The new news 24 thread

[320touring]

Had a day to kill in Auckland yesterday whilst Mrs_Jon's Clio was in the garage (cambelt change on a 172 - not something I'd want to attempt at home), so I made use of the Citroen C3 courtesy car they lent me. Was happy to see that it was a manual and was a 2003, so the same age as the Clio. I reckon for a 1.4 it went OK, though this particular one was feeling quite second hand inside, though more through frequent use and neglect than anything else. I was all up for doing a DW-esque report, albeit with pictures instead of video but it was pouring down most of the time and I CBA. Think I'd recommend a Clio over a C3 but it seemed to do the job well enough. Auto wipers seemed to work only if you switched to manual, then switched back. Kept them on auto, as either it doesn't have an intermittent setting in manual, or I'm a dunce and couldn't find it. Never had a green car or even driven one before and I quite like a colour and am not superstitious, though it did seem to attract near-miss incidents yesterday out on the road.

 

 

Here it is next to a Clio V6 I spotted. That was a series 1 registered in the same year (2002) as manufactured, so I'm guessing this may have been sold here. If so, it'd would've been hellishly expensive. Was a bit down at heel in places and there was quite a bit of stuff littering the interior, but then where else would it go?

 

 

That v6 clio is lovely:)

 

the burd's 172 is away in for a clutch tomorrow- yet more expense after doing the cambelt earlier in the year. Like you I let someone else take the strain. It also lunched s top engine mount at the same time (another £83 quid off renault) belt change and mount cost 1/2 price of the car.

 

means it can be thrashed though:)

[vulgalour]

Mike's report on the Xantia balljoint is in:  It's being French.

 

Might have to be hub-off time and we might throw it quite hard at Citromatic so they can get the sodding thing out as they 'used to do loads of em back in the day'.

[dollywobbler]

On Twitter tonight, I have mainly been arguing with yet another 4x4 owner who thinks I have to own a 4x4 because I live in the countryside. 

[320touring]

On Twitter tonight, I have mainly been arguing with yet another 4x4 owner who thinks I have to own a 4x4 because I live in the countryside.

Reliant robin body on a bastardised rangerover chassis ftw

[vulgalour]

Imagine how much chequer plate you'd need to fill the gaps between the chassis and the Reliant on that!

[320touring]

Imagine how much chequer plate you'd need to fill the gaps between the chassis and the Reliant on that!

About 1/2 the quota found on a standard OLLI defender 90;)

[Asimo]

On Twitter tonight, I have mainly been arguing with yet another 4x4 owner who thinks I have to own a 4x4 because I live in the countryside.

 

Last good snowfall, walking in the Black Mountains, the carpark was full of lifestyle SUVs and my Subaru.

A mile or so up the snow covered track was a farmer feeding sheep with bales of hay jammed in the back of a Corsa.

[dollywobbler]

Brilliant. Billy will be pleased. Corsa is superior!

[RobT]

I'm a fickle sod when it comes to cars, so am wondering whether to sell the ex-Bollox 220 as I'm hardly using it now I've got the 75. The latter is an auto and seeing as most of my driving is urban it's making me lazy again. It's taken me a few months to like it but I'm now in the groove with the big Rover, so the little 'un has become a bit surplus to requirements. I'm suffering from FLEET ANGST at the moment, someone tell me to get a grip...

 

Logic says get shot of the Corsa in the New Year and then store the 220 for a bit, by which time I'll no doubt have got bored of the 75 anyway!

[The Moog]

Mike's report on the Xantia balljoint is in: It's being French.

 

'.

Pfft... I did one easily* with my 12v impact wrench

 

 

*might have been already changed and said 12v impact wrench may have nothing to do with it and in fact broken doing the other one. Which is going to a proper garage

[HMC]

Get a grip Rob!!

 

No seriously I sympathise as I'm a fickle fucker too at times with cars, and I have to say that I've always liked that old 220......

 

Rover news my end, I've thrown away the old points type distributor as the vacuum advance was broken and the whole thing was worn, and for the price of a vacuum advance I got a whole powerspark electronic distributor. After much messing about with a mirror ( timing marks through an inspection cover buried under the scuttle) it starts and goes a lot better too.

 

This old p4 reminds me of a crumbling stately home; a grand old thing that's been bodged together as required to keep it going. It too has threadbare carpets and a funny damp smell.

