Mileage:249,755
As my car has aged it has acquired several defects that have added to its 'character'. The most obvious of these is the rust that is eating away at numerous bits of it, most notably the back door. Then there's the windows - most of them are manual, but one is electric (a long story!) and gets stuck part way down. The radio doesn't work on medium-wave and the clock and radio displays don't work fully. I've also recently found moss growing on the roof! Most importantly though the engine seems to be in good shape so the vehicle keeps on rolling on.
Only 4 miles covered today as I didn't have any significant journeys.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Historically Speaking
Mileage: 249,751
I think that a large part of the excitement about the impending milestone comes from the fact that my L-reg Cavalier has been in the family since it was built - there is a known history to it ...
It was 8th March 1994 when my Dad collected his new car from Northolt with just 14 miles on the clock, before filling up at Tesco in Amersham later on the same day. The car went on our family holiday to Italy that summer and on holidays to France and Guernsey in subsequent years, before being handed over to my mum on it's 4th birthday in March 1998.
In the years following, the Cavalier was driven up and down the country by my mum (primarily to visit her parents in Yorkshire), without ever leaving these shores again. Both my brothers and I learnt to drive in this car - practicing driving at weekends and in the evenings. I have fond memories of practicing my driving as a learner when I went to visit potential universities with my Mum. (not places with the potential to be universities you'll understand, but rather universities that I could potentially have attended!) Then once we'd passed our tests it was something of a pool car, with my brothers and I bidding for (and sometimes arguing over) who, if anyone, was going to borrow the car from my mum.
Then, in June 2007, it was passing-on time again. My mum inherited my dad's car and I inherited the L-reg Cavalier. Since then the car has been as far afield as Durham and Somerset, passed two more MOTs and has become my daily bubble as my commuting vehicle. And now 250,000 miles is beckoning me.
3 days of commuting mileage have been added since the last post. I have a long trip planned for Sunday, so 250k could be here very soon now.
I think that a large part of the excitement about the impending milestone comes from the fact that my L-reg Cavalier has been in the family since it was built - there is a known history to it ...
It was 8th March 1994 when my Dad collected his new car from Northolt with just 14 miles on the clock, before filling up at Tesco in Amersham later on the same day. The car went on our family holiday to Italy that summer and on holidays to France and Guernsey in subsequent years, before being handed over to my mum on it's 4th birthday in March 1998.
In the years following, the Cavalier was driven up and down the country by my mum (primarily to visit her parents in Yorkshire), without ever leaving these shores again. Both my brothers and I learnt to drive in this car - practicing driving at weekends and in the evenings. I have fond memories of practicing my driving as a learner when I went to visit potential universities with my Mum. (not places with the potential to be universities you'll understand, but rather universities that I could potentially have attended!) Then once we'd passed our tests it was something of a pool car, with my brothers and I bidding for (and sometimes arguing over) who, if anyone, was going to borrow the car from my mum.
Then, in June 2007, it was passing-on time again. My mum inherited my dad's car and I inherited the L-reg Cavalier. Since then the car has been as far afield as Durham and Somerset, passed two more MOTs and has become my daily bubble as my commuting vehicle. And now 250,000 miles is beckoning me.
3 days of commuting mileage have been added since the last post. I have a long trip planned for Sunday, so 250k could be here very soon now.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Records
Mileage: 249,618
As of September 1998, the highest recorded mileage for a car was 1,615,000 miles for a 1966 Volvo P-1800. Of course there may have been an even higher total set since this date, but this is the highest I found from my research.
So the Cavalier is not on course to break any records anytime soon then, but 250,000 will be a start! I used to think that this amount was a lot before hearing about the mileages that taxis amass (typically 500k plus) and then records like this. I guess the value of my car's pending achievement lies in the mileage combined with the fact that it's been in the family since it was new and the 'character' that it has.
Since Saturday I've had 2 days of commuting and a trip to football training. 100 miles, kerching!
