The new news 24 thread

[Wilko220]

Love the "80s pub landlord" Rover, Wuvvum - I'd cruise around in that over a Jeep or Metrocab any day!

[Cavcraft]

That Rover is fab, Wuvvum. You really do seem to have an uncanny knack of finding some really cool old chod, my virtual hat is virtually doffed in your general direction, sir.

[trigger]

Lovely P6 Dave, I'd still love one, preferably a 2200 TC though, Theres a few of them in town here that i see about that are daily drivers.

[wuvvum]

Well I drove the P6 into Norwich today (being a plonker I'd forgotten that the motor factor's in the village closes at 12.30 on Sundays - I was convinced it was open till 1) and it seemed to cope quite happily with the combination of warm weather and heavy traffic, and it even managed to overtake a dawdling giffer in an A4. First impressions are that it's bloody good on fuel too, although I still wouldn't want to have to do an emergency stop on it - I've found a cheap remote servo off a Scimitar on the Bay though, so might buy that and wangle it into the braking circuit somehow.

 

This afternoon I replaced the manky wastgate actuator pipe on the Rover formerly of Doom, and it's completely failed to sort the boosting issue. I then got the car up on the ramps and had a proper poke around all the turbo pipework, and no splits or holes were evident. So that leaves either the actuator or the wastegate itself, and I have no idea how to test either. I did a couple of 0-60 runs just to see how much power it's actually lost, and the mean 0-60 time was 14 seconds. Even allowing half a second for me not being as good a driver as a professional road tester, that's still three seconds down on a standard 220 SDI, and 5.5 seconds down on what it was managing when it still had all of its doom. In fact it feels very similar in performance terms to my old 1.9 TD 406 - so it's still perfectly useable, just no fun. In fact it's probably going to come off the road at the end of the month when the T&T run out, and the Sirion is going to take over as the daily for a while.

 

In other news, I appear to have managed to acquire another Yamaha Diversion for very little cash. It's got issues, but the things that are wrong with it are not the same as the things that are wrong with my current Divvy, so I'm hoping to be able to make one good 'un out of the two, and then I can start riding to work again - I don't think the Spacy's going to be roadworthy for a while yet, it's still not running right at all.

[philibusmo]

The Hyundai got some spangly new Toyos on Saturday. It still handles like going down a spiral stair case in a dingy.

The exhaust had also blown an enormous hole in its rear box, understandable as I think it may also be original. After a bit of scrubbing with a wire brush it ended up looking like this:

Nothing that a HUGE patch couldn't solve (almost). With the tyres having been fitted by the slowest tyre fitter in the land and my mate coming round for a patch on his motorbike exhaust, Saturday was almost up when I decided to re-glue this piece of trim.

I pulled in off, which was a mistake as two welded* patches came off with it and clattered to the ground. After a bit of a poke it quickly turned into this:

For feck sake, why do cars keep doing this to me recently?

At this point I stopped and poked the rest of the underneath which was very very solid. Its odd how only this corner went brown and frilly.

Today was spent welding this up which was a bit of a pain in the arse. It doesn't look very pretty and it's not beige but it is now solid.

Every time I look at this it makes me smile. So worth it.

[vulgalour]

In other beige news, I was feeling guilty for leaving the Princess in the garage since late last month without so much as turning the key in the ignition. I'm still not allowed to drive until I've had my hospital appointment in case I pretend to be a giantinflatablewavingarm man at the wheel but since the drive isn't the public highway there was no harm getting the old wedge out into the sunshine for a bit.

 

I was a bit nervous, I was expecting a flat battery or some other ridiculous problem but two pedal pumps and a turn of the key and, eventually, she fired up no problem and idled quite nicely. Rolled out of the garage and nothing exploded or fell off so apart from that electrical issue I have to get around to solving, all is well with the Princess, which gave me some peace of mind.

[phil_lihp]

It still handles like going down a spiral stair case in a dingy

 

That brightened my evening!

[dollywobbler]

Wuv - good look with getting good MPG out of a 2000SC. I found mine was pretty much as thirsty as my V8. Probably because I had to thrash the living wotsits out of it to get it to move along at a decent pace. Conclusion - very disappointing. Perkins prima is the way to go.

