The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

Help me Google Translate! You're my only hope!

 

GT: in Szczebrzeszyn is the cane beetle *audio noises too*

 

Well, that sounds easy enough to pick up in an afternoon then.*

 

 

 

 

 

*trying to learn Polish may not have been my brightest idea to date.

[Lord Sterling]

Well, today myself and my mate Brad went down to Somerset to collect an 3.5 SD1 Vanden Plas. Its a B-reg with a big-bore exhaust which apprently was custom made. Made the car sound nice too

 

The reason for me tagging along was so we could drive down in one car and come back with 2. This was my transport for the day:

 

 

Its a 2.5 OMFG!!! KV6 Sterling. What a great car, lovely, smooth, comfortable and pretty responsive, what let it down was the cheap exhaust which was starting to blow and made it sound like a lawn mower whilst accelerating. This lovely Coupe also made me realise how terrible my Sterling really is

 

I've got some serious hankering for a KV6 Coupe, I have the money, know the risks and am prepared to put in some work and money, but lack of space, the extra cost of a garage I dont really need and my reluctance to sell any of my stock is really putting a downer on this idea

 

Anyhow, this is the SD1:

 

The car was great, pretty much original, almost 'TheDoctor' in condition, it had been in storage for a long time so most of the paintwork was original and there seemed to be no signs of rust. With the Big Bore exhaust it sounded beautiful.

 

After collection we headed up the M5 only stopping for petrol and a bite to eat somewhere in Cheltenham. I never drove the SD1 as it is heading to a private collector.

 

It was a great day, seeing a good friend and driving some lovely cars. Thanks Brad!

 

-----------------------

 

OTHA NEWZ:

 

Received some bits for the Micra on Friday, a pair of fogs and a rear ashtray. I fitted in the ashtray only to find the colour differs slightly, I kind of suspected this as the Grey colouring on early K11 plastics were darker than the facelift Micras:

 

Original rear ashtray that I eventually broke:

 

Replacement:

 

Oh well, you live 'n learn

 

Next I thought I'd try the fog lights, they are early fog lights from an early Micra SR or something. I tried to remove the bolts from the bumper grille but it just wasnt happening:

 

 

All I managed to do was shear off a couple of bolts. I packed up and went inside.

 

A couple of weeks ago I tried to fit some rear panels to the Micra as higher-spec models differ.

 

Original:

 

Replacement:

 

It fitted correctly and looked great, but I couldnt for the life of me remove the seatbelt, there was one bolt stuck on tight that just wouldnt move, I needed to remove it to thread the old panel out and thread it into the new panel. I gave up, replaced the original and went in the house.

 

Sigh

[HMC]

^ nice number on that 800! Is that one of Brads, Mo?

[Lord Sterling]

^ nice number on that 800! Is that one of Brads, Mo?

 

It is indeed. What a car man. I wish I had the space, there are a couple of similar Coupes for sale somewhere.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Both those Rovers are just marvellous.

 

I now have a surprisingly effective heater in the Sprite. The water tap was seized open, so no action required there and the motor was just not earthing so I don't know why the PO disconnected it. The vents were full of battery acid powder and dirt but after a quick clean the whole system is working rather well.

[Shep Shepherd]

That SD1 is simply marvellous

[RobT]

^ nice number on that 800! Is that one of Brads, Mo?

 

It is indeed. What a car man. I wish I had the space, there are a couple of similar Coupes for sale somewhere.

 

I've only met him once but what a hero, all those Rover 800s he's got Once I'm shot of the Renault I'm hoping to dip my toe in the wonderful world of KV6 headgasket failure!

[dollywobbler]

The To Do list is growing. Bluebird needs a thermostat, which I'm noticing now it's getting colder. New BX needs strut return pipes. No wonder it was losing LHM! Think I've sourced one of the knocks - seems to be coming from one of the track rods. Not sure how big a problem this is yet (it's the rack end, not the hub end).

[Richard]

I've not done a BX one but the track rods I've done have been a piece of piss. I got home one evening at 4:30, replaced a track rod on the C5 and had it in for a retest by 4:45.

