The new news 24 thread

[davehedgehog31]

1 minute ago, Cavcraft said:

Do they have that daft 'wet belt' or whatever it's called though that nobody replaces and it takes the engine out?

I'm trying not to think about that. 

[adw1977]

1 hour ago, davehedgehog31 said:

It's an odd spec, it has dual zone climate,  heated windscreen etc but then wheel trims.

Style was the second lowest trim level IIRC.  Dual zone climate control must have been an optional extra, I had a top spec Titanium that didn't have it.

Sounds like a pretty winning equipment combination actually, the heated windscreen is useful and alloy wheels are just a liability.

[artdjones]

4 hours ago, davehedgehog31 said:

I hadn't bought a car for a while, I have absolutely no need. Idly browsing eBay I noticed a MK2 Focus 1.8 TDCi "Style" not far away. A rash bid later and I only won it...

A short trip through, it looked fine so I unenthusiastically bought it. 

Put it straight in for a test and it didn't embarrass itself too badly. Required three springs and a tyre. I'd planned to do any work myself, but I was reluctant to mess about with widow maker spring compressors.

Bought four springs from eBay and it went down to the tame mechanic of Ayrshire, who may make himself apparent on here. Very professional, rapid turnaround and a job well done 112/10. 

So it now has a full years test. It's the 115bhp 1.8 diesel. A very capable AN CAR. It's an odd spec, it has dual zone climate,  heated windscreen etc but then wheel trims. The fly in the ointment being a rattly flywheel. It's been mentioned in documentation going back to 2016ish at least, I don't think it's imminent cause for concern and drives nicely otherwise. Ace on fuel and tax is £115 p/a. 

Means a fleet of four again, which always stresses me. Have the Lexus, 405, 107 and now Focus. Lexus aint going anywhere and while I have zero mojo for the 405 at the minute I think I'd regret getting rid. Means either the Focus or 107 should really go. 

Both have their pros and cons really. The 107 probably just trumps it in running costs, but the focus is obviously far more spacious and better on longer trips. I do think the 107 and Lexus compliment each other very well, being so different, so probably coming down on the side of the 107. 

Anyway, I'll give the Focus some time to audition before any decision is reached. 

Those wheel trims look a lot like alloys, so you get the look without the disadvantages.

[Split_Pin]

I'd imagine the market for both the Focus and 107 would be pretty decent. 

405s no eating a piece where it is, definitely don't sell that. It's a bloody lovely motor and you'd never find another as nice.

[tommotech]

The silver C2 with rotten sills is definitely going over the bridge. It looks like I’ve lined up a replacement, needs MOT work but not major welding. 
 

[SiC]

20 hours ago, wuvvum said:

'Cos double glazing innit.  Completely airtight, fire was starved of oxygen.

Plenty of oxygen available in that car, also cars aren't airtight. They have ventilation flaps in the rear usually as a minimum plus leak through gaps around the car. Especially ones melted from the fire. 

[beko1987]

Poor xsara had a little cough at 75 just wafting along this morning, several times... 

Hard acceleration from already motorway speeds didn't really do anything, but on the way home when I was off the motorway I wrung its neck most of the way home and it feels much better! 

Not really a grin or grump as by the time I next drive it it'll be doing it again I expect, I'm glad its not breaking more with its long periods of inactivity or rare sub 2 mile trip. 

Topped the tyres up too, they were all different the fronts haven't been touched since being fitted on March 2020, probably barely got 1000 miles on them 

[Cavcraft]

Doesn't look like the seller of the S320 wants to know. 

Strange really, especially given he is actually a self employed Mercedes (service and repair) expert*.

 

[Yoss]

On 1/16/2021 at 8:02 PM, Tim_E said:

I was hoping for larger circles from the rear wheels than the front...

I was hoping for a full sideways arrival a lá Bodie and Doyle. 

[Yoss]

MOT time for Felicia today. Nothing to report of course, it's a Felicia, it just goes straight through. 

It's 23 years old now and still does this every year. 

