PH Fleet: Lexus LS400/TVR Chimaera
Christmas car purchase comes back to haunt Garlick with an expensive month for both cars
Garlick is Merc-less for the first time in ages
Christmas spending
On a happier note it was time for the TVR to enjoy its annual pampering session while I enjoyed the (surprisingly decent) Fiesta loan car offered by Fernhurst TVR. Foolishly I bought the TVR just before Christmas two years ago, so annual service and MOT time takes place when I should be saving money to buy Christmas gifts for friends and family, but hey times are hard so the family can enjoy unwrapping a variety of items I found lying around in the office.
Fixed, fettled and tucked up for winter.
Firing on all cylinders
It was also time for the annual service (interim) and while that was carried out the 4,000rpm misfire was finally fixed. It was all plug and lead related along with a few loose suppressors too, and now it finally revs cleanly and smoothly once again. Not that I could sample it upon collection mind you as I went to pick the car up after hours on a wet and foggy night and pottered along conscious of the fact that I was running fresh rubber on the rear wheels along with new brake pads (the only other non-routine part fitted). Fast I was not, but the car felt great as they always seem to after a service has been carried out ... unlike my wallet, but a tax rebate from HMRC was waiting for me when I got home that more than covered the near £800 bill. Result.
Not long after that I decided to tuck it in the garage to save it from the salty nastiness that is UK roads in winter. I am especially conscious after a valet company helpfully cleaned all the Waxoyl from the chassis thinking it was road dirt a year or so ago. I have had it reapplied since, but it doesn't look as thick as the original application so care is being exercised. As I type it is in the garage under a cover waiting for better weather, with a flat battery and a sad owner.
Lexus suddenly got unusually exciting
The hibernation and recent fleet culling means the LS is piling on the miles as it is now the main car of the household. My short inner London commute sees average fuel consumption starting with a 1 and I am pretty sure new front discs and pads will be needed early in 2012 along with an MOT as that expires in January. Once again the car expenses are less than perfectly timed, and a new tax disc is needed too.
Oh, I mentioned ice skating? Well you can read more about that here where I detail my first ever road pirouette.It seems P-Zero tyres are not great for winter use, a fact I didn't know when spending £250 a corner on them earlier in the year. Despite the slip the mighty LS remains the most comfortable and relaxing car I have ever owned, and I even think I'd keep it over the equivalent S-Class. What's happening to me?
FACT SHEET
Car: 1997 Lexus LS400
Run by: Garlick
Bought: Jan 2011
Mileage: 115,000
Purchase price: £1,800
Last month at a glance: Thirsty, slippery, comfy
Car: 1999 TVR Chimaera 4.0
Run by: Garlick
Bought: December 2009
Mileage: 56,000
Purchase price: £12,995
Last month at a glance: Service, MOT, hibernation
PREVIOUS REPORTS:
Noisy TVR upsets the neighbours
Summer fun with the Garlick fleet
Bargain barge not quite a bargain
I had an XJ6 last year for a few months, fuel exconomy was little better; didn't waft as well and just about broke me with repair bills - bought and sold within 4 months - it has gone now!
Interested to see what comes next to the fleet given cruising and sporting are resolved - something to go to the dump and manage the country tracks or something intense and high revving with 2 or 4 wheels?
But wonder why you have the car serviced on schedule, if you then stick it in the garage until spring. Wouldn't it be better to wait until spring so that you can combine the annual service with getting the car ready after its winter sleep? I'm sure an explainable, one-off delay of a few months is not going to be a problem for the car's history (and isn't it a keeper in any case?)
Service is due at the same time as the MOT. Fernhurst do my the MOT and swap the cats over for me at the same time, so it makes sense that it gets the service done as well while they have it. Was particularly rigid with timings this year as it had the misfire too, but in all honesty I like to maintain a good servicing schedule!
Looking at the weather today, I might just pop to the garage this afternoon
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Supercharger-Kit-Vortech...
Don't thank me
Service is due at the same time as the MOT. Fernhurst do my the MOT and swap the cats over for me at the same time, so it makes sense that it gets the service done as well while they have it. Was particularly rigid with timings this year as it had the misfire too, but in all honesty I like to maintain a good servicing schedule!
h about too much servicing.But yeah, nice fleet.
E Type (free road tax) comes out every time the weather good and no salt around otherwise it longer to was it all than drive around.
So a bit of reverse logic in my garage.
I had to find a flat with off street parking for my car, the other one is in storage (at a cost) and the missus car is in the road. Just wondered how you deal being a many car family and the ongoing struggle to keep them parked up...
If I get the Rangie (Vogue LSE/ late classic) that will be on street too. As long as the TVR is protected I'm happy enough.
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