The new news 24 thread

[cort16]

Well it's in. Biggest single bill I've ever had. Admittedly the cost of the strut took up the majority of the cost of this job.

 

They test drove it and couldn't find any fault with the gearbox. However it's in stop+start traffic that it's the most noticeable and they probably didn't test too much of that. But then I'm probably over worrying about it and being too particular. As the Saab 9-5 that Hooli now owns and put 15k or so on...

 

Time to just use this as a car now.

Spent more on a fuggin fiat panda although it’s rare 1 part makes up 50% of a 700 quid bill. Well unless that part is an engine .

[iainrcz]

In other news, I'm the wrong side of the Humber in 'ull to see Bill bailey.

[Sloth in a bowl]

In my search for another car I have been sadly disappointed with the number and quality of chod around on Autotrader and eBay. I found where they are all hiding though, the sneaky bastards are on Gumtree! Never visited before, seems nice....

Wait till you meet the locals. It's like the less talkative characters from Shawn of the Dead, without the good manners.

 

I have bought good cars from Gumtree but be picky and god help you if you are selling.

[MarvinsMom]

this has happened today

 

RDD900MMORRIS MINI 1000

Check another vehicle

ColourBlack

Fuel typePetrol

Date registered1 July 1971

MOT valid until24 April 2019

Get an MOT reminderwhen the vehicle's MOT is near its time for renewal.(Opens in a new Window) by email or text.

If you think the MOT expiry date or any of the vehicle details are wrong, contact DVSA.

Open All

MOT history

Check mileage recorded at test, MOT expiry date, defects and advisories

 

The MOT test will change on 20 May 2018

We will be changing how advisory notices and reasons for failure are categorised. The MOT test has changed in all EU countries, so that all vehicles will meet the same safety standards. Find out more

Date tested25 April 2018 PASS

Mileage71,311 miles

MOT test number3348 7572 0571

Test locationunavailable until further notice

Expiry date24 April 2019

 

the black mini, (aka RodneyMini, aka hateful little shitheap, aka YOU UNGRATEFULL LITTLE TWAT, WHATS WRONG NOW!!) has passed its last ever MOT.

 

now to get it taxed and changed to historic vehicle, and then used a bit as its 3 weeks to :llondon to Brighton, and i've currently got little faith in it..

 

the brake issue was down to to loose adjusters on one of the front backplates, when we were trying to bleed the brajes, they were adjusting themselves out of true!

 

the clutch is better, at least now on the roadtest since the slave cylinder. i dunno mself, as i have yet to try the car, we will be getting it on friday.

 

the non-oparative indicators have been solved with another flasher unit. irritating, as they were working when we left the comfort of the unit for the garage in town in the first attempt to cure the brake issues which have plagued us,

 

worryingly we have had to have one of the wheel bearings which we changed, changed again for the test, so i dunnon if that is down to us innstalling it wrong, or if it was a duff bearing to start with, or if its something that will be a problem for u in the future. i wonder if those ball joints we got at the same time are going to be ok with use?

[clayts450]

Blimey, well done - I know you've sweated blood for this Mini. Great result

[Arthur Foxhake]

Ford Cougar collected.

Seems to be ready for MOT.

Pics and possibly thread to follow if there is any interest in a squashed Puma/mondeo?

[clayts450]

I do like these - looking forward to the update

[MarvinsMom]

Blimey, well done - I know you've sweated blood for this Mini. Great result

thank you, it has been hard work getting it to this point. and there are other things we know need doing, so its not quiet at the stage where we can polish and enjoy it, but the car is slowly getting to that point!

 

we need to change the heater valve and flush out the radiator. the heater is stuck on so we are hoping that changing the valve will cure that.

 

plus i have a set of seat extenders to go on, i'm hoping that pushing the eaty back a bit will make the driving position more suitable for me, and make the fixed back on the eat a more comfiortable place to sit in, 

 

there is an oil leak from the back of the engine. well we think its from the back of the engine, so we plan on changing the rocker box gasket and tapett chest cover gaskets, in an attempt to stop it leaking. but been an a-series, realistically they only stop leaking oil, when there is no oil left in it!

[Lacquer Peel]

I just noticed the Fabia has different sized tyres on the back. MOT test tomorrow. Feck.

 

In addition to that - a few bulbs out and insecure battery: fixed. The nearside headlight is flapping about a bit due to a broken clip. When a deer damaged a P10 Primera I had I was able to secure the headlight with cable ties, but not with this post-2000 shit, there's no way to secure it with cable ties.

[SiC]

Spent more on a fuggin fiat panda although it’s rare 1 part makes up 50% of a 700 quid bill. Well unless that part is an engine .

This is only the first bill though! It has fixed all the clonks which is good.

