The new news 24 thread

[RobT]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Well the Skoda made it to Shotley. 

HG fixing hero.  Good to see you earlier Wuv, and @trigger too.

This was gr9.

I think it'd been sat an hour or so, yet still stank of dizzle.  Marvellous.

I took the ex-HMC S124.  Here it is down by the marina.

[brownnova]

7 hours ago, clayts450 said:

1302 hours

car cost me £450 two years ago

1306

Parts Emporium from Dewsbury ring - explained alternator seized, battery dead, but does have original cat. 'We'll have someone with you in two hours'

1500

Dignified, if slightly smoky exit. Guy hooked booster pack up, smoke billowing all over place as alt pulley seized. Drove up under own power onto trailer. Goneski.

TLDR Motorwise bloody good.

Think my 900 might go the same way as I’m not sure I can be arsed with Facebook marketplace/eBay for a cheap car sale… and I just want the space now! Would be a shame but… 

[clayts450]

8 minutes ago, brownnova said:

Think my 900 might go the same way as I’m not sure I can be arsed with Facebook marketplace/eBay for a cheap car sale… and I just want the space now! Would be a shame but… 

I think because it happened so quickly, I didn't have 'scrapper's remorse' nor time to think about the bad thing I done. TBH, it's a blessed relief seeing the back of it. And £50 saved each month on tax/insurance, which is also a win.

[Talbot]

With the value of scrap, both steel and catalysts, as high as it is at the moment, anything less than a £500 car is scrap.  Seems a shame, but that's been true before, and it'll be true again.

I miss the days when scrap 90s catalysts weren't worth it, and light iron was about £15 a tonne.  There were some absolute belting bargains around.

[wuvvum]

150 miles covered in the Felicia, and it still has coolant in it and the oil is still clean.  At the risk of tempting fate I'm going to declare it fixorated.

Good to catch up with RobT, Trigger, and Brodders and his rather lovely beige Orion.  As usual, a wonderfully eclectic collection of vehicles at the ECR meet.

[Cord Fourteener]

8 hours ago, Talbot said:

With the value of scrap, both steel and catalysts, as high as it is at the moment, anything less than a £500 car is scrap.  Seems a shame, but that's been true before, and it'll be true again.

I miss the days when scrap 90s catalysts weren't worth it, and light iron was about £15 a tonne.  There were some absolute belting bargains around.

I'd still rather keep a car that's got useful life in it on the road, even if you have to enjoy* a bit of banter with muppets on soshul meadya.

Mostly I end up selling to shitters anyway. 

[Talbot]

38 minutes ago, Cord Forteener aka Tim_E said:

I'd still rather keep a car that's got useful life in it on the road, even if you have to enjoy* a bit of banter with muppets on soshul meadya.

The problem these days is if you sell a car that has a £500 catalyst on it and is worth £150 in light iron for £300 on arsebook, the likelihood is that it won't stay on the road, and said arsebook bloke will simply scrap it himself.  Better to simply scrap it yourself and get the cash.

That said, if I owned a car with a £500 cat on it, I'd likely weigh it in myself and put a £100 generic one on.  Saves the ballache of coming out one day to find it gone and nets me the £400 rather than some thieving tosser.

[Fumbler]

Finally have just clicked "buy" on a proper actual nice real deal MIG welder on Machine Mart (also bought regulator and gas bottle). If I wasn't in solitary confinement self isolating I might be a little more excited and drive the car around for a bit.

[Split_Pin]

Moved the cars about on my lunch break today.

Had a look under the Cav at the brake lines as I know @320tourings similarly aged Toledo  needed new ones however the ones on the Cav have either lasted remarkably well, or are very well made replacements. GOOD CAR.

The Rover obviously got jealous and for its lack of use for the past 2 weeks it chucked its brake pad warning light on. Pads are definitely good,,  my gold 75 was the same. Filed under 'Heritage'. BAD CAR.

Put the Audi in my garage to do an oil change tonight. Tried to crack off the filter to save time tonight, this is always an arse due to its awkward location.  Wouldn't budge, shall reconvene tonight. Investigated the slight exhaust blown that I was convinced was getting louder. The join on the exhaust between the downpipe and middle looks like it's been at the bottom of the sea for a decade. Otherwise not too bad and there are 2 braces across the tunnel it sits in so it's not going to fall off. INDIFFERENT CAR.

