The new news 24 thread

[tooSavvy]

I had a Scenic Day today, ARSEBISCUITS.....

 

Leaving Keighley, to come home, Blubberhouse STILL closed...

 

Via:-

 

Silsden

Addingham

Bolton Br Roundabout [road closed board]

 

so then:-

up New Road, Howgill

Pately Bridge, for Hggt.

Hang a Left >> to Ripon & A1(M)

 

2 1/2 hrs..... No Caravans thank god. But there's a stone arch at the start so probs never do?

 

 

TS

[Asimo]

I don't get this "early Visas are ugly" sentiment as I have always much preferred them pre-facelift.

The big outside difference is that later ones have black paint below all the windows, to make the glass area seem larger. Bumper grille too, think the later ones are just less interesting.

 

And inside, doing away with the satellite pod thingy was nuts, it just works so well!

[Six-cylinder]

I don't get this "early Visas are ugly" sentiment as I have always much preferred them pre-facelift.

The big outside difference is that later ones have black paint below all the windows, to make the glass area seem larger. Bumper grille too, think the later ones are just less interesting.

 

And inside, doing away with the satellite pod thingy was nuts, it just works so well!

My New nose 652cc Special (poverty model) dose not have black under the windows, is it model dependent?

[richardmorris]

Pretty sure my parent's visa II club (652cc of throbbing horses) has black window surrounds, so probably is trim dependent not engine.

 

Back to the subject of the transit of doom:how much has it cost the seller in mot test fees in the last few weeks if he's not submitting for a retest. The mot checker shows mot number, but not testing station number as far as I can see, so as scaryoldcortina says he's probably chucking it in at every place he can find.

[Skizzer]

My New nose 652cc Special (poverty model) dose not have black under the windows, is it model dependent?

Only the GT and GTI got black trim under the side windows. All facelift cars had black B-pillars. Facelift Super E and up also had a bit of plastic on the C-pillar that followed the kinked window line, and a bit of black on the scuttle that made the windscreen look deeper. [/nerd]

 

I think the facelift Visas are prettier but the early ones are a lot more striking (in a good way). That integrated plastic bumper / nose / grille was radical when they were new, and very cool.

[wuvvum]

I had another OMGDRIFT moment in the Kenari this evening - again, whilst going round a wet roundabout.  Really not sure why it's doing it - I checked the tyre pressures yesterday, and all the tyres have plenty of tread.  Maybe the nearside rear is just particularly shit - although it's a Federal which I thought were OK-ish.  It might just have gone hard through age.  Would explain why that wheel locked up when I had to brake hard the other day too.

[hairnet]

Looks like I have just bought a very tatty MX5. Very cheap mind considering it comes with a hard top.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-1-6-mk2-with-hard-top-running-spares-or-repair-/272133889590?

mazda.JPG

Anyone want to buy a hard top

how much

 friend was looking.....

[Lacquer Peel]

I had another OMGDRIFT moment in the Kenari this evening - again, whilst going round a wet roundabout.  Really not sure why it's doing it - I checked the tyre pressures yesterday, and all the tyres have plenty of tread.  Maybe the nearside rear is just particularly shit - although it's a Federal which I thought were OK-ish.  It might just have gone hard through age.  Would explain why that wheel locked up when I had to brake hard the other day too.

 

http://paultan.org/2006/01/11/top-gear-tests-cornering-ability/1 minute in, looks like the drift boys are missing a trick, they should be buying Kenaris.

[hairnet]

Yeah its properly uggers innit. It's a twin for maximum points. Drives really well, much more civilised than any A series car, although I doubt it's much faster than an Ami in real terms. Acceleration is actually quite good though and despite conventional springs it's really comfortable.

We only got it because these early ones are known as the 'Groin' model in France, and that was too funny to pass up

 

 

In fact so ugly when I wanted a Twin Pot I looked for a MK2 updated front but I couldn't do without the satellite dash and yours even has a clock!

 

racist feckers

[barrett]

I don't get this "early Visas are ugly" sentiment as I have always much preferred them pre-facelift.

