The new news 24 thread

[Ghosty]

I miss having a small, buzzy, nippy, good handling car. Not necessarily the Rover (I'd like a 1.6 auto mk1 MX5, or a 1275 Metro), but at the same time I know I'll regret it if I let go of the Volvo.

Volvo does everything I want it to, and it's everything I want from a car, so it's difficult. Also, it just works.

I'd have both ideally (I definitely think that's the way since the brief period I had the Volvo and the 200) but things can't be that way for a long time yet. Volvo is a definite keeper though, and I've little choice but to keep it.

Besides a bike doesn't fit in a Metro let alone an MX5.

[twosmoke300]

I spent £20 on a HID kit for our vectra and felt like the man who dazzled the world.

[andy18s]

I've little choice but to keep it.

Besides a bike doesn't fit in a Metro let alone an MX5.

Pfft!

You can fit a bike into/onto anything if you try!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'm sure you could get a bike in a Metro with the back seat dropped. I cart my bike around in the 600 ok.

[M'coli]

Yeah, bikes fit in Metros nae bother, especially if you take the wheels off - they'll fit across the back seat then. Don't bother with a 1275 unless you're a purist, the K-series cars have better suspension, the 1100s have about the same power as a cooking 1275, and they rust just as fast.

[Slowsilver]

I'll be sure* to paint the grille and headlamps trims yellow in honour of that scheme.

 

Copyright 1985 Bob the Renault 6.

[Volksy]

My old Goona sold at BCA auctions yesterday for £232.10.

 

Wonder how long it'll be on the DVLA computer for....

[tooSavvy]

Flickr is 'm.i.a'

 

TS

[vulgalour]

Vespa 400!

 

Spotted today on an errand to help scaryoldcortina with some stuff.

[RobT]

After the high of MoT success for the Mazda came the low of failure for the Cavalier today. I knew it wouldn't pass, but it needs a bit more welding than anticipated plus a few other bits. As usual time is in short supply so I'll have to ask my friendly mechanic Les to do most of it, but I'll have a go at replacing the exhaust (should the bloody thing ever arrive...been waiting over a week for it). Hopefully £300-350 should see it with a fresh ticket.

[tooSavvy]

Flickr is 'm.i.a' TS

No... Just popped back up

 

*nope.. Off again

 

TS

[Matt]

No... Just popped back up

 

*nope.. Off again

 

TS

 

Nay, it is still deed.

[gm]

Besides a bike doesn't fit in a Metro let alone an MX5.

Nonsense, my good man. I forgot this was on the back and gave my mazda the usual abuse round the twisty roads, no nuns, kittens or indeed mountain bikes were harmed in the process

 

 

(I've since chopped those two massive arms down to size and adjusted it so the back wheel is a bit higher off the road)

[Ghosty]

Yeah, bikes fit in Metros nae bother, especially if you take the wheels off - they'll fit across the back seat then. Don't bother with a 1275 unless you're a purist, the K-series cars have better suspension, the 1100s have about the same power as a cooking 1275, and they rust just as fast.

 

 I have the Volvo so I don't have to faff about with wheels and such! The idea is that me and someone else can have ourselves and two bikes in the car easily, as well as all manner of other stuff, I've moved some appliances with it, I can sleep in it comfortably, etc.

 

I was thinking 1275 as I much, much prefer the Austin styling, A-series are easy to tinker, and my mum had two of them. I'm not against a K Metro but it's a lot harder to get a decent looking one I think.

[loserone]

Besides a bike doesn't fit in a Metro let alone an MX5.

 

Much like GM's picture, when you have an MX5 you learn that it is surprisingly capacious when you need it to be.  And you always carry a coat and hat.

[SiC]

Much like GM's picture, when you have an MX5 you learn that it is surprisingly capacious when you need it to be. And you always carry a coat and hat.

I never did. Heaters are excellent (ok, a coat is needed in sub-zero when motorway cruising) and it never breaks down...

