The new news 24 thread

[davehedgehog31]

After four months of paying for this lockup I finally put a car in it. I think I'll get the 207 back out in the spring when working on cars is a bit more tolerable, it's taking a while to heat up so not sure if stunning thermal efficiency, or sticky thermostat. It could also do with the tracking doing so I'll do that and stick the set of good summer tyres I have on the (possibly refurbished) wheels.

I feel a bit overburdened with cars at the moment but in the annoying position of really liking them all and not having a clear option to sell. This second lockup buys a bit more space.

[Wibble]

Garage just called to say it will be £720 to repair the Yeti, plus another £140 if it needs programming. I feel sick 🙁

[robt100]

3 hours ago, Wibble said:

Garage just called to say it will be £720 to repair the Yeti, plus another £140 if it needs programming. I feel sick 🙁

What was it they were fixing that may need programming? Surely there is a local 'shiter who has VCDS that could do the programming, or is it something even deeper down?

[Wibble]

7 minutes ago, robt100 said:

What was it they were fixing that may need programming? Surely there is a local 'shiter who has VCDS that could do the programming, or is it something even deeper down?

I’ve only met two local shiters and neither are VAG guys.

It’s a broken clock spring and I’ve seen a comment on a Skoda forum where they had to have it coded in on their Yeti of same year and model.

What’s extra annoying is, apparently VW did a recall in the US for models with these clockspring modules.

[comfortablynumb]

Jason Plato's BTCC team will be running Mercedes for this season.

Anything that brings another manufacturer into the series can only be a good thing👍

[artdjones]

4 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I’ve only met two local shiters and neither are VAG guys.

It’s a broken clock spring and I’ve seen a comment on a Skoda forum where they had to have it coded in on their Yeti of same year and model.

What’s extra annoying is, apparently VW did a recall in the US for models with these clockspring modules.

They can be very expensive parts if bought genuine.

Probably too late, but they can be rebuilt with a new strip, and as it's your original electronics, no coding is needed.

Sorry, £140 for coding is a complete rip off for the amount of time it takes.

[Wibble]

2 minutes ago, artdjones said:

They can be very expensive parts if bought genuine.

Probably too late, but they can be rebuilt with a new strip, and as it's your original electronics, no coding is needed.

Sorry, £140 for coding is a complete rip off for the amount of time it takes.

Yes, it’s being replaced with a main dealer part. I’d seen examples of repairs to the strip but I’m not up for that. Yep, coding sounded dear to me but I’m stuck with it now. Needed the car fixed asap too.

[Jazoli]

42 minutes ago, artdjones said:

 

Sorry, £140 for coding is a complete rip off for the amount of time it takes.

Well yes and no, they have a multimillion pound building to build and run, staff to pay, probably £50k in diagnostic equipment to buy and continously license, have to train staff to use it, pensions etc etc, it is not always black and white as you suggest.

I've never had to pay for coding as I'm reasonably proficient with the knockoff kit that I have, actually I have now I think about it, I paid a Saab specialist to code aux-in with their tech2 kit, it took them ten minutes and cost £75 as that was their minimum charge, I was happy with that.

[bunglebus]

Power's been out since 2am, briefly reappears then off it goes. I can see the guys working in the next road trying to fix it

[comfortablynumb]

Yet another artic in the ditch on my road, local village with a weight restriction.

Weather isn't even that bad round here, just a bit wet🙄

[Metal Guru]

25 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Yet another artic in the ditch on my road, local village with a weight restriction.

Weather isn't even that bad round here, just a bit wet🙄

Never driven a lorry, but I understand the tyres don’t have the water dispersing bits (sipes?) that car tyres have and rely on the weight of the lorry to displace water and stop aquaplaning instead. 
Does that not make them virtually like slicks on snow and ice?

[comfortablynumb]

31 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Never driven a lorry, but I understand the tyres don’t have the water dispersing bits (sipes?) that car tyres have and rely on the weight of the lorry to displace water and stop aquaplaning instead. 
Does that not make them virtually like slicks on snow and ice?

Would do, if there was any snow or ice here!

