The new news 24 thread

[320touring]

I'm in Glasgow Aeropuerto at some godforsaken hour to fly over to Belfast for work.

 

This means a hire car:) #realroadtest

[richardmorris]

Someone had a bad day yesterday. I'm trying to find out who the 2cver is.

 

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/m3-car-blaze-between-hook-13242927

[andy18s]

Fancy hiring something special for the day?

You won't find one of these on the books at Enterprise or Hertz

[RobT]

Bulgaria for my next hols it is then.  You can also hire this...

 

 

http://rentacar-vt.com/car.php?choice=11

 

 

[bramz7]

 

BX ready for its MOT and various repairs. Worryingly it got a bit hot and started dripping coolant out of the top of the expansion tank, but nothing has split.

Calmed down though, and drove 20 odd miles fine.

[Shep Shepherd]

Recently had the notion to buy this, as I've always wanted a cla$$ic Saab 900: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-900-2-0i-Manual-New-MOT-Just-serviced-Really-smooth-drive-LOW-MILEAGE-/292150272112?hash=item4405836070:g:mPsAAOSwfRdZFcMI

 

However, common sense took over and so I've decided to spend a similar amount of money over the next few months improving The Volvo, which will no doubt be a better thing to do in the long run. Ergo, as my first step, I have just ordered a set of brand new OEM wheeltrims from a certain German-based Volvo and Saab parts supplier

 

What I'd really like is a pair of new bumper covers for the car. Any help to source a pair would be appreciated ^^

[bramz7]

 

Ah dammit

[New POD]

I have now recovered from 10 nights in South Africa (the 27 hour return Journey has left me knackered for 4 days), and I now have to share my photos.

 

[plasticvandan]

After 3-4 years of crawling my way up the pay scale,I've finally had a rise that will enable me to become an autoshiter again still need something economical and pre 88, budget up to a bag.. I'm thinking 205 diseasel?

[Crusty Sills]

My Seat Ibiza has disgraced itself! Hit a few big puddles this evening and it stopped. Repeated attempts to start yielded nothing but a turning over and a rapidly flattening battery.

1st FTP in 4 years mind so not so bad. On the plus side managed to stop opposite a pub so a beer was enjoyed waiting for Mrs Sills to pull the junior Crusty's out of bed and come and collect. This made her very happy indeed!

[SiC]

I've fallen in love! Also its at a garage only around the corner to me!

Just looking at the picture of it makes me buzz. It's been quite a while since a car has done that to me. Those that follow my ramblings will know I've had a soft spot for them since I've been little.

 

Apparently they're still recommissioning it after it was stored for 20yrs, hence the one and only record of an MOT a week or so ago is a bit long. The ad reckons it'll be sold with a full MOT.

 

Looks alright to my untrained eye. Paint job it's had done is a bit shit as there is overspray on a lot of the rubber seals. But it's up pretty cheap (I reckon at least).

 

I tried to convince the missus to have a romantic* walk out this evening, but unfortunately she declined.

 

Also was told by her today that I need to get rid of a car before I get anything else. I really can't decide which I would! Civic has to stay (reliable, cheap to run and had it so long), Smart I still have lots of fun in and the Laguna I still really like. I guess if I had to choose, it'd probably be the Laguna.

[richardmorris]

Oh buy it. Seems cheap from the photo, but you can always sell it on if it needs to much work.

I'd sell another two door two seater, but it's your choice.

[320touring]

It had cought my eye too.

 

Check the sills carefully!

[junkyarddog]

Never ever thought I'd read a post where someone is upset at the prospect of getting rid of a Laguna!!

[SiC]

It's literally an 8 minute walk from my house. I have zero excuses. I'm leaving work early tomorrow as I have a doctor's appointment and on the way back I'll have to pay them a visit!

 

Oh and I need to take a picture of outside their garage. Superb rotten chod they use for parts.

[MarvinsMom]

the sherpa coop. even for a rubber lipped one that doesn't seem like alot of money that its up for,

 

if you did buy it, and either it was a bit shit or you tired of it, i reccon you could easily sell it back on and get your money back.

 

as for what needs to go, well i'd get shot of the laguna, if that is you can find someone to buy it.....

[SiC]

Never ever thought I'd read a post where someone is upset at the prospect of getting rid of a Laguna!!

Yes I'm a wierd person.

[SiC]

as for what needs to go, well i'd get shot of the laguna, if that is you can find someone to buy it.....

