Shitting in the shallow end. *Arse friends Electric*

[Jim Bell]

1 hour ago, Dave_Q said:

Just hoping it's going well mate, because of my own electro-shite proclivities aftermarket/DIY battery repairs are very relevant to my interests.

It all fascinates and terrifies me in equal measure. I was tempted to have a go at it myself but I'm really glad I didn't now. The professionals knew what they were doing, found the duff connectors (which were presumed good last time they changed cells because it wasn't throwing a code) and had a cell changed and it out the door in two days. 

Id have ended up with tears and electrons all over the floor and a sad car shaped garden ornament. 

[Jim Bell]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it is. The Shitbox Prius has been good as gold since the battery had a cell and a couple of corroded connectors replaced. It's been dragging my substantial ass to the rail station, work, the shops and even up to central Scotland to check in and touch base with the Scotoshite collective. 

Recent 50 mile run on the cruise control netted decent results on the acconomy and the LIE-O-TRON COMPUTER MA-BOB reckons that the battery improvements have pushed the current tanks mpg average to the dizzy heights of 58.6mpg over 229 miles. Still a long way to drain this tank so it remains to be seen whether it's at all accurate, but I will be peer reviewing it's published stats using a gay pen and an autistic fag packet the next time I fill up. 

 

Not long after bought the car, I invested in the Dr Prius app. As @davehedgehog31 pointed out not long ago, it's not a real doctor but does provide some decent features related to volts and ohm and shit. 

A lengthy and boring life expectancy (the battery, not me) test reckons it's about 85.76% not fucked, which doesn't sound too bad for what's basically a 20 year old pack. 

 

 

The health check does point to some level of imbalance, but well within acceptable parameters at the moment. 

 

It's always issues with the bottom it seems for me. 

Still.........

 

It's rocking well enough so will push on and change the oil or something sometimes soon. Be rude not to. 

It's ugly from all angles but has been a really nice dailly for me. I'm not sure I could RECOMMEND spending £1500 on a 20 year old hybrid with no service history that been lightly crashed a few times, but I'm still really glad I bought it. £1500 barely gets you a weekend in Centreparcs in the fucking rain these days and I think my cash has been invested more inteligently than a holiday (so far)

 

 

 

 

[320touring]

Having been in this fine specimen of a car, I can confirm it sated my need for HEAVY EX TAXI VIBES

seemed to go well and was very comfy. 13/10 would fare dodge in again

 

[Jim Bell]

It's past the 6 month anniversary for the Shitbox Prius now. 

I wish there was something interesting that I could say about it, or that there was some exciting incident to report, but it's been absolutely devoid of things of note. It's driven most days, and just be's a mode of transport very competently. When the trains fail, I drive it 100 miles rather than 20. It's far more reliable and comfortable than public transport in the north east of England and it doesn't require massive subsidy to exist. 

After the battery cell change MPG has rocketed and the average during ownership is above 50 now and the last tank was closer to 60. Sumer time and a healthier battery pack means greater ecconomy, which is great news for poor pricks like I. 

 

 

All in all boring but adorable. 

 

 

 

[Schaefft]

This NEEDS to attend the next Twixfest. I anticipate it's arrival.

[loserone]

1 minute ago, Schaefft said:

This NEEDS to attend the next Twixfest. I anticipate it's arrival.

Someone's got to change the title of the thread and tell everyone when it's got to be, then he can 😉

[Schaefft]

Just now, loserone said:

Someone's got to change the title of the thread and tell everyone when it's got to be, then he can 😉

Agreed, I think the dates are pretty much settled.

[tooSavvy]

21 hours ago, Schaefft said:

This NEEDS to attend the next Twixfest. I anticipate it's arrival.

Oh God..... Another fuc#ing AUTO 🤣

🥰👍

🚙💨

[Fabergé Greggs]

@Jim Bell are you bored enough of the Prius to sell it to me yet? 

[loserone]

1 minute ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

@Jim Bell are you bored enough of the Prius to sell it to me yet? 

@Jim Bell, yesterday.

[Jim Bell]

4 hours ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

@Jim Bell are you bored enough of the Prius to sell it to me yet? 

Possibly man. Not really decided yet. 

[Jim Bell]

Just to update the thread, it did do a naughty fail not long ago. 

The 12v battery decided the world would be a better place without it and did a BIG FLATE. 

This resulted in me having to unlock it with the secret blade key, drop the front seat back, the back seat forward then crawl on my big fat tummy backwards through the car to release the boot catch internally.  I'm 6ft 4 and 22 stone and to the casual spectator I'm sure this looked very much like one of the big fat crawling zombies from 28 Years Later chasing after a delicious worm. It was tres undignified. 

 

Hmmm.

 

Ok. 

 

Now CRAWL!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tada!

Victory. 

[Jim Bell]

Once in the boot, got the 12v swapped out to a lovely new Bosch branded battery that was the correct CCA and shape like a proper professional. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bit of cooling ducting and bracketry fiddling and all the volts are restored. Kwality. 

[Jim Bell]

Mpg seems a bit better since the new 12v went in too. Not sure why that would be, but I'm not complaining. 

