The new news 24 thread

[egg]

@Yoss @wesacosaand our other Skoda botherers - just had an email from Czech parts supplier 'skoda parts' saying they can ship to the UK without customs and fees (seems they are also UK registered now). Might be of interest...

[vulgalour]

13 hours ago, wuvvum said:

This bush in the front garden apparently decided yesterday that it was spring and therefore time to burst into flower.

 

 

If it's not shown signs of distress in the past, judging by how mature it looks, a cold snap likely won't cause it any bother.  Once established, Camellias tend to be pretty tough old things.  If anything, the frost could improve its tolerance to cold snaps.  Keep an eye on any yellow/brown die back and chop it off to prevent disease, other than that you should be able to just leave it be and enjoy the lovely flowers.

[wesacosa]

19 minutes ago, egg said:

@Yoss @wesacosaand our other Skoda botherers - just had an email from Czech parts supplier 'skoda parts' saying they can ship to the UK without customs and fees (seems they are also UK registered now). Might be of interest...

ooh thanks that's good to know. looks like delivery fees are down too (was a flat €17 last time I used them)

[junkyarddog]

Small welding job on a mates 98 Starlet.

Rear hatch gas strut made a bid for freedom.

Reused the support bracket,spot welded it to the new patch.

Done!!

Good enough for a country job 😁

[paulplom]

13 hours ago, wuvvum said:

This bush in the front garden apparently decided yesterday that it was spring and therefore time to burst into flower.

It may have regretted that decision this morning.

Went to see a mate on Friday night and he gave me a present.

A 3D jigsaw puzzle in the shape of an essentially complete but broken (snapped crank - TADTS apparently) Vespa GT125.  I really didn't need another two-wheeled project, but it was free so I couldn't really say no!  I've not done anything with it yet though, I've not even got it out of the back of the Zafira yet.  I did have a bit of a tinker with the Lexmoto today (one of the other two-wheeled projects) and got the headlight working - not got the tail light working yet as I ran out of daylight but that should just be a question of finding the correct wire from the back of the bike and joining it up.

The 75 is in for its MOT tomorrow morning so I gave it a quick look over - couldn't see any obvious fails but was a little surprised at how bad the front tyres have got - one is at around 2.5mm and the other still has loads of tread but is starting to crack.  So I'm going to have to fork out for another pair of tyres for it fairly soon - it had a great pair of nearly new tyres on the front but they both got nommed when the springs snapped.  Handbrake is still shite but it always has been and always seems to pass so fingers crossed it will again.  I even gave it a quick hoover out as it was pretty grim inside.

Welcome to thr club.

[Yoss]

1 hour ago, egg said:

@Yoss @wesacosaand our other Skoda botherers - just had an email from Czech parts supplier 'skoda parts' saying they can ship to the UK without customs and fees (seems they are also UK registered now). Might be of interest...

Thanks, I got the very same email. It is good to know they are now UK registered. I've no idea how that works but it's good news. I must admit they don't have quite as good a range as they did a few years ago but still better than over here obviously. I guess even over there supplies will start drying up.

[wuvvum]

14 hours ago, wuvvum said:

The 75 is in for its MOT tomorrow morning so I gave it a quick look over.  Handbrake is still shite but it always has been and always seems to pass so fingers crossed it will again.  

Ho hum.

[Split_Pin]

I've never had a 75 with a decent handbrake. I'm surprised mine passed this year tbh.

[Burnside]

Our Panda 4X4 we brought for my Sister gained it's 2nd Mot with us Today.😁

Got some advisories to take care of but honestly can't grumble at all. Still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it!

[stuboy]

Went over to another base todo a drivers assessment, and his voice kept reminding me of someone... finally realised it was William woollard... have this lil treat for your pleasure..

 

 

[Bear]

Had to collect a greenhouse.

Range Rover isn't as big as you'd think inside, I should probably have spent the money on a pickup for the way I do things!

On the other hand not many 4x4s have the, er, pickup that this thing displays.  A New Defender tried to catch me on the bypass and failed.

And I suppose it could be pretty and fast. If I chucked £185,000 at a Cheiftain.

[puddlethumper]

I have a friend who bought an Evoque about 9 years ago and has traded it in for a new Defenceless. Depreciation on said Evoque was 4 grand per year. I could have at least a different car every year, if not more, with that. 

[Jazoli]

8 minutes ago, puddlethumper said:

I have a friend who bought an Evoque about 9 years ago and has traded it in for a new Defenceless. Depreciation on said Evoque was 4 grand per year. I could have at least a different car every year, if not more, with that. 

Shock horror in new cars depreciate scandal!

You could but you wouldn't have a new car with a manufacturers warranty, it's a good job cars depreciate as it allows others to buy them when they are older.

[loserone]

28 minutes ago, RichardK said:

pickup

Trailer!

[Schaefft]

On 25/02/2024 at 16:17, Ghosty said:

I used the sedan about ten times last year, if that. Couple of shows and runs on nice days. 

Coming out the house to it every day, I felt bad looking at it. It wanted for nothing, but left me lacking enthusiasm, and I've been taking my hatch Civic out over it every time. Drove it around Christmas and it felt weird. Not right, I'd fallen out of love with it. I drove it again on Valentine's day and I just knew it wasn't right any more. The Yaris has taken up its practical side, and the hatch Civic my passion and the fun side. What use was it to me?