[cobblers]

I took the T25 over to Sherwood Pines via M18/A1. It was the first motorway run I've given it since the new engine install, I've done about 800 miles round the doors - Before it was a proper chore to keep at motorway speeds especially with a slight incline. M18 J1-J2 hill that I used to struggle to keep 65 mph up was definitely not tackled at over a ton because that would be stupid. Got over 30MPG for the trip vs 17MPG with the old lump.

 

One mate of mine was scrapping his 180k mk3 1.9d golf because it was easier than selling it. I'd have bought it myself if I wasn't broke.

 

After some beers I managed to do a bit of an "OKCUPID 97% friend" and match him with another mate who needed a cheap motor and they are both happy - He's paid £200 for a taxed and tested, fairly clean mk3 1.9 golf that will guzzle veg oil but the kid who bought it daren't put any in. Lad who was selling it was told by a colleague he could get £185 for the cat though

[Lankytim]

My lovely Volvo 240 estate has gone to it's new owner. I'm quite sad as it was a very sorted motor, all the little things had been done to it and it was now a super motor. Roll on Saab 9-5 motoring! Now do I tax it now or wait till the end of the month and save some money?

[skattrd]

My lovely Volvo 240 estate has gone to it's new owner. I'm quite sad as it was a very sorted motor, all the little things had been done to it and it was now a super motor. Roll on Saab 9-5 motoring! Now do I tax it now or wait till the end of the month and save some money?

 

Is the Saab worth an extra £20 to drive it this week?

If so tax it, if not wait until the end of the month.

 

Basically it's down to how much you want to drive it .... I find new motors hard to resist.

[Pete-M]

I got between 17-22 mpg from my P6B auto. Was pretty impressed by that.

 

2000s don't get much more. Where's Sam Glover when we need him? I suspect he's the AS resident four pot P6 masochist!

[dollywobbler]

I got between 17-22 mpg from my P6B auto. Was pretty impressed by that.

 

My best ever economy was 26mpg on a long run in my P6B auto. Was normally 20, so was very impressed! Funnily enough, that was back in 2005 I think. We drove to the village I'm sitting in right now. Had no idea I'd be living here 7 years later!

 

Haven't actually got much news to report myself. BX 'Safari' developed intermittent PAS the other day, but that seems to have self-healed - perhaps because it's a bit warmer. Clocked up 180 miles in it on Friday and it just impressed me (again) with its combination of pace, economy and comfort. 48mpg - even when bombing around mountain roads - its pretty darned good. The downsides are that the clutch is getting a bit iffy and I think the cambelt probably needs changing soon. That's a lot of cost/effort for a car that's rotten enough for me to think it won't get through the next MOT. Belt is probably worth doing - it's about £30 of parts (I'd do the water pump as well) and it's a really good engine, so even if the car dies, the engine would get the chance to live on. It won't if the belt snaps.

 

I'm just ignoring the Mk1 at the moment. I need to investigate the knocking noises but really can't be bothered.

[mk1_4dr]

Hmm, wanted to get the bits done on the NewYorker tomorrow for the MOT, but It seems I can't get a headlamp for a fortnight.

 

Other bits are pretty easy, but that headlamp....

 

Im under the impression they only have to match, so if i got a beam spreader/correcter for the 'good' lamp it should pass, right?

[barrett]

Shit plastic car now paid for, transport being arranged as I type.... eek!

[dollywobbler]

Barrett:

[Wilko220]

Apologies if this is a pearoast, but just a reminder to anyone interested that this event takes place in my neck of the woods on Wednesday:

http://www.classicsonthecommon.com/index.php

Usually a nice afternoon/evening if you like that sort of thing...

[mk1_4dr]

Does ANYONE know if the headlights from a 77-01 Cherokee will fit in mah Chrysler? They look about right, but Im struggling to find measurments...

[Pete-M]

Once again I've spent today travelling around the motorways of our fair isle shaking my head in disbelief at the number of people out there who really don't have a clue how to use motorways. They appear to have managed to find their way onto them but once they get there their little heads appear to have imploded at the thought of keeping up a decent pace, leaving enough of a gap between their cars and the car in front and getting out of the way of faster moving traffic.

 

I drive a mental amount of miles every year on the motorway and always dread holiday season for this very reason. The motorways that normally run sem-well turn into giant car parks because Mavis and Derek on the way to visit Maureen in Torquay insist on going at no more than an indicated 70 mph in the fast lane and even though there are two empty lanes to their left they're gonna stay there, at 66 mph in lane three "Because that's the limit". Nothing will shift them. Not even Domestosâ„¢.