 

[Fat_Pirate]

This went to cartakeback today for £300.  It's been stored some 180 miles from my house and the lacquer peel had got much worse since this photo was taken (and it had lost all it's coolant), seeing as ~£1000 will still buy a decent example it wasn't worth faffing with.

[dollywobbler]

Balls. Looks like my 25 years of clean driving are up. Got done for speeding in a car I hate, when I was running late for something after a monumentally stressful morning. Not even the glory of being done for speeding in something that's either genuinely stupidly fast, or genuinely stupidly slow.  All the more annoying, because as I general rule, I do not speed. 69 in a 60 suggests I definitely did that time. Didn't even see the van. (which suggests I was overtaking something).

[wesacosa]

9 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Balls. Looks like my 25 years of clean driving are up. Got done for speeding in a car I hate, when I was running late for something after a monumentally stressful morning. Not even the glory of being done for speeding in something that's either genuinely stupidly fast, or genuinely stupidly slow.  All the more annoying, because as I general rule, I do not speed. 69 in a 60 suggests I definitely did that time. Didn't even see the van. (which suggests I was overtaking something).

I am patiently waiting on a potential summons from tripping a gantry camera on m25 on way home after my Panda collection.   Do you get offered a speed awareness course ilo points for first offence /minor infringement?

[Talbot]

69 in a 60 will be a speed awareness course.  Currently carried out by Zoom meeting.  Several boring hours where you'll be able to know more than the instructor.

Shame.  2mph less and you would likely have been ignored.  Enforcement is recommended by the ACPO to start at 68 in a 60

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, while my general aim is to not speed, I do occasionally let myself go a few mph over at the upper end. Ah well. 

[Split_Pin]

Do they have the option to take a speed awareness course instead of points and a fine in Wales?

I got caught going 60 in 50mph roadworks on the A66 3 years ago. As it was in England, the £90 for the course was cheaper than all 4 insurance premiums going up. In Scotland we don't have that option.

[dollywobbler]

I suspect so. Won't find out for a bit.

[Talbot]

8 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Do they have the option to take a speed awareness course instead of points and a fine in Wales?

England and Wales operate SAC.  Scotland do not.

9 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

I do occasionally let myself go a few mph over at the upper end.

Exactly why the ACPO guidelines state that prosecution should start at +10% +2 MPH.  This allows people to stray over the limit slghtly and not drive around with their eyes glued to the speedometer.  If you're aiming to be at the speed limit, it's extremely unlikely you'll go 10% over.

[lesapandre]

24 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Balls. Looks like my 25 years of clean driving are up. Got done for speeding in a car I hate, when I was running late for something after a monumentally stressful morning. Not even the glory of being done for speeding in something that's either genuinely stupidly fast, or genuinely stupidly slow.  All the more annoying, because as I general rule, I do not speed. 69 in a 60 suggests I definitely did that time. Didn't even see the van. (which suggests I was overtaking something).

Have you been stopped and spoken to or you awaiting something through the post?

[dollywobbler]

It's a shit defence, but I did confirm that this particular car has a very accurate speedometer, whereas most of the cars I own do not, so I'd happily do an indicated 70mph in the 2CV in a 60 knowing it's really 63.

[dollywobbler]

Just now, lesapandre said:

Have you been stopped and spoken to or you awaiting something through the post?

Something through the post. Not my car, so it's taking a while. (initial contact well within their legal requirements)

[lesapandre]

Ah. They've made enquires as to who was the driver etc. Have they indicated what they are doing next?

[St.Jude]

3 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Something through the post. Not my car, so it's taking a while. (initial contact well within their legal requirements)

Would be an idea to request a photograph of you in the car actually.

Not to say "It wasn't me", more for just framing with a date saying "RIP Clean Driving, 25 years old. We hardly knew ye"

[vulgalour]

Got the starter off the Lanchester without removing the exhaust.  A second pair of hands and disconnecting a brake rod was the way to go.  Should just be a case of cleaning up contacts to get it working properly again.  It doesnt' look particularly worn on the outside, just a bit scruffy from being sat under the car for years, exposed to the elements.  This has been one of the bigger obstacles to getting the Lanchester reliable so it'll be good to have it sorted.

