Zel's Motoring Adventures...Volvo, Renault, Rover, Trabant, Invacar & A Sinclair C5 - Updated 13/11.

[Zelandeth]

56 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Looks like it's bolted to that condrete plinth too, the nuts could be a mare to move then you'de have to lift it over the studs. The hire of toe-jacks and skids may be involved, I'd say.

The telehandler from the farm just down the road (where the generator set originally saw use before spending a spell providing power in this house prior to mains being installed) may well end up being involved I suspect!

The floor aside from that corner isn't anything even vaguely resembling smooth either, which would add to the fun of anything involving rolling.  It certainly did when we tried to use an engine crane 20 years ago trying to get the engine out of my first Estelle.  We eventually reverted to a chain hoist off one of the roof joists.

[Zelandeth]

Just had a look at a few photos online.

It's not a JP1.  Intake/exhaust are on the wrong side and it doesn't have the exposed pushrods.

Bit more digging, and I reckon this is a CS6/1 Startomatic setup.  As shown here:

 

Control panel, generator battery connections etc all look identical.  So possibly a fair bit older than I thought originally.

[High Jetter]

With generator, google fu says c. 535 Kg. Interesting, what's the access like?

[auntiemaryscanary]

37 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Just had a look at a few photos online.

It's not a JP1.  Intake/exhaust are on the wrong side and it doesn't have the exposed pushrods.

Bit more digging, and I reckon this is a CS6/1 Startomatic setup.  As shown here:

 

Control panel, generator battery connections etc all look identical.  So possibly a fair bit older than I thought originally.

Those lister CS are very nice engines. Assuming that's what it is and with the startomatic set up it's worth a bob or two as well. 

Edit: Copies continue to be made in India https://www.vidhataindia.com/dlesel-engine/lister-type/

Edited August 12 by auntiemaryscanary

[Zelandeth]

13 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

With generator, google fu says c. 535 Kg. Interesting, what's the access like?

Not great, not terrible.  Plenty of crap that needs to be moved out the way, but nothing too dire.  Height is probably the biggest headache for trying to lift it.  Floor is unfinished, so trying to roll anything is a nightmare.  You'd only need to lift it a couple of inches to get it off the base plate though, and you can then take it out of the garage just in a straight line from where it is.

[High Jetter]

11 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

You'd only need to lift it a couple of inches to get it off the base plate though, and you can then take it out of the garage just in a straight line from where it is.

Sounds a plan. What are you waiting for? 🤣

[Zelandeth]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Sounds a plan. What are you waiting for? 🤣

Somewhere to put it, something suitable to transport it in, someone with suitable kit TO lift it, and a week spare to go and strip it down to a point where it can be moved.

Given so much of the original kit is still with this thing I will really want to try to do everything as non-destructively as possible.  Which is likely to be a bit of a challenge given how long it's been there.  The radiator bracket is cemented into the wall so that bit will likely be staying!

I'd like to get this back into a good, working state.  I have zero intention however of making it pretty like virtually every stationary engine you see on the internet or at shows.

Oh, and also waiting for the garage to be cleared out, which is apparently going to be happening at some point in the not too distant future.  If I can dodge getting involved in that bit I'm all for it!

[ruffgeezer]

I had a similar generator in my house when I moved in.

We moved it with BFO crowbars and various lengths if timber covered in fairy liquid to aid with sliding it.  A cheap aldi trolley also got sacrificed, and ultimately we balanced it on some large castor wheels pinched from a hospital skip.

[somewhatfoolish]

This sadly dormant blog has lots of practical info about using a Startomatic to keep the lights on.

[LightBulbFun]

3 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Just had a look at a few photos online.

It's not a JP1.  Intake/exhaust are on the wrong side and it doesn't have the exposed pushrods.

