The new news 24 thread

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, brownnova said:

Went to Chester Cars and Coffee this morning, and whilst there were a smattering of supercars there were also a few super cars… 

Love the Prelude

[Lord Sterling]

12 hours ago, angle said:

Went to pick my partners bike up from her work after she got a puncture. 'You might have to park on the road, the receptionist's car is probably parked outside'. This is in daily use...

For many, washing a car regularly helps with (what they see as) maintaining the bodywork and appearance. But some people don't really have a concept of washing a car, or, it's simply not a priority.  To people like that, a car is tool of conveyance,  a way to get around. So long as it works, that'll do.

Some people just don't seem to bother with cleaning their cars inside or out.

[Rustybullethole]

26 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

For many, washing a car regularly helps with (what they see as) maintaining the bodywork and appearance. But some people don't really have a concept of washing a car, or, it's simply not a priority.  To people like that, a car is tool of conveyance,  a way to get around. So long as it works, that'll do.

Some people just don't seem to bother with cleaning their cars inside or out.

I've a mate with a pickup he bought brand new. It's never been cleaned inside or out. It looks as it should to me, a proper working truck. 

[The Vicar]

I bought something completely stupid that I have no need for whatsoever

But I love it!

[richardmorris]

9 hours ago, meshking said:

I’m intrigued. There might be a spare garage at my storage but it’s nearer to Cobham than chobham. That said, if you find somewhere that’s too big for one and wanted to share storage I’d  be up for that

Cobham would be nearer to where the car currently resides in new Malden!

[Mr Livered]

1 hour ago, The Vicar said:

I bought something completely stupid that I have no need for whatsoever

But I love it!

Nice buy... I had one of those once and rather liked it also. Does it have the manual gear lever with two pedals arrangement?

[The Vicar]

6 minutes ago, Mr Livered said:

Nice buy... I had one of those once and rather liked it also. Does it have the manual gear lever with two pedals arrangement?

Nope, 1.7 diesel with an old fashioned 5 speed manual 

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, The Vicar said:

Nope, 1.7 diesel with an old fashioned 5 speed manual 

Probably the only acceptable arrangement. I had a 1.6 petrol given to me at the car hire desk at Weeze in 2006. Horribly undergeared and fussy, and not economical,although it drove ok otherwise. I also collected my first speeding ticket in it.

[Mr Livered]

Yes; the main thing in my memory that stands out about mine was that gearbox, I can't remember what they called it but it was basically an auto box except with a gear lever like a manual so you had to change gears like a manual despite there being no clutch pedal.

Took it to a very hilly area in the south of France for a holiday, because it did have a decent boot and big tailgate for camping. Realised that with that setup, if your handbrake fails there's no way to secure it on a slope.

[Stinkwheel]

34 minutes ago, Mr Livered said:

Yes; the main thing in my memory that stands out about mine was that gearbox, I can't remember what they called it but it was basically an auto box except with a gear lever like a manual so you had to change gears like a manual despite there being no clutch pedal.

Took it to a very hilly area in the south of France for a holiday, because it did have a decent boot and big tailgate for camping. Realised that with that setup, if your handbrake fails there's no way to secure it on a slope.

So the same system as Citroen C-matic but 35 years later, and it wasnt any better than the Citroen version either by the sound of it, not what you expect of Mercedes really.

[wuvvum]

Another year's Rovering secured with zero expenditure beyond the MOT test fees.  I bloody love this car.

I'm going to give it an oil change as soon as we get a dry weekend, and it'll need the aircon topping up too come the summer.  The Captain Tolley's seems to have stemmed the water ingress round the GPS antenna for now.

[Stinkwheel]

I’d just like to say, Sevel Nord vans are great. 
I bought this thing in 2015 to move house, I paid 900 quid, thinking it would be a move it on afterwards job, but it’s just kept on being useful. 
Over the years with me it’s gone from 170k to 225k. It’s had a new clutch and solid flywheel conversion, new brakes all round(twice) untidy but solid welding to the sills, new cat back exhaust system, an alternator and battery,  timing belt and water pump (twice) Tyres various and just routine servicing. Over the last 4 days it’s done 1450 miles as I emptied my old workshop unit and bought all the tools/parts etc home. Who says cheap vehicles don’t give good service? Fingers crossed for many more years service. 
 

[SiC]

6 hours ago, The Vicar said:

no need for whatsoever

Ever going to get the most senior individuals visiting? Looks like it's designed for that job! 😄 

[C3C3]

Chugging along. Cant find any wings without paying an arm and a leg for them.

[dean36014]

4 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

I’d just like to say, Sevel Nord vans are great. 
I bought this thing in 2015 to move house, I paid 900 quid, thinking it would be a move it on afterwards job, but it’s just kept on being useful. 
Over the years with me it’s gone from 170k to 225k. It’s had a new clutch and solid flywheel conversion, new brakes all round(twice) untidy but solid welding to the sills, new cat back exhaust system, an alternator and battery,  timing belt and water pump (twice) Tyres various and just routine servicing. Over the last 4 days it’s done 1450 miles as I emptied my old workshop unit and bought all the tools/parts etc home. Who says cheap vehicles don’t give good service? Fingers crossed for many more years service. 
 

I paid 100 quid for mine. Did the sills and clutch on it last year. I find it's suits my knackered spine perfectly. Just turned over 215k now, and still returns high 40's mpg if driven sensibly.

[stuboy]

Scottish transport showing strong in munich

[Split_Pin]

75 in for its MOT this morning.

Well fuck:

 

I knew the levelling devices were missing bit they've been missing for years. Fuel tank straps I've had in my garage for years,  need to get them fitted. Handbrake, that can be adjusted.

Subframe I'm surprised at, looked OK when I changed the oil.