 

Went for a blast earlier and the box is good enough. It's not silky smooth that my colleagues DSG equipped cars - but then they've done 20% of the mileage. For a smooth pulling off requires letting go of the brake, waiting a moment for the box to engage and then accelerate. Reversing is a bit kangrooy, but if you feather and catch it on the brake it's can be done smoothly. Crawling in stop/start traffic often is 100% fine. When it's not it needs a reasonable push on the accelerator. Tickling the accelerator will invariably make it kangroo.

 

I took it home the busy way today and went for a drive tonight. Absolutely no worse than it was before. To be honest if I didn't know how a DSG should drive I'd be none the wiser. Expecting it any better at this age+mileage I think would be too fussy.

 

My only complaint now driving is that the tracking is now out and the steering is very floaty and light at speed. Probably realignment will help and also decent front tyres. Currently has some mud+snow ditch finders on the front.

 

It'll do for now, especially for running around town. Longer journeys can still be taken up by the A4.

[SiC]

My grandad has just called me. At 94 years old he has decided to give up driving. He wanted to know if I wanted his car. Unfortunately I'm full for shonky old cars right now.

 

Anyone want a 2002 Laguna II 1.8 Privilege automatic? One owner from new and around ~80k on the clock. Battery is buggered and the gearbox has a habit of going into limp home when cold (3rd gear and reverse only). If you restart it when warm it's fine. Known issue on the boxes, just requires a new solenoid which isn't too hard to change. Pretty much every front panel has dent. I think it has valid MOT too. In Northampton.

 

Anyone? ... No?!

Surely someone would want it?

 

He doesn't want it scrapped, so probably stay in the garage and become a barn find in the future when knackered Laguna II become priceless artifacts*.

[Noel Tidybeard]

you will have to learn "the fine art of left foot braking" cos by pressing the gas you should override the fact that brake press = clutch disengaged

so to pull away leave foot on brake whilst clutch "takes up".

 

if its anything like i-shift (which can be a bit sharp/kangarooy on occasion) dabbing brake back on and off can change the ferrocity of the clutch to disengage if that makes sense

[SiC]

When overtaking the other week in it, I went to slam down the clutch to bang it into the next gear. Except it wasn't the clutch. Luckily my foot slid off pretty quickly. It does stop very sharpish though!

 

Left foot firmly to the left for me on autos. However I may give this a go sometime.

[Video]https://youtu.be/8ERTquctt6c

 

But maybe in a years time. If I've got a years use out of it, I'll be less annoyed if I blow up the box!

 

To be honest I think most of these robotic manuals have moments that they're not smooth. Quite often at that too as they age.

[egg]

My grandad has just called me. At 94 years old he has decided to give up driving. He wanted to know if I wanted his car. Unfortunately I'm full for shonky old cars right now.

 

How many years had he been driving Si? And what was his first car?!

[stuboy]

Got a package today that had my name all over it.

 

 

What's in it, you may ask.

 

 

Not the best brand, might be shite, but it wasn't expensive and I thought it'd be worth a try.

were from?

[SiC]

How many years had he been driving Si? And what was his first car?!

That's a very good question! I don't know the answer to either.

 

I suspect it was in the early 40s and no idea on his first car. He never bought German cars though. He use to own and run a scrap metal yard in Northampton (I believe the only yard there for a long time too) and he liked to run a very straight ship. Those scrap metal merchants who drove Mercedes were the bent and dodgy ones apparently!

[Slartibartfast]

were from?

It was an eBay special deal thingy, but I gather it's not far off RRP so I guess choose your merchant of choice

[SiC]

Ford to stop selling every car in North America but the Mustang and Focus Active

 

Wow.

[SiC]

 

Surely the F150 was THE most profitable thing they had in the US ? I recall Clarkson banging on about how they sold dozens per minute or somesuch.

What that article title isn't completely clear on is that it's cars, not trucks/SUVs/etc. So the F150/et al are continuing production. Basically Ford saying the traditional "car" as a concept is dead in NA.

 

However I do wonder how well such big vehicles will transition to electric. Possibly quite well as plenty of room to fit batteries.

 

Haven't we been this through before? I.e. yank tanks of the 50s/60s/etc and then the fuel crisis & crash.

[chatsharris]

In addition to that - a few bulbs out and insecure battery: fixed. The nearside headlight is flapping about a bit due to a broken clip. When a deer damaged a P10 Primera I had I was able to secure the headlight with cable ties, but not with this post-2000 shit, there's no way to secure it with cable ties.

MrsHarris's Fabia has both headlight clip things broken. No idea how they stay in and aligned but it's passed the last three MOT's like it, so I've stopped worrying about it.

[egg]

Someone has analysed the howmanyleft Mondeo MK1 figures, and with all the usual caveats, approximately 29% were lost in 2017 as a comparison with the previous year. Now 1872 down from 2631, number of SORNd up by just 68.

