Rover SHENNANIGANS - 8/11/15 Lancia Loan!

[purplebargeken]

Too many digits mate.

 

It is telling me vehicle details not found when I enter the reg number and the 12 digit number from the green slip that was in the dealer wallet. 

 

I'm hoping that John has the full V5C and that the 16 digit reference number will be sufficient to sort it out.

 

I'm just wondering if this is a defunct reference number and I need the current number on John's V5C or the full 16 ref.

[JohnK]

Ken, that green slip will be the one from when I bought it, I have the full log book on my desk at work. I will text it you first thing, I should be in the office for 7ish.

 

Rob - fast idle wasn't that bad and it did seem to intermittently go back to normal at times. It was a bit too willing around town mind, but I will sort that

 

Got home at 23.10

 

 

A 14 hour shite mission deserves a reward

 

[DeeJay]

Where's the beer bottle with the teat for little fellah?

[KruJoe]

Well done John... but have you come back with the wrong one? It's a very pale shade of black.

[JohnK]

He's been spark out since 7.40! Fish and chips followed by a bottle of milk were enough to see him off!

[JohnK]

Well done John... but have you come back with the wrong one? It's a very pale shade of black.

The black one is scheduled to arrive early October with any luck!

[DeeJay]

He's been spark out since 7.40! Fish and chips followed by a bottle of milk were enough to see him off!

What more could you want?

Day out, fish and chips, bevvy of choice, drive home in a top motor and a good kip.

Living the dream.

[purplebargeken]

Cheers John, I figured it was worth a try with that one, you never know

 

Glad you both got back ok mate. Enjoy your new Rover

[JohnK]

So, time for some of my thoughts on the R8, since I am obviously besotted by them. Can't just do all this buying & selling lark.

 

I like big cars. Jag's, 5&7 series BMW's, Merc's etc. With a decent size engine preferably.

 

The Rover R8 does not tick those boxes at all. So why the fuck am I an R8 fanatic all of a sudden?!

 

I won't deny that I have always liked them. They were the cars of my childhood, the cars that were always around. I passed my driving test and slipped into Rovers, albeit the later 400, a 420 SD then a 420 GSDi. A brief stint with an R3 214 (my only K series) and 2 x 620i's was my history. But the R8 was always something that caught my eye.

 

Fast forward many years until I found th Autoshite forum. One fateful night in the pub, many beers consumed, I viewed the thread our very own Mr_Bo11ox had posted, advertising a very smart looking 214 Si on a J reg for £550 queens.

 

I sent the fateful PM, received the even more fateful response and spunked a bit of cash on this - then went on holiday ...

 

 

Returned from holiday, took a new job and pressed the 214 into daily service. It was a good car, but a decent offer on my sisters now surplus to requirements Honda Civic, with its even more frugal 1.7 CTDi engine meant I bought that for its suitability to requirements and needed rid of the 214. Cue the raffle, Tam winning it and the start of this thread occurring.

 

In the meantime, I had made decisions that actually, I really liked the way the R8 drives, but a 3dr was a pain in the backside with two kids in tow. I struck a deal via PM to buy Joe's 216 following me picking up a comment he made on here. The disaster that followed is here for all to see, however I am now still buying it in its salvage state.

 

 

I made some agreements following that to buy a 416 GTi (didnt come off) and a 214 SEi (did come off, just at the time my mate needed a car, the 214 was local to him so he collected on my behalf and is using it).

 

In my lack of 214 rage I messaged The_Moog and arranged to buy the Cavcraft 214. Bought it, nice car.

 

 

Unfortunately the crapness of a 3dr soon reared its head as to why I sold the blue one in the first place, RobT's motor came up for sale so I agreed to buy, ultimately arranging to sell the the 3dr to Ken en route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts?

 

What a downright fucking good car. Balls to the K-Series shit, they are such a good, revvy engine. I absolutely love the 5dr over the 3dr too. A better looking car.

 

Razor sharp handling (particularly the non-PAS models), decent build quality for an AR car and so cheap to run - what isn't to like?

 

I jump in the R8 over my 'modernish' Civic and definitely over my modern BMW. The silver R8 is currently in daily service, drives so well, despite running high at idle...

 

 

I've never had the equivalent Escort, but I have had the equivalent MK3 Astra. There is simply no contest at all. The Rover may be seen as an 'old boys' car, but it is one of the better cars in its class, for its day (my opinion).

 

Going back to Ken's thread on my old R8, it was very beige ...

 

 

 

 

The interior looks so much better in a darker colour I'm sure you will agree...

