The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

My 2CV has been sheltering in the garage over the winter, though still remaining in regular use. I have been wondering why I bother going to the trouble of protecting it from the elements given how rotten it already is. Tomorrow morning, at about 7:30am, I hope to demonstrate that my thinking isn't so wrong as I forget battling with a frost-laden XM that won't open its sodding doors and just jump in the 2CV and drive away.

 

Where I then have to defrost a Volkswagen LT. If I can get in it. I'm taking flasks of warm water. 

[wuvvum]

Well the Mondeo is all mended and has been pressed into daily duties.  It's much nicer to drive now, and the initial smokiness appears to be clearing - I think it'd got rather clogged up due to running with no boost for so long.  It's not fast in the way that the Rover or Merc are fast, and acceleration isn't helped by very tall gearing, but it's quite adequate for overtaking ditherers.  The heated front screen is a Godsend in this weather too, especially since, in typical diesel fashion, the heater takes fugging ages to warm up.

 

The Forester has had its exhaust welded up (it needed a new flexi section as well as the downpipe patching) and a new set of plugs fitted.  As soon as we get a dry weekend that's warm enough that I can feel my hands, it'll be getting an oil and filter change, and then I can start using it as Subaru intended.  I'm picking it up from the garage tomorrow night, and at the same time dropping the 700 van off to be MOT'd. 

 

The Jeep left the fleet this evening to go and keep my old floppytop Saab company chez Barmatt.  The Golf is provisionally sold to a chap from the blue forum who is supposed to be coming to pick it up at the weekend.  I think the Stilo will be the next one to go - it was another impulse buy like the Jeep, and much as I like it I have no real use for it.  I've been half eyeing up that Ford Fairmont on the eBay tat thread, but again it doesn't do anything that the Merc can't do, and I don't reckon much for my chances of driving from south Wales to Norfolk with no MOT without getting a tug.

 

A thought occurred to me last night - I'm now wondering whether the MG's lack of go at full throttle could be a timing issue rather than fuel mixture.  A mate years ago had a Hillman Minx which was similarly gutless when pushed (although it didn't backfire like the MG does), and that was because the vacuum pipe from the manifold to the distributor had split and the timing therefore wasn't advancing.  This will give me something to look at at the weekend - although I'm not holding my breath that it'll be such an easy fix.

[Craig the Princess]

Displacer went pop in the Metro at the RSPCA centre. Thankfully they were happy for us to leave it there overnight so I went back with the LDV to pick it up.

 

 

 

The exhaust left a 7 foot scrape when coming off

 

[xtriple]

With regard to the 2CV, could you not ise it as a doner for one of those 3 wheeled kit cars? I have of course, forgotten the bloody name!

[Felly Magic]

A few spares arrived for the Favorit today from Motorhog. Gas struts for the tailgate just as fugged as the ones I already have, and the rear wiper motor has a totally different plug connector. Washer pump works, but somewhere along the line there is a blockage. Taking the car to the inlaws at the weekend where he has a compressor, plus a load of spade/bullet connectors. I will get that bastard rear wiper and washer working if it kills me

[skattrd]

The Jeep left the fleet this evening to go and keep my old floppytop Saab company chez Barmatt. 

 

Don't tell him, but I'm hoping to pop down and borrow that jeep for a bit .... ssshhh

[HMC]

^ LDV/ metro tow pic has to be a calendar contender.

[wuvvum]

xtriple, on 03 Feb 2015 - 10:58 PM, said:

With regard to the 2CV, could you not ise it as a doner for one of those 3 wheeled kit cars? I have of course, forgotten the bloody name!

Lomax?

[barrett]

Possibly due to overconfidence on the Leboncoin thread, the French vendor has now pulled out the deal and it looks like the fleet will remain a healthy six in number for the time being. And the Bond finishes tomorrow, hopefully there will be a final flurry of bids at the last minute but I'm not holding my breath.

Not sure how I feel about having fewer cars, I'm sure that's not how you're supposed to do it

[wuvvum]

That LDV is the spit of my old one, orange flashy light apart.  Is it a TD?  Not that that makes a lot of difference with the Pug engine - mine would consistently put down a 0-60 time of 29 seconds, or a full 10 seconds slower than the LWB smiley Transit that preceded it.

