The new news 24 thread

[CortinaDave]

You're not alone. Hit mid 30's and BANG, It's beige cardigans and Austin Maxi's all the way.   

 

Ha! I actually turned 35 last Thursday....

[Wilko220]

Im only 31 and have already owned an SD1 and now got the horn for a 75 Connoissuer. By the time im mid 30s I dread to think what I'll be horning after...

 

You'll be properly old by then, so probably a Metro automatic or something...

[Parky]

Funnily enough I am also getting a Rover Group urge lately - preferably an 800 Coupe or a 75.

 

Am 41 - Rover Group, serving your middle age crisis urges!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Feck, I turned 50 in February and bought a Rover 600 in June . The first Rover ,if you don't count Land Rovers, I've owned for more than 10 years.

On the other hand my first Rover was when I was 18, so maybe I've always been an old fart.

[Richard]

I haven't had a Leyland product since I was 26 and I've never owned any of the 80s or later stuff.

[HillmanImp]

You're not alone. Hit mid 30's and BANG, It's beige cardigans and Austin Maxi's all the way.   

 

I bought my first estate car just a few days after I was 35.

 

I was so pleased about how practical it was, the ramifications on my stred cred passed me by.

 

I was suddenly old and I didn't even see it happening.

[vulgalour]

Twitter update:  Princess now sports a Mk1 Fiesta alternator and has been taken for a test drive, which highlighted that the speedo doesn't actually read correctly, but it does sound like things are good enough.

[dollywobbler]

I'm mid-30s and I love my Rover...

 

Today, it had new Uniroyal RainSport 3 tyres fitted, which apparently have shark skin technology. They certainly seem grippy, but I haven't experienced any rain yet - remarkable given how showery it is at the moment. I had them fitted at Kwik Fit, who surprised me with actual customer service! Probably because they knew what I do for a living...

 

As well as plying me with hot chocolate, they sorted the tracking out front and rear. It was all over the place. It now feels less twitchy. Even better, they also refitted a bolt to the driver's door check strap after it randomly fell out and prevented the door from closing. Heritage in action.

 

Then I nipped up to a mate's house as he was having problems with his Golf Mk3. Easy to spot what was wrong. The cambelt tensioner had seized! Remarkably, it still ran, though the cambelt was rather shiny. That car has clocked up a few thousand miles like that...

[saucedoctor]

I went to look at another W221 today and really liked ait. And then, my father reminded me that the other 2 that I had were turds. So I'm not gonna bother. In my defence, I'm not very well at the moment, so I'm probably not thinking straight.

[hairnet]

I went to look at another W221 today and really liked ait. And then, my father reminded me that the other 2 that I had were turds. So I'm not gonna bother. In my defence, I'm not very well at the moment, so I'm probably not thinking straight.

 

will ya listen ti ye faither feck sake

[Ghosty]

I saw a W221 that had some kind of air suspension issue today - the rear end was at least 6 inches higher than it was supposed to be... Probably closer to a foot!

[vulgalour]

Twitter update: Phil has reached Donnington Services.  Terminal water loss.  Suspected head gasket failure.  Doom biscuits.

[saucedoctor]

I saw a W221 that had some kind of air suspension issue today - the rear end was at least 6 inches higher than it was supposed to be... Probably closer to a foot!

 

EXACTLY what happened to my 2. The dealers fucking hate doing warranty jobs on them because it's very difficult and Mercedes' Authorised "book time" for the job is way to short.

 

Also, for an 80 grand motor the fit, finish and materials are crap.

[Ghosty]

£80k?! I wouldn't have thought they were worth more than half that new, just by looking at them.

Does that not say it all about the quality?

[saucedoctor]

Yep. The new model is cheaper model for model, but the cheapest one is still about 65k. My 2 were long wheelbase Blue Efficiency models with Panamoric roofs. Both nudged 80 bags when new (I didn't pay anything like that for them, though).

 

However, they drive brilliantly and are way quicker than you'd expect a 2 ton car with a 3 litre diesel to be.

 

I've seen a lovely 2004 XJ Sport for 2 grand which I like. 3 litre. OR, one twentieth of the price of the S Class I looked at today! Mad when you think about it. The Jag would most likely be more reliable, too.

[mat_the_cat]

I bought my first estate car just a few days after I was 35.

 

25 in my case, but I had a BMW bike when I was 21, and a Hyundai as my first car so clearly I was just born old!

[EssDeeWon]

Twitter update: Phil has reached Donnington Services.  Terminal water loss.  Suspected head gasket failure.  Doom biscuits.

 

When exactly did he leave your gaff with this car? Seems like a proper Epic 'epic collection thread' this.

[Angrydicky]

Im only 31 and have already owned an SD1 and now got the horn for a 75 Connoissuer. By the time im mid 30s I dread to think what I'll be horning after...

Got a delightful Maestro here that would suit a chap such as yourself by the time you're in your mid-30's. I'm not even mid 20's and still love it, although I always was a bit strange.

[Lord Sterling]

The new model is cheaper model for model, but the cheapest one is still about 65k. My 2 were long wheelbase Blue Efficiency models with Panamoric roofs. Both nudged 80 bags when new (I didn't pay anything like that for them, though)

Ah yes, the Blue Efficiency models with panoramic roof. Didn't like mine so handed it back. I like gas-guzzling polluting motors that cost too much to run.