 

Turn the steering so the rod is fully out, unscrew the track rod end (I chose not to bother removing the TRE from the hub- or even taking the wheel off), release the boot and slide it off- it's an idea to count the turns but you'll be wanting to have the tracking set anyway. The C5 had no locking device but you'll probably find the BX has three tabs to bend back. Unscrew the track rod using the flats if you can, or Stilsons etc. And that's it, put the new one in and put it all back together.

[dollywobbler]

Lovely. Thanks. Online shopping tonight then!

[cobblers]

I'm a fucking idiot and put off getting my tracking done for too long. I'd noticed a "little bit" of wear on the inside but kept putting the job off.

I did a couple of 350 mile trips over the last few weeks - took the front drivers wheel off to find my 1500 mile old 18" tyre worn down to the bloody cords on the inside.

 

I've just spent £80 on tracking and a pair of part worns that don't even appear to have any kind of manufacturer on them.

[ashmicro]

Just scored a full set of Apec discs and pads for the Jaaaag for £65 all in . Job for the weekend. It doesn't even need discs, but at that price, it's getting them.

[Lord Sterling]

Hmmm. I received an e-mail through Flickr today from a production company who want to use the photos of my 825 Sterling in thier 'new web series for Car & Driver about the best, worst, and most memorable cars of all time'

 

I replied to the e-mail asking exactly in which category will my car feature? I kind of get a feeling that my car will feature in the 'worst' category if I give permission

[skattrd]

I've just had a call from the garage, after a year in hibernation my Saab has just sailed through its MOT.

Does anyone fancy a c900 T16s notchback? 170k(ish) fsh, recent clutch, slave cyl, radiator and a couple of other bits I can't remember, £900 to you lot.

I'll be picking it up (prob at the weekend) then running around it for a few days to make sure everythings ok.

 

 

T16s is the full fat 16v turbo version and notchback means it's 2dr, has a stiffer frame and handles better than the 3dr, no liftback, but huge boot

[trigger]

That Saab is well nice, got anymore photos?

[skattrd]

That Saab is well nice, got anymore photos?

 

Cheers trigger - click on the pic and it should take you to a photobucket link

[phil_lihp]

A month later, there's still a Nova-shaped hole in my garage - my friendly mechanic has struggled to find time for it as more urgent stuff keeps coming in. Still, I'm not bothered about waiting and he knows me well enough to know there's no rush on it.

 

He rang me today, I missed the call but saw the number come up so I thought 'great, it's finally ready!'. No. The voicemail went 'I've just taken out the battery to get the tray repaired and it's actually quite a bit worse than I was expecting...'

 

We toted up what has been spent so far on the sills & front end welding and tossed up the difference between a bodged tray to make it watertight and a proper repair. Suffice to say I took a deep breath and went with the proper repair. Total amount spent is now more than the car is ever likely to be worth and that's before it's taxed and insured. This is going to be painful. Some part of me thinks it's time to admit defeat, patch it up cheaply and get rid of it ASAP but I'm keeping that voice supressed, however loud it starts to shout and bang on the walls

[Lankytim]

The central locking for the boot on the Saab packed up today. Stripping the bootlid lining out revealed the small plastic loop that connects the solenoid to the boot catch mechanism had snapped. A quick session of plastic welding using a gas hob and a spoon handle had everyting working as it should. Cost ZERO quid. Shite is right!

[vulgalour]

Some part of me thinks it's time to admit defeat, patch it up cheaply and get rid of it ASAP but I'm keeping that voice supressed, however loud it starts to shout and bang on the walls

 

Good man!

[RoadworkUK]

Hmmm. I received an e-mail through Flickr today from a production company who want to use the photos of my 825 Sterling in thier 'new web series for Car & Driver about the best, worst, and most memorable cars of all time'

 

I replied to the e-mail asking exactly in which category will my car feature? I kind of get a feeling that my car will feature in the 'worst' category if I give permission

 

I'd be tempted to say naaaah. Especially as we all know they'll be shouting long lists of terribleness that we've heard dozens of times before...

