iPhone 4

I now have an iPhone 4.

Not anything remotely connected to owning an MG.

Except.

The wife thought that it would be a good idea for me to have a phone just in case I was out in the car and it broke down...

...

...

Says a lot about her opinion of the mechanical qualities of the car.

Don't you think?

Time to spend some cash

I'm excited.
I spent the back end of last year piling up the overtime to build up a bank of cash so I'll be able to afford to run FG this year.
I've yet to insure it or get the personlised registration plate but today I ordered a replacement dash cover, new sun visors, some interior mats and a hood (bonnet) liner.
Then just to treat myself I got an MG key ring (key fob) and a 2 pint vintage looking Castrol oil can from Moss motors.
The oil can is a pure indulgence if there is one thing I remember from waiting around in Seacroft Garage, Mablethorpe for Dad was the Castrol Oil cans. So there are lots of memories attached to one of them. If I could get a yellow "Shell" one too that would be pretty neat as well.
So order in the mail, time off work booked. I'm raring to go to get the car ready.

The Ugliest car in the world...

Good readers;

Having shown you the most beautiful car in the world at the Minneapolis Motor show I now feel compelled to show you the Ugliest car in the world at the Minneapolis Motor show. I show you this as a dire warning as to what could happen to you if you pursue a career in automotive design without a decent design education.

Here then I present you the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray concept...

Isn't it just atrocious? Some will say that I should cut Chevvy some slack as it's a concept car. But a concept car should inspire you and fill you with awe not make you want to fill up a sick bag...

I can see where they are trying to go with the design. They are trying to echo the style of the 70's stingray. But oh my god from the front it looks like a skull grinning spookily at you the way a skull does. Don't even get me started on the rear. It looks like a guy who's filled his mouth with food, and his cheeks are about to burst. Then there is those rear light clusters, what are they about?

I hope this car never sees the light of day in this form...

The most Beautiful car in the world...

The Jaguar XK coupe as seen at the Minneapolis motor show

Gotta Go to the Auto Show!

Every March, here in Minneapolis the TV ads scream that message. It really gets quite annoying after a while.
So this year was my wife, Lorrie and I's semi annual trip to the Minneapolis convention centre to see the Minneapolis Auto Show. We both love looking a shiny clean cars. Some years we go with a purchase in mind but this year we were unencumbered with that thought. So we were able to just look at cars for the fun of it.
We looked at many cars, sat in loads of them. Enjoyed many of them. I took some pictures too. I'll share those with some more detailed observations in some coming posts.
But overall we enjoyed the show. Lorrie thought the show was smaller than in previous years. Indeed the classic car collection appeared to be missing and there seemed to be less representation from the local racetracks. They being tucked away in a "dream garage" display.
What did we like the best?
We both seemed to gravitate towards the German cars. Liking the Porsche 911 Boxster and the Mercedes SLK350 Roadster equally. Lorrie also liked the Porsche Panamera as she is quite tall any sporty car that she can comfortably get in to always scores highly.
My favourite was the Jaguar XK Coupe. I have never seen such a beautiful car and so comfortable too.
Getting away from the sports cars we both also thought very highly of the Range Rovers. Quite incredible soundproofing in the cabin.
We didn't just look at the expensive cars though. A top of the range Kia Soul was also very nice and comfortable.
Biggest disappointment? Cadillac.
I sat in the cabin of a CTS4. For a company that bills itself as "the new standard of luxury" there was an awful lot of cheap looking plastic in the cabin.
All in all though it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday.
More opinions to come with pictures later....

Shopping list

March.
The clocks go forward tonight.
The first day of spring is just over a week away. Yet there is still at least a foot of snow in my garden. Snow will be around for a while yet. I'm predicting that FG will be on the road at the start of May. To that extent I'm booking a week off work at the end of April so that I can get him ready for the road.
What will it take to get him ready?
Not too much I'm hoping. He was running perfectly when I winterized him in November. I'm hoping that after an oil change and hooking the battery up I'll turn the key and vroom vroom we'll be off.
I have a list of cosmetic things I want to do to him and to that end I've made a shopping list of things to get and do.
First thing I want is some sound/heat insulation for the inside of the bonnet. None of the cars I looked at when I was buying had any insulation inside the bonnet. I wonder why. Perhaps it's more macho to be shouting to your passenger over the sound of the engine when you're out driving on the road.
Next I want a replacement dashboard cover. FG's dash has a couple of bad cracks in it. So I really do want to cover that over.
New sun visors are a must too. The current ones are worn out and don't stay in position all that well.
A new locking petrol tank cap looks to be a good idea. The rubber gasket on the current cap has perished. It would be nice to have one of these fancy looking ones with the MG logo on them but I don't think I need to pay $120 for one when a regular common or garden one only costs about $30.
So not all that much. Of course I won't be at all surprised if things go wrong and I have to fork out for some other important mechanical bits and bobs.
But right now all I can think about is getting out on the open road with that top down and my wife by my side. It's going to be a great summer. (I hope)