The new news 24 thread

[trigger]

The new owner is trying to join the forum but admin haven't approved him yet...

[davehedgehog31]

Those who prefer winter are Purple Aki grade nonce cases, IMO. 

[Dyslexic Viking]

6 hours ago, bunglebus said:

 

@captain_70s

[stuboy]

4 hours ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Those who prefer winter are Purple Aki grade nonce cases, IMO. 

i hate winter, ruins my cars, hurts my skeleton............... oh look some nice purple muscles

[stuboy]

On 24/12/2025 at 09:52, davehedgehog31 said:

had a generic one few years now, bloody great aint they..............

[stuboy]

23 hours ago, The Vicar said:

2 days away from home, eating proper cooked , just got home and relate too this image...lol

[stuboy]

23 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

 

[Cord Fourteener]

So, here's my back-of-the-envelope calcs.

My trusty 04 Volvo V70 D5 is making some groaning noises coming from the gear box.

So, do I fix, also try and sort out the trailer electrics, or buy a Dodgy A4 avant 3.0 quattro for a grand or just over?

Heading to see the dodgy A4 anyway. 

 

[grogee]

23 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

So, do I fix, also try and sort out the trailer electrics, or buy a Dodgy A4 avant 3.0 quattro for a grand or just over?

 

 

[Zelandeth]

3 hours ago, Cord Fourteener said:

So, here's my back-of-the-envelope calcs.

My trusty 04 Volvo V70 D5 is making some groaning noises coming from the gear box.

So, do I fix, also try and sort out the trailer electrics, or buy a Dodgy A4 avant 3.0 quattro for a grand or just over?

Heading to see the dodgy A4 anyway. 

 

I'd not even consider going near a dodgy VAG product from that era - potential for needing to double (or more) your investment to get an even vaguely dependable vehicle is just too high.

Unless there's a pressing reason to move it on I'd always lean towards the car you already know. 

The ever expanding ULEZ zones and ~£450 a year tax are the only reasons I periodically toy with the idea of changing from the V70 I've got - until I look at the numbers for what I'd need to spend to get an equivalent car that's half as useful, and the ever increasing number of ways it could go very expensively wrong with each year newer I go.

[Cord Fourteener]

7 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I'd not even consider going near a dodgy VAG product from that era - potential for needing to double (or more) your investment to get an even vaguely dependable vehicle is just too high.

Unless there's a pressing reason to move it on I'd always lean towards the car you already know. 

The ever expanding ULEZ zones and ~£450 a year tax are the only reasons I periodically toy with the idea of changing from the V70 I've got - until I look at the numbers for what I'd need to spend to get an equivalent car that's half as useful, and the ever increasing number of ways it could go very expensively wrong with each year newer I go.

I may have accidentally bought the A4 Avant 3.0tdi Quattro.

 

Oops?

Still got the V70 though, will cost up repairs while razzing around in the A4. Hopefully snow and ice will come and i can get some 4wd doughnuts in a forestry car park before something expensive breaks!

[Cord Fourteener]

Further to last

 

[loserone]

Balls of steel

[Cord Fourteener]

5 minutes ago, loserone said:

Balls of steel

It was cheap as chips though

[loserone]

Zactley

[Cord Fourteener]

2 minutes ago, loserone said:

Zactley

And it comes in at under my costings as its had more work done recently than I assumed and has tow bar; i factored a tow bar in to my costings (a tow bar is necessary for my job - the V70 has tow bar electrical issues i need to sort plus gear box potential explosion issues etc)

[mintwth]

On 24/12/2025 at 15:11, Gaffer said:

As a little Christmas treat to myself, put some pretend race car tyres on the pretend race car. My inner 19 year old is happy 😁

 

Be interested to know what you think of them after having driven on them for a while.

[Cord Fourteener]

18 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I'd not even consider going near a dodgy VAG product from that era - potential for needing to double (or more) your investment to get an even vaguely dependable vehicle is just too high.

Unless there's a pressing reason to move it on I'd always lean towards the car you already know. 

The ever expanding ULEZ zones and ~£450 a year tax are the only reasons I periodically toy with the idea of changing from the V70 I've got - until I look at the numbers for what I'd need to spend to get an equivalent car that's half as useful, and the ever increasing number of ways it could go very expensively wrong with each year newer I go.

I entirely agree, it's hard to beat an old V70 for comfort, well thought out design and reliability. 

I had a V70 lined up for a similar price but someone got in their just before I could go and see it. 

So the A4 was next on the listings that would keep me mobile for the next few months. 

Also my SIL has one of the similar era and she loves it. 

[vtec-e]

The pothole when entering the M3 south bound Winchester services has still not been repaired and is now big enough to swallow a micro car.

It is located close to the 30mph signs by the fuel station, in the middle of the road on the white line between the 2 lanes. Either straddle the white line, or make sure the vehicle is completely in the left or right lane. Do not have 2 wheels running along the white line. 

