It's grim up north....tales from the Primate House

[NorthernMonkey]

A supermini and a sports car....living the dream 1990s style!

 

[NorthernMonkey]

Time for a bit of an update...

 

A little while ago, and despite not actually purchasing any tickets, I was the lucky* winner in a roffle held by my regular chod supplier from deepest darkest Castleford.

Arrangements were subsequently made and collection occurred on a bright and sunny Sunday morning.

Mrs NorthernMonkey was suitably impressed with its excellent all round visibility and comfort. Bear in mind that she had recently been using a Peugeot 107 for commuting purposes, a car well known for its surreal comfort and interior space...

Anyway, after a couple of days the Galaxy was pressed into daily service much to the amusement of her colleagues who look forward to seeing what she turns up to work in each day.

[Amishtat]

It'll almost certainly outlast whatever they've got.. 

[NorthernMonkey]

Fast forward a week or two and with the glorious sunshine, Claire suggested that now would be a good time to perhaps fix the Saab cabriolet with the buggered engine that I bought her a little while ago.

Ok, two years ago to be exact.

Anyway, that’s a thread update for another day...

This meant that the Galaxy would shortly be surplus to requirements so a plan was hatched for a little swap that would hopefully be beneficial to all parties.

Although the Galaxy had been running pretty faultlessly, this seemed like a good time to get the old girl up in the air to check everything was all present and correct...

 

Plenty of evidence of care and attention recently given by previous owners...new rear brakes and a recent fuel filter for starters...

There had been a bit of a clunk from the front though and inspection revealed excessive play in a drop link so time to fit a few more shiny bits...

Whilst underneath, there was just one bit of rust, right underneath the nearside front jacking point...

The rest of the car is pretty solid so it seemed a good idea to crack out the oxy-acetylene and the stonechip...

That should keep the MOT man happy in October when it’s due. The only other issue was a slightly dodgy tyre so that was duly replaced with a good part worn from the pile in the corner...

And that, folks, is about all there is to tell.

It was recently collected by the right reverend Snagglepuss who is due to pilot it south to warmer climes later today before exchanging it for its replacement later in the week...

Next up is the saga of the Saab (seen lurking in the workshop above)

[The Moog]

Big red fun bus piloted itself to that there London with no fuss.

It is a lovely old thing, sitting at 75 is the perfect speed.

Swap for some German engineering should happen on Wednesday

[The Moog]

300 miles in the fun bus so far including mx5 collecting bits. It drives nicely for 160k

Off to a new home tomorrow.

Snagglepuss Ma loves it although she struggles to get up that high. I need to carry a step with her to get back in!

[The Moog]

Today this


Became this

[NorthernMonkey]

A few weeks ago, this arrived at the primate house....

 

Now don’t get me wrong...there’s a reason E36s were a success story for BMW and considering this one is 25 years old, it’s a good example of the reasons for that success....but it just doesn’t quite do it for me.

I’m happy to have experienced it but when it comes to 80s and 90s saloons, for me it needs to have a three pointed star rather than a blue and black propellor.

Anyhow, I went to bed the other night and fired up the forum for a last catchup as I normally do.

Twenty minutes later, a deal was done.

Here we go again....

[Cavcraft]

It's like some sort of epic telly series this, where things are forever changing. Look forward to the next episode.

[NorthernMonkey]

Hmm. Trading sideways perhaps?

How to turn a mk1 Focus to a mid 90s Honda Accord in 32 easy* steps....

[Six-cylinder]

20 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

A few weeks ago, this arrived at the primate house....

Now don’t get me wrong...there’s a reason E36s were a success story for BMW and considering this one is 25 years old, it’s a good example of the reasons for that success....but it just doesn’t quite do it for me.

 

I had a desire for this and then I remembered I have two E36s!

[The Moog]

Schroedinger's swap - it is both the car you have and the car you haven't got yet with you both winning and losing at the same time - only measured when you read the v5


Good luck for today .. .and remember first dibs.

Take care of the rust baby ...

[NorthernMonkey]

4 minutes ago, snagglepuss said:

Take care of the rust baby ...

I wish you’d stop referring to Bucketeer as this.

At least in public.

[hairnet]

Like johnk but Burnley.:D

[NorthernMonkey]

First stop...Bucketeer delivery service but with a twist.

Yep. Got to deliver everyone’s favourite brandy drinking nomad further south as a side job.

[Six-cylinder]

11 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

First stop...Bucketeer delivery service but with a twist.

Yep. Got to deliver everyone’s favourite brandy drinking nomad further south as a side job.

 

It is not the brandy drinking nomad I need, it is the other stuff!

[Bucketeer]

It's reminiscent of driving my AX in the back of here.

[The Moog]

It is not the brandy drinking nomad I need, it is the other stuff!

I am sure he will deliver your rust baby safely!

[stuboy]

50 minutes ago, Bucketeer said:

It's reminiscent of driving my AX in the back of here.

trade ya cripple me in back of ka from streatham to kent, 

[UltraWomble]

1 hour ago, NorthernMonkey said:

First stop...Bucketeer delivery service but with a twist.

Yep. Got to deliver everyone’s favourite brandy drinking nomad further south as a side job.

Thats a familiar looking canal barge anchor in the boot.

[Cavcraft]

Hang on, he hasn't got in yet.

[NorthernMonkey]

Managed to blag the passenger seat for the last 45 minutes....let’s see if there’s anything worth spotting...

Oh look, a  Xantia Activa!

[NorthernMonkey]

Two minutes away from rendezvous and the heavens have opened...

[NorthernMonkey]

And we’re here!

[Lord Sterling]

Looks like Gloucester Services. I passed it this morning at 2.30am ?

[Cavcraft]

Vito time!

[HMC]

[NorthernMonkey]

11 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Vito time!

Oh yeah, baby....

 

Well, lunchtime at the BP garage down the road first...as nice as the services are, I’d struggle to stomach a £5+ pork pie.

Still, at least they were cheaper than the family size jar of pickled onions at £23.50

[hairnet]

snotvan a lol

[Bucketeer]

A typical Autoshite day out. I have now left this collection to join another potential collection. Safe journeys home Lord and Lady Monkey and HMC senior and juniors.