These were parked outside. Not shite or even interesting but there is something satisfying about identical vehicles with consecutive registrations. 

Or is that just me?

[goosey]

This morning I did a fluid change on my gl320 Transmission fluid + filter,  transfer case, front and rear diffs.

old oil came out immaculately clean and probably didn’t need changing, oh well it’s done now etc......

[vulgalour]

Got my first "I've not seen one of those in ages" today at the shops.  I would have chatted more, the guy seemed genuinely delighted to see a Maestro and eager to talk about his Montego he had years ago, but I wasn't really in a position to chat.  It's also been weird seeing the Maestro referred to as a 'classic car' by younger people, who aren't even bothered that it's not the performance model.  I'm told Maestros were very popular in the south as a 'car Mum did the shopping in' which probably explains why it turns the heads of women of a certain age wearing puffer gilets, while up north my experience of them was as a lower-middle class family car when new, or the sort of thing the local farmer owned until it literally fell apart around them.

[Cord Fourteener]

3 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Got my first "I've not seen one of those in ages" today at the shops.  I would have chatted more, the guy seemed genuinely delighted to see a Maestro and eager to talk about his Montego he had years ago, but I wasn't really in a position to chat.  It's also been weird seeing the Maestro referred to as a 'classic car' by younger people, who aren't even bothered that it's not the performance model.  I'm told Maestros were very popular in the south as a 'car Mum did the shopping in' which probably explains why it turns the heads of women of a certain age wearing puffer gilets, while up north my experience of them was as a lower-middle class family car when new, or the sort of thing the local farmer owned until it literally fell apart around them.

I remember some car media pundit scoffing that not just any car is a future classic, and making some BL /Austin Rover joke. 

It turns out that Allegro, Marina, Metro, Maestro/Montego are all capable of attracting nostalgia, indeed I remember our neighbour owning a Montego for what seemed to me as ages. Northern lower middle class family car, that!

It's nostalgia that drives demand which drives up prices...

 

[davehedgehog31]

Driver's seat in the Fuckus is a bit shagged. Almost feels like the bolster has jumped off the frame. 

@cms206 identified a matching Focus in a yard in Paisley so went over for a gander. Unfortunately the seat was similarly humped, must be a TADTS. 

They did have a Zetec with a full interior present and offered it for a half decent price, I decided I just couldn't be arsed and that it probably wasn't worth the hassle/expenditure.

I did at least manage a small improvement;

And I finally had a look at it in the daylight;

[richardmorris]

Mercedes is having its mot on Friday ( well it’s booked). 4700 in the last twelve months. When I first had my 2cv back in 1993 it was doing 24000 a year! 100miles a day commuting - it was having four services a year!

[Cord Fourteener]

16 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Driver's seat in the Fuckus is a bit shagged. Almost feels like the bolster has jumped off the frame. 

@cms206 identified a matching Focus in a yard in Paisley so went over for a gander. Unfortunately the seat was similarly humped, must be a TADTS. 

They did have a Zetec with a full interior present and offered it for a half decent price, I decided I just couldn't be arsed and that it probably wasn't worth the hassle/expenditure.

I did at least manage a small improvement;

And I finally had a look at it in the daylight;

My 56reg Mondeo had a shafted driver's seat, and it was horrible, totally broken in every way.

I've replaced it, it's so much better. I think you're probably right with the TADTS sentiment.

[richardmorris]

17 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Mercedes is having its mot on Friday ( well it’s booked). 4700 in the last twelve months. When I first had my 2cv back in 1993 it was doing 24000 a year! 100miles a day commuting - it was having four services a year!

The very same week I decided it was too much travelling, and leased a room in an apartment in Llandudno with four women I was made redundant. Ho hum.

[Cord Fourteener]

When I heard a certain Aussie motor journalist talk about 'Stellantis' being the new name for Fiat Chrysler PSA group I thought it was one of his elaborate pisstakes.

It turns out it's not.

[wuvvum]

45 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Driver's seat in the Fuckus is a bit shagged. Almost feels like the bolster has jumped off the frame. 