[wuvvum]

The Merc hit a milestone on the way back from Somerset yesterday. 

It did the 500 mile round trip with no issues, so I feel confident in saying that the engine is fine.  (It has a couple of tired glowplugs according to the code reader but it's still starting OK so I'm going to leave them be.)

[Gaffer]

15 hours ago, mintwth said:

Be interested to know what you think of them after having driven on them for a while.

Me too! A lad that works for me really rates them as does his brother for road/track duties, especially at the price point they are at. Done a grand total of 18 miles so far but I’ll update after a bit of use.

[stuboy]

Seems i dont have a working eml 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 so decided to scan for any codes...

 

 

[Split_Pin]

I was about to drive out of my space in Tescos when the car on the right drove into the space, fucked off the bumper of the car on the left and the driver got out and walked off into the store without a care, I dont think he even noticed.

There was a big scuff on the bumper of the MG which was otherwise mint. Someone pays good money for that every month or outright. The Swift was utterly hanging, every panel was dented and the bumper was already cracked. The young man driving didn't look the sort to hold a conversation if you know what I mean so I took this picture, went into the shop, spoke to the girl on the counter and she put a call out for the owner of the MG. I gave her the time it happened and left my name and number for the MG owner and went on my way.

The security guards who I also spoke to had a good old study of both cars as well.

I do hope the MG owner gets it sorted out, at least they have the culprit's details. Not the kind of thing you want to be having happen at this time of year.

[MrGTI6]

56 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I was about to drive out of my space in Tescos when the car on the right drove into the space, fucked off the bumper of the car on the left and the driver got out and walked off into the store without a care, I dont think he even noticed.

There was a big scuff on the bumper of the MG which was otherwise mint. Someone pays good money for that every month or outright. The Swift was utterly hanging, every panel was dented and the bumper was already cracked. The young man driving didn't look the sort to hold a conversation if you know what I mean so I took this picture, went into the shop, spoke to the girl on the counter and she put a call out for the owner of the MG. I gave her the time it happened and left my name and number for the MG owner and went on my way.

The security guards who I also spoke to had a good old study of both cars as well.

I do hope the MG owner gets it sorted out, at least they have the culprit's details. Not the kind of thing you want to be having happen at this time of year.

Well done for going out of your way to help the owner of the MG out. It's quite alarming how someone can't park a tiny Suzuki without crashing it.

Also I can't help but notice the irony of "NCD" on the Suzuki's number plate. 

[Split_Pin]

Never noticed that!

[stuboy]

Yes sad and dissmall but after many months I managed too washed the mondeo.

[Vince70]

I was summoned to the retail park today which is a real pet hate of mine, so while her indoors went into Tesco’s,  I ended going to Pets Are Us and Halfords so I beat her back to the car.

While I was sitting in the car, a  guy came over with his young son and was asking me all about my Golf V5 and we had a lovely chat for about for about 10 minutes.

Although it’s a nice car I never really thought of it as anything special,  as it’s just my winter hack and looking around the car park, I imagine it was the cheapest car (well it was free lol) amongst all those horrible grey hybrid SUV things, but I guess I still think of it as new even though its now 27 years old.

 

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, stuboy said:

Yes sad and dissmall but after many months I managed too washed the mondeo.

😀

Water = rust, don't blame you 

[Schaefft]

10 hours ago, Vince70 said:

I was summoned to the retail park today which is a real pet hate of mine, so while her indoors went into Tesco’s,  I ended going to Pets Are Us and Halfords so I beat her back to the car.

While I was sitting in the car, a  guy came over with his young son and was asking me all about my Golf V5 and we had a lovely chat for about for about 10 minutes.

Although it’s a nice car I never really thought of it as anything special,  as it’s just my winter hack and looking around the car park, I imagine it was the cheapest car (well it was free lol) amongst all those horrible grey hybrid SUV things, but I guess I still think of it as new even though its now 27 years old.

 

It's a really nice color for the Mk4 and the wheels certainly help. I'd stop and take notice if I saw that V5 badge (despite seeing enough Golfs for the rest of my life).

[Cord Fourteener]

11 hours ago, Vince70 said:

I was summoned to the retail park today which is a real pet hate of mine, so while her indoors went into Tesco’s,  I ended going to Pets Are Us and Halfords so I beat her back to the car.

While I was sitting in the car, a  guy came over with his young son and was asking me all about my Golf V5 and we had a lovely chat for about for about 10 minutes.

Although it’s a nice car I never really thought of it as anything special,  as it’s just my winter hack and looking around the car park, I imagine it was the cheapest car (well it was free lol) amongst all those horrible grey hybrid SUV things, but I guess I still think of it as new even though its now 27 years old.

 

One of my  neighbours has the vr6 of the same era, he's had it for about 20 years, possibly even from new!

He gets a company Farmer's Limo (a Hilux in his case) to drive daily so this little Golf mk4 sits on his drive and come out on special occasions. 

To be fair these Mk4s were the shit, the dogs bollox when I was a young driver!