That could be difficult, as it's not a car that sells quickly! The Smart Roadster market appears crowded at the moment, so prices are on the low side. I should however just about be able to break even if I sold it.

 

Other option is to talk/beg to my parents to borrow some of their driveway for temporary storage...

[Guest Hooli]

I do like MGB GTs. Nice simple motors that are much fun at lowish speeds.

 

Has it got overdrive?

[SiC]

Here is a taste of the paintjob/bodywork on it...

 

They have immaculate chrome bumper ones in their show room for 10k. However I like the slightly shonky, used look, as it's how I remember them back in 80s/90s when I was growing up. The rust failures and advisories are what scare me a bit. They seem to have put quite a lot of black paint and waxoyl on the bottom too. However I could at least compare the underside of this one against the other 3 MGB's they have in stock.

 

The garage has been there since the late 50s and the current owners since the early 2000s. Going by the stuff I've seen, they seem pretty legit.

 

I was chatting to a old guy on his walks when I was looking at it yesterday and him peering inside. Interesting bloke, but I think he was more amazed by my little Smart.

 

There was a MGB GT with an awful body kit and looking sorry for itself outside their garage a couple of months ago. Remember seeing it when I had a wander around with the FiL. Possibly could have been that one they've done a quick, light restro. Especially as they have a couple of very rotted MGB GTs in storage that they can scavenge parts from.

 

I need to go in with my head, not my heart. Especially as, even though this one is cheap for a dealer, there are others for similar amounts going on car and classic at the moment. Local ones too.

[SiC]

I do like MGB GTs. Nice simple motors that are much fun at lowish speeds.

 

Has it got overdrive?

Yes!

 

Shame the lack of MOT on it atm means I can't test drive it.

[Guest Hooli]

Get the carpets up & look inside the sills if you're serious with it. They have three part sills & the centre section is structural & the first to rot.

[SiC]

The carpet on the drivers side hadn't been put back down, so should be easy enough.

 

Just checked the MOT history, it's updated and it says it's passed today.

 

This is the fail and first recorded MOT:

Reason(s) for failure

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Direction indicators not working all (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded floor (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded arch (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately supported to servo (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Emissions not tested due to exhaust blow (7.3.A.1)

 

Advisory notice item(s)

indicator switch worn

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Brake pipe slightly corroded across bulkhead (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside and offside front castle section poor repair

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis leg (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis leg (2.4.A.3)

fuel pipe corroded

Offside Front Inner wing corroded

Nearside Front Inner wing corroded

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

 

[SiC]

They do their own MOTs, but I'd hope the testers stay impartial.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I fear that any BGT in that price range will be hiding a multitude of sins underneath fresh paint and thick underseal... And they're neither easy nor cheap to sort out body-wise.

 

Also, make sure you take it for an extended test drive before you buy it. They are a fairly uninspiring, agricultural drive in chrome bumper form and the rubber bumper versions are meant to be even worse.

 

As you can guess, I'm not a fan of MGBs - I stopped liking them shortly after I bought one !

[BavarianRetro]

Sills, inner sills, castle sections jacking points.

 

There should be s vertical splashguard behind the front wheels the full height of the wing - check it's there and its condition - a ropey one lets road grime and water into the sill area

 

There should be a visible vertical seam on the sill. Check it's there and not filled over or covered. Rear spring hangers and the very rear most section of the chassis rails rot too.

 

Remember that a rubber bumper GT is the lowest form of MGB life and will take an age to sell if you don't like it.

[MarvinsMom]

hmmmm, there seems to be alot of corrosion in that MOT check.

 

perhaps its not the one after all?

 

and a dumb question, but what is the castle section referred to above?

[Sigmund Fraud]

and a dumb question, but what is the castle section referred to above?

 

Simple* and easy* to repair.

[Guest Hooli]

The carpet on the drivers side hadn't been put back down, so should be easy enough.

 

Just checked the MOT history, it's updated and it says it's passed today.

 

This is the fail and first recorded MOT:

 

It's fucked our kid!

 

Rear suspension mounts tend to go about the same time as the B-posts & axle box. It's a lot of work to get sorted properly. Apart from anything else, if the floor is that rotten around there you can bet the bushes in the leaf springs are too, which make them vague to drive & ruin the modest amount of comfort they were built with.

[SiC]

If it's passed now, does that mean it's been hidden or fixed (possibly quickly/badly)?