What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[forddeliveryboy]

I was in Cornwall earlier this week for a few days to see family, My sisters partner owns this stunning XR2 and it was the first time I've got to see it.

 

It's a unrestored 39000 mile example what was owned by just one lady before him (he's had it 11 years), He took me for a ride in it, i forgot what fun these little cars are, it's surprisingly nippy and that exhaust rasp is very infectious, I'm not sure it's worth £8000+ like people are asking but it's left me kicking myself for turning down the black A reg one i got offered with 40k on the clock back in 2001 for £500!.

 

IMG_9604.JPG

 

I remember that gen of XR2 being the best even when I was driving for a Ford dealer at the end of the 80s, I think there was a decent twin-carb setup which made some good noises, the car as a whole felt quite raw and fun and was reasonably nimble. The Mk2s sounded like they were single carb, they felt ordinary but were bedecked with go-faster kit.

[twosmoke300]

I live in Camborne but work near redruth - pretty close

[trigger]

I drove through there a few times!

[FakeConcern]

I posted about my C4 VTS being written off in the Grumpy thread, so now I'll put the getting it fixed in here!

 

 

 

 

[MarvinsMom]

been today to pick up the jaguar from the local specialist's garage.

 

it been and had a full service, traction control thing cleaned up and codes reset, replacement proper XJR front springs fitted and the a/c overhauled with a new condenser.

 

so everything now works, and works as it should.

 

it could do with a replacement washer dryer thingy for the a/c at some point and the high pressure pipe too isn't as clever has it could be.

 

the other springs were we think just normal xj6 ones given how it had sagged down to just above the bump stops in 2 years, so i'm hoping that these new ones will fair better, plus it rides so much better now its not bottoming out on pot holes..... but it has chewed off the inside shoulders of the front tires so i have had to change those too.

 

the cost of all this? the bills have come in around a grand, which i had budgeted for. 

 

hence the grin (it could have been worse....), and having the XJR driving like new again. now just to get the thing used.....

[fred]

Took my old Forester in for its MOT today. I did rather fear the worst as its passed its MOT cleanly for the last two years , so I guessed SOMETHING must have worn out by now.

 

Nope it passed, I was so cock a hoop. I went out and bought the Kebab n chips for the entire garage staff .

 

Which in all honesty probably cost me more than  two ball joints failing , but hey ho Fred was a happy Fred

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I remember that gen of XR2 being the best even when I was driving for a Ford dealer at the end of the 80s, I think there was a decent twin-carb setup which made some good noises, the car as a whole felt quite raw and fun and was reasonably nimble. The Mk2s sounded like they were single carb, they felt ordinary but were bedecked with go-faster kit.

I didn't ever gel with my Mk 1, great fun to throw around but awful on a long journey. The 4 speed and Kent engine combo really got on my nerves, when it was 3 years old I swapped it for a leased XR3ii, the leasing company had an early mk2 XR2 , White on steel wheels as a loan car. Whenever I broke or crashed the 3i I used to love getting that Mk2, almost as fast, more chuckable and would cruise at 100 all day long.

[MarvinsMom]

and while out playing jaguar's today we have been over to the FiL's.

 

jumped into the metro, the first time in what, 3 weeks since the ice cream and FTP adventure in Scarborough.

 

a touch of choke, and first turn of the key and the wee tinker started straight away settling to a steady idle. ok so we were running on choke, but even so!

 

ah good old marvin.... had a move around the drive, then as tiime was getting on, jump into the big car and off home.

 

shame, but all looking good for running over to kirkby stephen on the easter weekend.

[MarvinsMom]

you know how the news is always full of doom, gloom, despair, etc then every now and then there comes along a story that not only makes you smile but also restores some faith in humanity?

 

here's one, and yes its off the Daily Hate, but give it a go-

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3501048/The-human-backpack-Friends-CARRY-65lb-disabled-pal-Europe-backs-trip-lifetime.html

[fordperv]

That is a fantastic story

[saucedoctor]

NBC Sports commentator today said "Martial beaten off by Joe Hart"

[xtriple]

I have spent the day watching formula 1 (boring) and Moto GP (brilliant but not a particularly great main race) and perusing the internet. Somehow, and I really don't know how, I have got onto the Crewe Bentley historic parts site for dealers! Okay, I can't actually order anything but I can get all the part numbers and have a good look round.... which I have! I have been comparing my engine to one of the very last (420 HP) engines as I know the chassis number of one! It just so happens to be in Flying spares yard with the VIN proudly displayed...

 

That number is the very next one after mine so easy to remember.

 

The turbo and everything I can find, is the same part so I cannot figure out how one can be 420 hp and the other 325! But, mine is not showing as having a couple of bits of the TR (transient boost) and it does have a couple of bit the TR doesn't have. So, the missing horse power must be hiding in there but I am not about to go buying bits on the off chance as, as we all know, Bentley parts start at £100 (for a nut and bolt) and go up exponentially from there!

 

I don't NEED more power... but it's always nice to have too much!

 

Despite having asked on the Ozzie RR forum, where the people seem to know absolutely EVERYTHING about these sods, no one seems to know what/where the difference is, or if they do, they ain't telling. Goddammit, I want more power!

