The new news 24 thread

[For Fiats Sake]

And I've now been back on eBay looking for something else to use for winter and I've no reason to get another car as I've already got the two but I think it's the thrill of seeing if I get stuck with a lemon or can I get a real peach for my money.

 

The problem I have is I do a car up for the winter months only for me to then get too scared to let the salt near it.

I must get out in them more..

 

My mechanic friend does a proper job of undersealing with bilt hamber stuff (that black waxoyl stuff is complete shit and did nothing to stop rust from on old donor panda so is a waste of time and money IMO) for £300 quid so salt isn't a worry.  Cheaper than buying another shit car!

[richardmorris]

Big Volvo estates have an uncanny knack for changing the minds and opinions of non-believers

My ex boss had a D reg Volvo estate as a company car when he was a director at smithkline French ( then became smithkline Beecham etc). Given it when he left to return to academia where the age of cars doesn't matter. He gave it to one of his sons several years ago as the dealer said it was worth £150 trade in. That son has now given it to his son to learn to drive in. It refuses to die!

[Richard]

Ah, that's interesting. Have you found the only benefit then? Is there a way to remove a good horizontal filter without getting a cascade of oil EVERYWHERE?

 

It certainly confirmed my suspicions. I didn't run the engine beforehand because I wasn't changing the oil and there was barely a drop, even when I dropped it open end down there wasn't much mess.

 

The only clean way I've found to do it, other than buying a shit oil filter, is to hold something like a Chinese takeaway tub under it, but that's not always possible.

[Kiltox]

Anyone done their B+E trailer test? How much did you pay for training and was the test as much like retaking your driving test as it reads like it is?

[crapcarcollector]

Balls. The exruffgeezer roffle streetwise has shit its head gasket. Suppose that's what you get for treating it to a new clutch.

It ain't getting fixed.

CRV has failed its MOT, and the GTV has shit its gearbox, ungrateful shit boxes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Supernaut]

Balls. The exruffgeezer roffle streetwise has shit its head gasket. Suppose that's what you get for treating it to a new clutch.

It ain't getting fixed.

CRV has failed its MOT, and the GTV has shit its gearbox, ungrateful shit boxes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Living up to your name, then!

[RayMK]

The Stellar developed a slight misfire yesterday.  I diagnosed points gap too small (wear and tear).  Used the 205 for the rest of the day.  Today, looked at the Stellar's points.  I could not get the thinnest feeler gauge blade in to the microscopic gap. Duly adjusted and a cursory clean of the cap internals and its running fine again.  One of the rare occasions when my diagnosis is correct. Must find the new set of points and fit them - the ones fitted have done about 35,000 miles.  With the Stellar, 205 and Tipo getting regular use without requiring much maintenance, my ancient Reliant has not had any attention for two months and its MOT has expired (it's a 1961, so still requires one).  I've been too busy enjoying driving the others.

[dugong]

Living up to your name, then!

And concise.

 

'Clarksondugongshitjapanesesaloonshitjapanesecoupeleonardfuckingnobvanandamazonlol605s' is a bit of a mouthful.

 

Also LOL at 'population paste'

[Dave_Q]

Anyone done their B+E trailer test? How much did you pay for training and was the test as much like retaking your driving test as it reads like it is?

 

Not done it myself but have looked into it. You have to perform specific manoeuvres such as a reverse and hitching/unhitching whilst also driving well. 

 

The trailer has to meet some size and weight requirements (600kg mass on it) and you can only do the test at a commercial/HGV test centre of which there are a lot less than normal test centres. 

 

Place near me charges £400 for 12 hours "fast track" tuition then the test fee is £115.

[hairymel]

 rover 75 ... clutch had gone.... wanky plastic master cylinder that's gone pop 

 

my 1.8 had the pedal biting point fairly rapidly disappear through the floorboards.

 

after an abortive attempt i returned to it with a couple of 60ml syringes and some washer hose that fit onto the ends.

 

battery and its holder out to reveal the slave bleed nipple floating about on a flexible hose.

 

one syringe and pipe on the opened bleed nipple to automatically collect the fluid/black lumpy shit  

 

under the dash you can just get to the tiny reservoir above the clutch pedal (you need to remove the underdash trim)

 

take top off and then remove the upside down  jellymould shaped rubber thing that serves as a seal.

 

i found 4 or five good pedal pumps was about a 60ml syringe full of brake fluid (using your bit of washer hose to reach up into the reservoir to fill it)

 

rinse and repeat until all feels better

 

put newspaper or something under the dash beforehand as it is easy to squirt fluid about!

 

worth trying as otherwise its a short step to £200 in parts and the gearbox coming out!

[Supernaut]

I've learned, through my contact on the French Car Forum, of the existence of a black Xantia estate in Huntly.

 

He wants to take spares off it, as it's been off the road a year. However, it's apparently in better cosmetic condition than my car.

 

Also... BLACK. XANTIA. ESTATE. That's my dream Xantia right there. The interior is even grey with red dots. That sounds ACE!

 

 

 

I really, really want to get a look at it, and try saving it if possible...

[dollywobbler]

Retro Rides Gathering on Sunday. I'll be in the RAV as the 2CV isn't finished yet. Scary to think this was eight years ago!

 

I know the Blue forum isn't fashionable in these parts, but I went to several Gatherings back in the day, and the folk were always very pleasant and accepting of my dismissal of stance. Shelsley Walsh this year. Should be a fun day.

