HMC- Return of the Cheeky 500

[sierraman]

They’re a bit rattly first thing from stone cold but that’s the Ti-VCT for you. 

[trigger]

That era of Focus is excellent although I'm not keen on the 1.6 petrol myself, the best model is the 1.8 TDCi in my opinion.

[HMC]

Glad you said that, stone cold this morning I did think it was a bit rattly initially from the top end.     @sierraman I used  your buyers guide thread to help with the purchase, good read with a lot of practical detail.

[HMC]

4 minutes ago, trigger said:

That era of Focus is excellent although I'm not keen on the 1.6 petrol myself, the best model is the 1.8 TDCi in my opinion.

I was a bit scared off the diesels as an old banger, rightly or wrongly.

[grogee]

Amateur! PowerShift or bust.

Usually both

(Well bought btw)

[LightBulbFun]

47 minutes ago, HMC said:

Grabbed a few pics of the newly acquired token “modern” something versatile and disposable, invisible and cheap.

1.6 “115” so IRRC a sort of vvt duratec. It’s been knocked about a bit, ghia so nice upholstery and heater screen etc.

 

would be interesting to see a direct review/back to back comparison between this and the Austin 7 given these where both very much the "an car" of their time, although perhaps the Austin 7 is maybe better compared to something like a K11 Micra? in terms of market placement so to speak 

 

the Crown vic is awesome! I remember when a good few years back when I first actually looked up the crown vic I had no idea the older styling type existed, I was of course familiar with the 2000's style, but no idea the older ones existed, funky looking things! 

[EyesWeldedShut]

On 2/27/2023 at 6:58 AM, sutty2006 said:

Cop shocks, cop motor? 

It's dark and we're wearing sunglasses?

[Dan_ZTT]

I am perennially jealous of your motoring choices sir

Do you think either the 7 or the Crown Vic will be long term keepers? if not I'd be extremely tempted by either one

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, HMC said:

Glad you said that, stone cold this morning I did think it was a bit rattly initially from the top end.     @sierraman I used  your buyers guide thread to help with the purchase, good read with a lot of practical detail.

They all do that, quietens down once it’s warmed through. Only noise to be wary of is a loud death rattle as it starts up which is the VCT. Not that common an issue. 

[HMC]

2 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

would be interesting to see a direct review/back to back comparison between this and the Austin 7 given these where both very much the "an car" of their time, although perhaps the Austin 7 is maybe better compared to something like a K11 Micra? in terms of market placement so to speak 

 

the Crown vic is awesome! I remember when a good few years back when I first actually looked up the crown vic I had no idea the older styling type existed, I was of course familiar with the 2000's style, but no idea the older ones existed, funky looking things! 

Good point, the 7, focus and crown Victoria are all just simple workaday transport of their era, no frills, no nonsense. 

[HMC]

So guys. My birthday is in April. We are going to go over to France on the ferry and generally make a nuisance of ourselves over there in the Austin 7 in rural France. Yes I am an idiot abroad.

[HMC]

At least, unlike most British motorists, we will not be fair game for the gendarmes avec speed cameras. Not without a strong tailwind and a favourable gradient (? A cliff)

[wuvvum]

5 hours ago, Dan_ZTT said:

long term keepers? 

🤣🤣🤣

[wuvvum]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

So guys. My birthday is in April. We are going to go over to France on the ferry and generally make a nuisance of ourselves over there in the Austin 7 in rural France. Yes I am an idiot abroad.

That is brilliant.  Please tell me you'll be going 5-up with the luggage strapped to the roof.

[RoverFolkUs]

6 hours ago, HMC said:

Glad you said that, stone cold this morning I did think it was a bit rattly initially from the top end.     @sierraman I used  your buyers guide thread to help with the purchase, good read with a lot of practical detail.

It's a combination of the injectors, VCT solenoids and piston slap.

Mine sounds like that, and also death rattles on start up every so often and still lives after doing so for the 4 or so years I've owned it, so don't worry! 

[RoverFolkUs]

6 hours ago, trigger said:

That era of Focus is excellent although I'm not keen on the 1.6 petrol myself, the best model is the 1.8 TDCi in my opinion.

Eek, 1.8 diesel? Sounds shit and performs slightly shit, wet belt fun as well.

2.0 TDCI seems the obvious choice?

[Eyersey1234]

7 hours ago, HMC said:

Grabbed a few pics of the newly acquired token “modern” something versatile and disposable, invisible and cheap.

1.6 “115” so IRRC a sort of vvt duratec. It’s been knocked about a bit, ghia so nice upholstery and heater screen etc.

 

Phoooaarrr, I still miss my old Mk2

[Eyersey1234]

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Eek, 1.8 diesel? Sounds shit and performs slightly shit, wet belt fun as well.

2.0 TDCI seems the obvious choice?

Only a wet belt after mid 2007, mine was one of the last with lower chain. I agree its not the most refined engine but very hardy. I didn't consider the performance bad but then I suppose coming from a 1.25 Fiesta anything performs better 🤣🤣🤣

[trigger]

They won't win a race but economical, tough and no DPF filter to worry about, I thought the wet belt was mid 2008 models?

I had a 2008 2.0 TDCi version and it was unreliable, injector problems mainly but DPF's also play up. 

