The new news 24 thread

[danthecapriman]

It's been a nice day here today, unlike the relentless pissing rain yesterday.

So I gave the Transit a service. New plugs as the old ones were pretty manky, the old VV carb was definitely running all kinds of wrong as the old plugs were black and sooty. Certainly goes with the old carb running very erratically and smelling rich at times anyway.

Old oil was pretty mank too, so a new genuine Ford filter and some of Castrols finest had it running silk smooth (very un-pinto like!). I can't believe how nicely it runs with that new carb on it!

 

Last job was meant to be changing the alternator belt as the old one is stretched to the adjusters max and it's still squealing, it's all perished too. Bloody Euro car parts have given me the wrong belt, it's too big! So I'll have to go back and exchange it.

[Guest Hooli]

Roofed our new logstore today. It's 14x7' so plenty of space for a few dismembered trees Start racking it out next weekend....

[STUNO]

Oh shit, this country is just about stuffed now. Damage to the infrastructure is severe. Earthquakes. No problems that affect anyone on this site so we are OK. Fortunately only 2 deaths so far.

[egg]

Sorry to hear about that earthquake today. 

 

I went from the Skoda to the Mondeo today and felt like I'd walked through the Brandenburg gate....

[conkerman]

Ok, one problem which reared its head this week ( but oddly only on Friday) was an erratic idle in the merc. I thought it was fixed, as it last happened in about February.

 

Starts and runs fine, but stopping eg at lights or traffic the revs would surge. Up about 600rpm and back. It's annoying and then inconvenient especially when I got stuck in Friday afternoon traffic on the a30 - took me almost as long to get home from the m25 junction as it did to said junction 80 miles away in Folkestone! I had to put it into n each time I came to a stop- which incidentally seemed to stop the revs from pulsing.

I.e. It only pulses in D.

 

Also it only seems to happen at this cool and damp time of year.

 

Someone must have an idea? The oxygen sensor contact under the carpet was thought to be the culprit but this is clean and shiny now.

You can sometimes improve things by cleaning the butterfly, but it sounds a lot like the TPS track is worn. The ECU can't get a proper reading so it goes all wobbly in an effort to see what the bollocks is happening. Very common on 2001 ish volvos.

 

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[cros]

This Renault 4 is being offered on eBay and was apparently rendered into its current state by being shot at by rocket fire on a 'show' hosted by that despicable cunt James May. I didn't watch it as I derive no pleasure from seeing cars being destroyed, but I'm open to being converted if they ever make a programme in which May and his Top Gear cohorts are dropped into a vat of boiling excrement.

[wuvvum]

Today I've been having a good poke around my gnarly surf wagon, dudes.

 

 

It's been used as a work van so has its share of rather crude paint touch-ups in the wrong shade of white, but it's actually a bloody solid old van - couldn't find any significant grot underneath at all.  I never knew these vans had IRS - might go some way to explaining why it handles so well along shite bumpy Norfolk back roads - its cornering ability far exceeds the ability of the (rather flat) driver's seat to hold me in place, although the nearside front tyre starts squealing embarrassingly early.  The ride isn't bad either - slightly bouncy on the back end because no weight in the back, but definitely better than a Transit in similar circumstances.

 

One of the rear windows in the (split) rear doors has been replaced with a bit of plywood - ideally I need to get another window for it, but in the short term I think I might use the plywood as a template to cut a bit of perspex to size.  Both wiper motors still work (although the arms have been removed), along with most of the elements in the remaining HRW.

 

I'm getting to like the engine, which to start with I thought was rather gutless - it's still by no means a fast van, but it's adequate, and it feels far more relaxed at 70 than the H100 did - although there's not that much difference in the gearing (Hyundai was doing just over 3,500rpm at 70, this is doing 3,300), the VW's engine is far better soundproofed (partly because you're not sitting on it) and just warbles away in the distance.  It does slow down a bit on long hills though, and was down to 65 in a couple of places on the A47 where the Hyundai would have held 70.

 

 

Yesterday I got rid of the fun-but-slightly-rusty MGF.  I would be unlikely to use an F much in the winter anyway, and one with holes in the sills for salt and muck to get into would be even less likely to get driven.  So I swapped it.  Behold the magnificence of the 2005 Citroën Xsara Picasso HDI Desire [sic]. 

 

 

 

 

It's on a 55 plate so it's basically a Brand New Car.  Look at that stylish modern interior.

 

 

 

Plah.

 

 

 

OK, so these crates inspire, erm, mixed emotions on this forum, and I'd be lying if I said it's the most inspiring car I've ever driven, but it's spacious, comfortable and bloody good on diesel, and the heater is in a different league to the Rover's, so I can see it temporarily taking over commuting duties (until I can flog it).  It's got the old-skool 8-valve 2-litre HDI so should be reasonably reliable; performance isn't earth-shattering but it goes OK and should get past tractors, Ford Fusions etc in fairly short order.  I still don't like the look of the outside, but I can't see that when I'm driving - I can't see where the bonnet ends either mind, which is pissing me off a bit.

[dollywobbler]

It was a good programme, apart from the pointless brutality. 

 

No earthquakes for me, but the S-MX has been busy again. Here it is eyeing up a Land Rover.

 

Sadly, the Honda has melted another headlamp plug. Why has it done that?! Both were melted when I got it, so Twosmoke replaced them (very kindly). Now the offside one is melted again, and it looks like I've got dim-dip on one side. RUBBISH. I wonder if the previous owner has fitted some dodgy, high-power bulbs to try and combat the knackered headlamp lenses? I went for the rather more sensible option of just cleaning the sodding lenses up. Oh and the rear washer seems to be horribly clogged up and I can't clear it with a pin. Annoying.