 

 

 

Should you buy an R8? Yes you should. You will not be disappointed by any stretch. I actually can't see myself without an R8 as a runabout now. Sod the big old BMW's for thrills.

 

The future? Yes I am on the look out for more R8's. Shiters be warned - I'm up against you in the eBay auctions!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

concerning the high idle - if theres no air leak, check the wiring plugs for the idle valve and (I think) the throttle position switch are not swapped over - I  did this on my 25 van without realising then spent yonks trying to trace the problem, almost driving myself mental. It might not be those two plugs but there are defo two plugs aroud the throttle body which will swap over and send the idle all over the shop.

[JohnK]

Cheers Richard, I will have a quick look at it in the morning.

[purplebargeken]

The interior feels spacious and fairly well screwed together and the car is very comfy.

 

The green one is in lovely nick and would give a fair bit of space with the seats folded down. It has been a long, long time since I saw a 3 door and I do like the shape. However, the 5 door has to be the sensible option with little RichardK's in tow. The sliver one also loks to be in lovely condition. Two most excellent Rovers.

[JohnK]

Decided that I would turn this into a more general thread to keep up to date with the fleet in general and not just Rovers.

 

Starting with themed Rover news however, the silver 214 has put in sterling service this week. I've worked out it will probably cost me about 10-15 quid a week more to run than the Civic CTDi. Add in that I claim mileage for all work based driving this is negligible so I am going to sell the Honda and use the Rover as a daily.

 

Rob did advertise it as needing rear tyres and until today I hadn't realise just how bad the perishing was and not something I'm willing to risk 2 children in.

 

 

With this in mind, I've now parked it up and stuck the Civic back on the road - I would rather put up with the knackered exhaust and loose heat shield as opposed to risking a blowout. This means that I really do need to get my backside into gear and visit Joe in Costa del Malhamdale to pick up the scrapper 216. That can donate some much needed rimmage to get mine safe again. I can then fix the Civic's faults and flog it.

 

Moving away from Rover's for a bit, some of you may remember a few months ago I picked up a Triumph Toledo. Story behind this is that I have been fancying a small Triumph such as a Toledo or Dolomite for a while. A mate spotted this on Car & Classic for sale locally one Sunday evening and after a couple of phone calls, arrangements were made for me to view it the next day.

 

The owner was a proper old boy who knew the car inside out. He had done lots of preventative maintenance work on it alongside his son who was a joint owner, but ultimately old age for the guy and his son being made redundant meant this was no longer needed. Not one to exploit such a situation, but understanding that business is business and the son was strapped for cash, I bid the car down by just over 500 notes to get it well into 3 figure territory and drove it away with its 2 months MOT, after I had taxed it for £FREE.

 

I had it out a few times for enjoyable bumbles through the North Yorkshire Moors and over to Whitby one day for fish & chips.

MOT ran out last month and it has been parked up since.

 

Dragged it out this morning:

 

 

Here's what South Cleveland Garages (Reg Vardy Rover) looked like in 1995 when Mr BL-Mad picked his brand new 214 up after 23 years of faithful Toledo service:

 

 

It's a good 10-footer that's for sure

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not perfect up close to be honest - it has had a cheap blowover in the past and its poor quality, orange peel and runs apparent. Tried to capture it in this pic of the roof but it hasn't come out great

 

 

Probably the only major noticeable bit of grot

 

 

Sills have seen a paintbrush

 

 

Chrome pitted

 

 

No major plans at present with the bodywork as it will do and adds to the character. Car seems solid though

 

Floors

 

 

Inner wings

 

 

Wheels in good nick too

 

 

Underneath is caked in underseal which has no doubt helped this little motor stay alive, but everything underneath is just heavily coated with the stuff. I will remove it and check everything out in detail.

 

Interior is basic, but nice -

 

 

Not loads to do on the interior, it does need a clean though

 

 

 

 

This cardboard shelf is knackered - I am going to replicate the full lot by using this as a template but the replacement will be wood that will be covered in black vinyl

 

 

Carpet has been fobbed together at some point, cut, repaired, the footwell carpets got damaged by a leak in the past and replaced with black etc - full lot will come out and be replaced in full -

 

 

Engine purrs like a kitten, runs and drives beautifully

 

 

Genuine mileage

 

 

Proof it won a category at a local car show. And some history

 

 

 

Needs some electrical connection issues sorting to get it through a test but touch wood shouldn't have any issues.

 

It needs very little mechanically, just a good service, bosh a clutch in as it is shagged and rear suspension needs a bit of a check over. Plans over the next few months are to do this and just give the interior a good clean up, install rear seat belts to be child friendly for the 2 sods and put a stereo in it.

