The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

I've been enjoying stories from friends in tech about managers (middle and otherwise) who have been found out for basically bunking off instead of actually working from home now that they've been told to work from home and have none of the things required to do it.  Lots of requests for laptops, log in information, and all that stuff that, if they had been working from home before, they wouldn't need now.  Having been in various call centre and office positions over the years it was always annoying to see certain individuals "working from home" on Fridays and then "calling in sick" on Mondays.  We all knew they were treating themselves to a long weekend as an abuse of their position of relative power, we could just never prove it.  Until now.

[Shep Shepherd]

As mentioned previously, I was going to replace The Volvo's automatic transmission fluid during my furlough (which began at 1PM today), but I've decided not to, as upon inspection, the extant fluid is still cherry red, doesn't have any bits in it and the transmission shifts as it should. That's £25 saved, then

I've been driving the car on my commute (a grand weekly total of 33 miles!) as opposed to The Aero in order to give it some exercise, as I'm pretty sure that it won't see the road again for some time yet..

"You ain't seen me, right?"

[Jazoli]

I serviced the wife's 307CC and the Insignia today, I had a moment of panic when I stopped the folding roof operation to lube all the seals then got a 'Roof Faulty' message, I thought the missus was going to kill me but I'd noticed the bootlid drop slightly when applying the gummi pleghe stuff and with her sat in the seat I lifted the boot lid slightly and it started working again.

Bonus tool find was a led ring inspection lamp in the undertray in the Insignia, if the previous owner reads this you can have it back if you send me the service booklet  

 

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, Shep Shepherd said:

"You ain't seen me, right?"

Really do need to try a Volvo of that sort of era sometime.  Having been a Saab guy for as long as I can remember (the noise of a family friend's C900 turbo burbling at idle being one of my earliest motoring memories) and having had several 900s, just seems like I should really experience the most obvious competitor.

Never clocked the reg before, that's a nice touch.

[New POD]

7 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Had to nip to the chemist yesterday (in completely unrelated news there's a bit of a shortage of rubber johnnies atm) 

 

The NHS sorted that requirement for me permanently some years ago.  I've probably got a supply in a draw somewhere if you need them.  The use by date may be a little on the risky side 

[Shep Shepherd]

RWD Volvos are great cars. Once you've owned a good example, you'll never want to be without one, due to their practicality, durability and overall niceness. Having said that, the same can be said for Saabs (I've been a fan of both Volvos and Saabs since I was a smol pupper, but only bought my first Saab in 2015). The 9-5 is a pretty wonderful thing, especially in Aero HOT form. I'd still love a C900 or 9000 of some type one day, though.

I've had the registration G8 GSD on various cars for 20 years now. It was a given that when I bought The Volvo, it would be transferred to it. So much more interesting than H366 FLH, I think

[BorniteIdentity]

3 hours ago, Jazoli said:

307CC and Insignia

 

In fairness, Mum always said there’s always some worse off than yourself. This might take some beating though. 

[Jazoli]

15 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

In fairness, Mum always said there’s always some worse off than yourself. This might take some beating though. 

Meh... the 307 is ok when the sun is shining and has done 60k at minimal cost in our tenure, the Insignia, well it was cheap and its big enough to carry my shit.

[Pat Earrings]

3 hours ago, Jazoli said:

I serviced the wife's 307CC and the Insignia today, I had a moment of panic when I stopped the folding roof operation to lube all the seals then got a 'Roof Faulty' message, I thought the missus was going to kill me but I'd noticed the bootlid drop slightly when applying the gummi pleghe stuff and with her sat in the seat I lifted the boot lid slightly and it started working again.

Bonus tool find was a led ring inspection lamp in the undertray in the Insignia, if the previous owner reads this you can have it back if you send me the service booklet  

 

?That will be Sam's! I text him a while back with your dets to post it on but I know he's mega busy usually

[Jazoli]

It's no good to me as I don't have the charger for it!

Just to add, fucking Vauxhall and their penny pinching, the Insignia is SE spec, 5 metres long and has no fucking parking sensors, what's that all about? Its also supposed to have a USB socket in the drivers armrest cubby thing, nope that's not there either, aftermarket sensors are being fitted tomorrow as I've already crashed it into my workshop at work, plenty of evidence of others missing the parking sensors too on the rear bumper

[stuboy]

As I need things to keep me busy when not working has pushed my mind into wanting to remove centre box, realised ment chopping up a too crumbly 2nd hand one I got, then remembered when changing mates STtdci mondeos exhaust the centre section very similar, so eurocarparts had sale on so £20 later I ordered it, delivered next day, so if I get bored ill get the welder and grinder out.

