What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[tonedepear]

Torstren's had the Herald a while now. I think tbf it would struggle!

 

Badermatic-luxo-modern vectra-like makes light work of it though.

[Des]

Last week I noticed the osf bumper endcap of my van dislodged, and looking a little scuffed as if brushed by a tyre. I replaced front and rear bumpers a couple of years ago, even gave them a decent coat of paint, and both have recieved minor dings from touch parking mongs, and although minor still pisses me off, only this time I have a dash cam that runs all the time off an auxiliary battery, great, lets get the bastard, only I borrowed the aux battery the day before for another car so the cam has only been running when the ignition is on, fucksticks. Then today I recieve a letter from Arrivas assessors saying sorry for the damage, please get in touch so we can fix it, and a long list of loan vehicles available. So a bus driver has clipped my bumper, and then taken my reg and reported it, how uncommonly decent is that? With this in mind I don't think I should claim for something I can probably kick back into place, and the scuff adds character.

Nice to experience something that doesn't provoke my contempt of the human race and push me ever nearer to going all serial killer murderous rampage.

[M'coli]

Last week I noticed the osf bumper endcap of my van dislodged, and looking a little scuffed as if brushed by a tyre. I replaced front and rear bumpers a couple of years ago, even gave them a decent coat of paint, and both have recieved minor dings from touch parking mongs, and although minor still pisses me off, only this time I have a dash cam that runs all the time off an auxiliary battery, great, lets get the bastard, only I borrowed the aux battery the day before for another car so the cam has only been running when the ignition is on, fucksticks. Then today I recieve a letter from Arrivas assessors saying sorry for the damage, please get in touch so we can fix it, and a long list of loan vehicles available. So a bus driver has clipped my bumper, and then taken my reg and reported it, how uncommonly decent is that? With this in mind I don't think I should claim for something I can probably kick back into place, and the scuff adds character.

Nice to experience something that doesn't provoke my contempt of the human race and push me ever nearer to going all serial killer murderous rampage.

That's nice to hear - if you don't claim it report this back and say why and that the driver should be thanked for their honesty.

[Pete-M]

"Individuality"

 

screamed the headline on VW bus and camper magazine. The featured bus? A lowered, pastel coloured, eleventy-window on chromed fucks rims.

Just like all the rest.

 

Is there something wrong with liking lowered eleventy window, split rim buses? I think they look superb when done well.

 

 

(Two different ones photo'd above...)

[ashmicro]

I'd agree with that Pete. All the fucked up "scene" ones are now so common as to be meh. The Curate of the church which my family attends* has recently completed an 8 year restore on one. It's beautifully done, and looks original. I can see the hard work that's gone into it, but it still leaves me a bit cold.

 

 

 

 

*not me, though, I just help out with keeping the 800 year old building in good shape.

[dollywobbler]

Spitties do indeed look great, but individuality suggests that they'll feature one that isn't exactly the same as all of the others. One at stock height with skinny wheels would be pretty individual these days.

 

That sporty camper thing is ace!

[MrDuke]

There is a half-melted snowball in hell's chance that I may possibly be going after a Triumph 1500 after all. With free tax yo. Maybe. If I'm unbelievably lucky.

[dollywobbler]

There is a half-melted snowball in hell's chance that I may possibly be going after a Triumph 1500 after all. With free tax yo. Maybe. If I'm unbelievably lucky.

 

Personally, I'd go for an 1850 Dolomite. Pretty much the same thing (albeit RWD) but a stronger engine that doesn't drink a lot more juice. 1300s are very pleasant, unless you want to travel faster than about 50mph - horribly low geared which spoils an otherwise superb little saloon. 1500s have more go, but the bottom ends are fromage.

[Cavcraft]

Nice one Des, bit of a result that and good on the driver for his honesty.

 

I'd love a splitty, or any of that era VW camper, but I honestly reckon that everytime you parked one up you'd get pestered to death by the scene tax crew.

 

Good news today:

Waiting in the petrol station behind some desperately slow knob jockey (in an old car) who seemed to be smirking as he took 11 hours to put his seatbelt on and drive off. After he eventually went I pulled up to the pump he'd been using and spotted a fiver on the floor. I hope it was dinner money and his missus has his debit card.

[trigger]

I used to like the VW campers but now that everyone has one they seem a bit boring to me, If I was to see a Thames or Commer camper van about that would excite me.

 

Still they do take a nice photo when parked on the beach.

 

1966 Volkswagen Split Screen Camper Van on St. Agnes Beach Cornwall by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[wuvvum]

Got a slap off a girl at work who accused me of looking at her crotch. I actually wasn't - I'd been looking at her arse and she turned round too quickly to give me a chance to look away. I would have had reason to be looking though as she'd just been having a quite detailed discussion with another member of staff about her views on bush trimmage. Sometimes working in an office can be good fun.

[dollywobbler]

Got a slap off a girl at work who accused me of looking at her crotch. I actually wasn't - I'd been looking at her arse.

 

Not much of a defence I guess?

