Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[NewcastleFalcon]

I think the adjective for this is "cavernous" perfect for the dogs, and van-like light haulage duties. Must admit those SUV's supposed to be ideal for dogs, look ridiculously squashed up behind the back row of seats and hardly ever (never?) are shown with 2 large dogs on the publicity photos, at most a Lab and a smaller dog.



Neil

[MattBLancs]

I think the Audi Q7 was probably one of the most outright unpleasant things

Cheeky snip, but I wholeheartedly agree!

Oh those Volvo seats look lovely! Are they are cosseting and squishy as they look?

Here, here! On the proper estate > SUV . I hate that's all the world wants to buy nowadays. At best they are decent engine donors (to stick into something interesting!) to my eyes!

[Zelandeth]

I think the adjective for this is "cavernous" perfect for the dogs, and van-like light haulage duties. Must admit those SUV's supposed to be ideal for dogs, look ridiculously squashed up behind the back row of seats and hardly ever (never?) are shown with 2 large dogs on the publicity photos, at most a Lab and a smaller dog.



Neil

The other downside of most SUV-like things is that they tend to have a really high loading lip as well, which isn't ideal for dogs. Partner isn't actually great there either as the price you pay for the torsion bar suspension is the axle beam sitting all but level with the top of the rear tyres, there's a lot of empty space underneath the car between the rear wheels.

I just absolutely don't see the point in 95% of them. They make virtually all of the compromises that things like an actual Range Rover does, but without any of the advantages...If you want a car you have a load of space in and can haul loads of cargo around in, get a large hatchback or an estate. If you want more vertical volume and a more upright driving experience, get something like the Ford Fusion or PSA Berlingo/Partner. If you want to be able to drive offroad, get something that's actually an off roader. We had an Audi Q5 here as one of the company cars, and it was awful. For a start we had a never ending flow of niggly problems with it that the dealer were absolutely disinterested in doing anything about, and it was just so ridiculously cramped inside. The Xantia had more room in the boot without even thinking about folding the seats down than that did, and it was trying to look like an estate/SUV blob. Have to admit that was one all four of us were glad to see the back of. Usually it's been top trim level Skoda Superbs since, but we had to change with the last two as they've not been on the company car scheme. Not hugely useful for dog transit though given that they also have a no pets policy for the company cars.

I think the Audi Q7 was probably one of the most outright unpleasant things

Cheeky snip, but I wholeheartedly agree!

Oh those Volvo seats look lovely! Are they are cosseting and squishy as they look?

Here, here! On the proper estate > SUV . I hate that's all the world wants to buy nowadays. At best they are decent engine donors (to stick into something interesting!) to my eyes!

Based on my prior experience with Volvos I'm hoping that the answer to that question is a solid yes. Though admittedly it's never going to beat the interior of the 262C. Haven't actually seen the car in person yet, so only have assumptions to work on.

Wholeheartedly agreed on the SUV thing, I know I'm not the target audience but I just don't understand the appeal.

[Michel]

Just to be different Suzuki SX4 ?

I have one, it's bloody brilliant Mick! It just does exactly what it's supposed to do. It'll also see the wrong side of 115mph on an autoroute, fully loaded from it's little 1.6 petrol motor, which sounds hilariously like my mum's 1992 Vitara did - same block, modernised heads and fuel injection.

EDIT : Point of order - It's a Suzuki, not a rebadged FIAT, as some people claim.

[Michel]

Just to play along, Sounds like you may be looking at one of those darlings of the car manufacturers these days...the SUV, and perhaps hints at why they are popular.
Neil

They're popular because they're very practical. High up, easy to get in and out, great visibility around town, and modern ones, which are designed to be what they are, instead of earlier (Thinking Vitara, Jimny, Shogun Pinin) ones which were 4x4 vehicles modified to be more pleasant are actually pretty decent to drive. Certainly my friend's 18 Plate Qashqai is, as is my 14 plate SX4. I don't think I'd have another standard car. Too low down.

[Michel]

Wholeheartedly agreed on the SUV thing, I know I'm not the target audience but I just don't understand the appeal.

Yes you do. You have a Partner/Berlingo. That is the best SUV ever made, without a doubt. If you're ever selling it, please let me know. I wish I'd never sold my Berlingo.

