Saturday 21 December 2013

A Full Boot For Only £4

4 Bales of Straw!

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Taken with the excellent new Jolla Phone.

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Countryside Walks


FTP has taken us on some great local countryside walks recently. November and early December have been mild and dry this year.

Perodua_Myvi_countryside_walk_near_Ketton_near_Stamford.

Oscar has enjoyed some of the walks too.

Oscar_on_Green_lane_above_Weston_by_Water_leicestershire

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Table Transporting


A few weeks ago we were taking a break in Yorkshire, and we found a table we liked in an amazing shop Stone Dam Furniture, Halifax. We bought the table immediately, because we have been looking for many months without finding one we liked.

We picked up the table and popped it into the car on the journey home. It sat upright against the back seats, and our luggage stopped it moving.

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table_IN_perodua_Myvi_2

It struck me that all the other small hatches on the market would have a problem with carrying the table. The back seat base cushions in the Myvi pull forward to the floor, allowing the rear seat upright cushions to take up their space creating a continuous flat low load area; unfortunately, most cars just rest the seat uprights on the bases, such as the Toyota Yaris giving reduced hight and an uneven load space:

Toyota_Yaris_load_space_seats_down

Sunday 20 October 2013

To Myvi Owners


Every year the AutoExpress Driver Power survey of driver satisfaction/car reliability comes out. Although the Myvi would probably rank higher than most other cars - considering that the Daihatsu Sirion often topped such surveys - the Myvi is never listed because there are too few responese from Myvi owners.

With just under 3,000 Myvis on UK roads there is the potential for enough replies to get the Myvi onto the survery........Lets get the Myvi listed! Take the survey.

Tuesday 3 September 2013

700 Litre Tank



Sometimes you need to take a leaking 700 liter water tank to the recycling centre. Alas, its longer than the lenght of a Myvi behind its seats....

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but with a couple of bungies the tailgate can be secured....

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Although rear visibility is poor....

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Sunday 25 August 2013

Holiday - Isle of Wight


Had a couple of weeks on the Isle of Wight. Originally booked for one week, but stayed for two. Camped near Sandown, and just relaxed. The Isle of Wight like many islands just feels so much more relaxed than the bustling mainland, for example when pottering along, tourist style, no one hoots or tries to overtake dangerously!

A friend at work has just returned recently and said that he, "Just could not have believed that there is somewhere so relaxed in Southern England."

Rather than write on and on, here are some pictures:

Isle_of_White_1_ferry_with_Perodua_Myvi

Isle_of_White_2_Ferry_Leaving

Isle_of_White_4_ferry_with_Perodua_Myvi

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Isle_of_White_12_Ventnor_Botanical_Gardens

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Isle_of_White_14_Hovercraft

Isle_of_White_15_Walsh_trainers_on_beach_Ryde

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Air Conditioning

As mentioned in an earlier post, FTP had to go into the garage for a few days. A strange noise was coming from the V belt which runs the alternator, power steering and air conditioning. Upon closer inspection there appeared to be damage to the belt.

The garage found that the air conditioning compressor was not running freely, which in turn was not allowing the belt to run properly. Rather than replace the compressor the garage removed the compressor and fitted a shorter belt. I have never wanted air cinditioning because I have always seen such things as adding more to a car to go wrong. Alas, my prophecy appears right, with FTP having no issues in 44,000 miles other than the air conditioning!

The garage said that they had never known a compressor to fail. They stated that compressor looked as though it had been submerged in water, causing loss of lubrication on the bearings. Thinking about this, it may be due to my enjoyment of driving through fords, especially the local one at Geddington, which I enjoy driving through all year round - after all its more fun when deep! I also enjoy exploring the Welland Valley when the river floods.

The_Ford_at_Geddington_Northamptonshire_summer_2013Geddington Ford, August 2013

I wondered if Perodua fitted poor quality air conditioning compressors, and so checked the part number: Denso HFC 13.4a. Upon checking this compressor is used by Toyota, Lexus, Land Rover, Mazda, and others. Hence, it is not an inferior part to standards of other manufacturers. Plus, should I decide to replace it and have air conditioning in the future, its cheap to buy of e-bay.

