The new news 24 thread

[Pat Earrings]

5 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Well it's all kicking off outside my house

I was in the back garden working on my bike, heard sirens getting closer until they were in the next road - then two bangs and tyres screeching. 

Walked out the front just as the black Passat skidded up, bloke got out and legged it down the ally with a copper on his heels.

Seems it all started on the A12, VW is on false plates, failed to stop and got chased into my estate, taking out a Focus on the way, then reverse rammed the police which was the bangs.

They got the guy, he was in one of the cars bitching his cuffs were too tight, then said he was unwell hence the ambulance. Looked healthy enough when he ran past me.

Both cars are knackered, suspension is pushed back on the Passat and the rad is holed on the BMW.

Recovery are here now

I’ve driven far worse damaged pandas during a pursuit until they fully gave up 😂

[richardmorris]

This was outside today, Easter present for someone. Wheel caps are Aston Martin logo but don't know the model.

[D.E]

20 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Wheel caps are Aston Martin logo but don't know the model.

DB11.

[JJ0063]

We have hired a camper for the week and yesterday drove over 7 hours to the very west coast of Wales. Today we visited Skomer island to see the puffins. Then drove 2 hours east and are currently pitched up at Dare Valley country park ready to visit some waterfalls tomorrow. Peace and quiet. 

[stuboy]

left for work at 420am but everytime came of the gas the bloody v6 tried to cut out, on way home at 2pm was fine..

[captain_70s]

Washed.

Polished.

Waxed.

Good to finally be able to do stuff by daylight in non-freezing conditions after work...

[richardmorris]

4 minutes ago, captain_70s said:

Washed.

Polished.

Waxed.

Good to finally be able to do stuff by daylight in non-freezing conditions after work...

I’m feeling happier this week too. An hour or two of daylight makes all the difference 

[Angrydicky]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Well it's all kicking off outside my house

I was in the back garden working on my bike, heard sirens getting closer until they were in the next road - then two bangs and tyres screeching. 

Walked out the front just as the black Passat skidded up, bloke got out and legged it down the ally with a copper on his heels.

Seems it all started on the A12, VW is on false plates, failed to stop and got chased into my estate, taking out a Focus on the way, then reverse rammed the police which was the bangs.

They got the guy, he was in one of the cars bitching his cuffs were too tight, then said he was unwell hence the ambulance. Looked healthy enough when he ran past me.

Both cars are knackered, suspension is pushed back on the Passat and the rad is holed on the BMW.

Recovery are here now

 

It’s on the Essex police Twitter. Passat was stolen from Havering, driver was disqualified as well. Glad they caught him!

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, richardmorris said:

This was outside today, Easter present for someone. Wheel caps are Aston Martin logo but don't know the model.

Looks like it's getting a ticket!

[bunglebus]

42 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

It’s on the Essex police Twitter. Passat was stolen from Havering, driver was disqualified as well. Glad they caught him!

I'm annoyed with myself as he literally ran past me to the alley, wouldn't have taken much to swipe his legs out from under him.

Never mind "Muhammed" is now where he belongs hopefully. I did go and look for the Focus he crashed into but it was already gone.

[wuvvum]

I appear to have fixed the Volvo.  Looking at the wiring diagram in the HBOL last night, I noticed that the wiring to the dash lights wasn't coming from fuse #4 as stated on the fuse box cover, but fuse #3.  So I gave fuse #3 and its various related contacts a good wiggle and the dash lights came back to life again, and the alternator is also now charging (wiring diagram showed an exciter wire 'twixt dash light and alternator, so the two are evidently linked).

I took it to Tesco this evening just to check that everything is shipshape - my first time driving the car in the dark in a very long time.  It behaved fine, and the electric fan seems to do a good job of bringing the temp gauge down when switched on.  I do seem to have managed to knock out the front fogs whilst pissing about with the fuse box though - I really need to take it out and give everything a proper clean, as some of the contacts are decidedly dodgy.

Is this the first recorded instance of a HBOL being more accurate than the manufacturer?

[vulgalour]

Two firsts for me today.  Sent off a V62 for the donor Lanchester, just in case, and did a Postal Order because not even I'm antiquated enough to have a cheque book any more.

[outlaw118]

12 hours ago, Angrydicky said:

It’s on the Essex police Twitter. Passat was stolen from Havering, driver was disqualified as well. Glad they caught him!

Came to post the same, silly twat clearly didn't have the satnav on!
@bunglebus I used that little cut out to turn round in the other day!

[richardmorris]

This was outside just now. A bit batmobiley.

[GMcD]

 

Another pass for the blue MX-5. No advisories this time. (The weepy rocker cover gasket from the previous MOT was replaced last week)

Less than 1k between MOTs.  Shocking. 

Tester was very complimentary.  Nicest one he has seen underneath in ages. 