Don't get me wrong, I much prefer the early ones. I wouldn't have got a later one as I don't think they are particularly interesting. A twin pot with the Groin nose is the only Visa I can get excited about. I don't ever remember seeing one on the road before - tbh I wasn't aware they'd even sold them over here. They are bloody ugly though, but in a loveable way. Like a scruffy dog.

[Ghosty]

mystery noise from the front left. 

 

What does it sound like? Our A4 made a fair few noises at the front when we first got it, one was a creaking noise from worn suspension arm bushes, another was the ABS throwing a hissy fit and making a honking noise because of old discs, one was the clutch release bearing...

[wuvvum]

I have to say it's been a very long time since I've seen a Mk1 Visa on this side of the Channel, and I don't think I've ever seen a flat twin version.

[dollywobbler]

There are a few other here. Nowt to give away a later twin pot other than noise.

 

Kenari sounds exciting. Are you setting off lift-off oversteer? I'd imagine the high centre of gravity is a downside here as it's weight transfer that sets it off.

[dollywobbler]

In my news, the Prelude took me over 200 miles yesterday. Have discovered that my tiny aunt is the one person who can get into the back and find it comfortable.

 

But, once this trip is completed tomorrow, I'll have to concede that I don't really need this car anymore, and it will be up for grabs. Shame as I do like it, but the XM definitely wins for comfort and practicality.

[gordonbennet]

I had another OMGDRIFT moment in the Kenari this evening - again, whilst going round a wet roundabout.  Really not sure why it's doing it - I checked the tyre pressures yesterday, and all the tyres have plenty of tread.  Maybe the nearside rear is just particularly shit - although it's a Federal which I thought were OK-ish.  It might just have gone hard through age.  Would explain why that wheel locked up when I had to brake hard the other day too.

 

I put a set of Federals on the Merc and slung 'em the following year with 7mm tread due to two full broadsides completely unprovoked in the wet,  don't want to know about driftinnit, a new set of Uniroyals saw normal on rails service resumed...my one and only and last foray into that end of rubber.

[forddeliveryboy]

Yeah its properly uggers innit. It's a twin for maximum points. Drives really well, much more civilised than any A series car, although I doubt it's much faster than an Ami in real terms. Acceleration is actually quite good though and despite conventional springs it's really comfortable.

We only got it because these early ones are known as the 'Groin' model in France, and that was too funny to pass up

 

The engines are much more civilised than the twin pots in A series, too. Look forward to hearing of more adventures in da Groin.

[Lukas]

Skizzer fleet news:

 

The Dedra has now passed on to a better place.

 

Don't fret, it's not dead - I swapped it for a cheese and ham toastie, and it's now residing with a fellow shiter and serial Lancia saver who is planning to fix its apparent HGF and recommission it back into regular use - which I'm very, very happy about. I am badgering him to put up a thread about it, but he doesn't post very much. We even took a Woolarding shot and everything.

 

The XJ-S is up and about and running well apart from a bit of exhaust blowing (one of the hangers is knacked) and I think the back brakes (handbrake?) are still binding a bit, so it's on short journeys only until I get that sorted.

 

The VX2300 is in fine fettle; Mrs S is back from holiday now and likes it very much. I'm getting the hang of cold starts, but they don't seem to be its strong point - maybe idling a bit low?

 

The Discovery battery doesn't seem to be holding a charge very well, so needed jumping off a spare battery again this weekend. It runs out of MOT this week too, which is annoying as I'm away working all week at the moment so it's a pain to get it done. Working does help with paying for stuff, though.

 

Apparently one of the wipers on the Audi 80 has eaten its brother. It's on loan to someone else at the moment, so I'm going to go over this afternoon to see if it just needs re-aligning or if the mechanism is fubarred. Anybody know if this is one of those cars where they start with a wiper motor and then build the car around it?

 

No other news. But thank fook it's stopped raining for a bit.

 

Good Idea, I´ll do that too!

