Hi All,

A great day out at the Oaksmere Italia '24 event was the final shakedown run for my car prior to a planned road trip next week - up to the borders of Scotland for 5 days (well if they still let the Sassenachs in without a licence).

I've been conscious of the general lack of adventures in the car this year. And still feel bad that my shot at Turin '24 fell on the same date as a planned holiday-way too late to cancel.

So a change of scenery, maybe some open roads if I can find some without a speed camera, and a week with the Coupe is planned.

Apart from a front tyre that seems to have a very slow leak-all seems to be ready for trip now. Fresh service recently, I've gone over everything, washed, waxed- and she is looking good. Possibly may spend a few minutes just making sure the cabin furniture is all nipped up-as she sounds more squeaky then normal.

With a tank full of fuel - plan is to let a couple of hundred miles go by to really make sure all is good and she is fully awake.

So if you see a Red Coupe - North bound on the 8th September, mulling about the borders to the 12th September - give us a wave!!

Hope to see 1 other coupe as I drive most of the length of the country!

Regards

MM

MM, excellent that you are venturing north to this part of the world; afaik only one other coupé is based in this area, G_Man's 16v. He's a bit off the beaten track west of Berwick but for all I know the coupé might even have begun its winter hibernation

Otherwise you would likely have to reach Motherwell or a few of us in Edinburgh to chalk off a sighting

Which route are you thinking of taking across the border?

(I guess you mean September... )

Hi Edinburgh,

oops- yes wrong dates- its all happening next week- just changed original post.

Mainly planning to hang around the A697 and A698 roads- or the adjacent quieter roads if they are busy - and then back down and across the north pennines. Hoping that this will maximise the good scenery. I know the scenery gets even better the further north you go - but not going to head that far this time around. The Scottish 500 was a thought-but i understand its got so popular nowadays- its quite slow and full of traffic.

Looking forward to a few wee drams as well!

MM

The 697 is lovely, old Roman I think with associated straight stretches.
It extends to Carfraemill where there's a nice inn with fresh food; at the roundabout nearby one can take the alternative A68 south, through Jedburgh and over the border at Carter Bar (viewing point) then alongside Kielder Water.
Either stick on that and head toward Corbridge or branch off after Otterburn on the A696 to Ponteland (very nice pub/eatery there, the Blackbird) and onto the A1 or A19.
Having said that the A1 through south Newcastle has some significant roadworks (we hit them coming north on Sunday).

If that's all too far, then the route over Middleton-in-Teesdale, Alston is a good option

Thanks Edinburgh - appreciate the time to have responded and provided some local knowledge!

Lots to look out for!

Regards

MM

Hi MM - I'm just off the A697 near Coldstream so if you make it that far by all means let me know and if work allows pop in / meet up for a chat? Shame you're not up a bit later as Simon and I are having a breakfast meet at Carfraemill on the 15th. But alas my coupe will be going in to storage this weekend

Hi G_Man,

Thanks for the invite- and yes if i get up that far I certainly will.

Thanks for reaching out- its good to her from other members.

Regards

MM

Hello MM

If you do the A1 and plan a break at Scotch Corner, let me know, and I'll see if I can over to meet you.

Paul

Hey Paul,

Thanks for invite- I'm finalising route tomorrow so will shout out if stopping there.

Car had final fettle...watch out GB!

Regards

MM

Don't forget photos...

Hello owner of yellow coupe reg ‘xxx 500L’ - great to ‘meet up’ on the northbound A1/M just south of scotch corner.

Great to see another coupe in the wild!

And your exhaust sounded very nice!!

Best.


MM

Can't believe your luck - I NEVER see any coupés on my occasional trips to Leeds; didn't see one either the entire journey to Turin and back (apart from there )

On our recent trip to the UK, we saw four Ferraris - one classic - but no coupes. Bit of a win for the coupe on the rarity stakes!

Sorry Edinburgh don't own a "smart" phone so no pictures.

But there and back again- and can update just for coupe related info- been an interesting week.

Left the sun high in the sky in the 20's - and quickly found myself enveloped in cloud, rain storms and gusting wind just north of scotch corner-and the sun remained a mere suggestion for the next week. Luckily not too much rain after the first two days. Unfortunately chose to fill up at the last quarter of a tank stage just after scotch corner - day light robbery! I was not really paying attention to the price- if I had been I'd have thrown in a tenner;'s worth of fuel and had the car flown out to the middle east- it would have been cheaper then that garage. No justification- and it left a very bad taste in my mouth. Reckon they had an extra £40 out of me for nothing but greed.

Re petrol - I'm not really one for sitting down to do the MPG- as that's not what I use the car for. But Just over 1K driven- using 2.4 tanks of petrol. I'd set off having already done 84 miles -with the trip mostly working out on the road to be taking one tank to drive up, but just over half a tank to drive back down. The rest went in sight seeing and travelling from one side east to west.

Saw just one other coupe- the yellow coupe around Scotch Corner- a great moment!

The roads just north of the border of Scotland are....FAST. Coming from a part of the country where big brother has covered every square inch with speed cameras, and where they have thrown in sudden 30mph and 20 mph, then 40 mph, then 50 mph limits on what were traditional national standard 60 mph roads-you tend to never let the car rev very much. It took me a couple of days getting to know the area to realise they are just no real speed cameras. And traffic is extremely low- even in "rush hour" not unusual to see roads empty for long periods of time with no traffic at all. I found myself holding up lorries and old ladies for the first days or so until I got in to the rythum. Some roads- beautifully smoth. Others- like craters on the moon.

By day 3- after a trip to Lindisfarne, and 3 days of drizzle- I just felt so guilty I had to stop and find a self service jet and brush machine as the old girl was filthy. And I wanted to spray off the salt water from making the tidal crossing asap as well.

Generally the car did not miss a beat. On day two she suddenly started coughing and spluttering at each start up - que some time spent on the forum late one night considering if it was the ICV, or the plugs, or the injectors, or the MAF, or the Lambada, or the Throttle Position Sensor. The next morning i checked everything- disconnected and reconnected every plug i could within reach-and the issue has so far not returned.The bumpy roads pounded quite a bit of air out of the tyres- and day 3 they needed a top up after i could feel her bouncing around. The a/c which has been reliable for 3/4 years now died on mid week.

The car has enjoyed a weeks constant use - she just wants to fly along now, and feels just a tad more free rolling and ready to go.

Then came Carlisle. I'd specifically been precious of her- choosing carefully where to park her, making sure she would be ok. People call me paranoid- but the dings in her have not been done by me. SO thank you to the lovely specimen of human ignorance, who having scrapped their car in tot he side of my front bumper-decided to just drive off and leave it for me to find. You know you did it-and I'd have given you what for if Id have seen you do it.

The last day was Saturday - tyres checked again- and just a small bit needed in the tyre that always looses pressure. The weather was again rain storm until heading back south- where again the sun came out and temps were suddenly in the mid 20's again.

Yesterday I spent the day- washing her clean throughout. Found the front left almost flat in the garage. The A/C now working perfectly. Funny things coupe's ahh?

So now just got to arrange for paint for the bumper- this will be the first bit of paint done to the car since new as far as I am aware. I need to the hood done...and the back bumper really as well.....oh dear!

Regards all- really enjoyed having her out and about!

MM