Bit more digging, and I reckon this is a CS6/1 Startomatic setup.  As shown here:

 

Control panel, generator battery connections etc all look identical.  So possibly a fair bit older than I thought originally.

ok thats quite nifty! I wonder how that works, I assume there is some sort of DC voltage applied across the AC output that when the lightbulb is turned on, enough residual current flows through it to trigger a relay or something of that sort and engage the starting mechanisms? 

[GlenAnderson]

My mate Colin had an Indian copy of one of those CS Listers. Lovely thing. His setup could run both a 240v genset and a pair of 24v alternators to charge a battery bank, either all together or individually as required. I was so tempted to buy it off him when he parted with it, but I just didn’t have the space. 

[Zelandeth]

22 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

ok thats quite nifty! I wonder how that works, I assume there is some sort of DC voltage applied across the AC output that when the lightbulb is turned on, enough residual current flows through it to trigger a relay or something of that sort and engage the starting mechanisms? 

Not sure, though I'll be looking for a circuit when I'm back home.  I'm guessing there's a DC voltage applied across the output terminals, and a shunt which senses when a load is connected and triggers startup.  Then the output from a current sensing transformer senses when the load drops to shut it down again.  I'm also really curious to see what's actually in the generator.  Are the 24/240V bits just separate windings on the same rotor or are there actually two separate units in there, mechanically coupled by a common shaft?  

Last day here today, and it was quite a nice one.  I'd not heard from an old friend in several years, and given she's in her 70s now I had kind of feared the worst given the events of the last few years.  Thankfully she turned out to be alive and well, IT issues were just to blame for the contact chain having been broken.

Getting there involved driving past my traditional automotive photo spot.

Still loving this car.  Even if she is a *little* on the wide side really for some single track country lanes up here!

Let's see if the traffic is any less annoying on the way south than it was on the way north.  

[AdgeCutler]

If you have any trouble with the CS (you wont, bomb proof) I have all related literature including for SOM plants. Do you have a picture of the spec plate? Two different ways of dating were implemented by R. A. Lister, pre 1951 and post. 

By the way, that is a lovely looking original set, please try to keep it that way. Sadly many have have the original electrics replaced with more modern "rubbish" and then have had the original finish destroyed.

[Zelandeth]

3 hours ago, AdgeCutler said:

If you have any trouble with the CS (you wont, bomb proof) I have all related literature including for SOM plants. Do you have a picture of the spec plate? Two different ways of dating were implemented by R. A. Lister, pre 1951 and post. 

By the way, that is a lovely looking original set, please try to keep it that way. Sadly many have have the original electrics replaced with more modern "rubbish" and then have had the original finish destroyed.

I don't have a photo of the spec plate sadly - simply because I didn't know where it was to photograph.  As you can see there is a lot of crap piled up around it which makes access a bit awkward, especially when I only had a couple of minutes available at the time.

My plans for this are simple.  Fix what needs fixing, knock the worst of the loose dirt off, and service it.  It's spent most of its working life in the hands of a farmer, so there will be some "interesting" historic repairs to correct.  It will not be getting modern electronics.  It will not be made shiny, it will not be repainted.  The exceptions will be replacing rotten rubber sheathed wiring, and if there a selenium rectifier involved it will be bypassed with a modern one as discreetly as possible with the original one left in place for appearance sake.  I've had one of those buggers let go before and it took me *months* to get rid of the bloody smell.  The fact it's got so much honest wear and tear to show for its years is a great attraction to me.  There are plenty of show engines out there, I've zero intention of making this into yet another.

 

Had TPA out to this evening's get together at MK Museum.  Not a big turnout, partly because of the weather I reckon, but also because the only place these meets seems to be advertised is one Facebook page, which given how impossible it is to search for anything and that it very often doesn't show up in my feed even though I do follow them.

Weather did decide to start raining after about an hour so that was pretty much it.

Always makes me smile whenever I see this Micra.  So nice to see one that's not been messed with.

That is a LOT of green!

Hopefully the rain will have washed some of the dust off.

Definitely was a bit breezy for TPA today, but it was a good excuse to get her out for a run anyway.

