The new news 24 thread

[Mr Lobster]

As many others have, I took the small window of opportunity afforded by a glowing yellow orb in the sky to do some fleet maintenance -

 

R4 - Been laid up and has dead battery so jumped into life, washed and given a brief run out. Need to buy a battery as existing one is kippered.

 

Mazda - Washed. Appears to have some sort of sticky substance on the sides so a quick wash turned into a quick wash followed by clay bar followed by quick wash followed by Autoglym.

 

SEAT - Wash and hoover, quick polish. Looks shiny. Despite the fact I very much love this car, I've owned it seven years now and part of me fancies a change. Looked at Fabia VRS (for teh fastness) and new Dacias but can't really decide what to do so probably just keep on running it for another year or so.  Thing is, it just does everything I need it to so very well - fast, right size and reliable so changing seems a bit pointless.

[HMC]

Due to actual dryness happening, I was out sorting bits and bobs in the 504 too. I Reinstated some drain holes in the tailgate, and repaired/ reattached the fairings to the c pillar air extractor vents. Wont be long to see how it helps the water tightness as its supposed to get miserable again overnight round here. Gave it a quick wash and took the first pictures ive managed to take where the car is actually dry (outside at least) since buying it!

 

 

 

 

 

I assume its spent its life with seat covers on as despite its life as a taxi the seats are in great condition. The cloth is a sort of blue draylon/velour. The middle row are 3 individual seats, the outer two flip forward to access the rear bench (folded away here)

 

Im not trying to compete the Moroccan carpet seller look, I was on my way to the tip!

[trigger]

That marvellous! It's amazing to think that being a well used ex taxi that it's still running well and on the road.

[Ratdat]

Come on Ed spill the beans ...

 

Here's a large and very obvious clue (you should recognise this skattrd!)

 

[barrett]

The Allegro had a 'moment' a couple of weeks ago, lost all power coming down a dual carriageway and spluttered to a halt. Would only start with a lot of coaxing and would run okay unless given the beans when it would splutter and die.I assumed a blocked jet or something, managed to limp it home feathering the throttle. Had to go to Paris for a few days so took it to my nearest garage, just round the corner from my house but I've never had any dealings with them before. Picked it up on Monday, apparently the jet had vibrated loose and fallen into the bowl so petrol was just pissing directly into the engine! nice. All sorted, plus the wheel bearing that needed doing and new plugs/points etc, and it's now running as well as ever. Got a pair of new budget tyres on the front so it has a spare again (after driving around with no spare for months after getting two punctures in a week). All reasonably priced and quick decent service, so I'm going to get them to rebuild the carb on the Herald for me next week so hopefully that will see the road again before hell freezes over.

 

Celebrated by giving the Allegro a wash and tidying up the crap in the boot, most satisfying. Found a load of standing water in the rear footwells which I think is new but hopefully only because of the OMG storms we've been having. Front pass side still takes in a huge amount of water so the carpets are back out and drying off inside.

 

Today the Peugeot got a seatbelt fitted, and the indicators fixed* by liberal use of leccy contact cleaner. Gave up trying to change the screen wash tubes because it was an absolute nightmare of a job, but that aside it should be alright for a test now, which it is hopefully getting on Monday. Next stop Villa d'Este!

[Lord Sterling]

Went to Preston in K11 Micra_Sterling today. Uneventful journey as Ma drove, but the heat shield from the exhaust made a bid for freedom on the Northbound carriageway.

 

Coming back was pretty uneventful apart from some twat in a new Audi trying to push me out of the way as I passed a few cars. I did take the Micra up to a 3-figure speed for the first time ever. Audi man backed off quite a bit then. Bit stupid of me to be honest and it's at time like this I wish I drove more like my Mum.

 

Ma has decided she wants a KA as the Micra is getting a bit old. Ideally she is looking for a 1.3 and on 04/05 plate, did these rust/corrode all the way through or was it resolved later in production?

 

We will be keeping the Micra as it's been with us for years and is a faithful old friend, it deserves a nice rest now, so it will hopefully go into storage in Worcester.

 

If anyone has a KA they want rid of, please let me know.

 

Oh, and SatNav has broken, charging bit will need to be solderd back on, it was acting up but I'll get it sorted.

[skattrd]

I do recognise that, and am very jealous.

I need to find a skilled welder for your motor.

[Cavcraft]

No motoring tales from today as such as I was outrageously pissed last night thus haven't driven today, but did manage an 18 mile bike ride. HOWEVER....thanks to the eBay tat thread it now looks like I've got myself one of few Cavalier versions I've never owned, namely a 1.4 saloon. I do like that engine but I'd be willing to bet it's probably quite hopeless in a car like that, but there's only one way to find out. It also means I'm going to have to get a 4x4 and a V6 cavalier one day to complete the set! 

