Life with a Gamma

[Harvey]

Deluged at work at present, so progress is slow. Cambelts have been delivered but I've not yet had time to arrange fitting. However, I have managed to sort the rear seatbelts, so the car is ready for the weekend! Many thanks again to Andy Collins. My George Washington impersonation goes only part way in repaying the favour.

[Betaboy2.0]

You made an excellent lumberjack Harvey !

Andy

[Harvey]

A quick update on events of recent past and near future...

I made it to the Gamma Consortium AGM in Banbury, battling traffic on the Friday evening (Avonmouth bridge resurfacing) to collect the Gamma. An uneventful trip to Banbury via the M4, A34 and M40 was enlivened by music now that I have splashed out the princely sum of £8 to get a tape convertor for my phone! The car behaved impeccably over the weekend. I had to leave the group on the Sunday morning, and so diverged from the published route as I made my way home. However, it was one of the best drives I can remember. The satnav took me on various A and B roads, all of which seemed to be wide, with sweeping bends and consistently little traffic. Fabulous. The Gamma was truly a joy to drive. I even managed to get the tyres to squeal when pulling away at one or two junctions. It was really incongruous as it was a sedate and stately manoeuvre, but I have budget tyres. 

This weekend I am daring to attempt a trip to visit friends in The Hague, departing from Harwich on Friday morning. It's a short drive from the Hook of Holland to The Hague at the other end, so the Gamma will be on Dutch roads for only an hour or so all told. Needless to say, I've opted for additional AA cover. The sales agent seemed amused or bemused when confirming that the car is 31 years old, and the price for the cover was correspondingly eye-watering. I could save a lot of anxiety ("Will we make it?") and cost by taking the company car, but that would negate a huge amount of the pleasure in the trip. By driving, I'm also looking forward to being able to take luggage with me (something from which airlines do their best to dissuade you!)

Wish me luck. I'll update after the weekend with either a tale of joy or one of woe... 

[DavidLaver]

Your wish is my command: Good luck!!

(...and if your luck runs out you'll at least have had an adventure...)

David

[Thotos]

As you've found out, a drive in a Gamma doesn't just give you great pleasure but also a great sense of achievement! Welcome to the wonderful world of Gamma ownership and good luck with your Dutch Gamma adventure 

[fay66]

hi Theo,
if you were insured with Footman James it wouldn't have been necessary to shell out an eye watering sum to the AA.

Brian
8227

[Harvey]

When it came to insuring the Gamma I tried two companies - Footman James and Adrian Flux.

One had an automated system that left me in a queue for over 5 minutes (I gave up before they answered) and one was answered within 3 rings by a real person. Guess which one got my business?

Offering cheap insurance is pointless if your potential customers can't get through to you.

[Thotos]

hi Theo,
if you were insured with Footman James it wouldn't have been necessary to shell out an eye watering sum to the AA.

Brian
8227

Hello Brian,

I think your posting was meant for Harvey and not me!   In fact I am insured with RH Specialist Car Division (http://www.rhclassicinsurance.co.uk/) with whom I get free European-wide breakdown cover.   Even so, I managed to drive my Gamma all the way to Italy and back (http://www.gammaconsortium.com/LTIM/) without making use of the free cover   That drive gave me a really great sense of achievement! ? (as well as immense pleasure)  

Driving to Holland and back in a Gamma is a doddle though Harvey so don't worry about it.  

http://www.gamma.fslife.co.uk/Holland/Start.htm

http://www.alkionides.com/gamma-holland-2004


Theo

[fay66]

Whoops Theo, yes it was meant for Harvey!

Same as yourself I drove "Fay" To Portugal & Turin without having to call their services, although there's always one ear cocked Great feeling all the same knowing you've done it in an old car

Brian
8227

[fay66]

When it came to insuring the Gamma I tried two companies - Footman James and Adrian Flux.

One had an automated system that left me in a queue for over 5 minutes (I gave up before they answered) and one was answered within 3 rings by a real person. Guess which one got my business?

Offering cheap insurance is pointless if your potential customers can't get through to you.

There never used to be a problem with waiting with FJ until Aon took them over, since then it's hells own job getting through, it's one thing to be held in a queue when you've been told your 2-3rd in the queue,  you can make up your own mind whether to hang on or not, but a totally different ball game when all you're told is that you're in a queue, and that your call will be dealt with as soon as possible (normally at your expense )  and some idiot saying "don't hang up your call is important to us" they then proceed to really show how much they value your custom by keeping you hanging on, listening to some tune that bores a hole in your head

Rant of the day over

Brian
8227

[Harvey]

Exactly. Anyway, the cost is still nothing compared to the cost of the ferry, the fuel, etc. You can see why short haul flights are so popular.

But half the fun is in the driving. The other half in visiting friends. Woo hoo!

[SteveGales]

Good luck with the trip harvey

How did you cure the 'wheel wobble' in the end?

Steve

[stuwilson128]

Harvey,

I hope your ferry crossing is better than the one I endured when bring the Delta back from Holland.  I don't think my friend has forgiven me for getting him onto that ferry after suffering force 9 gales and 50ft waves!

[Harvey]

Thanks, all. I haven't had the opportunity to solve the wheel wobble yet but 60mph is fast enough! I'm hoping for a mirror-smooth ferry crossing as I'm a very poor sailor.

[rogerelias]

More importantly have you had the cam belts done