 

Then there's the huge number of small hatchbacks laden to the roof with pillows, stereo systems, ironing boards, bongs and potted plants driven by over confident Olivers on their way home from Uni for the summer. They get pissed off with Mavis and Derek so tailgate them, in lane 3, at an oscillating speed between 70 and 62 mph. The oscillations are down to Olly being 3" from the back end of Mavis and Derek and then randomly stamping on the brakes when he decides he's a bit close. As soon as a gap appears though, he nails his little 206 up to 70 again nigh on rams Mavis and Derek from behind and then stamps on the brakes. Eventually he'll undertake them, move back into lane three and sit there at an indicated 75 mph randomly flashing his brake lights whenever someone quicker approaches from behind. Luckily he shits a brick whenever he sees the Wombles, moves over into lane 1 and trundles along at 52 mph until the WombleWagon disappears.

 

Unfortunately, because Olly is in Lane 1 at 52 mph and Derek is in L3 doing 66 mph this means that our beloved truckers have a valid excuse to be in L2 as they have to get past Olly. So we end up with Olly in L1, Eddie Fucking Stobarts brigade in L2 at 56 and Derek being told to slow down by Mavis in L3 because she's scared of trucks. White van man is taking no prisoners in his Vivaro and he's tailgating Derek to within a millimetre and everyone else is stuck five miles behind in stationary traffic because Olly and White Van Man have had their brake lights on for the last 15 minutes, bringing the whole motorway to a halt.

 

Stuck on the hard shoulder at 2 mile intervals filler laden VW Microbuses populated entirely by graphic designers called Gareth on the phone to the RAC because they can't work out why the old VW started making strange noises at 75 mph and they need a recovery truck because the old flat four lump finally shat itself all over the motorway.

 

In amongst all this madness are folk who use the motorway every day of the week, sitting there wondering why the fuck it's taking an extra hour to do an eighty mile trip.

 

We need a motorway driving test in this country, and sharp shooters.

[pompei]

I dread the school holidays too. The advantage of not being stuck in gridlock rush-hour/school run traffic is soon eroded by the amount of half-wit drivers who emerge mid morning. Those that I saw today seemed to be either gripped with fear or totally oblivious to anyone else on the road. GRRRR

 

Apologies - this should have been in the grump thread

[phil_lihp]

Once again I've spent today travelling around the motorways of our fair isle shaking my head in disbelief at the number of people out there who really don't have a clue how to use motorways. They appear to have managed to find their way onto them but once they get there their little heads appear to have imploded at the thought of keeping up a decent pace, leaving enough of a gap between their cars and the car in front and getting out of the way of faster moving traffic.

 

I drive a mental amount of miles every year on the motorway and always dread holiday season for this very reason. The motorways that normally run sem-well turn into giant car parks because Mavis and Derek on the way to visit Maureen in Torquay insist on going at no more than an indicated 70 mph in the fast lane and even though there are two empty lanes to their left they're gonna stay there, at 66 mph in lane three "Because that's the limit". Nothing will shift them. Not even Domestosâ„¢.

 

Then there's the huge number of small hatchbacks laden to the roof with pillows, stereo systems, ironing boards, bongs and potted plants driven by over confident Olivers on their way home from Uni for the summer. They get pissed off with Mavis and Derek so tailgate them, in lane 3, at an oscillating speed between 70 and 62 mph. The oscillations are down to Olly being 3" from the back end of Mavis and Derek and then randomly stamping on the brakes when he decides he's a bit close. As soon as a gap appears though, he nails his little 206 up to 70 again nigh on rams Mavis and Derek from behind and then stamps on the brakes. Eventually he'll undertake them, move back into lane three and sit there at an indicated 75 mph randomly flashing his brake lights whenever someone quicker approaches from behind. Luckily he shits a brick whenever he sees the Wombles, moves over into lane 1 and trundles along at 52 mph until the WombleWagon disappears.

 

Unfortunately, because Olly is in Lane 1 at 52 mph and Derek is in L3 doing 66 mph this means that our beloved truckers have a valid excuse to be in L2 as they have to get past Olly. So we end up with Olly in L1, Eddie Fucking Stobarts brigade in L2 at 56 and Derek being told to slow down by Mavis in L3 because she's scared of trucks. White van man is taking no prisoners in his Vivaro and he's tailgating Derek to within a millimetre and everyone else is stuck five miles behind in stationary traffic because Olly and White Van Man have had their brake lights on for the last 15 minutes, bringing the whole motorway to a halt.