[RoverFolkUs]

32 minutes ago, Eyersey1234 said:

Only a wet belt after mid 2007, mine was one of the last with lower chain. I agree its not the most refined engine but very hardy. I didn't consider the performance bad but then I suppose coming from a 1.25 Fiesta anything performs better 🤣🤣🤣

Well it is Autoshite anyway so I don't think we're all out for finding the best cars, regardless!

21 minutes ago, trigger said:

They won't win a race but economical, tough and no DPF filter to worry about, I thought the wet belt was mid 2008 models?

I had a 2008 2.0 TDCi version and it was unreliable, injector problems mainly but DPF's also play up. 

Yeah, fair point regarding DPFs 👍

It could well be, I never remember exactly when the changeover was from chain to belt so fair enough on that point too 

[sierraman]

Mid 2007 switched to wet belt

[Bren]

My eldest really wants me to get a crown vic.

However they aren't cheap - plus my BMW would rinse one performance wise and use much less fuel.

The want is strong however.

[HMC]

Fleet news: 

Been using the Austin 7 as my daily, taking advantage of gradients to help with starting in the morning wherever possible

 

Although actually it’s quite a willing starter, I’m just conscious that my trips are not very long and probably don’t give the battery a decent boost- although it’s a recent battery and it turns over well. Plus there’s always the starting handle to fall back on.  The general public do a lot of double taking / taking photos and vids and talking to you when you use it!

Meanwhile I’ve used the AN CAR a coupe of times. It runs and drives fine but seems a bit tired (clutch bites high, engine a bit tappy/ Smokey, rear shocks a bit tired, it’s been driven into things etc) but hopefully it will keep plodding on. Leave it anywhere, no fucks given etc. It’s got 11 months mot and if I keep it that long it will be a miracle, but basically it exists so I can be stupid with my other car choices. I just hope i haven’t bought a needy banger.
 

But I feel this is prime autoshite 2023 and I owe it to myself to have a proper banger on the fleet. Or to reframe it- when the site started in 2006 It would have been like smoking about in an F reg escort. 

It’s so bumped about if it was crashed into I’d not even notice when I came back to it!

Which although it looks bad, means people avoid it in car parks, and like a grotty jumper, comfy and hassle free. How on earth did the bonnet get mangled up like that?

As it’s a ghia (used to love spotting ghias as a kid) it’s got your Ford heated screen, nice upholstery and cruise control too. Posh!

Plus fake wood, obvs.

This will be joined by another blue collar hero ford on sunday when the crown vic police interceptor arrives.

[Yoss]

32 minutes ago, HMC said:

Fleet news: 

Been using the Austin 7 as my daily, taking advantage of gradients to help with starting in the morning wherever possible

 

Although actually it’s quite a willing starter, I’m just conscious that my trips are not very long and probably don’t give the battery a decent boost- although it’s a recent battery and it turns over well. Plus there’s always the starting handle to fall back on.  The general public do a lot of double taking / taking photos and vids and talking to you when you use it!

Meanwhile I’ve used the AN CAR a coupe of times. It runs and drives fine but seems a bit tired (clutch bites high, engine a bit tappy/ Smokey, rear shocks a bit tired, it’s been driven into things etc) but hopefully it will keep plodding on. Leave it anywhere, no fucks given etc. It’s got 11 months mot and if I keep it that long it will be a miracle, but basically it exists so I can be stupid with my other car choices. I just hope i haven’t bought a needy banger.
 

But I feel this is prime autoshite 2023 and I owe it to myself to have a proper banger on the fleet. Or to reframe it- when the site started in 2006 It would have been like smoking about in an F reg escort. 

It’s so bumped about if it was crashed into I’d not even notice when I came back to it!

Which although it looks bad, means people avoid it in car parks, and like a grotty jumper, comfy and hassle free. How on earth did the bonnet get mangled up like that?

As it’s a ghia (used to love spotting ghias as a kid) it’s got your Ford heated screen, nice upholstery and cruise control too. Posh!

Plus fake wood, obvs.

This will be joined by another blue collar hero ford on sunday when the crown vic police interceptor arrives.

A real Ghia should have a vinyl roof. Preferably in tan. 

[S2000]

42 minutes ago, Yoss said:

A real Ghia should have a vinyl roof. Preferably in tan. 

Not ‘Tan’ but Beige!

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, HMC said:

As it’s a ghia (used to love spotting ghias as a kid) it’s got your Ford heated screen, nice upholstery and cruise control too. Posh!

Plus fake wood, obvs.

@AnnoyingPentium bet yours hasn't got as much ghia as this one 😉

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 minute ago, RoverFolkUs said:

@AnnoyingPentium bet yours hasn't got as much ghia as this one 😉

Posh bastard's got a bloody aux input! 😂

[High Jetter]

2 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Posh bastard's got a bloody aux input! 😂

Also 2 blanks next to the heated screen switches, so not quite a full house! What would they have been for?

[wuvvum]

5 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Posh bastard's got a bloody aux input! 😂

Where?

[RoverFolkUs]

6 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Posh bastard's got a bloody aux input! 😂

Now that's deceiving because the button is there but it doesn't necessarily have it. Maybe a bit more poverty than we think 😁

2 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Also 2 blanks next to the heated screen switches, so not quite a full house! What would they have been for?

Heated seats, also stability control, it varies 

1 minute ago, wuvvum said:

Where?

It would be in the glovebox if it has it 👍