The new news 24 thread

[SmokinWaffle]

37 minutes ago, xtriple said:

Massive news... I have just ordered new wiper blades! Not just any old blades either... genuine Mercedes Benz wiper blades (Like M and S wiper blades but more expensive, which is better, right?). I really bought them because the genuine items come with a little mark on the ends that changes from black to yellow when they are worn out and the car currently has the little yellow mark showing on the driver's side blade,  without a shadow of a doubt, they were/are the best wipers I've ever had on any car, so more of the same seems like a good idea, no?

Also, saves all that dithering about whether Bosch or Halfords own brand are better, or should I buy from eBay/Amazon? I am a born again ditherer so just buying the same again is sensible... ish. Also bought some more Waxoyl to blast around underneath it if it ever stops pissing it down!

I spend far too long deciding on stupid stuff like wipers. Good on you.

The BX just passed it's MOT after having a small electrical fire this morning - some rewiring to do then it's another year of fun hopefully:

  

9 minutes ago, SmokinWaffle said:

Happy days - it lives another year!

I'll do that boot when it stops raining for more than 3.5 seconds.

 

[brownnova]

2 hours ago, SiC said:

Looks like I've bought my old Civic back. 😂

In-laws who I gave it to are buying a 3yr old C200d. Merc dealer offered £feckall and no doubt will scrap it as not worth the hassle to auction. 

Done 156k at last MOT, so probably almost 160k ish now. 2 owners before me (Honda employee then someone else), I bought in around 2013ish. Written off as a Cat N (non structural) in 2018 when someone went into the back of me at traffic lights (post in this news24 thread at the time). I didn't know I was going to get it back so bought something else. Got it back, repaired it (crash beam and adjusted boot catch) and gave it to the in-laws. FSH when I owned it (every year) and it had the clutch done at around 97k. In-laws had it oil+filter changed service and MOTd, so should still be alright. Only fault that I know of is Aircon dead (pipe went soft this year, suspect stone in condenser usually on these) and mix of tyres (annoys me that as there was Michelins on when I gave it). I'd fully trust it to go anywhere and I've been everywhere with it - from Scotland to South of France. 

Not sure how much as it depends what it's going to cost for me to get it back here. Going to be £LOLcheap for a fully working car though as don't really need it and it stresses my wife out when we have too many cars on the drive. 

I'll do a proper for sale thread once I get it back. 

Here is an old picture of it and the first I came to when looking for one. Was a holiday cottage in West Wales somewhere and we got a sudden snow downpour.

Watches with interest as the FiL needs a new car and I like these Civics... 

[Zelandeth]

2 hours ago, stuboy said:

Not a great fan of the large rear lights so swapped them for the old ones from mondeo that died...

I like the whole black & silver monochromatic look going on there.

-- -- --

In further DIY news, the mass shelving installation has begun.  This will be going the full width of the room and continue around the corner to the window.

[SRi05]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

Looks like I've bought my old Civic back. 😂

In-laws who I gave it to are buying a 3yr old C200d. Merc dealer offered £feckall and no doubt will scrap it as not worth the hassle to auction. 

Done 156k at last MOT, so probably almost 160k ish now. 2 owners before me (Honda employee then someone else), I bought in around 2013ish. Written off as a Cat N (non structural) in 2018 when someone went into the back of me at traffic lights (post in this news24 thread at the time). I didn't know I was going to get it back so bought something else. Got it back, repaired it (crash beam and adjusted boot catch) and gave it to the in-laws. FSH when I owned it (every year) and it had the clutch done at around 97k. In-laws had it oil+filter changed service and MOTd, so should still be alright. Only fault that I know of is Aircon dead (pipe went soft this year, suspect stone in condenser usually on these) and mix of tyres (annoys me that as there was Michelins on when I gave it). I'd fully trust it to go anywhere and I've been everywhere with it - from Scotland to South of France. 

Not sure how much as it depends what it's going to cost for me to get it back here. Going to be £LOLcheap for a fully working car though as don't really need it and it stresses my wife out when we have too many cars on the drive. 

I'll do a proper for sale thread once I get it back. 

Here is an old picture of it and the first I came to when looking for one. Was a holiday cottage in West Wales somewhere and we got a sudden snow downpour.

