HMC- FEAT. Dull , worthy and Indestructible.

[HMC]

HMC, earlier

 

[HMC]

Ok, 2 cars sold today. That’s my excuse for an opportunistic e bay buy it now/newly listed/fairly close by combo.

 

What is it ? See below

 

How much? £150

 

HMC LOGIC* Well at the money it can be weighed in and almost all the money will be recouped. I think it’s an honest sale - a quick chat reveals it’s an older couple, her car, had it 15 years but mr feels she should have something newer; she has reluctantly agreed. MOT to jan 2020. My gut feeling is that it all rings true- it’s just a cheap usable car rather than people ditching a dummy. Why would they potentially fuck up their e bay feedback (which is excellent) when it would be just as easy to scrap it? Sentimentality maybe, plus I clicked buy it no before any bidding got going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll find out tomorrow as I’m cycling over to collect. Astra 1.6 ls manual apparently. Another automotive orphan.

[HMC]

I remember RobT/ al bundy saving a similarly coloured diesel (where is that now) but these have been off my radar completely.

[Marm Toastsmith]

'kin hell man you dont half get through 'em. astra looks an ideal motor.

 

so what's the current fleet? so hard to keep up.

 

glad i missed that merc. looked a bargain.

[HMC]

Currently avensis and the Astra.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Currently avensis and the Astra.

 

2 very practical cars. You are clearly at least twice as sensible as the average man.

[HMC]

“Not the newest of cars......... heaps of roll, poor grip and understeer a go-go, making for a wobbly drive at speed”

 

Not my words, the words of top gear magazine August 1996. And that was the spanking new “sport” with good tyres, unworn suspension etc.

 

 

Oh well, I have low standards.

 

About to pedal off. It’s Tavistock to Wembury, much more familiar territory this time. 2/3rds is on a traffic free cycle route so should be a bit of a potter (I hope)

[Lacquer Peel]

Aye they aren't the best things to drive.

[BorniteIdentity]

The hatchbacks leave me a bit cold, but I’ve always liked Astra estates. I guess the same is true of Escorts too tho. There was that lovely mk4 estate that got snaffled by someone on here last August - never to be seen again.

 

Which one is coming to SF19? This looks viable as a sleeper!

[Christine]

I'm driving one today !    I love it .. Solid well built .   automatic  ..GLS trim...velour ... electric windas , 1600.. will do pics later  , might be for sale soon  

[Cavcraft]

That's utterly utterly fantastic. Well played.

[chaseracer]

AVAS. Well played.

 

[HMC]

Misjudgement here. Passing by sainsbury in Plymouth for lunch.

 

 

1 and 2- fair enough

 

Impulse buy of 3. For once I’m home. How to carry it? #fool

[bezzabsa]

you still have the rover?

[Christine]

Phworrr    Blue dash , a  20 years AA badge   & National Trust Centenary sticker in the hatch window !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's ace 

[HMC]

you still have the rover?

Nope. Holding onto it for its owner.

[HMC]

Wembury achieved.

 

 

May get an ice cream from the beach before collecting.

 

Better lie down somewhere less conspicuous, somebody just shouted “u arite maaate?”

[HMC]

Appropriately named light refreshment....

 

[HMC]

Lovely couple selling it, sorry to see it go, bundles of history etc etc, so far so normal.

 

“Do look after the fern”’

 

 

Ok, will do.

 

It’s a fairly tidy old thing really, it’s spent 15 years not that far of the coast (dewerstone or something in the background in the sea)

 

 

And at least in my mind Thats why the paint has had a hard time.....

 

 

All in all, drives fine and for £150 can’t go wrong in all its 90s-ness

 

 

 

 

8v? 16v? Dunno guv

 

 

An LS

 

With the little known optional fern

 

First owner:

So it was caned to death for the first 18months, a survivor though.

[500tops]

Absolute class.

[Pete-M]

Avis didn't keep these things for 18 months. IIRC they stayed on fleet for 11000 miles / 6 months.

[Supernaut]

£150. can't go wrong with that.

[HMC]

Plotted a rambling way back over Dartmoor

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

C16NZ. 8v goodness! With the odd belt change and fresh oil now and again, it'll plod on forever.

Useful car for the money!

[HMC]

Thanks for the engine info- I had a quick browse of my old top gear mags but ended up more confused.

[Christine]

   Does rusty rocket know his Vauxhalls ?    I have a   x16xel  problem engine in an Astra  on the kent &sussex border....

[clayts450]

That looks ace - I trust sir had no 'taking front wheel off the bike' shenanigans to worry about this time ?

[HMC]

Yes, none of that this time! The sellers husband was being very nice, but assisting putting the bike in, in that way where it took longer, but couldn’t/didn’t want to say. Equally with filling out the V5, people like this who hold onto their cars for 15 years simply do not know their way round a v5, unlike moi (not necessarily something to brag about)

 

Only my second Vauxhall as far as I can remember (!)

[HMC]

The hatchbacks leave me a bit cold, but I’ve always liked Astra estates. I guess the same is true of Escorts too tho. There was that lovely mk4 estate that got snaffled by someone on here last August - never to be seen again.

Which one is coming to SF19? This looks viable as a sleeper!

I recon the Astra (assuming it stays) but I’ve seen a little cottage I like the look of so 1 (or 2) simple estate cars that are invisible street furniture when parked on the road are probably good things to have around.

[gadgetgricey]

filling out the V5, people like this who hold onto their cars for 15 years simply do not know their way round a v5, unlike moi (not necessarily something to brag about)

 

 

Yep, 

 

You , me , Saabnut, Bramz7 and Jim Bell all have our own pre addressed return envelopes to the DVLA