The new news 24 thread

[brownnova]

I bought myself a little present...

A copy of Motor magazine from 7th September 1985. 

The article that interests me is the best cars for under £3500...

Why? Because it features a head to head between a Panda, a Mini, a Skoda Estelle a Lada, oh and...

A Citroen 2CV and a Yugo 45!! 

Any magazine featuring two of my fleet is absolutely worth it! 

[Amishtat]

The afternoon so far 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

21 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

The afternoon so far

I haven't got that far. Half the afternoon was spent jetwashing two weeks' worth of grime and construction site dust off the CX. It gets everywhere.

[wuvvum]

Any afternoon involving a Volvo 164 is a good afternoon.

[dollywobbler]

New Zealand trip is getting closer, and I've discovered another Autoshiter is going to be there at the same time. Will see if we can actually meet up. Also hoping to meet some resident NZ Autoshiters on my travels. Beyond excited about this.  Still no idea what I'm going to be travelling around the country in!

[BorniteIdentity]

1 hour ago, dollywobbler said:

New Zealand trip is getting closer, and I've discovered another Autoshiter is going to be there at the same time. Will see if we can actually meet up. Also hoping to meet some resident NZ Autoshiters on my travels. Beyond excited about this.  Still no idea what I'm going to be travelling around the country in!

I have two friends who’ve “done” NZ. First did it in a snot green Ford Fairmont off of the 70s. He loved it so much that he agonised about shipping it home but ultimately couldn’t afford it.

Second mate bought a Hi-Ace van and camper converted it. 

Whatever you buy, prepare to fall in love. 

[Ohdearme]

I got some square fuses for the 323.

They were the wrong ones.

Bugger.

[LightBulbFun]

55 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

I got some square fuses for the 323.

They were the wrong ones.

Bugger.

trying to fit scottish fuses to a Japanese car no wonder they where the wrong ones!

[Ohdearme]

5 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

trying to fit scottish fuses to a Japanese car no wonder they where the wrong ones!

Remember the first day I had breakfast in my old employers Uddingston canteen, never in the history of the world has a Yorkshireman asking for a ‘sausage sandwich’ caused so much confusion...Links, square, sliced bread, etc?

[puddlethumper]

420 miles from Doodlay to Tilburg. Ran perfectly. Oldest vehicle on the road and boat 

as it is 99 per cent of the time. People on the car deck giving me and my heap classic van 

pitying looks. I just smiled knowing that a month of depreciation on theirs was about what

I paid for mine. The next oldest motor was a 53 plate Transit Connect which I did look down on

a bit I must admit. Haven't worked out miles per veg yet. I'll have to chuck the 20ltr jerry can

of veg in that I took along and then top up with that  expensive diesel shite.

Going into the ferry port I was surprised to see no French or Brit passport control. First time 

I've ever seen that, or rather not seen that. Normally the French have a quick squint and hand it back

and then the Brit control start a minor interrogation pretending to have a 'chat'. 

Where are you going ? to which I once said, Over there. He didn't like that one. So I asked why he 

wanted to know. Took him a couple of seconds to come up with NATIONAL SECURITY.  Me. That's strange

the french guy whose country I am entering doesn't give a shit so why do you ? That went down like the 

proverbial lead balloon and I was told to 'wait over there'. Had to coz he had my passport. After about 10 mins

he reluctantly gave it back but he was not happy. Wanker. 

Another time I said I wasn't sure and I would decide on the ferry. Well, that did not compute. So he asked how 

long I was going and I said I wasn't sure. Maybe a couple of weeks maybe a month. So he asked what I did, to

which I replied that I was a boat improvement consultant. So you can just go off like that ? Yeah I'm between 

consultancies at the moment. A consultant in a 30 year old Pug 305 van. I was trying not to laugh to be honest.

I mean wtf do they need to know for anyway ? Tossers !

