The new news 24 thread

[jonathan_dyane]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Great pics. I wonder how that 1970 charger is registered as a 71/72 ‘K’ suffix though 🤔

Maybe when it was imported?

[Mat.T]

I have been using my Toledo less and less in recent years mostly due to how uncomfortable it has become. The original seat foam has disintegrated leaving just the seat frame for support. 

I'd spotted some Dolomite SE seats in the right colour on eBay but they were in mid Wales which I didn't fancy the 5 hour drive to collect. I didn't bother bidding, Until it turned out the seller was 10 min drive from my brother in laws work. So I hit the BIN button. Last month on a family visit they kindly delivered the seats to me.

Fitted them today and I can finally enjoy my car again (20 years ownership this year!)

From:

To:

Test drive!

[doug]

38 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Aw nice! 

Were you displaying a car or just visiting? 

I had the Corsa parked just down from that Landcrab.

Just visiting. Love a wee walk around Kirkcudbright.  

[D.E]

Last night, two men here invented a quick but drastic engine removal method. Not sure how insanely fast you have to drive down this narrow dirt road to make a Volvo pancake, but the bodies were mangled so severely that police was initially unsure how many were in the car.

[richardmorris]

Stolen presumably? Trees are unforgivable but that’s a fast impact.

[Popsicle]

I've been parts gathering over the last few months for the couriering Caddy. The bonnet was a bit battered on the leading edge and really strangely going rusty all down the drivers side, both front wings had gone rusty around the wheel arches and the front bumper had the pox. I did redo the wheel arches a couple of years ago, but it feels like a losing battle, I also fitted a Touran front bumper at the same time, I could only get a silver one, my cack handed painted skills have left it looking shite, but it has lasted for around 170k miles.

I managed to get a factory black Touran front bumper, also a black bonnet and wings, I don't think they are factory black, but they are pretty much rust free and far better than what's on there.

Here's the old bumper in the garage.

You can see the paint coming away.

New bumper, bonnet and wings on, some polishing up to do to get rid of some scratches and a bit more fettling on the alignment to get the shut gaps right, but I think it looks a lot better.

Whilst the bumper was off, I fitted last year's birthday present off daughter number 2, Hella twin tone horns.

I had also acquired some cheap led daytime running lights from Aliexpress, they double up as fog lights.

I might try and hide the light bar a bit, I had the bracket on the other way round on the old bumper, so it was above the number plate. I reckon I could possibly hide it in the lower grill to make it more discreet.

I can't take credit for the work, daughter number 2's 'friend' helped out, as did Mrs P, I'm such a fucking knackered cripple these days - I need all the help I can get!

[D.E]

1 hour ago, richardmorris said:

Stolen presumably? Trees are unforgivable but that’s a fast impact.

No, the police didn't mention anything in their statement about the car being stolen. Both the type of car and the deceased (38 and 44, ages at which one really ought to know better) are quite atypical for this type of accident, it's usually young lads in a fast Volkswagen, BMW or something like that who perish in crashes like this. 

[Split_Pin]

Had a call from the local garage who I have used for many years and are super shite-friendly. The rent on the premises, which is already a bit run-down went up 50% in November and the landlord has tried to change the terms to include repairs to the building? Not sure if Ive worded that right, I couldn't quite grasp what the idea was there.

They said they're going mobile but to be honest both owners are of retirement age and their 2 sons are still in their 30s (who also work in the business) and could more than likely find jobs elsewhere.

End of an era, they knew me well and let me supply my own parts. The garage was also within walking distance of my house. 

I'll need to find a new garage now.

[wuvvum]

14 hours ago, Popsicle said:

Whilst the bumper was off, I fitted last year's birthday present off daughter number 2, Hella twin tone horns.

 

Those Hella Sharptones are excellent.  I fitted a pair to the Getz, massive improvement on the feeble factory horn.

[DeanH]

After over 6 months of procrastination, a looming MOT forced me to get round to replacing the V70's springs. They probably needed doing...

[Popsicle]

43 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Those Hella Sharptones are excellent.  I fitted a pair to the Getz, massive improvement on the feeble factory horn.

TBH I think it was seeing you fitting them to your Getz that made me mention it to my daughter when she said 'what do you want for your birthday dad'.

I realised I needed something louder, I saw a mate of mine ahead of me on the M1, I pulled alongside him and blasted the horn, deaf cunt couldn't hear me, so definitely time for a much needed upgrade.

They've only been sat on a shelf in the study since last year.....

[mk2_craig]

On 27/07/2025 at 23:03, SiC said:

I still do fancy an Austin 7 but I'm waiting for Chummys to continue dropping in price. 

Saw this today and thought of you! 

 

[SiC]

7 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

If the numbers are to be believed, 1 in 30 survived. Pretty remarkably good survival rate for a mass produced bargain basement vehicle.

[cort1977]

Not sure if this will be of any use to anyone ever but i found today that you can get a US Certificate of Conformity on the EPA website here: How to Obtain a Copy of a Certificate of Conformity for a Light-duty Vehicle (car, truck, or motorcycle) | US EPA

This is for any car sold in the US after 2003, earlier years you need some data from the emissions sticker on the car. Might be handy for the Yank botherers amongst us.

 

[wesacosa]

On 21/08/2025 at 20:13, wesacosa said:

 

Better.....

The centre console was so disgusting I had to remove it and hose it down before cleaning it 

 

[Bren]

There was a car show in Prestatyn 

[richardmorris]

I’m considering going to Beaulieu autojumble but not very motivated. Anyone not going but needing a rare part I could look for?

[Lacquer Peel]

[JJ0063]

Went to the “All about dogs show” today at the Norfolk Showground. We go every year, nice day out for the dogs and to meet fellow dog lovers. 
 

Had a cleaning session this evening once it cooled down as although the 5 series wasn’t filthy, it was a fetching shade of yellowish brown from dust and pollen.

Also gave Mrs JJ’s van a wash.

 

 

[Popsicle]

After fitting the new front end on the couriering Caddy yesterday, it seemed wise to take it for a shake down run today, make sure nothing falls off. Thankfully everything stayed attached, but some dumb sumbitch managed to damage the fragile, plastic windscreen washer jet pipe - yes, that's me. Fortunately, I had some spare rubber hose and push fit connectors.

 

[ruffgeezer]

9 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Those Hella Sharptones are excellent.  I fitted a pair to the Getz, massive improvement on the feeble factory horn.

I did the same with our Getz, it went from the weedy 'Excuse me, please' horn to a twin pair from a Chrysler Voyager and now it goes 'FUCKOFFOUTOFIT' 

[reb]

I am on what should be the last bus that gets me home. I am quite drunk.

It is running late. I am going to miss the second bus I need.

I think they should actually just give me a debit card with infinite funds so I can just get taxis everywhere.