The new news 24 thread

[bramz7]

@grogee

I've been scared of 159s after someone who I bought 156 bits off of said everything costs more and they don't drive like 'true Alfas', whatever that means. 

Overall the Delta seemed like a nice car, a lot of the issues are just normal with the mileage I suppose. Unfortunately the parts situation is quite iffy in the UK. Rear axle mounts will be Bravo and maybe even Stilo shared. I knew buying this car blind was a little silly so I'm the only one to blame. 

A friend of mine, who many of you know, thinks I should drive it to his local place for a second opinion. Suppose I've got nothing to lose by trying! 

In better news, the K11 is now better.

Best shallow end of the market purchase I've made this year. 

[Split_Pin]

This is how shiny the 75 is now!

[Joey spud]

The engine in Boris the Morris is a 1275cc jobby and had an Ivor Searle tag fixed where the original number used to reside. It was a bit loose so I took it off and put it somewhere safe then moved house.

I found it again the other day (3 years later) and thought I would email Ivor Searle who are a well respected engineering company going back decades to see if they could give me any information about my/their engine and I got a reply back the same day.

That'll do me squire. It's certainly the quietest running A series I've heard in years.

[goosey]

bah 

at least it’s only one glow plug

 

this is still one of the best things I’ve ever bought 

[IronStar]

2 hours ago, bramz7 said:

@grogee

I've been scared of 159s after someone who I bought 156 bits off of said everything costs more and they don't drive like 'true Alfas', whatever that means. 

Overall the Delta seemed like a nice car, a lot of the issues are just normal with the mileage I suppose. Unfortunately the parts situation is quite iffy in the UK. Rear axle mounts will be Bravo and maybe even Stilo shared. I knew buying this car blind was a little silly so I'm the only one to blame. 

A friend of mine, who many of you know, thinks I should drive it to his local place for a second opinion. Suppose I've got nothing to lose by trying! 

In better news, the K11 is now better.

Best shallow end of the market purchase I've made this year. 

Alfista bore, reporting for duty!

159 costs double in maintenance compared to  156. Now as a statement, that sounds very expensive, but in reality 156 has maintenance costs of Punto rather than anything upmarket. 

It doesn’t drive like a real Alfa though. It’s more akin to Audi, both in way it drives but also in a way it’s built. Proper Alfas make you drive like you stole them all the time, everywhere, and you’re one of”oh shit” how much away from a speeding ticket. 159 is much much much more sedate experience. It’s no slouch, but doesn’t want to be driven like you stole it 100% of the time.

[bunglebus]

Finally got time to do a bit of welding on my friend's 9000 Carlsson, had this crusty on the inner arch subframe attachment thingy

Forgot to take pics but I cut out the grot then got to take apart the donor cut that had been sourced, which was absolutely rust free inside and out. Spot welds drilled out and seam split, apparently this isn't up to MoT standard 

section trimmed to size, bish bash bosh 

Looked even better with a lick of paint but I was putting my tools away by then 

[Alusilber]

Puzzlingly, SWMBO’s car returned from the bodyshop yesterday with one light grey wheel bolt cap on each wheel. Turns out the caps for the security bolts are a different kind of plastic to the other ones (Nylon-6 versus polypropylene) and go all peculiar when attacked by whatever hardcore wheel cleaner the bodyshop used when they gave the car a complementary wash. 😕

[paulplom]

On 15/10/2025 at 07:23, paulplom said:

The boy's C1 failed it's mot quite severely yesterday. Anyone with any thing cheap to insure give me a shout plz.

He's gave me a quote of £900 to fix. I've give him the go ahead.

[comfortablynumb]

19 hours ago, bramz7 said:

The symptoms are a whine in third and above, from 2k revs and up when warm.

Try a landy gearbox.

If you can hear it, it's working 😄 

Also being land rover, it has the built-in oil regeneration/chassis protection mode, where it dumps the oil out and gets noisier until you think 'wonder if there's any oil in this box?'

If it's not leaking, it's empty, old landy fable 🤣

[Supernaut]

27 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Try a landy gearbox.

If you can hear it, it's working 😄 

Also being land rover, it has the built-in oil regeneration/chassis protection mode, where it dumps the oil out and gets noisier until you think 'wonder if there's any oil in this box?'

If it's not leaking, it's empty, old landy fable 🤣

The first thing I drove regularly after I got my license was a 1975 Series 3.

