The new news 24 thread

[AlabamaShrimp]

I have changed the front calipers, lambda sensor and ecu relay on my bug, so now hopefully it will behave and pass its test next week

 

Have a glorious pic in HIGH DEFINITION CAVCRAFTCAMERAVISION

 

bugmotready.jpg

Why has a nazimobile got a lambda sensor and an ecu?

[vulgalour]

I believe it's a Mexican bug, therefore it needs all that modern stuff on it.

[catsinthewelder]

That looks like it well done chaps mind now at rest. Its a car I have never seen before.

Would a Bijou travelling at 80mph be a possible world record?

[DSdriver]

/\ Be a bloody miracle.

[rml2345]

Wasn't the Bijou heavier and therefore even slower than the 425cc 2CV it was based on?

It's what one would call a worse improvement.

[Richard]

I once had to hit three figures on the A9 to get past a Chevette that was being towed on a spectacle lift, which must have been faster than it had ever gone under its own power.

[M'coli]

We're talking about this. It may drive well but putting a 160 badge on the back of a car that hasn't got that is like sticking a courgette down your pants.

It looks good until you have to do something about it then everyone's disappointed.

Nissan has previous on this, though:

I don't believe any of its ilk came from the factory with the same number of cuddies under the bonnet as the number on its rump.

[Stroller133]

Rover were having us all on with 827!

[Cavcraft]

I got my Vectra back from the MOT this evening. I can now drive about looking just as miserable as ever, only more economically.

[vulgalour]

Rover were having us all on with 827!

 

Peugeot are surely the worst offender though.

[phil_lihp]

No, they were being completely honest.  It's the number of combined fault codes, warning lights and other random problems/broken things that particular car is currently experiencing.

[DVee8]

Nissan Micra 160SR

 

27 Jul 2005

     Put your cynicism on hold for a second - this is a genuinely fun little car

Evo Rating: 

 

Price: 

£9995

For 

Spirited engine, engaging chassis

Against 

Rivals have a more youthful image

 

 

First, the bad news: Nissan hasn't quietly unleashed a 160bhp version of the minuscule Micra. The '160' refers to the SR's new 1.6-litre engine, rather than a potentially giant-slaying power output. Get over that mild disappointment, though, and the 160SR is all good. While you could never accuse this sportiest of Micras of being butch, the Sport bodykit does give the 160SR a squarer jaw and more muscular profile, while the 16in alloys set the SR apart from its school-run siblings.

At just over a ton, the Micra makes good use of its 110bhp, delivering a power-to-weight ratio better than rivals such as the Citro

Specifications Engine In-line 4-cyl, 1598cc, 16v Max power 110bhp @ 6000rpm Max torque 112lb ft @ 4400rpm 0-60 9.8sec (claimed) Top speed 114mph (claimed) On sale Now

[DS20]

I've done a few hundred miles in a 2004 Micra with the 90PS 1.2 litre engine and found it an engaging little car, not short of punch. Great fun in corners. I'd imagine a 110bhp version would have more than enough go, and a 160bhp version would be wild. The chief downside was the uncomfortable driver's seat.

 

Anyway. I took the Range Rover on a trip to Hull this afternoon, and it behaved perfectly

[Noel Tidybeard]

109bhp Ina shopping cart isn't to be sniffed at though. Mi d you with a bit of fettling I suppose the primera lump would fit.

that would just be silly wouldn't it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1uWYUymI4

[bub2006]

Looks fun does that

[coalnotdole]

A week on from calling the aa out for a fooked coupe i've now had to get them out to attend the rebel van,

Its 3 year old engine is making some pretty grim noises.... Impossible to diagnose any more at the roadside as all the tools i normally keep in bag got left in the straight 6 coupe, at this rate i'm going to be on an recovery blacklist!

Having the blue van out of action is a bit gutting its used regularly and without it i only really have the gte that i can trust foe day to day use.

My current 'roadworthy' vehicle list is like this:

Scimitar gte - mostly working apart from a noisy 3rd gear and a suspect alternator,
Rebel van - fooked engine,
Crossflow rebel fooked carb, its fetid and the fibreglass repairs never got finished,
Straight 6 coupe needs ignition and carb servicing as a bare minimum,

In case anyone is wondering i also still own 3 other cars that are nowhere near ready for the road...

I'd planned to spend the weekend on the straight 6 but i'll have to spend at least some of that time looking at the van....

[drum]

I know this problem. I kept buying projects, but keeping the five vehicles that are MoTed, taxed and insured in roadworthy condition means the other five projects have been untouched in about a year.

[vulgalour]

Chompy_snake's Saxo has decided to continue its implosion and now that the steering rack has decided it ought to collapse in on itself he's finally had enough and drawn a line under it.  There comes a point - in this case replacing all the suspension at least once, the entire engine, some of the body panels and the exhaust twice - where you have to say enough is enough so I don't blame him at all.

