HMC architecte britannique

[N Dentressangle]

29 minutes ago, HMC said:

 

If cars could actually look depressed 🤣

[High Jetter]

Allegro seems to be riding a tad high?

[HMC]

I

On 20/07/2025 at 20:04, EyesWeldedShut said:

Either that or reversing the lips in the cylinder? Either way get the master cylinder out and strip it - if the bore is Ok then new seals, if the bore is rusted or pitted then new complete unit unless price is prohibitive or they are unobtainable 

I managed to get hold of a NOS one, that seems to have been carefully stored-

old out

in with the new

Some new flexis are on the way , and my coffee table has become a caliper rebuild station- the joys of a batchelor household 😂

[Bear]

23 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Allegro seems to be riding a tad high?

Warm weather?

[Bear]

On 22/07/2025 at 18:22, HMC said:

Fleet news.

Allegro suspension stays up

and MG Suspension  is much much firmer (without the hydragas the MGF had) supposedly this  MY2005 has spring rates reduced by 20% over the original TF.

Missing link: metro/ r100 series

I test drove an F, loved it. By the time my car was due for replacement the TF came out.

At low speeds it shook my 30something padding so much I felt nauseous.

At high speeds it felt brilliant and very poised.

What's really strange...

...the 2004 Streetwise had exactly the same trait 😂

[High Jetter]

43 minutes ago, Bear said:

Warm weather?

Don't think temp swelled hydrogas fluid. Maybe it needs to settle.

[Bear]

16 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Don't think temp swelled hydrogas fluid. Maybe it needs to settle.

MG F definitely varies height by temperature - the pump-up procedure has a look up table to compensate ride height for ambient temp

[HMC]

Ive had a year where many boxes have been ticked- but after daily driving both a 1929 austin 12 and a 2006 quattroporte in the same week i had a bit of a revelation. did I find, say, a 1997 astra 1.6 estate i bought off e bay for £150 in 2019 any less satisfying, or less fun, in its own way? No i did not.  

Pre covid shitein’ (no g ) copywrite @BorniteIdentity feels a long time ago- for under £500 you could be road legal and having fun. But i feel used values of bangers have settled a bit. After selling on the QP and the 12 putting the money into an isa i rediscovered my love of bangers. 

Some Rovers happened- as did a brace of allegros. One has passed to a new shiter, and ive sold the MGTF.

In a bit of a shitein’ heavy saturday I rejigged the fleet in favour of shite- not classics or new stuff- just a few proper old bangers- stuff thats plucky and not crushed yet.

PHASE 1

rover 45 to devon somerset border- 

meet with @DLR

return with vectra- to okehampton

PHASE 2

train to exeter

return to tavistock with ropey but legal saab 9-5 Aero HOT 

PHASE 3 

Bus to okehampton to collect vectra elegance

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it has velour. It is not an elegant car, but an elegant car should come with velour.

 

And back to sit with beer to admire 2 bangers

 

[HMC]

Not forgetting the blue VDP which im gradually working my way through recomissioning

[HMC]

this saab also blows air up your ass (!)

 

 

[gadgetgricey]

3 minutes ago, HMC said:

this saab also blows air up your ass (!)

 

 

Was just going to say, Hi spec with vented seats and sunroof.
What's up with the Stereo? Single DIN Conversion??

Had a 9-5 Aero with 240K on the clock and still drove lovely, so should still have plenty of miles...

[Cookiesouwest]

The Vectra is a great colour and sold by my local Vauxhall dealer when I lived in Bristol.

If you ever punt it on, let me know. Im feeling like a possible fleet change is due.

[HMC]

2 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Was just going to say, Hi spec with vented seats and sunroof.
What's up with the Stereo? Single DIN Conversion??

Had a 9-5 Aero with 240K on the clock and still drove lovely, so should still have plenty of miles...

done 213k. its even got heater rear seats too. Im not sure whats happened with the stereo. Been ruined basically.

This is my first 9-5 i think youve had a few of them, what was your favourite?

[BorniteIdentity]

17 minutes ago, HMC said:

Ive had a year where many boxes have been ticked- but after daily driving both a 1929 austin 12 and a 2006 quattroporte in the same week i had a bit of a revelation. did I find, say, a 1997 astra 1.6 estate i bought off e bay for £150 in 2019 any less satisfying, or less fun, in its own way? No i did not.  