As of September 1998, the highest recorded mileage for a car was 1,615,000 miles for a 1966 Volvo P-1800. Of course there may have been an even higher total set since this date, but this is the highest I found from my research.
So the Cavalier is not on course to break any records anytime soon then, but 250,000 will be a start! I used to think that this amount was a lot before hearing about the mileages that taxis amass (typically 500k plus) and then records like this. I guess the value of my car's pending achievement lies in the mileage combined with the fact that it's been in the family since it was new and the 'character' that it has.
Since Saturday I've had 2 days of commuting and a trip to football training. 100 miles, kerching!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Milestone: Half-way
Mileage: 249,503
Good news: whilst I was making my way to work and back by train on Thursday my car was passing its MOT - a massive relief. Fortunately this was relatively cheap too - just some oil and some bulbs to pay for on top of the MOT - although I'd already had the major expense of the replacement exhaust earlier on in the week. The Cavalier has also now been taxed. The show can go on!
In terms of mileage accrued since my last post I've had my Friday commute and a few smaller trips today, all of which has taken me past the 249,500 mark - something of a milestone and effectively the mid-way point for this blog.
Coming up later this week as I work my way through the second set of 500 miles, I plan to write about the Cavalier's history, some of its special features and mileages of other cars, amongst other things.
Good news: whilst I was making my way to work and back by train on Thursday my car was passing its MOT - a massive relief. Fortunately this was relatively cheap too - just some oil and some bulbs to pay for on top of the MOT - although I'd already had the major expense of the replacement exhaust earlier on in the week. The Cavalier has also now been taxed. The show can go on!
In terms of mileage accrued since my last post I've had my Friday commute and a few smaller trips today, all of which has taken me past the 249,500 mark - something of a milestone and effectively the mid-way point for this blog.
Coming up later this week as I work my way through the second set of 500 miles, I plan to write about the Cavalier's history, some of its special features and mileages of other cars, amongst other things.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Brum
Mileage: 249,455
The above is not a mistake; I really did manage to accumulate an extra 250 miles in one working day today. That's because I went to Birmingham in the evening to see a pretty decent football match: Villa playing out a 1-1 draw with a talented CSKA Moscow side. I returned home reasonably happy but shattered.
I've just worked out that I spent more time in the car than in the office today (although that wouldn't have been the case if I hadn't left work early and subsequently hit traffic) - what a sad thought! I definitely don't think I'm cut out to ever have a driving job, although maybe that comment is somewhat influenced right now by all of the middle lane drivers that seemed to be out in force today. I think I'll be happy to take the train to work tomorrow (MOT day!).
The above is not a mistake; I really did manage to accumulate an extra 250 miles in one working day today. That's because I went to Birmingham in the evening to see a pretty decent football match: Villa playing out a 1-1 draw with a talented CSKA Moscow side. I returned home reasonably happy but shattered.
I've just worked out that I spent more time in the car than in the office today (although that wouldn't have been the case if I hadn't left work early and subsequently hit traffic) - what a sad thought! I definitely don't think I'm cut out to ever have a driving job, although maybe that comment is somewhat influenced right now by all of the middle lane drivers that seemed to be out in force today. I think I'll be happy to take the train to work tomorrow (MOT day!).
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
An Unscheduled Visit
Mileage: 249,205
My car had an unscheduled visit to the garage today after it was pointed out to me yesterday that the exhaust was coming loose. Although it was already booked in for its MOT and service just two days later, the fact that I have a long journey ahead of me tomorrow meant that this was unavoidable.
The result was a new 'centre section', 'rear box' and fittings for the exhaust - meaning that without doubt the exhaust is now the shiniest bit of my car by a mile!
No driving for me today then - I had to take the train instead. I did manage to add the regular 40 miles to and from work yesterday though.
My car had an unscheduled visit to the garage today after it was pointed out to me yesterday that the exhaust was coming loose. Although it was already booked in for its MOT and service just two days later, the fact that I have a long journey ahead of me tomorrow meant that this was unavoidable.
The result was a new 'centre section', 'rear box' and fittings for the exhaust - meaning that without doubt the exhaust is now the shiniest bit of my car by a mile!
