Winter work Part 3 - Errr...it's Spring now, best get a move on!

Well, it's been six months since it was tucked away, but I took a peek yesterday and it's still there :)

I had intended to just take down the Carcoon for a look and get the roof off so I could start to clean that up, re-dye it and weatherproof. Then the clouds cleared and the sun came out, so I got out the tools and set about making a start into the trickier bits. Two drilled out bolts later I had the wheel arch liner out and "access" to the timing belt end of the engine. 

A few more bolts later and the alternator belt was off, the timing belt covers were off and I'd discovered I had a manual belt tensioner so had ordered the right one *phew*. I need a 22mm socket to cut down to size for the crank bolt, and a breaker bar, and some brave pills, and a flywheel lock out tool before I go any further at this end. So I left it alone and reminded myself to read up some more on Dave Andrews' excellent DVA power site, the Seloc TechWiki and the Elise S1 workshop manuals before getting stuck into the outstanding spannering bits that could mean a lunched engine if I do them wrong  :)

DVA Power - http://www.dvapower.com/

Seloc TechWiki - http://wiki.seloc.org/a/SELOC_TechWiki

Moving to the far side of the engine, I whipped off the leads and distributor and then took off the cam cover to have a look-see. Everything looks to be very clean, but again I couldn't go further until I had the engine locked out and had done way more than planned so left it as is for now.

Cam cover off:

Everything is very clean with no scoring on any of the lobes, but I guess it should be as it's only done 25,000 miles since this was last off when the head was getting fettled:

With that much done I placed the cam cover back on loosely just to keep the engine internals clean and moved on to the interior. I gave the floor a hoover and started to wash the section of the floor that would normally be under the seats to get it ready for the POR15 treatment. Then put the Carcoon up again for another few weeks. 

Next step is to get the sump baffles welded, I'd like to get that on, get the engine locked out and the timing belt off and then de-grease and wash the block because it's messy as it's been weeping oil from the camshaft seals for the past while. With the block clean then I can move onto the more involved jobs on the engine.

Plans for the next few weeks are to get the roof cleaned and treated, sump baffles welded in and my exhaust cleaned, painted, wrapped and source all gaskets/joiners for it so it'll be ready to bolt in place when the time comes.

Rental Review - Nissan Qashqai 1.5dCi (110) Acenta (Sat Nav)

 

For me, 2013 is the year of doing things and with a few spare monies in the bank around mid-January a plan was hatched with a friend of mine to head to Bonnie Scotland and scale Ben Nevis. This ticked more than one box for me as I always fancied a look at the Highlands and it would complete the set of having climbed the highest mountains not only in each Irish province but also in the four countries in 'These Islands'.

I may have mentioned this before but I have a fondness for using Hertz as a purveyor of rentals so in January, and in spite of a complete aversion to Clubcards and Loyalty Points and all that shite I joined their "#1 Gold Club" figuring that as I was going to be using them 5-10 times this year it would 1. make collecting a car faster, 2. maybe get a bit of leverage at the desk occasionally when trying to get my greasy mitts on something taschty and 3. accrue some kudos towards a freebie later on.

They happened to surpass expectations by dropping a 'free upgrade' voucher through the letterbox and so, having booked a Class C - "Vauxhall Astra or Similar" car I found myself being offered a Nissan Qashqai, and although I had sweet, sweet lustings after something like a 1-Series when this did happen I instantly thought that this might be a good opportunity to figure out why these things sold by the cartload in Ireland, and I can see why.

After almost 600 miles of hurtin' (at 50mpg!) you could say that d'oul Qashqai drove pretty well, all things considered.

I would say a few things in its favour, best of all the King of the Road driving position (a novelty for me, and fairly great on a holiday that took in a bit of gawking at the countryside). The cabin is well finished, but not luxurious. It feels reasonably refined, with a clunky appeal that echoes the quasi-macho design of this particular soft-roader/cross-over. There's quite a bit of boot space. Inputs are good, weighty steering, a reasonable progression when braking which makes a change from the usual over-servoed stuff, and the gearchange is not bad at all. The rear seats are big enough for teenagers.

Viewed with an open mind, it's probably all things to all fathers of two children who feel a Golf is a bit too understated and an estate isn't quite their thing.

What goes against it? Some small things (rear visibility, can't read the satnav/radio screen in any kind of daylight, some buttons strangely placed), some bigger things (the design looks fine from the front and front 3/4 but seems to taper off unresolved towards the rear, the 1400kg bulk can raise its head under braking and occasionally on acceleration).

 

The handling is good 80-90% of the time. Struts in the front and multilink at the back. Turns in well, grips pleasantly but can get out of sorts off mid-corner bumps, gully lids and really doesn't take to abrupt tarmac changes well at all. There is roll however, but it is well disguised due to superb damping. So the car is softly sprung and soaks up bad surfaces well but the body movement is well contained. All in all quite the achievement, if I may say so meself.

 

So in summary, it drove 'good' - I would even approach saying 'rewarding' but that's all because it's brand new and on OEM tyres. I'd reckon a baggy 80,000 miler on half shot dampers, wear in the bushes and on budget rubber could well be a handful.

 

In summary, being one of those chaps who figures that a handheld GPS and a brick phone is a better solution than a smartphone with a map app I would always prefer to own a more functional car estate or something like a Touran/C-Max if I had a couple of kids rather than plump for a one-size-fits-all solution like this one which keeps the wife happy and the neighbours in check.

 

There is an infurating aspect to all of this. One - a sage-like gentleman in the trade recently said to me that there is no such thing as a bad modern car and having had the relative privilege of sampling quite a few recently, it's hard to not agree. 

 

Leaving aside the relative complexity of fixing some of the more expensive issues modern diesels can bring, there is no arguing that the ability to now jump into a hatchback of any sort which drives well, comes well equipped, can cover ground quickly (and usually quite well), is always loaded with ABS and usually with a stability system of some kind, does not rust overnight, stands up very well indeed in a crash and still returns 50mpg+ is an incredibly positive thing for the common man. In fact, compared to relative incomes it also appears that it has never been cheaper to purchase a new car. 

 

By rights we should be hopping up and down with joy. 

 

And yet, the notion of a car as an appliance leaves me stone cold.

... to be continued.