[AdgeCutler]

You'll find the engine spec plate on or above the crankcase inspection cover, depending on year. 

[Six-cylinder]

13 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

TPA out to this evening's get together at MK Museum.  Not a big turnout, partly because of the weather I reckon, but also because the only place these meets seems to be advertised is one Facebook page, which given how impossible it is to search for anything and that it very often doesn't show up in my feed even though I do follow them.

I agree FB is difficult to find stuff you have already seen and there is no coordination in what it shows you.

Last night I was at MK Modern Classic meeting just a few miles away, I choose this simply because I was at the museum last month. The problem is having two MK based meetings on one evening splits the visiting cars in two.

[Zelandeth]

Not been much going on.  Have picked up a batch of service supplies for the Volvo.

It's going into a garage on Thursday to get the rear suspension sorted.  So hopefully less creaks and wobbly tracking after that.

Really need to get back to the Rover this next week or two, it's not going to fix itself.  Need to get the radiator pulled out to properly assess it if nothing else.

[Zelandeth]

As mentioned before, it's been very quiet for the most part.   Waiting for a couple of house tasks to be sorted and paid for before I chuck money at the Trabant & source a new radiator for the Rover.  Volvo goes into the garage to have the rear suspension bushes changed tomorrow.  TPA was out and about again today.

She did get a bit of fettling today as well, albeit nothing ground breaking.

Just fresh oil and new filter.  Do appreciate having the separate drain for the filter housing as that allows a completely drip free change to take place despite the inverted filter.

No metal whatsoever on the magnet this time round.

Topped back up and good for another while little while.  All 1.75 litres it takes to refill from empty.

Been good to get some use out of this car again today.  Has been too long since she was out regularly.

[Zelandeth]

TPA has been out and about again today.

This was actually meant to be a quick run - but somehow I ended up having wandered around for somewhere around 40 or 50 miles by the time I arrived back home.

Two niggles turned up.  One occasion she cut out.  This was immediate, with no warning, and immediately restarted.  I'm pretty sure this was down to scratchy contacts in the ignition switch as you can very visibly make the lights on the dash flicker by wiggling the key.  Think some contact cleaner may be in its future.  Failing that I'm 50% sure I have a spare floating around somewhere.

Second was an odd clicking noise coming from the front now and then.

Turns out the mud guard has come loose at the rear.  I'll need to come up with a proper solution to this in due course, but for now we've gone for a low tech solution in the form of a cable tie.

This does need sorting as it provides reinforcement for the front bit of the body shell.  

Been nice to get her out and about properly again.  

[Zelandeth]

There's a very simple fact I've come to realise over the last month or so: I need to downsize a bit.

I have more cars than I can properly dedicate time to looking after.  My own health issues are playing a part there as I'm having to set out into each day with an energy reserve that's always slightly smaller than the day before.

One of our neighbours has apparently taken a dislike to us or something we've done as well, and I've already had to prove to the Council that I'm honestly not a motor trader or operating a garage out of my property - which involved WAY more back and forth than you'd think - you would expect it was up to them to prove that you ARE doing something, but no...You somehow have to prove you're not.  Turns out proving that you've not been doing something is really quite hard.

Having had a couple of rather sizeable unexpected expenses come up in the last couple of months and a project kicking off (hopefully) in the next few weeks to finally sort the back garden out following The Great Bamboo Eradiaction of 2019 likely to have a five figure price tag, I'd rather just have money in the bank.  Oh, and the roof still needs to be sorted out as well after the company who did work on it last year vanished into the aether when asked to come do warranty work...Isn't home ownership fun?

I'm also cognisant of the fact that we are hoping to be looking to move in the not too distant future, and the less cars I have to arrange for third party transportation of the better in terms of cost and hassle. 

 

One car definitely needs to go without question, as it's currently parked on another street as we're completely out of room at the inn.

Obvious one is the Partner.  With the Volvo now doing everything it was and being more suitable for the rest of the family to drive, it's just surplus to requirements now.  Photos below are all quite old.

