Conrad D. Conelrad

They call it the Philly Cheese Stack, but I'm sure native Philadelphians would nevertheless be impressed with its authenticity. I certainly am, I've had three of them. It might be the best burger McDonalds have done. I'd have a fourth just before they go but I have a fierce sore throat probably not caused by breathing a lot of shelf-mould.

I had a Hotpoint dryer on the recall list, and took up their offer of an all singing, all dancing top-of-the-line 9kg replacement for £99. Honestly wished I'd kept the one that wanted to burn the house down. The new one, as well as having the worst controls I've ever encountered a machine, started making a slight grinding noise I couldn't diagnose but turns out to have been the drum spindle slowly grinding through the bearing (a one piece bearing with no moving parts, I don't know what they're called) until the spindle snapped off mid-drying. The spindle was 8mm and I happened to have an 8mm bolt so welded that onto the drum and bolted a captive bearing to the rear case. Amazingly worked perfectly like this for a couple of years until one day it wouldn't turn on, and I gleefully scrapped it.

I thought Nestle stopped making those? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235290819966

I found a 1991 price list. Congruent with the price of a C class today.

I needed a new car, and my list of requirements were: automatic, not silver. So I bought this: I love it to bits. The collection was uneventful except for an agonising 2½ hour wait for the bank transfer to come through (it was flagged as fraudulent but the bank didn't think it was worth telling me this). It's only a 1.8, but it doesn't feel nearly as sluggish as I'd anticipated. It also has some fancy-ass optional extras, including metallic paint, cruise control, ABS and leather upholstery with armrest and ruffled map pockets. I dread to think how much that lot added to the cost in 1991! Anyone got a price list? A few jobs are required. I was happy to see it came with a Bluetooth radio, but it turns out to be a vintage one which can only do phone calls over Bluetooth, not music. So that was replaced as a priority. There's a little oil leak from the rocker cover (advised on the last MOT) which shouldn't be difficult to rectify. The boot is damp which really needs sorting ASAP because I hate a boot you can't leave a coat in. It runs beautifully except when first started (hot or cold) it runs rough until the throttle is blipped. If you start it with the throttle pressed slightly it doesn't do it. I don't know much about these engines or the injection system, so I have a bit of learning to do. It's delightful.

Der Franzose might have some bits, usually good service. https://www.franzose.de/en/Home/

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311083745007

Autozam Revue! (put Mazda badges in bin) https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310233270501

Entire description below - notice how not a single word pertains to this specific car: "petrol fuel type" "With two doors and a range of features..." "perfect for collectors and enthusiasts alike" 100% this is AI. The AI enshittification: It begins. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196052383211 edit:

New page! It's my turn to post the Solara! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335090083601

I used to own this. I bought it in the dark with a boot full of wheels and didn't notice the self levelling suspension was fucked. Then the PAS pump seized. The A/C was flashing the error light. Then the buyer noticed (I genuinely hadn't) that the inner wings had rust holes the size of footballs. I wonder what it would have been like if I'd persisted with it? It would have looked like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355125107309

Looks clean enough for £1600. Is it nice inside? Huh. What a uniquely unappealing image. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309141981553

The photos of the wiring! Fucking hell. Gonna need one of these:

Looks quite nice. Four air fresheners? uh, five? Or more, if those things hanging from the mirror are also air fresheners oh there were more air fresheners on this side too. what's that dangling from the steering column? Is it an air freshener? No, it's air fresheners, plural. There's probably a Glade Plug-In jammed in the OBD socket. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309021493095

thank you, very kind https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276105417479

Captain Edward Smith, 15 April 1912, 2:17AM: "Ship is built to a good standard, but being snapped in half lets it down" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285522860094

Captain Edward Smith, 15 April 1912, 12:30AM: "It's a great ship! Sails amazing. Just wet"

This is delightful. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309222246199

that can't be the real mileage? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209857033

I listed a bunch of shite yesterday and eBay gave me the option of having the description written by AI. It spewed out a few flowery paragraphs of bullshit about my radiator hose, how Morris was the most respected name in all automotive history etc. I don’t think it’s available on eBay motors yet, but when it is… look forward to descriptions becoming even more useless.

A very labour intensive cut and shut?

I paid £36 for that one, including post. More than I'd usually pay for a model, but when they make almost your exact car, what can you do?

Roof demonstration

I was very impressed with mine, pictured above. Particularly impressed with the roof - I expected rattles and wind noise, but you'd swear it was a coupe when it's shut.