The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

My brother has just surprised me by purchasing a metallic green Vauxhall Tigra which he's asked if I'll help on the bodywork with as it has a couple of blebs that need attention. £300, MoT just expired and no tax doesn't sound too promising, but by the sounds of things, the guy he's bought it off has recently replaced it with a Charade (I'm pretty sure that's what brother said) and just doesn't use the Tigra and up until now it's been looked after quite well so isn't a shed.

 

Pictures when I see it, it's due to be paid for and collected tomorrow, but I do know it's a Mk1 on it's original soft spoke alloys. Seems an odd choice for a family car, but then I never could work out what my brother looks for in a car. This is the nearest picture I can find to the description he gave me of what he's bought, in part because I had to remind myself what the old Tigra actually looks like.

[vulgalour]

My brother has just surprised me by purchasing a metallic green Vauxhall Tigra which he's asked if I'll help on the bodywork with as it has a couple of blebs that need attention. £300, MoT just expired and no tax doesn't sound too promising, but by the sounds of things, the guy he's bought it off has recently replaced it with a Charade (I'm pretty sure that's what brother said) and just doesn't use the Tigra and up until now it's been looked after quite well so isn't a shed.

 

Pictures when I see it, it's due to be paid for and collected tomorrow, but I do know it's a Mk1 on it's original soft spoke alloys. Seems an odd choice for a family car, but then I never could work out what my brother looks for in a car. This is the nearest picture I can find to the description he gave me of what he's bought, in part because I had to remind myself what the old Tigra actually looks like.

[dollywobbler]

New caliper fitted to the BX Safari. Drives rather nicely now, though the PAS is lacking at times. I think the pump is probably a bit weak but it's nowhere near as bad as the Mk1 was. A change of LHM and a filter clean might be in order. Went through the MOT prep and it fell at the first hurdle. No windscreen washers. The blockage is somewhere between the pump (which is fine) and the pipe that goes right through the wiper spindle. It's a bleedin' nightmare set-up when things go wrong - which they often do. I think I'm just going to bodge it up with some new pipe and a pair of jets on the scuttle panel. You know, like most cars have.

 

EDIT - oh and the Mk1 BX's central locking has randomly decided to start working again.

[dollywobbler]

New caliper fitted to the BX Safari. Drives rather nicely now, though the PAS is lacking at times. I think the pump is probably a bit weak but it's nowhere near as bad as the Mk1 was. A change of LHM and a filter clean might be in order. Went through the MOT prep and it fell at the first hurdle. No windscreen washers. The blockage is somewhere between the pump (which is fine) and the pipe that goes right through the wiper spindle. It's a bleedin' nightmare set-up when things go wrong - which they often do. I think I'm just going to bodge it up with some new pipe and a pair of jets on the scuttle panel. You know, like most cars have.

 

EDIT - oh and the Mk1 BX's central locking has randomly decided to start working again.

[cort16]

That twatting bolt on the 7 series who's head I chopped off came out with a set of vice grips once I got it in the vice. Rather than a stuck thread it must have just been the tension caused by it being on impossibly tight. Impact guns shouldn't be used on every bolt!

[cort16]

That twatting bolt on the 7 series who's head I chopped off came out with a set of vice grips once I got it in the vice. Rather than a stuck thread it must have just been the tension caused by it being on impossibly tight. Impact guns shouldn't be used on every bolt!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I posted earlier about waiting for a 15/16ths socket off eBay so I could change the Mini's oil. It's not turned up yet but today I found a 24mm socket which did the job. Really need to organise my sockets better.

 

Would running 5w30 semi synth hurt a Mini? Because that's what the garage who serviced it last year put in (I only found this out last week looking at the receipt). Surely it can't be good for the gearbox. Anyway what's done is done and it's got quality 20w50 in it now.

 

They look like tiny pickup trucks at that angle.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I posted earlier about waiting for a 15/16ths socket off eBay so I could change the Mini's oil. It's not turned up yet but today I found a 24mm socket which did the job. Really need to organise my sockets better.

 

Would running 5w30 semi synth hurt a Mini? Because that's what the garage who serviced it last year put in (I only found this out last week looking at the receipt). Surely it can't be good for the gearbox. Anyway what's done is done and it's got quality 20w50 in it now.

 

They look like tiny pickup trucks at that angle.

[gallondrunk]

 

Excellent job, the Tigra is a great car. Corsa B underpinnings, so cheap enough for spares and pretty tough assuming you treat them to a cambelt/water pump every 36k.

[gallondrunk]

 

Excellent job, the Tigra is a great car. Corsa B underpinnings, so cheap enough for spares and pretty tough assuming you treat them to a cambelt/water pump every 36k.

[Ian Nexus]

Jeep Cherokee passed its yearly inspection, which took 5 minutes but involved checking lights front and back and looking to see that it had 4 wheels same size (apparently they fail now if you have a space saver fitted) oh and checked the horn.

They must be cracking down on inspections as last year the guy just came out passed the time of day and fitted the sticker to the windshield.

[Ian Nexus]

Jeep Cherokee passed its yearly inspection, which took 5 minutes but involved checking lights front and back and looking to see that it had 4 wheels same size (apparently they fail now if you have a space saver fitted) oh and checked the horn.

They must be cracking down on inspections as last year the guy just came out passed the time of day and fitted the sticker to the windshield.

[trigger]

They look like tiny pickup trucks at that angle.

 

 

1996 Vauxhall Tigra 1.6 Pick Up by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1996 Vauxhall Tigra 1.6 Pick Up by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[trigger]

They look like tiny pickup trucks at that angle.

 

 

1996 Vauxhall Tigra 1.6 Pick Up by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1996 Vauxhall Tigra 1.6 Pick Up by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[ashmicro]

^^ Graham Norton's plumber.

