grogee

I managed to sneak out for a quick test drive in the definitely* insured and taxed 9000 yesterday, mainly because I didn't want the MoT man to be testing the brakes without them having been bedded in. Anyway it sounded a bit farty so I made a mental note to get underneath and check for leaks. There are several... Which I've patched up with gun gum for now, but I fear the MoT man will see past these sticking plasters. Trouble is it's leaking from basically every part of the system: downpipe, front silencer, middle silencer and rear silencer. (Saab seem to like their silencers). I've managed to find replacement parts, all four sections will be £200. So I've decided to bung it in for MoT and fix the zorst if it fails on that. The other thing I've attended to was a loose steering adjust - the lever didn't clamp the column tight enough. Had to think laterally to tighten the 17mm nut which is obscured by the ignition barrel, but I remembered a top tip from a scrapyard mate and bashed it clockwise with a hammer and screwdriver. Hey presto, a nice firm column (oo-err Mrs). I've managed to bork the 'computer' somehow, or it's died on its own. A replacement is £15 so I'll bung it in.

This thread makes me happy. @maxxo is in another C5, all is well with the world. Happy chevrons to you, sir.

I don't know what it is. Jowett Jupiter? In pillar box red.

Suzuki Liana wot I bought for Mrs Grogee mk1. It had apparently done 35,000 miles but I'm sure it was abused. The 5th gear synchro failed so it kept popping out of gear, expensive fix. It was also pretty hateful to drive - noisy, crap handling, uncomfortable, tinny, ugly. Its only redeeming feature was a digital dash. I still don't know what I was thinking. I sold it at a loss and got her a MK1 Focus 1.8 that was absolutely brilliant. Then divorced her.

There has been some difficult Life Things going on for me recently. This has resulted in covering about 800 miles in the last week in the Saab 9-5. In amongst this drive-a-thon I stopped by the 9-5's previous careful* owner @djoptix who very generously gave me some wheeeels for the Saab and some steel toe boots. Then I threw caution to the wind and filled up with Sainsbury's 95, which will make the Saabheads faint in horror. Having been "gently dashing" across country I recorded an average of 32.0mpg, not bad given the heat and AC use. There were no ill effects to or from South Devon but that wasn't really pushing the limits of combustion efficiency, with nose-to-tail traffic Saturday morning on the M5 south. Basically I've covered a lot of miles at a gentle canter and have just filled up again - a new record of 35.0mpg, which is outstanding for something so big and fast (and petrol). The difficult Life Things going on have meant that (with HUGE regret) I am having to come to terms with selling my beloved Puma. The timing is terrible - Pumas are about to rocket in price, I can feel it. But I need to downsize the fleet and the Saab is just too damn useful to get rid of, especially in the winter. I may list on here, but it won't be a bargain. The cash has to fill a hole, and the car has been absolutely doted on in the last three years. Losing this car will be like losing a limb, but it's to make way for the Maestro project that has a family connection and is something I've been wanting to do for years.

I'm glad someone is saving these, what a revolutionary car for its time. Good luck in your search. We had a 2008 Espace which was a great bus, I miss it. Vive la difference.

The headliner is in. Not perfect but passable, and in truth only I'd notice the imperfections - how many times do you look up at your headlining? I've also fixed* the front wing with gaffer tape. I did find a replacement but not only is it the wrong colour, it's also £175+post. And if I was doing that, I ought to do the doors, and and and. I don't need this project now, it needs to make way for the Maestro. Then treated the Saab fleet to a wash WITH a hosepipe (take THAT, South-Easterners). Truth be told I didn't do a great job washing them but they're less dusty than they were. Next up, door cards swap, hoover the interior and stick the 9000 in for MoT. It's one of those ones where there is corrosion at the back, but it's not terminal or weakened. I'm hoping for an advisory rather than 'must fix'. Despite its shabbiness I do like the 9000. There's something appealing about no cat, no airbags, no ABS. It is an ideal 'starter classic' as the tradeys like to say, and an eye-opener in terms of how much has changed in 35 years.

Ital 1.3 auto, £1000 bins in Croydon. Safe to say this is a project. "according to the latest figures available on line, there are now only 35 registered examples left making the Ital rarer than a Javan Rhino!" YOU WOT M8 "The car doesn't drive so will obviously need to be tailored away."

Did you see the Mardy Grass 205 on eBay tat thread? £600, might make a useful donor if you need any bits

School bus route was through hilly south Devon. The biggest uphill was preceded by a fast downhill and scary bend; said drivers would maximise momentum for the uphill which entailed carrying speed through scary bend. Hence nightmares... Although to their credit nothing ever happened while I was on board save a few breakdowns.

Door cards for the 9000. I attempted to repair the existing ones, but made a complete hash with Gorilla Glue and couldn't get it off without damaging the vinyl. Luckily got these for £25, pick up Monday night

Lucas makes EVERYTHING worse

pt.10 Fiat Dobbins faraway 'camper' £1700 Northampton https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/fiat-doblo-minicamper-19-diesel-multijet-2007-manual/1415170466?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.9 Lightly* crashed spaceship Civic £700, or offers "Couldn’t start might be minor fault" https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/honda-civic-16-patrol/1438713000?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.8 Frankly objectionable £1150 Cov https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/bmw-x3-20-diesel-full-mot-12-months-fsh-3-keys/1438951260?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.7 607 2.2 HDi auto 150k miles. WCPGW? £1200 Warks https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2004-peugeot-607-22-hdi-se-4dr-automatic-long-mot-delivery-available-sal/1424572397?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

It's a nice park, good end of town, but too close to Clusterfuck Junction for me (station/Tatchbrook Rd)

pt.6 Stoved-in tailgate 205 dizzel, £600 Towcester (say "Toaster"). Six weeks test left. Ad says turbo, pics say NA Ideal post-apocalyptic transport, these run on veg don't they? https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1995-peugeot-205-18d-zest-limited-edition-3dr-hatchback-diesel-manual/1438194393?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.5 Americanized Saab with LPG powah, £1600 Warks https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2008-cadillac-bls-20t-se-4dr-lpg-gas-high-spec-px-welcome-saloon-petrol/1438202903?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.4 Not-in-frame Mk1 Focus with fucked front bumper but low miles, £1200 Cov https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/ford-focus-hatchback-2002-manual-1596-cc-3-doors/1438986594?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.3 Seat Audi A4, 184k miles, £1700 Cov https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2010-60-seat-exeo-20-tdi-cr-se-lux-143-estate-full-mot-leather-cruise-climate/1430270126?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

pt.2 Golf skip £1495 Photographed outside the lovely Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa. (Loveliness of garden does not imply loveliness of car) https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2002-volkswagen-golf-20-se-2dr-convertible-petrol-manual/1431768553?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

This week's episode of George's Marvellous Midlands Motors, pt1: MK2 Gooner diesel, £1495. Almost certainly just been valeted. https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2007-renault-laguna-20-dci-dynamique-5dr-estate-diesel-manual/1433331594?utm_source=com.atomczak.notepat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

I love how the overriding impression from that video is epic trim rattle