The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

Been up to check on the villa on the island...and this freelander never seems to move, and now its got a pallet to keep it company

[stuboy]

6 minutes ago, stuboy said:

Been up to check on the villa on the island...and this freelander never seems to move, and now its got a pallet to keep it company

Would help if I attached the image

[wuvvum]

And home.

What an absolute heap.  Cosmetically it's rough as a badger's arse, the ignition barrel is MIA and has been replaced with a universal key switch mouunted in the dash, the nearside rear wheel bearing is droning fit to bust, and the exhaust is blowing from somewhere near the front and spent the whole journey doing its level best to give me carbon monoxide poisoning.  The brakes make all kinds of weird noises at low speed, the fan belt squeals loudly every time you pull away, the boot doesn't shut properly, and I'm far from convinced that the roof is fully watertight - the seats and carpets seem dry enough but there's definitely water sloshing around somewhere in the back during enthusiastic cornering.  Oh, and the wiper blades were shot to ribbons - I've bought it a new driver's side blade so I have at least a vague chance of seeing where I'm going in the rain.  It also runs very cool and the heater is mediocre - I think the thermostat may be either knackered or missing.

Having said that, it drove 170 miles home without missing a beat, and it still goes like the clappers - I had one of these as my daily about 15 years ago but I'd forgotten just how nippy they are.  Good on fuel too.  I'm going to sort the obvious bits (tighten the fan belt, patch up the exhaust and try and find a rear wheel bearing for it) and then see how we go from there.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 hours ago, richardmorris said:

TRXs may need a surgical wallet extraction. 

Just £307each!

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/citroen/cx/190-65hr390-michelin-trx.html

 

 

Lucky not metrics on my CX. 6x14 wheels, so 195/70 R14 Korean tyres.

Tyre shop staff are a bunch of practical jokers. They've been around long enough to actually half-remember how to deal with oul Citroëns, but - in some sort of local tradition - they delegated the job to the youngest fitter. He'd never seen a CX before and was hilariously* nervous about touching it. When asked why, he said " 'cos if I get it wrong,  it comes out of my own pocket!'".

Once he'd found the front jacking points, he was still nervous. This was the last job of the day. What didn’t help his confidence were the two senior fitters plus the boss all now standing over him with knowing looks and passing helpful* remarks about torque settings and stripped threads. Also that they had homes to go to.

To be fair to the lad, he didn't put a jack wrong in the end, he learnt something useful about ancient Citroëns, and I can confirm that the wheels haven't fallen off after a 20-mile drive.

 

[brownnova]

The fella who had the 75 I viewed today also had this…. 

Hnnnnngggggg

[wuvvum]

2 minutes ago, brownnova said:

The fella who had the 75 I viewed today also had this…. 

Hnnnnngggggg

That is fantastic.  I'd give anything to own a pale blue Nissan Note.

[reb]

The Corsa courtesy car that's replaced the MG3 is on less than 6000 miles. It has a gearbox fault. Aren't moderns wonderful?

[Spottedlaurel]

Verdict in on Miss SL's Yaris:

Nothing too worrying. I drove it there and was reminded what a fun little thing it is.

Yet more work on the house, very productive. Several weeks ago we removed some trellis and overgrown bushes which were edging this bit of the driveway. Had a friendly groundworker round yesterday, after he'd removed some roots and stripped the topsoil Master SL got involved with some compacting:

Note drink in hand. Then whacking the top layer of stone:

So by early PM I coud do this:

Just some 20mm stone to move from the back garden and lay on it now, but at least it's functional. Should be ample room for the Yaris when it comes back.

What I hadn't considered is how much easier it makes getting parked-up - we can just drive in off the road forwards then back into this area, rather than the complicated reverse in backwards and manouevre around the gatepost that we were having to do (which was getting less fun on dark evenings).

It might also mean there's room for something else in the future.....

[wuvvum]

Now setting off westward on a combined collection and delivery mission.  Doing a lot of driving this weekend...

[Six-cylinder]

10 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Now setting off westward on a combined collection and delivery mission.  Doing a lot of driving this weekend...

You can hardly travel east from where you are without a good boat!

[Supernaut]

22 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Now setting off westward on a combined collection and delivery mission.  Doing a lot of driving this weekend...

Don't bother. Nothing will top yesterday's collection!

[Tadhg Tiogar]

11 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

You can hardly travel east from where you are without a good boat!

"Harwich for the Continent. Frinton for the incontinent."

[wuvvum]

A11 is closed.   That's a good start...

[MorrisItalSLX]

19 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Collectioned. 

Wish me luck...

You are Sharon Strzelecki AICMFP.

[Cord Fourteener]

13 hours ago, brownnova said:

The fella who had the 75 I viewed today also had this…. 

