The new news 24 thread

[FiatPhil]

I don't read the Guardian, but here's an article on Tom Karen and the Reliant Robin:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jan/07/how-we-made-reliant-robin

[dollywobbler]

I don't read the Guardian, but here's an article on Tom Karen and the Reliant Robin:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jan/07/how-we-made-reliant-robin

 

Nice. I particularly like this comment: "Clarkson should realise it takes a proper driver to drive one."

[trigger]

The Acclaim done a funny today, wifey rings up to say it's making a strange rattling noise, it's lacking power and the red brake level warning lights on, she turned it off and restarted it but it wouldn't fire up.

 

After a few minutes it restarts and runs perfectly? I'm guessing it was running on 3?.

 

I've checked it over and it's running fine and I can't see anything wrong, I've topped the brake fluid up which was very slightly down and ripped the dizzy cap off which was dusty inside and the rotor arm was a bit corroded so I cleaned them and sprayed WD40 over them, it's seems alright now so hopefully it was just a blip.

 

As my modern Focus is still broken down it's my only current car on the road at the moment so I could do without it going wrong!, also in other news I booked my Cortina into the body shop today so my next job is to strip all the trim off the car in readiness.

 

[cort16]

I think it might be time to get that acclaim to feck.

[dollywobbler]

Hmmm. I do find cars have a nasty habit of all going wrong at once. They specialise in inconvenient moments. Like my 2CV disintergrating and the Sirion starting to misbehave as soon as I put the Disco on Ebay.

[Lankytim]

A guy at work thinks his 51 reg 2.2 Omega is worth a grand.... I don't have the heart to tell him...

[Barry Cade]

The Acclaim done a funny today, wifey rings up to say it's making a strange rattling noise, it's lacking power and the red brake level warning lights on, she turned it off and restarted it but it wouldn't fire up. After a few minutes it restarts and runs perfectly? I'm guessing it was running on 3?. I've checked it over and it's running fine and I can't see anything wrong, I've topped the brake fluid up which was very slightly down and ripped the dizzy cap off which was dusty inside and the rotor arm was a bit corroded so I cleaned them and sprayed WD40 over them, it's seems alright now so hopefully it was just a blip. As my modern Focus is still broken down it's my only current car on the road at the moment so I could do without it going wrong!, also in other news I booked my Cortina into the body shop today so my next job is to strip all the trim off the car in readiness.

I came accross this years ago with a crapi. It was drawing in brake fluid through the servo into the intake- smoke out the exhaust and lack of power, and hard brake pedal..

[trigger]

That sounds expensive! The pedal feels good and it's not smoking so hopefully it's Ok.

 

I'm really tempted to sell it as it doesn't do much to excite me, my dad has a low mileage 2000 plate Kia Sportage 2.0 still sat in his garden I could have very cheap which is tempting me at the moment, it needs registering (still on Jersey plates) and taxing though.

 

[hairnet]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CIVIC-1-6-SE-EXECUTIVE-VTEC-2001-51-REG-NEW-SHAPE-SERVICE-HISTORY-TAX-MOT-/251407552044

 

for the time being..........

[stuboy]

went with my mate to london to pop to hospital..

 

heres an expensive place to rent..

 

grim and shite pulling into london bridge

[garethj]

I don't read the Guardian, but here's an article on Tom Karen and the Reliant Robin:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jan/07/how-we-made-reliant-robin

I read some of the readers' comments and now I'm all cross because of their ignorance and their arrogance to spout off about things they clearly know fuck-all about.

 

My own fault for reading it, really.

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, I pretty swiftly stopped reading the comments. Found it amusing that Karen slags off the Regal, which was also Ogle designed. Stability IS an issue too, just not as much as certain mop-topped millionaires make out.

[plasticvandan]

lots of innacuracies.All Reliants had reverse fitted as standard,right back to 1935. THe "no reverse gear blanking plate law" was abolished in 1963. Karen designed the facelifted Regal 3/25 that came out in 66. The top gear car was rigged with a 14 in front wheel,a 13 in passenger side wheel and the standard 10" wheel on the drivers side,as well as weights placed in the car.

Anyone who can ride a motorbike can drive a Reliant,always found people who have only ever had cars struggle when they go down to 3 wheels.

[dollywobbler]

Top Gear used loads of different cars, and loads of different techniques to make them fall over. Funny, folk don't seem to go on about Suzuki SJs and Bedford Rascals falling over, but they're not exactly stable. Nor are Mitsubishi Delica L300s - it's a brave man who attempts an Elk test in any of those.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Top Gear used loads of different cars, and loads of different techniques to make them fall over. Funny, folk don't seem to go on about Suzuki SJs and Bedford Rascals falling over, but they're not exactly stable. Nor are Mitsubishi Delica L300s - it's a brave man who attempts an Elk test in any of those.