[RobT]

Probably one for the grump thread, but I checked the oil dipstick on the 75 yesterday and it was dry. Took 2 litres to get it on to the minimum. So that service i paid strong money for two weeks ago was a quality job. Could be my imagination but it also seems to be idling a tad lumpier than before, although it wasn't perfect before. I'll give them a call tomorrow as i normally can't be arsed complaining about stuff, but lack of oil in a service is pretty fundamental.

 

In other news, after an ale session last night I'm now highest bidder on a Calibra I don't want. Twat!

[wuvvum]

If I had a pound for every time I've

after an ale session last night I'm now highest bidder on a ..... I don't want. Twat!

I'd probably be able to retire.

[skattrd]

If you end up with a Calibra Rob I'm sure it could be p/ex'd at Chester's finest car emporium for something worse.

[Ghosty]

Got the possibilities of swapsies on the CL with this. It's a 280 but looks very nice. I'd need to go to ST Helens but i don't think driving the CL there and the SL back would be the worst trip in the world.

 

 

 

Nice - would. Looks ruddy fantastic on those W203 C Class wheels too.

[RobT]

Might well happen Chris. I've never been a fan of the Calibra's styling, but the Cav underpinnings might win me over.

[vulgalour]

I hear CavCraft are doing a special deal on unwanted Calibras for faultless* Meganes with genuine patina* and character*.

[cort16]

I wonder if this'll be watch able? It's got Quentin Wilson in it so probably not.

 

 

http://www.channel5.com/shows/the-classic-car-show/episodes/episodes-1-11

[cms206]

 

 

I've been half eyeing up that Ford Fairmont on the eBay tat thread, but again it doesn't do anything that the Merc can't do, and I don't reckon much for my chances of driving from south Wales to Norfolk with no MOT without getting a tug.

I managed to get the Sigmund Cox 740 from Brighton to Glasgow via Chodleymong in August sans MOT.

 

WCPGW?

[phil_lihp]

Lewes to Barnstaple, 238 miles in the aforementioned Gary Cox's Escort, sans MOT.  It went straight to a garage for a pre-booked test the next day and I made sure it was appropriately roadworthy before setting off.  I had a text message from my mechanic confirming the MOT booking, for what it's worth.  I'd reckon that as long as it's not in bad condition or showing any obvious MOT failures - good tyres, no massive rusty holes, faulty lights or trailing smoke/oil/sundry mechanical items behind it, it's insured and you drive carefully it shouldn't cause a massive issue but your mileage may vary.

[Ghosty]

I've just got a text from the mother.

She says we're going to weigh up Focuses to see if they're an option for her on Saturday.

Looks like the recent issues with the Polo have put a new car back up the priority list.

 

I'm sure a Focus is going to be too big for her, also she is probably going to insist on a 3 door black automatic one.

 

Rocking horse shit.

 

This is going to be a whole load of fun, we're going to have to consider all sorts.

[dollywobbler]

With regard to the 2CV, could you not ise it as a doner for one of those 3 wheeled kit cars? I have of course, forgotten the bloody name!

 

I'd rather rub jam over myself then kick a wasps nest. More seriously, my 2CV has an excellent chassis, so converting it into a three-wheeler doesn't appeal. Turning it into a Mehari still does appeal, especially as a friend has found someone on Leboncoin selling a load of Mehari panels and a spaceframe...

 

My plan to take the 2CV to work and enjoy no de-icing almost worked. The drive there was fine. Then I had to de-ice the VW LT and do a bus run. On my return at half nine, my elderly colleague requested a lift. Being parked up for two hours was enough for the 2CV to have iced up! Jeez it was cold. Fortunately, the sunshine finally reached where the car was parked in the afternoon, so there were no further ice shenanigans. 

[Anglevan]

I've just posted similar in the shogun thread but thought I'd add here too.

Just been offered a shitsubishi delica l300 properly converted camper with pop top etc. Engine goosed - off to see it at the weekend. Symptoms are death rattle then stopped engine now won't start. After speaking to the guy he says belts changed 7 years ago and 40k miles covered. From his description it sounds like belts but he did say it tries to fire which cancels that out. He says water and oil ok . Is this worth a punt or a heap of trouble. He wants £500 plus I'd have to pay for recovery. Oh and it's unusual in that it's a manual not auto !

[Ghosty]

Oh good, criteria.

 

• £6000
• not older than 2010
• 3 door preferred
• black/dark colour preferred
• 'proper' automatic - no electronic gearboxes
• not French
• not a Vauxhall I think I may have swung this one
• likes Binis but too expensive
• likes Fiat 500s but the seats aren't good enough (back problems)
• not bigger than a Focus

FFS, I think my mum needs to open her mind a bit. The only suitable cars really are Fiestas, and they're a bit horrible and fall foul of the gearbox criteria. Not considering Fiestas!