[egg]

I learnt at US customs in the late 90's - don't wear a French workman's cap and a 60's leather jacket and be a bit too chatty...

[HillmanImp]

Kind of thinking I might sell the Porsche. Fancy a Saab 900 again. Or a Mercedes C32 estate. Not sure. 

Just ain't got on with it properly.

Imp Jr will be gutted and I'm worried it will do the same as that 912 I nearly bought for £4k in 2001 that was worth £40k three years later but I'm just not using it enough or when I do I'm not enjoying it properly. 

[wuvvum]

Today [technically yesterday now] started off on a bit of a low note as I took the Rover of Doom on its final drive to the rainbow bridge.  Eight years I've had that car, and it's been bloody good to me for most of them, but it really was too far gone to be worth doing.  Cartakeback gave me 100 quid for it and I paid 350 when I bought it so I think I've had my money's worth...

Next job was to see if I could do the CV boot on the Maxus.  I was initially going to do it semi-properly and fit a stretch boot, but that plan fell at the first hurdle when I couldn't get the cap that goes over the hub nut to come off.  No amount of twatting with hammers, levering with screwdrivers, yanking with pliers or heating with a blowtorch would persuade it to move.  So I bought a split boot - I wasn't sure it'd fit, and initially it didn't look like it would as the driveshaft was too fat for the thin end to go around, but then when I moved the existing boot out of the way (I didn't initially cut it off in case I needed to put it back), the driveshaft within the boot was slightly slimmer, and I was just about able to get the boot to stretch around.  I overdid the glue a bit on the first part, but it seems to be holding together so far.  I even managed to get the poxy CV boot clips to hold, which was a relief as I don't think there would have been clearance for a jubilee clip at the CV joint end.  Not sure how long it'll last, but first priority is to get the van through the MOT so it's road legal again - I can worry about other stuff later. 

I also finally got the seized heater valve out of the Renault 6.  It's currently soaking in a bath of diesel to see if it'll free up.  Plan B if it won't is to replace it with a length of copper pipe of the same diameter, then fit a universal valve to the inlet hose somewhere under the bonnet.  Less than ideal but a lot better than no heater at all (or a heater which is on all the time come to that).

I then jacked up the front of the recently purchased V70 to see if I could find out what is clonking.  The wheels were evidently last refitted by some Kwik Fit gibbon with an air ratchet, as I had to jump up and down on a 2' breaker bar to get the bolts undone.  As far as I could see the only bit with any significant play in it was the drop link - it's going to be a right twat to replace though, it's rusty as feck so no way the nut is going to come undone, and because of the design of the strut where the drop link attaches it's impossible to get in there with either a nut splitter or an angle grinder.  I can see some swearing on the horizon.  I also gave the inside of the rear screen and rear side windows a bloody good clean - the previous owner had dogs who I think must have enjoyed licking the windows as the rear screen was disgusting - with the sun shining on it it was pretty much opaque.  It's a lot better now.  It smells a bit doggy inside, but not as bad as some I've had - the advantage of leather seats I suppose...

[MondeoBlues]

Volvo's head gasket's just gone. Not a total surprise given that it's had magical mystery disappearing coolant since not long after I bought it but I put that down to a leaky rad and topped the coolant up every other drive with a view to replacing the rad and associated hoses this week. 

I just hope the head isn't warped. 

[kfsgo]

18 hours ago, mrbenn said:

That seems awfully early for snow, even in Canada!

Anywhere within an hour or two of the Rockies has very severe climate schizophrenia this time of year. Witness Calgary this week:

 

 

[gadgetgricey]

4 hours ago, wuvvum said:

 the previous owner had dogs who I think must have enjoyed licking the windows as the rear screen was disgusting - with the sun shining on it it was pretty much opaque.  

That's an image\description I'm not going to be able to shift for a while. ?

Glad its sorted now though.

[BorniteIdentity]

13 hours ago, brownnova said:

I bought myself a little present...