Pre covid shitein’ (no g ) copywrite @BorniteIdentity feels a long time ago- for under £500 you could be road legal and having fun. But i feel used values of bangers have settled a bit. After selling on the QP and the 12 putting the money into an isa i rediscovered my love of bangers. 

Some Rovers happened- as did a brace of allegros. One has passed to a new shiter, and ive sold the MGTF.

In a bit of a shitein’ heavy saturday I rejigged the fleet in favour of shite- not classics or new stuff- just a few proper old bangers- stuff thats plucky and not crushed yet.

PHASE 1

rover 45 to devon somerset border- 

meet with @DLR

return with vectra- to okehampton

PHASE 2

train to exeter

return to tavistock with ropey but legal saab 9-5 Aero HOT 

PHASE 3 

Bus to okehampton to collect vectra elegance

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it has velour. It is not an elegant car, but an elegant car should come with velour.

 

And back to sit with beer to admire 2 bangers

 

*Karman Hardon.

[gadgetgricey]

12 minutes ago, HMC said:

This is my first 9-5 i think you've had a few of them, what was your favourite?

Estates more practical, but I prefer look of Saloon.
Genuinely think the high mileage Aero I had as mentioned above was favorite.
Everything worked (Once realised the rear heated seats only have one button and auto off after 15 mins)

Was great for 2nd gear hard acceleration, and had all mod cons to make it a fantastic car

Still got an 06 plate Aero Auto, but pre silly road tax. They are great cars.
If planning on keeping for a bit, would recommend joining UK Saabs for questions/queries.

Stereo missing could be a ball ache if plaaning to go back to original as believe linked to car, so cant just buy a 2nd hand one without it being divorced from previous car, but this may all have changed, hence UK Saabs comment above. 

[Schaefft]

Variety is the spice of life and nobody does it better than @HMC. I also don't know why but cars suddenly become more attractive in his hands...

[Bren]

We had three vectras. They  are quite underrated.

[hairnet]

vectra omg

man is nuts

[grogee]

5 hours ago, HMC said:

@BorniteIdentity

@DLR

 

Is that the end of your belt? 

Are you having a wank in a Vauxhall Vectra Elegance? 

If so, that's fine, please carry on. 

NFT (Normal For Tavistock) 

[GeordieInExile]

Can't wait for that 9-5 to be up for sale on here for 750 quid in a couple months. I'll be tempted...

[Weird Car]

27 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

Can't wait for that 9-5 to be up for sale on here for 7.50 quid in a couple minutes. I'll be tempted...

FTFY

[N Dentressangle]

Both nice bangers. That generation of Vectra has mostly disappeared - much preferred it to its predecessor with the weird mirrors.

[HMC]

Ive always had a thing about not trashing cars. Im happy to pilot something thats cosmetically ruined (especially as that means cheapness) just not to be the one thats ruined it. Back in 2004/05 where a new defender 90 and a new civic ep3 type r graced my drive, I was constantly alert not to scratch or mark them in some way and TBH it was something that got in the way of really enjoying them. Ive never forgotten that.

Thats the only reason i can explain buying a 2003 passat tdi in dreadful condition as a dog car. Its already at rock bottom. I havent yet done interior photos as it looks like someone was knifed in it. It came with a replacement door  which ill fit this week, and clean it and take an interior a photo.  Heavy use as a van has been quite destructive. Dreadful but functional. 

276k not out

I feel the photos dont capture how rough it is. 

Yes thats sealant attaching the wing to the bumper.

Yes the boot and roof are very battle scarred - although the exposed bare metal isnt rusty. Go VAG

Yes thats tape holding up the window. an £18 window regulator is on order.

Oddly although its dreadful, mechanically it feels strong, with the exception of the rear dampers that are past it. In particular the gearbox is lovely which tends to lose synchos and implode before the engine on these    @Bren

These b5s have really taken a hammering in the last decade as they are very cheap disposable beasts of burden. A clutch  job would easily write this off.

