The new news 24 thread

[greengartside]

Blagged a Ford Focus last weekend but is currently in sick bay for a new thermostat & housing and plenty of de-chavving. Was mega cheap though

[sporty-shite]

Sporty, the 306s look nice, but the Poundland wheel trims on the Blue one look gash, they must be binned for original Pug items. I bet your neighbours must think you've lost the plot by moving the newer, more modern looking and private housing estate-friendly Beetle on for 2 old Pugs (and bringing down house prices aswell)

 

Yes, those wheeltrims will be destines for a dark corner pretty soon.

 

As for the neighbours, they know me well. I already had the black 306, and the blue one was bought from a neighbour, so it's only moved across the road. TBH, our neighbours are ACE, and are one of the reasons we still live here. They really don't judge on what you drive etc. which is just as well.....

[trigger]

For those not on my facebook, Today I collected the Alto from my dad's, I must say It's the funniest car I've ever driven, It's quite pokey feeling and has very light controls, it's ever so easy to drive for a old car.

 

I drove 15 miles across Colchester to my in laws and it behaved perfectly, once at the in laws I had a queue of family members all wanting a drive who all couldn't believe how nice the car was, as there was less the quarter of a tank of fuel I decided to top up at Tesco, it took £17 to fill it up and the gauge still hasn't moved!, then I had the 20 mile drive home up the A14 to Ipswich where again it cruised along at 65-70mph perfectly except for the hills where it died on it's arse a bit.

 

Still not sure how long I'll keep it for but I'm 100% happy my took the gamble and saved the car now, It's given me a nice warm feeling inside .

 

1985 Suzuki Alto FX by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1985 Suzuki Alto FX by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[Largactil]

Currently sat on one of Stena Line's finest (free WiFi at sea FTW), with the Peasant Spec Pug lying in the bowels of the ship below.

 

It's been pressed into service as a removal truck, for my move to Ireland - whipped the rear bench out last night (2 bolts), and it's now like a little 954cc van, with 200kgs in the back.

 

All going to plan, should make Dublin for around 4pm this afternoon; wish me luck!

 

And it made it for 15:40, without missing a beat...

 

 

(Half unpacked...There's a 42" flatscreen TV in there...!)

 

 

Celebrated with a drive up the coast to Skerries yesterday, and couldn't help but notice that my 1990 205 was by far the oldest thing on the road... Where is all the old chod in Ireland...?!

[dollywobbler]

Nice one Trig. I love that little Alto. It's ace.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I put a new downpipe on the DOBBLO, what a carry-on, of the 4 studs on the manifold one came undone, one snapped, and two needed the angle grinder to 'tickle' the rusty nuts off. I managed to drill out the broken one and re-tap it in situ, although its an M6 now not an M8!

 

Engine sounds champion now though, also put a new headlight in but the front end is a bit of a mess from the bump it had, I need to get a new wing off the bay I suppose then I will straighten everything up properly.

 

Took it for a blezz, it drives great and is really perky up to about 30mph, beyond which its pretty freaking slow, must be hideous if you hang anything off its 'Witter' tow bar. It is fun to row along though and feels pretty unburstable.

[Lankytim]

Hey B, remember there's a Dooblo in McGuinneses, its pretty stripped but still has the passenger wing in good shape.

[HMC]

Took the jag up to visit family at the weekend, round trip of about 800 miles. Basically finished running in the 3.8 which with the 9-1 pistons and a taller diff from an auto, wafts along in overdrive top pulling 2500 revs at 80. Deafening wind noise from the roof/ perished seals and slighly vague steering kept me on my toes.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Now that is some serious shiz. Nice one!!!! What MPG did you get?

[michael t]

Celebrated with a drive up the coast to Skerries yesterday, and couldn't help but notice that my 1990 205 was by far the oldest thing on the road... Where is all the old chod in Ireland...?!

 

There is none, it all went years ago in some sort of Irish scrappage scheme thing apparently, theres tonnes of shite in england compared to here

[Cavcraft]

Brilliant, Trig! You did bloody well with that and it looks really good.

[ruffgeezer]

I've managed a bit more time in the garage this weekend, I thought I should get the ax ready for it's mot since (a) The delica is still broken and ( the Xsara's mot runs out on saturday.

 

Messed about with some photos afterwards, got in my own picture like a spazz:

[trigger]

Brilliant, Trig! You did bloody well with that and it looks really good.

 

Thanks Billy, The wife's using it for work tomorrow, She is gonna OWN her works car park in that bad boy next to the X5's and Range Rovers.

