The new news 24 thread

[richardmorris]

In other news, my x1/9 is booked for a mot next Monday. I’m taking it as I’m visiting my parents for mum’s birthday. The new TIPO is having a third service the same day. The mot tester is a moto x biker and vw fan but he’s friendly enough ! And has done the mot on it since 2006. I’ll have to check, but we may be around 1000miles in it this year. Then I just need to refit the  @Zelandeth repaired digital clock and it can get tucked away in the garage for the winter.

[2flags]

Well, the Renault managed to pass its MoT on Friday, so that's another 12 months of topless motoring to look forward to. 😁

[alcyonecorporation]

Filled Subaru up two weeks before clients decided not to pay. 

Felt very stupid. Do not fill up Subaru unless clients have paid. 

Went for a drive yesterday with a stupidly massive portable MiniDisc player. 

 

[lesapandre]

My other car tonight is a train. Coming back from Paris on Eurostar instead of thrashing my Citroen C15 up the Autoroute - SNCF have kindly bumped me up to Premier Class - I only travel Standard.

Bit more room and free food but I can't say I'd go for it if I was paying -  Premier and the even pricier Business Premier can be triple the cost of Standard class - increased comfort and amenities minor unless you want space to work - but these Eurostar trains are quite noisy and bumpy anyway.

Better traveling on a Standard ticket unless SNCF oblige next time -   instead  I'd use the money  to splurge on lunch or dinner at the other end especially if Paris - or maybe just some repairs to the C15.

[richardmorris]

11 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

My other car tonight is a train. Coming back from Paris on Eurostar instead of thrashing my Citroen C15 up the Autoroute - SNCF have kindly bumped me up to Premier Class - I only travel Standard.

Bit more room and free food but I can't say I'd go for it if I was paying -  Premier and the even pricier Business Premier can be triple the cost of Standard class - increased comfort and amenities minor unless you want space to work - but these Eurostar trains are quite noisy and bumpy anyway.

Better traveling on a Standard ticket unless SNCF oblige next time -   instead  I'd use the money  to splurge on lunch or dinner at the other end especially if Paris - or maybe just some repairs to the C15.

Mushroom and broccoli salad and ciabatta roll? Seats look good though - I’ve only done Eurostar for one holiday though probably 20 years ago for a river cruise down the Seine.

[lesapandre]

It's ok - but not worth paying the extra for. I think it's noisier than Standard class - not so much soft furnishings to soak it up - and this thing doesn't half rattle. I've started using the bus - longer - much longer - but a fifth of the basic price.

[Saabnut]

8 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

It's ok - but not worth paying the extra for. I think it's noisier than Standard class - not so much soft furnishings to soak it up - and this thing doesn't half rattle. I've started using the bus - longer - much longer - but a fifth of the basic price.

Heading to France Sunday night Portsmouth/Caen if you want a lift!

[lesapandre]

I'll keep that in mind. Ta!

[catsinthewelder]

On 27/10/2024 at 11:03, IronStar said:

 I really wouldn’t go under that, that’s already as cheap as it gets with provisions to keep your sanity as it won’t fail on the day after being fitted.

So I bought nice Monroe shocks and a good quality Motaquip mounting plate.  Fitted it all on Thursday and now the other plate has failed.

Always replace things in pairs boys and girls 😫

[Stinkwheel]

Managed to blag a a pair of maestro lower suspension arms from a BL specialist on eBay, Ok they were 70 quid but you try finding a pair. I’m more than pleased as it means I can refurb them and still keep the car in use until it’s time to change them over 

[richardmorris]

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring

Holler boys, holler boys

God save the King!

[Yoss]

22 hours ago, lesapandre said:

My other car tonight is a train. Coming back from Paris on Eurostar instead of thrashing my Citroen C15 up the Autoroute - SNCF have kindly bumped me up to Premier Class - I only travel Standard.

Bit more room and free food but I can't say I'd go for it if I was paying -  Premier and the even pricier Business Premier can be triple the cost of Standard class - increased comfort and amenities minor unless you want space to work - but these Eurostar trains are quite noisy and bumpy anyway.

Better traveling on a Standard ticket unless SNCF oblige next time -   instead  I'd use the money  to splurge on lunch or dinner at the other end especially if Paris - or maybe just some repairs to the C15.

It doesn't really apply to Eurostar as it only has a bar but most European long distance trains still have restaurant cars so you can buy a second class ticket then go and sit in the restaurant car. 

Most of them do main courses for around a tenner. But they are rarely busy and they are happy for you to sit there nursing a beer or two which is much cheaper than a first class upgrade. And I personally find a restaurant car is a much nicer environment than normal first class. They have 2+1 seating like first class but usually have low back seats and obviously tables so the view out is excellent. 

[lesapandre]

17 minutes ago, Yoss said:

It doesn't really apply to Eurostar as it only has a bar but most European long distance trains still have restaurant cars so you can buy a second class ticket then go and sit in the restaurant car. 

Most of them do main courses for around a tenner. But they are rarely busy and they are happy for you to sit there nursing a beer or two which is much cheaper than a first class upgrade. And I personally find a restaurant car is a much nicer environment than normal first class. They have 2+1 seating like first class but usually have low back seats and obviously tables so the view out is excellent. 

Thanks for the advice - I've not used long distance European trains much. Given Eurostar is only 2 hours odd - all these bells and whistles upgrades seem superfluous. 