Do I still think the Myvi is reliable? Yes, but probably best not to regularly drive though fords, especially when deep in winter, if you wish to keep the air conditioning working!

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Will the UK be getting the facelifted Myvi?

The Myvi is a great car. However, in the UK sales are small. The Myvi we have is several years old. In Malaysia there is a newer version. Are we about to get it in the UK?

I happened to visit a dealers website in Éire, and found details listing the facelifted Myvi. it even gives a starting price of €10,500, and has a PDF brochure. Unfortunately, they do not have one in stock yet.

image_myvi value

Hopefully, the new Myvi will be here soon, and Perodua publicity and sales will increase accordingly.

Friday 2 August 2013

FTP Great To Have You Back

FTP has been in the garage for a few days, so I had a Toyota Yaris to cover this. Although, the Yaris is twice the price of our Myvi we are so glad to have FTP back. Why anyone would pay that much for the Yaris when the Myvi is available I do not know!

FTP_Perodua_Myvi_in_Toyota_Yaris_rear_View_Reversing_CameraFTP avives home - and we say ferwell to the Yaris, via the Yaris reversing camers


I am very busy at the moment but as soon as I have chance I will cover recent events in full.

Sunday 2 June 2013

More Vandalism



FTP_with_Black_Myvi_no_numberplateTwo Myvis

As can be seen by the the above photo someone has broken off FTPs front numberplate, whilst parked overnight near our house.

The local police say its because  of kids want want the FTP numberplate. If this was the case they would remove carefully, and not rip it off splitting the plate. Plus, why the eggs, and broken wing mirrors? All the kids tell me that the FTP plate is cool!

Thursday 9 May 2013

First MOT

Been far too busy lately. This has meant I have missed a few posts, so heres a compilation.

Quite some time ago FTP had his 40,000 mile service - no issues. Still have the original brake pads (scheduled says check from 20.000 miles), I do use the brakes less than most, using the gearbox predominately instead for slowing.

FTP Passed his first MOT (Ministry of Transport Test), first time without any problems. I had forgotten the MOT was due, and so did not have time to check the lights, etc. Thus, I was concerned that he may fail on something silly, but FTP sailed trough.

The MOT certificate is shown below. At one time MOT certificates looked like official documents, with official rubber stamps and watermarks, but now that everything can be checked instantly on-line, the certificate is just a shoddy piece of A4 paper!

FTP_Perodua_Myvi_MOT_Certificate_2021

Problem: Some time back the air conditioning stopped working. We thought it must need re-gassing because it had only been used a couple of times in the first year of having the the car.

I tend to open a window if below 40mph, or not bother, but very occasionally Denise will want it on. Because this is the first car we have had with air conditioning, I did not know that you need to run the system regularly to stop the gas leaking. My view on air conditioning has always been, why add another thing to a car to go wrong?

Denise decided that we might as well fix the air conditioning. Because the garage that does my servicing could not re-gas I took FTP to a local Suzuki dealer, Coop Motors , Kettering. When they tried re-gassing they found a small hole in one of the aluminum air conditioning pipes. The pipe runs behind the front grill, and Co-op Motors believed that the pipe may have been hit by a stone thrown up by a vehicle in front. However, they thought I was very unlucky, because the pipe is protected by the grill.

Air_conditioning_pipe_Perodua_Myvi

Not being Perodua dealers, Co-op Motors contacted the nearest Perodua dealer, the Garage at Blakesley, who supplied the part, so that Co-op Motors could restore our air conditioning.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

On Holiday With Oscar.

Have been busy laterly, but we are now having a few days away with Oscar in Denver, Norfolk.

Oscar_bright_as_a_button_Denver_Norfolk

Thursday 21 February 2013

Speedwell Cavern, Castleton.

Las t week we got back from a few days away in Buxton, a spa town in the Peak District. It snowed, but this probably addded to the magic of our break. Staint Annes Well spouted warm Buxton Spring Water, it tasted delicious, even in the snow.

