1:42 pm, February 7, 2009
IT couldn’t have started any worse – a puncture! As I rolled up early to grab a cup of tea before the meet with the lads, I spotted it. One flat rear.
That’s a bad start by anyone’s standards – even ours.
Before I tell you how we got round the problem let’s take a look at the cars we’ve managed to source for £200.
First up is mine – a Mondeo ST24, R-reg with 100k. It’s got a 2.5-litre V6 engine, 170bhp and 0-60bhp in just eight seconds. Nice. It’s actually in pretty good shape – apart from the tyre.
I managed to get it from Eward winners Lifestyle Europe’s Ford outlet in Tunbridge Wells. The lads there did me an absolute deal – thanks chaps.
So to Wills’ car. It’s a Volvo V40 1.8i on a P-plate. 136k in a nice shade of purple. It’s got a rather nasty velour interior, but is sound mechanically (for now) and drives pretty well.
We got it from our friends at Motorpoint – another Eward winner (see a theme?) – who again did us a blinding deal. We paid £100 for it with six month’s tax taking the total to £201.75.
Dan rolled up in M-reg, 178k mile, BMW 318. He paid £200 for it and it’s in, er, mixed condition. Paintwork’s a bit flaky, but it seems to drive well.
It’s actually one of my favourite shaped Beemers – a wise buy. He got it from a friend of a friend who had just bought a new motor.
Duncan snapped up a… Vauxhall Calibra (yes, really). It’s got 141k miles, on an L-plate. He bust the budget big time though, securing a deal on eBay for £250.
But, all in all, some reasonable buys…
Right, back to that tyre. We hot footed down to Protyre in Fareham where we gave the boys the sob story.
The kind-spirited folk there knew all about our chosen charity so set to work plugging the tyre – FOR FREE!
I can’t thank them enough for helping us get on our way – very kind of you indeed!
We’re currently on our first stop at the Toddington services on the M1 near Luton. Due to our late start we had to knock the track day on the head, but considering the weather, I think just getting to John O’Groats will be hard enough.
I heard on the radio that Aviemore, not far from our destination, had 12 inches of snow overnight and there’s more due…
At the moment the roads are clear but I can’t see that lasting.
I’ll update you again later this afternoon
James
