Brodders

The RAV has been with me for a year now and has been absolutely bloody perfect. Including two new premium tyres, two home services, an MOT and a couple of advisories being taken care of - I think the total costs for last year came in around £600. Not bad for 23,000 miles of motoring and a £1500 purchase price. 
Took it to my folks today where Bornite Senior and Junior teamed up to wash it.
The equivalent photo would have been me in 1990 washing something like an Austin A40 Farina. These are such different times, and this just highlights how far the motor car has come in such a short time. 

 
168,700 miles (Not Out)

sadly not the miserable diesel but miserable non the less

Took the maestro out for a run around some old BT buildings on Sunday.

An  Opel Omega Caravan in Aleppo. Don’t be fooled by the colour, red police cars are used for emergencies in Syria.

Back out and about in this one, yet again. Had to put a coil pack on it since the spark would only jump across three of the leads. It's had the bushes and a caliper done as well, feels a lot better now. For a big bit of car, it's not terrible on fuel really, last tank was 38mpg, but that was mostly motorway runs in the horrible windy weather we've had. I've got proper fitted mats now, sadly not the Vauxhall velour ones since they're NLA, but just some Halfords tailor fit ones which do the job very nicely. New plates on as well (last pic) so I can keep the original dealer plates fresh, and so there's a good base for some reproduction ones to be done in the future.
As of the 22nd of January, this was a 25 year old car, which is quite an unsettling fact. It runs extremely well, especially as my daily, running to Glasgow and back (occasionally via Johnstone on the return) twice a week. Granted, I miss some of the toys the Fabia has that this doesn't, such as the extra speakers, or the heated electrically-adjustable mirrors. However, even with the standard CAR400 system, the sound is decent enough. Plus, I can live with manual mirrors - I'm just spoiled with the Skoda.
However, this just tackles dual carriageways and motorways miles better than anything else I've driven. Easy thing to waft along in, but if you need to push on, it'll do it without any sort of strain. The 1.8 is a good match for the car I reckon. For 'peak grim' I'd like to try the 75hp 1.6 8v or the 2.0 DI (the NA one, not the turbodiesel version), just to know what real pain is. Maybe someday.
Having spoken to another guy who has an Arctic II (but in V6 flavour), it seems the emblems on the centre caps have a knack for just launching themselves at the most random of times. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, these are no longer available from Vauxhall, so second hand is the only route. The problem is that they're all corroding now, and they emblems come off those as well. Been thinking about this, and to try and counteract this, and keep the car looking tidy, I'll get some of those stick-on centre cap badge things from eBay, and some proper adhesive, see if it helps somewhat.
Other than that, it'll get a service when the weather is a tad warmer, and I'll get a couple of other imperfections tended to. It's not perfect - it doesn't have to be either - but I like to keep it in as fine a fettle as I can.
 
 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308070537815

With hideous bargain bin wheel trims for that ultimate "cheap banger anno 2010" look.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402096402979?sort=most-recent&advertising-location=at_cars&page=6&postcode=CB12AZ&price-to=1000&year-to=2006&fromsra

£795, Birkenhead
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1076110326946054/

£2,500
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1688054

£1500 728i


https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/768265271859451

£995!
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1686856

I forgot that these early Aspens had black bumpers 
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/265109866615364?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_stor 

This guy must be a shiter! I spy a Javelin, Roller Silver Shadow, and of course this Beluga shaped Scorpio:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225987545349

I’ve heard @red5 will have a space free for a restoration soon

Interesting Duolingo targeted advertising.

Invacar, limo, black cab or a Renault Kangoo with a wheelchair ramp.

Are you going to do some moustached detectiving as well?
I can't see a blue Sierra, regardless of shape, without thinking Frost...

Overpriced but I really love their styling and the V6 is super rare. Needs to be a manual though and you might as well get a Xedos 6.
Meanwhile, here's a cheap LS460 for under 3 grand, which sounds like a steal despite the high tax bracket.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/214457738411402/

Randomly we got a message of a lady down my road who got our details from the antique centre because she had her departed husbands old Escort to sell and asked if we knew anyone interested in it, me obviously being a sucker for a old Ford and having just sold the Mondeo agreed to take a look.
I was surprised when she opened the container where it had been stored since 2010!

So the story is her husband used to work for Tescos and cashed in his shares in 1989 to buy this XR3i Cabriolet from Dagenham Motors, It was his pride and joy and he used to go cruising on Southend seafront and around Romford and Dagenham in it during the 90s before getting a company van in 2000 and parked it, his plan was to recommission it when he retired but he sadly passed away in 2021 aged 59 after laying down for a hour as he felt rough and passed away in his sleep, very sad indeed.

For a car which hasn't seen the road for 24 years it seems VERY good, there no rust on the body or arches or behind the kit that i can see, the rear floor has a lot of surface rust but I'm hoping that will clean up ok.

I agreed to buy it so yesterday my mate came over so we could collect it, it was a bit of a faff as the rear brakes had locked on but we managed to drag it onto the trailer, eventually!



The first time it had seen light for 14 years! as you can see it's very of it's period! I personally think it's a Dagenham Motors demonstrator as its shows two previous owners, not one, i know his wife registered after he died but I'm thinking the garage owned it for a bit too, especially as it's all skirted up, shame that the paperwork hasn't turned up yet and carbaba doesn't give keeper change dates anymore as I'd be really interested to know if it had a keeper change in 1989.




What's peoples thought's on the wheels? they are 15" Oscam Windy alloys which have been on it since new, I'm quite tempted to get them refurbished again.

Half leather Recaros! very posh! and check out the hifi!


big Alpine speakers in the car too, just a shame the stereo isn't in it, the lady thinks it's in the loft and will let me know when she finds it. i think it's a special edition model as they only made a few in Aquafoam blue and with the high spec of leather and electric roof back in 1989.

we managed to push it into the garage, tomorrow I'll make a start on seeing what parts i need and the condition of the belt before turning it over.
and here it is in it's glory days when it was brand new

I have a large collection of What Car? magazines that date back from mid 1980s to mid 1990s. I should get them laminated really, as I get quite aroused whenever I peruse them. 

Details taken from a magazine that dates back to 1987, same as the incoming Sapphire.


Sierras of all shapes and specifications often featured in road tests and similar articles. They usually did well, scored average points, were said to be comfortable, reliable and cheap to run but dated. Makes sense.