Roffle 2001 Vectra SRi 150 Cortinadave's now:)

[dollywobbler]

Ah, Tunbridge Wells. I'm heading there tomorrow. That's a pretty darned crazy collection caper, for a bleedin' Vauxhall!

[320touring]

Ah, Tunbridge Wells. I'm heading there tomorrow. That's a pretty darned crazy collection caper, for a bleedin' Vauxhall!

Alas, would meet for brekkie, but we need to start heading north:)

[dollywobbler]

Alas, would meet for brekkie, but we need to start heading north:)

 

I'll no be there for brekkie! Should be there by 5pm if all goes well. Any other shiters planning to visit Tunbridge Wells this week? Can we maintain a shite presence? 

[RobT]

How long will you be there Ian? I could be persuaded to make a trip out after work, would be around 7.30-8pm traffic dependent. Can't do Tuesday though as another shiter is due here to collect the Clio.

[320touring]

Now poshing up the Tunny Wellz

[320touring]

In an attempt to understand why I have bought a vectra, we've come to Bletchley Park..

 

A Torslanda is in attendance too

[rantingYoof]

Bletchley Park is ace. Much larger than you think too.

[Christine]

Now poshing up the Tunny Wellz

Ooooh you're downin  the High Street..   Not far from me ! It's  ROYAL Tunbridge Wells , paved with gold  .

[Christine]

Could dollywobbler  test my classic jap    HRV vetec and tell me if it drives like it should .? So gutless until  4k ...

[Christine]

Why, is he captain slow?

[320touring]

Here it is hanging out with its EXECUTIVE mates in Leedz

[NorfolkNWeigh]

In an attempt to understand why I have bought a vectra, we've come to Bletchley Park..

A Torslanda is in attendance too

Now, you're just rubbing it in!

You were about 3 miles from my house.

[320touring]

Now, you're just rubbing it in!

You were about 3 miles from my house.

How do you cope with so many FUCKIN ROUNDABOUTS?

 

area was lovely, but the roads...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

That's why I only drive rwd ! I is driftking.

The basic infrastructure was built in 1980, including all the dual carriageways and roundabouts. I passed my test in 81 the population of MK was about100 times smaller at 2,500 people and about 3 coppers isharing a Chevette. We all know the racing line through every roundabout.

The problem these days is visitors- some of them slow down when approaching roundabouts, what's that all about?

[320touring]

That's why I only drive rwd ! I is driftking.

The basic infrastructure was built in 1980, including all the dual carriageways and roundabouts. I passed my test in 81 the population of MK was about100 times smaller at 2,500 people and about 3 coppers isharing a Chevette. We all know the racing line through every roundabout.

The problem these days is visitors- some of them slow down when approaching roundabouts, what's that all about?

"got an SRi mate, too busy Gaun Like Fuck"

[320touring]

Cheesecake after lunch from the Cake Doctor in his MK2 transit..

[320touring]

Now at Southwaite services as the burd drove the first stint from Leeds..

 

Bloody car has only done 39.2mpg on first tank!

[RobT]

Great innit.  Even caning it on twisty A-roads the worst I got was 34mpg.

[320touring]

Had this bugger a week now..

 

so far, 746 miles at an average of 37mpg.

 

Goes well, rides lovely, but I see what RobT meant re the front end having shit grip in the wet - lairy even with no power on.

 

I think some decent rubber may be due shortly, along with a renaming of Autogrip tyres to Autoslip tyres.

 

anyways enough about that-have an action ahot of it in the street with the longest bar in Europe and a Gentleman's interest club present too.

[andrew e]

Horse shoe? It's been 14 years since I last went in

[320touring]

Horse shoe? It's been 14 years since I last went in

Indeed! We were at a burger joint nearby, rather than the beer and nicotine stained bar of WIN!

[sporty-shite]

I can confirm that this car is a pleasant place to be a passenger, and does seem to go well. 

AVA(N)S

[320touring]

I can confirm that this car is a pleasant place to be a passenger, and does seem to go well.

 

AVA(N)S

It goes ok-much less of a hooligan car than the 335i, but much more comfortable on the motorway..

[Eddie Honda]

Indeed! We were at a burger joint nearby, rather than the beer and nicotine stained bar of WIN!

BOOOOO! Nowt wrong some grub upstairs.

[320touring]

BOOOOO! Nowt wrong some grub upstairs.

read my comment-never said there was;)

[320touring]

WOOP MOAR Fu'Gutty cars bloggery - this time its a lil ditty called "how did I end up with that Vectra?"

https://fuguttycars.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/not-as-lazy-as-i-seem-pt2/
read for the charming* tale of how man met machine

[320touring]

This threw up a "Check Oil level" warning today, so I thought I better actually have an actual check over it. After all, it has done over 1000 miles since I got it 2 weeks ago. 1.5L later and it was ok - something to keep an eye on. Likely culprits are either the throttle body housing/gasket or the rocker cover.

The poor grip in the wet was easily traced to the 2 major factors:

Crappy tyres

tread only being about 2.55 deep across the tyres. Happily the wear was even on both fronts- so I know that the arms and bushes/tracking seem ok



Turning the steering to check the brakes revealed that an overfilled power steering reservoir was pishing fluid out - all over the radiator/fans and down the engine bay.





I got it cleaned up, the excess fluid drained and then turned my attention to the brakes

Initial inspections looked ok, right up until I checked the inside pads:



So new ones are on their way - £49 delivered, and the sliders have been removed, cleaned and refitted. I'll get them fitted ASAP.

So far I have the following issues list:

Engine
Oil Leak
Power steering fluid level (resolved but must keep an eye on it)
Thermostat change/coolant temp sender fault?

Brakes
Front Discs and pads needing replaced (Ordered)
Handbrake needs adjusting
Rear calipers need stripped and cleaned

Tyres
Fronts could do replacing with items not made out of plastic

Interior
Drivers Door card/Handle needs repairing
Front windows have poor operation
Seats need cleaned
Interior plastics need cleaned
General clean/tidy needed


All in all, despite not being as dynamic as the Alfa 156, as frugal as the Pug 306 or as fast as the e30 335i I think this may prove to be a good basis for a reliable daily driver that I'll run for a bit.

[320touring]

After the OMGNAEBRAKEPADZ scenario discovered on Sunday, I ordered new discs and pads.

 

they arrived tonight, and I took the decision to fit the pass tonight- I have a 230mile work trip to do tomorrow, and need to be on the road by 8am.

 

 

 

The discs can wait til the weekend - when I have time for the swearimg it'll likely involve. 15yr old caliper bracket bolts are never fun..

 

 

Old and New

 

 

40 mins from start to finish. good times!

[beko1987]

Nice! After 230 miles they'll probably clean the discs up nicely too

[320touring]

Nice! After 230 miles they'll probably clean the discs up nicely too

The question is whether I go the backeoads- the Alfa was fucking amazing over them despite shagged suspension.

 

this will be underwhelming in comparison.

 

mind you, 41mpg out the last tank ftw!