 

Shame as I particularly enjoyed the drive home otherwise, listening to a mixture of Crowded House, Genesis and The Verve.

[Cavcraft]

Good move on than van, Wuvv. I reckon any one of them that's cheap is just going to rockt in value very quickly.

 

 

My mate at work has apparently just purchased a three year old C63 coupe, I cannot wait to see it and get a passenger ride. 

[Matt]

Met up with The Moog this evening to take delivery of my well wicked innit m8 alloys. For tiny alloys on a mass produced car they seem to be awfully rare things. Thanks man, much appreciated!

 

 

Too bad someone seems to have gone over one with a brick mind you...

 

[Cavcraft]

Oh aye, I've also agreed to buy a Picasso diesel tonight. I haven't seen it and the MOT expires today.

[Bren]

There are so many picassos on here I am sure some of you want to sire more children.

[Supernaut]

Oh aye, I've also agreed to buy a Picasso diesel tonight. I haven't seen it and the MOT expires today.

 

Knowing you, the interior will be under a 2-inch thick layer of sweet wrappers, vomit and used nappies.

[andy18s]

Downtown Polski Trambesh

These were all on the high street as we walked to the local Ironmongers store,where we spent longer haggling with the owner than we did choosing a long list of stuff

 

Edit. Don't know why pics are all on the piss,soz

[wuvvum]

My old Daewoo Kalos drove past my house last night, which was a bit random.  Good to see the old crate still on the road though.

[dollywobbler]

If, hypothetically, you wanted to tow a trailer with a gross max weight of 2600kg, but an actual weight (loaded) more akin to the maximum 1500kg of your tow vehicle, would you just go ahead with no worries? I haz worries.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

yes

[hairnet]

Bloody heck Wuv, how many shonky old vans is that now?

all of them

[dollywobbler]

yes

 

I'm still not sure. Problem is, I do tend to document my happenings for websites and magazines. I got a letter of complaint once for using a Volvo 240 to tow a Dyane on a car trailer (same issue, safe weight, but gross possible weight over the Volvo's limit). Just found out I can hire a beavertail for £140. That does sound more appealing.

[Cavcraft]

Sadly* the Picasso deal has fallen though. It's no biggie though, as I wasn't going to get as much as I'd hoped by weighing it off anyhow.

[dollywobbler]

Actually, looking into it in boringly deep levels, it seems I'll be totally legit anyway. Vehicle laws in this country really are an utter arse. I'm sure you could rewrite everything to do with vehicle law and condense it into 'don't be a dick.' So many categories of vehicle, licence etc. Ridiculous.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think you'd be legit. We had a thread on this recently,i think Faker clarified that VOSA will no longer do you based on the plated weight only as they have been handed their arse in a courtroom about it.

[Lukas]

It was a good programme, apart from the pointless brutality. 

 

No earthquakes for me, but the S-MX has been busy again. Here it is eyeing up a Land Rover.

 

Sadly, the Honda has melted another headlamp plug. Why has it done that?! Both were melted when I got it, so Twosmoke replaced them (very kindly). Now the offside one is melted again, and it looks like I've got dim-dip on one side. RUBBISH. I wonder if the previous owner has fitted some dodgy, high-power bulbs to try and combat the knackered headlamp lenses? I went for the rather more sensible option of just cleaning the sodding lenses up. Oh and the rear washer seems to be horribly clogged up and I can't clear it with a pin. Annoying.

 

Shame as I particularly enjoyed the drive home otherwise, listening to a mixture of Crowded House, Genesis and The Verve.

 

All I see there is a nice Pajero Mk II.     

[Ghosty]

190E is flavour of the month at Chez Ghosty. Seems the parents are as indecisive as me...

[andy18s]

I need to get some pics of some of the car transportation around here

A lot of stuff gets bought in Germany and shipped down

I've seen a Transit/Ducato beavertail with a full trailer hooked up with 3 cars on them

They bolt the trailer to the truck,turning it into 1 long vehicle

And God knows what the weight limits are down here,and no-one seems to bat an eyelid ........

[danthecapriman]

I'm still not sure. Problem is, I do tend to document my happenings for websites and magazines. I got a letter of complaint once for using a Volvo 240 to tow a Dyane on a car trailer (same issue, safe weight, but gross possible weight over the Volvo's limit). Just found out I can hire a beavertail for £140. That does sound more appealing.

I once towed a Ford Capri, on top of a very big heavy car transporter trailer (it was huge and looked like it was built out of army surplus armour plate!) the tow vehicle was a 1.7 Volvo 340! It made it and I had no trouble. I'm fairly certain it wasn't exactly legal or within the vehicles weight limits though...

 

I tow a lot now at work and never been stopped, or heard of anyone else being stopped either. I'd just do it if it was me.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Towing will also be license dependant, if you have a post 1997 license you'll be restricted to max train weight of 3500kg

 

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[dollywobbler]

Don't worry. I'm an old bugger, so licence isn't an issue. Sounds like potential weight isn't either. Need to prepare the chassis for transport after dinner, which is mostly blocking stuff off so the engine doesn't fill up with water. Or removing the engine entirely and putting it in the RAV. Might help spread the weight out, and the engine is heading off for a refurb, so isn't coming back with me. That also means I can leave the gearbox at home, which'll save a bit more weight. If you see a little RAV struggling up the M62 tomorrow, it'll be me!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That's the spirit. Good luck WobblAr!!

[wuvvum]

On the way back round the M25 on Saturday I passed a Golf Plus towing a SWB high roof Transit camper on a trailer.  Not convinced that was entirely legal...