Wasn't particularly special.

[Yoss]

5 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Thanks for the advice - I've not used long distance European trains much. Given Eurostar is only 2 hours odd - all these bells and whistles upgrades seem superfluous. 

Wasn't particularly special.

Must admit those seats don't look particularly inviting. 

[lesapandre]

1 minute ago, Yoss said:

Must admit those seats don't look particularly inviting. 

Crafted from a dominatrix undergarments.

The cheap seats are nicer.

[2flags]

Well, it's the Jags turn from the MoT. Has to go to my mate for some fettling. The hand brake come up quicker than a 14 yr old's dick on seeing his first pair of tits! Soon be sorted though.

[Split_Pin]

New OSF wheelbearing on this today, same one as the red example a couple of months ago. Slow puncture on the OSF, the TPMS low pressure warning definitely works, it's loud 😂

2 months in and zero problems with this one though, it literally drives like a new car.

 

[IronStar]

Ordered 4 Yokohama A539s for Mini. 300€ total shipped in Croatia. 125€/each in Serbia.
For comparison, they are 56€ a piece in Germany and Austia, so I’m feeling a bit* ripped off, despite ordering in Croatia.

I almost said fuck it and ordered Nankang Green/Sport Eco-2+ here for similar price to Yokohamas in Croatia, but the only place that seems to stock 12” tyres in Serbia (the same one selling Yokohamas at 125€) has only 2.

Estimated arrival in a week or so.

[Yoss]

53 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Ordered 4 Yokohama A539s for Mini. 300€ total shipped in Croatia. 125€/each in Serbia.
For comparison, they are 56€ a piece in Germany and Austia, so I’m feeling a bit* ripped off, despite ordering in Croatia.

I almost said fuck it and ordered Nankang Green/Sport Eco-2+ here for similar price to Yokohamas in Croatia, but the only place that seems to stock 12” tyres in Serbia (the same one selling Yokohamas at 125€) has only 2.

Estimated arrival in a week or so.

I'm guessing it's not possible to nip over to Croatia and pick them up? 

[IronStar]

Just now, Yoss said:

I'm guessing it's not possible to nip over to Croatia and pick them up? 

Ordered Croatian ones off tyre leader with delivery to mrs Star’s aunt. Supposedly delivered from central EU warehouse.

I’m not paying extortionate prices for the ones in Serbia. 

[Asimo]

New brake shoes today. I havn’t checked in here for 9 years, the original shoes still had some life in them but as I have had the new shoes to hand for nearly  10 years I have changed them. This side was all good but  the o/s wheel cylinder is leaking.  MOT man can do that when he does a driveshaft boot at test time.

[wuvvum]

On 08/10/2024 at 00:10, wuvvum said:

Friday night I went to see a mate and there was an interesting shape under a tarpaulin on his drive.  Turns out his daughter (20-odd, hairdresser by trade) has bought herself a Renault 21 diesel hatchback, with the non-turbo 1870cc engine (all of 64bhp).  It's been off the road for 18 years but it's a runner, although it needs one of the sills replacing.  It was under a tarp as the sunroof was leaking, and as the interior is pretty much immaculate she didn't want it getting wet.  She bought it because "I wanted a project, it's rare and it was 300 quid", which sounds like very sound reasoning to me.  She's going to get her brother to weld up the sill but everything else she's going to do herself, so good on her.

I went round there last night and the Renault 21 was out from under its tarp, having just had a new windscreen fitted as the original was badly cracked.  Here it is in all its pogweaseled glory.

Mate's daughter has now decided that she's going to do everything herself, so she's been teaching herself to weld.  She's already most of the way through fitting a new nearside outer sill.

[comfortablynumb]

On 05/11/2024 at 18:55, richardmorris said:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring

Holler boys, holler boys

God save the King!

Or, apparently, if you're in Edinburgh or Glasgow* it's a good reason to throw things, bricks, fireworks etc at the emergency services and into restaurants etc.

I hate people 

 

*Other yob areas are available 

Edited November 6, 2024 by comfortablynumb
Additional

[richardmorris]

27 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Or, apparently, if you're in Edinburgh or Glasgow* it's a good reason to throw things, bricks, fireworks etc at the emergency services and into restaurants etc.

I hate people 

 

*Other yob areas are available 

Police car was attacked in sunbury over the weekend down here. Yobs at a car “gathering”.

[AnthonyG]

On 04/11/2024 at 21:09, alcyonecorporation said:

Wow, all the aspirational items for a well-heeled Japanese tech geek circa 1993 there…apart from perhaps the passenger footwell carpet! 

[alcyonecorporation]

1 minute ago, AnthonyG said:

Wow, all the aspirational items for a well-heeled Japanese tech geek circa 1993 there…apart from perhaps the passenger footwell carpet! 

best OEM accessory floor mats m9 

 

[vulgalour]

A matching print silk tie to wear with a sharp 90s business suit would really complete the look.

[brownnova]

Think my Saab is doing a sound check… 

[artdjones]

I wondered if you'd like to see a miracle.

This Fiat 500L is for sale in Dublin with 360k Kms up, that's 223k miles. What's miraculous is that it's a 0.9 Twin Air.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, AnthonyG said:

Wow, all the aspirational items for a well-heeled Japanese tech geek circa 1993 there…apart from perhaps the passenger footwell carpet! 

Lounge edition?