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Posted

Or just some decent tyres, I was amazed at how far I got in the snow (up this incline, it goes on and on, in 1ft of snow when other cars were being towed up with the gamekeeper's Defender) in my 405 shod with nearly new Michelin Energys.

 

Also, driving skillz.

Posted

Worry not, driving skillz abound.

 

You're right of course about the snow tyres but I'm saving pennies to get the disco back in the road and thought those sock jobbies would be transferables amongst the chod fleet.

 

I'll not be doing lots of snow miles in the krautmobile

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Posted

This weekend I did Lands End to John o' Groats with a few friends in 50's Land Rovers. 

Non-stop, left Brighton 8:30pm friday, made Lands End by 3:30am, John o' Groats by 2am-ish the next day, and back by 10pm sunday night (including a two hour stop for PINT$ with Scruff).

It was really, really cold, however we didn't get the Autoshite Heater of the Year* working until we were about 100 miles from home. I genuinely almost died from the cold previously. 

 

10857920_10205403245104734_5303039206098

 

FUCK YOUR SMITHS HEATER

For anyone unsure of what you're seeing, yes that's a gas fire on my lap in a soft top land rover. 

Posted

Snow tyres?

Try letting your driven axle tyre pressures down to 10-15psi . Makes a massive difference

Posted

Today, I replaced the Saab's wipers and removed the 7 (yes, SEVEN) air-fresheners from the Volvo's rear view mirror. I'm awaiting parcelz from skandix.de and will be doing servicing to the Volvo once they arrive.

  • Like 1
Posted

Very ANNOYED with myself. The cause of the BX cambelt failure was water pump seizure. I did ask for it to be changed last time the cam belt was done (that wasn't in writing, so not going "there" with the garage). I let it go when I collected the car/checked the bill as I needed the car, so serves me right. Hopefully getting it back on Friday. Camshaft busted in 3 places so I did a right proper job of it :S

Posted

New winter tyres fitted to the civic.

 

Went for remoulds from Germany, built on continental carcasses.

 

Phwoar look at the tread on that

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  • Like 2
Posted

I got a bit more MX5 stripping last night, started with this:

 

post-177-0-21709400-1418319896_thumb.jpg

 

Lots of labelling, pulling, threading and knacking around saw the engine bay go to this:

 

post-177-0-43848800-1418319956_thumb.jpg

 

The interior is pretty much stripped completely now, just the steering column and pedals to go:

 

post-177-0-89098900-1418319992_thumb.jpg

 

and the loom is now free :D

 

post-177-0-88453700-1418320017_thumb.jpg

 

Just fuel and brake lines to let go now, and the bolts holding the body to the subframes and it should be good to lift off

Posted

New winter tyres fitted to the civic.

 

Went for remoulds from Germany, built on continental carcasses.

 

Phwoar look at the tread on that

What are they called?

Posted

That one's called Siegfried. Don't know about the other three.

  • Like 2
Posted

OMGSNOWKAOSish :)

 

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I decided to take a drive up into the hills to test my winter tyres - I picked up a barely used set of Maranghoni snows on gumtree back in August for fifty bargainous quids.

 

I was mighty impressed with how much of a difference they make, I happily booted it along at a decent pace, maintained good traction and control, braking was smooth and controlled although I did lock up a couple of times on purpose to find the limits.

 

Unfortunately, I did come across someone who wasn't so well prepared.

 

post-4462-0-91486600-1418322801_thumb.jpg

 

She had slid down the ditch and ran over a fence post and was well and truly stuck. I stopped to offer help but she lived not far down the road and her husband was on his way with a landy, a tow rope and a chainsaw. I suspect she wouldn't have appreciated me hanging round taking photos so I bid her good luck and carried on my way.

 

Now the weather has finally turned pish, I might find a buyer for the set of CRV alloys with snow tyres I have had clogging up the shed since I sold the car back in June :)

Posted

I had Marangoni winter tyres on the Volvo S80 I had a couple of winters ago, they were gr9.73.

Posted

I bought The Volvo on this day eleven years ago. By some strange coincidence, The Wentworth was first registered on the same day eleven years previously.

 

Did I have a double celebration for them? No - I ignored them and went to the London Transport Museum instead :)

Posted

I've been driving the 340 around with some mud and snow tyres, it's surprisingly very good in the snow, must be the gearbox over the rear axle.

Saw a car on its side tonight too.

 

Also servo on the 18 seems to disappear when cadence braking.

Posted

I drove through about ten miles of hail in the XM this morning. Found myself going a little quickly on one bend and it did seem to wiggle a bit. Wonder how it would have behaved on summer tyres? It was bloody horrible conditions, as you really had no idea how much grip you had. You don't need very much grip to drive in a straight line. Every bend became an adventure! I've never known weather like this. It has literally hailed every single day this week, often so heavily that the road has been coated in ice. 

Posted

Collected the almost former Swampy21 Carisma* this evening after its MOT repairs, meaning that the Vauxhall Tangerine can go back to the hire company tomorrow. Not heard anything re. The bent Volvo but I think the insurance assessors/engineers might be a bit busy this week so will give them a call tomorrow to find out what the score is.

