The new news 24 thread

[mercrocker]

Quick fleet update....I really, really must start my own thread (and add to it properly) like all you proper shiters out there.    However, not much to report at present although that does not fully reflect my current subterranean mojo regarding cars. 

 

I think I get burned out by winter so that when this time of year comes round I beat myself up about all the shit I have not done to my vehicles, especially this year when I wimped out and bought a WBOLD which just made me lazier than ever. 

 

Aaaannyhoooo..... 

 

VW T25, MOT booked, fuck all done off my list although I have driven it monthly until the cooling fan cuts in and remembered to put the tyres up to 55lbs psi whilst in storage.  Its taxed again now too. 

 

Minor.   MOT lapsed, never let that happen before but there is a reason (see below).  Its exempt from May but I will still get one.   It has been out a few times so is not totally forgotten.  In fact, I have just cycled up to the lock up to say hello to it (and make sure its still bloody there...)   

 

Cowley.  Bastard handbrake cable snapped on the day before teh MOT......So far have been sent two wrong 'uns and the original cable which I sent to Cable-Tec to get copied took FOUR BLOODY DAYS to get there (Royal Mail guaranteed next day before 1pm blah blah).   Seems the fuckers decided there wasn't any snow in Nottingham so they better send it via fucking Gateshead (from Southampton) to make sure they could blame the weather.    Car is still at MOT testers and I don't want to put the Minor up there as well at the moment.  Managed to break a door handle push button before Christmas (the drivers one) so have got a non-locker on there at the mo.   That needs doing. 

 

190E.  Needs back box and possibly new injectors and like all my stuff needs some Vactan love.  Other than that providing sterling service for Mrs Rocker and the Grandrockettes.  

 

Feister.   Cost of ownership so far one wheel bearing.   1000 plus miles covered since Xmas - just work and running up to the barn where van lives.  Was going to sell with a few months ticket but I think I will play breakdown roulette and get some more free motoring ( well its not free but its non-committal motoring which is a bloody nice change).   Needs de-salting and de-rusting and de-ciding whether to keep up the barn over the summer and roll it again come November.    

 

I have to say though that I do like this idea of a motoring slag that I can just slap up the arse and send back out on the street if something better catches my eye.... 

[DeeJay]

It looks like a big licorice allsort.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Have just had to complete an online course for work. Equality and Diversity. Was a bit Meh about it TBH but have learned a lot. Especially about stereotyping. Guilty as charged up until now.

 

Good for you and good for you to recognising these things in yourself.  Seriously.

[Guest Hooli]

The main thing to remember about stereotypes is they exist for a reason...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Mrs Problemhamster's been using my RX8 as a daily for the last four years, ever since Little Miss Problemhamster was born - it is of course one of the most efficient cars for the young family as both the rear doors and rear seats are childsize, thus ensuring the most economical use of space.

 

The recent symptoms of a ever worsening intermittent loss of power remained resolutely unsolved by my increasingly desperate attempts to find something wrong that didn't involve a compression test, so I found a local rotary specialist with a reassuringly deep pile of broken RX8s surrounding it on all sides.

 

Unbelievably, my practically new 14 year old Japanese car needed it's engine rebuilt. Angrily binning my mid 2000's copy of the JD Power survey, we considered our options. As she's heavily pregnant once more, and funds are relatively limited - we did the sensible, ecologically sound thing and made do and had mended our old 1.3L four door car.

 

The only miscalculation I made during this whole affair was to let the girls sort the details, resulting in a still-chuckling wife, a delighted four year old and this:

 

IMG-20180228-WA0010.jpg

'Can you identify the stolen vehicle for us sir, any distinguishing marks?'

 

'Why yes, it's the one with the multicoloured engine.'

 

'*chuckle* Why yes sir, that's currently in the compound... right behind the pink Micra Cabriolet that we found last week...'

 

'*swearing and grumbling sotto voce...*'

[AlabamaShrimp]

On Monday Mrs Shrimp rang the garage that changed her handbrake cable last week.

 

As she'd taken the car without paying she was ringing to find out how much. The guy had totally forgotten all about it. 'I can't remember how much it was, can I ring you back?' he still hasn't rung back.

 

This is either good or bad. Good that he's not a twat and the kind that does unneeded work but bad in that he seemed like an OK bloke and I don't want to piss him off by 'not paying', as in he'll forget we've asked how much.

[problemhamster]

'Can you identify the stolen vehicle for us sir, any distinguishing marks?'

 

'Why yes, it's the one with the multicoloured engine.'

 

 

 

Ha! That's a point, better make sure there's no chance I have to try to claim with a straight face that I thought that was stock to the insurance

[Jim Bell]

Looking through some old photos of my dads now that hes gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Traffic was his too. The Cav was my 1st car. Never drove it though.

[Jim Bell]

More cav. With sri.

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Manta B

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Magnum.

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Oldford.

 

[Jim Bell]

Vectra.