Whereabouts is it ? Could cut out the middle man and sell it from there. Particularly if it's North 👀 😂

[bunglebus]

Mother BB's Astra doing tip run duty today

 

[richardmorris]

Most of my recent spots at work are for auction this weekend. 

https://rmsothebys.com/en/home/lots/lf20#?SortBy=Default&SearchTerm=&Category=All Categories&IncludeWithdrawnLots&Auction=LF20&OfferStatus=All availability&AuctionYear=&Model=Model&Make=Make&FeaturedOnly=false&StillForSaleOnly=false&Collection=All Lots&WithoutReserveOnly=false&Day=All Days&CategoryTag=All Motor Vehicles&TimedOnly=false&OneHubLinkOnly=false&page=1&pageSize=40

[SiC]

1 hour ago, SRi05 said:

Whereabouts is it ? Could cut out the middle man and sell it from there. Particularly if it's North 👀 😂

Just south of Bristol. But 10mins from Bristol airport. 

[SiC]

1 minute ago, Nyphur said:

My dad's Freelander 1 TD4 will be going for sale at the weekend.

Must be a buy a new car week in Newbury!

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, Nyphur said:

Whats the seat from?

Late 90s Jag XJ6.  Put it together back in 2009 but it will be getting replaced soon as it's falling apart sadly.

The Xantia seat I'd had in the garage for a while was planned to replace it, but I nicked it for the Invacar instead so need to find something else now.

[richardmorris]

32 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Most of my recent spots at work are for auction this weekend. 

https://rmsothebys.com/en/home/lots/lf20#?SortBy=Default&SearchTerm=&Category=All Categories&IncludeWithdrawnLots&Auction=LF20&OfferStatus=All availability&AuctionYear=&Model=Model&Make=Make&FeaturedOnly=false&StillForSaleOnly=false&Collection=All Lots&WithoutReserveOnly=false&Day=All Days&CategoryTag=All Motor Vehicles&TimedOnly=false&OneHubLinkOnly=false&page=1&pageSize=40

This is my favourite outside this week.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20/london/lots/r0026-1971-mercedes-benz-280-se-35-coupé/996216

[Six-cylinder]

5 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

This is my favourite outside this week.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20/london/lots/r0026-1971-mercedes-benz-280-se-35-coupé/996216

This one for me!

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20/london/lots/r0034-1970-riva-aquarama/996965

[richardmorris]

4 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

This one for me!

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20/london/lots/r0034-1970-riva-aquarama/996965

Well yes of course- who doesn’t want a riva?  Sadly that’s not been spotted at work. Are you buying?

[Six-cylinder]

44 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Well yes of course- who doesn’t want a riva?  Sadly that’s not been spotted at work. Are you buying?

Well I don't like wobbly boats water they make me sea sick and with a 4 mph limit on canals I would not be welcome with twin V8s!

[richardmorris]

1 minute ago, Six-cylinder said:

Well I don't like wobbly boats they make me sea sick and with a 4 mph limit on canals I would not be welcome!

I was thinking of one to go with the Venetian palacio!

[xtriple]

When I used to launch my Driver 440 (wih a Merc 85 on the back   in the trade they are called 'Welfare motors' 'cos they are big and black and never fuckin' work!   That's a joke, right?)   from Kingsbridge quay I regularly got done for speeding by the harbour master bloke. Also got done from Salcombe, Hope cove and Totnes!

it was awful at low speeds and brilliant at high ones.

[LightBulbFun]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

Late 90s Jag XJ6.  Put it together back in 2009 but it will be getting replaced soon as it's falling apart sadly.

The Xantia seat I'd had in the garage for a while was planned to replace it, but I nicked it for the Invacar instead so need to find something else now.

nail whats left of TPA's old seat back together and go full circle? LOL

[Six-cylinder]

20 minutes ago, xtriple said:

When I used to launch my Driver 440 (wih a Merc 85 on the back   in the trade they are called 'Welfare motors' 'cos they are big and black and never fuckin' work!   That's a joke, right?)   from Kingsbridge quay I regularly got done for speeding by the harbour master bloke. Also got done from Salcombe, Hope cove and Totnes!

it was awful at low speeds and brilliant at high ones.

 

[xtriple]

Look at the puny size of those carbs... need a few more CFM per engine It'll get up and go then, although I suppos it might go alright as is... still better with 1200 CFM 4 barrels  

[Six-cylinder]

Just now, xtriple said:

Look at the puny size of those carbs... need a few more CFM per engine It'll get up and go then, although I suppos it might go alright as is... still better with 1200 CFM 4 barrels  

I notice that when I had posted the picture.

Superchargers are missing!