[MattBLancs]

Bit of a potato / pot-Ah-to, tom-A-to, tom-ah-to argument going on, but I'd call a Berlingo / Partner an MPV rather than SUV, it's the shape it is for the purpose it serves (i.e. maximum interior space) where as the "cross over" type SUV are to my eyes worse than an actual 4x4. It all kicked off with the range rover of course which in it's defence early iterations were still pretty much function over form and only really luxurious in so much as less unpleasant than a Defender.

The SUVs are worse to my eyes as they ride the bow wave of "luxury = perception of go anywhere ability"(though that isn't required and in many cases isn't actually an ability the vehicle possesses.

They have some practicality, but surprised how much less than expected given the exterior size - I had a Quashqui as a hire car and could not believe how small it was inside!
The Juke is even worse, like an Almera exterior with a Micra inside!

(Or in short, I just don't like 'em! )

[CitroJim]

They're popular because they're very practical. High up, easy to get in and out, great visibility around town

Describes my C3 Picasso very well... I love the high-up driving position a lot.

Yep, Partner/Berlingo. Definitely agreed A great all-rounder.

[Michel]

The SUVs are worse to my eyes as they ride the bow wave of "luxury = perception of go anywhere ability"(though that isn't required and in many cases isn't actually an ability the vehicle possesses.

They have some practicality, but surprised how much less than expected given the exterior size - I had a Quashqui as a hire car and could not believe how small it was inside!
The Juke is even worse, like an Almera exterior with a Micra inside!

(Or in short, I just don't like 'em! )

The people I know who own Qashqais definitely don't think of their vehicles as anything other than a practical family car, and certainly not as some weird luxury status symbol

As for the size? Can we put the fallacy that these things are huge and take up all the road space to bed, once and for all? They don't..

I noted the following cars on the early school run today. Vitara and Xantia thrown in for my own amusement..

2001 Vitara - 3865 x 1695mm
2012 Qashqai - 4330 x 1780mm
2011 C3 Picasso - 4101 x 1766 mm
2014 Suzuki SX4 - 4135 x 1730mm
2014 VW Tiguan - 4426 x 1809mm
2014 Vauxhall Mokka - 4278 x 1777mm

2001 Xantia - 4524 x 1755mm
2012 Citroën C5 - 4779 x 1860 mm
2014 Ford Focus - 4556 x 1823mm
2014 Audi A4 - 4721 x 1841mm
2010 BMW 3 series - 4615 x 1817mm
2011 Vauxhall Insignia - 4830 x 1856mm

[Gibbo2286]

We had a local agent here who specialised in your Lada Niva cars Zel, not sure if he's still about though.
I note that production was due to end in 2023 and up till then you could get a personal import of a new one from a company in Kent.

[MattBLancs]

They have some practicality, but surprised how much less than expected given the exterior size - I had a Quashqui as a hire car and could not believe how small it was inside!
The Juke is even worse, like an Almera exterior with a Micra inside!

The people I know who own Qashqais definitely don't think of their vehicles as anything other than a practical family car, and certainly not as some weird luxury status symbol

As for the size? Can we put the fallacy that these things are huge and take up all the road space to bed, once and for all? They don't..

Cut down to what I actually said i.e. poor interior space for a given exterior footprint.

I'll find some dimensional data in a bit.

In short to me it's "why is it tall?" and my understanding is it all stemmed from the range rover esque: "go anywhere luxury" equals good therefore high ride height equals status symbol.

Why is a qashqai not an Almera, Kuga not a Focus or even Focus estate, etc

[Zelandeth]

We had a local agent here who specialised in your Lada Niva cars Zel, not sure if he's still about though.
I note that production was due to end in 2023 and up till then you could get a personal import of a new one from a company in Kent.

Alan Bird by any chance? They were in the game for yeeeeaars, and ran the parts supply business for probably ten years or so after official imports ceased. Retired what to me seems not all that long ago, but probably is ten years ago now!

Yes you do. You have a Partner/Berlingo. That is the best SUV ever made, without a doubt. If you're ever selling it, please let me know. I wish I'd never sold my Berlingo.

Well if the Volvo works out it will be up for grabs as I'm already two vehicles over capacity. I'll make sure you get first refusal if/when we get to that stage.

