Shitting in the shallow end. *Arse friends electric*

[Jim Bell]

Unfortunately, the passenger side door has suffered some car park prick damage. 

 

 

 

 

Well it is a dailly driver and not a show car. 

[Jim Bell]

The one thing that the interior lacks (somehow) is a clock. There's not even one on the radio. 

Fortunately the Chinese are a fantastic bunch of lads and they sorted me out in a matter of weeks. 

Threw in an ambient temp gauge too. 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I know exactly how late for work I am and how cold it is outside. 

[skattrd]

Are the hatch struts ok and not too strong?

When I replaced the struts on my Sera with shiny new ones they were so powerful it flung the lid up ferociously , so I ended up fitting one new one instead of two.

[Jim Bell]

17 minutes ago, skattrd said:

Are the hatch struts ok and not too strong?

When I replaced the struts on my Sera with shiny new ones they were so powerful it flung the lid up ferociously , so I ended up fitting one new one instead of two.

I fitted one and it still dropped in the wind so put both on. They are strong (MAX LIFT), but catching it on the way up is second nature to me for some reason. I'm happy enough with the balance of them for what they cost, compared to what Honda would want for something with an OEM part number. 

[Jim Bell]

Also added a bit of colour to the load area. I've always wanted a proper giffer style car blanket but never had a car that one looked right in. They just look stupid on a hatchback parcel shelf. 

I do love this look though. 

 

 

 

OAP TEC

 

 

 

 

Still loving it. 

[egg]

Rockauto always deliver. Top marks for overseas parts importation. Once we do a trade deal with Trump it will be even better*.

[DVee8]

You now need a nice panama hat.

 

Even though the rear headrest looks like one in the last photo..

[Tickman]

24 minutes ago, DVee8 said:

Even though the rear headrest looks like one in the last photo

Front headrests, no rears.

[DVee8]

2 minutes ago, Tickman said:

Front headrests, no rears.

Of course it is..lol

[Jim Bell]

*adds hat to shopping list*

[flat4alfa]

25 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

*adds hat and comedy sunglasses to shopping list*

FTFY

 

[Jamie]

I fucking love your updates... Yawns fine under its own strength ??

[Cavcraft]

When you roffle this it'll be like the Dave_B days and Autoshite's server will just explode.

[flat4alfa]

2 x £25 tickets please

[Jim Bell]

No thanks. 

[flat4alfa]

Oh dear I appear to have done an offended

Muchos Apologias

or should that be gomen-nasai [ ごめんなさい  ]

looking forward to the electrical hybrid roffle of exceptional excellence

[paulplom]

I've got one you can have. I'll bring it to the next meet. Or you can collect it.

 

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Brought the Panda back out into the sunlight for a run round today. 

It's been packed away in the gloom for nearly three weeks. 

 

Very unsurprisingly it started up 1st turn and drove straight out. 

 

 

 

Took it for a little spin round to cheer it up as even good cars don't really like to be sat still for a long time. 

 

It flicked on the power steering light again (just as it did earlier in the thread when it was collected after sitting) 

 

But after a 25 minute potter around, that popped back off. The word is that's they're just VERY sensitive to volt drops. Even with enough juice in the battery to start it 4 times in 5 mins after sitting in the garage, it still popped the light on. 

It's such a nippy little thing to drive, but it's no good just sat in the garage 90% of the time, so it'll be sold. 

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Is that an old school Nokia car aerial? Never seen one in red and white before.

[hairnet]

no thats jims hard on from driving the panda

 

[skattrd]

I'm not sure about the state of your mats, but I saw PP post over on the FB group that Autostyle have taken templates to make mats for these, which should be available in a week or so.

edit: I've just checked, and they are on the site already, but automatic only front mats by the look if it

https://www.autostyle.co.uk/catalog2/index.php.

[Jim Bell]

17 minutes ago, skattrd said:

I'm not sure about the state of your mats, but I saw PP post over on the FB group that Autostyle have taken templates to make mats for these, which should be available in a week or so.

edit: I've just checked, and they are on the site already, but automatic only front mats by the look if it

https://www.autostyle.co.uk/catalog2/index.php.

Cheers fella.

I saw through the FB group that they were coming up. Mine are in great order though so no need for new ones for a good few thousand miles yet. 

[Jim Bell]

Update for those wondering how a mk1 Insight would do on 100% local driving, the results are in. This should be a reasonable indication of the WORST it would return. This tank has been mainly been 10 mile trips around the doors locally with no long runs out. 

 

Computer reacons 58.1 mpg over 403 miles. 

Not bad on 30 litres. 

 

 

 

 

Pen and paper maths (well, putting all the appropriate numbers into Fuelly) actually shows a slightly higher result. 

 

 

 

 

That's pretty impressive really. 

 

 

Bonus night time shot at a local dealers. 

 

 

So if anyone was wondering if driving an old Insight is actually economical under real world conditions, the answer for me has been a big YES.  

It beats the Panda hands down on the mpg stakes (the 1.3 multijet is returning 51mpg on a similar tank of runs), it's also more comfortable (as long as you've only got one passenger) and it looks much cooler. 

 

Still loving it. 

[garbaldy]

4 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

Still loving it. 

The million dollar question is for how long ?

[Jim Bell]

Just now, garbaldy said:

The million dollar question is for gow long ?

I dunno man, we'll have to wait and see. 

[320touring]

Just now, garbaldy said:

The million dollar question is for gow long ?

Scientists are still trying to calculate a unit small enough to express the value of time he remains enamoured avec teh scrap

[jonny69]

Wait a minute, FUCK YEAH! Been off the forum for a few weeks so I missed this. I’ve got one too, silver CVT auto. 

Mostly use mine commuting in shitty outer London traffic and get between 58 and 60mpg per tank, bit more in the summer when the air is warm. Averaged 76mpg over the 30k miles when I was doing the longer commute. Best I got on a 57 mile journey was 114mpg but the auto is worse on fuel than the manual so you should be able to clear 120mpg on a run. Lowest I’ve managed to get a tank is probably about 56mpg and that was all local journeys when the IMA battery was playing up. A knacked 12V battery will also hit your MPGs noticeably. 

[jonny69]

I would post something funny in the spirit of the thread, but I’m not funny any more. 

[Jim Bell]

You're still funny man.

(whispers behind hand) he was never funny (stops whispering behind hand)

Are you grid charging yours @jonny69 ?

How's it getting on with being laid up with the BIG VIRUS cockdown?

Getting a bit worried about mine sitting still. Think I'm gonna give mine a charge this week. Which will be interesting. Extension lead out of a window, through the garden, over a wall, across a footpath and into the car. 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Boring boring mpg update. 

 

 

Still on local 10 mile ish runs (before lockdown) and with adjusted driving style (more boost and coast where sensible) and the results are up a bit. Still less than half a tank in, but the numbers are up. 

 

Still loving it.