The gearbox drowned out everything else, and it had plenty of oil in it... most of the time.

[junkyarddog]

Can't remember the last time I  saw a Daewoo Lanos in the wild!!!

 

[MrGTI6]

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a friend who does property maintenance. He was asked by one of his customers, an elderly chap who has given up driving due to health problems, if he knew anyone who could assist with selling his car.

Unsurprisingly, 2 days later, I ended up buying said car; a Volvo V40 Cross Country. The owner bought it when it was a few months old and had owned it for just shy of 10 years.

He had it serviced every year at the local Volvo dealer but hadn't used the car since last December when his licence was revoked. The last service was almost 2 years ago, but it's only done 300 miles since then.

On arrival, as expected, the battery was completely flat. The car was driven nose-in onto his narrow driveway and there was no way of jump-starting it from my car. So I returned a couple of days later with a couple of small jump-starters and set about trying to open the bonnet, which was quite challenging considering a large bush had grown around the front end of the car. 

After a bit of a faff I managed to gain access. Hopped in the car, pressed the start button, and the engine spun into life immediately.

Upon asking how much he wanted for the car, his response was "whatever you think it's worth". I honestly think he would've given the car away for free. I'd looked up the WBAC valuation earlier that day. Not wishing to take advantage of the situation, I rounded the WBAC valuation down to the nearest thousand and offered that. He seemed taken aback with the offer. I feel like I got a good deal but also I can sleep at night because I didn't take the piss!

Paperwork completed, I then drove the car the few miles home. It's absolutely splendid to drive. It's one of the last of the 5-cylinder Volvos. It's got a proper slush-box too; no Powershift nonsense here. Big comfy leather chairs too. It might only be the baby Volvo but it still feels very much like a proper Volvo to drive. No sporting pretensions whatsoever, and all the better for it.

As soon as I got home I switched the car off and the whole dash blacked out immediately. Clearly the battery was knackered, which I'd anticipated given that it hadn't moved for months.

I ordered a new Yuasa battery which arrived the following day. It wasn't cheap but with winter just around the corner I didn't see the point in skimping. Buy cheap, buy twice, etc.

I've been using the car for the last week-and-a-half and I find myself in a bit of a predicament. It's a fantastic car, but the mileage is just 19k! If I keep it, I'll end up trebling the mileage in just a couple of years, which just feels wrong! 

[comfortablynumb]

Liked for the completely opposite 'transaction ' to the missing Dyane thread 

Looks like you snagged yourself a deal there, and since the old boy was happy too, result!

[MrGTI6]

10 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Liked for the completely opposite 'transaction ' to the missing Dyane thread 

Looks like you snagged yourself a deal there, and since the old boy was happy too, result!

He was sad to see the car go and had been holding onto it for a while in the hope that his eyesight would improve, but sadly that wasn't to be. I felt a bit guilty taking the car away to be honest, but he said walking past it every morning was a constant reminder that he couldn't use it. 

I think we were both happy with the end result, and he got enough for the car that it should cover a few years' worth of taxi fares! 

[Supernaut]

42 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

I'll end up trebling the mileage in just a couple of years, which just feels wrong! 

Cars are to be driven.

Actually using it regularly will do it a world of good!

Looks great though. I bet a 5-pot diesel with a slushbox is a lovely place to sit.

[Tayne]

1 hour ago, MrGTI6 said:

 

I've been using the car for the last week-and-a-half and I find myself in a bit of a predicament. It's a fantastic car, but the mileage is just 19k! If I keep it, I'll end up trebling the mileage in just a couple of years, which just feels wrong! 

 

if you like it, keep it and keep driving it.

It’s not a classic or special enough to be worth so much more because of the mileage.

As it’s a Volvo, I’m sure it will be quite capable of covering big mileages.

[High Jetter]

Right place, right time - which rarely happens to me. Well bought.

[wesacosa]

Paid a visit to the Red history museum in Dubrovnik. 

My Bosnian friend tells me that OS number on the Yugo is from a Northern region of Yugoslavia which was very heavily hit so doubly amazing it seems to have survived in tact 

I always assumed Tomos were Czechoslovakian 

[Marina door handles]

Gained a new fun pet that appears to live in  my Garage.......

Hmmmmmm.....

Eeak!

Its a European hornet, just what I always wanted.......

Thankfully its seems very dopey and its definitely not a spicey Asian Hornet as they travel in packs and are very bad news....