[vulgalour]

Went to Brooklands yesterday. Sadly, the bonnet I was going to collect didn't manifest as the chap that had offered it found his roofrack had broken and he couldn't therefore bring it. Travelling an extra 70 miles in the wrong direction after already having about 170 miles under my belt and then doing it all again to get home was not something I wanted to do or had the fuel to do, so we'll be making other arrangements. Happily, the chap with the fresher interior than mine (but still for an HL model) did manage to load his white Princess up so that all got crammed in the BX where it still is. Managed to do about 400 miles on roughly £40 (approx 27 litres mixed diesel and veg) of fuel with an exploded backbox and a heater stuck on max with nary a problem beyond an occasional hankering for chips. Really very impressed with the BX on that score, ate up the miles in supreme comfort at speeds that on occasion exceeded that of the more modern vehicles I floated past.

 

Had a good day at Brooklands, despite the weather, but I'm not sure I'd go again. The £10 entry seemed fair, but the 3 hour drive needed to have something more at the end of it for me to feel it would be worth the trek again. There were a LOT of Morris Minors, but I did get to see an Atlantic, an Autoshiter's Allegro estate, an 1100 estate and a Marina Suntor so it was worth it for that. Pictures and full report later, for now you'll just have to imagine a strangely organised 'museum' and badly laid out 'show ground' full of Minors.

[dollywobbler]

Glad you've been able to put some miles on the BX. They are superb at mile-munching. I worked out your MPG to be 67mpg though. They are good, but not sure they're that good!

[vulgalour]

I'll do the exact maths later, but yeah, 67mpg is a bit high, I'd expect it to be closer to mid-50s. Regardless, it was very, very good on fuel, much better than anticipated.

[dollywobbler]

What was your cruising speed? I tried on occasion to peg it at 60 but the darned thing just kept doing 70-75.

[vulgalour]

An indicated 75mph (Sat Nav 70mph) seemed happiest. Absolutely no effort required, pretty much drove itself. Also cruised steadily at an indicated 85mph (Sat Nav 78mph) in the outside lane with an equal lack of effort. Apart from the wind noise it was positively civilised, I think if I'd tried it in the Ledbury I would have been dead well before reaching the Watford Gap just from the sheer despair of the driving position.

[dollywobbler]

In BX news, I've decided that I need another one. I think my turbo diesel is an absolutely great machine, but am really starting to miss the extra practicality of the estate. It's amazing what a difference a lower load lip, a plastic-coated floor (rather than carpet) and a slightly different rake of rear window make. The hatchback suffers from poorer visibility as well as less load space - the benefits being a sunroof and map reading lights. I've decided that I can live without those.

 

I'm in no great rush to sell the one I've got, as it's brilliant in many ways, but will be keeping my eyes open for a turbo diesel estate. Might take a while as they've become rather rare.

[Mike D]

Slightly lame, and not very in the spirit of shite, but I lobbed some Mondeo ST200 wheels on my parts hauler Focus earlier, seems to have smartened it up a treat

 

[Mike D]

Good lord, I really need to get a better camera!!!

[vulgalour]

Needs more sidewall/less arch gap/both to look really excellent and you're correct, it is not in the spirit of Autoshite. Go sit in the naughty blue corner

[Mike D]

Less arch gap would be the key as the tyres are the correct rolling radius. I might buy some springs for it, i'll see how it settles first. Looks better than the grotty other wheels anyway, so i don't care too much I have proper stuff for making nice

[dollywobbler]

Surely the Autoshite solution is to get some silver gaffer tape and bring the arches closer to the wheels. Sorted.

[barefoot]

Bloke next door but one appears to have replaced his Range Rover with a Ferrari !

 

Shock Fucking Horror - it's a cul de sac, but it's not that posh up here.

 

I'm not quite sure which model it is because I don't like to stare at such things but it's red,

very noisy & has an absolutely shite turning circle.

[TimothyClaypole]

There's an advert on todays Sheffield Gumtree for a "Full set of On The Road magazines" in 10 binders (free)

[dollywobbler]

Dear Autoshiters Anonymous. I seem to have a problem...

 

I'll be off to Manchester on Saturday to collect my new BX. It's a TZD Turbo estate with fancy nonsense such as ABS. Heroically, it has 305,000 miles on the clock.

 

That means that the fleet is now five and a half vehicles - one rolling (now it actually does roll) 2CV chassis, two 2CVs, two BXs and a Mercedes 300E. So much for restricting shite purchases this year. The silver BX has to go (up for sale on this very forum) and I could really do with selling the Merc (also for sale on this very forum). I also need to update my signature. Most importantly, I need to get the fleet down to manageable numbers again, preferably before my next tax bill is due in July...

[Shep Shepherd]

Spotted this Daimler Sovereign in Southend Tesco's car park this morning. I was almost convinced that Arthur Daley and 'er indoors were doing some shopping:

 

 

 

 

It looked to be an unrestored original, and as such could have done with new wings and some repairs to the rear arches, but overall it was really nice

 

Pawnote: Funny how TV2 looks like a 960/V90 in that photo

[Angrydicky]

That is lovely! I wonder where it's been hiding, as I've never come across it on my travels. Local reg too.

[Shep Shepherd]

I've never seen it before, either. I guess that it is only brought out once a week, in order to transport groceries