[ashmicro]

DING DONG, the Beemer's gone! Private sale to a colleague's brother, £2850. Tail-lamp warranty. Actually, he's chuffed as similar cars are retailing at about £800-1000 more than that. I washed it.

[Lord Sterling]

Hmmm. I received an e-mail through Flickr today from a production company who want to use the photos of my 825 Sterling in thier 'new web series for Car & Driver about the best, worst, and most memorable cars of all time'

 

I replied to the e-mail asking exactly in which category will my car feature? I kind of get a feeling that my car will feature in the 'worst' category if I give permission

 

I'd be tempted to say naaaah. Especially as we all know they'll be shouting long lists of terribleness that we've heard dozens of times before...

 

Well, you were absolutley correct. The lady who e-mailed me got back today and to her credit she did say that it would be on the 'worst' list My response was a big fat NO.

 

FFS, cant they actually learn something.

[Morgan84]

Maybe some of these dummocks who say worst car blah blah blah etc shouls actually drive some before they judge them.I happen to be a Rover softie,and find them quite acceptable

[CreepingJesus]

Maybe some of these dummocks who say worst car blah blah blah etc shouls actually drive some before they judge them.

 

+1. The 800 was, and is a perfectly good car. Under-rated and under-appreciated does not equal 'bad'. Dunno how people get off, compiling lists like that, when it's obviously just a question of sticking the boot into an easy target.

[ashmicro]

Stuff like this happens because people listen to Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson is good entertainment, but he knows fuck all about cars. If he really was knowledgable, he'd at least know how to change spark plugs. Look at the fuck ups he made when they were building that Caterham. A person with proper enthusiasm would at least try to learn a few things. Clarkson doesn't even fully understand horsepower (by his own admission).

[Volksy]

Clarkson doesn't even fully understand horsepower (by his own admission).

 

There is now way on earth that he doesnt. Sorry, he plays the fool against the others for entertainment.

[Cavcraft]

Maybe some of these dummocks who say worst car blah blah blah etc shouls actually drive some before they judge them.

 

+1. The 800 was, and is a perfectly good car. Under-rated and under-appreciated does not equal 'bad'. Dunno how people get off, compiling lists like that, when it's obviously just a question of sticking the boot into an easy target.

 

 

Laziness, that's what it is. 'I know. let's do an article about good and bad cars. TheOh aye, we'll put a Rover in because my grandad's mate said they were shit and they eventually went bust' kind of journalism is just shit and what's the betting that the crap cars will feature an Allegro and the goods ones a bloody Golf?

Clarkson isn't even entertaining any longer, he's just a predcitable/boring gobshite.

 

Right, back onto the news 24 bit.

Upon return from work tonight I fully expect to see a shit Vauxhall outside the Cavcraft workshops, foloowed in the next few days by a shit Nissan.

[Richard]

Tell her she can use your picture if you get to defend the car, at least that would make it slightly different from all the other lazy lists.

 

Stuff like this happens because people listen to Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson is good entertainment, but he knows fuck all about cars. If he really was knowledgable, he'd at least know how to change spark plugs. Look at the fuck ups he made when they were building that Caterham. A person with proper enthusiasm would at least try to learn a few things. Clarkson doesn't even fully understand horsepower (by his own admission).

 

History won't be kind to Top Gear either, it will be a fixture on future Channel 4 list programmes where people take the piss out of stuff their parents liked. There's a fair chance that some of the people who rave about it now on "best" programmes will pop up to put the boot in when the "worst" programmes come along.

[Wilko220]

Somewhere in the depths of YouTube is an old Top Gear review in which Clarkson is very complimentary about the 800. So, while I'm quite happy to agree that he's an utter twat in many respects, you really can't blame him for this one...

 

EDIT: here it is

[rml2345]

^ I've seen that review and it seems pretty fair and balanced TBH.

In other news I fixed a non working door marker light for £0.00 yesterday. Some idiot* had the door card off and forgot to plug it back in when putting it back together.

Success!

 

 

 

 

*Me