The new news 24 thread

[Mat.T]

Another MK4 golf here. Loaded up the family ford SMAX ready to head to Mid Wales from Suffolk to visit my wife's family. 20mins in to the journey the SMAX started to misbehave. So we returned home swapped over all the stuff and child seats (and children) dump the Smax on the drive and restart the journey in my work hack.

500miles later and 52mpgs average. Only problem we are a bit squished compared to the Smax, so won't have room to bring all the Christmas pressies home!

[Mat.T]

Similar photo from 10years ago appeared in my Facebook memories travelling in the same area, Saab was considerably more comfortable and did considerably less mpgs.

[camryv6]

On 29/12/2025 at 10:59, Brigsy said:

Put a good shift in stripping the megane 225 yesterday. 

All this hassle for a rear qtr cut😄

Cambelt change ?

[Cord Fourteener]

5 minutes ago, Mat.T said:

Similar photo from 10years ago appeared in my Facebook memories travelling in the same area, Saab was considerably more comfortable and did considerably less mpgs.

Phoarr nice SAAB

[ruffgeezer]

3 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

Cambelt change ?

Nah, 20p stuck in the handbrake.

 

[camryv6]

Just now, ruffgeezer said:

Nah, 20p stuck in the handbrake.

 

I did wonder if he had lost 50p in the car somewhere

[SiC]

On 28/12/2025 at 22:43, Vince70 said:

I was summoned to the retail park today which is a real pet hate of mine, so while her indoors went into Tesco’s,  I ended going to Pets Are Us and Halfords so I beat her back to the car.

While I was sitting in the car, a  guy came over with his young son and was asking me all about my Golf V5 and we had a lovely chat for about for about 10 minutes.

Although it’s a nice car I never really thought of it as anything special,  as it’s just my winter hack and looking around the car park, I imagine it was the cheapest car (well it was free lol) amongst all those horrible grey hybrid SUV things, but I guess I still think of it as new even though its now 27 years old.

 

I think it's because they're getting really rare now. I barely see any Golf 4 anymore, let alone a hot one like a V5. Even rarer to see one shiny - most have been beaten to death.

[Cord Fourteener]

9 minutes ago, SiC said:

I think it's because they're getting really rare now. I barely see any Golf 4 anymore, let alone a hot one like a V5. Even rarer to see one shiny - most have been beaten to death.

Let me just nip outside... 

[Wibble]

20 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

God damn. That's basically what I've been looking for over the last three weeks or so.  Glorious, and burple -my favourite. 

I think I need to start finding these cars myself and leaving notes on them.  Otherwise what happens is they end up with armchair traders at £6k without so much as a wash.

I went to see it today. He’s right about it needing some love but I believe there is a very good car underneath all the moss and detritus. It really is in desperate need of a deep clean and has lived outdoors since new, parked against a hedge.

The service ring binder is fully stamped up. Serviced every year, regardless of mileage. The first 10k mile service was carried out at 3552 miles and it carried on this way, with the 190k mile service being done at 72k. It’s on 82k miles now. 

We’re going to give it a deep clean and machine polish but it does need some trim, an osf headlamp and nsf indicator. The driver’s side mirror and front bumper also need repainting or replacing. He’s found the same car about to be broken in Stroud, in the same colour, so we’re planning to go there to see what we can get. His brother drove it over to Basingstoke from Twickenham and said it drove perfectly. I reckon it’s worth spending a few quid on it.

[cort1977]

1 hour ago, Wibble said:

I went to see it today. He’s right about it needing some love but I believe there is a very good car underneath all the moss and detritus. It really is in desperate need of a deep clean and has lived outdoors since new, parked against a hedge.

The service ring binder is fully stamped up. Serviced every year, regardless of mileage. The first 10k mile service was carried out at 3552 miles and it carried on this way, with the 190k mile service being done at 72k. It’s on 82k miles now. 

We’re going to give it a deep clean and machine polish but it does need some trim, an osf headlamp and nsf indicator. The driver’s side mirror and front bumper also need repainting or replacing. He’s found the same car about to be broken in Stroud, in the same colour, so we’re planning to go there to see what we can get. His brother drove it over to Basingstoke from Twickenham and said it drove perfectly. I reckon it’s worth spending a few quid on it.

I am incredibly jealous right now 😀

[Wibble]

4 minutes ago, cort1977 said:

I am incredibly jealous right now 😀

What I can’t understand is, why can’t I find the mojo to sort my own cars out? 

[Sunny Jim]

11 hours ago, Wibble said:

What I can’t understand is, why can’t I find the mojo to sort my own cars out? 

