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Topic: The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said) (Read 4289 times) |
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Mike H
Senior Member
Renault Clio
  
Posts: 2594
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The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said)
« on: Oct 17th, 2013, 10:10am » |
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On Monday next the Scorpio will be swapped for a 3 years old Renault Clio I-Music, which I was rather taken with over the weekend. Believe it or not the dealer will take the Scorp in P/X, although it will be scrapped. It's seldom been used over the past year or so due to various problems, or more specifically, trying to get them fixed. I can do simple things, but if it's more complicated I do not have the facilities, or the skills to be honest.
This has been precipitated by my mechanic mate who I've been going to for 30 years for anything and everything, has been told by his doctor that he's got to retire now, due to his back problems, indeed he was virtually retired already, but this is definitely it. I managed to have a nice drive around the country in the Scorp for a week's hols at beginning of July, then the steering rack sprung a leak, since which the car's mostly been waiting for someone to fix it, it's driveable but can't go any distance.
Leaving aside the previous couple of years' no charging saga, there are still a couple of minor electrical niggles, nothing serious as yet, but must be just a question of time. ABS light is getting very friendly again and likes to flash at me while I'm driving. MOT expires 6th November and I doubt It'll pass. I'm sure the sunroof leaks which accounts for the copious amounts of condensation I always get in the cabin especially in wet and/or cold weather. The sunroof is also very noisy at speed (wind noise). The exterior paint is now such a shambles that I am frankly embarrassed to be seen in it. I have seriously been thinking about getting it resprayed, but on the proviso that it is all mechanically and electrically sound, but, the retirement of my mechanic has finally opened my eyes to the fact that really these thoughts are in the realms of fantasy.
Much more sensible instead to use this money on the purchase of something more modern - for the Clio the road tax is nearly half, the insurance will be nearly half and mpg nearly double. Well at least 10 mpg better than the very best I could ever get out of the Scorpio. And of course the Clio has got all the 'toys' an Ultima has got. No climate control, but most everything else.
I shall try to look in here from time to time as I'll always be interested. I shall miss driving the Scorpio dreadfully, but truthfully, A. it's getting very old, and looks it; B. can't afford to keep it going any longer; C. after one thing is fixed, something else goes wrong, so it's been spending more time waiting to be fixed than actually usable.
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said)
« Reply #1 on: Oct 17th, 2013, 12:42pm » |
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Hi Mike sorry to hear you have had to let your scorpio go. I assume it was the one on ebay last week. I need a big car with the gradkids and it helps to move a lot of stuff around well it will do when I have fixed the waterpump lol.
Andy
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Mike H
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Renault Clio
Posts: 2594
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Re: The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said)
« Reply #2 on: Oct 18th, 2013, 6:55pm » |
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Thanks Andy ~ no I'd be too ashamed to show it on eBay!  And it's all happened too quickly for that. In an alternative parallel universe (one where I was rich ) who knows what may have been possible.
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Mike H
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leewar
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Re: The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said)
« Reply #3 on: Oct 30th, 2013, 8:51pm » |
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Mike, it,s knowing not if, but when, the time is right to let go. There are times that throwing money at it has to stop and to stop and think of an alternative. It,s not a scorpio but I'm sure you will be happy with your new purchase. Would still appreciate your input on the site though. Cheers Lee
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Mike H
Senior Member
Renault Clio
Posts: 2594
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Re: The Time Has Come (The Walrus Said)
« Reply #4 on: Oct 31st, 2013, 8:13pm » |
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Thanks Lee. Was getting a bit like that I'm afraid. But yes I'll keep looking in here when I can.
Someone asked me today do I miss the Scorp, well I was just doing my first reasonably long drive in the Clio (48 miles round trip to my supplier and back) just to get an idea of mpg and all that (I'd reset the trip computer), and I said well I would of said yes earlier, but now I'm not sure, maybe only somewhat, to be honest the Clio is brill. It feels like a big car to drive when you're in it and the 'puny' 1.2L engine will pull strongly from 2,000 rpm! Almost exactly like the Scorp in fact! 500 rpm per 10 mph in 5th, so 3k at 60, 3.5k at 70. I suspect 60 is more economical (handbook tells you to keep the revs low for best economy and minimum pollution) and actually is what I was mostly doing on the dual carriageways.
The clutch is featherlight and so is the gearstick. In fact I was seriously wondering whether the gearstick actually changes the gears at all, or is some kind of switch that controls a clever electronic gizmo that actually changes the gears. But no, it does have push-pull cables to the gearbox (I've seen them).
Oh yes and today's mpg? 49.6 !!! 
Lee I still got your bumper if you want it back
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Mike H
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