[vulgalour]

Ruffgeezer did the other side earlier in the year, but if I remember rightly he removed the old hub and threw it away.  It's possible the balljoint Mike is trying to dislodge has been in place for all 17 years of the Xantia's life which means it may never, ever come free.  I wonder if swearing at it in French will help.  Anyone know any good/obscure French profanities?

[The Moog]

Threaten it with a reduction in common agricultural subsidies that should sort it 😊

[wuvvum]

Anyone know any good/obscure French profanities?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFmjVf0jVk

[steve_earwig]

Tu vais mon pote va te faire enculer. I've been saving this for years, I've no idea why. I once was on he receiving end of a load of abuse on Napster, I can't even remember if I deserved it or not.

[The Moog]

405 has been treated to a bottle of the hard stuff

[dollywobbler]

The 2CV has been suffering from slow starter syndrome. The positive battery terminal was slightly loose, so maybe that's to blame. </optimism>

 

The weather is so bloody horrific that I wasn't going to test it, as the crusty Dolly is hiding in my garage at the moment. 

[vulgalour]

Wuvvum:  I'd forgotten all about that scene in the Matrix.

 

Steve:  "hey, my friend, fuck you!" Google Translate and my shaky memories of GSCE French (swearing wasn't part of the official syllabus, but exchange students seemed to think it should be) tell me that's roughly what that is?  If so, it's useful.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

'You're going, my friend, to get yourself bummed' or similar, thats what it says so I would suggest use with care.

 

Better to just say 'va te faire enculé' which is quicker and means 'go fug yourself'

[steve_earwig]

I'm not really sure what it means, I have a fair idea but it's not like I can ask a French person

[twosmoke300]

405 has been treated to a bottle of the hard stuff

 

Looks like a bottle of hopes and dreams . I always expect to see " seals leaky flat roofs " on the list on those products . they claim to fix every thing inc male pattern baldness

[ruffgeezer]

Ruffgeezer did the other side earlier in the year, but if I remember rightly he removed the old hub and threw it away.  It's possible the balljoint Mike is trying to dislodge has been in place for all 17 years of the Xantia's life which means it may never, ever come free.  I wonder if swearing at it in French will help.  Anyone know any good/obscure French profanities?

 

 

You are correct sir, I rebuilt another hub off of the car, did the bearing and the balljoint (I think?) and just swapped the whole lot onto your car when you brought it over.

[dollywobbler]

The twitter twat is still going, despite the best efforts of Vulgalour and Dugong. 

[dugong]

The twitter twat is still going, despite the best efforts of Vulgalour and Dugong.

Apologies. That 50p seems to last longer in the common or garden dick-head these days.

 

Social media is pointless.

[ruffgeezer]

The twitter twat is still going, despite the best efforts of Vulgalour and Dugong. 

 

Wow he really is a chore isn't he, can you not, I don't know, block him?

[HillmanImp]

Anyone know any good/obscure French profanities?

 

'Chateauneuf du Pape!'

Pot Pourri! 

rein a dire, rein a faire

menage a trois

[Angrydicky]

The twitter twat is still going, despite the best efforts of Vulgalour and Dugong. 

Not that I'm on twatter, but have you got a link?

[Richard]

This is some of it https://twitter.com/fronteratech/status/545650524981587968

[John F]

John F, on 17 Dec 2014 - 7:14 PM, said:

Disco is losing coolant AGAIN... heaters were blowing cold, it's just needed two kettles full of water.

 

I've already replaced just about every failure point in the coolant system this year, i.e. P gasket, water pump, radiator. And I did the HG about 10,000 miles ago.

 

FUCKSTICKS.

 

OK... I investigated my incontinent Disco properly today.

 

The radiator I replaced with a brand new one about 3 weeks ago is leaking again from the same area i.e. the crimped seam.

 

Fitting a pressure gauge to the thermostat housing revealed that OMGHGF levels of pressure are NOT present in the coolant system (barely above 20 psi direct pressure, which would equate to much less in terms of air pressure in the expansion tank), this is backed up by a general lack of mayonnaise doen the dipstick hole or under the oil cap, or any other indication that it's shat its HG.

 

Provisional diagnosis: manufacturing fault with the (aluminium & plastic) radiator.

 

Champion Radiators have yet again impressed me with an offer of collecting the old rad & giving me a full refund. I've ordered a brazed copper radiator to replace it.

 

Let's see if that stops it pissing itself.

[HillmanImp]

I have some winter tyres arriving for the Visa shortly. Does anyone know where in the Leeds/Bratfurt area that I can get these fitted and balanced? Nowhere seems to be able to balance the wheels with the square centres?