 

 

 

[comfortablynumb]

MK1 son has bought MK2 son a Scalextric Holden, because he's been driving him around to appointments following ear surgery.

It arrived today, it's an Oz only car, but we didn't realise it was still there on the auction. New South Wales to be precise. It's taken five days to get here.

Meanwhile an advent calendar I bought from Leicester last weekend wont be here until 11th November!

Confused?

[auntiemaryscanary]

4 hours ago, MrGTI6 said:

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a friend who does property maintenance. He was asked by one of his customers, an elderly chap who has given up driving due to health problems, if he knew anyone who could assist with selling his car.

Unsurprisingly, 2 days later, I ended up buying said car; a Volvo V40 Cross Country. The owner bought it when it was a few months old and had owned it for just shy of 10 years.

He got it serviced every year at the local Volvo dealer but hadn't used the car since last December when his licence was revoked. The last service was almost 2 years ago, but it's only done 300 miles since then.

On arrival, as expected, the battery was completely flat. The car was driven nose-in onto his narrow driveway and there was no way of jump-starting it from my car. So I returned a couple of days later with a couple of small jump-starters and set about trying to open the bonnet, which was quite challenging considering a large bush had grown around the front end of the car. 

After a bit of a faff I managed to gain access. Hopped in the car, pressed the start button, and the engine spun into life immediately.

Upon asking how much he wanted for the car, his response was "whatever you think it's worth". I honestly think he would've given the car away for free. I'd looked up the WBAC valuation earlier that day. Not wishing to take advantage of the situation, I rounded the WBAC valuation down to the nearest thousand and offered that. He seemed taken aback with the offer. I feel like I got a good deal but also I can sleep at night because I didn't take the piss!

Paperwork completed, I then drove the car the few miles home. It's absolutely splendid to drive. It's one of the last of the 5-cylinder Volvos. It's got a proper slush-box too; no Powershift nonsense here. Big comfy leather chairs too. It might only be the baby Volvo but it still feels very much like a proper Volvo to drive. No sporting pretensions whatsoever, and all the better for it.

As soon as I got home I switched the car off and the whole dash blacked out immediately. Clearly the battery was knackered, which I'd anticipated given that it hadn't moved for months.

I ordered a new Yuasa battery which arrived the following day. It wasn't cheap but with winter just around the corner I didn't see the point in skimping. Buy cheap, buy twice, etc.

I've been using the car for the last week-and-a-half and I find myself in a bit of a predicament. It's a fantastic car, but the mileage is just 19k! If I keep it, I'll end up trebling the mileage in just a couple of years, which just feels wrong! 

Looks great squire. Bonus that the old boy is happy too. Enjoy!

[richardmorris]

55 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Gained a new fun pet that appears to live in  my Garage.......

Hmmmmmm.....

Eeak!

Its a European hornet, just what I always wanted.......

Thankfully its seems very dopey and its definitely not a spicey Asian Hornet as they travel in packs and are very bad news....

 

 

 

You need the patented post card and whisky glass technique ( courtesy of sir Terry wogan). Swig the whisky in the glass, distract it with the postcard and thump it dead with the empty glass.

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

MK1 son has bought MK2 son a Scalextric Holden, because he's been driving him around to appointments following ear surgery.

It arrived today, it's an Oz only car, but we didn't realise it was still there on the auction. New South Wales to be precise. It's taken five days to get here.

Meanwhile an advent calendar I bought from Leicester last weekend wont be here until 11th November!

Confused?

It's probably that part of Leicester located in China.

[reb]

Great success!

Oh no!

 

Two things became apparent when I actually clicked through:

- there are in fact two people in Fife running hedgehogspitals from their homes

- the hedgehog who died was actually an innocent bystander who wasn't even a patient.

[Split_Pin]

8 hours ago, MrGTI6 said:

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a friend who does property maintenance. He was asked by one of his customers, an elderly chap who has given up driving due to health problems, if he knew anyone who could assist with selling his car.

Unsurprisingly, 2 days later, I ended up buying said car; a Volvo V40 Cross Country. The owner bought it when it was a few months old and had owned it for just shy of 10 years.

He had it serviced every year at the local Volvo dealer but hadn't used the car since last December when his licence was revoked. The last service was almost 2 years ago, but it's only done 300 miles since then.

