fredi250 · Jul 11, 2014

My father in law has just driven down to stay with us until September in his 2002 3 door it now has 205500 on the clock and is still on its factory fitted drive train. No he,s never towed and no its never been of road but still this has to be one of a kind.
His full service history and receipts show 3 sets rear drums and Disks 5 sets of drop links 1 set arb bushes 2 sets diff mounts 1 complete silencer system 7 sets tyres 1 Maf 2 front sensors + rings 3 hand brake cables 2 right 1 left . he had the injectors changed at 135000 but does not count those as he got them from a breakers.
So in amongst all the horror stories there are some real reliable Gems

freelandie71 · Jul 11, 2014

One of a kind of post to

Silverlandy · Jul 11, 2014

Aww Fredi, what a lovely, positive post! :5bgrouphug:

Danielsand · Jul 11, 2014

THIS IS encouraging! These Hippos CAN do the mileage, if one is on the top of EVERYTHING. My wife's Hippo has 95K on the clock, and I want at least another 100K with spare engine and tranny.

gstuart · Jul 11, 2014

mines on 185,000 at the moment, think there are quite a few high mileage hippos around

Danielsand · Jul 11, 2014

gstuart said:
mines on 185,000 at the moment, think there are quite a few high mileage hippos around

THAT's why I joined this forum! You guys keep them running, and know how. The Yanks wrote them off long ago, and you can drive for DAYS without seeing another one on the road. But if you check the Craigslist or Autotrader, they are trying to unload them as fast (and as cheap) as possible, adverised as "the mechanic's special". ALL of them need a new engine, and are sold for peanuts.

gstuart · Jul 11, 2014

Danielsand said:
THAT's why I joined this forum! You guys keep them running, and know how. The Yanks wrote them off long ago, and you can drive for DAYS without seeing another one on the road. But if you check the Craigslist or Autotrader, they are trying to unload them as fast (and as cheap) as possible, adverised as "the mechanic's special". ALL of them need a new engine, and are sold for peanuts.

shame some good uk mechanics arnt out there, could make a killing

lived in Oceanside , New York for a couple of years, someone tried to sell me a pinto, lol

borrowed my neighbours blazer, blimey that was a tank and a half, cant tell u what it done to the gallon, but guessing about 5 mpg

Danielsand · Jul 12, 2014

gstuart said:
shame some good uk mechanics arnt out there, could make a killing

lived in Oceanside , New York for a couple of years, someone tried to sell me a pinto, lol

borrowed my neighbours blazer, blimey that was a tank and a half, cant tell u what it done to the gallon, but guessing about 5 mpg

Blazer is about the same as my GMC Sierra 2500 (truck I use to pull horses). It gets about 10mpg unloaded, and about 6mpg with horse trailer (four horses at the time).

UK trained mechanics WOULD make a mint over here. However,......American mentality is not in tune. MOST of the people are brainwashed to this consumer madness, where EVERYTHING is disposable. Average American buys the new car every two years. They dynamite buildings (beautifull OLD buildings) rather than repair them. Marriages/relationships don't last either. Even friendships. Europeans have friendships for life (I know, I lived over there for 30+ years, and have some "lifelong" friends), and over here the "friendships" last as long as it's "convenient". I could go on and on about this.

My problem? When I'm in Europe, I miss open spaces, freedoms, and solitude of the American life (I live on 140 acres, 1,5 hours from L.A. and the ocean). I see other people when I'm in the mood for it! I am looking into buying 1100 acres "up North" (way less people to deal with!).

When I'm over here, I miss Europe! Food, people, big cities, culture, sidewalk cafes, women, mentality.......you name it! That's the curse that anyone that lived on both sides of the pond lives with. One can not sit in two chairs at the same time.

I lived for several years in London, Munich, Rome, Belgrade, Yokohama (I know it's not Europe, but had a BIG impact on my life!). My first three wives were European (this fourth one is my first American!). I am doomed! I want American open spaces, my private lake, private shooting range (I collect guns), and I want to drive European (British) cars, have European cuisine and culture (opera, philharmonic concerts, Rolling Stones, galleries, and museums). Can NOT happen! So I travel back and forth, and miss the places I am not at the moment.

Sorry about hijacking the thread.

gstuart · Jul 12, 2014

Danielsand said:
Blazer is about the same as my GMC Sierra 2500 (truck I use to pull horses). It gets about 10mpg unloaded, and about 6mpg with horse trailer (four horses at the time).

UK trained mechanics WOULD make a mint over here. However,......American mentality is not in tune. MOST of the people are brainwashed to this consumer madness, where EVERYTHING is disposable. Average American buys the new car every two years. They dynamite buildings (beautifull OLD buildings) rather than repair them. Marriages/relationships don't last either. Even friendships. Europeans have friendships for life (I know, I lived over there for 30+ years, and have some "lifelong" friends), and over here the "friendships" last as long as it's "convenient". I could go on and on about this.

My problem? When I'm in Europe, I miss open spaces, freedoms, and solitude of the American life (I live on 140 acres, 1,5 hours from L.A. and the ocean). I see other people when I'm in the mood for it! I am looking into buying 1100 acres "up North" (way less people to deal with!).

When I'm over here, I miss Europe! Food, people, big cities, culture, sidewalk cafes, women, mentality.......you name it! That's the curse that anyone that lived on both sides of the pond lives with. One can not sit in two chairs at the same time.

I lived for several years in London, Munich, Rome, Belgrade, Yokohama (I know it's not Europe, but had a BIG impact on my life!). My first three wives were European (this fourth one is my first American!). I am doomed! I want American open spaces, my private lake, private shooting range (I collect guns), and I want to drive European (British) cars, have European cuisine and culture (opera, philharmonic concerts, Rolling Stones, galleries, and museums). Can NOT happen! So I travel back and forth, and miss the places I am not at the moment.

Sorry about hijacking the thread.

i know exactly what u mean, there were plenty of people who stabbed me in the back when i was working there

as there were people who done each job, one to install the boiler, one for electrics and so on

but was trained here through a 4 year city and guilds apprenticeship to do the whole installation

couldnt stand the unions , they drove me nuts and did rub them up the wrong way as i went directly to the bosses if i had a problem

however when i orginally messed my back up out there they didnt want to know

but still miss the states , but found it strange no company vans allowed to be parked in some areas overnight etc .

cant have everything, but the kids loved the usa and hopefully one day can go back for a vacation

teddywood1 · Jul 12, 2014

he is in Spain is he in KM or miles just a thought if so my old one had 175,000 miles on the clock before anything started but once it started WOW!

RealBeale · Jul 12, 2014

Check out the commercials for sale on Ebay. Plenty with space ship miles, proving they really can do 200,000 +.Although commercials by there very nature should be meticulously maintained , contributing to their longevity.

fredi250 · Jul 12, 2014

Dad lives in North London Miles not Klm. Mind he is of to Malaga Monday just over 800 klm so he will have put another 1400 to 1500 on by the time he gets back to us.
The first thing he did on arrival was take the back of something he can rarely do in the UK

fredi250

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Silverlandy

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