Bonnet cable to be replaced too as it is a fucker to open (hence why it is open and staying open in the pics above).

 

My main work over the next few months is to work on one of my E23's, which I will detail here too alongside progress for this.

[JohnK]

Back in April, I bought yet another E23 7 series - collection thread is on here somewhere.

 

 

 

 

I brought this car back from London and it drove - okay.

 

A couple of weeks after getting it back it conked out on me in heavy rain on a roundabout. It didn't like being driven in the wet, so was parked up to be looked at 'another day'.

 

Couple of weeks after that I got a letter from the DVLA. It was a Cat C write off in 2009 which the previous owner (from 2008) failed to tell me. It needed a VIC check.

 

With the running issues and significant lack of time it was parked up and left. The VIC is being abolished in October so I intend to apply for a log book then.

 

I needed to move it a few weeks ago and the bloody thing now will not start. I popped a new dizzy cap and rotor arm on that I had in the shed, with some new spark plugs I had lying around too. No luck, going to try the brand new HT leads from my green 728i in the next week or so.

 

Lots to do on this -

 

1. Get it started

2. It runs and drives like a pig, so needs a good fettle

3. Exhaust to be replaced

4. Full brake overhaul

5. Interior has seat covers as rear bench is ruined. Looking for replacement seats but it has been futile for months so I've got a contact who can recover all seats

6. Needs a bit of welding on the inner wings

7. Alloys to be refurbed - they look a mess

 

Once that is done it can be MOT'd and ready to roll - it does need some paint but that can wait a bit!

[purplebargeken]

Liking the Toledo. I have never actually seen one with a ballast resistor in place before. Wow! 

 

The clock has been added by the previous owner. The steering wheel is not the right one but looks the same as the one on Daniels car. The suspension turrets look perfect!

 

Coverdale do a lovely carpet set for these. 

 

The brown stain will not come out, it is the original glue that they used. I clean my headlining with meths and use a mini-roller (fluffyy type) to paint on some standard white vinyl sil emulsion. It looks stock when done, use a small paint brush to paint the edges and the seams. It does look ace.

[purplebargeken]

How odd, someone has painted the turrets nuts blue.

[trigger]

That Toledo is a bonny little thing.

[JohnK]

It is indeed!

 

Had a look on Coverdale, thanks for that Ken I think I will be picking a carpet up from there soon. To decide now whether to stay blue or go all black.

I will try the trick with the headlining as well, I didn't think it would clean up as the Sierra headlining is exactly the same.

 

It has obviously had a bit of love in its life, even if a previous owner went a bit mad with the paint brush!

[Six-cylinder]

My "School of Motoring" Car back in 1976 was a M reg Toledo in white, I have always has a soft spot for them but never owned one.

[Skizzer]

This thread just builds and builds into greatness.  Proper old-fashioned Autoshiting: that's a pretty cool (in our world) fleet you're assembling, with actual fettling going on.

 

 

 

Massive bonus points for utter domination of the residents' parking.

[purplebargeken]

The neighbours must hate you with a passion.

[JohnK]

Look, somebody really does need to drag the value of the neighbourhood down, don't they ?!

 

I do have alrite neighbours though. In that pic, the scrapper Merc, Sierra & 7 Series are all in my own allocated parking spaces.

 

I do have a gent's agreement in place with the guy next door to use one of his spaces (where the Rover is parked) and also another neighbour a few doors down where I use both of theirs in return for tinkering on the lasses folks car if there are any issues.

 

It's great to have understanding people around.

[DeeJay]

That makes a refreshing change.

Normally people are posting about the neighbours whinging.

[JohnK]

No major updatage around the Triumph & BMW. Got as far as stripping seats out the Triumph to clean up but been snowed under with work.

 

However, Father_JohnK has been in the market for a new car. Been and picked this up that was on here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a bad car at all. Bit of a wobble at 70 to investigate but that's pretty much it.

 

Agreed with my dad that I would get it tested before I hand it over, so I will probably use it for work over the next week or so as well. Need to get his Omega ready for sale after that!

[KruJoe]

Ha, I might have guessed you'd snapped up the Avensis, John! Bargaintastic.

[JohnK]

Autoshite Rover shenanigans about To commence!

 

[RobT]

Are you collecting Joe's bent R8, or something else?

[JohnK]

Spot on Rob, I'm off to Costa del Malhamdale!

[RobT]

Brilliant! Have a good day John, nice day for a bit of tat collecting.

[hairnet]

steal the 205