A copy of Motor magazine from 7th September 1985. 

The article that interests me is the best cars for under £3500...

Why? Because it features a head to head between a Panda, a Mini, a Skoda Estelle a Lada, oh and...

A Citroen 2CV and a Yugo 45!! 

Any magazine featuring two of my fleet is absolutely worth it! 

That is also how my Mini should look - Cinnabar red with the black bumper and grille.

Lovely!

[Split_Pin]

I've been thinking about selling my Corsa for the past few weeks but I'm rather torn about it.

It's been in my possession for the past ten years and in that time I have replaced just about every nut and bolt. It's been a brilliant little four wheeled friend in that time. There was a bit of a hiccup in 2016/17 when the engine developed a knock from the small end of piston number 3 but there followed an rather epic and defiant engine replacement. This was very successful and the car has been running and driving great ever since.

However it is now ostensibly a car I take only to shows and having recently become very disillusioned with the car scene, I won't be returning to any. As such I now rarely drive it, favouring my 172 or Audi as they provide a broad spectrum of driving experiences.

On one hand I'm quite attached to it and worry that I'd immediately regret selling it but on the other hand I was in the same position with my Astra Coupe which I owned for 13 years and never missed it when I moved it on. I think this was down to buying a worthy replacement for it.

Unsure how to proceed.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

14 hours ago, brownnova said:

I bought myself a little present...

A copy of Motor magazine from 7th September 1985.

Always pleased to see magazine content. What was the verdict?

[320touring]

5 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I've been thinking about selling my Corsa for the past few weeks but I'm rather torn about it.

It's been in my possession for the past ten years and in that time I have replaced just about every nut and bolt. It's been a brilliant little four wheeled friend in that time. There was a bit of a hiccup in 2016/17 when the engine developed a knock from the small end of piston number 3 but there followed an rather epic and defiant engine replacement. This was very successful and the car has been running and driving great ever since.

However it is now ostensibly a car I take only to shows and having recently become very disillusioned with the car scene, I won't be returning to any. As such I now rarely drive it, favouring my 172 or Audi as they provide a broad spectrum of driving experiences.

On one hand I'm quite attached to it and worry that I'd immediately regret selling it but on the other hand I was in the same position with my Astra Coupe which I owned for 13 years and never missed it when I moved it on. I think this was down to buying a worthy replacement for it.

Unsure how to proceed.

 

For what it's worth, I think it's an Ace car - looks just right on white 5 spokes and harks back to my yooof. I know it's well kept too, and gets whatever it needs.

How about you try and use it one day a week even just during summer months? Gets you some use out it without hammering it?

It's the reason I use the GSA as a daily - more fun and unusual (your Corsa will be a rare sight too!) But also great fun to drive..

 

[SiC]

22 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I've been thinking about selling my Corsa for the past few weeks but I'm rather torn about it.

It's been in my possession for the past ten years and in that time I have replaced just about every nut and bolt. It's been a brilliant little four wheeled friend in that time. There was a bit of a hiccup in 2016/17 when the engine developed a knock from the small end of piston number 3 but there followed an rather epic and defiant engine replacement. This was very successful and the car has been running and driving great ever since.

However it is now ostensibly a car I take only to shows and having recently become very disillusioned with the car scene, I won't be returning to any. As such I now rarely drive it, favouring my 172 or Audi as they provide a broad spectrum of driving experiences.

On one hand I'm quite attached to it and worry that I'd immediately regret selling it but on the other hand I was in the same position with my Astra Coupe which I owned for 13 years and never missed it when I moved it on. I think this was down to buying a worthy replacement for it.

Unsure how to proceed.

 

The Corsa B is still in the cheap banger territory and haven't quite reached the state in the market that the Nova (Corsa A) now is in. You just know that if you sold that right now, it'll get ragged to death by a kid. A year or two in those hands will render it as scrap. 

