Black Friday - bah not so humbug

[Tinonline]

Hi fellow comrades

Erring on the grumpy sometimes, it's an age thing probs, Black Friday means lots of bad things not least once again copying a society lagging behind Europe by about 300 years.

It also means not being able to get to eat out unless you've booked.

Having said all that, I've managed my cheapest oil change for my LS400.

Thanks to heavy discounting, prices weighed in at: £21.98 including delivery to my door for 6ltrs of Shell Helix and £11.99 for a genuine oil filter and washer. Total £33.97.

I stocked up on 10ltrs of ready mixed red long-life coolant at a Total of £12.14 but that's for the S Type Jag that now has a shopping list of repairs I have to attend to. 

(Coolant leak - thermostat tower I believe so a metal beefed up version will be £45 plus a thermostat - suppose I have to do that too; non-functioning washers - leaking pipe I think as motors doing their best; cam cover oil leak; non telescoping steering wheel. I think the voltage drain is fixed by a good quality Battery - auto elec told me to steer clear of Lion Brand. Drive shaft boot shot. Air con pipe been gone for years and the part alone is £300 and no way am I attempting that repair. Oh and gearbox needs a service plus a couple of solenoids).

The LS400? Oil change, still got 2ltrs of tranny fluid for a mini refresh and oil for the diff. Yes lower suspension arms need attention. Lexus is just ahead on mileage at 79k over the Jag's 70k. I've a pair of front Blue Print roll bar bushes (made in Japan I note) to fit as a precautionary/service measure.

Will be busy righting all these wrongs... 

 

 

 

[Cotswold Pete]

Sounds like a Busy Saturday to follow your Black Friday bargains.

I cannot be ars*d to do my own oil changes these days, though I have to keep reminding the missus about her X-type which seems to have times when it drinks oil - where as LS400 never seems to need topping up between it's 9K services.

 

[ambermarine]

Simon

I suppose when you have owned a LS400 as long as we have the predictions on what can go wrong and what needs looking at are as near to getting up in a morning and having a brew.

I think this is one of the reasons we don't change to something else, the fear factor .

I recently disposed of my little truck "The Jiffy" ,some of you may remember me mentioning it when I lived in Scotland.

Unfortunately for that vehicle where we have moved to is a bit too urban and does not lend itself to having vehicles sitting in the drive in bits whilst I do another overdue upgrade.I took it to a Mini specialist in Lancashire(The Jiffy is mechanically a Classic Mini) who marveled at its unique wiring and engine management system and wanted to spend hundreds of pounds of my money getting it right. I had owned it ten of its 34 years and 8 previous owners,during my ownership I had brought it back from the dead and knew it inside out having virtually rebuilt it.

So as far as getting it right ,who makes the judgment ,I decided a new life and new owner would be the best option for all concerned, so "The Jiffy" as been sold to a Prop and classic vehicle supplier to the Film and Media industry and will be a film star henceforth ,its days of tramping the streets are over and it can now rest on its Laurels in comfort.

If I keep the Mark 4 in the same way for a few more years that too may end up doing the same thing and why not, its already a star in my eyes.