 

There was a Reliant dealer in Dunstable Bedfordshire called Dunstable Cars, they fitted a nice big sticker in the ack window......seen more than one that's had the D and the S scratched off each end.

[Tayne]

Funny, folk don't seem to go on about Suzuki SJs and Bedford Rascals falling over, but they're not exactly stable.

I found my Suzuki SJ to be quite stable, I even got it sliding sideways and it didn't want to tip over.

 

Much of that car's reputation comes from an American consumer reports article which failed to mention that a significant proportion of those people who had crashed them had been drunk at the wheel.

 

After Suzuki's US sales fell off a cliff, they sued and got tens of millions in compensation.

[Lord Sterling]

I was in Middlewich today, on the way home it was dark but I still spotted a what looked like an early Mk2 Rover Sterling. Could have been a sort of Nightfire Red colour. I was very tempted to turn around and try and catch up with the car.

 

Also on the M5, an M-reg Nightfire Red Rover 420 Diesel estate pulled into my lane whilst I was doing undesirable speeds, usually I would have "done an Audi" and flashed my lights or summat, but it was a Rover and smelt very strongly of Chip Fat oil.

 

Oh yeah, I just found out there is place near Middlewich called "Bottom Flash"

[Cavcraft]

Early morning tat collection sorted. I have a tank full of veg oil, a song in my heart and pocket full of spondulicks. OH YH.

[Micrashed]

Purchased pre Christmas £2.43 worth of "retina burning LED" reversing lamp as I have to reverse the Micrased into a dark unlit hardstanding at night...

From China - arrived today, fitted in seconds, illuminates the moon...

[cobblers]

I've got a pair of these MOFOS on the way from chuzbecistaiwan for the van. Every LED light I've had from their has shit the bed prematurely, but you hardy use reverse lights so if they only last 100 hours it's no big deal for a fiver.

[crapcarcollector]

if your talking pk radiators on king street, the crazy old guy with the shite tastic moggy he is still going strong, his work is top

 

Really? He was half dead when I worked round the corner as a YTS car body repair yoof in 1986. Spent many an hour skiving round PK learning how to recore radiators when I should have been wobbing up Datsun 180B's and the like....

[dollywobbler]

I've got a pair of these MOFOS on the way from chuzbecistaiwan for the van. Every LED light I've had from their has shit the bed prematurely, but you hardy use reverse lights so if they only last 100 hours it's no big deal for a fiver.

 

I have developed a major hatred of LED work lamps. They just break! I've gone all retro now and have one with a proper bulb in it. I really should give it back to my neighbour at some point though...

[spike60]

I have developed a major hatred of LED work lamps. They just break! I've gone all retro now and have one with a proper bulb in it. I really should give it back to my neighbour at some point though...

The trouble with battery powered LED work lamps is when the battery runs down they go out, none of this dimming lark you get with old ones. No warning.

[Angrydicky]

I've got one of those LED inspection lamps with a magnetic base that can be stuck to parts of the car to aid working. Very good quality, I acquired it when I took my landcrab into a garage to have a new steering rack fitted. Looked underneath when I got home and that was stuck underneath. RESULT.

[ruffgeezer]

You didn't think to return it to it's owner? 

[Cavcraft]

Scotland conquered. Traffic was ace on the way up (left about 6.45am) and the only real issue was hail/snow somewhere by Lancaster. Got there pretty handy so had a walk round Gretna Green Services and saw something of a 2CV meeting going on. Had a brew with Cort16, swapped V5s, cash and cars then headed home. This is the internet so I'm just lying, but I may have got 155 miles in 2 hours.

[dollywobbler]

Ah, that'll be Raid Wanlockhead - every January, 2CVers head to the highest inns in Scotland, England and Wales. Welsh one is on the 19th Jan. We've organised that one for the past two years, but passed the baton on this year. Have only done the Scots one once, and that was in the BX...

[Cavcraft]

Seven or eight there in the end, Ian, including quite a funky LHD van.

[dollywobbler]

That'll be Mark in his AK350. He's off to Shetland after the run I think. Scottish run is always the quietest. Raid Tan Hill was a week ago and a lot more turned up.

 

In fact, here's live reporting for you. I'm sure my friend won't mind me sharing.

[barrett]

Found it amusing that Karen slags off the Regal, which was also Ogle designed.

I'm pretty sure they were only responsible for the very minimal facelift? I can't see David Ogle making anything as ugly as the Regal.

 

 

Anyway, in NEWS we have scored a set of five new Michelin XASs for the 404 which should hopefully arrive next week. Dodgy tyres are the only thing obvious that is preventing it getting an MoT so hopefully we can get a test on it as soon as the new rubber arrives.

 

Also there is a new addition to the company fleet, which is arriving next weekend. I'm very excited as it's one of my dream cars, full report soon!

 

 

EDIT: oh yeah, and the Standard went off to its new home last weekend. Bought by an ex-member of this forum and in good hands, but I was really sad to see it go.