 

Stuck on the hard shoulder at 2 mile intervals filler laden VW Microbuses populated entirely by graphic designers called Gareth on the phone to the RAC because they can't work out why the old VW started making strange noises at 75 mph and they need a recovery truck because the old flat four lump finally shat itself all over the motorway.

 

In amongst all this madness are folk who use the motorway every day of the week, sitting there wondering why the fuck it's taking an extra hour to do an eighty mile trip.

 

We need a motorway driving test in this country, and sharp shooters.

 

Well said! I could cope with a slower pace on the motorway if that was all it was, but the constant shunting between 60 - 75 with added brake light panic every time they spot a moving object drives me insane. That said, I do find that the - shall we say - less spacially aware ones are often kind enough to leave their lefthand indicator on permanently to provide a clear warning to other motorists that they've got their hands full with the whole driving-at-more-than-45mph business right now and need to be given a wide berth.

 

And don't get me started on the braindead loonies who think it's OK to undertake other cars

[Volksy]

Pete, thats hilarious, but sadly 1000% correct.

 

I can't be arsed with the motorways at the beginning of the summer break, I had to go to Sheffield for a meeting the Monday after Shitefest, so took the train. Which to be honest, wasn't any more enjoyable that what you describe above, but at least I wasn't facepalming every five mins.

[dollywobbler]

The problem with motorway testing is that some of us live nowhere near one! Which means I've got no summer-traffic moans at all. The 'grockles' around here are usually so scared of the bends and steep drops at the side of the road that they're crawling along and easy to get past. However, I followed a camper van (a fairly new Peugeot thing) on my way back from town and fair play, he was hurtling along. I wonder how he keeps the stuff on his shelves...

[barrett]

Apologies if this is a pearoast, but just a reminder to anyone interested that this event takes place in my neck of the woods on Wednesday:

http://www.classicsonthecommon.com/index.php

Usually a nice afternoon/evening if you like that sort of thing...

 

Me and Gary will be there in the Simca, parked next to Seth in either the Herald or Minx. Come say hi if you see us!

[HillmanImp]

Thats all true Pete.

 

Another problem though is that you get your Audi and BMW corporate Reps who will flatly refuse to let anyone out if they are on the inside lane, so instead of getting stuck there whist Tarquin flies past on the way to clinch a very important sale which could make him the twelfth best paperclip salesman in the UK, Matilda just stays in the middle lane all the time as that's easier than getting into a fight with a someone with a flock of seagulls haircut and a machine washable suit.

 

'Look, they are indicating lets try and rush past them!'

 

'No they are indicating as they are about to pull out you should give them room'.

 

'No, I'm speeding up and they are going to have to brake sharply'.

 

Obviously if there is a massive speed difference then they should not be trying to pull out in front of a much faster car but most of the time its not, Tarquin is just a knob.

[catsinthewelder]

On quiet motorways I rather enjoy seeing lane 2 ditherers shuffling back into lane 1 after high speed lane 1-3-1 overtaking

[Skizzer]

I didn't win the Princess. Baled out at £1250, which I reckon is plenty of wedge for a Wedge, and it went for £1320.

 

BUT I still haz new British shite, I think: haven't picked it up yet but all agreed in principle. Pics and road trip report to follow...

[Pillock]

I fully back Pete-M and his team of m-way snipers.

I've had the pleasure of a couple of hundred miles to Hemel and back today - our office being about 2 miles from the M1, and I live about 3 miles from the M1 so most of my journey was on there. In that distance, three seperate incidents of nearly being rammed off the road (twice by people leaving it till the last minute to dive-bomb from L3 to a sliproad, and once by someone not seeing a coned-off lane) as well as dozens and dozens of middle-lane plodders causing all kinds of lane-swapping to get around them safely. I honestly felt I was lucky to get home today.

[barrett]

I didn't win the Princess. Baled out at £1250, which I reckon is plenty of wedge for a Wedge, and it went for £1320.

 

BUT I still haz new British shite, I think: haven't picked it up yet but all agreed in principle. Pics and road trip report to follow...

 

How about the white one f/s on here for £600 then?

[Shep Shepherd]

The Volvo's odometer clicked over to 220,000 miles on the A1 just outside Stamford this morning: