The new news 24 thread

[seth]

Don't worry, there will be plenty somewhere else.

 

I feel pretty confident to be able to say that there won't in this case!

[reb]

Currently sitting in a Volkswagen main dealer waiting for my new key to be coded to the car. Lots of shiny things, had a prod around some Golfs, the GTD looks exactly like the sort of thing I could live with, a good balance between practicality and luxury. I'm not quite cheeky enough to ask for a test drive since the chance of me even thinking about it is basically zero.

Also had a look at an Up, a poverty spec one at that, utterly hideous interior and appears to share some switchgear from my mk4 which looks horribly out of place.

 

Also, do dealers coffee machines deliberately make the coffee undrinkably hot to limit how many cups you can sink in your time there?

 

Edit: Apparently they're washing it too! Brilliant!

 

 

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[reb]

The extra hot coffee is so you will stay seated and the salesman has longer to talk you into buying.

I explained that I was poor and drive a nearly 20 year old Golf that's doing just fine and he left me alone.

Apparently they were concerned about putting it on the lift because of corrosion, I told them I've had it on a lift in the last few days and had no issues. Why they were putting it on a lift to code a key I don't know, probably to sell me something, which they could easily have tried given the service indicator's on. There's no real corrosion that would cause an issue as far as I know anyway.

They did a shit job of washing it, the edges of the wheel spokes are still manky and have already started dripping onto the faces.

 

 

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[dollywobbler]

ZX gone. Too busy to really think about it, but I think, generally, my thoughts on that car are mostly 'meh.' Just wasn't Citroeny enough.

[Supernaut]

ZX gone. Too busy to really think about it, but I think, generally, my thoughts on that car are mostly 'meh.' Just wasn't Citroeny enough.

 

What you really want is a scabby Xantia with 2 months MOT, located at the complete opposite end of the UK from you.

[tooSavvy]

Currently sitting in a Volkswagen ...Lots of shiny things ... I'm not quite cheeky enough to ask for a test drive since the chance of me even thinking about it is basically zero.

 

Also, do dealers coffee machines deliberately make the coffee undrinkably hot to limit how many cups you can sink in your time there?

 

Edit: Apparently they're washing it too! Brilliant!

 

... as a sort of 'btw'... the daughter has discovered her dog rennerMeg, on PIP, is nearly out of oil. Deciding a tenner is rich for topping up she has taken the 'nuclear option'...

 

Booked it in for its [massively overdue*] service   + free loaner + full valet!!

 

*was in RVI having a brainscan/observations when it was originally due... life getting in the way!!

 

 

TS

[RayMK]

For the first time in several weeks my son used his Cactus to get to work instead of cycling (17 miles each way commute).  This left my driveway with a spare space and coincided with me being in the mood to prod the Reliant to see if it was healthy after sleeping since early August last year.  I connected its battery and it turned over a couple of dozen times whilst priming the fuel pump, then started without drama as though I'd parked it a couple of days ago.  Nothing appeared to be leaking, levels were all ok, lights, indicators and wipers worked and the brakes worked and released without binding.  The only fault I could find was that the interior light was dead.  That turned out to be a broken connection under the bonnet.  Next stage will be to book an MOT.  I hardly use the Reliant (1961 Regal MKVI 747cc side valve) these days but it feels disloyal to think of selling it.  Will have to chew that one over.  In other news, the Tipo gets occasional use and does not complain; I drove the Stellar to Market Harborough yesterday (only about 38 miles each way) and found it to be a very pleasant experience; the 205 automatic continues to be my main vehicle after I replaced the top hose/transmission heat exchanger hose assembly with a good second hand item....and yet I spend hours every day looking at ebay etc to see what I fancy next.  Clearly, I have no real need for another car or indeed a replacement, but Chrysler Neons seem cheap and I do like them.  I am resisting the temptation so far  .

[dollywobbler]

What you really want is a scabby Xantia with 2 months MOT, located at the complete opposite end of the UK from you.

 

Sadly, Xants only do it for me if they've got a V6 engine. And even then, the wipers annoy me.

[reb]

... as a sort of 'btw'... the daughter has discovered her dog rennerMeg, on PIP, is nearly out of oil. Deciding a tenner is rich for topping up she has taken the 'nuclear option'...

 

Booked it in for its [massively overdue*] service + free loaner + full valet!!

 

*was in RVI having a brainscan/observations when it was originally due... life getting in the way!!

 

 

TS

I did think about that actually, especially since servicing is fixed price and it's due for a major one, but I suspect they'd take exception to me using their loaner for delivering pizzas in. Used a borrowed modern one night and they just don't have the visibility, it'd gain quite a few miles and probably a couple of dents and scrapes.

 

The bloke who delivers in an x-type has just pulled in, with his fog lights on despite it being a clear evening, one headlight out, one sidelight out and one foglight out. Claims it's "still legal". Yet I got a bollocking one night for having a tail light and one number plate light out that I fixed the next day.

 

 

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[loserone]

Today I discovered that the boot release button on HODORs keyfob isn't broken, it just requires holding before it opens the boot.  HUZZAH

[scaryoldcortina]

^ lol, I could have told you that! It's normal behaviour for boot release buttons on fobs to either need a long press or a double tap to open.

 

The focus needs a double tap, the Smart needs a long press. This means I recently couldn't get into the back of the smart because I was double tapping the button.

[crapcarcollector]

For the first time in several weeks my son used his Cactus to get to work instead of cycling (17 miles each way commute).  This left my driveway with a spare space and coincided with me being in the mood to prod the Reliant to see if it was healthy after sleeping since early August last year.  I connected its battery and it turned over a couple of dozen times whilst priming the fuel pump, then started without drama as though I'd parked it a couple of days ago.  Nothing appeared to be leaking, levels were all ok, lights, indicators and wipers worked and the brakes worked and released without binding.  The only fault I could find was that the interior light was dead.  That turned out to be a broken connection under the bonnet.  Next stage will be to book an MOT.  I hardly use the Reliant (1961 Regal MKVI 747cc side valve) these days but it feels disloyal to think of selling it.  Will have to chew that one over.  In other news, the Tipo gets occasional use and does not complain; I drove the Stellar to Market Harborough yesterday (only about 38 miles each way) and found it to be a very pleasant experience; the 205 automatic continues to be my main vehicle after I replaced the top hose/transmission heat exchanger hose assembly with a good second hand item....and yet I spend hours every day looking at ebay etc to see what I fancy next.  Clearly, I have no real need for another car or indeed a replacement, but Chrysler Neons seem cheap and I do like them.  I am resisting the temptation so far  .

 

 

 

Tipo you say, tell me more....

[HMC]

Autoshite correspondents in the field....

 

I type this whilst scrunched up in the boot of my rover 75 whilst it's pelting down trying to find the source of various boot leaks. It leaks a lot. From many places. Somehow water has found its way into my ear. Ugh.

[Bobthebeard]

Well. The Honda Accord has now moved on to it's next happy owner. The Saab 9-5 has taken over the daily duties. Mrs Beard a tad moody as loved the Honda. Still, equity released and all that! The Honda has cost around £160 per month in depreciation during our tenure, so £160 per month free money to spend on the Saab if needed. Also VED on the Honda was almost £500 p/a. The Saab is just over half that. Insurance also cheaper.

Fuel consumption around the same.

WCPGW?

[SiC]

Could someone phone my wife as I'm stuck in the boot. Her phone number is 07xxxxxxxxx

 

[EssDeeWon]

Don't get stuck in there!  

[HMC]

UPDATE

have rang swmbo from the boot as it's latched closed on me.

[Bobthebeard]

Autoshite correspondents in the field....

