Once the schools were back Carol & I set off on a trip down through France via Le Mans, the Dordogne and the Pyrenees to Sos del Rey Catolico in Spain. Returning via the Isle d'Oleron and the Eurotunnel.
A tyre change has made the car steer slightly better, by fitting a 215/70 R15 [Vredestein] to the rear - raises it an inch - and a 215/60 R15 [Continental] on the front - about standard ride height. Pressures R:34 & F:30. The rear arch is better filled and more 'period'. Here we are at Guzet near Aulus les Bains in the Pyrenees.
1 Guzet niege Aulus les Bains Pyrenees.jpg
The fog & reversing lights have been moved back under the bumper by a couple of inches, as you can see, though the sheep are totally disinterested. In an attempt at discretion the GB plate was printed off and laminated - euro stars included . . . plus an aluminium front plate.
2 fog & rev lights look better but sheep totally disinterested.jpg
In the boot is a 'baguette box' made of spare pieces of plastic and a piano hinge. The bread fits in quite well, but we used it for a large array of tools, which were not required.
6 baguette box.jpg
However, we had a little problem which may tax your grey cells: when the lights - side or main - are turned on, the engine cpu or the throttle sensor partially & temporarily limits the fuel supply / varies the ignition - very similar to when one lifts off the accelerator - saving fuel. Any pressure on the accelerator rectifies the situation, but it is an irritant. Anyone else had this experience ?
It may also be the same 'conflict' that causes the auto gearbox to change up of its own accord from M4 to M5, which it seemed more prone to do when it was wet - usually meaning the lights were on.
On motorways cruising around the French limit of 130kph oil consumption is very low. But on the mountain passes [including snow over the Tourmalet] oil was being consumed at an alarming rate of about 1 litre per 500 hard miles.
We have tried to fit some guttering over the door tops, with limited success. The basic form comes from a Lotus derivative, which we have bent in various directions to fit / bolted through the door 'return' and sealed with Butyl. Room for improvement. How wide can the gutter gap be ?
P1160401.jpg
Over the last 40 years or so we have mostly toured on large motorcycles and organised weekend breaks and holidays of up to a fortnight in Europe. Might the club enjoy such a thing or perhaps we ought to start with a weekend in England ?
Finally here is a photo from the top of the Puerto Sos pass with Sos del Rey Catolico in the middle distance. The Parador here is a very good one, on the hilltop of the old town. The man who unified Spain was Ferdinand the Catholic born here in 1452.
4 Puerto Sos.jpg