[Zelandeth]

With the Partner in work commuting use, the Invacar still boxed in behind a broken Trabant, the Trabant having only half an engine, and the Renault still as far from being road ready as it was at Christmas, the Rover was placed on Daily duty today.



All things considered, she behaved impeccably today. Yes still running a touch warmer according to the gauge than I'd ideally like, but not alarmingly so, the wiper blades are awful, and in the wet these tyres result in the car being precisely as enthusiastic about going sideways as I had expected. Those definitely need changing before the car goes into properly regular use. The whole not being circular thing gets old in a hurry too.

Oh, and that blasted sidelight has gone out again. The holder in that just needs to be replaced as it's knackered. If I clean the contacts it will work again for a couple of uses before packing in again.

Niggles aside though, we covered thirty miles or so across four or five errands dotted around town, and she didn't miss a beat. Given the history of this car to date this feels like pretty major progress.

Do I dare believe that we're starting to turn a corner with things towards the car being properly usable? Or do we have another exciting random failure waiting to pounce as soon as I let my guard down? Don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

Now that we've got that oil leak under control I think I just need to make a point of using the car a bit more and try to get some miles covered to shake the remaining bugs out.

[Zelandeth]

Still waiting to hear back from the seller of the Volvo as to whether it's been secured or not. Hopefully will be a yes and we can start getting the logistics sorted out.

For the third or fourth time I repaired this side light on the Rover today.



The whole back of the cluster is badly corroded though so I don't really expect it to stay fixed for more than five minutes. Replacements are quite expensive, though there is apparently a repair kit which sleeves the areas that usually corrode, so I'll look to get one of those ordered next time I'm picking up parts. Well I'll order two actually as I'm sure the other one isn't going to be far behind. There are I think three different types of metal coming together in a design that's a natural water trap in an area of the car where moisture is going to inevitably gather anyway (the back of the cluster is open to the wheel arch void so will get all manner of road muck thrown at it). So not surprising they rot out for fun.

At least it's stayed fixed long enough for me to get a half decent photo of the car.



Still breaks my brain a little to think how long ago this design was drawn up. Not quite as much as it does to drive the car mind you. It absolutely doesn't feel like a 60 year old design.

I had planned to make a carb balancing rig this afternoon. Unfortunately this plan was derailed early on in the process when it became apparent that the coil of clear tubing wasn't where I thought it was. Of course no amount of digging in the garage found it, so that's been kicked down the road until I either find it or buy some more. I could just buy a kit, but given that all I really need is to see the relative draw between the two intakes we really don't need anything too sophisticated. Some bits of tubing with some water in and a bit of chipboard to hold it all together should do just fine. If they're anything even vaguely close to balanced as it stands I'll be astonished.

On the subject of vacuum though I'd been wanting to do something about this mess between the inlet manifold and the brake servo for ages.



Aside from the fact that the hose was a good couple of inches too short so was jammed hard up against the back of the alternator, that machine screw that had been used to block off an unused vacuum port wasn't 100% air tight.



Much better. I've also put a couple of hose clips on the hose that bridges the two halves of the brake servo itself as that wasn't a particularly snug fit after this many years. Evidently this has indeed improved the level of vacuum being applied to the servo given that the first time I went for the brakes when leaving the drive I just about put myself through the windscreen. The servo is definitely doing far more work now than it was. Given I knew we had at least some degree of a vacuum leak from there I obviously wanted that sorted out before I went about trying to properly balance things anyway otherwise I'd just have been chasing my tail.

[bobins]

I had planned to make a carb balancing rig this afternoon. Unfortunately this plan was derailed early on in the process when it became apparent that the coil of clear tubing wasn't where I thought it was. Of course no amount of digging in the garage found it, so that's been kicked down the road until I either find it or buy some more. I could just buy a kit, but given that all I really need is to see the relative draw between the two intakes we really don't need anything too sophisticated. Some bits of tubing with some water in and a bit of chipboard to hold it all together should do just fine. If they're anything even vaguely close to balanced as it stands I'll be astonished.

Now..... Mr Iain Tyrrell of classic car fettling fame manages to do an exceptionally good job of balancing carbs with nothing more than a length of something like inch-and-a-half hose and a working ear. He's demonstrated the technique and - providing you've got at least one working ear - a decent job can be done by all most.