Ive had a few  TDI 130s and with those as a benchmark it feels like its punching about what it should at the wheels. I was surprised to find although a tdi 100 s  (low spec) it had heated seats specced optionally. And although the car is ruined they work, which was a surprise; and a comfort whilst my beagle tries to eat the load bay plastics on trips across the moor. 🐶

 

[sam99t]

That colour really suits the car 👍

[N Dentressangle]

Always struck me as a really utilitarian design - utterly unmemorable and almost wilfully dull - but I bet it drives nicely, is cheap to run and eats the miles up with no bother.

[Bren]

50 minutes ago, HMC said:

Ive always had a thing about not trashing cars. Im happy to pilot something thats cosmetically ruined (especially as that means cheapness) just not to be the one thats ruined it. Back in 2004/05 where a new defender 90 and a new civic ep3 type r graced my drive, I was constantly alert not to scratch or mark them in some way and TBH it was something that got in the way of really enjoying them. Ive never forgotten that.

Thats the only reason i can explain buying a 2003 passat tdi in dreadful condition as a dog car. Its already at rock bottom. I havent yet done interior photos as it looks like someone was knifed in it. It came with a replacement door  which ill fit this week, and clean it and take an interior a photo.  Heavy use as a van has been quite destructive. Dreadful but functional. 

276k not out

I feel the photos dont capture how rough it is. 

Yes thats sealant attaching the wing to the bumper.

Yes the boot and roof are very battle scarred - although the exposed bare metal isnt rusty. Go VAG

Yes thats tape holding up the window. an £18 window regulator is on order.

Oddly although its dreadful, mechanically it feels strong, with the exception of the rear dampers that are past it. In particular the gearbox is lovely which tends to lose synchos and implode before the engine on these    @Bren

These b5s have really taken a hammering in the last decade as they are very cheap disposable beasts of burden. A clutch  job would easily write this off.

Ive had a few  TDI 130s and with those as a benchmark it feels like its punching about what it should at the wheels. I was surprised to find although a tdi 100 s  (low spec) it had heated seats specced optionally. And although the car is ruined they work, which was a surprise; and a comfort whilst my beagle tries to eat the load bay plastics on trips across the moor. 🐶

 

Unbelievably our old one got an MOT in July. 212k. I flushed the box on ours and refilled it with fuchs sintofluid. It was much better. And it obviously worked.

I think the killer with these now is the doorlocks. We had a chineseum one fitted that lasted three weeks. A genuine one was purchased - over £200. A deadlocked one could work out too expensive to repair.

I will be following with interest.

[Schaefft]

Definitely an unusual color for it, someone specifically spec'd it in that.

It's hard to imagine but the B5 was a considerable move up in refinement for VW. A lot of reviewers seem to have felt like it's getting very close to being an Audi, I guess the handful of examples not spec'd with grey/black cloth interiors might feel like that inside. Might be worth getting a replacement taillight for 10 quid as well.

[bunglebus]

They're really good cars, it's a shame the estate gets battered as I'd like a pre-facelift to match my saloon.

If you're doing the window reg it's worth cleaning off the original foam seal around the metal carrier panel and using something like buttirub non setting sealant around it, otherwise water will get past and soak the carpets. Pollen filter housing should hopefully have been re-sealed a long time ago for the same reason. Lastly on water ingress, the drains in the scuttle get blocked under the fusebox/wiper mech, awkward to access but well worth sorting.

Had mine since 2013 and was my dad's for 7 years before that, and he got it from my sister's ex. A hard car to replace.

[HMC]

Mojo not high with cars

passat clutch suddenly went and at the money it was worth i recouped a fair bit  just by scrapping it. Sad but not sad.

The navarra (a fee months ago now) I put in facebook market place. It seemed to attract various undesirables. Sadly a team of people  turned up and before long oil was found in various previously unseen places. I could see what was happening but was seriously outnumbered- i played the negotiation game but knew i was being scammed as it happened.

After the allegro failed to attract much interest i decided not  to sell it and took solace today by carrying on with the brake refresh.  NOS master cylinder; the calipers have been serviced and my single person bleeding by wedging the pedal with a broom handle and going to and fro worked a treat and restored the brakes and a nice firm pedal.

I pondered over the different clientele a VDP 1500 vs a double cab pick up of a certain age might attract. Im more of a VDP person myself and proud of it.

[Semi-C]

Liked for the Plas-perseverance, commiserations for the Navarra nobs.

Good luck with the VDP recomissioning, it looks a supremely worthy candidate for it indeed.