The new news 24 thread

[paulplom]

Spotted on Tynemouth main street this morning.

 

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[cros]

∆∆ That looks handy.

[paulplom]

I bet it's faster than it's brakes

 

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[stuboy]

Thought i know id replace the bulbs in dismal foglights for some led ones, one unit had coroded away earth.. kerb side so decided id fit underneath the metal plate, i thought be brighter but hey ho..

[loserone]

*insert comment about interesting wall in the background here*

[bub2006]

Now I thinking I've done the right thing. I've not had any email,call etc from nissan in over a week so I've spoke to motability this morning and cancelled the lease. I can save over 200 quid a month by using the proton and I feel more comfortable driving an older car oddly. The savings per month will be put away as I won't miss it as I've not had it since February. I'll get proton paid off and then just save up. Not having to watch car park dents or mileage is better too.

[loserone]

What was it, 20k a year? Nowt to an awld proton.

[stuboy]

*insert comment about interesting wall in the background here*

the manky ctroen of my neighbour

[bub2006]

Yes 20k a year. Now I will get new tyres,cambelt, service etc done on proton and just keep it going. Probably outlast most moderns anyway

[Mally]

Your call bub, its £50 a week or whatever, but it covers Insurance, Rac, servicing, Car park dents are covered as well, its just you don't get the good condition cash back at the end.

All you do is put fuel in.

True mileage is 15,000, but you have other vehicles to spin it out with.

Have used Motability for over 20 years and think it's well worth the cost.

[alcyonecorporation]

What happened to the Skoda you had?

[Twiggy]

Well, I've kinda settled into a 'Just drive it' routine in the last few months.  Sorted it out with some new rubber a whiles ago, got a wee pipe replaced on the rear when it wet itself in the green way, but otherwise there's been a lot of 'whooshing' to and from work going on in general. 

I had however been largely ignoring a growing set of 'clonks' from the front end - albeit rather muffled and softened by the green liquid scenario.

But, I finally got the fear and decided on blowing some paycheck.  The car felt like it was worth it.  So, off I trundled to the local garage near work.

It's worthy of a pic or two.

 

IMG_0792.JPG

 

What's that hiding in there?

 

IMG_0795.JPG

 

Mmmmm....cracker wee Lancia like....

 

IMG_0796.JPG

 

And in behind the glass?  Any two wheel lickers care to I.D. it?

 

IMG_0797.JPG

 

So a day and 220 clams later, I was furnished with new ball joints and TRE action.

 

Wow.  The difference is palpable.  Whooshing just got whooshier.  Looking forward to getting it properly serviced (overdue) now when clams permit.

 

Crap update really, but sure, we all love a good pic or two, right?

 

Oh I also sorted it out with a DAB radio - for £2.40.  I have photos of this installation which I'll share in a while when i can do the phone/work PC thing again.  It's one that I can recommend to anyone who wants perfect digital radio, but in the autoshite way....

 

So yeah.  That's it for now.  Just happy driving.

 

This week my work chariot has been this:

 

IMG_0798.JPG

 

Also MUCH FUN. 

 

I'll sort out shonky DAB photies in a bit.

 

Morning all!

 

C

 

 

Lancia Aprilia

[Split_Pin]

I keep going back onto the Astra Bertone FB pages to see if there is anything decent for sale, I miss my old one.

 

I'm going to use the 172 next week and decide once and for all if I am keeping it or not. I just don't get the opportunity to drive it like a dick, which is what it was designed for. On the usual trip to and from the station I might as well be in a 1.2.

[bramz7]

Just dropped off the 156 V6 with its new owner. Gave it some beans around the twisty (NSL) bits of road and it was marvellous, such grip!

 

Now off to get a Marea 5 cylinder...

[Lacquer Peel]

Now I thinking I've done the right thing. I've not had any email,call etc from nissan in over a week so I've spoke to motability this morning and cancelled the lease. I can save over 200 quid a month by using the proton and I feel more comfortable driving an older car oddly. The savings per month will be put away as I won't miss it as I've not had it since February. I'll get proton paid off and then just save up. Not having to watch car park dents or mileage is better too.

I hope you've done the right thing. I thought the point of a Motability car was to avoid old car hassles but if you can put that money into making an old car reliable instead then good luck to you.

[dome]

I keep going back onto the Astra Bertone FB pages to see if there is anything decent for sale, I miss my old one.

 

I'm going to use the 172 next week and decide once and for all if I am keeping it or not. I just don't get the opportunity to drive it like a dick, which is what it was designed for. On the usual trip to and from the station I might as well be in a 1.2.

 

Knockhill on the 26th will remind you why you bought it?

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/24829-autoshite-track-events/page-23

 

Also: take the long way home sometimes to remind yourself!

[bub2006]

Well I already had personal cover breakdown for trike and Claire's car. The 60 quid a week will be put away and used for insurance etc on the proton. To be fair I can't see the proton costing 200 quid a month. I feel far more better in an older car. It's mine,not leased and I can use it as I wish. I plan to get the proton tip top and only on this site can I say that without getting mocked. Average savings of around 2 grand a year allowing 400 quid pa for general maintenance. Even if I say a saving of 1500 quid a year that's 900 quid a year for maintenance.