[Jim Bell]

She is very much an urban car park warrior. Bumped and bruised but still ploughing on. Undeterred by violence or hatred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a PARK IT ANYWHERE kind of vehicle. 

Beruit. Mogadishu. The West Bank. Sunderland. 

[High Jetter]

8 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

She is very much rail car park warrior. Bumped and bruised but still ploughing on. Undeterred by violence or hatred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a PARK IT ANYWHERE kind of vehicle. 

Beruit. Mogadishu. The West Bank. Sunderland. 

What about the mats, tho?

[Jim Bell]

Big milestone passed. 

 

Mot next week. Pray for Shitbox Prius. 

 

Replacent purchased. 

[busmansholiday]

On 09/09/2025 at 00:38, Jim Bell said:

She is very much an urban car park warrior. Bumped and bruised but still ploughing on. Undeterred by violence or hatred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a PARK IT ANYWHERE kind of vehicle. 

Beruit. Mogadishu. The West Bank. Sunderland. 

You didn't loan it my Mrs to drive did you?.

[beko1987]

I bet people don't tailgate you as much, or try to force out infront of you as much seeing that! Is it legal to run novelty taxi plates for even more of a halo shield?

When I ran my green ZX with a smashed up passenger wing for a few years it was amazing! Would see cars who were going to try it on anchor hard and decide not to bother when they saw me 😂 would recommend

[abir246]

On 08/09/2025 at 22:38, Jim Bell said:

She is very much an urban car park warrior. Bumped and bruised but still ploughing on. Undeterred by violence or hatred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a PARK IT ANYWHERE kind of vehicle. 

Beruit. Mogadishu. The West Bank. Sunderland. 

Funnily enough my neighbour had a 05 prius that she would park by touch everywhere (once caught it parked right behind my old corolla, bumpers touching), it was just as banged up and the wing mirror held on with hairbands and clear tape was the cherry on top! Guess that's just London driving for you.

Her son binned it into a park fence on our road with his mates, no idea how he's managed it but up until recently she had a 59 plate prius with parking sensors! Yet she still parked by touch, smashed the front bumper off and it spent the rest of it's days with a unpainted black bumper (it was a silver car) until she got some new CHR thing recently.

[Talbot]

On 08/09/2025 at 22:24, Jim Bell said:

Mpg seems a bit better since the new 12v went in too. Not sure why that would be, but I'm not complaining. 

 

Because charging system for 12v battterie going AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH  all the time to keep le fucked battery somewhere near the needed voltz.

New lead and acid says "no more for me, I'm good thanks" and charging system breathes a sigh of relief.

Maybe.

[Jim Bell]

Well the only exciting news about the boring car is that it continues to be boring. 

It's been a year as an only car now so time for MOT prep and a *Winces* test. 

My prep consisted of plugging all the seatbelts in, washing the bird shit off and sticking a few more plaster decals over the cracks in the bumpers. 

 

 

That should be fine. 

 

Dropped it off for a test at 0958, went home to worry but didn't really have time. Got a call at 10:36. It's passed. Even got a free key ring. 

 

 

 

Few advisories but none of the bullchonk "general corrosion" and "damage noted" ones from previous tests. 

It's done a good job over the last year and I should really keep it. I've agreed to purchse Laquerpeel's Ex Skat Mercedes 124 so the Shitbox Prius might be gracing the foresale/roffle section once that Mercedes purchase completes. I know @Fabergé Greggs was keen so tagging as an update. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[paulplom]

How much will you be looking for and are they cheap for bairns to insure?

[Dave_Q]

I bet that few young people drive them so maybe cheap?

[Fabergé Greggs]

25 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

Well the only exciting news about the boring car is that it continues to be boring. 

It's been a year as an only car now so time for MOT prep and a *Winces* test. 

My prep consisted of plugging all the seatbelts in, washing the bird shit off and sticking a few more plaster decals over the cracks in the bumpers. 

 

 

That should be fine. 

 

Dropped it off for a test at 0958, went home to worry but didn't really have time. Got a call at 10:36. It's passed. Even got a free key ring. 

 

 

 

Few advisories but none of the bullchonk "general corrosion" and "damage noted" ones from previous tests. 

It's done a good job over the last year and I should really keep it. I've agreed to purchse Laquerpeel's Ex Skat Mercedes 124 so the Shitbox Prius might be gracing the foresale/roffle section once that Mercedes purchase completes. I know @Fabergé Greggs was keen so tagging as an update. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats on the pass- she's looking more resplendent than ever!

Thanks for the tag, definitely keen if the Merc works out for you. 

Cash w8ting. Collect 2nite etc. 

[Jim Bell]

29 minutes ago, paulplom said:

How much will you be looking for and are they cheap for bairns to insure?

Just what I paid man, £1500.  No idea on insurance though. Reg is in the pics if you need to run a quote. 

[garethj]

YKIMS

[sdkrc]

think I spotted your car in an old news clip @Jim Bell

[juular]

It brings a tear to my eye the sacrifices this little car has made to be with us today.

It still seems to like the attention though.

[sdkrc]