If it were just me using it, we'd just have stuck with it.  However one of my housemates really struggles to find a comfortable driving position in it, and they need to semi-regularly make a 2 hour each way commute to work, so I really wanted to offer up something they found more comfortable.  That's the long and short of why it's up for sale.  I'll be putting an actual for sale ad up with current photos next week when I've had a chance to get it valeted as the boot is currently covered in dog hair.  MOT till April 2025, timing belt/water pump changed last September so doesn't need to be worried about for a good while yet.  Alternator was changed at the same time as it was whining loudly.  Tyres were changed for a matched set of Uniroyal RainExperts in January this year, along with a new (Bosch) battery.  Has been steadfastly returning 42mpg even around Milton Keynes (which is utter murder on economy in any vehicle as it's 70mph - stop - 70mph - stop every 0.9 miles), Got 46mpg on a run to/from Glasgow when Not Hanging Around on the motorway.  I'd absolutely happily jump in this and drive anywhere tomorrow without a moment's hesitation.  Being the 1.6HDi it's actually surprisingly nippy compared to what you'd expect to look at it.  Rear beam is definitely showing its age a bit, and the clutch does judder a bit, but neither of these have got any worse over the last year plus change and around 10K miles.

At the end of the day, it's an 18 year old Partner and has some battle scars to show for it.  Compared to a lot of them at this age though it's pretty presentable and entirely suitable to being chucked into daily use exactly as it is (and as it was until the Volvo arrived).

There will be some degree of residual hairiness in the boot because it's been used to transport these two idiots.  Though I'm glad to report that it does NOT stink of dog.

Asking £1500, which I don't think is unreasonable for one of these ready to roll as a daily driver.  A more detailed proper for sale ad and current photos will be put together next week.  If you think you'd be interested in the interim though, ping me a message.

 

Renault.

Have to admit that I've just lost my mojo with this one. 

It's a car which really need a custodian with a decent dose of patience and ideally somewhere under cover to store it.  Knowing a friend in France probably wouldn't hurt either.  Probably the biggest thing which has annoyed me with it is just the absolute swine of a job I've had trying to get hold of parts.  Renault seem to have taken great pleasure in using a plethora of slightly different parts between variants for no apparent reason whatsoever.  For example the front anti-roll bar is different between the 2.0 injection and 2.0 carb cars...WHY?!?  Stupid things like that are scattered at random throughout the whole car, and online parts catalogues often don't differentiate between those variants (or indeed the phase 1 and phase 2 cars, which again have a plethora of differences).  It took me *months* to track down a set of drop links, eventually having found the original ones to be made of pure unobtanium before figuring out that VW T4 ones look to be close enough to fit - identical bushes, just a few mm longer or shorter.

Quite a few folks in response to my asking questions have said "Yeah, just ask on the owner's club pages on Facebook" - Tried that, and without exception the response has been complete silence.  Which has basically been my experience with all but one post I've ever put on that platform asking for information/assistance.  Not sure if I just have bad luck or am missing something in how you're meant to use it.

It needs some welding to the seam between the inner wings and wheel arches and a small patch to the offside outrigger where someone's previously jacked the car improperly, but is by and large pretty solid for one of these.  The reason I took it off the road was that there was evidence of head gasket failure (oil being pumped into the cooling system), though it's never overheated in my ownership and still ran perfectly.  I didn't want to tempt fate.  Everything needed to do the head gasket is with the car - I've just not had the time to do it.  Should be a doddle to be honest given how good access is.  There's so much room that you can damned near climb in there with the engine to do the job.

Since parking up the fuel tank to filter soft line has dissolved, though I'll get that replaced shortly so it should be back in a running, driving state.  The above and a replacement for the driver's door latch (which sticks - and is currently in the OSR door) are the only things *I know of* standing between it an an MOT.  Though it has been sitting for nearly a year at this point so take that with a large pinch of salt.