I type this whilst scrunched up in the boot of my rover 75 whilst it's pelting down trying to find the source of various boot leaks. It leaks a lot. From many places. Somehow water has found its way into my ear. Ugh.IMG_0134.JPG

The welded seam near to the boot hinge!

[SiC]

UPDATE

have rang swmbo from the boot as it's latched closed on me.

Haha! I was only joking too.

[SiC]

Lucky you got a signal in there really. Boot lid shut would act as a Faraday cage.

[Richard]

Bit of a scare on the way home tonight. I was heading south on the A90 when I became aware of a car approaching fast in my left mirror. He hit the gravel trap, then bounced out to the Armco in the middle, still moving fast enough to nearly catch me even though I had accelerated and he was going mostly sideways. Somehow he managed to get it back under control and left the A90 by more conventional means to collect his thoughts. I think he must have fallen asleep with his foot to the floor.

[EssDeeWon]

UPDATE

have rang swmbo from the boot as it's latched closed on me.

 

Wouldn't you need it latched shut to tell where its leaking as a slightly open boot is bound to leak.

[RayMK]

Tipo you say, tell me more....

 

It is technically my son's, but I use it now and then and he uses it to transport cycles using a towbar mounted carrier.  He has no inclination to sell it as it is in good cosmetic and mechanical condition and very practical. It's a 1994 lowly 1.4ie with conventional dash and only 42,500 miles on the clock and he has had it for at least three years, I think.  We are going to inspect the underside when the weather improves because the recent MOT (tested in Jan 2017) had advisories on corrosion near suspension mountings - not sure whether it was front or rear.  This is possible - although most of the body is galvanised, Fiat in their infinite wisdom decided that floor pans only needed underseal.  This, of course, ages, becomes brittle and corrosion starts underneath the coating.  Subsequent owners then plaster more of the damned stuff on, effectively hiding areas that could do with attention.

[Tamworthbay]

UPDATE

Please ring crime stoppers as swmbo is in the boot as it's latched closed on her

EFA

[Ghosty]

How do you contact DMB Graphics? I've been paid and I want to give the Rover some new plates.

[dollywobbler]

www.dmb.uk.com and just email him via the site.

 

ItalianJob - does the 75 have folding rear seats? I sometimes shut myself in the boot for my videos, but I always make sure the seats have been released first. Just in case...

[saucedoctor]

Had a right result tonight, totally out of the blue. I went round to see my mate, whose Xsara Picasso HDi had a "flat battery". It drop tested almost at spec. Hmm. Got her to turn the key while I had the meter on the starter terminals. A bit low, but there. Got her to turn the lights on, and hit the key - no dimming. Fuck it, it's the starter. Hit it with a lump of wood, no good.

 

We're working in her driveway, and a bloke walking a dog comes along. Long story short, he is a retired AA chap who lives round the corner and has a 2 post lift in his garage, a fuckton of tools, air tools, the works. He says I can use his kit to fix the Citroen. For nowt! Won't hear of it when I offer to bung him a few quid.

 

I'll see if he takes a drink, and if not I'll tell him if he needs any computer stuff sorted, I'll return the favour.

[alcyonecorporation]

Took the Volvo to German BMW Night at the Ace Cafe last night. 



Still bosso. 

[HMC]

www.dmb.uk.com and just email him via the site.

 

ItalianJob - does the 75 have folding rear seats? I sometimes shut myself in the boot for my videos, but I always make sure the seats have been released first. Just in case...

That's a very good point- I'd assumed not as it's povvo spec, but shortly before it was disposed of by the works it seems to have had replacement seats fitted ( assuming it had a full set fitted on initial build 2 yrs earlier.)

 

In other ROVER GROUP news I've made an offer on an MGF- will update you later. I blame forddeliveryboy and acyclonecorp for their brilliant posts in bornite's thread.

[BorniteIdentity]

 

In other ROVER GROUP news I've made an offer on an MGF- will update you later. I blame forddeliveryboy and acyclonecorp for their brilliant posts in bornite's thread.

 

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