[Vince70]

I’ve just taxed one of my E36s as the mini is purely a winter car and forgot how good they are to drive so I don’t have to weave across the road anymore to avoid potholes on the daily  drive (supposedly essential according to our boss) to  work.

Well I guess a bright red E36 won’t go under the radar if the police decided to pull me up but then again a yellow Mini wasn’t exactly blending in with the traffic.

If I ever get any free time this weekend the  mini is getting its wipac spots I bought for it about a couple of years ago and I’m taking out the nice Sony stereo which I just fitted and will.be changing it for an all singing all dancing NOS Alpine Bluetooth unit which I bought off Facebook about a month ago for £35.

Also I fitted a nice new genuine BMW badge to the front of the E36 today as I bought a Chinese fake by mistake and it lasted all of about a week so I’m now an expert on how to tell a fake badge or not by looking at the back of the badge lol.

 

[Ghosty]

Car and Classic have redecorated their site, and the result is actually decent and usable! 

[HillmanImp]

I've just been to the motor factor's and said I want a windscreen wiper for my Citroën Visa. 

He stood there for a few seconds and then said "It's a deal". 

 

[BorniteIdentity]

Right.  Got that sorted.  SO - how legitimate is a collection right now? 

[reb]

I'm off to do a collection, of sorts, today!

Nothing in the photo gives you a clue. It's just what's next to me on the sofa.

[reb]

45 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Right.  Got that sorted.  SO - how legitimate is a collection right now? 

Probably not very. My collection is of something that will stop me having to go outside too much!

[BorniteIdentity]

13 minutes ago, reb said:

Probably not very. My collection is of something that will stop me having to go outside too much!

I'm looking at contactless options at the moment.  They include getting it delivered by someone who does it for a job and therefore can't work from home or changing job to car collector and then doing it.

I jest.  Gonna try and drop a deposit on it and hope he sits tight.  I guess the only people who could buy it in the meantime are local so worth a go.

[Split_Pin]

I'd be interested to see how you do this as I am after a 75 that I would otherwise have had on my drive for a week.

[reb]

I'm considering a trade policy for separate reasons, though I reckon I could blag a (legitimate) set of trade plates and then go wherever I want!

[BorniteIdentity]

I'm not up for being a dick - just for clarity.  I saw my then 7 year old son in hospital with double pneumonia which nearly finished him and it's not funny.  But I am of the opinion that someone driving me 50 miles where we don't leave the car is safer than a 5 mile walk where other people are about.  As long as you don't stop for fuel (full tank already) and use breakdown facilities (easy enough) or crash (ahh - bit trickier to guarantee) then it's a difficult one.

Ultimately if you pass the attitude test with the plod and have a feasible reason for being out they'll let you go.  I guess motor traders are still able to do business?

I don't reckon i'll go for it, because the optics aren't great.  So looking at alternatives.

[reb]

Oh of course, I have no intent of blatantly flaunting the rules. Certainly not going near any people, nor anywhere I don't need to be.

Can you tell what it is yet?

[SiC]

A Citroen going by the logo on the wheel. 

[Supernaut]

Gliderol seems to be a garage door company.

 

So he's collecting a whole garage door in his Citroen C2! Should be amusing.

[reb]

4 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Gliderol seems to be a garage door company.

 

So he's collecting a whole garage door in his Citroen C2! Should be amusing.

It seems to still be attached, I'm not sure I have the tools to take it off with me.

[anonymous user]

In the best traditions of Cluedo, I suspect Colonel Mustard has acquired a unit to contain his lead piping.

[reb]

The only lead piping in this unit is this godawful Raleigh Equipe, thank you.

[Cord Fourteener]

1 minute ago, reb said:

The only lead piping in this unit is this godawful Raleigh Equipe, thank you.

Some tasty cycle shite there!

[reb]

1 minute ago, Tim_E said:

Some tasty cycle shite there!

There will hopefully be a big update on it tomorrow

[Cord Fourteener]

My news today is this: BMW is fixed, Volvo is a good working car that needs timing belt and thermostat sorting out as well as a service and I have some time free in the coming weeks.

And there's not much point rushing to sell a car in this current climate...

I've never done a timing belt or a thermostat and as I have a working daily and a functional classic ready to go I can afford to try like a beginner and get it wrong, take ages and then ask a mechanic to fix my mess!

Joy!