Mincey

Note to self: it was a bad idea putting the microfibre cloths in the wash with my wife's underwear and socks, even though they had been well rinsed (the cloths). I am now quickly re-washing her stuff before she notices. Also, don't use the washy stuff on windows. I've had to clean them with my soon to be patented white vinegar and water mix. Wallace and Gromit would be proud of the results. Finally, this being the first time I've washed Betsy, I've realised what a big girl she is. Not quite Fourt'two thirt'nine fifty six, but I could just reach the middle of her roof without attaching my Go Go Gadget arms.

I believe the level was to the top of the label, so it hasn't used too much I suppose. I will be more scientific next time. Marks on the label and weights before and after!

I'll try to work that out for you! I guess weighing the bottle as it stands will give an idea. Leave it with me....

A quick update - much disappointment was felt when I discovered that all the puff had left the can of SupaGard spray-on tyre shine. To be fair, it was 14 years old. I'd go over to Halfords and get some new stuff but I don't want to get Betsy dirty again.

Betsy is a dirty girl (stop sniggering at the back @First_Lexus) and she needs a wash. I can't have my neighbours thinking that she's an ES of ill-repute, can I? All together now "No Mincey, you can't!" I'm not going to take her to The Ford for a bath, so the only alternatives are a) take her to some local illegal immigrant outfit, which is out of the question as they'll scratch her b) get the hosepipe out, which is again out of the question as it's cold, my wellingtons are too tight and I always end up soaked and frozen anyway - it's December after all, or c) try something new and different. Option c) won the day. Someone on this fine forum (I think) suggested a water-free solution type thing from Williams F1. If it's good enough for them, I thought, I'm sure that Betsy would be happy enough. I found this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KCRJXVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and duly ordered it. It seemed expensive, but Betsy deserves some pampering every now and then. Having never used anything like this, I did some research on YouTube first. It looked simple. Spray it on, wipe it off, then buff to a shiny finish. Armed with my 5L bottle of squirty stuff, sprayer and microfibre cloths, off I bravely went on my mission. As you can see from the photo below, I might have used a bit too much of the stuff. I then adjusted the spray and got on much better. But as Phil from the Human League once pointed out, I'm only human and bound to make mistakes. When it came to wiping it off, I was nervous. Very nervous indeed, as I'm sure all of you are too. Would wiping the foam off along with any mud and other road debris carve canyon-deep scratches into Betsy's tender flesh? Was I going to have to get the hosepipe out after all? Curtains along the street were twitching. My neighbours wanted to know what I was up to. Could they too save themselves discomfort and hassle washing their trusty steeds like this? Or perhaps they were wondering what that idiot across the road was up to again. I need not have worried. After taking a deep breath, I made my first wipe. All the dirt miraculously lifted off. Any that didn't needed the lightest of touches to free it from Betsy's Azure Blue coat. My only issues, and I'm sure this was due to my exuberance in applying the stuff in the first place, was having to go round twice to catch all the drips from doors, mirrors, badges, the boot and around the headlights. I'm sure that next time, I will not go through three microfibre cloths wiping the stuff off. However Betsy was wet when I applied it, which despite being ok in the instructions, I'm sure didn't help matters. All the cloths have now been rinsed in cold water and put in the washing machine. I'm sure I'll get into trouble for this but hey, I'm used to that. Here's the finished result: I'm sure you will all agree that Betsy looks an extremely smart and very shiny girl now. Shinier even than when I brought her home in October. I'm just waiting for it to rain now so I can see whether the water beads up and rolls off as it's alleged to. I've just realised that I haven't buffed up the wheels, so I'll attend to that before any of my eagle-eyed chums here point that out. I'll also put some of the tyre polish which came with my Supagard kit on to complete the job. Verdict: I'm amazed. It's a damn sight easier than struggling with a hose pipe and then drying both the car (and myself) off afterwards. Would I recommend it? Definitely. It does seem like a scary prospect - spraying this stuff onto a filthy car and then just wiping it off. I'm going to be interested to see how it deals with bird poo and flies. An added bonus is that my hands smell really nice now. Of course my current wife will want her car treating in the same way, but she can jolly well buy her own cleaner!

Brilliant!

That's a good point - I had the same thought. "Ah, there's a puddle up ahead. Never mind, I'm in a Land Rover, I'm invincible......... Oh."

More footage of the previous incidents from a different uploader, however in the second clip they have captured a Polo taking the wrong turn. Sound is essential. Bonus points to the Fiesta driver who is so busy shouting at the camera person(s) that he almost sticks his car in the wall as he's being towed out. A future Scheissewagen pilot in the making.

More carnage from The Ford. including an A Class biting the dust. Even the ducks want to watch the action this time:

The new wheels look great - they suit your car much better.

The F would definitely have to be put on the rear numberplate, judging by the stack of Scheissewagen front numberplates at the side of the Ford.

Every day is a school day in here!

I must say that I've given up reading Club Lexus. Americans to me, or at least those who frequent that forum, seem like a bunch of moaning, complaining, whining muppets.

The owner has stuck an "N" on the number plate to make it read "JOHn".

I have just unintentionally sinned in the IS300h section. Where is my seasonal outwear?

What was I just saying in the "Moaning Thread"?

Shamelessly pinched from the "What C124PPY personalised plates have you seen? V01. 3" on Pistonheads...

I was going to suggest that, but I got into trouble the last time I mentioned anything similar.

I'm with you there Phil. Someone for instance, who asks a question about an IS200 in the IS300h/IS200t/IS250 forum should be taken outside and spoken to strongly in front of their extended family and pets.

Sprinter van and Scheissewagen carnage this week. It was good to see that Ronnie Pickering made it through unscathed however.

The weather. It's flipping freezing out there!

I need to experience ML again. I had it in my IS250, then the premium system in my IS300h. I remember a difference there, but I find the standard system in Betsy is more than good enough for my needs, and I can be quite fussy. Trouble is, if I ask for a demo next time I take Betsy in for a service, they'll probably expect me to buy the other car.

"I'm a Celebrity is on again"

I remember many years ago listening to a feature on Radio Solent Fab FM (or something - there was nothing else to listen to) where the Smashey and Nicey of the day opened 30 packets of Paracetamol (it must have taken them ages to get them, what with you only being allowed to buy two at a time) and I seem to recall 16 opened with the folded leaflet first.

And to think I flogged those I bought for my old IS!