Anyway I've been to nissan to get my belongings out the qashqai and her attitude was disgusting. They hadn't called or emailed so I had no clue what was occurring. I get there to find they hadn't even assessed it for repairs yet. The woman was downright vile. Well Mr bowe we do only have 4 technician available here so we can't give you priority then she went in the back and shouted at top of her voice to not rush the qashqai as Mr bowe has only gone and ended the lease.

[Split_Pin]

Knockhill on the 26th will remind you why you bought it?

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/24829-autoshite-track-events/page-23

 

Also: take the long way home sometimes to remind yourself!

Would be good but its Maw_Pin's 70th that day.

 

Good shout on the detour though!

[dome]

Would be good but its Maw_Pin's 70th that day.

 

Good shout on the detour though!

 

I can't talk, Locost hasn't moved since I drove it home from the MOT station!

[gm]

Would be good but its Maw_Pin's 70th that day.

 

what better birthday gift than some hot laps round knockhill ? mother gm is the same age and keeps hinting that she wants to come along and join in

[xtriple]

All I have done today is spend money! Phoebe had her check-up at the vets and they are amazed she is back to being a four-legged dog, okay, one of four is seriously out of shape and she is limping worse than ever but she still has all four legs and she is using it again. So all bandages/casts off and she is on the mend (I really bloody hope so).

 

Bought new injection coolant sensor, gauge coolant sensor and two rad caps for the XJ-S from David Manners, I don't think they will cure the problems but they are another possibility ticked off the list.

 

I did intend to use the Jaguar today but it was easier to use the MB for running around, I need to put covers on the seats etc and also I don't trust it! If the gauges would give a true reading of what's in the tank and how many volts I've got or how hot it's running, I'd feel a lot better about using it!

[Fumbler]

Rav4 needs some wheel luv as all the paint's now peeling thick and fast. Also needs some attention to the wheel weights as they're now all nice and crusty.

[anonymous user]

The red Land Rover has gone, I'm still not sure if I sold the right one as the grey one suddenly decided it needed clutch fluid (can't see any leak). I should be retiring again tomorrow, but might have to go in one day a week until the end of the month at least I have the C15 van to fall back on if the fluid all leaks out again.

[tommotech]

The Picarsole that has sat around, semi-repaired, was going nowhere fast so I removed the engine and other useful bits and bridged the shell. Needed the room and a 1.6 HDi engine is there to sell or useful for something in the future. Filled the back full of scrap and got £130 so not too bad I reckon.

 

The Polo that I purchased last month decided not to start this morning, having moved it last evening. It had previously stood for a couple of weeks but ran OK and didn't make any strange noises. Good spark at the coil packs, good fuel pressure and injectors were switching OK. Thinking the worst I checked the cam timing, only to have my worst fears confirmed - Cam timing was indeed out.

 

Exhaust cam has slipped, oh bugger! As FTP's go I could do without it just now.

I also checked the compressions and the middle cylinder was at 8.5 bar, while the other two cylinders were at 12 bar so the head will have to come off too.

 

That can now sit on the naughty step for a while, we don't need to be using this car until spring time anyhow.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Today I replaced the front suspension cones on the Mini. 

 

 

 The cones were the originals, with nearly 50k miles on them. New and old compared:

 

 

Squished!

 

It wasn't a bad job, just filthy. I ended up with a bin full of disposable gloves and still needed to bathe in Swarfega. 

 

 

The Minispares cone compressor is a simple but very effective tool. The bonnet doesn't have to come off, but it only takes a minute and makes it so much easier to access the tower bolts and use the compressor.  

 

And job done. Wanna go off roading?

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

That's a cracking Mini.  Most envious and I've never even had the pleasure of driving one, sadly.

[Tamworthbay]

Today I replaced the front suspension cones on the Mini. 

 

 

 The cones were the originals, with nearly 50k miles on them. New and old compared:

 

 

Squished!

 

It wasn't a bad job, just filthy. I ended up with a bin full of disposable gloves and still needed to bathe in Swarfega. 

 

cones-compressor.jpg

 

The Minispares cone compressor is a simple but very effective tool. The bonnet doesn't have to come off, but it only takes a minute and makes it so much easier to access the tower bolts and use the compressor.  

 

And job done. Wanna go off roading?

 

cones.jpg

It will feel so much better. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people complaining about minis having bone shaking suspension and instantly you know it’s got fucked cones.

[HMC]

That must be the only 90s era mini not on minilite repicas. I’d almost forgotten those trims ever existed.

[SiC]

Today I replaced the front suspension cones on the Mini.

 

 

The cones were the originals, with nearly 50k miles on them. New and old compared:

 

 

Squished!

 

It wasn't a bad job, just filthy. I ended up with a bin full of disposable gloves and still needed to bathe in Swarfega.

 

cones-compressor.jpg

 

The Minispares cone compressor is a simple but very effective tool. The bonnet doesn't have to come off, but it only takes a minute and makes it so much easier to access the tower bolts and use the compressor.

 

And job done. Wanna go off roading?

 

cones.jpg

This mini of yours. Is it new or have you had it for a while but hidden away? I've never seen a thread or even mention of it before, that's all.

[Richard]

 

 

It wasn't a bad job, just filthy. I ended up with a bin full of disposable gloves and still needed to bathe in Swarfega. 

 

 

 

Are you using Latex/Nitrile gloves? Palm gloves like these https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Workwear+%26+Safety/d70/Gloves/sd570/Palm+Gloves/p51069 are easier to work in, don't tear and don't make your hands sweat.