The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

2 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

I still write the date as "19th February 2025" which was the proper format, so it couldn't be altered. I still can't write "19/02/25.. "

Although it was still possible to alter the date with the judicious application of brake fluid.

Allegedly.

[Snake Charmer]

9 hours ago, Bren said:

It looks like a GT.

Completely forgot about the 3ltr Consul GT. 👍

[comfortablynumb]

@JJ0063, should I be worried that you know that?

Been to the castle a few times myself, and no that's not a euphemism 😁

[SiC]

14 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

Is that recent?

Well I passed my driving test in 2003 and not only have I never taken an old MOT in when going for a test, I didn't even know it used to be a thing!

[JakeT]

14 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Thanks for that.. a long time ago... 🤔 I remember writing the flippin' things. Then stamping them with the little stamp you had to put in the floor safe every night along with the MOT book. I still write the date as "19th February 2025" which was the proper format, so it couldn't be altered. I still can't write "19/02/25.. "

You mean you didn’t take the book and stamp home but stop by the pub and write out certificates for some folks in exchange for a drink or two? Not that it ever happened in my local…

[wuvvum]

On 17/02/2025 at 11:06, SiC said:

Will a 075 or 096 fit in the space? Obviously a bit smaller but less of an issue if it's going to be a regular driver at the moment. 

Edit: 096 is the same in dimensions apart from width is 7.5cm narrower. So providing the terminal leads are long enough, it may well work. 

Well I nabbed the 096 off the van yesterday and fitted it to the Merc.  Nearly gave myself a hernia lifting the 019 out, but that's a different story.  (The battery on W203s is at the bottom of a deep well at the nearside rear corner of the engine bay, buried underneath the cabin filter.)

So far so good - it spins the engine over fine, better than the tired 019 did, and managed a cold start yesterday evening with no issues.  As long as it continues to behave I'm going to leave it in place and buy a replacement 096 for the van.  Or I may even try the 075 off the Toyota on the van (it struggled with an 075 before but I've replaced the starter motor since then so it's now a lot easier to start) and if that works then I only need to buy an 063 for the Toyota, saving myself £££.

[Datsuncog]

On 19/02/2025 at 22:18, High Jetter said:

Got a GSF anywhere near you? Order online, pay instore

Yeah, there's one over on the far side of Belfast, but I'd pass three ECPs on the way there!

Good call though - I did check their website, but theirs aren't very much cheaper (choice of DriveTec or Delphi) and are unclear whether they're Lucas or Sumitomo fitment (ECP does at least give that info).

Hopefully picking an Eicher set up tomorrow, plus a fitting kit for all the wee springs and clips that I'll doubtless break/lose if I don't buy spares.

[alcyonecorporation]

On 17/02/2025 at 16:37, Volksy said:

A mate came to me years ago complaining of a very similar thing. Turned out somehow she'd picked up a flattened coke can which had wedged in the bottom arm and scraped on the driveshaft when she turned right. 

 

I ended up with a lump of snow and ice jammed in the caliper carrier/dust shield of the SEAT once which did similar. 

[Bren]

I tried watching Alien Romulus last night. I gave up after an hour and turned it off. The biggest load of shite I have seen in quite some time - and I enjoyed the first few films.

I no longer go to the cinema because the films are generally crap these days.

[beko1987]

9 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Yeah, there's one over on the far side of Belfast, but I'd pass three ECPs on the way there!

Good call though - I did check their website, but theirs aren't very much cheaper (choice of DriveTec or Delphi) and are unclear whether they're Lucas or Sumitomo fitment (ECP does at least give that info).

Hopefully picking an Eicher set up tomorrow, plus a fitting kit for all the wee springs and clips that I'll doubtless break/lose if I don't buy spares.

I've run eicher lots before and their fine! The old Xsara is wearing eicher all round, I've used them on tons of the ex's Vauxhall crap too, qashqai doesn't need it yet 🤞

[richardmorris]

[lesapandre]

39 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Kit car? 😂

[Sunny Jim]

Work sent me an email about IT security training:

So I replied:

Checkmate.

[sdkrc]

11 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Kit car? 😂

You often see cheap shite trying to pass off as fancy shite e.g. a metro trying to look like a TT. When are we going to see the reverse? A Ferrari 355 with a body kit that looks like a Pontiac Fiero?

[richardmorris]

3 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Kit car? 😂

Well £3million of a plastic kit I suppose.

[wuvvum]

3 hours ago, sdkrc said:

You often see cheap shite trying to pass off as fancy shite e.g. a metro trying to look like a TT. When are we going to see the reverse? A Ferrari 355 with a body kit that looks like a Pontiac Fiero?

I've always said that when I win the Euromillions one of the first things I will do will be to buy a Bentley Flying Spur and stick Chrysler 300C badges on it.

[lesapandre]

24 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Well £3million of a plastic kit I suppose.

I see these supercars and always think kit car.

