The new news 24 thread

[Inspector Morose]

Was it an automatic?

One of the companies that I do a bit of driving for had an auto one and the gearbox wiring loom shorted out. Flames ensued. Luckily caught it and put it out earlyish.

Not without £12000 damage though (mainly through the main dealers who were authorised to do the repairs cocking up repairing it causing other damage)

[cms206]

Speaking to the boss last night it'd had £3.5k's worth of new ZF auto gearbox fitted within the last month; it threw on the engine temperature warning light a few times but the temperature gauge barely moved into the red so I put it down to the engine labouring uphill. It was pulling like a train - better than it ever had tbh - when the engine temperature warning light started to flicker and the buzzer went off intermittently. Pulled off the A76 onto the A77, just passed the Fenwick junction northbound onto the M77 and it threw on the retarder temperature warning light which struck me as somewhat odd - took me a good minute or so to work out what it was. Smelled a bit like burning brakes, thought I maybe had binding brakes or summat but again it was pulling as well as ever. Flicked on the interior lights to see the back of the saloon filling with smoke... hard shoulder, fire extinguisher out, ran round the back to find a tiny flame burning more or less at the furthest point of the engine where the gearbox mounts. Put it out but the fire had started to spread it seems, I phoned the fire brigade but by the time I got off the phone smoke was starting to billow from the edges of the engine door again and I could see flames through the vents on the engine door.

The fire brigade and police arrived within about ten minutes - not bad considering I was in a signal blackspot on an unlit motorway - but by that time the back end was well alight. It's only about 6 months after a refloor and conversion to 70-seat schoolbus spec at a cost of nearly £20k, headcloth is pretty fucked, racks in the back third of the bus are gone as is the back end. Looking like a write-off anyway. Fire brigade put it down to an electrical fault, police agreed. Not been down to see the aftermath in daylight yet, but last night it looked a bit like this...

[dollywobbler]

Eek. Nasty. Glad it wasn't worse though.

[cort16]

I did come down the M77 about 7 last night. I'm suprised the rain didn't put it out. As long as everyone's okay.

[beko1987]

Shit, that's not good. Hope the insurance pays out!

[cms206]

Shit, that's not good. Hope the insurance pays out!

They're insured TPFT. I don't think there's any question of F... !

[Angrydicky]

Shit man. Glad you got out of there.

[rml2345]

Jesus! Glad you got out man.

If the insurance is in any way doubtful about F, send them that picture...

[Spiny Norman]

You do realise bonfire night isn't for a couple of weeks yet?

[ShiteRider]

Put the bmw on the blue, with a link to it's thread here so expect some visitors to put their head around the beige door.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/158182/1987-bmw-e32-735i-blackburn

[R9UKE]

Bought this misery with 3 months tax and test for £230 yesterday. Not as hateful as I thought it would be.

 

[ShiteRider]

Bought this misery with 3 months tax and test for £230 yesterday. Not as hateful as I thought it would be.

 

I'm going to feel like a tit now, but what is it?

[R9UKE]

I had a feeling that would be asked. It's a 1997 Kia Mentor. A model that was face lifted about once a year I think so you're probably not alone in not knowing what it is.

[ShiteRider]

Well it has at least on plus point, it's at least interesting enough for people to ask/wonder about it. Who does that for a 3 series/golf/A3.?

[dollywobbler]

Is that the one that has a blatant Toyota Celica-rip-off nose job?

[RobT]

Put two new front tyres on the Sierra yesterday, cheap budgets but they seem OK, and this evening I managed to break it AGAIN. One of it's many foibles is the boot lid catch works loose causing it to rattle,all it needs is tightening, but i over tightened one of the screws shearing the head off, and rounded the head of the other. Fuckwit! I'll leave sorting that to another day.

 

In other news, my folk's are enjoying using the 416GTi and Mutha T finds it much more comfy than their 52-plate Corsa. I might lob them the Sierra for a while though as i'm getting a bit bored of it and fancy a change.

[R9UKE]

Is that the one that has a blatant Toyota Celica-rip-off nose job?

Looks like a binned Ford design.

 

[phil_lihp]

Kia obviously took a few night classes from the Nissan Sunny design team.

[dollywobbler]

Sorry, I was thinking Shuma.

 

Yours looks even more forgettable - which it obviously is as I forgot it.

[hairnet]

did kia nick ford design or ford kias?

 

[trigger]

I've just stumbled across Ford's Flickr page, and who said all modern cars look them same...

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordeu/page1/

 

 

 

 

[overrun]

Those new Focus' look like Grande Punto's!

 

I like the look of the new Transit. It is meant to be a serious performer once again, too.

[Barry Cade]

Bought this misery with 3 months tax and test for £230 yesterday. Not as hateful as I thought it would be.

 

I used to work in the dealership when those were new- glad when one came in as I got a break from fitting 12" whitewalls to Prides.. IIRC the seat material was horrible very tasteful. Bloody nippy too

[Cavcraft]

Jesus, those new Fords are eye bleedingly fugly.

[vulgalour]

Worst thing about new Fords has got to be the Joan Collins Jackie Stallone level of faceliftery going on.

[cort16]

Don't forget the transit. Even it's on on the act..I don't mind the new Mondeo but that facelift Focus is gawping.

 

[Cavcraft]

Hey, I've just found out I can get a new Vauxhall Adam on some sort of lease/buy at the end if wanted for £204 a month!

Am I stupid enough to sign up? Hmm....

[barefoot]

It's numbers like that, that keep me driving old motor cars.

You may laugh at my £75 per week or whatever it is,

but that's roughly £25 per car, or a hundred a month each

and one of them is a Porsche, 

which is probably more fun to drive than an Adam

And I might have to spend quite a bit more each month to get any sort of new car that I'd really want.

[hairnet]

the fiesta looks ok but the tranny and the focus with the extra grille above doesnt look right

[Cavcraft]

Right with you brother but it's an itch I have to scratch one day