Posted

Just canceled the Leones registration, which means it´s got no plates anymore.

 

I have only driven it 1300km. And the restoration cost me 5 times that.  :-( But I am just not wanting it anymore. I am not feeling the passion for it anymore. So it has to go. My old cars a playthings for me, and a toy should bring you joy and happiness. If that´s not the case anymore, something needs to change. 

 

I cant even tell why I dont feel the love for it anymore. I think it disappeared the last years. I bought it in 2011 and had it restored since then. When it was finished in April 2014, I collected it and drove it the first time. What can I say, I think I wanted more from it. I had one many years ago (2005) and it was fun, but my expectations now where a lot higher than what the car delivered. I will have the problem with the Choke repaired and sell it afterwards. I wonder how much money I will get for it. A bit sad, but I will be relieved when it´s gone.  :?

Posted

Just canceled the Leones registration, which means it´s got no plates anymore.

 

I have only driven it 1300km. And the restoration cost me 5 times that.  :-( But I am just not wanting it anymore. I am not feeling the passion for it anymore. So it has to go. My old cars a playthings for me, and a toy should bring you joy and happiness. If that´s not the case anymore, something needs to change. 

 

I cant even tell why I dont feel the love for it anymore. I think it disappeared the last years. I bought it in 2011 and had it restored since then. When it was finished in April 2014, I collected it and drove it the first time. What can I say, I think I wanted more from it. I had one many years ago (2005) and it was fun, but my expectations now where a lot higher than what the car delivered. I will have the problem with the Choke repaired and sell it afterwards. I wonder how much money I will get for it. A bit sad, but I will be relieved when it´s gone.  :?

I know that feeling all too well, Lukas. Are you going to replace it with something, or pocket the money it makes for a rainy day?

Posted

Can you guess the problem here?

 

Now stuck with car on jacks and no way to get a new one before close of play. Arse biscuits

post-3994-141839048939_thumb.jpg

Posted

Shite Balance in action on the Xantia today.

 

FIXED

> got the gear linkage fitted

> no water is getting into the cabin any more.

 

BROKEN

>a more different part of the gear linkage has parted company with itself

>the bonnet stay clip has broken

Posted

That's the Vauxhall Mockit away back to Enterprise. The Grangemouth branch is excellent to deal with and I'd recommend them. Not the company, just them.
So what of the Vauxhall? It had its ups and downs.
Positive;
-High driving position.
-The actual driving position itself is quite good and the seat has loads of adjustment.
-Heated steering wheel (sounds daft but really works).
-Interior feel and quality. Pervy, but it's a nice thing to touch.
-GR11 heater.
-The colour.
-Manual selection mode came in handy after all.

Negative:
-Sounds like a van.
-Seats are incredibly hard.
-The ride quality is atrocious. I hit a pothole and the noise and jolt made me think I'd had a blowout or a bust wishbone or something.
-Looks ridiculous inside and out.
-Controls are ridiculously light.
-It's too expensive.

Overall, I thought it was pants and one to be avoided. Buy an Astra estate or a spacehopper or something instead.

  • Like 2
Posted

Turns out the gear linkage is at fault, the new one we just fitted, because it's bent and has a weak weld.  Back to GSF with that then.

Posted

replaced my heater radiator in my saph today as i suspected the old one top be leaking, i giggled at ecu village in the passenger footwell

 

DSC_0489_zpsvl9v5fur.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted

Oh yay, the gear linkage disintegrated on removal.  Nice to see parts from GSF haven't changed.

Posted

Spoke with the seller of the Plymouth this morning and he managed to charge up the battery and get the car to start. He said it's idling really well. So we're all set for collection tomorrow, I was going to hire a trailer but it turns out it's cheaper to call a tow truck as they only charge $45 for local towing.

 

Mrs DF still not talking to me about this.

 

 

Posted

I know that feeling all too well, Lukas. Are you going to replace it with something, or pocket the money it makes for a rainy day?

 

No, I would like to keep only 3 cars, not four. And as I am loving the Pajero L040 so much at the moment  :mrgreen:, I will be happy with my two Pajeros and the daily-driver. The Leone has become an albatross around my neck (english dictionary says that´s the equivalent for "Klotz am Bein"). Hard to say, but it seems true. My friend (subaru-mechanic + enthusiast) who restored it for me the last 3 years is quite upset now, but it´s just a car, he will have to live with that. 

Posted

My car trying to live up to Junkman's avatar; I grounded out a few times on a country lane the other day in the A6 when it was fully laden. Quick look in the mirror and what was the undertray is lying mangled in the road. Ive given up trying  to straighten it out and re attach it.

 

Will this cost me all of 0.1MPG at 75? Answers on a postcard.

Posted

Ok so the undertray got knocked off. Says to me you need a sumpguard and some longer springs.

  • Like 1
Posted

Definitely something amiss if you can ground it out enough to keep reattaching undertray and ultimately losing it. Shagged shocks?

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