 

The replacement has caught me a bit off guard though.  He was looking at a wide range of interesting, silly and boring cars, all with a view to being bigger and more family friendly with a bit of poke.  The car he's put a deposit on ticks most of the boxes, which is the best you can ask for.  After looking at and discounting a lot of cars, even some that he really liked until he sat in them and drove them, he's ended up with something that I wouldn't have expected.

 

I'll let him do the big reveal if he wants to, but it's not really shite that he's bought.  It is about 6 years old, a (not veg friendly) diesel, has done 200,000 miles but also has 14 stamps in the service book and regular sensible jobs like belt changes done when they should.  From the one photograph I've seen it looks like it could be a bit of a gem with its only negative being that astonishingly high mileage for such a young car.  I hope it's the right car for him, I really do, he deserves a change of luck.

 

It will be collected from the land of Charades, P6s and Corsas in a few days time, providing all is as promised when he goes to give the seller some hard saved cash.

[DVee8]

As it is winter and pissing down,i may or may not be about to bid on a saab convertible

Missed out by £10

[320touring]

Missed out by £10

Phew-a near miss

[RobT]

I went to GW Bridges car breakers near Crawley today. Spent ages battling through traffic trying to get out of this poxy place they call London, only to find I'd left my wallet at home. What a tit. But I had a mooch around anyway, and the first thing that greets you in the main yard is a long row of borked Laguna IIs, made me smile!

 

I was on the hunt for replacement headlamp units for the 75 as the ones on there have gone all yellow and misty. I tried the fine wet and dry and cutting compound method but actually made the OS one a bit worse, but the two 75s they had in the yard were no better. I noticed the 45s don't seem to suffer from this problem so it's a shame they aren't a straight swap. I'll probably just live with it and the MoT man can show it as an advisory again next year.

 

I also did my usual thing of sitting in various old heaps trying them for size. Does anyone else do this, or is it just me? I've still got the horn for a Mk3 Astra, and after sitting in one today makes me want one even more!

[dollywobbler]

I must admit, I haven't been to an actual scrapyard for years and years. Even when I did, the combination of doors and windows open meant it was a brave person who climbed aboard! Do remember as a child sitting in a wedge Princess and thinking it was extremely cool. I still haven't even driven one.

[vulgalour]

Sitting in a rotten Capri with no wheels on in Deatons is what convinced me I must have one some day.  Sadly, I never could find one that was both affordable and had a desirable rust:metal ratio.

[richardmorris]

Well the a/c wasn't working for long! I'm not sure what's happened to it but have emailed the chap who fitted it all together on Wednesday. Basically I was turning the car round outside my house when it stalled, would restart but only idle at about 300rpm with low oil pressure before cutting out again. Then when out of the car noticed the climate control panel wasn't lit and the lights-on buzzer wasn't buzzing. Ah fuse! None seemed blown but the red 16A one that controls a few things like ignition switch over, water pump, cooling fans and compressor was bowing out (they're these ceramic bullet type things). Swapped it and car starts and runs ok and buzzer and control buttons now lit. But compressor doesn't seem to be cutting in. Borked compressor?

[fordperv]

Sitting in a rotten Capri with no wheels on in Deatons is what convinced me I must have one some day. Sadly, I never could find one that was both affordable and had a desirable rust:metal ratio.

I'm glad I bought mine when prices were just on the rise but it was a lucky find price wise as it was a part ex someone had taken in, the bonus is it wasn't rotten

[trigger]

I've had a busy day playing with the Merc around my old man's, the water pump has been getting noisy for a while so I bought one from ECP for £43 and wacked it on this morning, its much quieter now.

 

 

The exhaust has also been blowing after I stupidly tried to fix a heat sheld by drilling though it and pop riveting it to the pipe, my tamed welder is going to fix it for me on Friday, repair some broken exhaust brackets and whilst he at it he's also going to patch the hole in the sill, this meant that all the side trim had to come off to remove the sill cover.

 

 

The sill is much better than I expect but there was almost a bucket of mud inside the sill cover! This is the hole that needs sorting.

 

[richardmorris]

One of mine was like that - the other three were getting there. I did buy a set of repair plates from Mercedes for them, but in the end my welder didn't use them.

Not too bad for 25yrs old though is it - think how much worse a ford or Vauxhall is.

[saucedoctor]

Some cunt keyed my Volvo (and a load of other cars). Fatha_SD and I managed to get it out. G3, T-Cut and my father's very steady hand with a cut-down kids' paintbrush and Volvo touchup.

 

I really need to clear all the shit out of my own garage. I have to go to the Olds' house to get anything done.

[saucedoctor]

Did the anti rollbar bushes on the Rover as well. I'd put polyurethane ones in, but didn't like the feel.

 

Much better. Genuine MGR from Rimjobs.

 

 

Tomorrow - find out why no water is coming out of the headlamp washers on the Jaaaaag.

[The Moog]

Found some cheap limo tint in clearance bin for rear windows of 405 to stop the dog going mental.

 

Fitted it today and whilst it isn't a great job, it works. Definitely dark enough in there now.

 

Also got called out to Saab non start. No power what so ever. Disconnected neg battery terminal and reconnected it and jobs a good un. I need to clean terminals to finish it properly.