[clayts450]

1 hour ago, dollywobbler said:

It's a shit defence, but I did confirm that this particular car has a very accurate speedometer, whereas most of the cars I own do not, so I'd happily do an indicated 70mph in the 2CV in a 60 knowing it's really 63.

Once you've done the SAC you can pretend it never happened - you don't get points or a fine (well, you have to pay for the course, I s'pose) and the bad old days of insurance companies whacking up your premium because you'd been on a course are long gone (I always wondered shouldn't they put the cost down, seeing as how you were re-trained and a re-born good driver ?).

I blemished my record by going thru a red light four years ago. All forgotten about now, and as 3 years have lapsed if I do err again, I'll get another course.

TBF, I'm pretty sure I've squeaked through a few speed limits by milli-miles per hr since starting this couriering malarkey.

[clayts450]

Anyroad, let's talk about the Streetwise for a moment.

It had been becoming a bit problematic with starting properly, or making a dreadful racket when it did start, suggesting starter motor issues. Still, as long as it starts okay, all's good. Until it didn't. Battery was fine, so deffo a starter motor issue. A quick research on MG-R forums suggested two connectors in particular corrode for fun. Battery off, airbox disconnected from battery tray and nudged out of the way. Yup, two badly corroded connectors - emery and WD40 contact cleaner put to work, all hooked back up. Now starts first time every time without any complaint. Win.

Every time I braked I'd get a knocking noise from the front, suggesting when I put the new discs and pads on I probably hadn't tightened things down to maximum torque power. Best to check. However, came to undo the last wheel nut on the nearside - hanging on for grim life by one twist. FFS, you cretin. Until I realised I shouldn't be chastising myself, rather the place that did the MoT and replaced the outer CV boots. In for a penny, in for a pound, best to check the torques anyway. All absolutely bob on. Took it for a spirited sprint around, generously applying the brakes whenever I could. Knocking gone. Win.

 

[clayts450]

2 hours ago, Fat_Pirate said:

This went to cartakeback today for £300.  It's been stored some 180 miles from my house and the lacquer peel had got much worse since this photo was taken (and it had lost all it's coolant), seeing as ~£1000 will still buy a decent example it wasn't worth faffing with.

Lovely wee things - I still have the want for one of these. 

[dozeydustman]

On 18/06/2021 at 19:41, Jerzy Woking said:

Scattering ashes was very nice gesture and very meaningful.

I'm down near Alicante and its rare to see anything more than about 15 to 20 years old, except for Berlingo's (and similar). The scrap yards I pass all seem to have what I deem as new cars in them. Mechanical failures rather than rust related I think.

Only place I see old stuff is on the N332 between Benidorm and Alicante. There is a garage yard full of half scrapped Citroen's (mostly aircooled), and next door an Alfa specialist who has some fantastic 60's rally cars in. He showed us around a couple of year ago-his office was full of trophies he had won racing.

I like Alicante. Our last few trips to Spain were Almeria, Mojacar and Turre but I will always enjoy Nerja

[Jerzy Woking]

Alicante is a lovely city, the esplanade trees are something to behold. Often pop over there and always find somewhere nice for lunch. It is quite busy at the moment (but quiter than usual) as many Spaniards are "holidaying at home" too.

My mate has a place in Turre, I stayed there for a few days in 2019 at the time a local festival was on. They had covered a street with sand for the horses to run along it. Good day out spotting the fillies....

[SiC]

19 hours ago, Talbot said:

With the value of scrap, both steel and catalysts, as high as it is at the moment, anything less than a £500 car is scrap.  Seems a shame, but that's been true before, and it'll be true again.

I've seen mentioned that precious metals have plummeted quite a bit recently (thankfully). E.g. a Clio 172 cat was worth £850 scrap but now is back to the £500 or so point. 

Makes sense as I'm sure if you owned a precious metal mine, you'd be working like crazy to cash in on the high prices while they can. 

[wuvvum]

37 minutes ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Good day out spotting the fillies....

Aye, that's not a bad looking filly right there.  ATHNBE.