[Ratdat]

I do recognise that, and am very jealous.

I need to find a skilled welder for your motor.

 

I think it'll have to stay for spares now as they are pretty hard to get. Not that this one needs anything, it's almost perfect! Here it's wearing Alfa badging but it's actually a Nissan. I won't get it back here for a couple of weeks but I'm absolutely made up to have the chance to own this car...

 

[Cavcraft]

Christ-on-a-moped, that's top drawer Shiting, how on earth did you find one for sale?

[skattrd]

Bugger, and there was me thinking I Mau have found someone to repair the other one. Much respect & jealousy from me anyway.

[Ratdat]

I found the owner and sent him a message asking if it was available. It had been up for sale a couple of years ago but I couldn't afford it then. I went to have a look at it yesterday and made an offer and he called me back today and the deal was done. 

 

As far as I have been able to ascertain, this is the only other RHD Nissan Cherry Europe GTi in existence other than the rough one I already have. 

[Ratdat]

Bugger, and there was me thinking I Mau have found someone to repair the other one. Much respect & jealousy from me anyway.

 

To be honest, I started having a good examination of it after you'd been and it really is pretty bad... worse than I thought. I think you probably made the right call! 

[skattrd]

Lets just say my tame mechanic said it needed quite a bit of structural work behind the missing sill. I have been. Trying to find someone who could take it on.

[trigger]

Wow! The cars on this forum are just getting better and better!

[Ghosty]

Another tidbit about the new 2014 BINI: the boot is as big as the bellend's car of choice, the Pissan Puke.

I didn't realise Pukes were that useless!

[Lord Sterling]

Sick a brick! Top shiting there Ratdat. Are you tempted to keep the Alfa Arna badges on it? I really do like the wheels its sitting on.

 

I'll tell ya something man, you are amongst the hardcore of shiters around here. My cap is duly doffed chap.

[Ratdat]

Lets just say my tame mechanic said it needed quite a bit of structural work behind the missing sill. I have been. Trying to find someone who could take it on.

 

Oh yeah it definately does but after a good poking it's looking quite sorry now. You'd need a donor bodyshell to repair it properly.

[overrun]

Wow! A Cherry Europe GTi!

 

Fantastic.

[trigger]

 

MOT time again, It attracted a lot of attention at the garage, I had the garage lads all over it as well as one of their customers who used to work on them in the 80's. thankfully it's got a clean bill of heath for another year, It's the first time I've had it on a ramp and the floor pan is amazing, completely solid and rust free and never been welded, just a couple of advisorys for a exhaust rubber and brake pipe corrosion (which is nothing).

 

On the way back i stopped for fuel and got chatting to the lady cash attendant who was asking me about the Civic, she said how her dad's got a Mk3 Cortina that he's had since since 1983, a green P reg with leopard print seats, it sits in a garage in a village near by unused for years and he's talking about selling it. I've left my name and number and she's going to have a chat with him about it.

 

Apparently "It has a wooden dash" Yay 2000E!

[mercrocker]

Brill...Magnetic chod.   Drive one, attract some more!

[trigger]

I've just spotted something strange on my Civic's MOT certificate, my old one doesn't run out until 14th March but I got it in early, for some reason my new certificate now only has 12 months on it, not 13 months like they normally do?. I.e it runs out 16/2/15 instead of 14/3/15?.

 

Is that a new thing or has the system balls my car up somewhere?.

[TagoraSX]

My Avant has already sold for the full asking apparently.

[twosmoke300]

Trigger , it won't date the new mot on if it was presented too early . I had it last month on a customers car. Its something silly like 28 days or something . It would have flashed up for the tester when he logged it on tho.

[trigger]

It says on the old certificate to preserve the anniversary of the expiry date the earliest i can book it in is the 15/2/14, which was 2 days ago so that shouldn't matter.

[catsinthewelder]

Did you give him the old certificate?  if you didn't then you'll just get 12 months.

[twosmoke300]

System up dates automatically , no need to hand the old cert over.

[twosmoke300]

Ahh , I remember now , it's something to do with when the last test was presented. Sounds strange but it will make sense when you work it out.

[ruffgeezer]

The new C5 failed to proceed earlier, giving only a click from the starter when and attempt was made. I was in the Vet's car park after collecting Holliedog, so this wasn't the ideal time for such failings.

 

Luckily my years of training sprang into action, from the old tow rope in the boot I removed a large shackle, from the interior I found a large torch.

Much to the bemusement of the watching BMW owner, I bashed the starter with the shackle until after a few attempts, the car started.

 

Looks like I'll have to rebuild the starter soon then. Great.

[scruff]

Only years of playing with old automotive cack could prepare you for that, good work!