The Blue Whale is...

now off the road.

Due to the massive insurance hike and the work that needs to be completed I've decided to take her off the road.

It will give me a chance to:

remove and refurbish the steering rack
replace and rebush the front and rear suspension
Replace the front wheel bearings
finish the RS6 brake upgrade.
get rid of the rear aerial.

That's the start.

I also have some other internal/external mods (RS6 engine upgrade?) possibly planned, so the Whale has now officially become a project car.

There are a few minor issues to overcome

1) I've never taken on a project this big
2) I've no idea what I'm doing
3) I'm skint

but I'm sure I'll get round them.

She'll be going to her new home in a few days and the project will start.

Wish me luck and I'll be around looking for advice and keeping you updated. Don't expect this to be a quick turnaround by the way.
If the rear brake upgrade is anything to go by don't hold your breath but I get there in the end.

Steve

sorry to hear its off the road Steve thats a real bummer
hopefully working on the projects will keep the faith until things get better on the insurance side - good luck with the project!

Sorry to hear that Steve, but we'll all look forward to seeing the progress made.

Make sure you start a project thread in here, and keep us all updated

Thanks Guys,

I'll start the thread when I've got something to report or when I have a clear idea of what I want to achieve.

If Tony can sort out the deal with Spax it may start sooner though.

I fully understand the point regarding insurance, I've just renewed mine...... They'd upped my premium by about £75 for the year, I was naturally not amused so I 'phoned them armed with various other company websites/ price comparison sites on the screen in front of me. (full comp, protected bonus, legal expenses)

Nett result being it now costs me £5 a month less than last year and have had courtesy car, breakdown fix & recovery service thrown in to keep my custom.

now at £465 a year inclusive of the extra cost of installments, my poor dad is paying about £750 for his 1.8 Focus (no convictions or claims), so its not so bad. Thank goodness I live in the sticks!

It doesn't help living between the equivalent of the Gaza Strip and Iraq

The premium was high anyway and I had to strip the cover down to the bare bones to justify the cost.

After the fender bender (well and truly fu*ked over and unfortunately I live in the shafting capital of the world. Don't get me started on the claimants) the cost was nuts.

I've always fancied living in the sticks

£465 is impossible for an '8' here. I've just insured a Citroen diesel and it cost me £600 with no frills (group 6 insurance).

Group 20 for the S8 forget it.

Bl**dy Hell!

That's atrocious, I can see why you've made the drcision now....... :-(

The '8' costs me roughly twice what my 3 litre Pajero (petrol) used to cost....

Good luck with the project mate!