The new news 24 thread

[robinmasters]

This morning I woke up and thought 'Fellas, I'm ready to get up and do my thing, moving and doing it, you know?'.

 

So, sadly, I did.

 

[Supernaut]

you want a xantia! supernaught wants rid of his I think...

Yeah, kind of.

 

I've had my LHM fun, and once the novelty wears off, it's just a boring big HDi hatchback.

 

It's still nice to wallow about in, but the BMW 316 is more, er... pointy. If you know what I mean. I reckon the Civic aerodeck could be a right laugh once it's sorted.

 

However, I also have a buyer lined up for the Xantia, he just needs to shift his current car for sale, so it's a chain. Doesn't bother me, as it's handy to still have a car. No idea when the Civic will be road legal.

[Bear]

I think that farmers are having to develop land rapidly due to planning restrictions being placed on them, so the farm is going to be a very different place for a year. Oh well.

 

There is a slight distraction:

 

 

Vodafone are still crap, and because I wanted a posh new phone when I moved to O2, I still have no phone. ARGH.

Smart looks like it's going back dahn sarf

Going to rush through a few jobs on the 200TE to hand it back

Have absolutely no idea what to do with the MG F

Cannot get the enthusiasm to fix the Twingo. How hard can it be, really? Why wasn't it an OHV one!

[Angrydicky]

Is that FPB7's P4?

[Bobthebeard]

Well the front seats are now out of the Oldsmobile ready for carpet removal and a deep clean. Accessing the seat runner rear bolts was a bit of a struggle due to the runners being jammed up with crap. Tissues, parking tickets, crisp packets and some horrible melted jelly bean type of sweets. Good news was that I got some cashback in the form of two 2p coins, a penny and 26 US cents. Well, a one cent coin and a quarter dollar coin .Under the seats was minging so vacuumed up the mess. Sadly no pics as I dropped my Ipad and am now using an oldish resurrected Toshiba notebook thingy due to smashed Ipad screen .Not used it for 5 years and boy, is it slow! 

[Richard]

After several attempts to contact the Volvo specialist about fitting my bush I came to the conclusion that he didn't want to do it. He didn't seem that keen and made the job sound very difficult.

 

I discovered that I am free this afternoon so I decided to have a look to see if it could be done in the drive after all. It turned out to be surprisingly easy. Other than the wheel the only thing I had to remove was the offending part.

 

 

The Volvo lives.

[Tickman]

The Volvo lives.

Excellent

 

Shame he couldn't just say he didn't want to do it!

[phil_lihp]

There are quite a few very nice Carina Es about at the moment. Definitely the time to buy.

 

Carina E's are going to be with us long after the sun has gone out, they seem to be indestructible.  Case in point: a friend of mine inherited hers from her parents, it's a flat white 1.6 saloon with black bumpers so as dull as they get, has about 160k on the clock and in the 8 years she's had it has needed one alternator and a battery.  I would say 'apart from service items' - except that it has apparently not seen an oil change in 8 years.  It still runs well and does a fair bit of mileage, despite the paintwork being completely matt and it seldom seeing a wash it's in remarkable condition, one front wing is gaffer-taped on part of the wheelarch and one door's blistered along the bottom but for a 22 year old car it's in pretty good shape.

 

I'm inclined to offer to take it off her when she finally does get rid if it's still working, just out of curiosity about the state of the sump contents if nothing else!

[320touring]

After several attempts to contact the Volvo specialist about fitting my bush I came to the conclusion that he didn't want to do it. He didn't seem that keen and made the job sound very difficult.

 

I discovered that I am free this afternoon so I decided to have a look to see if it could be done in the drive after all. It turned out to be surprisingly easy. Other than the wheel the only thing I had to remove was the offending part.

 

 

The Volvo lives.

Liked x eleventy!

[dugong]

Of course the car in front is the Carina E Mo - or have you been subliminally channeling adverts again?

[trigger]

I went round my dads this morning, and spotted something he hadn't told me about in the back of the garage behind his Mk1...

 

 

Turns out he randomly bought this 1957 Ford Pop as a little winter project, the last owner died so his family was selling it, its done a believe genuine 36000 miles and comes from Diss in Norfolk when new. It's a little bit scabby around the roof seams and the bottom of one of the A posts and it needs a bloody good polish again.

 

I couldn't get very good photos as it's in the back of the garage.

 

 

The interior needs new carpets and the clutch pedal sticks half way down.

