The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

Had a quick hoon in the 2CV this morning. Frustratingly, it's an absolute sod to drive at the moment thanks to the thumb of doom. Feels smoother than it did and has less rattling. All I had to do was move the inner front wing to stop it catching on the suspension arm. 

[John F]

It turns out I'll be drivng to within 20 km of Colditz Castle this weekend... I'll have to try to get some pics.

 

Probably won't have time to build a glider while I'm there though.

[daveb47]

It turns out I'll be drivng to within 20 km of Colditz Castle this weekend... I'll have to try to get some pics.

 

Probably won't have time to build a glider while I'm there though.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/airfix-colditz-glider-kit-1974-307277836

[vulgalour]

You know you're an enthusiast when people start pointing out your favoured marque.  This one is over in Huyton, Liverpool, and is a 2000HL, probably on a '81 plate.  The coach stripe and lack of bonnet crown mark it out as a late model.  It has loads and loads of useful stuff on it and even the doors look like they're neither rotten nor wobbed which is pretty much unheard of.

 

 

Since it's my birthday on Monday I reckon someone should stick a bow on it and have it delivered for me.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Thats fupping ace

[Angrydicky]

Looks well worth saving!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Ms_Ba11s shit old astra passed the MOT today, ca$hback, anyone want to buy an X-reg Astra 1.6 16v? Full test, very reliable, lots of scratches and 145k on the clock. £400 to a shiter

[M'coli]

The 205 failed to start today - starter motor wouldn't spin.  This has happened a couple of times before, but the second or third turn of the key usually had it turning over, however that didn't work this time.  It's a good job the car rolls very easily, as I had to bumpstart it - the first time I've bumped a diesel.  All this while in the car park of a place where I'd just had a job interview - do you think it may have had some bearing on the fact that I found out at 6pm that I'd not been successful?  Answers on a postcard etc..

 

As soon as it was running, it would start off the key again...

[catsinthewelder]

That's a bugger on the job front.  My old 205 used to do that completely at random for a while until I changed the earth strap.

[worldofceri]

My Beetle passed it's first mot in over six years the other day.  Woot!

 

Having exhausted my reserves of eptitude I passed it over to "my mate what knows about VWs" last month.

 

 

He replaced a bunch of hard and flexi brake lines, a front ball joint and re-did the fuel line repair that I made a hash of.  He also traced the dodgy running to a faulty vacuum advance unit and a missing jet in the carb!

 

 

 

Guess I'd better go and join the scene twats thread...

[R9UKE]

Went to the auction on Tuesday night and came home with two main dealer trade in lovelies. The first (a 96 Polo) has been sold already, the second I fear might be staying as I really really like it.... A 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager 3.3 auto. It's been owned by a property development company since new, done 101k miles and seems to have had a pretty pampered life. It drives like new, the arse warmers work and I feel like a proper yank with my steering column gear shifter. It cost me all of £315, though I'll probably spend the same on fuel before the week is out.

 

 

Worked out today that it returns equally unimpressive figures whether you drive it like a nun or floor it everywhere like a proper American which is great. I have a few friends moving house soon, and there's a big family wedding next year which will see my relatives with kids come over from America and Germany - I'm sure it'll come in very handy and save them hiring a car. Only pic I have so far is of it's incredibly luring dogging credentials.

 

 

It can stay if my clear out goes to plan. I have a very keen sounding gentleman coming to view the 760 on Saturday, and the 406 V6 estate is provisionally sold. I then need to MOT the Laguna V6 and stick it up for sale, though I'm having second thoughts on this one tbh.

 

 

The Mégane convertible auto that was all set for my girlfriend to start driving has started throwing auto box wobbles. Anyone with experience of Renault slush boxes knows it's only a matter of time before it completely shits itself so I'll mot it and stick it through auction, it only owes me £500 and has 70k miles so shouldn't be an issue getting that money back. I do love it's interior though....

 

[cort16]

You should drop some of your experiences into the auction thread R9UKE you're an auction veteran compared to the rest of us.

[R9UKE]

Didn't actually know about it, will do

[hairnet]

luke in auto sell on shocker

 

voyager 18 mpg eek is there a viper motor in it

[R9UKE]

Haha hoping to have them gone before I think about it anymore and change my mind :/

 

I wish, it's only got 180 BHP!!

[Cavcraft]

(Flame proof suit on)

 

I'm considering buying a Merc ML, probably in 320 flava as I like that engine.

Are they shit cars with loads of known problems, what do I need to look for and how shit is real world mpg going to be in a 3.2 pez one?

 

No, I don't need a 4x4 and obviously if I'm really worried about fuel costs a big car with the aerodynamics of a block if flats is silly. I just fancy one for no special reason as a short term toy.

[dollywobbler]

 

 

 

Guess I'd better go and join the scene twats thread...

 

No need! That's a fabulous looking Autoshite-spec Beetle. Most of them used to look like that in the 1980s and early 1990s. Brilliant.

[cobblers]

My proud painter:

 

It's turned out a flipping hell of a lot better than I feared, he's done himself proud (look you can tell from his face)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colour is lovely, and all my filler work has turned out perfect. I've just eaten half an out of date vienetta to celebrate.

[cort16]

Great colour cobblers. You always fear you're going to get a line of filler rearing it's head once the paint goes on (as on my rover).

Is that just out the gun as it looks pretty smooth given he hasn't got an oven?

[cobblers]

Yep, straight out of the gun about 90 minutes before the photo. The guy is unreliable and his premises are shit, but he really knows how to throw some paint around. 

He's flatting and buffing it on Monday, but there's surprisingly little dust on the paint considering.

[cort16]

I think all the cyanide makes them short circuited in the brain.

[Timewaster]

Tis true, painters are all a bit weird. Probably the fumes.

Hairdressers are always ditzy air heads, perhaps its all the hair spray.

 

In other news, I once drive an ML about 200 yards. It was a horrible experience I never want to repeat. Shit in every conceivable way, except in a good way.

[hairnet]

billy

 

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/22893-should-i-buy-ml320.html

 

buy an sj410 instead

[cort16]

Those ML's are pretty cheap these days but they were built in the dark days of Merc quality

[HillmanImp]

Were the ML's not built by rednecks? I seem to remember Volksy having to work on his friends mums car and complaining about it. I think he might have suggested that it rivaled the Neon for poor build quality.

[worldofceri]

That's a fabulous looking Autoshite-spec Beetle.

Thanks. It's the lowest spec, smallest engine, least desirable shape. Never been restored (although extensively repaired, often badly). Paint is abominable. Bodywork is full of wob, fibreglass, rust and gaping holes. Makes a horrendous racket. Brakes and steering are scary. Strange people in other air-cooled VWs wave at you. The horn sounds at random when cornering. There's no heater or demister. The wipers are rubbish. I love it!

[cort16]

Yo Mercette, this doesn't look too bad for 1295.

The problem with these is if anything goes wrong then you're probably cheaper just pushing it into a quarry.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-MERCEDES-ML-320-AUTO-BLACK-5DR-PRIVATE-PLATE-INCLUDED-6MTHS-MOT-/221298178163?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3386663873

[hairnet]

and if anything run by a computer goes ping - straight to the knacker

[phil_lihp]

All I know about these is that the 3.5 does an average of 19mpg according to someone I met who owned one.  Stop being a pansy and get a G-Wagon.

[hairnet]

wide boy vitara surely