Burnside

That's a shame to hear Vauxhall don't have the interchangeability of previous generations, but then I suppose it's the same with most manufactures now. Funnily enough though, it turn's out that my Bottle is shared with the Fiat Bravo II, so managed to order one through a Fiat specialist today for £38.09 delivered. I was just curious about your Astra, as I saw a rather nice looking Astra J Estate the other week. So thought they might be worth a look next time round?

True, funny enough my Cavalier went the same but that had done over 170,000 at that point. (Stilo only done 68,000) It still got me the 20mins home though, without any problems thankfully. Had no luck finding one locally today. Did try the local Fiat dealer on the off chance, promised to call me back but didn't! Rather buy a new one than used if I can. Looking like a eBay aftermarket brand or Fiat parts specialist is my best bet. Which shape is your Astra by the way @New POD ?

The coolant bottle on my Stilo has developed a hairline crack, right were the rubber pipe joins on. Just what I needed as I really needed the car tomorrow. Tried bodging it tonight, but can't seal it enough to stop leaking under pressure. So it will have to stay off the road till it's fixed. Great.

Turning 40 tomorrow, had plans to go away and do something but everything gone to s**t as usual. Still at least the pubs will be open.

Thanks to @bunglebus post yesterday, I made a very brief visit to Sutton Coldfield today for a buy. My Brother having the Civic and one Alfa for his collection and I'm keeping the other pair. If anybody in need of Matchbox btw, I can gladly check my local B&M for stock as it only 10 mins walk from me.

@bunglebus thanks for the offer, although I'll be over there myself tomorrow as it transpires!!

Oh no, I'm not a million miles away from Sutton Coldfield! Might have to pop over there and see if they have any Alfa's left later in the week. I'll definitely check out the Siku on offer too. Providing my Stilo doesn't disappoint at the garage Thursday.

In fairness it's probably doing better than some as least it's not been left on grass, but I'm not sure I'd want to jack it up and find out!!

Thanks, but in the last picture I've replaced them with some bars that haven't been rattle canned silver! I was going to mention it at the end of my post, but my phone kept crashing. Now edited.

Me and my Brother got the last pieces of unwanted silver trim removed from the Panda. Accessibility to the roof bar bolts is via removing the end caps, absolute pita of a job! Once they were off, the bolts wer quickly removed and 10mind later they were done. New bars on and bonus is my Brother sold the unwanted Silver bars already. Have also fitted a matching new rear number plate, but forgot to take a picture.

Got the Front bumper back on the Panda, but only temporary! Decided that some of the fixing were probably too rusty etc to reuse. So with the Dark clouds drawing in, I reattached the useable fixing's along with a couple of cable ties. Will also give me chance to try and find a decent right front arch liner down the scrappy, as the current one is previously missing a sizeable chunk. Washer pump has gained some blue punto wing bolts. Also fitted a new front number plate, will replace the rear plate next week. An yes I'll remove the plastic film off it!! Still it's looking smarter now with it's new plastic bumper trims, only the roof bars to replace and that will be all the unwanted silver parts gone.

Got rather late for an update last night, but today after waiting for the wind to die down . I've finally applied some black stonechip on, only problem is it's forecast rain tomorrow afternoon and I wanted to apply some dinitrol wax before reassembly. So will be touch and go if I can get it all back together, but I'm not going to stress over it. Also the rear trim staying on atm, front one has been glued to the bumper last night.

Didn't get as far as I hoped today on the inner arch, but did fit the new rear bumper trim thanks to my Brother. Not sure I used enough tape to hold it overnight while the adhesive cures?

Taken me two hours just to get the washer bottle off the Panda due to the usual rusty bolts! Worth it, as gives me better access to cleaning up the rust and I didn't snap the bolts off which is a major bonus.

The little Panda has suffered from some "enhancement" to some of the bumper trims from one of it's former owners. They have started peeling badly and are really letting the car down in my view, so I have stupidly decided to replace them as there both damaged anyway. Problem is that the pieces of trim are £££'s via Fiat being a 4x4 model, so luckily I've found a new rear trim via ebay. For the front we found a used bumper off Facebook which we haggled down to £50. Everyone else wanted £200! Managed to get rear one off ok without removing the bumper, unfortunately no such luck with the front one. So....... An that's as far as I got today apart from washing it too. Also just in case I haven't posted enough pictures, stupid me found some surface rust in both front inner arches that also needs attention. That's the rest of my week sorted then.

I do love a Chevette myself, my parents first car they paid proper money for was a Black Chevette Estate. OON 105X I'm tempted to ask about this one, but being realistic I think it would be a project too far for me sadly.

This sad looking Vauxhall Chevette is rusting away near me, last Mot expired in 2010. Front wings have tape repairs and the roof has rust spots too.

Funnily enough, I was thinking about some registration plates and painting the rest of the side trim mouldings etc to match the Grey door. As it's a European spec Sapphire in LHD, maybe some French or German registration plates?

Haven't posted on this thread in a long time! Although I thought this recent purchase was worth a mention, a sad looking 1:43 Schabak Ford Sierra Sapphire. It was missing the right door and dashboard plus one rear light, but as I'm such a good hoarder/ collector of miniature tat I had the parts in stock. Done.

@Lankytim I'd be interested to see if they had a Fiat Stilo in for breaking, could I have there name and number? Thanks.

Back in 2001 I had just past my test, and I saw a 1990 Fiat Regata 100 Super I.E saloon for spares and repair in the local Auto Trader. A garage had been trying to sell it for years and after finding rust in the sill's. They just wanted to cut there losses and sell it on as is for £100! Other than the sill's it was immaculate but the hefty Insurance quote, plus the fact that I already owned two cars made me decided against it.

This sad Punto GT was once my Brothers about 10+ years ago. It was a very clean and completely standard car then. Since then it's been through various knuckle draggers and about 2-3 engines so I've been told! £2500 starting bid with no Mot and loads of underseal over rust, shame. Fiat Punto Turbo 1.4 GT3 mk1 176 project | eBay

That wrap round bumper looks like something from the 80's, possibly PSA related?

Funny enough I did make a post on there after it first happened, but no joy unfortunately as yet. Ebay etc just been a waste of time so far, as nobody seam's to reply back!

Thank's! Me and Brother have already called first dibs on it when my Sister finished with it. Failing that we are buying a 2nd Panda!!