cort1977

K. So I’ve just collected this.
 
Used to have several of these but boredom, impecunity, a bloody big fire robbed me of most.
 
This came up, very little detail, at sensible money - so I jumped.
 
Seems ok. I pulled it out of this garage, languishing since 1981 , today
 
Couple of seized brakes stripped to allow it to roll, engine free & willing ( no key) permitted me to A frame it back home.
 
It seems pretty solid, has a nasty rats nest under the bonnet, so bound to have a few surprises.
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Current intention is to sort it to running condition, use this Autumn then play over winter. Thinking 1300, o/ drive box & banded steels, maybe bigger brakes.
 
But, essentially, as is.

Picture time -
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I need gassing for buying the Bastard thing..........

(FIAT content is nothing to do with me, thats the Taff who lives next door)
 
 
 
 
 
 

My dad the probable all clear from cancer today they'll retest in six months but his test results looked great.

This all sounds like good advice to me.  Keep at them, you have nothing to lose.  As they say in the north east 'shy bairns get nowt'.

Actually you are right, NyQuil talking here.
You need to keep the title at home and the paper registration certificate in the car. Not the title!
 
 
But it's where you see the TV and they ask for license, registration and insurance please.
 
Phil

Is there anyone else within the organisation who can do it? because if they have to recruit externally I suspect they won't be able to get someone specialist or experienced in the dept? Obvs I don't know the role or company, or even industry (!) but surely promoting internally for a specialist role is the only logical option?
 
Is it not worth half an hour writing a letter (on work time) saying 'last year I applied for this role and was turned down, the position has come up again and following the feedback you gave last year I have worked to gain experience/knowledge in the areas you felt I lacked and now feel I am a strong candidate for all of the following reasons..."
 
Your call, but if the worst they can do is say 'no' again, I'd be smashing out a covering letter tout suite.
 
On the flip side, if they do say no, you have some pretty strong ammo if you leave the role you have in the future
 
"The company does not value my efforts to develop my potential, and does not promote and nurture talent when positions become vacant" hurts senior managers ears, believe me.

OK, as promised some spots from Brazil.
 

 
Mercedes doing it's thing, again some fine photography skills here.  Wiki tells me these were built in Argentina up to 1997 before being replaced by the sprinter.
 

 
Chevrolet-badged Chevette.  In production up till 1993 apparently.
 

 
Two door saloon Escort, a Ford Verona.  Also badged as a VW Apollo.  I have to say the Essex boy in me liked this very much.  I think this has a 1.8 VW engine.  I wanted to ask the owner but my boss was already looking at me strangely so i dragged myself away.
 

 
A Brasinca.  Looks like a late eighties F-150/Bronco to me.  OJ Simpson had one of these you know.
 

 
Chevrolet 500 Utility in Camping spec.  Pick up Chevette built up to 1994, this one looked sweet.
 

 
Finally, shitest of the lot has to be this Ford-badged Santana in yellow with matching interior.  I am fairly convinced that this is factory which is just awesome.  Is that a Mk1 Mondeo grille?  The Brazilian and Argentine subsidiaries of Ford and VW merged in 1987 giving the world several prime bits of shite like this. 
 
Brazil is shite spotters heaven, there are so many oddities lurking on every street.

OK, as promised some spots from Brazil.
 

 
Mercedes doing it's thing, again some fine photography skills here.  Wiki tells me these were built in Argentina up to 1997 before being replaced by the sprinter.
 

 
Chevrolet-badged Chevette.  In production up till 1993 apparently.
 

 
Two door saloon Escort, a Ford Verona.  Also badged as a VW Apollo.  I have to say the Essex boy in me liked this very much.  I think this has a 1.8 VW engine.  I wanted to ask the owner but my boss was already looking at me strangely so i dragged myself away.
 

 
A Brasinca.  Looks like a late eighties F-150/Bronco to me.  OJ Simpson had one of these you know.
 

 
Chevrolet 500 Utility in Camping spec.  Pick up Chevette built up to 1994, this one looked sweet.
 

