Unlucky Alf

I enjoy reading this thread, so thanks to all. Back in the 80’ and 90’ I worked for a company that had a policy of Ford company cars, any colour as long as they were black. I had a right mix of fords, ranging several 1.4S Fiesta’s, (pretend XR2i’s 😄) a 1.6GL Escort Estate and both 1.6 and a 1.8 XR2i, (I loved both these cars) and then the worse escort I ever had, a 1.8 Si as they had stopped making the XR3i’s. They were all black I had two Mondeo’s First one was a hand me down was a 2.0Si I swapped my current car for - quite a wizzer but it stank as previous owner had smoked. It was great on the motorway, We went on our honeymoon to France in it, on the hovercraft. oh the high life! I liked the Si Mondeo, the interior had plenty of room and driving position was great, along with visibility. All these were owned by the company and were sold back to the ford dealer when they got to 3 years. I left this company and joined a large multinational IT giant and it was leaseplan vehicles there, so I ordered a Ford Puma with everything on it (not much!) after seeing one on static display in the reception area at Ford Dunton, where I had been working previously and while I was waiting for it to be delivered, I got given a Mondeo Automatic Mk2 from Hertz. We named it ermintrude, because it sounded like a cow when pulling away and the auto box was horrendous. I really didn’t like that automatic, it made a lot of noise but didn’t go anywhere fast, I think I had it for 6mth until the puma showed up. Gota love mondeo’s and hope I haven’t bored you too much!

is it me or is there an increase in ‘Up the Arse Audi’s*’ that are on the roads? Most of them seem to be these big fuck off size Audi’s, although not exclusively, that delight in forcing people to go faster by driving up their Arse, or just seem to drive that way and have no concept of leaving a gap. *trademark

Cunting washing machine making an horrendous noise on spin. Took a look (Ive repaired various items on this one, replacing parts, cleaning pipes, new pump, soldered some electronics), Looks like the drum bearings have gone or spider broken inside as the drum is rotating off centre. And I have now discover its got a sealed drum, you cant get it apart as its all plastic welded together. Bastards.

ooo this is more like it, Raleigh NC.

Back to the states, and Florida what a wide variety of vee-hick-ells they have, and some with quite artistic graphics Ponce Inlet (ooo err Mrs) massive bull bars

Any interior shots? I had an Si (black in colour) just like that. Unfortunately previous car driver (it was a company car) was a smoker so it always seemed to have a whiff about it, despite cleaning it.

second that, ive repaired 4 star chips on a screen that lasted, until about a month ago, over 7 years in total. The one that got me was the stone that hit below the wiper blade. I didnt notice it and by the time it spread up the screen it was too late to repair. repair kits are available from halfords also. but you need to repair em quick before they spread

Heading southbound past the Handcross DVSA site on the other side, they park the van on the left side of the A23, where the road climbs back up the hill, before where it goes to the cuckfield turn. Basically getting speeders who wiz down the hill and come up the other side. Last night they were on the bridge before the Bolney turn off (another favourite place), where they get people wizzing down that hill again. There's a slight curve in the road and they become visible with no chance of slowing down.

Twats driving infront at 40mph on clear gritted A roads, who proceed to drive at 40mph in a 50, a 60, and go through a village with a 30mph limit - at bloody 40. Utter annoying twat headed Bastards.

Pictures….because without it didn’t happen lol Ahh my beautiful XR2i and ‘some bird’ (who I later married!) The crock of inverse gold… what a horrible vehicle this was, ahhh bugger. I can’t find a photo of the Mondeo Si…..argh

The Mk5 escort was truly ‘orrible. I mistakenly accepted an ‘upgrade’ in the company I worked for at the time - I had a Fiesta XR2i, on an L plate, wonderful Ford bucket seats, very attractive wheels and of course heated screen, 1800 engine., lovely power to weight ratio. It was a delight to drive but: I could get an XR3i, with a job promotion - so I ordered it with the car fleet people. except Ford announced the Mk5 and my order was switched to an Escort Si on an M plate (as the XR wasn’t available…). The mk5 Si had fog lights and stuff but the interior was horrible, clunky controls, white speedo and rev counter, horrible ride and bloody massive doors. The seats were uncomfortable and the interior all plasticky. It was very noisy. What a disaster decision. My Fiesta went to another field engineer and I ended up trying to shift the escort to someone else. I ended up with an older Mondeo Si in black ( all our cars were Ford and all were black). It was lovely apart from the fact the previous driver was a kipper and it stunk. I am pretty sure I had one of those cassette tapes somewhere!

What a great thread, some tasty chod and some familiar places, as I used to live over at South Heighton. Thanks for posting, 👍

I’ve seen some ‘murican stuff posted here already, so here is the not very United States ‘secret’ service police, in DC

A secluded lay-by - Sussex Police comparing their DF (Direction Finding/tracker) equipment to ours… looks like a T reg Toyota Avensis!

Has this one been featured yet? A 1993. Spotted near Gatwick last week.

Accidental leaving on, of the handbrake perhaps? I’ve never* done that in the past.

Was working on my mates Fiat 127 Sport. All pretty tight work as the bonnet opened forwards and spare tyre lived in the engine bay of the little silver dodgem. We were working on the carb, in the road outside another mates house, cleaning the jets etc. yes, I dropped one of the bleedin jets down the wrong hole, in the carb. Fark.

Maybee she fell of the bed with all that trembling.

I had a 2.0RTi Sport from new, it was lovely. Company car, first non Ford I had had, after a string of Fiesta/escort/mondeo’s. I loved the comfy drive and was impressed that it showed the oil level on the dashboard briefly, when you started it up. Then I realised it drank oil…I often wondered if that was why Renault fitted the oil level indicator on the dash. I had to fund the oil myself as it wasn’t included in the leasing company deal our company had. It wasn’t a lucky car for me… we got road raged on holiday in it a week after we got it in Norfolk (Still no idea what I supposedly did…) and then I was driven into on a roundabout in Bracknell. To cap it all, it was the only car I have been driven into the back of…..when I wasn’t actually inside the car. ( I pulled over to clean my screen as my wipers had froze up and some wazzuck with a totally frozen uncleared windscreen screen drove into the back of my car like it wasn’t there as I shouted STOP! While I was standing along side it. The repair was shite and rust started to come through the panels, but I left the company and some other poor sod ended up with it. I loved the look of the Mk1 Laguna, styling of the bonnet and the rear lights are perfect.