The new news 24 thread

[phil_lihp]

I reckon I could find room in my life (if not my lockup) for a diesel XM at some point, I was quite taken with philibusmo's blue hatchback.  

[stuboy]

keep getting water in footwell of the mondeo, thought 8pm in the dark and cold was a great idea to strip out were i think coming from... around were ecu bolts through bulkhead, and noticed central lock module inards had fallen out, so quick cable tie and now i have no central locking....grrr

[Ratdat]

In todays episode of 'What will fit in a Prairie?' we discover that yes, a GRP canopy for a Hyundai Pony pickup definately will...

 

[wackywacerwill]

Awesome carriage capabilities in those there Nissans, they could well be a contender for getting shot of the van and the mum cab but only if a motorcycle or two will fit in the back?

 

Used the Clio today to see if the k seal had fixed it during it's weeks hiatus, no such luck, had to bleed the cooling system of froth intermittently on the journey to and from work. Need to blag some star shaeped bolt undoers to get the head off and have an inspection before pay day to determine it's fate.

[dollywobbler]

For motorbikes, find a Prairie that has been converted for wheelchair access. Perfect!

 

It's snowing quite heavily here at the moment, and I'm off to a Landy specialist in the Disco. Should be fun! Hoping there's enough around later to see how the Sirion's winter tyres compare.

[Ratdat]

I don't think they're long enough for motorsickles. You can get a couple of full sized pushbikes in with the seat just folded but I think even with the back seat out completely it probably wouldn't be long enough. It still beats most estates and most moders MPVs for load carrying ability. We took our entire stall to Beaulieu Autojumble in it last year and it was a two pitch stall. It even pulled our diddy caravan there as well. Proper WORKHORSE shite!

[RobT]

A colleague was in late today as her two year old Golf had a 'seek assistance' light go on.  It's got low on coolant apparently, well below the minimum, and the garage told her not to use the car at all.  I suggested just do it the shiters way and keep using the car but with a big bottle of coolant/water mixed up and keep an eye on the level, until she has time to get it fixed tomorrow.  Busy mum ferrying kids about so she needs it to work.  Her 04 Focus never let her down in seven years, hence why I suggested getting another last year.

 

She's also had electrical problems with it and piss poor service from her dealer.  Either she just has a pup or ALL MODERN VW IS SHIT.

 

In other news, the 416 has hydraulic tappets so the garage just did an engine flush yesterday but is still noisy, so I'll just live with it until new shite is purchased. 

[twosmoke300]

RobT

 

Not sure what rover you have but is it a Honda or Rover K series ?

 

Reason I ask is that many garages think that the Honda has hydraulic tappets- they dont .

[saucedoctor]

If it's the 416GiT in his sig, I think those were all Honda.

[twosmoke300]

Screw and locknut oldskool rattleys on those puppies

[dollywobbler]

Survived the trip out in the Disco, though it was surprisingly twitchy on the white stuff. It's wearing Mud and Snow tyres, which naturally means the compound is far too hard. Specialist gave it a fairly good bill of health too, though the long term plan is to replace the gearbox and transfer box for ones with less wear.

[saucedoctor]

The original M+S tyres I had on the X Type were like that in the snow. The car just went sideways (as opposed to tail-out).

[Lacquer Peel]

M+S has little to no meaning on a tyre, I think it just means it has an open tread pattern. I've seen it applied to some really shocking teflon tyres.

[RobT]

RobT

 

Not sure what rover you have but is it a Honda or Rover K series ?

 

Reason I ask is that many garages think that the Honda has hydraulic tappets- they dont .

 

I typed that in a rush.  Meant to say 'the garage think it has hydraulic tappets..' but I couldn't be bothered disagreeing.  The old guy who used to work there has left so I think there's a gap in their knowledge now.  Perfectly pleasant lads but young so they only really see moderns, although a D-series is hardly ancient technology!  I've never done clearances before but it can't be that difficult shirley?

[oman5]

I've just sold my 240 Torslanda to a mate who has lusted after it since I got it. only time will tell if getting rid of a known good reliable car was a good plan, but in order to remain on top of things it has to be one in one out. 