[egg]

autotrader have finally put an 'exclude cat c/d marker' from searches. Good stuff.

[Ghosty]

 And you always carry a coat and hat.

 

You haven't met me, I do anyway!

[dollywobbler]

What have I become? Two spotless, waxed and washed motor cars. I need help.

[oldcars]

What have I become? Two spotless, waxed and washed motor cars. I need help.

They look spot on. You need some Autosmart Fusion for the tyres and plastics on Honda. Proper two bucket wrong'un

[dollywobbler]

If I ever start blacking my tyres, I'm having a serious word with myself. Fair point on the plastics. Have some Autoglym stuff somewhere.

[Bren]

Just seen a minging bmw 325 convertible. Arches, bootlid were rusty. Reminded me of a ka.

[phil_lihp]

Got asked by a colleague today if I could have a look at her car as she'd heard I was 'good with cars'.  No idea where that rumour came from although I do own my own hammer.  When lunchtime came around I went out to the car park with her and had a look, 2007 BMW 116i with 125,000 miles on the clock, ABS and brake warning lights and a 'juddering' problem combined with loss of power at random intervals.  She also mentioned it was consuming alarming amounts of oil, it was topped up last month and has already put the warning light on again today.

 

Turns out the brake warning started after new tyres were fitted (I'm pleased to see she went for decent quality Continentals) and it has a history of ABS faults so that probably explains that issue.  Plenty of brake fluid on board and it looked clean, no major problems I suspect, probably a dickey sensor.  Not much I can do there. 

 

Her other issue is rather worse, a brief inspection showed substantial amounts of mayo in the coolant header tank and a faint haze of blue smoke out the exhaust when revved, together with a distinctive smell of burnt oil.  I guessed either blown head gasket, maybe cracked cylinder head or just maybe (if it has one) the oil cooler, although I doubt that would result in blue smoke as it would only allow oil and water to mix, not get into the cylinders.  Nothing I could really do to help other than look up the right type of oil to top it up with, off to the garage for a big repair bill I suspect. 

 

Now that half the office has seen me poking around under the bonnet of a car, I have been dubbed the 'office mechanic' by several people which is a title I could do without, I can barely keep my bicycle maintained to a roadworthy standard.  Still, might have to work out what my hourly rate is just in case...

[twosmoke300]

Had a 1 series this week with the same fault . Massive power loss while driving . Abs lights on . If the dtc button was pressed to disable the traction control all ok . Plugged her in and eng mgt had a code for poor road surface detected .

Abs threw a nsr wheel sensor fault and live data showed that wheel flashing to over 100kmh while the rest were at 60 .

It was the abs ring swollen from a rusty driveshaft as well as the end of the sensor damaged . Nsr

[dollywobbler]

Had food in the house, but it wasn't the right sort of food, so I was forced* to go for a drive.

 

It was just as enjoyable on the way back too.

[andy18s]

It was just as enjoyable on the way back too.

Calender shot shirley?

[dollywobbler]

Very kind, thanks. EDIT - though it was taken on my phone, and I'm not sure the quality is up to it.

 

Speaking of which, I know it's bad form and everything, but is there any chance of actually getting the 2018 calendar completed before the end of the year? Only two months left...

[beko1987]

Very kind, thanks. EDIT - though it was taken on my phone, and I'm not sure the quality is up to it.

 

Speaking of which, I know it's bad form and everything, but is there any chance of actually getting the 2018 calendar completed before the end of the year? Only two months left...

Blimey steady on!

[dollywobbler]

Blimey steady on!

 

I know, it's controversial, but I didn't bother with the 2017 calendar, because I think most of January had gone before it was sorted. Or maybe that was the year before, and I just felt I didn't get my money's worth out of January. Just saying, if the excellent people that make it happen get an early heads-up, maybe it'll be WIN for all?

[Eddie Honda]

It's a Feb to Feb calendar