Always good to say that in earshot of the owners too...😂

I'm more impressed by a Standard Vanguard myself 😂

[lesapandre]

3 hours ago, sdkrc said:

You often see cheap shite trying to pass off as fancy shite e.g. a metro trying to look like a TT. When are we going to see the reverse? A Ferrari 355 with a body kit that looks like a Pontiac Fiero?

I quite like that little Metro kit. Banham did what Longbridge should have done.

These things are only naff if badged Audi. 

Like Cobra copiers - they are great but not a Cobra.

Though nobody has made a  copy Standard Vanguard kit where you use old parts from a Bentley alas. 😂

[wuvvum]

On 19/02/2025 at 20:47, wuvvum said:

Well this just keeps getting better.  I had another message from the management company earlier saying that there was an update on my claim.  Logged into their website and it's now saying that the repairs have been completed and the car is ready for collection.

So I have no fucking idea what's going on.  I'm going to have to ring the garage first thing in the morning and see if they can shed any light...

The hilarity* continues.

The garage confirmed that the car is indeed a total loss, the paperwork has been passed to the insurer and they definitely haven't carried out any repairs.

Then a short while ago I received a text from the first garage that had been nominated to repair the car (Autodoc) saying that they hadn't received the photos of the damage (which I sent them on 29th January) and they were unable to proceed with my claim until they got them.

Meanwhile I've heard absolutely nowt from the insurer.

It really is a bit of a clusterfuck.

[sdkrc]

https://www.speakev.com/threads/vauxhall-ampera-£3-500-optional-soooperb-accessories-package.189943/

@wuvvum, if you manage to get a payout any time soon this looks pretty good

[wuvvum]

That does look nice, although I'm hoping to buy back the salvage on mine and repair it with a secondhand bumper off eBay...

[lesapandre]

34 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

The hilarity* continues.

The garage confirmed that the car is indeed a total loss, the paperwork has been passed to the insurer and they definitely haven't carried out any repairs.

Then a short while ago I received a text from the first garage that had been nominated to repair the car (Autodoc) saying that they hadn't received the photos of the damage (which I sent them on 29th January) and they were unable to proceed with my claim until they got them.

Meanwhile I've heard absolutely nowt from the insurer.

It really is a bit of a clusterfuck.

Welcome to modern Britain - the country with over over-complex systems that only work sporadically.

[horriblemercedes]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

I've always said that when I win the Euromillions one of the first things I will do will be to buy a Bentley Flying Spur and stick Chrysler 300C badges on it.

I want to get a Honda NSX and Rover 800 V6 and swap the engines

[tooSavvy]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

I see these supercars and always think kit car.

Always good to say that in earshot of the owners too...😂

I'm more impressed by a Standard Vanguard myself 😂

As *smallboy, in South Shields, our two neighbours [either side] had a black S.V saloon and the other a two tone S.V saloon, in cream body/caramel top.... 😐

Dad had a Minx RBR991..[flat battery, sir? handle oot!] latterly an Oxford DBB403B.

A$ credentials*early starter 🤣

🚙💨

[D.E]

Lol

[lesapandre]

4 minutes ago, D.E said:

Lol

Reaction is painted on in....jurgh 😂

[Fumbler]

Had a bizarre experience while car hunting. I was perusing Fartbook Marketplace and Craigslist when I came across this very nice, very teal Ranger from a stealership 3 hours from me:
https://appleton.craigslist.org/ctd/d/oshkosh-1994-ford-ranger-splash-177k/7823221119.html

Complete with the official dealer-completed condition report

Looks a million bucks. Absolutely perfect for what I need. It has a clean title (no markers for scrap, export or write-off), it's supposedly from California, is rust-free (the holy grail in the Midwest), rear-wheel drive and has a "good shifting" manual according to the friendly salesman I spoke to. Nothing to hide, right? I sent this to a good friend of mine and he, very kindly, checked the VIN:

Red flag 1: The vehicle was sold 6 times between August 2022 and April 2023, 4 of those times were within a couple days of each other, the last time was a Copart auction local to the dealership.
Red flag 2: The vehicle is a RWD, manual truck. The VIN corresponds to a Ranger 4x4 with a 4-speed automatic and completely different front end. Uh oh!

Verdict: Very glossy lemon.

[goosey]

new rear discs, pads and a jacking point for the wife’s car yesterday, all done in the rain 🙄

used APEC parts and they seem decent quality 

[EyesWeldedShut]

21 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Kit car?

I do like a good colouring in book ...

[somewhatfoolish]

On 17/02/2025 at 10:45, Metal Guru said:

Now the silly bitch has found something on the internet that says beneficiaries can sue executors (me) if they don’t get the best price for a property. The best price to me , is a quick sale anywhere  near the valuation not waiting two or three years for a mug punter to turn up.

Tell her to fuck off and wind her neck in, or you'll divest yourself of executorship and a solicitor will then do a worse job and charge several thousand £ for the privilege. Or maybe just do that anyway.