Main problem is the road is way too narrow for heavy traffic, so when two large vehicles meet, one of them puts a wheel onto the verge, which is mud/grass, and we're fenland, so everything is ditches alongside the roads, verge collapses and in you go....

Hence the weight restriction.....😕

[Hawkeyethenoo]

LUNATIC! 

Wham Bam Tesla Cam 

[stuboy]

Screenshots dont do it justice,  sleet snow rain and wind M20 traveling to our Dartford base.

[bunglebus]

(it's been found now)

[comfortablynumb]

At least they won't have to worry about the onboard electronics dobbing them in locationwise 😁

Sisters friends MK1 cortina was nicked for a bank job in north London about 20 years ago

Fortunately they got that back as well

[Split_Pin]

9 hours ago, bunglebus said:

(it's been found now)

"Witnesses say after the break-in they watched the Minor drive away for 3 days"

[richardmorris]

One of the remoter neighbour's gardens here. 

[Pat Earrings]

Serviced the new steed today, it won’t be pressed into full use until the timing belt is done this week. I’ve got that booked into a Vauxhall specialist I’ve used before who are brilliant.

It’s a 2016 VX line Nav model. Updated B20DTH engine so it’s euro 6. Drives absolutely spot on, quite low miles at only 106k. I’ve always liked these and the improved engine is actually smooth. The filter is on the top unlike its predecessor. Larger screen with built in Apple car play and the body kit and 19” wheels really suit the styling and colour. 
 

previous owner put 4 brand new all season tyres on and a new quality battery. Came with some decent history too. The servicing  on this was incredibly easy.

[lesapandre]

Fleamarket find.. box of these tea and cigarette cards. Was worth getting out in the cold.

[lesapandre]

5 hours ago, richardmorris said:

One of the remoter neighbour's gardens here. 

When can I move in?  Looks a great location.

[IronStar]

1 hour ago, Pat Earrings said:

Serviced the new steed today, it won’t be pressed into full use until the timing belt is done this week. I’ve got that booked into a Vauxhall specialist I’ve used before who are brilliant.

It’s a 2016 VX line Nav model. Updated B20DTH engine so it’s euro 6. Drives absolutely spot on, quite low miles at only 106k. I’ve always liked these and the improved engine is actually smooth. The filter is on the top unlike its predecessor. Larger screen with built in Apple car play and the body kit and 19” wheels really suit the styling and colour. 
 

previous owner put 4 brand new all season tyres on and a new quality battery. Came with some decent history too. The servicing  on this was incredibly easy.

How’s your experience with Ceratec?

[Pat Earrings]

2 minutes ago, IronStar said:

How’s your experience with Ceratec?

I have been using it religiously for at least a couple years now all the cars I’ve had. It’s brilliant stuff. Really is worth the money. Engines sound smoother and just gives added piece of mind

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

When can I move in?  Looks a great location.

Any idea what model/year the caravan is? I’m guessing 1940s? 
I’ve seen it for years but first decent photo I’ve had with the winter hedges. 
 

ps. One of the neighbouring places is coming up for rent soon.

 

pps. This is the view in the other direction..

[lesapandre]

Article highlighting to watch out for the scam 'charging sites' for tolls or all the other zones and things we pay for on the road these days.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jan/11/dartford-crossing-drivers-scam-websites-fines-dart-charge-penalty-charge-notice

[lesapandre]

15 hours ago, richardmorris said:

Any idea what model/year the caravan is? I’m guessing 1940s? 
I’ve seen it for years but first decent photo I’ve had with the winter hedges. 
 

ps. One of the neighbouring places is coming up for rent soon.

 

pps. This is the view in the other direction..

I'd guess a little later - possibly 1960's. 

[Metal Guru]

29 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

I'd guess a little later - possibly 1960's. 

More importantly, how many bodies are inside?

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Article highlighting to watch out for the scam 'charging sites' for tolls or all the other zones and things we pay for on the road these days.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jan/11/dartford-crossing-drivers-scam-websites-fines-dart-charge-penalty-charge-notice

Round here we've been warned about fake QR codes on RingGo car park signs - apparently RingGo don't use QR codes.

[Dyslexic Viking]

How not having Mots is like.

 

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

M6 opens half a day early after successful railway bridge installation