On arrival, as expected, the battery was completely flat. The car was driven nose-in onto his narrow driveway and there was no way of jump-starting it from my car. So I returned a couple of days later with a couple of small jump-starters and set about trying to open the bonnet, which was quite challenging considering a large bush had grown around the front end of the car. 

After a bit of a faff I managed to gain access. Hopped in the car, pressed the start button, and the engine spun into life immediately.

Upon asking how much he wanted for the car, his response was "whatever you think it's worth". I honestly think he would've given the car away for free. I'd looked up the WBAC valuation earlier that day. Not wishing to take advantage of the situation, I rounded the WBAC valuation down to the nearest thousand and offered that. He seemed taken aback with the offer. I feel like I got a good deal but also I can sleep at night because I didn't take the piss!

Paperwork completed, I then drove the car the few miles home. It's absolutely splendid to drive. It's one of the last of the 5-cylinder Volvos. It's got a proper slush-box too; no Powershift nonsense here. Big comfy leather chairs too. It might only be the baby Volvo but it still feels very much like a proper Volvo to drive. No sporting pretensions whatsoever, and all the better for it.

As soon as I got home I switched the car off and the whole dash blacked out immediately. Clearly the battery was knackered, which I'd anticipated given that it hadn't moved for months.

I ordered a new Yuasa battery which arrived the following day. It wasn't cheap but with winter just around the corner I didn't see the point in skimping. Buy cheap, buy twice, etc.

I've been using the car for the last week-and-a-half and I find myself in a bit of a predicament. It's a fantastic car, but the mileage is just 19k! If I keep it, I'll end up trebling the mileage in just a couple of years, which just feels wrong! 

My dad had a similar one except it was a 67 plate 2.0D auto on 39k and had a lovely pan roof. Had it from brand new, lovely solid car. A 5 pot petrol must be superb.

He passed away last year and Arnold Clark offered me £10k which seemed on par with the market value of about 10 or 13 and way out my budget so I had to let it go 😞

[MrGTI6]

31 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

My dad had a similar one except it was a 67 plate 2.0D auto on 39k and had a lovely pan roof. Had it from brand new, lovely solid car. A 5 pot petrol must be superb.

He passed away last year and Arnold Clark offered me £10k which seemed on par with the market value of about 10 or 13 and way out my budget so I had to let it go 😞

I remember you mentioning your dad's V40 on here at the time. Mine doesn't have the pan roof unfortunately!

The engine in mine is actually a 5-pot diesel, confusingly badged as a D3. Basically a 2.4 D5 with a shorter stroke bringing capacity down to 2.0 litres, apparently to circumvent engine-based tax thresholds around Europe. It was also offered in the S60/V60.

The 2.0 5-cylinder diesel was then offered as a D3 and D4 with differing power outputs, mine being the de-tuned 150bhp D3.

About a year later an all-new 4-cylinder diesel came along and replaced it, also a 2.0! Given that your dad's was a 67-plate, I would assume his had the newer engine. More powerful/frugal, but no longer a 5-cylinder.

[Split_Pin]

Yeah just a 4 pot! He did have a lovely S60 for 9 years which was a 5 pot diesel auto, a great combination in my opinion. It wasnt a D5 though so just 163bhp but it was ample!

[MrGTI6]

10 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Yeah just a 4 pot! He did have a lovely S60 for 9 years which was a 5 pot diesel auto, a great combination in my opinion. It wasnt a D5 though so just 163bhp but it was ample!

Your dad had excellent taste! This isn't my first Volvo, but I think I've reached a point in my life where I can appreciate them a lot more now. 

The 5-pot diesel and slush box is a lovely combo. It somehow makes the V40 feel like a much bigger car if that makes sense. You forget you're only driving something with the footprint of a Golf!

[Morris 63]

20 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

Gained a new fun pet that appears to live in  my Garage.......

Hmmmmmm.....

Eeak!

Its a European hornet, just what I always wanted.......

Thankfully its seems very dopey and its definitely not a spicey Asian Hornet as they travel in packs and are very bad news....

 

 

 

We've got them nesting in the woods at the bottom of the garden. They look scary but, unless you get too near the nest, they're way more docile than wasps. I had one land on the roof of the Subaru - as I walked closer it backed off across the roof.

Still not fun to have one fly in the bedroom window at night - sounds like the chopper scene in Apocalypse Now! 😁

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Breaking News. 

Tonight's viewing, why didn't someone tell me sooner!