The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

Cheap ..practical...reliable hire car?

[captain_70s]

There's a lesson about drunk driving in there somewhere.

Possibly but I'm not sure it's obvious enough.

 

I've now decided not to sell the Civic and to simply keep it given that my prior worries of Glasgow life damaging it's nice bodywork and destroying it's value now being invalid so I may as well just stick with it until I have a decent Doloshite to play with. I'll attack the scuffs with the sandpaper and rattle cans at some point and use it as painting practice until I'm half decent...

[loserone]

Sounds like the civic is now autoshite

[Six-cylinder]

Citroen National yesterday, my usual obsession for Visas/C15s  came out.

[MarvinsMom]

spotted this wee gem in Darlington yesterday and i just had to pull over and take a snap

 

its an allegro 1100 lux, complete with square steering wheel!

 

got a pic of it with Marvin the metro, but i've not yet worked out how to get that pic off of the phone

 

we'd been over to the NRM at Shildon, and while there was some beautiful vehicles on show (a Bedford HA van, a bedford CA and also a Bedford CF as well as stuff like a couple of e-types and a couple of Vauxhall Victor FE's) i had forgotten the camera so sadly no pics.

 

we had got the Metro parked up next to a lush, 1947 Rover 16 saloon, which cost, in 1947 £947.... which i guess would have been the cost of a house back then!

 

but the the slightly scruffy Allegro running wild and free was my favorite. cos i like Allegro's.....

[bramz7]

Just trying to clean my entry for the FoU on Saturday, and it's reacting well to some clean water (well the bits with lacquer still on at least), but the engine bay is caked in, I assume, decades old oil and petrol. How on earth do I get it off?!! I could just leave it as is, but it's bothering me quite a bit that it's so grimy.

 

Lets just hope the dirt isn't structural. 

[Bobthebeard]

The new* brake caliper for the Oldsmobile has now arrived courtesy of Rock Auto. Took approximately a week. Not bad for $49 inc shipping. Will be fitting it this coming weekend. Hopefully a step closer to getting the MOT for the old girl.

[somewhatfoolish]

Just trying to clean my entry for the FoU on Saturday, and it's reacting well to some clean water (well the bits with lacquer still on at least), but the engine bay is caked in, I assume, decades old oil and petrol. How on earth do I get it off?!! I could just leave it as is, but it's bothering me quite a bit that it's so grimy.

 

Lets just hope the dirt isn't structural.

I'd have a go at it with TFR or maybe something like Jizer/Gunk; daub it on neat and leave for a bit then rinse off, or jet wash if you are feeling brave.

[17-Coffees]

Although I've finally got a garage of my own, I got the chance to finally get the 316 in the workshop at...well work.

 

Not bad, solid enough underneath, a few dabs of oil leaks but all serviceable. One being the rocker cover gasket, the other being a leak from the bottom of the power steering resivor. Oil levels all okay, so just going to keep an eye out. Overall not bad.

Oh wait, no it isn't, there actually is a borked spring on the rear.

 

Point of action? Park up in the home garage and have a proper wheel off check at my own pace...

[cros]

I had to deliver a young person to Stansted airport yesterday afternoon. If we could have simply dropped her off outside without waiting it would have cost a mere 3.50 but we needed to see her into departure so the hour it took cost 16 quid. We paid and got straight into the boiling hot P4 to join the queue to get the hell out. The ticket barriers all seemed to be playing up and cars were constantly diving into the next line to try to leave. The reason became apparent when we finally made the barrier- it kept rejecting cards and the delay was notching up an extra charge. No-one came to sort the mayhem though I dare say they would have done if one of the irate customers had smashed through the barrier. We paid the extra £5 incurred and I vowed never to go near the filthy Nazi-run shithole again. I've not been in an aeroplane since I was 10 so it won't be a hardship.

[Rusty_Rocket]

^^^ two hours free parking in mid stay.. 

[egg]

The new* brake caliper for the Oldsmobile has now arrived courtesy of Rock Auto. Took approximately a week. Not bad for $49 inc shipping. Will be fitting it this coming weekend. Hopefully a step closer to getting the MOT for the old girl.

image.jpeg

Did you have to pay import duty?

[Bobthebeard]

Did you have to pay import duty?

No... Just the shipping cost apparently. Not charged on small value items I suspect.

[cros]

^^^ two hours free parking in mid stay..

 

Should have gone to specsavers

[BorniteIdentity]

Is £20 plus postage a lot of money for a Sierra top hose?

 

I can only find one that looks vaguely correct.  

[stuboy]

I told missus her focus 2 months ago she had headlight out, i thought it had been done by her and her dad, well saturday i took her out for a meal for her birthday, 31 she rocking on a bit..!! We took 2 cars as had all the lil shits, went to leave and just getting dark she annouces she'll follow me as got bulb out!! Still they didnt do it,so yesterday 4 weeks after my op im changing the dam thing, not difficult just people dont realise theres a bolt underneath, after doing i found a how too on u tube, one thing i would say to anyone is dont put undertray back on until the grill is bolted on as theres no room and the bloody bolt falls through onto the tray and you have to remove it all again( yes i dropped both the lil feckers)

 

[egg]

Is £20 plus postage a lot of money for a Sierra top hose?

 

I can only find one that looks vaguely correct.

Sounds maybe a little steep to me, is it OEM though?

[dome]

Is £20 plus postage a lot of money for a Sierra top hose?

 

I can only find one that looks vaguely correct.  

