The new news 24 thread

[Micrashed]

Not at all motoring related, but I have today scored tickets to see this in a couple of weeks.

Excited? You bet - I have only just stopped running round in small circles flapping my hands and  making "whoooooy whooooy" 

Simon Jones be my hero.

 

[dollywobbler]

Having decided that I definitely want a Skoda Estelle, then five minutes later, a Xantia, then a Favorit, then a Honda Civic, then a Rover 600 followed swiftly by a 75 and an SD1, then Mazda's MX-3 and MX-6 and then the Ford Probe and no, that's silly and will drink too much fuel so a Focus diesel, I definitely want (at the moment) a Ford Puma. I thought the one I drove earlier in the year (but rejected for being a shit example) was a very jolly little thing.

 

Now the main problem is trying to find one that isn't silver (I dislike silver cars. There are too many of them) and that still has its rear arches. Plenty of choice out there, so no excuses for ending up with a shit one (remember I said this).

 

Of course, this is all reliant (ooh, there's an idea! Robin!) on the Golf actually selling tomorrow. I shall have to get up early tomorrow to clean it thanks to OMG NOAH levels of rain today.

[cort16]

You can get a Focus ST170 for about a grand these days that covers a lot of bases.

[ShiteRider]

^^^^^^^ WHS

isn't Pete-M selling a cougar though?

[dollywobbler]

Looks a bit sporty though. Oddly, I don't think Pumas do look sporty. They look like a girl's handbag. I like cars that are better than they look.

[cort16]

I liked my puma but they're a bit wee inside. After driving one for a week I'm not sure I'd like to drive one all the time as i was hitting my head off the roof and i'm only 5 '11.

I liked everything else about it though. Finding one without rotten arches will be a challenge and you can't get repair panels so most of them have been wobbed up. Also check the bottom of the front wings, you can't see it unless you get down on the ground and have a look but the mud goes through the arch liners and rots them out from the inside.

 

I recon if you get one you'll have it for 19 days before wanting to sell it

[trigger]

I wouldn't bother with a Puma for all the reasons Cort listed, I'm sure I lost a few much needed brain cells when I owned one.

[dollywobbler]

Suits me. Gives me a chance to dust off my NCD and keep it 'live.' What's the ride like in them? I've only driven one around a perfectly smooth housing estate. It's the lack of comfort that's bugging me with the Golf. Not much point changing it for something as bad (though I've always preferred Ford seats to pretty much anything VAG).

[skattrd]

Just buy my XM DW, you know it makes sense

[cort16]

They drive nice other than the space they're not even that revvy on the motorway.  Go for a 1.7 don't be tempted by a 1.4 or a 1.6. They're surprisingly fast when you get them wound up. They're really sensitive to having the right kind of oil so check for funny noises and make sure it's got enough oil in it as they do burn oil a bit. When I got mine the first time I really ragged it the oil light came on. I shit a brick and nursed it home then ended up putting nearly 2 litres of oil in it to get it up to the mark (I should have checked it really).

[Sigmund Fraud]

I'm not much of a Puma expert, but in my brief experience the 1.7 seemed as fast as the French hot hatches of the era with better comfort and far more progressive handling.

 

If you're really, really comfortable with your sexuality, you could even consider the Puma's smaller, uglier sister, the SportKa. They are surprisingly capable little cars, though as rust-prone as their mundane, OHV-powered brethren.

[wuvvum]

My 1.7 does go well.  I don't find the headroom a particular issue either.  Ride isn't too bad - firm but not too jiggly - although it's hard to be certain with mine as the rear axle bushes are borked.  As said above, keep an eye on the oil level, but other than that they seem to be reliable enough.

 

Mine's actually for sale at the moment, and it's blue, but a) it's about a million miles from you, the test is out (and it'll need the bushes doing for a new one) and c) the rear arches are on their way, so probably not ideal.  I'm selling as I bought it purely to do Marham, which got cancelled.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Finding one without rotten arches will be a challenge and you can't get repair panels so most of them have been wobbed up.

 

It just occured to me... don't people use cut-down Pug 206 front wings as repair panels for Puma rear arches ?

[dollywobbler]

Crikey Wuv. There's just no keeping up with you and your fleet changes! As you say, distance a bit of a problem. Congratulations on not owning a silver one.

[cort16]

It just occured to me... don't people use cut-down Pug 206 front wings as repair panels for Puma rear arches ?

 

I've heard this too. To be honest the rear arch shape it pretty simple so ended up I repairing mine using an old Kia Cee'd front wing. It's definetely not the hardest repair in the world although there's a big lump of sounds deadening around one of the rear speakers that really easy to set fire to.

 

 

In other news look what was in my local scrappers today when I visited!! Apologies for the shit picture. Other than the front being a bit frilly it didn't look too bad**

I was going to ask if it was for sale but I was afraid the answer might have been yes.

 

Renault 17 by cort16, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

Golf sold. Down to two cars. This feels odd. Have a pile of cash just waiting to be spent, but I'm so terrified of getting over-excited and blowing it on a duffer that I might just hide it instead. He said. Heading straight to Ebay...

 

EDIT. Wife's review of the Puma. "Ugh. That's a car I wouldn't be keen to be seen in." Xantia ruled out for being too big. So, something small and comfortable required. Tricky.

[vulgalour]

Is the DW BX sweepstake still open?  I'm pretty sure I heard someone had one running.  I'd like to get involved.

[Tayne]

.

[dollywobbler]

Tempting, until I saw this with an opening bid of £10, just down the road.

 

Oh yes. 

[Tayne]

.

[Barry Cade]

Cool.

 

You'll probably get that for £10 then.

I'd ask for change.

[vulgalour]

You know that other thread asking us to define Autoshite?  This defines Autoshite.  Ditching a German hatchback with great reputation in favour of a CityRover.

[Tayne]

.

[hairnet]

dw you are officially insane

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C438877

[hairnet]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-ROVER-CITYROVER-SPRITE-BLACK-1-4CC-MOT-AUG-2014-495-/261299948002

[DVee8]

^^^ Fuck they are cheap

[cort16]

DW you know you want to. Practical hatchback etc

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C438408

[dollywobbler]

Tempting, but no. There is still that local one...

 

Wife may have rejected the Puma on the grounds of looks, but she suggested this instead. I love my wife. Can't be arsed with going to London though.

[Richard]

I can't see the Cityrover being a keeper but I think it's definitely something you should own for a while.

[cort16]

I like the Multipla but there's plenty out there to choose from.