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What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

Driven through the set of Twister 3 in the least appropriate car possible, the Smart Roadster. Blooming scary when lorrie’s ploughed through deep flood water too fast as the bow waves towered above me sat in the car. Had I known how bad it was then I would have left it in the garage at work and caught the train home!
 
Up and out very early this morning with Baby D riding shotgun for a 180 mile round trip to Aston Martin Works at Newport Parnell. It was a very fresh 2.5 degrees as wet set off but as the sun rose we were greeted with clear bright blue skies and genuinely warm in direct sunshine. The perfect day for top down motoring.

I was there to visit the heritage and restoration departments, and was lucky enough to be shown around by Paul Spires - whose path may have crossed with our @Mactech - a thoroughly nice bloke who is passionate about Aston Martin Works. That faciiiitt, those cars, and that man is a dangerous and expensive combination!

Sadly photos aren’t allowed in most areas as they’re customers cars, however there are videos on YouTube which provide an idea of what it’s like behind the scenes:

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I did take a photo of this beautifully specified new Vantage, with a beating heart from Affalterbach. Before launch I was lucky enough to be driven around Silverstone by Peter Dumbreck (of the legendary Mercedes CLR aerobatics team at Le Mans) and the thrust was brutal, by far the aggressive punch of any sports car for the road.

1727535562815.jpeg
 
Sounds like fun day out😁 I'm not sure I have come across Paul Spires, but do know Raul Pires (similar name!) who was a Bentley stylist.
Responsible for the original Skoda Fabia (!) , the Conti GT and the graphics on the Bentley Le Mans winner.
 
Mactech said:
Sounds like fun day out😁 I'm not sure I have come across Paul Spires, but do know Raul Pires (similar name!) who was a Bentley stylist.
Responsible for the original Skoda Fabia (!) , the Conti GT and the graphics on the Bentley Le Mans winner.
Click to expand...
That’s a remarkably similar name and I didn't clean my ears this morning so maybe? 😀
 
Bobby Dazzler said:
That’s a remarkably similar name and I didn't clean my ears this morning so maybe? 😀
Click to expand...
No it’s not the same guy. One is Bentley, one AMR. Mind you, that didn’t prevent Adrian Hallmark being both….and Porsche GB before that!
 
Mactech said:
No it’s not the same guy. One is Bentley, one AMR. Mind you, that didn’t prevent Adrian Hallmark being both….and Porsche GB before that!
Click to expand...
😀 I was joking. It was definitely Paul Spires!

He was at Le Mans with Jota Zetec (LMP2) but was preparing race cars and endurance cars for years before that (AM Racing). He also owned aN XJR-11 after it was retired, which I believe your mate Martin enjoyed some success in whilst it was competing. Thoroughly nice bloke
 
Got back yesterday morning from a trip to the South of France in the CLK for 3 weeks and 2000 miles so it’s been car cleaning time .
Managed a quick oil and filter change in the sun as well (6000 miles since the last one ) .
Didn’t take any pics but managed a nice drive over Mount Ventoux for the 5th or 6th time , it’s a cracking drive .
 
W1ghty said:
Got back yesterday morning from a trip to the South of France in the CLK for 3 weeks and 2000 miles so it’s been car cleaning time .
Managed a quick oil and filter change in the sun as well (6000 miles since the last one ) .
Didn’t take any pics but managed a nice drive over Mount Ventoux for the 5th or 6th time , it’s a cracking drive .
Click to expand...
Nice 👍🏻
 
Had top fitted to the Smart Roadster whilst the roof is clean and dry. It’s nice to have the option of hard top, soft top, roof open with rails, roof fully open without rails.
 
Intended spring change.
Forgot to bring home my 21mm 1/2” drive socket for lower rear shock bolt from work
Sooo I used my 1/2” to 3/8” on my 21mm 3/8 drive socket and snapped the adaptor.
Patience is a virtue 😂
 
Smithy860 said:
Intended spring change.
Forgot to bring home my 21mm 1/2” drive socket for lower rear shock bolt from work
Sooo I used my 1/2” to 3/8” on my 21mm 3/8 drive socket and snapped the adaptor.
Patience is a virtue 😂
Click to expand...

Spanners are used to loosen bolts , socket sets are for running out and in.

Awaits the breaker bar comments . Hard hat is on . :-)


As for my mb. I washed it and then sat down and got a valuation for part ex on either a CLS 400d coupe or an e class 400d coupe. Maybe next year ..... Insurance on a c43 is just silly.
 
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Took the old girl out for her weekly drive. The usual route had road closures, so I had to take a different route further out into the wilds of Essex. Lovely leisurely drive out and then back home via the local shop for freshly baked croissants and bread :thumb:
 
Checked the tyres all around and given the time of year and there condition, decided to change them all.
Minefield when it comes to choosing but having consulted all the manuals and load weights (I’m new to vans) taking into consideration mine never has any more load than a car, I’m looking around for some 101XL (225/55/17)
Lots of choice, I always used avons on my car so may go for those but might just go up to continentals.
We’ll see
 
Smithy860 said:
Checked the tyres all around and given the time of year and there condition, decided to change them all.
Minefield when it comes to choosing but having consulted all the manuals and load weights (I’m new to vans) taking into consideration mine never has any more load than a car, I’m looking around for some 101XL (225/55/17)
Lots of choice, I always used avons on my car so may go for those but might just go up to continentals.
We’ll see
Click to expand...
Went for Goodyear efficient grip performance 2 in the end . Fitted at weekend.
 
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AMGeed said:
Good choice.
I've had those in the past on a Ford Focus and the grip was excellent.
Click to expand...
Good to know thank you, I was as brief as I could be on research as I know it can sometimes only cloud the issue!
 
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