Cutbacks for the PetrolBlog Fleet
Funny how things work out. This time last week I was looking forward to taking the Audi S6 to the inaugural Dawn Refuelling event. Fast forward seven days and I've just finished writing a for sale ad and placed her on eBay.
But that's not all, as she's been joined on eBay by the much loved Land Rover V8. So in the space of a few hours, the PetrolBlog Fleet has been reduced by 50%. With drastic cutbacks like this, I'm fully expecting a call from the government.
It says something about my admiration for the two outgoing cars that when I've broached this subject with a few friends, they immediately thought it would be the Honda and the Citroën being shown the door. But no, for different reasons, I'm saying goodbye to the uber Audi and the Landy. Here's why.
With the Audi, the decision is fairly straight forward. On so many occasions I've let my heart rule my head and have probably stayed loyal to the old girl for just a little bit too long. I've often waxed lyrical about her quite brilliant build quality and ability to chew up long distance motoring with ease. I've also made no secret of my love for the 5-cylinder engine and her understated presence on the road. But the fact is, she's done 177,000 miles and, whilst I have no doubt she'll do a lot more, the principle of Bangernomics tells me that it is time to move her on. She's drinking oil, is rather partial to the taste of V-Power and one or two electric gremlins are creeping in. So, with a heavy heart, she's up for sale. A starting price of £995 is reflective of the oil problem and the fact that she'll need a service very soon. So I'm hoping that it will encourage someone to take her on, spend a few quid bringing her back to perfection and enjoying many happy years together.
The Land Rover is a slightly more complex decision. On the face of it, there's no reason to sell her. She's mechanically excellent, passed her last MOT with no advisories and is one of the most genuine and original V8s I've ever seen. She also has the added bonus of being Lord Sainsbury's choice of motor for the first 19 years of her life. As a family wagon she's been brilliant, whether it's during some light green laning or being used as a makeshift café after a long and often wet hike across the moors. Believe me, there's nothing better than being sat with your family in the back of the Landy drinking warming hot chocolate! Good times.
But sadly, with our local garage no longer selling LPG, our refuelling options are sadly limited. The only stockist in the immediate vicinity is some 13 miles north, meaning a 26 mile round trip just to refuel. Furthermore, as luck would have it, 99% of the time we seem to head south, so the garage isn't exactly convenient for us. The result is that the Land Rover sits idle on too many occasions, which isn't good for her and isn't good for us. For sure, it'll come in handy should we have a deluge of snow for the fourth winter in a row, but as the LPG stockists seem to run dry in harsh conditions, we couldn't use it at during the last big freeze! Not good.
Besides, should the Land Rover sell, the plan is to replace it with something similar. Possibly a 90, another 110 or perhaps a Series II Discovery. That's if she sells...
Of course, that means the fleet is a car down. Assuming another Land Rover replaces the 110, there's the potential to replace the Audi with something interesting. Maybe a Shatchback track car? Or an Avantime? Or how about a Puma or MX-5?
Selling cars you love is tough. But it's sure as hell fun looking for new ones...
Click here for the Audi's eBay ad and here for the Land Rover ad.
