least modern). The last time I did a ski season was 5 years ago, and the tricked out Defender I owned then was fun, and cool, but in no way suitable for the needs of a family.
So here goes - I need a PHer, preferably SE based (for logistics, rather than anything else), who has a 4x4 vehicle that I can have for 3 months, during winter. In return, you get my 2012, 47,000 mile, fully loaded Mercedes CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake. Chris Harris' old car, in fact, so plenty of reviews available on here. It is an awesome machine, and I absolutely love it, but it has drawbacks for mountain life - 557bhp twin turbo V8 driving the rear wheels is simply no good up there. Also, these performance cars (RS6 included) do not readily take snow chains due to lack of wheelarch gap: and frankly if you need snow chains, you need front wheel drive at a very minimum. Not that chains would make any difference to this old school muscle car of an estate.
My friend was going to swap out his 2013 LR Discovery 4, but his fun-hating wife has kyboshed the deal...they borrowed the car last weekend, and she claims that it scared her
. Personally, I think that with all the comfort stuff and traction control etc turned on, it's a pussycat. I do admit that it should be treated with respect in the damp, though...hence my unwillingness to take it to regularly icy roads at 2000 metres altitude.So, chaps - who's game? Anyone? I don't need a Range Rover, but a dicey old Toyota Hilux pickup won't really do. And it would be good if you don't have any criminal convictions, or addictions to Class A drugs.
I'm also looking to rent my newly refurbished house in SW2 out for 3 months, but that's a whole other ball game...
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 21:58
Big Pants said:
Hi Harry
Hardly fair exchange, but you'd be welcome to take my 2005 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B on the jaunt. It's the estate, automatic, 110k miles now but immaculately maintained and in perfect order, with Isofix in the back, if that helps.
To be honest I barely use it - I'm in South Hampstead and tend to walk, cycle or tube to most places, so I'd expect to contribute more leaves and bird poo than miles to yours.
Drop me a PM if you're interested or would like to check it out. I'd happily house sit too - have long followed your thread with interest - but you're wrong side of the river, innit?
Honestly something like that could be just fine - but does the R have the ground clearance required for snow that can be a couple of feet deep? I nearly bought the Outback version of your car for my last season, but went with the Defender instead (because I am stupid). Car doesn't need to be grand (although ideally I would like a Discovery/ML/X5 etc) - but it needs to be scapable of the sometimes very nasty conditions out there. As I love powder skiing, the worst weather is when I like to go out...Hardly fair exchange, but you'd be welcome to take my 2005 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B on the jaunt. It's the estate, automatic, 110k miles now but immaculately maintained and in perfect order, with Isofix in the back, if that helps.
To be honest I barely use it - I'm in South Hampstead and tend to walk, cycle or tube to most places, so I'd expect to contribute more leaves and bird poo than miles to yours.
Drop me a PM if you're interested or would like to check it out. I'd happily house sit too - have long followed your thread with interest - but you're wrong side of the river, innit?
As for house-sitting, I am sadly in the impoverished south, rather than the posh north!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 17:28
illmonkey said:
I think you're marketing the oppertunity all wrong.
Rather, advertise it as a short stint to live the life of Flashers and his tales from years gone by. Entry is also FREE, but administration charges is 3 months rent payments and enough to buy a new Rangie. A snip at the life of riley they'd live during the short time.
I thought of this, but decided that no-one needed the emotional baggage/physical ruination/possible paternity suits.Rather, advertise it as a short stint to live the life of Flashers and his tales from years gone by. Entry is also FREE, but administration charges is 3 months rent payments and enough to buy a new Rangie. A snip at the life of riley they'd live during the short time.
a7x88 said:
I have an S6 V10 but it may be a bit old (2007). Just had new tyres and is freshly serviced.
PM me if interested but the ground clearance and wide tyres would likely leave it no better off than your car
Thanks very much (and lovely car!) but I am afraid that I need something a bit more SUV-like...PM me if interested but the ground clearance and wide tyres would likely leave it no better off than your car
Edited by a7x88 on Wednesday 3rd October 17:59
soad said:
Just buy a suitable vehicle!! 
Could do but I don't really want to sell the CLS, have g spent a while finding the right one, I only just bought it, and vehicle sales/purchases are not fun.Plus I would genuinely like someone to use and have the joy of the AMG, in return for something suitable!
Probably the wrong time of year to be asking for someone to loan their 4x4, though...if this fails, I'll look at buying a cheap vehicle and selling on my return.
But this has to be worth a shot for me and another PHer!?