 

 

 

I must admit I'm very surprised that he's bought it, the last owners just spent £3500 having the fabric roof restored and headlining done and a load of engine work. I'm not sure it's my cup of tea but i can't wait to have a drive of it!

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Daily driver modern 307 is being all French today. Temperature gauge randomly shoots up from middle to max, STOP illuminates on dash, central display reads "engine coolant temperature too high"

Turn off and on again and it's instantly fine again. Sometimes fixes itself as you drive along. No coolant leaks or anything untoward.

Also the central display randomly tells you the auto lights are activated, the auto locking is activated etc etc etc.

 

Digital heater control occasionally just blows cold air when you have it at max temperature. Turning off and on again fixes this too.

 

As long as it still runs I'm just keeping an eye on the coolant levels etc and ignoring all of the messages of doom.

 

It done this for a while a few months ago and has been fine ever since. Until now.

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[beko1987]

thank God you have a reliable backup car. oh wait...

[SiC]

The 307 really is the pinnacle of 2000 era French electronics.

[r.welfare]

I had a 405 that did the opposite of that; great fun in high summer.

[stuboy]

Spent last 2 days either at missus bedside after her op or yesterday looking after future step son of 2 years old as he was rushed to hospital, he's fine now, missus waiting on the surgeon to discharge her, and top it off ive been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis .

[richardmorris]

I had to go out in the 2cv today in the rain as I don't trust the Mercedes until I get the new ignition barrel. I just need to fit the new primary jet I bought on Monday now. Gave the Mercedes a wash and waited for the policeman to come and take my statement. Then he rang to ask if I really wanted to take it any further. Ie he didn't. Very polite and pleasant, but just a road rage incident with no witnesses and no description of the driver ( I expect elderly, grey hair and smoking a cigar doesn't count). He didn't ask if I had video footage though...

[dollywobbler]

I must admit I'm very surprised that he's bought it, the last owners just spent £3500 having the fabric roof restored and headlining done and a load of engine work. I'm not sure it's my cup of tea but i can't wait to have a drive of it!

 

Ha! Can't wait to see what you think of it. I can certainly understand why so many ended up with V8s and entirely different running gear. Pure 1930s. To think, that car was current when the Mini was launched...

[They_all_do_that_sir]

The 306 was a very very good car. Did Peugeot choose to build on this great platform with the 307? Hell no.

It's not a terrible car but it's no 306 replacement

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Spent last 2 days either at missus bedside after her op or yesterday looking after future step son of 2 years old as he was rushed to hospital, he's fine now, missus waiting on the surgeon to discharge her, and top it off ive been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis .

I'd like to unlike this. Hope all works out chap

 

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[Bear]

Is that FPB7's P4?

 

 

It is, it's residing here for a while to enjoy the covered storage and potential fettling and because getting to play with cars that are ancient is awesome won't be getting pushed into daily driver duties JUST yet though.

[trigger]

Ha! Can't wait to see what you think of it. I can certainly understand why so many ended up with V8s and entirely different running gear. Pure 1930s. To think, that car was current when the Mini was launched...

The Mini must have come across like being a spaceship in comparison! Dad said it was painfully slow and has only got 3 gears. He gave £4000 for it which i thought was a bit steep, he's talking of sorting the interior out and cleaning it up and hopefully getting £5000 for it. I can think of better stuff for that money personally.

[tooSavvy]

I'm inclined to offer to take it off her when she finally does get rid if it's still working, just out of curiosity about the state of the sump contents if nothing else!

 

RE: Jalopy Mag story.  Don't drop the oil.... lol

 

TS

[dave21478]

Daily driver modern 307 is being all French today. Temperature gauge randomly shoots up from middle to max, STOP illuminates on dash, central display reads "engine coolant temperature too high"

Turn off and on again and it's instantly fine again. Sometimes fixes itself as you drive along. No coolant leaks or anything untoward.

Also the central display randomly tells you the auto lights are activated, the auto locking is activated etc etc etc.

 

Digital heater control occasionally just blows cold air when you have it at max temperature. Turning off and on again fixes this too.

 

As long as it still runs I'm just keeping an eye on the coolant levels etc and ignoring all of the messages of doom.

 

It done this for a while a few months ago and has been fine ever since. Until now.

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Maybe have a prod at the battery and charging system and some earth leads....lots of sudden electrical doom is often a symptom of low voltage, which they really dont like.

[Cleon-Fonte]

Daily driver modern 307 is being all French today. Temperature gauge randomly shoots up from middle to max, STOP illuminates on dash, central display reads "engine coolant temperature too high"

Turn off and on again and it's instantly fine again. Sometimes fixes itself as you drive along. No coolant leaks or anything untoward.