[Polystratus]

I used to like the VW campers but now that everyone has one they seem a bit boring to me, If I was to see a Thames or Commer camper van about that would excite me.

Think they have been somewhat over exposed in shops, go into somewhere like The Works and you always see books on them, go into a gift shop and they're on everything from mugs to key rings

[Mr Lobster]

I used to like the VW campers but now that everyone has one they seem a bit boring to me, If I was to see a Thames or Commer camper van about that would excite me.

 

 

Think they have been somewhat over exposed in shops, go into somewhere like The Works and you always see books on them, go into a gift shop and they're on everything from mugs to key rings

 

I still like 'em though. I see loads of 'em at shows and most of them are pretty nice. Yes theres a lot of repetition but thats down to the fact that there are a lot of them. Eleventy windowed, lowered on Fuchs rims looks good in my book. Original no but nice (apart from the driving experience) well yes I suppose so.

[MrDuke]

Personally, I'd go for an 1850 Dolomite. Pretty much the same thing (albeit RWD) but a stronger engine that doesn't drink a lot more juice. 1300s are very pleasant, unless you want to travel faster than about 50mph - horribly low geared which spoils an otherwise superb little saloon. 1500s have more go, but the bottom ends are fromage.

 

Well, the one I'm after has been extensively welded up to a good standard, and had the brakes & steering overhauled, plus it's a decent price. The engine's already pointing the right way, and the gearbox tunnel unbolts, so fitting Dolomite engine & running gear is a doddle, should I feel the need in future.

[Albert Ross]

I used to service these bay window things when I was an apprentice. They were all a rental fleet, mostly Devon Moonrakers, and mostly also 2 litre Auto.... two tone, green/white, orange/white, baby blue/white etc.... and they were a reasonable experience to drive, when left standard, and on Vredestein tyres. I have since driven a "professionally" lowered one. It was bloody awful in comparison. Tramlining, wobbly, wandery, floaty AND stiff, all at once.......A better advert for leaving them the fuck alone, I have never seen.

[Negative Creep]

VW Campers have never done much for me, especially at the outrageous prices they command. I'd much rather find an early Hi Ace or Vanette, for just as much misery at a fraction of the cost

[catsinthewelder]

Mines standard height and drives ok, yes the gearchange is shit and bits break now and then but it was a £500 field find

[STUNO]

IN response to the petrol price grumps.

Yeeehaaa, my town is having a petrol price war, a real one with prices not seen for years and it has been on for over a month now

[cobblers]

My t25 drives actually really pretty well for what is a 30 year old design for a commercial van. I sling that bastard about like a little hatchback whenever I've not got the back full of stuff to fly all over the place, and it does really well. Dead nimble for something it's size! It's lowered a lot and was when I bought it so I can't compare to standard, but taking the 14" commercial tyres off and putting some 18" alloys on actually surprised me by improving the ride a bit, And now I have enough traction to reverse up my drive and pull out from junctions in the wet without lighting a back wheel up for 100 yards.

 

I can't vouch for Bay/Split buses cos I've never driven one, but I've worked on them and the suspension is a strange old setup, it's a wonder they drive well enough for anyone to put up with them!

[ProgRocker]

Is this thread also for non car related stuff too?

 

If so then I am because I have been offered a full time job, subject to references, health form and CRB checks. Hope everything goes through OK then I can jack my part time supermarket job in.

[Cavcraft]

Congratulations Prog, keep us updated please.

[ProgRocker]

Thanks Billy. Its a civil service post. I think I'll be commuting about 100 miles a week so I'll be getting more use out of my car.

[richardthestag]

Thanks Billy. Its a civil service post. I think I'll be commuting about 100 miles a week so I'll be getting more use out of my car.

 

Top fucking news,

 

Give it 6 months and you can go on strike about toilet paperz, rich teaz or penshunz

 

oh sorry that should be on the grumpy thread

[ashmicro]

Good news Prog

[Lord Sterling]

Great stuff Prog! I myself have been told of an up and coming permanent position where I currently work. Was told by the area manager who seems keen to employ me, howvere, at the moment its all talk, I wont be celebrating until I sign my name on the contract and its all legally binding.

[Skizzer]

Well done Prog and good luck Lord S.

 

IN response to the petrol price grumps.

Yeeehaaa, my town is having a petrol price war, a real one with prices not seen for years and it has been on for over a month now

 

I am very well prepared for OMG PETROL STRIKE CHAOS: I have taken the precaution of having a stockpile of several old cars and motorbikes outside my house, each of which has about half a tank of unleaded/diesel (see badge on boot for details) in varying degrees of staleness. Once again, Autoshiters are ahead of the game.

[ProgRocker]

Thanks chaps. And good luck with yours Lord Sterling.

 

Give it 6 months and you can go on strike about toilet paperz, rich teaz or penshunz

 

[Pete-M]

You're not meant to be getting jobs, there's a recession on FFS! Call the Union, there's two blokes here with jobs!

 

 

Heh, congratulations folks. Hope it all goes swimmingly for you.

[trigger]

 

This video made me grin, I now want a Capri 3.0 S and check out all the shite at the start of the video!