Brilliant Herbs, although pmease note i typod the dates - i need a cat to April 7th or so, not March 7th: sorry! I'll see what this thread throws up and get in touch if after if that's OK? That is for considering.
Chaps, age of car isn't an issue. Isofix, ground clearance and reliability are key, rather than poshness! And I will re-iterate: my CLS63 is a brilliant, hooligan of a thing. I picked it over an RS6 for the steering, space, looks and engine noise. It's perfectly at home in London with its potholes and speedbumps, but haveing lived in the Alps before, I know that it can't do the icebound, sloped car parks, and it needs real respect on damp roads.
Chaps, age of car isn't an issue. Isofix, ground clearance and reliability are key, rather than poshness! And I will re-iterate: my CLS63 is a brilliant, hooligan of a thing. I picked it over an RS6 for the steering, space, looks and engine noise. It's perfectly at home in London with its potholes and speedbumps, but haveing lived in the Alps before, I know that it can't do the icebound, sloped car parks, and it needs real respect on damp roads.
Thanks guys and both those cars would be perfect - but does the Porsche have Isofix? As for the Touareg, the mods make it absolutely perfect for Alpine duty, and I know my Merc would love living in that garage over winter, that's for sure. The ski hatch and roof box are also a huge bonus...Thanks for considering!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 22:06
Delta - I also want alligator leather.
On a serious note, heated seats would be nice. I've done this alpine thing before, and know what works on a -20 degree morning! (A Defender does not, in case anyone is wondering. Work, that is)
On a serious note, heated seats would be nice. I've done this alpine thing before, and know what works on a -20 degree morning! (A Defender does not, in case anyone is wondering. Work, that is)
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 21:49
Speed Badger said:
Job jobbed?
For thread relevance, here is my olf JW Engineering/Nene Overland modified Defender doing the daily commute on this exact same jaunt, but 5 years ago. The car was brilliant for three reasons:
1) It had the clearance and tyres for deep snow, which meant you could park it right by the lift on top of the bulldozed snow pile that no other car could get onto. So turning up late in the morning, meant no long walk to the cablecar.
2) It was just cool.
3) Well, there is no 3 really. The heater was useless, the doors would freeze shut, the only thing slower than it on the motorway were HGVs, and it broke down a lot.
Front runners so far
- Hereward's 2003 Toureg, for already having winter tyres, a suspension lift, roof box and the kind offer of a garage for my car.
- Stongle's 2016 Touareg for being very modern and just a very nice machine
- Herbs' Q7, for its size and comfort
I love the idea of Muncher's Cayenne Turbo too, but am a bit worried about bork. Is that just me being a pussy?
Thank you all for seriously considering this - yet another reason to love the PH community
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 22:25
Forgot to post pic of the Defender on duty in 2013-14 winter in the Alps:
DSC_0075.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
That car took me to the top of the mountains in the middle of the night to indulge a photography hobby, where I got shots like the one below. A small baby may put paid to that element of the trip this time...
DSC_0052.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_0075.jpg by baconrashers, on FlickrThat car took me to the top of the mountains in the middle of the night to indulge a photography hobby, where I got shots like the one below. A small baby may put paid to that element of the trip this time...
DSC_0052.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickrbraddo said:
I think I'm in the same borough as you and my wife should be amenable to another AMG for a little while.
It's a 2008 Cayenne S, on air suspension and recently fitted with M+S-rated Yoko Geolander tyres:
It has been the family car with 2 young kids for about 3 years. It has high miles because the previous owner used it to bomb down through France. We've used it for an annual summer holiday into central France too. As an ex-demo the spec is decent, except no heated seats! We use a sheepskin in winter.
Ooh...yes! M&S Geolanders are a big bonus, as tyres matter as much as the car in those conditions.It's a 2008 Cayenne S, on air suspension and recently fitted with M+S-rated Yoko Geolander tyres:
It has been the family car with 2 young kids for about 3 years. It has high miles because the previous owner used it to bomb down through France. We've used it for an annual summer holiday into central France too. As an ex-demo the spec is decent, except no heated seats! We use a sheepskin in winter.
This thread is delivering some great choices chaps!!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 3rd October 22:30
Muncher said:
Harry the Cayenne has Isofix, had it for just short of 2 years and other than some minor work to sort a couple of things when we first bought it, it hasn’t missed a beat. It’s black with black leather, Xenons, heated seats front and back, heated steering wheel etc
It was great in the snow last year too, even on snow covered gravel and out drive is fair steep. Garage, locked gates etc here too.
Muncher - definitely interested, and the locked gates are a big bonus!It was great in the snow last year too, even on snow covered gravel and out drive is fair steep. Garage, locked gates etc here too.
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