I love driving it and still reckon the 25 is the most comfortable car I've ever sat in, but I just don't have the patience or time it really deserves to get it properly sorted out.  So I think it's time for it to move on.  I can tell if this stays sitting on my drive, it's just going to turn green again and I'll be assessing the situation again in a year.  Given I only have so much space to play with at the moment, I really am trying to avoid having cars filling duplicate slots in terms of character/function - and the daily driver Volvo is also ticking the same luxury barge box as the Renault now.

I don't even *know* what to ask for this.  I guess it's sitting on £300 worth of tyres that have about 1500 miles on...So anything above that is a bonus?  I realise that without a test that it's largely worthless, but I just can't see me getting it that far.  Guess I could chuck it in for a test and see what it fails on if that would help make it more attractive a project to someone?

 

Those two gone would get me into a position where at least once the garden work is done that I should in theory be able to actually fit everything back on the actual drive again rather than the "drive extension" I made with some paving slabs in the middle of what used to be our front garden.

 

Rover.  This one's kinda a maybe.  Haven't decided fully yet.

This arrived as largely an unknown, and *barely* running, on about five and a half cylinders.  It now starts first touch without fail, drives and stops as it should.  Could really do with a new set of tyres as those on it are ancient and flat spotted.  Fronts have a lot of inner shoulder wear too as the car had absolutely masses of toe out on it when I got it.  Three major things need to happen to get it into a reliable, properly usable car - Firstly, The fuel tank being pulled to allow the sender/pickup assembly to be replaced.  The gauge sender is dead (gauge tested and works fine) and the fuel return fitting is blocked.  Probably best shopping around patiently for a NOS part there as it sounds like all of the current production ones are utter trash and are worth less than the box they're shipped in.  Second is the radiator either being repaired or replaced.  It's pretty beat up and clearly has had a few repairs in the past, plus the car seems to get warm if under any load for anything more than a few minutes, so I don't think it's flowing properly.  Giving it a good old back flush may well help there, but given that the nearside end tank already has one pinhole in it, I'm kind of reluctant to do that unless I render it completely unusable.  I'm also not 100% certain the thermostat isn't sticking sometimes.  It was replaced when I did the head gaskets, but in the same breath was a new item from Rimmer's - so being new doesn't necessarily mean it's actually any good.  Third is that the brake flexible lines are all starting to perish a bit so really want changing.  The brakes have survived the "brace yourself against the seat and stand on the pedal with as much force as you can with two feet and hold it for a minute" test, but for peace of mind I'd want to see them changed. 

I don't know quite what the story with this car is, but it looks to have had a lot of work done back around 2018 or so - As best I can tell, front brake calipers, starter motor, two tyres, and a short engine block (SD1 Vitesse engine code) look to have gone in...but stuff then just stopped as far as I can tell.  Not sure if this was due to ill health, or possibly they put a new bottom end in chasing a running issue which turned out to be due to the heads both having issues - one had a couple of really burnt looking valves, and one had one valve spring that was broken in three...and when they fired it up it still ran like crap so they just parked it out of frustration.  Or they were chasing the same fuel vaporisation problem I wasted hours on before figuring out the return line was blocked.

Why am I considering selling this, especially as I'd wanted a P6 for so long? 

While it's running, driving, stopping, this car really does still want a fair investment of time to get it *properly* back into reliable daily driving condition, and that's time I'm ill equipped to provide right now.  Plus I think I in a rare twist of fate I've actually added a fair whack of value to this one compared to when it arrived here.  It's also falling foul of being a certain degree of duplication of the luxobarge category.  If I want to go burble around in total ease, I'm just as likely to take the Volvo these days.  I've fancied an MGB/GT for about as long as I have a P6, and am finding myself thinking more and more that being something that ticks a very different use case on the fleet it's something I might be more likely to use.  Kind of feel that a somewhat smaller car which is that simple and utterly conventional is maybe slightly more suited to my availability of energy, both physical and mental these days.  I really realised that a couple of weeks ago when I was polishing it - it feels a lot bigger car to go over like that than it would have for me a couple of years ago.  Isn't Long Covid a bundle of fun, especially when it choses to interact with existing chronic conditions.