[ashmicro]

^^ Graham Norton's plumber.

[rml2345]

Good news! Went for a run in the car today and apart from a slightly rattle water pump it's smashing. Unfortunately the exhaust has rotted clean through at the back box.

Bumhats.

[rml2345]

Good news! Went for a run in the car today and apart from a slightly rattle water pump it's smashing. Unfortunately the exhaust has rotted clean through at the back box.

Bumhats.

[Pete-M]

Going to Carfest Northâ„¢. Happy days

[Pete-M]

Going to Carfest Northâ„¢. Happy days

[Shep Shepherd]

Still in reboot mode after returning from Florida yesterday morning*, but I did manage to remove a fortnight's-worth of dust, cobwebs and fallout from P&G's London plant from The Volvo this evening, in readiness for a possible going-over with Meguiar's Ultimate Compound tomorrow:

 

 

 

 

*Apart from the obligatory 1990s Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas and the odd giffer-owned mid-sized Buick and Oldsmobile, there isn't a lot of what I'd class as shite in the Orlando metro area any more. The only interesting older cars I saw were a late 1980s Mercury Grand Marquis, a similarly-aged Lincoln Town Car, an early 1980s Ford Fairmont and an immaculate black circa 1988 Volvo 740 GLE estate. Typically, I didn't have a camera to hand when I saw any of them

 

I did get to ride in this 1990s Geo Tracker (the US version of the Suzuki Vitara) a few times, though, which was an ex-Michigan car and in utterly pitiful order as a result:

 

 

However, I also got to ride in this Chrysler 300C, which was fabulous:

 

 

I quite fancy one myself, but they tend to be on sale here for about £7000 more than I like to pay for a car...

[Shep Shepherd]

Still in reboot mode after returning from Florida yesterday morning*, but I did manage to remove a fortnight's-worth of dust, cobwebs and fallout from P&G's London plant from The Volvo this evening, in readiness for a possible going-over with Meguiar's Ultimate Compound tomorrow:

 

 

 

 

*Apart from the obligatory 1990s Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas and the odd giffer-owned mid-sized Buick and Oldsmobile, there isn't a lot of what I'd class as shite in the Orlando metro area any more. The only interesting older cars I saw were a late 1980s Mercury Grand Marquis, a similarly-aged Lincoln Town Car, an early 1980s Ford Fairmont and an immaculate black circa 1988 Volvo 740 GLE estate. Typically, I didn't have a camera to hand when I saw any of them

 

I did get to ride in this 1990s Geo Tracker (the US version of the Suzuki Vitara) a few times, though, which was an ex-Michigan car and in utterly pitiful order as a result:

 

 

However, I also got to ride in this Chrysler 300C, which was fabulous:

 

 

I quite fancy one myself, but they tend to be on sale here for about £7000 more than I like to pay for a car...

[Cavcraft]

Going to Carfest Northâ„¢. Happy days

 

 

Is that the Chris Evans thing mate?

 

Right, all being well tomorrow I should be taking custody of some PROPER shite. Not a C*rsa/V*ctra/anything like that, or that modern either. Just genuine, bonafide weapons grade shite. Then I'm going to cycle to work. Something I'll probably have to get used to.

[Cavcraft]

Going to Carfest Northâ„¢. Happy days

 

 

Is that the Chris Evans thing mate?

 

Right, all being well tomorrow I should be taking custody of some PROPER shite. Not a C*rsa/V*ctra/anything like that, or that modern either. Just genuine, bonafide weapons grade shite. Then I'm going to cycle to work. Something I'll probably have to get used to.

[eddyramrod]

I've had visits from two strangers today. One came to look at my pickup, but hadn't realised it wasn't a 4x4. Four hours later, someone actually came to see the A40! First enquiry on that one! Not entirely sure he knew to expect a project, rather than a running car, but we will see, he may come back yet... No sales, true, but I'm regarding viewings as positive because there are so few of them.

 

Also, the sun's out... (not right now, obviously, but during the day...)

 

Billy, pics man!

[eddyramrod]

I've had visits from two strangers today. One came to look at my pickup, but hadn't realised it wasn't a 4x4. Four hours later, someone actually came to see the A40! First enquiry on that one! Not entirely sure he knew to expect a project, rather than a running car, but we will see, he may come back yet... No sales, true, but I'm regarding viewings as positive because there are so few of them.

 

Also, the sun's out... (not right now, obviously, but during the day...)

 

Billy, pics man!

[M'coli]

I posted earlier about waiting for a 15/16ths socket off eBay so I could change the Mini's oil. It's not turned up yet but today I found a 24mm socket which did the job. Really need to organise my sockets better.

 

Would running 5w30 semi synth hurt a Mini? Because that's what the garage who serviced it last year put in (I only found this out last week looking at the receipt). Surely it can't be good for the gearbox. Anyway what's done is done and it's got quality 20w50 in it now.

Classic A-series Mini, with 5w30 in it? 20W50 or 15w50 is just right.

[M'coli]

I posted earlier about waiting for a 15/16ths socket off eBay so I could change the Mini's oil. It's not turned up yet but today I found a 24mm socket which did the job. Really need to organise my sockets better.

 

Would running 5w30 semi synth hurt a Mini? Because that's what the garage who serviced it last year put in (I only found this out last week looking at the receipt). Surely it can't be good for the gearbox. Anyway what's done is done and it's got quality 20w50 in it now.

Classic A-series Mini, with 5w30 in it? 20W50 or 15w50 is just right.

[Cavcraft]

Jesus Christ, that Hannah Montanna pick-up is exceedingly hateful looking.

[Cavcraft]

Jesus Christ, that Hannah Montanna pick-up is exceedingly hateful looking.