[BavarianRetro]

I've learned, through my contact on the French Car Forum, of the existence of a black Xantia estate in Huntly.

 

He wants to take spares off it, as it's been off the road a year. However, it's apparently in better cosmetic condition than my car.

 

Also... BLACK. XANTIA. ESTATE. That's my dream Xantia right there. The interior is even grey with red dots. That sounds ACE!

 

 

 

I really, really want to get a look at it, and try saving it if possible...

There's a 2000W Xantia lying in a driveway on Glasgow Rd., Milngavie, on the same side as and along from the petrol station. Directly across the road, in a driveway, there's a 1997 P MX-5. Both have obviously not moved in months.

[Kiltox]

This afternoon I'll mostly be washing / polishing this (warning: dull modern content)

 

[danthecapriman]

Anyone done their B+E trailer test? How much did you pay for training and was the test as much like retaking your driving test as it reads like it is?

I did mine about 7 years ago now. No idea about cost as mine was paid for by my employer.

 

The test is like another driving test. I was told that you can do all the trailer related stuff ok but still fail the test on your normal driving skills being too poor.

I did a few lessons before the test with the instructor just to get back into driving the way the examiners want it done.

 

The test has a reversing manoeuvre, you have to hitch up correctly (in correct order of doing certain things) then reverse back around a dog leg type bend and into a coned off bay. You must stop the vehicle before the rear end of the trailer crosses a line at the back of the bay. You fail if you hit the cones or cross the line.

You also only get a maximum of 3 (I think?) shunts, that's going forwards then back again. And a max of 3 times you can leave the vehicle to check your positioning.

Once that's done it's all driving. You'll probably have to pull over and set off again, and if possible do a hill start. Then once back to the test centre you have to park up and un-hitch the trailer, again in the correct order.

 

I did mine through the middle of Reading town centre at rush hour and had an argument with the examiner half way through the test (he was a rude arrogant cunt!) but I still passed. It's not actually too bad to do, once you relearn how to drive for a test. Of course once you've passed then you can go back to driving your own way again!

[Supernaut]

I'm sure you can buy a t-shirt with the slogan "double the Xantias, double the pussy!".

 

The double of zero is still zero, though.

 

If I get a chance to look at it, I will either try to buy it, or just some parts off it. A grey interior with red spots sounds funky as hell though. It would need to go in mine.

[320touring]

Achieved DUGONG spec spottery earlier..

[Supernaut]

The black Xantia estate is a no-go. It's about a 5 minute walk into a breakers yard, so is very much off the road. I've been informed it has some nice bits and bobs on it though.

[dollywobbler]

Achieved DUGONG spec spottery earlier..

 

Jeepers. New wiper blades mebbies?

[320touring]

Jeepers. New wiper blades mebbies?

wiper blades function well. Washer jets keep sunroof (steel) immaculate.

 

#cbawifpin

[holbeck]

 

This is mine!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Congrats!!

[Kiltox]

Scrubbed up well

 

[hairnet]

14142046_890452961059075_8523135888244335720_n.jpg

 

This is mine!

who are you and what have you done with skizzer

[egg]

Had a mooch around a breakers in Sittingbourne today, in my lunch break! Nothing exciting for my Ford's, but there was an A reg Orion that looked good and wasn't in the main yard. Unfortunately didn't get to talk to someone to get the full story...

[taxi paul]

My lad has had to put the Honda prelude he recently purchased through the forum onto ebay. Insurance has proved a nightmare for him. Adrian flux quoted him a grand fully comp. He got a few more that were around £1,600. So he rang them back to accept the price when I suddenly became £2,000 , because original company had withdrew qoute. I rang Admiral today and to put him onto my multi car policy till end of Feb was £800. That's more than a years fully comp on his 2.0 turbo s60. So he has put it for sale while he still gets qoutes. Don't think he will get a good one.

[Supernaut]

My lad has had to put the Honda prelude he recently purchased through the forum onto ebay. Insurance has proved a nightmare for him. Adrian flux quoted him a grand fully comp. He got a few more that were around £1,600. So he rang them back to accept the price when I suddenly became £2,000 , because original company had withdrew qoute. I rang Admiral today and to put him onto my multi car policy till end of Feb was £800. That's more than a years fully comp on his 2.0 turbo s60. So he has put it for sale while he still gets qoutes. Don't think he will get a good one.

I've noticed Adrian Flux have recently gone to rat shit. They quoted me £1,200 to insure the Omega I had. Before that, though, they insured my A4 quattro complete with S4 exhaust system and a stage 1 remap for £350. Eh?!

[bramz7]

My insurance on a 1.4 ZX is £1500 a year, fully comp. The few redeeming features are a low excess and decent call centres. Oddly putting a lower value put the premium up, and putting on pass plus did nothing.

Might I add that that insurance price is with my mum as a named driver. Without, it's nearer £1800. 

 

I didn't go for the cheapest as the lowest one had awful reviews. I'm 25 too so assumed even as a first driver, I wouldn't be so out of pocket. 

[taxi paul]

I don't know what it is must be insurance group for the Honda I guess. Two years ago when he was 25. His Volvo c70 coupe was only £700.00 fully comp with adrian flux. He is 27 with four years no claims. I think he is going to do the adding his mum or me insure with him has named driver.

[dollywobbler]

Has he tried the classic insurers?