 

Im only 31 and have already owned an SD1 and now got the horn for a 75 Connoissuer. By the time im mid 30s I dread to think what I'll be horning after...

I've owned Rover 800s since I was 24 and have lusted after them since I was 7. What I really need to complete the "look" is a tin of Werthers Originals in the glovebox, some neatly labled Johnny Cash cassette tapes neatly stacked on the dash, and the "pineapple" of shit car owners; a tartan travel blanket either neatly folded on the rear parcel shelf or neatly covering the back seat. A walking stick might help too.

[Wilko220]

^ And after-market door reflectors!

[Lord Sterling]

Shit heap 827 Coupe has been insured, price was double what paid on the R-reg KV6 but I need it legal. A very boring collection thread may be added soon.

[cort16]

My work has moved office so rather than A-road blasts I'm now doing a motorway commute. I've done nearly 2500 miles since I got it and all seems to be going well other than having to replace that strut top mount and bearing a couple of weeks ago after it developed a really horrible clunk from the from the front suspension

It's proving pretty  good on the motorway as the motor is quite toquey you can just stick it in 6th gear and burl along at 70mph withother any effort.

It feels quickish but not rapid. You're so far away from everything mechanical it's hard to tell if it's having to make an effort or not but I'd say it's in that happy valley of being quick enough.

The lack of B-pillers, big mirrors and high driving position also makes it winner for overtaking and pulling out on slips roads. Down side are it's a bit crashy over potholes and it does rattle and squeak a bit.

Fuel wise it's saying 33mpg, which I'm happy with. I'd like more but given pez is a little cheaper than diesel my fuel bill has only went up a few quid a week compared to when I was driving a diesel that was doing 45mpg.

 

 

Things I've found out.

Having the sunroof open and windows down is unbearably noisey over 35mph and creates enough turbulance to lift a bag of turnips out the passenger seat.

Having so much glass on car is not good when it's really sunny and your aircon doesn't work.

You get at least one person a week gawping at it and asking wtf it is.

It's cheap to insure, I got a full comp policy with protected no claims on it for £158!

Folk really love it or really hate it.

 

Niggles wise very occasionally when it's under load but not under hard acceleration it feels like you get a misfire. And this week when you start it the first time you put your foot on the throttle nothing happens and it takes a second for it to rev. After that it's fine. I've a feeling it's running a bit rich so it maybe needs an O2 sensor or the maf is a bit wobbly.

 

My new, new car is due to be here within a month so after that I guess I'll need to sell it. I'd like to keep it but it's too new for a classic policy and too expensive to insurance it without any NCB.  My Mrs has taken a fancy to it and it's certainly more practical than her C3 but that's 2 years into 3 year deal so I'm not sure how easily we could get out of it. I do have an empty garage so I'm not going to rush into selling it as I do really like it and is an serious antidote to the horrible souless german shite I've been driving the last few years.

 

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

 

Having the sunroof open and windows down is unbearably noisey over 35mph and creates enough turbulance to lift a bag of turnips out the passenger seat.

 

 

And that's why the Autoshite Car Reviews system is an absolute winner. Even old Top Gear didn't come up with winning lines like that, though I can imagine William Woollard making such an observation.

[trigger]

Mot day for my Cortina...



I'm always nervous even though I know the cars pretty sound, still it's always a relief to get one of these handed back for you £38.



Yay! The tax is up at the end of next month and it's going to be tax exempt from next April I'm seriously considering moth balling it for 6 months. I still can't decide but it will save me £130 and I don't use it much over winter anyway.

I also saw this at the garage, apparently the owner bought it and got it home to find it had no floor and ended up paying £500 on welding on it!

[dollywobbler]

Hmmmm. Cappuccino. Shame they rot so readily.

[saucedoctor]

The lady that works in my favourite beer shop has a Cappucino, and she says it needs welded pretty much every year.

[xtriple]

I have many dog walkiing friends, one of whom is Betty, an older lady (80s but fit as a flea) who walks her two mutts daily. Got to know her really well over the last six months and always look out for her car, but never really paid it any attention...

 

Today walked her back to it and it's a Fiesta Ghia, 'S' reg but it's a private plate but it's about that sort of age. She's had it since it was a baby car and it's still only done 40.000 miles!  Outside has a few bumps and bruises and a new acquisition is gaffa tape holding the front passenger side wing and bumper together -oops! Anyway, it's off for its yearly MOT/service etc and this year it's getting the bumps sorted - new wing on that side she thinks.

 

There is not a spot of rust on it anywhere!

 

It's a lovely old thing and I wouldn't mind having it but I can't see her ever selling it.

[cms206]

New school term, blagged a new school bus. The heating is so good that it'd melt the arse off you, it sits at about 65mph quite happily, and it's GR12 to drive... until it decides, at random, to isolate itself electrically and switch itself off. In the middle of roadworks. At 4.30pm. Grrrr.

[dugong]

Hmmmm. Cappuccino. Shame they rot so readily.

I was offered a Cappuccino for £300.

 

When I got the vendor's house I realised why - he was selling a teabag with a V5.

 

 

 

[cort16]

They must have been built out of Russian salt containers. The ones I've seen advertised seem to have gone from fine to totally hollowed out between mot times.