I'm trying to be ruthless with myself as having too many cars is honestly starting to cause me real stress, and when what is meant to be a hobby turns into a millstone it means you're doing something wrong and something needs to change.

This would leave me with:

[]  Volvo.  Sensible, comfy, capable of carrying four adults in comfort along with two large dogs all at once if required, makes a truly wonderful noise, and is just all round an utterly pleasant place to be.  Suspension refresh and modern head unit should see it good for a good long while on fleet hopefully.  Only fly in the ointment I guess is not being ULEZ compliant.

[]  Invacar.  I mean, TPA is just utterly her own thing and I had forgotten until this last week or so quite how much I do actually enjoy driving that little car for all the flaws.  Doesn't really serve a practical role though other than making me smile, and I'm okay with that.

[]  Trabant.  Slightly more practical than TPA, and I was really surprised to find had pretty much become my default choice for a whole bunch of my local driving prior to the engine failure.  Not sure precisely what it is about it, but the car managed to make me grin like an idiot virtually every time I drove it.  She will be returning to the road in my ownership as soon as I can justify chucking that much money at the car.  Given it's currently very definitely a non-runner and is cosmetically challenged throughout, I probably couldn't sell it even if I tried.

[] Theoretically that would leave me one spare space on the drive - which we all know would never stay empty for more than five minutes because I'm me.  Quite likely something MGB shaped I think.  I know living outdoors isn't ideal for one of them, but hopefully it would only be over the one winter as a double (or larger) garage is on the absolutely required list for the place we'll be looking to move to.  Also hopefully have the opportunity to construct a car port for those outside, which we simply can't do at the current place due to planning constraints.

[LightBulbFun]

im sorry to hear that things have been a bit difficult for you like that, especially with the Renault 25 given I know what that car means to you and how you had/have unfinished buisness with that model from your past, I know you have been struggling to find a garage that will take on the Renault 25, but I Hope @RoverFolkUs does not mind me nominating him, but I wonder if he/his garage might be willing to take it on?, or certainly in an ideal world if it was an Automatic, I would buy it, have Mr FolkUs, fix it up, waft about it in it until my ULEZ exemption runs out in 2027, and then give it back to you when your hopefully in a better position  

I am pleased to hear that a house move is becoming more and more of a reality however, I know that you have not enjoyed your time in your current place, so I am very pleased to hear that hopefully you will no longer have to put up with it for much longer  

I very much approve of the idea of an MGB also! as I think I have mentioned before, a good/close friend of mine owns one, and it was that car that I sorta cut my teeth on, finding out how the basics of an engine/carburettor work etc, he would work on it be talking to me about it and I would be asking all sorts of questions about it  so I do have somewhat of a soft-spot for them, most recently he was working on the over-drive unit, and It was quite interesting to learn, that its basically a little-itty-bitty epicyclic gearbox like what you find in a Leyland National or such

[mcmolloy1]

There's a classic Renault mechanic in Worthing who would fix the HG on the 25 if you're interested. Otherwise I'm sure I saw someone on faceache looking for one, I will mention this forum to him if I can find his post 

[Zelandeth]

I did have unfinished business with the Renault, but at least I had the opportunity to properly drive this one.  Don't have the figures to hand, but pretty sure I did a couple of thousand miles in it.  So I do feel I've had some use out of it and got to see what I'd missed.

A complex-for-the-time 80s car is always going to be a pretty substantial time commitment to keep in regular use.  There are always going to be a dozen little things going wrong which while fundamentally simple things to fix, require a bunch of stuff dismantled to get to, or hours spent figuring out what bit originally for a totally different car is close enough to work as a replacement.  Plus the whole time playing Russian Roulette with 35 year old now very brittle bits of plastic every time you touch anything in or around the dash.  