 

Lukas fleet news:

 

The green Pajero 2.5 TD will remain in its winter-lockup until April or at least when the salt is gone from our streets. I am looking forward to driving it a bit more this year until October, maybe 2500 km. 

 

The beige Pajero V6 is my daily driver but SWB, so its getting too small for us sadly. With the baby-pram and all the other things that have to come along when you are driving around with a 6 month old baby, it´s very unpractical. So it will be sold in spring. The Pajero, not the baby. It´s got a bit rustier during winter but that will easily be sorted. 

 

The Park Avenue is still at my friends workshop, getting some work at the engine done. After that, it needs to be welded on the right sill. Should be ready to become my daily driver around April when the Pajero V6 is sold. 

 

The wifes Honda CR-V is an excellent family car all year round and her daily driver, so it will stay. I´ll give it a good clean, it will get waxoyled during summer and should provide sterling service for two or three more years. 

 

Plans: I´d like to have another Pajero LWB like the green one but just not so nice as a daily driver all year round. Maybe something comes up for sale this year. 

[dome]

A buyage has occured. Collection this evening...

[Lukas]

Buick Park Avenue? 

[Slappy]

Driving through the appropriately named village of Cocking this morning on the way to work I caught a pretty deep pothole. Things felt ok, but hit another bump further down the road (not intentionally!) and that felt a bit soft. Found a nice point to pull over, and yup, there was my first "proper" puncture, ballsacks.

 

And thus for the 1st time in it's almost 13 year lifetime the onboard jack and brace had to be used. Am a little bit sad about that!

[dome]

Buick Park Avenue? 

 

Sadly not, a yank is an itch I've still to scratch....

[vulgalour]

 

Well done, little Rover!

[xtriple]

I have bought leather wipes from Halfords which clean and feed at the same time. They were about a fiver I think, and I have to say, they are fucking awesome and smell nice on your hands for many hours after! Just thought I'd share for any and all with leather trim.

 

They must be good as they get the filth off the back seat left by my two little darlings after their muddy romps! There seems to be several hundred in the tub so should last a while.

 

Also, I have just filled the tank again with expensive propellent, this means since December, I have filled the tank as often as I filled the tank in the Insight in a whole year! Just to add to my misery: the Honda took 40 litres, this takes 110!

[Hertz]

/\ /\ You can't complain about poor MPG running a Bentley. It's like complaining about catching a dose of clap from a lady of the night when not taking precautions....

[Six-cylinder]

Only the GT and GTI got black trim under the side windows. All facelift cars had black B-pillars. Facelift Super E and up also had a bit of plastic on the C-pillar that followed the kinked window line, and a bit of black on the scuttle that made the windscreen look deeper. [/nerd]

 

I think the facelift Visas are prettier but the early ones are a lot more striking (in a good way). That integrated plastic bumper / nose / grille was radical when they were new, and very cool.

This is my 1988 17RD and it has black under the windows and so does my 1986 17RD!

[vulgalour]

It'll be like everything else French.  Only cars of a certain trim level will have that black bit.  Except for those that don't.  That and some other variations for no reason.  No, your car isn't supposed to be like that but that's how Citroen made it.  That option is not on The System.

[barrett]

I didn't even notice (because I wasn't driving at the time) but the silver BX rolled over 150,000 miles on the way back from Yorkshire!

[DeeJay]

This is my 1988 17RD and it has black under the windows and so does my 1986 17RD!

Is it the same on both sides?

[wuvvum]

Kenari sounds exciting. Are you setting off lift-off oversteer? I'd imagine the high centre of gravity is a downside here as it's weight transfer that sets it off.

I don't think it was lift-off oversteer as I was on a steady throttle.  I think it's more roll oversteer induced, as you say, by the high centre of gravity coupled with relatively soft suspension (and shit tyres).  It is indeed exciting, especially as the steering is rather slower than is ideal for catching a slide, but the car is small and narrow enough that it can get quite badly out of shape before it starts hitting things...

[wuvvum]

My 1985 14TRS didn't have black under the windows.  In case anyone was wondering.