 
Finally, shitest of the lot has to be this Ford-badged Santana in yellow with matching interior.  I am fairly convinced that this is factory which is just awesome.  Is that a Mk1 Mondeo grille?  The Brazilian and Argentine subsidiaries of Ford and VW merged in 1987 giving the world several prime bits of shite like this. 
 
Brazil is shite spotters heaven, there are so many oddities lurking on every street.

He wanted more............
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
So i have found some more..... It will be home shorltly.

I can haz satnav!!!
 

 
Thanks for all the pointers, muchly appreciated.  Now all I have to do is get it to fit in the dashboard and I'm well away.
 
Telly doesn't work though.
 

 

Decided to nix the electronic points deal; this circuit will kinda protect the clock from drawing too much current.
 
I've cleaned and lubricated it, adjusted the points and it's quietly ticking away on my desk.
 
Phil

Also went in to investigate the spiderweb in the front of the car (will need to spray for bugs now, looks like a brown widow web, and I do not need one of those up inside the dashboard) and found the fourth green lens circle for the gearshift indicator under the front seat. It must have fallen out when I undid the mechanism. I'll put that back in when I fix the bulb.
 
Phil

To confuse and slow down the advances of a silent enemy?
 
What is this, war time?
 
 
Phil

12 Months ago I abandoned the modern car finance trap when I ditched this...

 
For this:

 
That was 12 Months ago today... so here's my Saab 9000 12 month review!
 
I always fancied a 90s Executive car.  As a youngster in the 90s I was always drawn to them.  So when the chance to buy a Saab 9000 presented itself I couldnt say no.  This particular model is the 1997 2.0 turbo, right at the end of the production run. I bought this one mainly off the strength of it's complete lack of the metal eating rust monster. These often go on the screen pillars, not this one.  
 
It's a handsome car too....


 
I use this car for commuting to and from work every day.  It has been my favourite commuting car I have ever owned.  It's a comfy cruiser, good at speed and smooth on the dual carriageway or motorway.  It eats up the miles for fun.  I average about 31 MPG which isn't too bad for a big old bird! The engine is super, it pulls well, and has a great burst of turbocharged speed for overtaking!  I have to admit I'd love to try a 2.3... it must fly!   It's a smooth and comfortable ride, nothing seems to fluster it it sits planted and secure on the road.  
 
It's been used all year round, and being Swedish coped well with the snow.

 
The handling on this car is surprisingly good for a big heavy car.  You can hustle it well through sweeping bends in the hills, but tight curves do reveal a fair bit of body roll. It is rare to lose grip, but you may be clinging on to the tiller like a ship's captain in a storm should the turbulant roads throw up a tight curve. 
 
It's been remarkably reliable too. 12 months, 11,000 miles and the total on one DI cassette to fix.  The MoT was passed with no more than a sidelight bulb and a demonstration on how to work the fog lights!  The front lights are currently a bit iffy, as is the central locking, but that I call charm, not a problem!
 
The 9000 is a superbly practical car too.  It swallows all the family gear with ease, and a camping trip away is no problem for the cavernous boot. You can even put three dogs in there...
 
 
Rear legroom is ample, and the car's strongest point truly is the comfort!  I've never owned a car with better seats (Maybe the Triumph Dolomite I had came close but...) Comfortable, supportive and a nice place to be, the Saab provide comfort even on the long journeys. At 6 ft 1 I can easily find a comfy position, and after a few hours at the wheel can jump out without being crippled!  

 
The interior is a sea of grey plastics and wood effect.  Perfect for the 90s aspiring executive.  In this one there's even a 90s phone holder... oooh...


 
As well as being the oldest car in the car park at work, being so unusual other owners spontaneously wave at you and being able to say you ride a 21 year old Swedish model every morning, it's nice to own a car that is a comfortable in a show as it is on the daily commute. It's been to Chumley (where a few of you had a go... with lots of positive comments... even Junkman was said nice things about it!) Festival of the unexceptional, and SaabFest - where it was easily in the top 5 9000s in the row of 5 9000s. 
 