No driving for me today then - I had to take the train instead. I did manage to add the regular 40 miles to and from work yesterday though.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
MOT = Moment Of Truth
Mileage: 249,157
Later on this week my car is booked in for its MOT and service, both of which are required before the end of the month. Key to me being able to reach the milestone figure of 250,000 miles is the passing of the MOT, so I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed on that front. Of course the service should allow any MOT-failing attributes that the car has to be fixed, but I still need to these to be not too extensive and expensive to be justifiable.
You'll notice that I've added an extra 20 miles to the clock since Friday. Yesterday I had a few short trips - to a football training match and to a poker night - which meant that I've been able to keep the milometer ticking over even though its been the weekend.
Later on this week my car is booked in for its MOT and service, both of which are required before the end of the month. Key to me being able to reach the milestone figure of 250,000 miles is the passing of the MOT, so I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed on that front. Of course the service should allow any MOT-failing attributes that the car has to be fixed, but I still need to these to be not too extensive and expensive to be justifiable.
You'll notice that I've added an extra 20 miles to the clock since Friday. Yesterday I had a few short trips - to a football training match and to a poker night - which meant that I've been able to keep the milometer ticking over even though its been the weekend.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday the 13th
Mileage: 249,137
I do hope the above figure is enough to satisfy anyone who is craving for an update for now. Fear not - I'll write a tad more tomorrow. :)
I do hope the above figure is enough to satisfy anyone who is craving for an update for now. Fear not - I'll write a tad more tomorrow. :)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Travel Blog
Mileage: 249,053
So this blog is a bit like a travel blog, except that instead of me travelling round the world and visiting new places, I'll be travelling to places as far afield as work and football training, before returning home to report on the subtle differences in my daily routine.
Perhaps today that subtle difference was the ice - this morning there was ice on the inside of my windscreen when I left home with the temperature at -3°C - cold!
Aside from that my day car-wise involved driving to work and driving home. And that was that, 40 miles in the bag, thank you very much.
So this blog is a bit like a travel blog, except that instead of me travelling round the world and visiting new places, I'll be travelling to places as far afield as work and football training, before returning home to report on the subtle differences in my daily routine.
Perhaps today that subtle difference was the ice - this morning there was ice on the inside of my windscreen when I left home with the temperature at -3°C - cold!
Aside from that my day car-wise involved driving to work and driving home. And that was that, 40 miles in the bag, thank you very much.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
249,000
Mileage: 249,009
I passed 249,000 miles on the milometer today, so I thought it was about time to get this thing up and running ...
250,000 (i.e. a quarter of a million!) miles is now just a thousand away for my Vauxhall Cavalier. Due to my own excitement at the proximity of this milestone, and the interest of several others when I shared this news with them, I thought I might record the countdown to this point. Being part of what some people are starting to refer to as "the facebook generation", of course its important to me that I share this news via the internet with everyone I've ever met as well as with some complete strangers (hope the sarcasm in this sentence comes across!). But seriously, I thought this might be an interesting thing to chart - for a select few people at least. Hence this blog came to be.
I hope the old Cavalier is going to get there - and assuming it does it should do so within the next few weeks. Journey with me here ... the excitement is palpable!
I passed 249,000 miles on the milometer today, so I thought it was about time to get this thing up and running ...
250,000 (i.e. a quarter of a million!) miles is now just a thousand away for my Vauxhall Cavalier. Due to my own excitement at the proximity of this milestone, and the interest of several others when I shared this news with them, I thought I might record the countdown to this point. Being part of what some people are starting to refer to as "the facebook generation", of course its important to me that I share this news via the internet with everyone I've ever met as well as with some complete strangers (hope the sarcasm in this sentence comes across!). But seriously, I thought this might be an interesting thing to chart - for a select few people at least. Hence this blog came to be.
I hope the old Cavalier is going to get there - and assuming it does it should do so within the next few weeks. Journey with me here ... the excitement is palpable!
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