The new news 24 thread

[Honey Badger]

Insurance renewed on the accord coupe, LV quoted £460, then £350 online, told them to feck off.

 

I've gone with Admiral who quoted £260, Chris Knott and Adrian flux couldn't match that quote, I've sunk an extra beer tonight to celebrate.

 

Still can't get me head around the fact that the fastest car I've ever owned is cheaper to insure than my pick up was, one of the benefits of getting towards 40 I suppose.

[phil_lihp]

That sink hole is extraordinary.  Shame the drone couldn't go down further, looks like the hole goes down a long, long way.  Seems to have been a lot of that lately, there's a 15ft one on the M2 central reservation as of this morning and a couple of days ago a VW Lupo disappeared off a driveway and is now entombed in concrete for the rest of eternity.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-26070282

[RobT]

Got my Peter James insurance renewal through, £238 for four classics which is only 8 quid more than last year so I'm quite pleased.  It'll only be for three cars now so I'm hoping to knock that down a touch.  The plan is to coincide a new shite purchase (probably Mazda 626-shaped) with renewing to save money adding it on later.

[vulgalour]

New track rod end fitted to beige Princess, after much procrastination.  Old one appears to have a stripped thread and while a little looser than the new one didn't seem unduly knackered.  I'm now concerned I might need a new steering rack (that is, if the TRE doesn't fix the problem and because there have been hints it's a bit worn), they can be got for about £50 but it's a job I don't really want to do.  I'll see how things are after I've got the tracking done later today/tomorrow/when I can be arsed.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Zero cost ICE install using components I already had lying around plus cable ties found in the boot:



Sounds terrible, but okay for speech. Excellent value for money though! I will try and get hold of a set of 5.5in speakers and eventually a better head unit. I want something with bluetooth, ideally mechless, but it can wait. 

[dollywobbler]

I like the branded head unit. I'd imagine Junkman is spitting feathers though. "It's got one of those newfangled digital display things!"

[vulgalour]

Your name is Heath Robinson AICMFP

[dollywobbler]

I shall be attempting a minor roadtrip in the misfiring Sirion tomorrow. I shall be attempting a much larger (300 mile) roadtrip in the Discovery on Sunday/Monday. Citroen XM discussions are ongoing. I really do need a decent distance vehicle! Especially as there may be an even bigger roadtrip at the end of the month. And another in April.

[fordperv]

That sink hole is extraordinary.  Shame the drone couldn't go down further, looks like the hole goes down a long, long way.  Seems to have been a lot of that lately, there's a 15ft one on the M2 central reservation as of this morning and a couple of days ago a VW Lupo disappeared off a driveway and is now entombed in concrete for the rest of eternity.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-26070282

 

 

can you imagine timeteam 2110 digging in the area and finding a perfectly preserved shopping car they will jizz in their beards

[vulgalour]

Dad's current interest for Omega replacement is one of these.

 

What's wrong with the Omega?  Nothing really, but he says it's a bit low for him for getting in and out of comfortably.  I don't know how the Jaguar solves this issue, but I certainly won't dissuade him from owning a Jag as I reckon it'll make him a happy man, it ticks every box he wants ticking except for it being lower than the Omega.

 

I'm also concerned that he'll get nowhere near the money he's invested in the Omega, a car that has had wishbones, suspension components, new brakes, stainless steel exhaust and head gasket fixed and doesn't really want for anything bar some cosmetic things.

 

I suspect Dad is just bored of the Omega and is seeing what more exciting thing he could get for himself is out there.  His present fancy is the above, but in dark red with a cream leather interior, certainly more exciting than the Omega to look at.

[cort16]

Those jags are great. All aluminium so they're even decent on fuel. He'd be much better buying my Xjr though .

[HMC]

The 'recorded and signed for^TM' letter I lobbed in the post has officially arrived at the DVLA. A ballache of forms and documents cheifly comprised of

 

Cheque for 180quid

V55/5

Jersey V5 equivalent

Jersey export cert

insurance cover note

HMRC letter declaring VAT paid

Proof of identity and address

Current MOT

 

Hoping Ive not made any errors and that it doesnt take too long to sort. I assume the 504 will go on an X as its march 82.

[dollywobbler]

I still haven't bought an XM. Just too busy at the moment, so unleashing an epic collection mission just isn't on the cards. This has allowed a rare moment of reflection, where actually I'm not sure I want it after all. The most feeble engine allied to a slushbox doesn't sound ideal. It'll be thirstier than the Disco I imagine.

[MrDuke]

I really do need a decent distance vehicle! Especially as there may be an even bigger roadtrip at the end of the month. And another in April.

 

Sounds like you need a mildly-patina'd Xantia TD estate  

[vulgalour]

Just got back from a run out in the Princess to see how far off the tracking is** and on the way back was behind a Rover 25 - EDIT: DVLA'd it and YT05YWW is actually an MG not a Rover -  that I swear was stolen or piloted by a drunk.  Bumping from kerb to white line and dabbing the brakes at really strange intervals and then putting their foot down at really strange intervals.  Driver was so small I couldn't even see them so I did the only sensible thing and committed the number plate and car to memory and reported it to the local police.