[dave21478]

 

My only complaint now driving is that the tracking is now out and the steering is very floaty and light at speed. Probably realignment will help and also decent front tyres. Currently has some mud+snow ditch finders on the front.

 

It'll do for now, especially for running around town. Longer journeys can still be taken up by the A4.

 

If I had spent seven hundred quid at a garage for them doing front suspension work, i would be exceedingly disappointed that they didnt think to set the alignment when they were finished.

[5speedracer]

Opened Aotocar in Tesco last night for a nosey. Near the front a full page MG ad featuring the 3 and the crossover thing.

The MG3 can be had on 5yrs 0% with no deposit and a 5 yr warranty

Say £9k new so that's £150 pm. Fair enough it'll be worth about 18p after 5yrs but for someone who just needs cheap wheels and no PCP faff it'll seem attractive.

Target customer born pre '60 I'd guess.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

[tooSavvy]

"..The MG3 can be had on 5yrs 0% with no deposit and a 5 yr warranty

Say £9k new so that's £150 pm. Fair enough it'll be worth about 18p after 5yrs but for someone who just needs cheap wheels and no PCP faff it'll seem attractive.."

 

I paid £7k cash for my Savvy. Ragged it like I stole it for 9 years - it never broke/FTP.

Serviced it myself (fell out with dealer over my hot-mods) and got 'non dealer' parts to fit [saved £££]

 

Cashed it in, to a guy for £250 with 12m MOT = bought ToMM© for £350 the next day...

 

About £65/month

 

 

I'm happy, all round

[Kiltox]

Opened Aotocar in Tesco last night for a nosey. Near the front a full page MG ad featuring the 3 and the crossover thing.

The MG3 can be had on 5yrs 0% with no deposit and a 5 yr warranty

Say £9k new so that's £150 pm. Fair enough it'll be worth about 18p after 5yrs but for someone who just needs cheap wheels and no PCP faff it'll seem attractive.

Target customer born pre '60 I'd guess.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

A warranty is useless if you need to use it often

 

The dealers are awful

 

Apart from that, cheap.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Opened Aotocar in Tesco last night for a nosey. Near the front a full page MG ad featuring the 3 and the crossover thing.

The MG3 can be had on 5yrs 0% with no deposit and a 5 yr warranty

Say £9k new so that's £150 pm. Fair enough it'll be worth about 18p after 5yrs but for someone who just needs cheap wheels and no PCP faff it'll seem attractive.

Target customer born pre '60 I'd guess.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

 

It's fair enough and I understand why that's tempting.

 

All else being equal I'd rather have a Logan MCV (my favourite in the 'cheap car' segment) or a Sandero.  The 'new' MGs just do not sit right with me. The Laureate Logan MCV petrol with extras is just a shade under £11,000 with all the extra space and an established dealer network.  So you get all of the trim options - which are actually pretty decent - for not a lot more.  It'll depreciate like a stone but I know what I'd have.

 

Plus it's mostly warmed-over Renault parts so once the warranty is up, it's really easy to get bits.

[egg]

Someone has analysed the howmanyleft Mondeo MK1 figures, and with all the usual caveats, approximately 29% were lost in 2017 as a comparison with the previous year. Now 1872 down from 2631, number of SORNd up by just 68.

 

As an exciting* coda to this, bASe numbers could be as low as 28 on the road left.

[5speedracer]

Opened Aotocar in Tesco last night for a nosey. Near the front a full page MG ad featuring the 3 and the crossover thing.

The MG3 can be had on 5yrs 0% with no deposit and a 5 yr warranty

Say £9k new so that's £150 pm. Fair enough it'll be worth about 18p after 5yrs but for someone who just needs cheap wheels and no PCP faff it'll seem attractive.

Target customer born pre '60 I'd guess.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

Aarghh!

Stop sounding like I actually think this is a good idea.

I was merely chucking it out there and hypothesising on their possible target market.

 

I was probably more surprised that MG seem to more serious about the UK than has previously been suggested.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

[cort1977]

What that article title isn't completely clear on is that it's cars, not trucks/SUVs/etc. So the F150/et al are continuing production. Basically Ford saying the traditional "car" as a concept is dead in NA.

 

Yes, this.  They have an annoying habit of saying 'an SUV' or 'a truck' instead of referring to a car generically.  But they hardly sell any cars any more, especially down here in the redneck belt South the number of Taurus, Fiesta, Focus and Fusions that you see is vanishingly small. 

 

It's not that much of a change really, just shows that despite the desire to build a world car by some companies local politics will create different markets around the world.

[tooSavvy]

^^ is 'rice-burner'* a real Red Neck "git yauww ass offaah mahh pawchh!" sentiment ?

 

*ethnic sensitivity meter calibrated 'low', on this one....