The further adventures of 'The Girlmobile'

[holbeck]

I was in need of a tip run / railway station car, the budget for this was £500. My Original plan was to nab the Breadvan Pug, but was gutted that it was knackered before I got my act together.

So with nothing available on AS (my search coincided with Shitefest), I trawled the bay and after being the under bidder on a Honda Concerto I won this:

suzuki1 by holbeck251, on Flickr


Right on budget, sold by a Suzuki main dealer as a P/X disposal, 2 owners, last one since since 1996.
9 months MOT and a good set of tyres. If I'm being picky, the engine is a little bit tappety until the oil gets right to the top. Other than that everything seems to work.

Train'd it up to Bishops Stortford, 200 mile drive back was without drama. Sorry no thread CBA.

Mrs. Holbeck's initial response - "why have you bought a girl's car?" this has now stuck and Holbeck junior now asks to go to school in 'the girlmobile' (although points out to his mates that it has a Rhino on the back)

A further 300 miles running around since.

[bub2006]

What is the mpg like on these? I was looking into either a sj410/430 but for the size of engine i thought the mpg was dire. Numerous information ranging from 18 to 25 mpg. I was wondering if the 1.6 in these was any better.

[holbeck]

Just worked it out. Conservatively, over 500 miles I've averaged about 30 mpg.

 

Driving it home was 200 miles mostly motorway at about 70 mph which is about as fast as it is comfortable with for cruising.

 

The remaining 300 miles have been either local tip runs or 20 mile round trip to work which is mostly heavy traffic.

[gadgetgricey]

Is it an Auto, as I think I was looking at that as well.

 

Looks nice.

 

Cheers

 

- Dave -

[holbeck]

Yep, it is auto. I quite like a slushbox.

[gadgetgricey]

Yes been looking for one for a while. Even managed to find that Footman James would do it on a classic policy for about £150.

 

Need to get the wife to try one first, or we would have been involved in a bidding war

 

Cheers

 

- Dave -

[holbeck]

we would have been involved in a bidding war

TBH my winning bid was my top bid, so one more bid from anyone would have beat me!

[HillmanImp]

I had literally forgotten these existed its so long since I saw one.

 

IMO this is not a girly one though, its an old lady one as its got the upright rear (nothing to do with old ladies having upright rears).

[bub2006]

I am impressed with the mpg to say its an auto too.

[holbeck]

I was so impressed, I thought I'd better work it out properly.

 

Using the till receipts to total the number of litres actually bought and it works out at 28 mpg. I'm still happy with that.

[bub2006]

Still good for a 4x4 with auto box and small ish engine

[holbeck]

Not used the girlmobile for a few days.

 

Jumped in for a quick trip to the AS Lifestyle store (AKA Lidl) and click....nothing. Battery flatter than a witches tit.

 

Passenger door left on the catch with interior light on was enough to do it over 3 or 4 days.

 

 

So, no problem. Whip the battery off, charge it up, bang it back on, Bob's yer mother's brother.

 

Er, No. Battery charged up and reconnected, cue alarm going off like a loud thing. Only way to silence it was to pull a battery terminal.

 

 

 

Anyways, there followed about an hours shenanigan's whereby the alarm ECU is now bypassed ( this activity had the air of bomb squad about it as I cut some wires more in hope than expectation), so now no siren or immobiliser going off and it starts.

 

Phew!

 

 

Sorry no photo's of this as I was too busy swearing.

[dollywobbler]

Nice. I find these jolly if rather noisy. They're a bit notorious for OMGHGF as well, so keep an eye on the coolant. Water pumps can fail, which doesn't help. Actually fairly capable off-road too.

[Jim Bell]

Its too hard to hate Suzy Vaginas. I always wanted a fatbodied version when I was young and open minded.

 

Verdict: Would.

[Micrashed]

Im waiting for someone to purchase an x90 and win Autoshite

[garbaldy]

If you want a whole vitara for spares I have one in need of rehoming

[holbeck]

If you want a whole vitara for spares I have one in need of rehoming

 

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think my missus would wear it. Besides, your sig puts you a good old step from mine

[Stanky]

There is a pub on my way to work which has been trying to shift an x90 for several months, the sign isn't on it any more, and the sandwich board outside has gone too so I guess he either gave up trying to flog it, or won some golden coins at the dogs to stave off the financial peril which caused the situation to arise.

 

I'm sure it could still be purchased if needed, but I'm not going to sully my reputation by actually going in and asking, so if anyone is interested, it can be found here:

 

http://www.farringdon.biz/pubs/Pheasant.htm

 

Its N-reg and appears (from 40 feet at 30mph) to be relatively rust-free. no idea how many wheels are driven ones.

[fordpoplier]

Are these things in the US the same? As you can see they don't rust

[eddyramrod]

Im waiting for someone to purchase an x90 and win Autoshite

I would, happily, as long as it was petrol, automatic and in an actual colour.  And I had a need for it.

[Ghosty]

This photo is even worse than typical eBay standards for photographing the subject  - it is in there:

[holbeck]

Remember this?

 

 

suzuki2 by holbeck251, on Flickr

 

 

Well, having sent it for an MOT as a fact finding exercise, the answer is £ 400 for welding at garage prices.

 

Mostly it's simple flat plates on the sills and chassis, and a slightly more taxing repair of the shock absorber mount.

 

However the main expense is the stretcher bar at the rear of the chassis which is heavily corroded and requires the fuel tank to be dropped to repair.

 

 

I'd already decided that I was going to move it on, but I had hoped it would be as a going concern.

[Bren]

Remember this?suzuki2 by holbeck251, on FlickrWell, having sent it for an MOT as a fact finding exercise, the answer is £ 400 for welding at garage prices.Mostly it's simple flat plates on the sills and chassis, and a slightly more taxing repair of the shock absorber mount.However the main expense is the stretcher bar at the rear of the chassis which is heavily corroded and requires the fuel tank to be dropped to repair.I'd already decided that I was going to move it on, but I had hoped it would be as a going concern.

Moving it on over the bridge?

[holbeck]

Moving it on over the bridge?

I'm mulling it over.

 

Realistically, it's only real chance is if I can find someone who likes welding. Or someone who likes welding wants to take it off me.

 

...Or someone wants it for tending their orchard.

[dollywobbler]

Has it got any test left at all?

[holbeck]

Has it got any test left at all?

It's actually still MOT'd until 25th Feb

[dollywobbler]

Ok. In that case, it has officially moved up to 'tempting even though I need a Vitara like a hole in the head.' Could do with tracking down my tame welder, who has escaped into the wilds of Powys and hasn't been seen for a while...

[holbeck]

Ok. In that case, it has officially moved up to 'tempting even though I need a Vitara like a hole in the head.' Could do with tracking down my tame welder, who has escaped into the wilds of Powys and hasn't been seen for a while...

Well, I'm open to offers.......

[holbeck]

Now listed on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181637524468?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
 

[holbeck]

Successful ebay sale shock! 

 

The girlmobile's ebay listing finished at midday and by teatime it was being driven to Cornwall by it's new owner.

 

A good price to boot!