 

 

Tried the dealer? They were OK in price for me for a bush for the Cougar

[BorniteIdentity]

Tried the dealer? They were OK in price for me for a bush for the Cougar

Aye. First stop. The bloke delighted in telling me the car is now 34 years old (in case I hadn't realised) and that after 10 years Ford stop making bits. I still made him search the database - mostly because he was being a cock and it was 5 minutes until closing, so I wanted to waste his time. He smugly showed me a print out saying NLA.

 

Verdict? Stroker.

[RobT]

I paid 12 quid for a NOS Cavalier top hose. I needed it so just puckered up and paid the money! It's still leaking from the thermostat housing, but I'll sort that another time.

[egg]

Have you got the FINIS code for the part?

 

My Favorit goes in for MOT tomorrow. Could get messy. M67 MNC for those of you who like to look online.

 

It hasn't been out of the garage in a month, so I have handed my tame mech the key and said 'do what you can'.  Will likely fail on emissions as a result if nothing else.

[egg]

Is £20 plus postage a lot of money for a Sierra top hose?

 

I can only find one that looks vaguely correct.  

 

There you go boss, £15.29 (6123800 part no) - gates

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GATES-3509-Radiator-Hose-/291568220466?epid=1109846736&hash=item43e2d1f932:g:JbIAAOSwQPlV~Txx

[fordperv]

^That diagram looks pretty spot on for a mk1 pinto top hose to me

[egg]

^That diagram looks pretty spot on for a mk1 pinto top hose to me

 

Well here's what the Gates catalogue says, seems legit.

 

http://www.gatesautocat.com/article/3509

[Bren]

With the passing of Martin Landau I thought it would be rude not to watch an episode of Space 1999 as I have both series on dvd.

 

Looking at my box sets it dawned on me most of the leading characters were dead or getting old.

 

It made me realise I am knocking on as well.

[SiC]

Decided to bring the "new" modern home today. A bit of champagne motoring on lemonade money this one. Cost me £4k, because thats what the parents got offered part-ex when they went to buy a new car. I wouldn't usually go for something like this, but it was cheap (for what it is) and it placates the wife wanting something a bit newer. Certainly much prefer having this over some financed Qashqai or similar she was looking at. Also means I can continue to buy crap chod in peace.

2017-07-16 16.05.30.jpg

2017-07-16 16.02.35.jpg

2017-07-16 20.37.57.jpg

 

Why was it so "cheap"? Well because ...

2017-07-16 22.21.59.jpg

 

To be fair, it drives very nicely and feel very solid, Germanic and sophisticated. Given the mileage (nearly 161k), its still feels new and has worn the miles very well. Not even the interior paint has scratched off, like German cars of old. Even for the devils fuel, its pretty quiet and smooth - still shame its not a petrol. I won't deny, I quite like it.

 

I was supposed to pick it up at the end of next month to mid September, but decided to leave the Civic at my parents and give this a bit of a use considering I've just bought it. Will bring the Civic home later instead, once I sell the Smart and cleared some room up on the drive.

 

So came back today after over 350 miles in the last 2 days. I really wanted to hate it, but I can't. VAG do make very competent products.

 

Smooth power delivery - especially from a diesel, flat cornering and not too crashy ride given the size of wheels+low suspension. Very surefooted and gives plenty of confidence. Seats are supportive and comfortable - even after 161k miles.

 

I can see why people buy them. I can't deny it, apart from the growl of a v6 and a loss of few toys, its a much better car than the Laguna - especially cornering. But then it is 4 years newer and like-for-like around £15k more expensive new.

 

When we got back onto the drive, it did remind us that it could grenade it at any point when it decided to give a very wobbly/rattly idle.

[cobblers]

Aye, I really enjoy my mums A3 S line thing. VAG diesels of that era are great at feeling incredibly powerful in normal driving. Smooth delivery, but when used to NA petrol stuff you're always left disappointed when you actually try and thrash them and you find out they gave all they could when you were only half trying.

Hers had the DSG box too which I love to drive but I'd be scared to own.

[SiC]

Biggest complaint is that the pedals are too close together. I usually put my sole under the brake pedal and pivot for brake and accelerator. However my size 10 shoes catch the trim. Also not much room to put your foot on the clutch rest pedal on the left. I suspect it was designed primarily for LHD and auto.

 

I agree, the 143bhp feels like it needs a bit more power. Definitely needs a big petrol up front in it. I bet the S4 is lush.

 

Oh and I only got 44.5mpg, which is pretty shit for a diesel. I get far more from my Civic.

[cort16]

I didn't like my A6 that much I thought it was a bit dull. it had  a really nice interior but that 2.0tdi engine doesn't seem to have that much torque. Mine had the 170bhp engine too but never felt all that quick. It was also incredibly easy to stall, it used to do my head in.

[SiC]

I have stalled it a couple of times. I do have to remember that you just hold the clutch in and let the stop/start do its thing and restart the engine itself. Something I'm not very used to. I also have to remember to knock it out of gear and leave the clutch up to let it stop the engine itself at lights. I wish it had brake hold though that a courtesy Golf I had did.

 

I know what you mean by dull. It really does not have much character - but then it is German. However as a purely a machine, it does the job very well imo. Especially considering how well it handles around corners given its length, weight and power plant.

 

Oh and people seem to pull over and let you pass on country roads often! Even when I'm trundling behind in no rush and leaving plenty of room. It's like they expect a black Aldi with DRLs wanting to overtake at every moment.