 

 

**lots, but that's hardly surprising.  Unpleasant noises and pulling is gone now but there is now a more different knocking noise from somewhere so I guess the other TRE is going to fail soon.

[MrDuke]

I did the only sensible thing and committed the number plate and car to memory and reported it to the local police.

 

As long as you're not expecting them to actually do anything. I've probably mentioned this before, but my manager in a previous job came in one morning and told us how he'd followed a blatant drunk-driver for a few miles, who was literally driving up the verges on both sides of a B-road, and upon phoning the police was told that they wouldn't do anything until an actual incident was reported. This was over 15 years ago, and I seriously doubt that their policies have changed for the better since then.

[vulgalour]

Better to report it and speak up on social media than to keep quiet.  I know if my car had been stolen I'd appreciate the effort of fellow human beings and if I were drunk behind the wheel I'd deserve to be arrested and have a large book thrown at me.

[phil_lihp]

They do act on it from what I know. My father used to drive a lot of miles for his work and reported two such drivers in the last couple of years. Both got dealt with immediately, one was so bad that at their request he followed them whilst updating the police call centre on handsfree until they intercepted the driver a few miles up the road. They even rang him the next day to thank him, turned out the driver was so drunk its a wonder she could even hold the wheel.

[MrDuke]

Fair dos, I guess it depends a lot on individual cops' attitudes as well. I'd always report something like that myself, on principle, I just wouldn't necessarily expect anything to come of it.

[Barry Cade]

After spending 3 days unpacking boxes and getting the new workplace ready for punters, today was day 1 of 2 of my MOT refresher course. The Vosa trainer seems to be a bona fide 'shiter. He is 205 daft and even showed a picture of a mint Renner 14 and used it as an example for a test scenario. Good to know they are petrolheads at heart and not just robots. I daren't tell him about this place though, in case the Tales from a Testing lane takes off......

Good couple of lads in the new garage too- even make me coffee at times, I was asked which mug was mine- I said the fastest one. A puzzled look and I had to explain that my mug was the fastest in the garage- because it's chipped.

[Timewaster]

Chipped mug, very good!

I remember being disappointed by the lack of any improvement in performance when we got our cat chipped.

lazy moggie.

[Jim Bell]

Fair warning.

I'm stealing that chipped mug gag.

[barefoot]

Talking of cats, took mine to the vet, chap says, 'he's a bit thin'

'He's a thin cat' I replied

'he might have a thyroid problem,' he countered

'that'll be 89 quid' he continued

 

Phoned up for test results

 

'nothing wrong with his thyroid'

'so for another 28 of your pounds we tested him for liver & kidney'

'and?' I asked...

 

'Nothing wrong with him, he's just a thin cat'

 

£117 could have bought me some tyres and beer.

I love that old cat though.

[fordperv]

Vets certainly know how to make money

[skattrd]

Vets certainly know how to make money

 

No joke, but when I took my mothers dog to the veterinary surgeon in Notts, there was a Ferrari and a Lamborghini in the car park, they both belonged to the surgeon.

[vulgalour]

Took the Princess to my favoured tyre and tracking place to find they were doing no outside work and the garage was full of customer cars.  No joy there and bumbled to a couple of other garages until I found one that wasn't too busy to fit me in as nobody was working outside today, understandably.  Very complimentary in a nostalgia sort of way about the Princess they were too.

 

I suspect the car is running a bit rich and it's not idling as smooth as it ought though these issues could be related to the damp weather which the Princess really doesn't like.

 

Anyway, tracking done, steering wheel now sits straight and no pulling left or right when setting off and stopping.  However, my shitey-sense tells me that the other TRE is probably going to follow suit and fail so I'm keeping an eye on things for the next few hundred miles.

[Jim Bell]

Give Vets a break.

 

You wern't there man.

 

You would'nt understand.

 

#Nam

[Timewaster]

I too have been relieved of 3 figure sum because my cat has lost a bit of weight.

I tried to explain That it was because my son is now walking and every time the cat goes to eat he gets chased.

The vet wasn't having any of that.

funnily enough,the cat was fine.

[Lord Sterling]

Right, I still dont know when I am going to France but I have been invited up to Norwich again next week to spend a bit of time looking at how they do things thier end in order to get a bit of 'unofficial' training. However I will be getting paid petrol money and my time. And although the Micra is a little soldier, I'm not so sure I am looking forward to doing the trip in it. I want my Rover back!

[tooSavvy]

Vets... don't have pets. DENTISTS, on the other hand, yes... do have one of them 

 

Thurs PM = Bite pizza, with olives [stoned olives... but EU kwalitty kontrol leaves a bit of stone in one] 

 

Thurs PM [+ 15seconds] = swallow chunk of upper molar, and pizza.

 

Friday = Phone in to get an 'emergency' app..... yes!! 11AM.

 

Friday 11.05 = Jab - numb - grind - 'snap off' pin - splodge of Space Shuttle grade TileCement - rubber lip   

 

Friday 11:30 = bill of £56 

 

Moral..... chew carefully >>> but won't change Pizza Shop, they're Grrreatt!!

 

 

TS