Red one is booked for next week.  

[NorthernMonkey]

Full Volvo main dealer history?! Presumably the fuel filter isn’t part of the service schedule any more.

On the plus side, it certainly idles happier now.

 

[PicantoJon]

Yea, I shouldn't be allowed near anything with such low mileage... I'm surprised something didn't start clunking so I'd feel more comfortable driving it. 

. 

[Jazoli]

38 minutes ago, PicantoJon said:

Yea, I shouldn't be allowed near anything with such low mileage... I'm surprised something didn't start clunking so I'd feel more comfortable driving it. 

. 

That's funny I had a 200 mile old merc as a hire car today

Fancy interior 

to be honest i was happy to get back in my 20 year old E Class, it did nothing for me and I would not pay £45k for one.

[Yoss]

MOT time for blue Favorit. No dramas but I noticed the front tyres were both on the limit. Trawled all the online places and decided tyres have gone up massively since I last bought them but found a pair of Falkens cheapish at ATS in Eastleigh but they couldn't fit me in until two days after the MOT.

And sure enough it failed on one tyre. Annoyingly it also failed on one wiper blade even though I had checked them the previous weekend and they were fine then. Even so I can't really complain as that was all it failed on. 

So I turned up at the tyre place Friday afternoon to find the tyres were the wrong size. My fault. I was convinced they were 175 70 13s but I was getting mixed up with the Triumph. They are actually 175 65 13s. So only 5% difference in profile but they looked huge compared to the old ones. ATS were good enough to re order the right size at no cost, or at least just the difference between the two but it was Friday afternoon and their suppliers had gone home. Obviously nobody has 13" wheels anymore so they didn't have anything in stock. 

So the chap rings Monday morning and says Falken don't do that size but he can get a Sumitomo. Never heard of them but he says they actually own Falken and they are only £1.50 more and I'm keen to get back for my retest so what the hell, why not. 

 

So I start googling them when I get home and they are some massive Japanese industrial conglomerate and they do indeed own Falken. And Dunlop. Never knew that. These particular tyres are made in Thailand. 

So far they seem OK. I've not tried doing anything stupid but I've pushed it round the local roundabouts with no issues. I have noticed the steering is noticeably lighter (I don't have power steering remember) so that's good. I did wonder if they'd inflated them to 45psi or something but they look normal so I don't think so. 

I really need to clean those wheels. 

So that's another years trouble free motoring ahead hopefully. 

[adw1977]

11 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Two firsts for me today.  Sent off a V62 for the donor Lanchester, just in case, and did a Postal Order because not even I'm antiquated enough to have a cheque book any more.

I like the idea that a postal order is less antiquated than a cheque!

Are those the only payment methods DVLA will accept for a V62?

[junkyarddog]

2 hours ago, Jazoli said:

That's funny I had a 200 mile old merc as a hire car today

 

Looks more like a driving simulator than a real car!!

The instrument pod reminds me of 80's BL stuff🤣

[Snake Charmer]

13 minutes ago, junkyarddog said:

Looks more like a driving simulator than a real car!!

The instrument pod reminds me of 80's BL stuff🤣

Virtual dashboard with a selection of spare hubcaps. 

[goosey]

Tonight had to go and fetch my daughters car back from my in-laws as over the past couple of weeks 4 people have asked if it’s for sale and earlier tonight the in-laws ring doorbell alerted them to a guy backing a beaver tail Transit down their drive who I guess was just going to help himself to the car, my in-laws phoned the neighbours who came out and told him to F off.  Not sure why all of a sudden a mk1 Seat Arosa would be so desirable 

[Snake Charmer]

9 hours ago, richardmorris said:

This was outside just now. A bit batmobiley.

Parked in a "loading bay"? 😁 

[Metal Guru]

21 minutes ago, Snake Charmer said:

Parked in a "loading bay"? 😁 

Maybe they thought it said “loaded”.

[vulgalour]

13 hours ago, adw1977 said:

I like the idea that a postal order is less antiquated than a cheque!

Are those the only payment methods DVLA will accept for a V62?

That appears to be the case.

[barefoot]

I had the roofers in today, the bloke who did all the work turned up in a 3.2 litre Nissan Elgrand, and the boss, who collected the money & gave me a lift to the Co-Op was driving something I've subsequently  failed to identify. It was another JDM import multi seater device with a very pointy nose, a 2.2 litre petrol / auto engine (I asked him), and a bizarre swoopy dash... A Honda possibly? Anywhoo, it was very pleasantly smooth & quiet, despite the driver's apparent inability to turn the steering wheel more than a quarter turn even in the sharpest bends.

[HMC]

Patina.

[The Vicar]

Enjoying this old thing. Irish plates arrived the other day:

[HMC]

shiny car syndrome 

Grotty p6 helping near mint midget