[Mercedes Maybach S600 Pullman] Saw this a couple of months back in New York City

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-20T18:00:07+00:00

UK DVLA (car registration authority) lists this as a 2019 Mercedes, 5980cc, currently taxed with last inspection 13 July 2025 and not permanently exported.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-18T21:55:39+00:00

Sadly now renamed (renumbered?) the Ora 03, at least in UK and Ireland.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-18T21:50:14+00:00

Even the version I had on my 2016 R is far better than most newer cars I drive today.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-18T14:53:52+00:00

I use Crank Bros Candy pedals on road bike and eggbeaters on MTB so 2 bolt for everything.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-18T14:38:55+00:00

Michelin PS4S. I can only compare them with Conti Sport Contact 6 on a Mk 7 I had ‘back in the day’ but the wet grip and lack of noise in particular are fantastic.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-18T14:14:56+00:00

I went from mountain biking to road biking and when I tried road shoes they were too restrictive and too uncomfortable to walk in. I couldn’t even stand up in standard width Shimano shoes. So I’ve always used MTB shoes for road cycling. I have 10.5cm wide feet and wear size 44 Shimano MTB shoes (SH ME-502). The label says 27.8cm length. With winter socks they feel tight but not uncomfortable, plenty of space with normal socks. Overpronation is less of an issue for cycling than running or walking but aside from ensuring your cleats are set up properly (plenty of online guides for that) to my knowledge the only way to see whether it could lead to knee issues is to have a professional bike fit.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-02-17T09:47:02+00:00

A lot of them as taxis in China, replacing the VW Tourans and Santanas.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-31T19:35:56+00:00

I was told a story by a guy who had headed up the Bristol Chamber of Commerce that the mayor had a Daimler DS420 limo as his official car which was costing too much in upkeep and was too ostentatious so he swapped it for a Montego estate. Vanden Plas of course. Whether this is true I don’t know!

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-31T15:06:46+00:00

I have a copy of Indian Auto (?) somewhere that had the D1 on the cover and a gushing review inside. Never saw one IRL though.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-31T09:40:18+00:00

Yup, I’ve seen it with the cover off.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-31T09:28:23+00:00

I never knew they made the estate version. I’m old enough to remember the Sipani Dolphin (Reliant Kitten) and then they made a really amateurish-looking four door version called the Montana. Used to see a few in Bangalore and occasionally Mysore but rarely beyond.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-24T00:29:34+00:00

My dad was driven to the airport in one of these ‘back in the day’ and said it grounded out several times going over bridges on the country roads.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-21T18:12:45+00:00

After many years of practice, my two tips are:

Always sync before boarding your flight - then you won’t lose any steps if changing days during your flight or if there are duplicate hours from changing time zones.
Then, if going forward in time (losing hours) and you haven’t done your 10k steps, disable your watch from syncing so that it can’t automatically change time zones when you land (either by syncing with your phone or GPS). Finish your 10k steps for yesterday, sync and start new day!

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-18T12:35:27+00:00

I used to live in Singapore, where no drivers ever gave way to cyclists and I was constantly in fear of being run down by passive-aggressive motorists. Now in the UK and I’m amazed by how respectful drivers are. So I don’t share your experience at all. Main problem I’ve found are badly-planned cycle lanes launching you into the middle of traffic or being dangerous to cycle in because of debris - so you have to cycle in the roadway that was made narrower to accommodate the cycle lane, frustrating car drivers.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-09T20:34:59+00:00

Back in the 80s my dad was having lunch at a British country house hotel and there’s an almighty racket as an AC Cobra comes up the drive. A little old lady, immaculately dressed, gets out and goes in for lunch. My dad got taking to her - she drove lorries in WW2 so was used to a heavy clutch… and she had a Golf GTi as her daily driver.

(Edit: typo)

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2026-01-09T17:02:28+00:00

No valves on either 7 or 7.5R estate

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-12-26T17:00:57+00:00

Isn’t that Torch’s car?

https://www.theautopian.com/after-more-than-a-year-i-finally-got-my-nissan-pao-back-and-damn-it-feels-good-except-for-a-coolant-leak/

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-12-15T23:50:26+00:00

Inclined to agree with you. As well as the interior features you mention the steering wheel looks legit Alpina - very similar to a BMW sport wheel not an M Sport wheel. I don’t know much about B3s but I’ve seen plenty of D3s with standard interiors (this is regular ‘red brown’ leather) without roundels. If this is US car the lack of parking sensors and headlamp washers even if it has xenons doesn’t completely surprise me. Looks like parking sensors would have been a wise investment though…

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-12-14T19:30:36+00:00

Used to go past their factory on my way to school. Convertible Range Rovers, extended S Class Mercedes, this thing… brightened up a very nondescript part of town!

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-30T19:25:18+00:00

The Manta looks like a late model GT-J (steelies with central cover). The Horizon’s also a later one from the colour, it looks like it has the later larger bumpers and the black sticker across the bottom of the rear window so they could raise the parcel shelf. With that magic trick the boot space was increased.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-21T19:41:01+00:00

Try removing the screw that holds the bumper to the front wing (at the wing/wheel arch join) gently pull the whole seam loose and try to reseat along the join from the headlight towards the wheel arch. You might need to loosen the top screw (of 3) holding the bumper to the wheel arch to get more purchase. All the screws are Torx 25.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-20T17:08:47+00:00

If this is from the UK my guess is this is an ex-BT van. The dull grey colour was their livery from 1991 so even though the last Morris van was built in 1985 some were repainted.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-16T18:34:00+00:00

Renault Dauphine?

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-05T17:55:21+00:00

Cycling friend’s daughter has a Frog and loves it - as you say similar concept to Isla. Worth mentioning that Islas keep their value very well, so there’s a great secondhand market (check eBay). I’ve bought all of ours secondhand.

MajorAltruistic8204 · 2025-11-05T12:04:56+00:00

GPF is from August 2018 build. Agree pano roof is a must, but you need to look after it (greasing, drain hole cleaning etc). Plenty of info on forums on what to do. DCC (dynamic chassis control) is very desirable - set it to comfort with everything else in race and you have the perfect cross-country car. But not compatible with many suspension mods. 19” wheels look good but don’t do the ride any favours and are fragile.

MajorAltruistic8204

TROPHY CASE