 

Same problem as Lankytim's auto thread, but no old cars allowed, and my mum likes being a bit fashionable and doesn't want anything gifferish, so it has to be a premium-ish car. Also, as Old Man is a home servicing advocate, it has to be fixable in the garage. Gah...

 

edit: 59 plate Astra Design Sporthatch 1.8 auto seems like a good contender. Time to try and convince the mother.

[catsinthewelder]

Company Focus has detonated again,  last time I towed it to the dealership with one of the vans.  This time we're shelling out for someone else as it's died up near Aviemore. Looks like I'll be hiching a lift up in a couple of weeks to go and fetch it.

[barrett]

Bond has sold. Buyer seems sound thus far, and I've only* made a £700 loss on what I've spent on it.

 

Sadly the money will have to go to fixing something I already have rather than buying anything else. Herald will be next to go if anyone's interested?

[robinmasters]

Eighteen years of trodden-in dog shit, gone:

 

 

 

Now I just need to fit a doormat to the car, and get myself a pair of driving slippers, so I don't ever have to do that again.

[vulgalour]

I'd be interested in your Herald if I had any money, which I don't.

[DVee8]

 

 

edit: 59 plate Astra Design Sporthatch 1.8 auto seems like a good contender. Time to try and convince the mother.

I have had my sporthatch 5 years the kids find it dark inside,Mrs V8 finds the doors very heavy to open from inside.I would avoid the automatic and the easytronic semi-auto.

taken from the astra owners club

 

http://www.astraownersclub.com/vb/showthread.php/736256-Astra-2007-1-8-automatic-gearbox-problem

[bub2006]

Oh good, criteria.

 

• £6000
• not older than 2010
• 3 door preferred
• black/dark colour preferred
• 'proper' automatic - no electronic gearboxes
• not French
• not a Vauxhall I think I may have swung this one
• likes Binis but too expensive
• likes Fiat 500s but the seats aren't good enough (back problems)
• not bigger than a Focus

FFS, I think my mum needs to open her mind a bit. The only suitable cars really are Fiestas, and they're a bit horrible and fall foul of the gearbox criteria. Not considering Fiestas!

 

Same problem as Lankytim's auto thread, but no old cars allowed, and my mum likes being a bit fashionable and doesn't want anything gifferish, so it has to be a premium-ish car. Also, as Old Man is a home servicing advocate, it has to be fixable in the garage. Gah...

 

edit: 59 plate Astra Design Sporthatch 1.8 auto seems like a good contender. Time to try and convince the mother.

I thought every car from 2010 would have a form of electronic auto box? Ecu for gearchange memory etc. Days of a cable to box are long gone?

[Ghosty]

I agree, this is why we've ended up looking at Focuses.

 

Logic:

No VAG or small Ford, as it'd be an electronic manual.

Fusion fits the bill but no, it's too frumpy. 

Nothing French or Italian will even be considered without a very good case.

All Vauxhalls are shit.

A Bini in our price range would be far too old to be considered acceptable - they're all about 56 plate and we currently have a 54 Polo.

Merc and BM don't do anything small/cheap enough - it'd be about 10 years old.

Civics are too expensive and Jazzes are too frumpy and CVT, putting Honda out.

Nissans won't be considered as Micras are ugly and CVT, my mum had a K11 and hated it, and Notes are too frumpy.

Mitsi/Daihatsu/Subaru aren't being considered.

Korean stuff is too boring.

Pretty much any small car has an electronic gearbox and Old Man is old-fashioned and refuses to go near them.

So, slightly larger car to counter this. Large hatchbacks.

Again, no VAG, no French/Italian, little choice in Japanese, blah blah. 

Considering all of the above, the only cars I can think of is a 59/60 Focus 3dr if one can be found, possibly an Astra, possibly a Nissan Note but I think that's gonna get a no. 

It's looking like a Focus is the only reasonable option - if a 3 door can be found. I'm trying to convince her that 3 door/auto/dark colour is a 'pick 2' situation where 'dark colour' and 'auto' are the preferred - if that was the case we'd be looking for a black Focus no problem.

 

Say I was to set the criteria as a reliable mid-size auto for £6k to suit a woman with a bad back, with no other criteria. What would folks suggest?