My friend needed to borrow a car. I lent it out, 'cause I trust her with it. 

 

And well, she's ended up keeping it, cause she loves it. I've got my money back on it and it's gone on to a great home where I'll still see it about. Driving around with it there with me is surreal, but it's the right thing. I'm glad it's being used and that I get to vicariously enjoy it. 

It's in good hands, it's with a certain Favorit owner who doesn't do things by halves...

It's been a sweet two and a half years. But sometimes, if you love things, you need to set them free. 

Damn, I would have loved taking it off your hands. Let her know should she decide to pass it on!

[stuboy]

Up early so went out and drilled the broken lock out... then go to work

 

Battery stone dead 

[Split_Pin]

These Avons were 5 years old:

Falkens on tje front were fine but I wasnt happy with the amount of tread left. These need to steer and stop 1.7 tons+

New shoes all round now

GT Radials, A rated for wet grip

[Tickman]

Avon tyres seem to like cracking up in no time from my experience!

[Split_Pin]

4 minutes ago, Tickman said:

Avon tyres seem to like cracking up in no time from my experience!

This also seems to be the wider consensus.  I have heard the company is no longer trading.

[Sigmund Fraud]

17 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

This also seems to be the wider consensus.  I have heard the company is no longer trading.

They've been part of the Goodyear group for quite some time now, and their road tyres haven't been made in the UK for ages. Their old factory in Melksham (by the banks of the river Avon) still stands, but has only been making tyres for motorsport use, and is rumoured to be up for sale. 

[barefoot]

I don't think that any tyres are designed to last very long at all. The MOT stipulates 7 years max, and I've just replaced the set of four Hankooks that I put on my Rover 75 as soon as I bought it in July/August 2019. I suspect it's something to do with the fact that they are made of recyclable shit rather than the proper rubber and infinite-life hydrocarbons like they were in the good old days. 

[Bear]

17 hours ago, loserone said:

Trailer!

Also acceptable! I don't have one at the moment and I'm worried if I get a small one I'll forget it's there and put my foot down...

[DeanH]

44 minutes ago, RichardK said:

Also acceptable! I don't have one at the moment and I'm worried if I get a small one I'll forget it's there and put my foot down...

Perfect excuse to get a big one

[cobblers]

Talking to one of the lads at work, he's in his late 20s. Mentioned how I bought a 106 S1 Rallye for £900 about 15 years ago.

He was fairly gobsmacked. Loves em as much as I do.

 

Then a couple of hours later, this drove past my window:

Piloted by what looked like a fairly elderly couple (although it was quite dark so I hope I haven't offended anyone)

I was in two minds whether to sprint after it and offer them £900 for their "Auld Peugeot" . Then I noticed the plate.... 03 is late for a rallye.

Comes up as 1100cc on the DVLA, so it's a replica!! How dare they!

[Jazoli]

2 hours ago, barefoot said:

I don't think that any tyres are designed to last very long at all. The MOT stipulates 7 years max. 

Are you sure about that? Its 10 years for vehicles with more than 8 seats and only if they are on the front axle but there are no checks on private vehicles at all.

[NigeT]

Thinking the CLK's gearbox was goosed from yesterday's pothole nightmare (#grumpythread) I couldn't resist dropping the oil pan. Very happy to see no chunks of broken gearbox nor filings. Fluid was pretty rank (though I'd dropped pan for fluid change 40,000 miles ago without draining TC). Pan rusty so sanded it down + kurust and a lick of paint. New filter arriving tomorrow & fingers crossed new fluid does the job. Also checked for OBD codes on my basic reader and there was nothing transmission related - am I correct in thinking these cars generally throw up an engine light if something's amiss in the trans?

[barefoot]

@Jazoli

Not sure at all and am happy to be corrected,  but my tyres are fucked way before they should be.

[Marina door handles]

New project truck has arrived, will I be joining the tax dodging, self employed pickup driving crowd (who clearly don't need a pickup for you know IT work etc) .......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope its a bit smoll....

I appear to have inherited a Tamiya monster truck, needs a new battery pack and a bit of fettling, Woot!

 

 

[Marina door handles]

FYI the Tamiya is a Clod Buster, which is not a great name, sounds a bit like a drain cleaning product..... At least its not a Chod buster, that would be very un Autoshite. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, Jazoli said:

Are you sure about that? Its 10 years for vehicles with more than 8 seats and only if they are on the front axle but there are no checks on private vehicles at all.

That's the HGV regs - is somebody mixing them up with normal stuff?

 

5 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

These Avons were 5 years old:

Falkens on tje front were fine but I wasnt happy with the amount of tread left. These need to steer and stop 1.7 tons+

New shoes all round now

GT Radials, A rated for wet grip

I blame the 45 profile - just pulled four 205/45 off a Bini we picked up last week. All are 2020 manufactured (with three different DitchFinder brands!) and they are all either cut, scrubbed or cracking like your Avons. No idea what the previous owners have done (or not done) with them since 2020 -  they would (probably) get just an advisory for the MoT but I'm not at all happy with them.

Today's non-news from here - an Italian Job Part Deux tribute scene as the 2 x R56 waved bye-bye to the R50