[Cord Fourteener]

I has pumpkined

[Christine]

My 20 year old T4  has been resting for  the last 11 months . I bought it brand new , but couldn't part with it , when i took it off the road last year , at 193 k the  original clutch was slipping badly , and cambelt @ 10 years +  100k old..   Several knockers on the door wanting to buy it over the last year ..but glad i kept it now 

Today it was re mot'd .  Taxed,  insured and back on the road !  New clutch and cambelt , full exhaust and cat  ,calipers and pads all round , brake cables , 4 new tyres ,  cv gaiters, battery , front shocks ... and it failed on the foglight bulb .. which did work last night ok!     I'm happy , cost a few quid , but  i've missed it .. feels just like the day i first bought it 

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, Christine said:

at 193 k the  original clutch was slipping badly

That's pretty good going for a clutch - although with only 64bhp (or whatever these are) going through it I don't suppose it's had too stressful a life...

[wuvvum]

Well my little corner of Norfolk managed to go an entire day without any rain, which coupled with the fact that there was a steady breeze all day meant that by evening time the roads were pretty much completely dry.  So I was finally able to take my recently-acquired C2 for a hoon up the coast road.

This is going to be the primary purpose of the car - zooming round the localish area.  It certainly isn't a car I'd choose to do a long run in - the ride is firm to the point of being jiggly (short wheelbase a contributing factor here) and the close-ratio 'box means it's very undergeared for cruising - 70 in 5th is almost 4,000rpm, which would get wearing on a long trip.  It's not even that great for shopping as the turning circle is pants - much worse than the "cooking" C2s, presumably to stop the bigger wheels from fouling on anything - I remember sporting Rover Metros similarly having far worse turning circles than boggo models.  It's really very much a B-road blaster.

And what a fun little go-kart it is.  The gearchange is horrible when cold but once the oil has warmed up a bit it's fine - not quite MX-5 standard but perfectly adequate for quick shifting.  It sticks to the road really well, as it should with 195-section tyres, and it feels nicely balanced although due to the firm suspension it gets a bit squirmy on mid-corner bumps.  The steering is quite direct - the variable PAS takes a bit of getting used to but works fine once you get the hang of it.  And it absolutely flies when given the beans - the engine doesn't feel particularly impressive when pottering around, but the higher you rev it the better it pulls, and it's quite happy to scream up to 7,000rpm before the shift light turns red - I haven't actually hit the limiter yet.

It's funny, the C2 and C3 remind me of the 3-door and 5-door Peugeot 104s.  The C3 is a fairly sensible, roomy four-seater hatchback with a decent boot; the C2 is similar forward of the windscreen but truncated quite brutally behind the B-pillars, and it's really a 2+2 with a little 50/50 split rear seat crammed between the rear arches just like a 3-door 104 - although the C2's rear seats do slide backwards and forwards to adjust the rear legroom between very little and none at all.

In non-Citroën news, I picked up a car cover from Lidl yesterday for £9.99 which I've fitted to the Volvo - looks better than a tarpaulin.  The tarp can be repurposed to help keep the boat dry...

[stuboy]

20 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

23 hours ago, stuboy said:

Not a great fan of the large rear lights so swapped them for the old ones from mondeo that died...

Expand  

I like the whole black & silver monochromatic look going on there

Me too

[richardmorris]

Whilst lapping goodwood today in the rain and wind I saw what looked like a CAR SOS handover.  Bright green jenson interceptor, cameras,  lights and someone looking remarkably like Tim. 

[Six-cylinder]

12 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Whilst lapping goodwood today in the rain and wind I saw what looked like a CAR SOS handover.  

I told you a Riva speed boat would be a good purchase!😀

[richardmorris]

49 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I told you a Riva speed boat would be a good purchase!😀

Wasn’t quite that wet. The wind was more of a nuisance- quite how it’s possible to have a headwind all the way round a circuit I don’t know. 

[Zelandeth]

After four days I finally have a functional workstation back up and running.  Was 4am I finally got things clear enough this morning I could finally get to bed!

Room's nowhere like finished but it feels like I'm actually getting somewhere now rather than simply running around in circles.

[HMC]

Fixed the heater blower on the 206 by replacing the failed resistor. Thanks to YouTube I discovered you can access it by ramming your hand up under the dash / footwell with the setting on recirculated air. I still have flesh on 2 knuckles of my right hand. I’m a bit confused as it seems the blower motor only operates with engine running rather than the with the ignition set to power the accessories. Hence initially I kept checking to find it wasn’t working.
 

This did not go down well with my head in the footwell and phone light in my mouth in the dark and drizzle.
 

Anyway it’s fixed. This pic highlights the pure noughties bling of whatever colour it is (urine in daylight) and the nasty parking / crash damage.  Park near me if you feel lucky.

[KitKat]

At a loose end with time to kill in Portsmouth today, so went chod spotting.....

 Giffered Mk2 1.1 Ghia Fiesta

 

GTI-16v Corolla! I Unmolested and looked like used daily

Trabant, Lidl and grey sky joy

M-reg Granada

Y tho