[dollywobbler]

Sirion proved much more handy in the snow, and was far less twitchy. Struggled to pull away on fresh stuff, but didn't get stuck. It was rather pretty.

 

As I've discovered before, the braking performance in snow on proper winter tyres is nothing short of remarkable. I've stopped there on virgin snow. I had to push the brake pedal really hard to get the ABS to kick in. Who needs a 4x4?

 

To be fair, there was more snow about earlier, and it was still falling when I set out this morning.

[Lukas]

Nice winter-weather. It seems your local council is a bit late with the snow-plow though...

[twosmoke300]

Is the honda a twin cam? They are a bit more fiddly but a sohc is easier than shitting the bed

[RobT]

Yep, DOHC.  Will give it a go when I have other shite as fall back, at the moment it's my only (legal) vehicle.

[trigger]

What a wasted morning... I went to Norfolk to take a look at this

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/peugeot-205-turbo-diesel/1047984897#photo-content

 

It was a 1 1/2 hour drive in some horrible conditions with heavy sideways rain and strong wind to get to the seller house, upon arrival I met the owner and saw the car, It looked nice if a bit unloved (the photos flatter it), saw all the scabs on the rear quarter, then saw the bonnet stuck up high in one corner, the seller said the hingw was broke.

 

The interior was complete but worn, but not too bad, opened the bonnet to see the hinge bolt had snapped in the inner wing and was unfixable, the engine was covered in oil and looked tatty, I glowed the glow plugs which the light never did go out for, started it up and it smoked badly and the idle was very lumpy and the engine sound noisy even for a XUD.

 

Opened the boot and the boot floor had two massive rust holes and needed welded up, I said to the owner the car needs to much work and is pretty much knackered, he agreed with me and didn't seem surprised at all!, I was there for no more then 3 minutes before leaving again for the 50 mile drive home.

 

3 hours of my life I'll never be getting back. Joy.

[dollywobbler]

I'm trying to decide if it's sensible to buy a £300 XM sight unseen. In Hampshire. I can get there on the train for £33! It'll cost much more to get home again, as it's a 2-litre, non-turbo auto. My heart is screaming at me to go for it, but sensible head says "won't you need what feeble funds you have to keep your existing cars going?"

[hairnet]

+if it was an uncomplicated car then yes but xm

 

non merci

 

unless a shiter can go look

[hairnet]

http://www.radcliffecarauctions.co.uk/stock-detail.aspx?rnum=95627IKD&code=1324

[hairnet]

http://www.radcliffecarauctions.co.uk/stock-detail.aspx?rnum=54493OKV&code=1324

[hairnet]

http://www.radcliffecarauctions.co.uk/stock-detail.aspx?rnum=7746JISQ&code=1324

[HMC]

I'm trying to decide if it's sensible to buy a £300 XM sight unseen. In Hampshire. I can get there on the train for £33! It'll cost much more to get home again, as it's a 2-litre, non-turbo auto. My heart is screaming at me to go for it, but sensible head says "won't you need what feeble funds you have to keep your existing cars going?"

Go on go on go on go on!!!!!

[DSdriver]

Mine cost double that and so far I have replaced two tyres, half the exhaust and the transmission fluid. Oh and a rear hub because the mongs at the garage didn't tighten the wheel bolts one side. Also had a seal on the pressure regulator replaced, replaced a rear light unit, Have acquired a drivers side wing mirror (yet to go on), and today had to disconnect the plugs to the seat adjuster switches and squirt contact cleaner all over them. And I am still over half full on my second tank of petrol.

So there is cheap and not so cheap.

[derskine]

I'm trying to decide if it's sensible to buy a £300 XM sight unseen. In Hampshire. I can get there on the train for £33! It'll cost much more to get home again, as it's a 2-litre, non-turbo auto. My heart is screaming at me to go for it, but sensible head says "won't you need what feeble funds you have to keep your existing cars going?"

 

http://easydecisionmaker.com/

[dollywobbler]

http://easydecisionmaker.com/

 

YES! Sorted.

[Timewaster]

DW you should of course buy an XM.

 

Remember the unmitigated success* of your last big Citroën.