@cms206 identified a matching Focus in a yard in Paisley so went over for a gander. Unfortunately the seat was similarly humped, must be a TADTS. 

They did have a Zetec with a full interior present and offered it for a half decent price, I decided I just couldn't be arsed and that it probably wasn't worth the hassle/expenditure.

I did at least manage a small improvement;

And I finally had a look at it in the daylight;

I hope you've christened it Zebedee.

[wuvvum]

10 minutes ago, Tim_E said:

When I heard a certain Aussie motor journalist talk about 'Stellantis' being the new name for Fiat Chrysler PSA group I thought it was one of his elaborate pisstakes.

It turns out it's not.

And apparently they're Dutch.  🤨

[High Jetter]

7 hours ago, Yoss said:

MOT time for Felicia today. Nothing to report of course, it's a Felicia, it just goes straight through. 

It's 23 years old now and still does this every year. 

These were parked outside. Not shite or even interesting but there is something satisfying about identical vehicles with consecutive registrations. 

Or is that just me?

No, very satisfying. More than 2 even better.

[Cord Fourteener]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

And apparently they're Dutch.  🤨

It does appear that they have chosen the Netherlands to base their business.

[Carlosfandango]

Such a pain in the HOLE with the restrictions at the minute so I’m guessing we are all either unable to indulge in the passion for shite vehicles or simply lacking the motivation to do anything motoring related - currently a 5km limit here. 
However, had to bring my elderly dad for routine procedure today so decided to give the P38 a proper scrub. You need to be one brave bastard to depend on one of these to get you to a hospital on time. She started well and drove faultlessly all day. In fairness of all the shite cars I’ve owned over the years as dailies (and there has been a LOT) I especially fupping love this one. It brightens up an otherwise very dark January indeed..

 

CFD
 

 

 

[somewhatfoolish]

Attention shiters with itchy feet/unemployed/furloughed/etc with facilities maintenance experience in the vicinity of Weybridge, Surrey; the Brooklands Museum has a vacancy.

[reb]

It's my birthday today. No real news, but I'm pretty sure my last one was only a few weeks ago.

[Supernaut]

19 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Got my first "I've not seen one of those in ages" today at the shops.  I would have chatted more, the guy seemed genuinely delighted to see a Maestro and eager to talk about his Montego he had years ago, but I wasn't really in a position to chat.  It's also been weird seeing the Maestro referred to as a 'classic car' by younger people, who aren't even bothered that it's not the performance model.  I'm told Maestros were very popular in the south as a 'car Mum did the shopping in' which probably explains why it turns the heads of women of a certain age wearing puffer gilets, while up north my experience of them was as a lower-middle class family car when new, or the sort of thing the local farmer owned until it literally fell apart around them.

I got that shortly after getting the Saab 9000. I was at @17-Coffees' house and his neighbour across the street, who's into his cars, sauntered over for a chat. He waxed lyrical about how a 9000 Aero was the best car he ever owned. Shame mine isn't an Aero, but he was still properly impressed by it.

I just see it as an old shed...

[Cord Fourteener]

54 minutes ago, reb said:

It's my birthday today. No real news, but I'm pretty sure my last one was only a few weeks ago.

That must have been a hell of a party then for your last one!

I'm glad you're back, back here at least. I hope you're doing a bit better now, all the best to you and happy birthday👍

[Cord Fourteener]

1 minute ago, Supernaut said:

I got that shortly after getting the Saab 9000. I was at @17-Coffees' house and his neighbour across the street, who's into his cars, sauntered over for a chat. He waxed lyrical about how a 9000 Aero was the best car he ever owned. Shame mine isn't an Aero, but he was still properly impressed by it.

I just see it as an old shed...

I used to get it with the 924. It's nice when people enjoy seeing your car. Time will tell if people enjoy seeing the Volvo 740, I know I am when I see them in the wild.

[yes oui si]

[Eyersey1234]

Fuming at the moment, this fuckwit opened his door straight into Henry while I am sat in the car and didn't seem to care. Arsehole.