 

   

[michael1703]

Qatar isn't always indicative of the strengths of riders/manufacturers though it always makes for odd racing in one way or the other, I'm hoping Maverick becomes a front runner,good result for E lav on a slow bike, otherwise not amazing racing, gutted for morbidelli

[outlaw118]

Radio X - formerly XFM - are running a poll to find the bestest British single of EVAH.

 

It would be improper of me to suggest voting for Freakscene - This One's For You Jack wouldn't it.....I mean I didn't* play keyboards, B-Vox and percussion on it, and I haven't* got about 400 copies of the bastard CD in my garage.

 

This link might work if you felt like it http://charts.radiox.co.uk/best-of-british-2016/vote/?cmpid=FB.Radiox_BOB&cmp=FB#vote-form

 

As you were. 

[skattrd]

I didn't know you were famous Bob ... I'm sure you could have flogged some of those cds at Chumley

[outlaw118]

Hardly famous old chap,.... I suppose I could have flogged a few for Sporteh-Spice/shite to make clocks out of.

 

There is a back-story but it's not car-related at all (Apart from the label name being Capri Records), suffice to say, we got pretty badly stitched up. The music BIZ is a cruel thing. And Simon Cowell is to blame. And that branson fellow is a beardy Changehismindy twat too.

 

But I'm not bitter.

 

Just don't get me started on The Stereophonics.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's a shit business.

[Eddie Honda]

Radio X - formerly XFM - are running a poll to find the bestest British single of EVAH.

It's the Velocette Venom Clubman INNIT?

[trigger]

I've just seen this on Facebook, It's genuinely made me happy this afternoon, I love stuff like this.

 

[jakebullet]

It's much worse than Blackpool, there is nothing there apart from a statue on the seafront and the polo tower, the whole town is a dumping ground for the unemployed and feckless, you'll just have to get very very very very pissed

 

A tower you say? No. Kinky Girl says it's a large erection.

 

 

Statue located. Designed by a man from Barnsley who had to fix it after some pikey chopped it's foot off.

 

 

Not wrong on the feckless count. But we managed to make our own fun. You can play guess what the next boarded up / burnt down building used to be. Or play Kinky's game of farting like you don't care. This is after one that cleared at least a 25 yard radius.

 

[vulgalour]

When given a selection of things to vote upon the general public will always choose the one that amuses them.  Boaty McBoatface.

[Jazoli]

A tower you say? No. Kinky Girl says it's a large erection.

 

20160319_160036.jpg

 

Statue located. Designed by a man from Barnsley who had to fix it after some pikey chopped it's foot off.

 

20160320_105046.jpg

 

Not wrong on the feckless count. But we managed to make our own fun. You can play guess what the next boarded up / burnt down building used to be. Or play Kinky's game of farting like you don't care. This is after one that cleared at least a 25 yard radius.

 

20160320_110139.jpg

The only reason the polo tower is still standing is that a mobile phone company has a 25 year contract for the mast on top of it, at least the sun was shining

[jakebullet]

Yes the sun was nice. The council gets 10 WTF? points for having a sign basically saying before going for a paddle check the pollution level forecast. Nearest forecast sign 250 yards that way>>>>

[oldcars]

I've just seen this on Facebook, It's genuinely made me happy this afternoon, I love stuff like this.

 

1197_10154123127036037_8666523033835894797_n.jpg

Those are my favourite steel wheels ever. So much want for a Marina/Ital. One day....

[chaseracer]

You'd think the loss of three family members and a friend over a 10-day period would be one for the grump thread and normally I'd agree, were it not for the AS Undertakings Inc. ("your final journey is our concern - full mechanical insurance included") cortege that did the biz at Auntie Muriel's sendoff earlier today: a late mk3 Granada hearse and two frogface Scorpio limos.

 

No pics, I'm afraid, because the Granny was, errrm... loaded, but the same machines are going to do the monster-in-law's gig next month and I know she'd appreciate the humour, in context... 

[Tickman]

You'd think the loss of three family members and a friend over a 10-day period would be one for the grump thread and normally I'd agree, were it not for the AS Undertakings Inc. ("your final journey is our concern - full mechanical insurance included") cortege that did the biz at Auntie Muriel's sendoff earlier today: a late mk3 Granada hearse and two frogface Scorpio limos.

 

No pics, I'm afraid, because the Granny was, errrm... loaded, but the same machines are going to do the monster-in-law's gig next month and I know she'd appreciate the humour, in context... 

Like in the way that is not offensive in any way.

The last funeral I went to the family transport that followed the hearse was a Mk 10 Jag. made me smile (inside)

[Bobthebeard]

Nipped into town this morning and spotted a small dog running around looking panicked and bewildered close to a main road. Parked up, managed to soothe the dog and picked it up. Was clearly distressed. Asked a couple of locals if they recognised it but no joy. A few minutes later, further down the road spotted a lady in a dressing gown dashing around shouting. Back door left open by mistake and the dog had gone wandering. Dog and mum reunited.

Grin!

[purplebargeken]

Eldest cat has kitty dementia. Worst aspect of this is random soiling. Thought I'd buy a Vax but then realised that I'd got a brand new one in the loft from Freecycle a few years ago. Vaxing activity has now occurred and the vicinity is sweet smelling again.

[castros_bro]

Made me smile.

 

http://www.shemazing.net/boaty-mcboatface-could-be-this-e255m-ships-new-name-thanks-internet/

[Lord Sterling]

In Turkey with Lady_Sterling.