If I had a big enough garage at my home base to keep it under cover and didn't mind accepting the fact that it was likely to spend decent chunks of time off the road, fair enough.  However it's living outside and I've just found the parts hunting really frustrating to be honest.  I used to quite enjoy the detective work in hunting down things like that, but between my own ability to keep track of a dozen different tabs when working on something like that having gone to pot and so much information that used to be on forums having evaporated onto the un-searchable disaster that is Facebook it's just become utterly tedious and something I've found myself dreading.  Especially with the first 1000 search results for a part number just being 700 different store fronts of Autodoc.

This place has had pros and cons.  It was what we needed at the time, just could have done without discovering so many utterly horrendous bodges left by the previous owners, and we knew going in that space was going to be a bit of a challenge.  The switch to work from home for the most part though has really shaken things up and totally changed how we use space in the house, rendering the layout just utterly unsuitable for our needs.  The school that's a stone's throw away is also a continual annoyance, though to be honest is just that, it's an annoyance rather than anything life changing.  The fact the place is becoming more London-like by the day, some folks will see that as a negative (us), but plenty will see it the other way.  Could be a great place for the right folks, they just aren't us.

It's a real shame that RfU is so bloody far away, or they'd get a bunch of business from me!

[SiC]

Yeah I came to a similar realisation earlier/last year. Hence why I sold my MGB as I used it so little in the last few years. (Also was supposed to make room to buy my mum's Cayman but she's decided to keep it longer...)

Even this year I've barely used the Spitfire. Not even a tankful of petrol! Crap weather certainly hasn't helped but also lack of time.

Likewise I've barely done any work on the Midget this year and the Dolomite is 5yrs of ownership with not a lot done in the last few years. 

All of which is costing money in insurance and storage. Which makes me wonder why I have them.

So I've been good this year and not bought any classics, despite being extremely tempted. (That Austin Cambridge very nearly tipped me over). There still is room for one and a ADO16 would fill that gap very nicely for similar reasons as your Trabbie (another car on my hit list as I've wanted one of them nearly as long as a BGT/Spitfire/Midget). Small, fun to drive and easy to work on while having a roof allowing all weather use. My BGT kinda fitted that brief but it was too nice to be left out in all weathers. (Maybe I might get a rubber bumper BGT if one comes up at the right price - ideally orange).

So this year it's been mostly the Z4 and 330i that I've used. Z4 hits the convertible spot while being modern enough (with cruise) that I can cover long distances comfortably without Mrs SiC getting uncomfortable. Perhaps instead of a BGT (definitely worth you getting one sometime though) maybe a MGF or TF? Still very affordable while having modern car perks (plus a fun revvy engine) that you can go out to places with your partner and yourself.

The 330i is hitting the exact same spot for me as your Volvo is (albeit our tastes differ to some degree but still the same outcome). Not the most thrilling of cars but does everything you need in a motor vehicle absolutely just fine and don't need anything more. That car you can jump in and go to the other end of the country without blinking much of an eye lid.

 

100% keep the cars you both love and can keep on top of. The focus, energy and funds can be put into making them perfect while easily keeping on top maintenance. More cars really doesn't make more happiness for most people. Even most museums can't keep many cars in full running, roadworthy order.

[Zelandeth]

It's been a while since I did any silly size comparison photos of an Invacar in the wild.  So here's a picture of a Mini and a small car.

Next to my other small, two cylinder air cooled car.

Not something I ever expected to be able to say.  

[SiC]

If you thought the Mini is big, you should find one of these hideous things to do a size comparison. I imagine it'd be under the eye line of the driver a fair bit. 

[Zelandeth]

If I found one you can bet I would! 

If I found it horribly inconsiderately parked and could wedge myself in to make them have to climb back in through the passenger door, even better.

Just feel bad TPA has seen so little use this year.  My own fault for having buried her in the garage.  See also my comment about having way too many cars.  This is one of the reasons I need to thin out.  So I can concentrate on everything that deserves it rather than just ending up forgetting about cars for months at a time.