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

XL LMLML

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

 

 

 

 

[stuboy]

Had to drove this glorious beast to collect rubbish from refurbishment work have to reverse the pile of crap and not to run anyone down..lol, saw the chess board thought id test my skills...????????????

[dean36014]

I seem to have bought an early xantia sinker, 2 litre petrol automatic flavour. It's a convaluted story but I'm quite chuffed with it, but now own 5 old Citroens but only have 4 parking spots.

[Spottedlaurel]

Manta B

 

Great to see these old shots, but do particularly like this one. A chrome-bumper, vinyl-roofed Manta B isn't far beyond Manta A on my list of wants.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Mrs Problemhamster's been using my RX8 as a daily for the last four years, ever since Little Miss Problemhamster was born - it is of course one of the most efficient cars for the young family as both the rear doors and rear seats are childsize, thus ensuring the most economical use of space.

 

The recent symptoms of a ever worsening intermittent loss of power remained resolutely unsolved by my increasingly desperate attempts to find something wrong that didn't involve a compression test, so I found a local rotary specialist with a reassuringly deep pile of broken RX8s surrounding it on all sides.

 

Unbelievably, my practically new 14 year old Japanese car needed it's engine rebuilt. Angrily binning my mid 2000's copy of the JD Power survey, we considered our options. As she's heavily pregnant once more, and funds are relatively limited - we did the sensible, ecologically sound thing and made do and had mended our old 1.3L four door car.

 

The only miscalculation I made during this whole affair was to let the girls sort the details, resulting in a still-chuckling wife, a delighted four year old and this:

 

IMG-20180228-WA0010.jpg

 

Genuine LOL at that......... fantastic job - made my day.

[xtriple]

Just been perusing the various car sales sites (eBay etc) and I am amazed at how few auctions there are now. A few years ago it was mostly auctions and a few buy it nows, other way round now. Prices seem all over the place with people wanting strong coin for utter crap with major faults yet seemingly decent cars cheap.

 

It makes no sense.

 

Also, I have no great desire to interact with the average car dealer (who it seems are the major advertisers), where have all the private sellers gone?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just been perusing the various car sales sites (eBay etc) and I am amazed at how few auctions there are now. A few years ago it was mostly auctions and a few buy it nows, other way round now. Prices seem all over the place with people wanting strong coin for utter crap with major faults yet seemingly decent cars cheap.

 

It makes no sense.

 

Also, I have no great desire to interact with the average car dealer (who it seems are the major advertisers), where have all the private sellers gone?

Frightened off by eBay's evolving policy of catering for non-private sellers?

[SiC]

Also, I have no great desire to interact with the average car dealer (who it seems are the major advertisers), where have all the private sellers gone?

Gone because they're fed up having auctions end with non-paying bidders.

[dean36014]

Gone because they're fed up having auctions end with non-paying bidders.

I would save 50 Percent of the actions I've been watching or bidding on via eBay have been ended early. It's bloody frustrating, it's not even when I've been the only bidder either.

[SiC]

I would save 50 Percent of the actions I've been watching or bidding on via eBay have been ended early. It's bloody frustrating, it's not even when I've been the only bidder either.

I had that the other day. And it was a car that I really wanted which ticked all the boxes. So I was prepared to pay a fair bit more than current price.

[dollywobbler]

I made the mistake of washing the Lexus and Honda the other day. They're both filthy again. 

 

I didn't learn. I gave this pair a wash. It's now raining...

[dean36014]

My new Xantia in resale Silver. Photo flatters the outside a bit, few area that need attention but no rust at all in the usual Xantia places. Interior is lovely though I need to fix the heater blowers as it has the usual ignition switch failure, new front brake pads to fit(supplied) and desperately needs tyres as they've gone hard and its like drive on bowling balls. Will stick a wanted post up in a minute incase anyone has some.

[LabRat]

Just picked this up from Wakefield this afternoon, not had time to properly look at it as back to work again. First proper impressions are very positive, drives lovely and seems to sip fuel compared to the knackered insignia it replaces.

 

Time will tell if it lives up to its Renault roots or not, but I'm suitably impressed.

 

Sent from my VKY-L09 using Tapatalk

[Ghosty]

Volvo brake calipers replaced. Easy job really. The old ones were dragging a serious amount, it turns out.

 

 

I've been putting some thought to what I might replace the Volvo with. I want an XJ40 but it's an awful idea really.

 

I'm probably going to end up with an early '90s coupe (Celica, Prelude, Audi 80) or large hatchback of some sort. 

 

Old Man appears to approve of non-hydraulic PSA products too which is interesting.

[Supernaut]

Old Man appears to approve of non-hydraulic PSA products too which is interesting.

 

If it doesn't have green blood there's not really any point.

 

*runs away*

 

 

Naah, I've had a couple of 306s, lovely cars. I'd have another if I had space / time / etc.

[Lacquer Peel]

I wonder how far back you'd have to go for a Peugeot or Citroen with cable brakes.