I'll need to weigh this one up. I'd need new bottom arms as well as they're a bugger to get off and it would probably fuck the bushes. I'd then need to get it transported to the Rover guy in Whitburn.

There's still loads of 75s left for sale, it might be more cost effective to just buy another one with a years MOT.

No shame to it given its age and mileage.

[Mally]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

75 in for its MOT this morning.

Well fuck:

 

I knew the levelling devices were missing bit they've been missing for years. Fuel tank straps I've had in my garage for years,  need to get them fitted. Handbrake, that can be adjusted.

Subframe I'm surprised at, looked OK when I changed the oil.

I'll need to weigh this one up. I'd need new bottom arms as well as they're a bugger to get off and it would probably fuck the bushes. I'd then need to get it transported to the Rover guy in Whitburn.

There's still loads of 75s left for sale, it might be more cost effective to just buy another one with a years MOT.

No shame to it given its age and mileage.

That's what I do when they get to that stage, Prices are rising slightly and some people try to sell them for 'Collectors car' money.

But you do see decent ones for around £1500 or less.

[Split_Pin]

I might just end up getting g something else.

[Bren]

My eldest wants to go and look at an LS400 lexus.

I have told him that they are a bit old and thirsty to be used as a daily nowadays. Certain electronics are impossible to get hold of.

They are a brilliant car. But not for everyday use. He's only 21 on Friday.

[Spottedlaurel]

13 minutes ago, Bren said:

My eldest wants to go and look at an LS400 lexus.

I have told him that they are a bit old and thirsty to be used as a daily nowadays. Certain electronics are impossible to get hold of.

They are a brilliant car. But not for everyday use. He's only 21 on Friday.

We currently have two broken, or at least not quite functioning as they should, Mk4 models within the extended family. Miss SL's BF was using one as a daily until quite recently, it was more fuel costs that persuaded him to move onto an MX-5. They did a French holiday in it back in 2023. It's now at the garage and I think it needs something doing to get it through the MoT, maybe emissions-related? Then it will be going up for sale. Mine is still awaiting attention to rectify a previous bodge.

I don't think it would be out of the question to use one as a daily, but some parts take a bit of finding and that's not going to get any easier or cheaper. Would be much more feasible if he can do stuff himself.

[captain_70s]

4 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

There's still loads of 75s left for sale, it might be more cost effective to just buy another one with a years MOT.

They're all the same age and full of the same problems though, and nice ones are going up in value.

Anything that sort of age and price bracket is going to be an end of life car.  So I suppose it depends on if you want to stick with the 75 long term or go the HMC route with a high turnover of cars that aren't likely to survive very long.

[Split_Pin]

Spoke to the tester the subframe is generally fine but he didnt like the welded repairs on the ARB mounts as they were sitting on top and not sunk in. Partly my fault as I had a go first and failed. 

Anyway, Duncan the Rover guy is collecting it and will have a look at the subframe and go from there. I'll be glad of the space no longer being taken up in my garage by the fuel tank cradle. I bought it 6 years ago but as they're hard to come by I kept it by until the old one completely dissolved.

It's going in in 23rd March, he is recovering it to his bit and will take it for an MOT at the end as well so I dont need to do anything else except pay. Hopefully be on thw road in a month or thereabouts.

[stuboy]

Hard to see but noticed id been suffering over 50s droop on the nearside back box.... rubber had split, so new rubber and rehung.. 

 

Also step dad says hes thinking of upgrading his cmax diesel.. hmm maybe im interested...  

[JJ0063]

So today I think sees the end of Step father JJ’s Citroen Picasso. He bought it brand new in March 2008 and today’s failure sheet looks like this. Considering they’ve got Mother JJ’s 2017 Fiesta and she now can’t drive, I can’t see them bothering to spend anything on this as it’s also got a noisy alternator too.

 

Mrs JJ’s Berlingo also failed this morning too (they were in for MOT one after the other) but a pin in the washer jets and a pair of track rod ends should see it right for now. 

[hairnet]

On 01/03/2026 at 19:49, brownnova said:

On 01/03/2026 at 20:12, richardmorris said:

I’ve been in hail and snow in the 2cv and x1/9 without a chance to put the roof up. The answer is always to drive faster.

It proper pissed on with rain on the way home but as I was doing 70 on the dual carriageway I barely felt a spot of it! 

youse would melt/cry/run to mummy on 2wheels

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

youse would melt/cry/run to mummy on 2wheels

I don't mind getting wet cycling, but I don't like car interiors getting wet - they rust fast enough as it is.

[Metal Guru]

14 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

I don't mind getting wet cycling, but I don't like car interiors getting wet - they rust fast enough as it is.

I hate heated seats if you get into a car with wet clothes on. It feels like you’ve pissed yourself.

[Sigmund Fraud]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

So today I think sees the end of Step father JJ’s Citroen Picasso. He bought it brand new in March 2008 and today’s failure sheet looks like this. Considering they’ve got Mother JJ’s 2017 Fiesta and she now can’t drive, I can’t see them bothering to spend anything on this as it’s also got a noisy alternator too.

I can see why they'd want to get rid, but this is not a bad failure at all - should be really straightforward to repair, and the low mileage and single owner from new would make it worthwhile to someone.

Perhaps ebay would be worth a try, before ringing the scrap man ? 

[JJ0063]

7 minutes ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

I can see why they'd want to get rid, but this is not a bad failure at all - should be really straightforward to repair, and the low mileage and single owner from new would make it worthwhile to someone.

Perhaps ebay would be worth a try, before ringing the scrap man ? 

I’m going to speak to him when I finish work but if he decides to not bother, it’ll be passed to me to dispose of so the AS massiv can have their opportunity to take it on for not a lot of money if so desired.