Speaking of sorting cars, I've got the Volvo booked in with my actually trusted garage to be looked at next Friday.  I don't generally like chucking potentially time consuming or awkward jobs at them as I know they're stupid busy and only have one ramp.  However they're great guys, and their description of what will be happening next Friday is that WE will get it up on the ramp and take a proper look at it together to see what needs doing and what just makes sense to do while we're in there. 

Might have to wait a while to get it back in to have the work done, but at least I know they won't mess me about.  They also know me well enough to know that if I say that there's a fault with something that there's a decent chance that there actually is, so they'll check that first.  They also know however that I do fully respect that they're the professionals though and that I'm not by any means infallible.

[Zelandeth]

Forgot one small job I did on TPA last time she was out.  The engine cover hinges have a bolt in place of the original hinge pin.  I can't remember if I do actually have the pin somewhere or not, but as the engine cover thanks to the huge fan duct can get in the way, being able to remove it quickly is pretty handy.  Said bolt has been held in with a lock nut.  One of which usually escaped about once every six months.  Usually noticed when I realised the engine cover had started rattling more than usual.

Hey look, we've lost one nut and the remaining one is well on the way to exiting stage right.

Let's stop that nonsense.

Much better.  Hopefully that will stay put now.

Had a look underneath the Volvo today courtesy of my preferred garage.  Which in hindsight is what I should have just done in the first place.  I just always feel a bit bad taking up their time as I know how utterly rammed they are, and they always refuse payment for diagnostic work.  In contrast to the previous one where it was a case of book it in and we'll be in touch, this was a case of "You know how the lift works, help yourself and I'll be back in a few minutes."

First up, the light knocking noise from the rear end.  This seems to be because the handbrake cable on the offside is touching the anti-roll bar.  I'm guessing there would have been a clip or spacer to stop this happening present originally.  Should be easy enough to fabricate a replacement.

They are of the opinion that there's nothing immediately in need of replacement.  Evidence that the wheel alignment is out, definitely.  Nothing is moving that shouldn't be or that should move is doing so more than it should in their opinion.  The alignment being out could account for all the symptoms I've seen, exacerbated by the resulting uneven tyre wear.  In their view the trailing arm bushes aren't anywhere near worn enough to be causing the degree of handling nonsense we'd seen.  If the steering wheel is off straight, that could also in theory be causing the stability control to chase it's own tail, though neither of us were sure if we'd have seen warning lights to indicate the system actively intervening or not.

They have pointed me at the place they would use to get a proper four wheel alignment done if it were their own car, which I reckon I can far further trust to actually do the job properly.  Apparently the place I'd used before are fine for tyres, exhausts and routine servicing but don't really have the time or finesse for jobs needing a bit more attention to detail as it's just a production line.  Also no evidence that they ever touched the rear end when the car was last in, looking at the adjustment points - which is a bit annoying but honestly just feels par for the course these days. 

So I'll go speak to their recommended place on Monday to get booked in and will see where that gets us.  If we get the alignment issues resolved, a new set of tyres will follow soon as they're all a fair ways worn, and the rears in particular have very uneven wear.

Having had a chance to wander around underneath the car though I can confidently say that this is the cleanest car underneath I've ever owned, period. 

Only thing that seems to have any rust on at all of note is the exhaust.  Interesting seeing how much room they've left around it and the heat shields along the whole length of the system - I'm guessing because of the stupid temperatures involved during DPF regens.

Suffice to say even though they wouldn't accept money for the ramp time, a care package of assorted snacks and drinks will be getting delivered to them on Monday.

[SiC]

34 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Interesting seeing how much room they've left around it and the heat shields along the whole length of the system

Possibly to give room for a prop shaft on a 4wd equipped models too?

[Zelandeth]

14 minutes ago, SiC said:

Possibly to give room for a prop shaft on a 4wd equipped models too?

That's a good point.  I'd forgotten this platform also came in AWD form.