Hnnnnngggggg

And you didn't buy this when you turned the 75 down? I'm disappointed!

[Cord Fourteener]

Friggin Sunday morning drivers. 

One farmers limo nearly slid into the back, some twonk pulled out in front of me on a 60 mph section then cut the corner and drove towards me in my lane before pulling over. Idiot.

Then some twonk doing 20mph on a hill road that's also 60mph, causing all sorts of trouble with people wanting to get past. 

Now I have to take my 7 year old home, I hope they have calmed down. I nearly have. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

20 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Collectioned. 

Wish me luck...

You'll be amazed* at a Mazda, etc.

[grogee]

@Cluffyand I spent this morning wrestling with his Corrado gearbox. It came off after the requisite amount of swearing, sweating, grunting and pulling. 

In the end we decided the 'Falling Onto Something Soft' was the best way to get it out completely. 6 layers of foam floor stuff plus some rolled up carpet did the job, although I don't think that's the approved HBoL method. 

His task list includes new chains and guides, plus a new clutch because why wouldn't you when you're balls deep? Head is off to the specialist for skimming and stuff. 

Job#1 is Spring so we're hopeful it'll be back together by then. 

[brownnova]

20 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

And you didn't buy this when you turned the 75 down? I'm disappointed!

It wasn’t for sale… I did ask 😂

[grogee]

13 hours ago, reb said:

The Corsa courtesy car that's replaced the MG3 is on less than 6000 miles. It has a gearbox fault. Aren't moderns wonderful?

Mrs Grogee had a brand new Europcar Corsa, quite high spec. The electronic handbrake switch broke off. Driver aids were downright dangerous on the country lanes and it smelled of McDonalds. Think it was list price £20k+.

The radio was alright though. 

[wuvvum]

Stage 1 complete. 

[reb]

2 hours ago, grogee said:

Mrs Grogee had a brand new Europcar Corsa, quite high spec. The electronic handbrake switch broke off. Driver aids were downright dangerous on the country lanes and it smelled of McDonalds. Think it was list price £20k+.

The radio was alright though. 

Mums found the same with the driving aids, she tasked me with figuring out how to switch them off. The manual shows a completely different car!

[wuvvum]

Stage 2 commencing. 

[stuboy]

Well the standard 8 is sold, but wanted to drive it away, but sadly after sorting out dodgy King lead, grimey oily plugs, it fires over but fuel pump is past its best but she runs when fuel down the carbon, so next week they coming back with a new pump , fit it and drive it away.

 

[loserone]

19 hours ago, wuvvum said:

heap

Dibs? Has it got a proper full size sunroof?

[Timewaster]

50 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Stage 2 commencing. 

Is that a vinyl roof?!

[C3C3]

Got the bASe mk3 escort estate back on the road, bought an entire donor back end for £40 shocks n all. Got plenty of spares now. Replace all of the rubbers on the front end. Looks like the back tie bar sheared in half because of the rubbers being rock solid, flexing the bar so the rest is history. Dug around the box of rubbers in the garage and found two brand new ones. Had a poke around the drivers side sill and found a nasty bit of rot where the screw driver went straight through. Yikes. 

About to give the ute its final polish. It's pretty much done and looking for a new home if anyone is interested. 

[Cord Fourteener]

Easy peasy, one rear seat with child seat is still up and there's wiggle room even with bass and amp.

Very impressed. 

[EightMegs]

10 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Verdict in on Miss SL's Yaris:

Nothing too worrying. I drove it there and was reminded what a fun little thing it is.

Yet more work on the house, very productive. Several weeks ago we removed some trellis and overgrown bushes which were edging this bit of the driveway. Had a friendly groundworker round yesterday, after he'd removed some roots and stripped the topsoil Master SL got involved with some compacting:

Note drink in hand. Then whacking the top layer of stone:

So by early PM I coud do this:

Just some 20mm stone to move from the back garden and lay on it now, but at least it's functional. Should be ample room for the Yaris when it comes back.

What I hadn't considered is how much easier it makes getting parked-up - we can just drive in off the road forwards then back into this area, rather than the complicated reverse in backwards and manouevre around the gatepost that we were having to do (which was getting less fun on dark evenings).

It might also mean there's room for something else in the future.....

Don't even think about asking a Toyota dealer for new bushes, they won't sell them to you on their own and will instead try to charge you €400 for two new arms. Go directly for aftermarket bushes, I've had good luck with Borg & Beck.

[Spottedlaurel]

Just now, EightMegs said:

Don't even think about asking a Toyota dealer for new bushes, they won't sell them to you on their own and will instead try to charge you €400 for two new arms. Go directly for aftermarket bushes, I've had good luck with Borg & Beck.

Ta. I'm seeing the person responsible for sorting it tonight, I'm sure he'll sort it out in a sensible manner and I'll mention that option to him.