Hello From Aberdeenshire
Hi there my name is Colin and I live in a village 32 miles west of Aberdeen and about half an hours drive from the Lecht ski centre and 45 minute from Glenshee, having had a love for G's for a long long time I have finally become the proud owner of an unloved and in need of some TLC long wheelbase manual 300GD! I came across her looking a bit sad and uncared for in the yard of a local garage. It was love at first sight and on enquiring with the garage owner, who is a friend, I was told that it belonged to a customer who had abandoned her a year ago when he was told she needed two new springs for her MOT. After a looong negotiation he finally agreed to sell it to me today and the new springs are on their way. My friend told me that he had maintained her for a few years and that apart from the springs, she is as sound as a pound and just needs some TLC.
There is some rust in the usual places, the worst being under the window on the rear n/s door. Once I get her taxed and tested I will set about restoring her to her former glory, so I may need some advice and help with sourcing some bits and pieces, I am a total newcomer to vehicle renovations but I'd like to do as much as I can myself, so long as I can make a decent job of it.
I have been avidly reading all your postings since I found her and I'd just like to say that it's great to have the opportunity to be able to join in, all I have to do now is figure out how to become a fully fledged and paid up member. I saw something about online subscriptions but I don't know if that is effective yet?
Recently I have had some trouble accessing the site via www.gwoa.co.uk and can only get access if I incorporated the forum link, has anyone else experienced this recently, or is it just me?
Just to finish, the timing of my new purchase couldn't have been better because the snow doesn't look far away, we had 4" on the hills nearby last week!!
Kind regards to you all
Colin[/b]
Colin,
Just left a message somewhere else. GWOA joining form and intructions are here:
http://www.gwagen.fsnet.co.uk/id16.htm
Once you've joined, don't forget to get hold of the CD-rom containing the service and workshop manuals for your G from the club's technical officer.
Regards,
Hi Colin,
It's nice to see another G owner from my neck of the woods I am originally from Oldmeldrum, but I now live in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hope you enjoy this forum as much as I do. I find it crucial in keeping my G in tip top shape.
Beware though, there are a few guys here that can get a bit cheeky (but in the good way of course).
Where you live, you will have some good fun during the winter. The G traction is immpecable in the snow.
Martin. (anither north east Loon)
Hi Martin
You are a long way from home loon!
I know that G's can go anywhere but did you really have to go all the way to Azerbaijan just to see how it performed in desert conditions?
As I said in my introduction there was 4" of snow on Lochnagar and it was well down too!
There was snow on the Cairngorms in September and that is the earliest on record. The new management buy-out teams at the ski centres will be stoking the fires and rubbing their hands with glee!
I'm looking forward to trying the G in the snow, it can get quite "hairy" about here, as you know. All the old Quines aboot here are saying that we are due a hard winter, that usually means that you can stand on top of the drifts and lean on the tops of telegraph poles. I don't remember it as bad as that but I've photographs in the transport museum at Alford.
Thanks for saying hello.
Colin
Colin,
one thing aboot the g that you should ken. It is a very heavy car and if you apply the brakes too sharply in the snow it will start speeding up(if you know what i mean). I have had too many scary episodes here up in the Mountains and I have ABS on my 463! I can't imagine it without ABS.
Anyway, I am sure that you will find out sooner or later when you have to drive back home to change you knickers!
Regards
Martin.
Thanks for the warning Martin, that sounds like an adrenalin rush I could do without!!
I'll just go and put a pair, or perhaps two pairs of clean knickers in the glove box. there again maybe a pair of shootin breeks and a pair of wellingtons would be a better bet!!
I don't take delivery until Sunday, so I'm not sure whether it has ABS or not. When was it introduced? This is a 1988.
I was in Aboyne yesterday and 3 snow ploughs passed me, there is a weather warning for the beginning of next week, so they must be getting them in position round Strathdon and Braemar etc.
Mrs McKay at Tomintoul will be getting her new shovel ready! have you ever listened to Terry Wogan (can you get BBC there over the internet?) He is always going on about Mrs McKay keeping the road open with her shovel between Tomintoul and Cock Bridge.
Is there a secret to snow driving if I don't have ABS?
Hi Colin
Look around http://www.4x4abc.com.. Follow the various links around the site, there's plenty of advice / info on driving 4x4's, both permanent & part time..
Don't worry about not having ABS, it's at it's least helpfull in snow / icey conditions.
Don't forget to post up some pics when you get your G :D
Colin,
If it's a 1988, it's got to be a W460 G-Wagen, i.e. part-time 4wd and no ABS.
But don't worry: it's a very safe vehicle on snow provided that you are prudent and don't do stoopid things.
Cheers,
Hi Mark and Jesus
Thanks for the advice' Ill have a look at that link Mark.
I know that some people think that 4 wheel drive means they can do anything and stop anywhere in the snow but as you say it doesn't help you to stop.
I'm itching to get my hands on it and see how it performs, I had a LR Discovery, so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference. I liked the Discovery but the I didn't know any better then!!
I took a photograph of the G as I found her but I can't work out how to post it, I did see a button to insert image but all I got was an image symbol, then when I tried again I lost the whole lot and had to start again.
If anyone can tell me how to insert the photograph, I'll have another go
She has her new springs now and my son and I are going to the yard tomorrow to steam clean the chassis and spray all the underside etc with wax. Then she will be going for her MOT nexrt week.
When I got the documents the previous owner handed me binder with every receipt you could imagine, even washers, wiper blades etc from day one, so I have the full history.
It has been re-sprayed, a good job was done of it, so it will be interesting to see how it cleans up.
Regards
Colin
Hi Colin, fae a sooth moother. Check this link from this forum as it was one of the most interesting discussions last winter and there is plenty ( three pages ) good advice for snow driving or PLAYING :lol: Have fun :shock: http://www.gwoa.co.uk/node/238t=
Hi Chazz
Thanks for saying hello.
We talk the same language then, "playing" in the snow! I bought the G just for fun!
I'll go and have a look at that thread now.
Thanks
Colin :lol:
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Will do, thanks very much.
Colin