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The lines on the picture are falling snow flakes.


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Deece was particulary impressed with Speedwell Cavern. Speedwell Cavern is an old lead mine whose tunnels are permanatly semi-filled with water.

We found Speedwell after a beautiful drive theough the Winnats Pass

Winnats_Pass_Castleton_Debyshire_in_the_Snow

FTP_Perodua_Myvi_Speedwell_Cavern_Winnats_Pass_DerbyshireFTP parked outside Speedwell Cavern, with Winnats Pass behind.

Speedwell:

Speedwell_Cavern_Derbyshire_1Beyond the natural unerground cavern.

Speedwell_Cavern_Derbyshire_2Deece in the boat.

Speedwell_Cavern_Derbyshire_3Our guide. Speedwell was not busy; indeed we had the mine to ourselves - a lot to be said for visiting places out of the holiday season.

Speedwell_Cavern_Derbyshire_4The steps out.

Saturday 19 January 2013

Snow

Arrived home after working till late last night. Heavy snow. Visibility good but.....

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...Myvi transformed.

Last week before the snow started I was looking for another CD to "lose" it the car, and picked 50 Words For Snow, by Kate Bush! Very enjoyable for a laid back ride home in the snow.

Monday 7 January 2013

Flat Tyre.

For a while I have been wondering how long tyres last; people at work seem to get thgrough them in 20-30,000 Miles, and one person only got 18,000 out of his front tyres on his VW Passat. At 38,000 mine were still within legal limits, but I felt they would need replacing soon. 

On Friday I was not in work, but had several jobs to do. I pulled away in FTP and instantly knew I had a flat tyre. I pulled over and found a piece of glass piercing the front passenger side tyre.

FTP_Perodua_Myvi_Flat_Tyre_1

I checked with the owners manual where to jack a Myvi, and changed the tyre.

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The Myvi has a thinner space saving emergency tyre which seemed to drive ok, but was very noisy around corners.

I looked online to see which would be the best tyres. Tyres now have an ECO lable, giving key qualities, and so I noted that in 175/65R14 T 82 the best tyres were Continentals with Fuel efficiency: C Wet grip: A Noise: 2 bars 70 dB. (PS Do wish longevity was a measure too).

I went into the local branch of National Tyres and stated my size. The gentleman there started telling me which would be the best tyres. I knew that the Avons did not have as good a rating, and so I stated that I was happy to pay more for Continetal tyres because they had the best ECO rating. The gentleman seemed surprised, but humored me. I was quoted a price for Continental, and we agreed that I would return once the new tyres had been delivered.

I returned in the afternoon and had all four tyres changed (they were all due soon so I had decided to keep all tyres the same). The tyre fitter stated that the wheel trims were difficult to remove, but was impressed that Perodua had used the same size tyre as Peugot, and hence a popular/inexpensive tyre. He stated that many Eastern budget cars use obscure and thus expensive tyres.

When I came to write this piece I noticed that instead of having Continental tyres with Fuel efficiency: C Wet grip: A Noise: 2 bars 70 dB i.e. the best available in the size, I had Fuel efficiency: F Wet grip: C Noise: 2 bars 70 dB, specs worse than many budget tyres. Apparently, there are several Continental tyre models of the same size, I had gone straight  to the "Continental Premium Contact 5", because it has the best spec, but the tyre fitter had gone for "Continental EcoContact 3", even though I stated I wanted the Continental because they have the best spec based on the ECO lable. Thus, I have paid more, for inferior tyres. I believe that National Tyre Centres fitters should be trained to supply the needs of the customer according to what the require. My impression at the time of ordering was that he surprised that I used ECO labeling system, and not price, when making my tyre choice.  I even stated that the Continental had ratings of C, A and 70bD, and was supplied with tyres of different specs.

I will write to National Tyres expressing my concern that their staff do not seem to properly understand the ECO labeling system, and enact the wishes of their customers.

FTP_Perodua_Myvi_Flat_Tyre_5