[Split_Pin]

16 minutes ago, 320touring said:

For what it's worth, I think it's an Ace car - looks just right on white 5 spokes and harks back to my yooof. I know it's well kept too, and gets whatever it needs.

How about you try and use it one day a week even just during summer months? Gets you some use out it without hammering it?

It's the reason I use the GSA as a daily - more fun and unusual (your Corsa will be a rare sight too!) But also great fun to drive..

 

Sage advice, I definitely enjoy a car more as long as I am using it, when it falls out of service, that's when I start to wonder why I have it

Re what you say , SiC,  it's probably the only car I have ever owned where I actually do have a care what may happen to it if I were to sell it. Likely it would end up with a 'ridtap' for 6 months and then burst for parts...

[beko1987]

I've always been torn with corsas. On the one hand their utter shit, devoid of any emotion or character (the corsa c anyway) 

But on the other hand I drove one for 6 months as it was cheaper on fuel than my puma, and it was alright, winding it up to speed on the back roads then keeping it there... 

Can't say I'll never have one, but it wouldn't be my first choice

[Skizzer]

7 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Today [technically yesterday now] started off on a bit of a low note as I took the Rover of Doom on its final drive to the rainbow bridge.  Eight years I've had that car, and it's been bloody good to me for most of them, but it really was too far gone to be worth doing.  Cartakeback gave me 100 quid for it and I paid 350 when I bought it so I think I've had my money's worth...

I’m going to hold a minute’s silence for the Rover of Doom.  God rest its overboosted soul.

[brownnova]

2 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

That is also how my Mini should look - Cinnabar red with the black bumper and grille.

Lovely!

So we have the 2CV, the Yugo and the Mini for the recreation... just need to find the Panda, Lada and Skoda now...

[BorniteIdentity]

6 minutes ago, brownnova said:

So we have the 2CV, the Yugo and the Mini for the recreation... just need to find the Panda, Lada and Skoda now...

I dare say you’re in the right place... ?

[loserone]

Sad times to hear of the demise of the rover of doom.

 

I'm slightly with Beko on the Corsa; you'll enjoy it more if you drive it, but I imagine that low it's harsh as well as uninspiring in the bends, especially in comparison to the Clio.  So your frustration may continue.

The problem is that you have bought better cars; either you need to move them on or the Corsa will continue to be a weight on you.

 

I think it's a similar space I was in with my 323f GTi.  Fast, practical, great.  But the lack of engagement in corners meant I used the scruffy MX5 instead for every journey, and it became unloved

[Spottedlaurel]

Banger World Final achieved. Mild disappointment with the sound of a lot of the cars, due the widespread fitment of the Ford 2.3 '4', just not right in some big old American barge.

It's interesting to see what they move onto as the years go by, I was surprised to see a couple of Jaguar XFs:

Cheapest I could find on AutoTrader were non-runners at around £2500.

[SiC]

11 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Banger World Final achieved. Mild disappointment with the sound of a lot of the cars, due the widespread fitment of the Ford 2.3 '4', just not right in some big old American barge.

It's interesting to see what they move onto as the years go by, I was surprised to see a couple of Jaguar XFs:

Cheapest I could find on AutoTrader were non-runners at around £2500.

Don't many banger racers have connections to the scrap metal business? They can always pick up to use the shell after all the useful bits are stripped when a CoD has been issued. 

Or spend £2.5k and know you can get a lot more back from selling most of the parts.

[Spottedlaurel]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

Don't many banger racers have connections to the scrap metal business? They can always pick up to use the shell after all the useful bits are stripped when a CoD has been issued. 

Or spend £2.5k and know you can get a lot more back from selling most of the parts.

I'd imagine it's pretty much the former, I doubt they're coming into the yard at £2500. Maybe high mileage/tatty trade-ins that no one wants to sell on, or insurance write-offs? As you say, sell bits off them and it's probably cost neutral.