Pre long-journey checks

[madmezza]

This probably sounds like a daft question, but what do people check on G cars before they go on a long-ish (few hundred miles) journey?

I'd do oil, water (what level should the water be, incidentally?), brake fluid... Can't think of much else, other than maybe battery charge (and give it a quick blast if it's a bit low, as my alternators not that good). Oh, and tyres.

Just wondered if there's anything else easy and relevant?

TIA

[Guest teigan]

you got the checklist right. also: top up all fluids; bring extra. bring a spare wiper blade. bring a full toolkit. bring jumper cables. file a flight plan with the girlfriend/wife in case you're stranded. bring a raincoat. bring a fire extinguisher. bring a snack. bring a martina mccutcheon CD so you can not listen to it.

i did a few thousand my first day, driving her home. i was dead lucky to not be dead. it was the first rain and the roads were slick from road grime. i detoured to take the scenic mountain drive home which made for 800ft drops. stupidly took all the turns over speed limit, too pleased with my new toy. came home and read on the forums that people smashed their cars pulling less daft stunts.

[molemot]

Add mobile phone and details of your recovery service! Probably won't need a SARBE, those rescue helicopters are dangerous... As for how much coolant there should be, about 2" or 3" from the top seems to be where mine has always settled, and not plain water, please! Needs good antifreeze as anticorrosion as well as ice prevention. This time of year, make sure the washers are full; I used up the whole reservoir on one 90 mile trip to Fordingbridge the other day, more poxy salt than you could shake a stick at! A torch is useful for when the light goes before you've finished that temporary repair....

[madmezza]

Cheers guys - I forgot the non-car related stuff (e.g. torch, fire-extinguisher, flare gun etc ).

What were you doing in Fordingbridge? With any luck, I'll be living there in the new year... (waiting for our house buyers to wake up!) Nice and close to Geoff at Esprit Engineering for when the car goes tits up!

[molemot]

The Fordingbridge trip was a combination. I went to collect a CRT ex-pub. type video projector I'd bought for

[silverfrost]

ALSO SOMEBODY ON ANOTHER POST SAID KEEP A DIPOSABLE CAMERA IN THE GLOVE BOX! A VERY GOOD IDEA IF SOMEBODY HITS YOUR PRIDE AND JOY! ALSO IF THERE IS JUST YOU AND THE OTHER DRIVER YOU HAVE NO

WITNESSES AND ONCE THE CARS ARE MOVED, ITS THERE WORD AGAINSTS YOURS! I THINK THESE ARE A MUST!

ALSO MY CAR HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN ON THE ROAD OTHER THAN A STICKING N/S/F BRAKE CALLIPER SO A SMALL BUT WELL EQUIPPED TOOL KIT,

I JUST STICK IT FLAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR OUT THE WAY!

I THINK A GOOD HALF AN HOUR DRIVE THE NIGHT BEFORE

HELPS RULE OUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS SO YOU DONT FIND THEM ON

THE DAY OF YOUR LONG JOURNEY!

REGARDS DAN

[WayneB]

This probably sounds like a daft question, but what do people check on G cars before they go on a long-ish (few hundred miles) journey?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A few hundred miles!

I thought everyone knew an Esprit was only designed to go a maximum of 200 miles in between complete rebuilds(like a racing car) B)

[watership down]

A few hundred miles!

I thought everyone knew an Esprit was only designed to go a maximum of 200 miles in between complete rebuilds(like a racing car) B)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I generally go to U Haul and rent a dolly for towing purposes

Happiness is .....

[markt]

200 Miles Wayne?

You must be doing something wrong... I got just over 400 before breaking mine...

[madmezza]

Brief update. All went perfectly! Volt meter was a little worrying (11.5V for the first 75 miles or so). But started on day 2 with ice on the windscreen and drove fantastically.

Even went through a ford in the new forest - no water in it, but the sides were steep and there were a couple of worrying moments both entering and exiting in case I left the front spoiler on the road!

[Guest teigan]

where's a ford escort when you need one?