Also the central display randomly tells you the auto lights are activated, the auto locking is activated etc etc etc.

 

They all do that. My old one used to love regularly suffering random faults with the aforementioned STOP and central displays blinking like Christmas tree lights. I found switching it off and leaving it for about twelve hours usually cured whatever it was.

 

Other amusing* little random electrical foibles included the radio volume self-adjusting - often down to whisper quiet then eardrum burstingly loud - and turning off the headlights at random moments.

[Kiltox]

A large amount of 407 woe is bad earths - assume 307 is the same

[SiC]

A large amount of 407 woe is bad earths - assume 307 is the same

Did you get your latest dodgy electrical PSA purchase sorted in the end?

[Inspector Morose]

Went to Scotland. Had coffee and slept.

Went a bit more to scotland. Bought a car.

Drove home.

The end.

[anonymous user]

Today was an interesting day, on Thursday evening I checked my phone and there was an answerphone message from a very good friend asking what I was doing Saturday (today). Didn't manage to get hold of him until half-way through yesterday to find out why. They're doing the big sell up and emigrating to Madeira, in ten days time. Several cars are going too and instead of taking them one at a time it was decided, if feasible, to get four up to the shippers today and the rest next week. So suitable friends who are on the insurance were roped in and somehow one of them was me.

 

I was up at 4:30 to get there by 7:00 which was the intended departure time, it was not the most pleasant of mornings, very wet and still dark. We all met up and left in convoy

 

This was my view for most of the journey (The wipers did work and this was taken when stationary at the services)

 

My allocated transport was a Rolls Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine, probably the most valuable car I have ever driven and not something I woulld really choose to drive for the first time on a dark, wet, morning in October. I have been a passenger in it and would say that the from the rear seat it is the only way to travel. being in the front and in control is a different matter. I was in convoy, or possibly procession would be more approriate, with the S3 Bentley and another Phantom V State Limousine, the lead car being a totally inappropriate sand-rail/buggy and bringing up the rear a sensible 4x4.

 

My host gave himself the short straw and drove the sand-rail, no windscreen/roof/bodywork, just wet weather gear and a full face helmet. Things were going swimmingly until a point on the M5 where a lorry cut the other Phantom up requiring it to brake sharply, this is the least used of the cars and the rear brakes locked up a bit. (with over 6 litres under the bonnet it was possible to get it off the M5 and into the nearby Frankley services)

 

 

In the front the Phantom in disgrace, but not a full failure to proceed; it looks like the rear brake hose has started to collapse internally as, bleeding some fluid off released the brakes and they were fine in the lorry park, but it didn't seem wise to trust it back on the motorway or through town so recovery was organised.

 

We all waited for the recovery truck until such a point that we would all have had to pay to park after 2 hours, then three of us set off for the shippers with the buggy and Phantom waiting for the recovery. We only went up as far as the next junction and came off there to wait (in a retail car park) until the other car was loaded and on its way.

 

After the phone call to say they were on the way we rejoined the motorway and after M5/M6 and side roads reached the storage site where the cars will be containered. The recovery truck and buggy had beaten us to it, the local driver knowing a more sensible route.

 

Got back home at 17;00, not my usual sort of day. My observations on driving a Phantom V, something I'm unlikely to ever do again, is that you definitely feel like staff, the driving position is very upright, I wasn't cramped, but anyone a bit taller would be.

 

It is not a car that "shrinks around you" I was very conscious of the amount of coachbuilt steel, leather, walnut and plate glass and another thing I noticed is that some people seemed to delight in pulling out in front of it.

[vulgalour]

In more mundane news, work on the custom Princess continues.  Today, Chompy and I got the headlights in, the rear wiring loom reinstated and even got one of the new rear light clusters fully operational.  Amazingly, the BMW units are plug and play with the Princess wiring!  At the front, the headlights started out working fine on one side, then a sealed beam unit fizzled out and now they won't work at all.  Further investigation required.  Tomorrow we're hoping to get the wiring sorted out and some pictures for a proper update.

 

Chompy also talked to local hydraulics company, Pirtek, who are more than happy to make a proper replacement section of pipe after we found the old pieces are the wrong shape to connect with the compression fitting I have.  Rather than faff about trying (and most likely failing) to rebend the pipe to the required shape we're just going to get a proper shunt made.

 

Once the lights and suspension are sorted, I've got the oil leak to resolve and then, unbelievably, it's MoT time so far as we can tell.