 
In conclusion, do I regret ditching my nearly new BMW for a 21 year old Saab?  Not at all.  It's a superb car, and I've been very pleased with it.  Testament to this is the fact that I often feel the need to change car after a year, and I can honsetly say I dont want to get rid of Bjorn (as we call him).  Would I own another...Absolutely, indeed, plans are afoot....
 
My advice?  Try one whilst they're cheap as they are, because they're slowly dying off, because they're a bit unloved.  It's more profitable to part one out rather than sell it for a few hundered.  But they're too good to fizzle out to a few garage queen survivors. Once you go Saab, you may never go back!

Yep, agree with this, if it's already been fiddled with then by all means carry on but with something that's remained standard for so long then a little effort to keep it original-ish is worth it.

Yep, agree with this, if it's already been fiddled with then by all means carry on but with something that's remained standard for so long then a little effort to keep it original-ish is worth it.

Yep, agree with this, if it's already been fiddled with then by all means carry on but with something that's remained standard for so long then a little effort to keep it original-ish is worth it.

Three job interviews today.
 
Two of which were planned, the third was a company who were in contact with me last week but went quiet after we struggled to agree on a date. I decided to drop past their office as I was round the corner anyway, and they were impressed with my initiative.
 
Impostor syndrome, get out!

Yep, agree with this, if it's already been fiddled with then by all means carry on but with something that's remained standard for so long then a little effort to keep it original-ish is worth it.

I haz done a buyage. But this addition is not something challenging, exciting, or even new to me, and as the collection involved a nerve wracking all-of-ten-miles drive home, I am set to disappoint you all in regards to collection drama. Not even a pez station shot.
 
Soz.
 
So! What haz been procured? Lankytim will already have guessed, as he pointed it out to me about three days ago and Keymaster knows far too much of what goes on at Chez Chod to not be aware of today's new arrival:
 

 
Yes, this sad sack of shite has joined the fleet. It is currently in the naughty corner, as the MAP sensor or possibly something else that causes the 5V line to drop out, creates a frisson of uncertainty to every journey: will it even start, let alone get me some of the way there? It did manage to heave its ludicrous bulk from the house of the seller to the home of the gullible, but it proved the seller's 'shpares or reapers' approach to selling it wise, by starting one time in 20 at the viewing and test drive. Once it was going, I was very reluctant to switch it off again. Even though the key can be removed from the ignition without forcing this issue...
 
In its favour, it was only slightly too expensive to not gain a shoe in to the 'Drive away for £200, the cheapest of cheap shite' thread, has an MOT till March, has what may turn out to be fully functioning LPG, and crucially, has an operational drivers window, which our ailing silver OMGHGF Voyager is sadly lacking.
 
Yes, you read that right: I am currently the proud* owner of two - yes TWO! - two 2002 (keep up at the back, there) Chrysler Grand Voyagers. Both are decidedly sticky and smelly inside, but one of them may respond to a cheap fix, while the other requires me to shell out nearly six ponies for the chance to find out if I've royally shagged what was otherwise a fine engine.
 
Which of these vehicles will pass another MOT and which will have its not insubstantial bulk sent over the bridge?
 
Prace bets now!

Are we married?

less said the better 8) 8)

Running chod allows mega savings.
 
Not paying £200 a month for a lease car saves £2400 per year,
 
Not paying £200 a month for Mrs Eunos saves another £2400 a year. There's £4800 saved already, ie more money for even more chod.
 
Also, when running elderly cars it makes sense to have a 'plan B' car to use if/when things go wrong, ergo the excuse for the third car ("You know it makes sense love" wink wink) 
 
It's a well thought out system and it works very well indeed.

I’ve registered as a charity and regularly hold fun runs and table top sales to fund all the bits to keep them going. MondeoAid.

My "funding" comes from me being able justify shite by having few other big expenses, other than general living costs. I don't take holidays, have new tech or go out clubbing and drink very little and don't smoke.
 
When I see how much money some people spend on crap like tattoos, vape machines, designer clothes and iPhones, a few hundred quid for something that you can drive and actually do actual things with, and cruicially, own, seems pretty harmless.