Sometimes it's easier to help someone else out as it's more "focussed" than the jumble of priorities on your own projects. Hopefully your mate will return the favour when you're ready to work on your own stuff again. For now just try and enjoy doing some car stuff, you'll no doubt have knowledge to share and might pick up something that's useful to you and your cars. All the best.

[comfortablynumb]

12 hours ago, Wibble said:

What I can’t understand is, why can’t I find the mojo to sort my own cars out? 

Try breaking stuff down into smaller jobs @Wibble.

I've been struggling myself recently, mojo has completely vanished. I need to basically rebuild the range rover of too many wheels because rust has really taken a hold, but I haven't really done anything.

Then I remembered what Billy Gibbons said, do one thing, Even if it's just polishing a door handle.

He's right, I've now actually got the wings and inner wings off, the dashboard and heater removed, engine and box out ( although MK1 son was instrumental in that) and been parts collecting, still a long way to go, but if you do one small thing, sometimes it leads you into something else, and so on 

New a post and screen pillar showed up today, and I'm going to have a go at making my own kickpanels.

Fitzees fabrication strikes again!

Good luck mate🙏

[Wibble]

44 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Try breaking stuff down into smaller jobs @Wibble.

I've been struggling myself recently, mojo has completely vanished. I need to basically rebuild the range rover of too many wheels because rust has really taken a hold, but I haven't really done anything.

Then I remembered what Billy Gibbons said, do one thing, Even if it's just polishing a door handle.

He's right, I've now actually got the wings and inner wings off, the dashboard and heater removed, engine and box out ( although MK1 son was instrumental in that) and been parts collecting, still a long way to go, but if you do one small thing, sometimes it leads you into something else, and so on 

New a post and screen pillar showed up today, and I'm going to have a go at making my own kickpanels.

Fitzees fabrication strikes again!

Good luck mate🙏

Thanks mate, that makes sense. I think I’ll force myself to clean the Skoda next week and it’s overdue a service and then it will be MOT time. Good luck to you too.

[goosey]

Escort cold start issue sorted-

removed and cleaned starter motor and fitted a shorter fuel pipe from pump to carb with a smaller filter, only have a pic of the top of the engine bay the fuel filter is next to the rocker cover 

[comfortablynumb]

Love a crossflow, one of the best engines ever built 👍

[Paul-l]

Not sure if I should be allowed the internet, or mobile banking.

todays delivery:

 

[comfortablynumb]

This place definitely seems to be the opposite to life in general.

Someone said there was a lack of interest in prewar vehicles now.

The number on this site seems to be steadily increasing.

Well bought @Paul-l👍

[Paul-l]

Have to say I wasn’t as brave as @Barry Cade and didn’t drive it 200+ miles home on New Year’s Eve!

it’s a whole new driving experience, and much more pleasant than the 50s Land Rover it replaced. I’m finding the pre-war stuff more interesting than 50s cars - neither of which I was around for when they were new - there was such rapid development and so many odd ( from today’s perspective ) ideas of the way to do stuff.

[richardmorris]

Spotted this morning when on the sandstone trail near bickerton.

[doug]

Half price sale at Halfords.

Selt oot locally and 5 next nearest branches.

[cort1977]

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

[IronStar]

11 minutes ago, cort1977 said:

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

Designed by people with 0 hours spent with a wrench in hand. 
We need more enthusiasts with engineering degrees designing the layouts, rather than people who just want things to fit in, and treat them as if they’re integrated electronics that don’t need to be repaired. 

[stuboy]

30 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Designed by people with 0 hours spent with a wrench in hand.

toom true............................. asshats

[Sunny Jim]

Went to check on the Grim Sleeper today.

I mean, if you get the opportunity to do doughnuts in hearse you have to take it right?

[Heidel_Kakao]

@Sunny Jim Does it have an LSD? If so I am jealous.

[Sunny Jim]

@Heidel_Kakao no LSD so one tyre fire but still...

[comfortablynumb]

Re shelled by Alibaba??

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368608/cheap-alibaba-classic-cars-could-be-answer-enthusiasts-budget

[Rustybullethole]

On 01/01/2026 at 19:01, cort1977 said:

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

Where is the engine you speak of? 

Sure looks a bit more of an arse to work in than the older model.

 

 

[chadders]

17 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Re shelled by Alibaba??

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368608/cheap-alibaba-classic-cars-could-be-answer-enthusiasts-budget

Isn't there a firm in somewhere like Sri Lanka that does complete cars to order relatively cheaply, well by replica standards that is?