Shitting in the shallow end. *Arse friends electric*

[Jim Bell]

The cracked tyres, shit and don't hold air. 

And one has a hitchhiker poked in it. 

[Jim Bell]

There's water in the drivers footwell. 

 

[Jim Bell]

Less than effective.............

[Barry Cade]

MUCH JELOS.

[Jim Bell]

The alternator pulley bearing isnt very unhappy and doesn't mind who finds out. 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

There's your list of things to be improved, so I got started. 

[Jim Bell]

There was no filler cap for the screenwash, which I believe is an IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE so I ordered one that would definitely fit from that eBay that they have on the internet these days. That's  an easy win right? Get the ball rolling on the improvement spreadsheet. 

The seller, helpfully send a small selection. 

 

 

Of course, none of them fucking fit. 

 

 

Sad pipe is sad. 

 

 

Being ingenious, I stole the top cover off a pot of home made festive jam and made the best of it. 

 

 

 

 

That'll keep the squirrels out. 

It'll do for now. 

 

[Jim Bell]

On to the tyres. 

The ones that were on were fucked and not the correct size. 

I ordered some Falken Sn110s in the factory correct size 165/65/14.  Reviews seem good and the price was right. 

Of course they're COMICALLY SMALL. 

Off to the races. 

 

 

 

 

 

ARCH GAPE

 

 

Got an alignment done too. Seems to have straightened the front out lovely. 

[Jim Bell]

Sorting the Cronch on second gear may prove more difficult and expensive but that is a worry for another day. Absolutely drivable and enjoyable as is. 

[Jim Bell]

Leave the gearbox for now and on to more important business. 

Floor mats. 

 

The fabric ones in the car were fucking embroidered with the dealers name and the drivers one was sodden. 

This will not do. 

 

 

 

Skoda Octavia ones nearly fit but are a bit too small. 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Fiat don't seem to do OEM rubber mats so I grabbed some lovely looking thick ones from eBay that were quickly template cut to the correct ish size. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They'll do fine. Happy with that. 

 

[Jim Bell]

And that's how she sits at the moment. 

 

Next up is a new alternator and a good service. 

 

All in all, I love it. They're great little cars and I've been after one for a while. 

There's work to be done, but it's worth it id say. 

 

[Broadsword]

That looks really fantastic. Must be so much fun! I’m a still kicking myself for not snagging your previous diesel Panda!!

[Stanky]

HOT TIP ALRET

if you save the smoll squares from excess rubber car mats, you can make tiny car mats for scale models cars, which in my experience are often left shamefully NUDE in the mat department.

I am only sharing this information with you because you are FAR AWAY and thus, less likely to enact a hostile takeover of my small but loyal customer base, here in the distant south.

Top work sir, the forum has been less good than it used to never be of late with fewer car purchase tales from your fine self, and a shameful lack of car mat related tomfoolery.

Gearbox might respond well to fresh oil and magic gloop unless its like some 4x4s and has 17 gearboxes hidden all over the place and costs more to refresh the oil in all of them than buying the car in the first place.

[GMcD]

Quality update(s)! Nice new addition, they are brilliant cars. 

Hope the cav enjoys its wee holiday. 

[sdkrc]

55 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

 

 

[UltraWomble]

1 hour ago, Jim Bell said:

Anyone that said Vauxhall Frontera was nearly right. 

 

 

 

I are dissapoint  - you no buy massey drive Cav.

[dome]

Top purchase! Hope you have just enough snow to make it fun. 

Does it drift yo?

[Jim Bell]

1 minute ago, dome said:

Top purchase! Hope you have just enough snow to make it fun. 

Does it drift yo?

Well we have had zero so far. 

No SKEEDS attempted so far. Disapointingly. 

[loserone]

Just now, Jim Bell said:

zero

You will have to pull your finger out and visit the garage fixing your other car.  

 

Bit of snow left here - it's melting fast but more is coming

[Bitzer]

2 hours ago, Jim Bell said:

There was no filler cap for the screenwash, which I believe is an IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE so I ordered one that would definitely fit from that eBay that they have on the internet these days. That's  an easy win right? Get the ball rolling on the improvement spreadsheet. 

The seller, helpfully send a small selection. 

 

 

Of course, none of them fucking fit. 

 

 

Sad pipe is sad. 

 

 

Being ingenious, I stole the top cover off a pot of home made festive jam and made the best of it. 

 

 

 

 

That'll keep the squirrels out. 

It'll do for now. 

 

There are certain items of hygienic nature available, which are used when e.g. dealing with certain ladies of frivolous nature. They are made from latex and often found in colorful boxes of three. I am sure one of these contraption would fit nicely over the screenwash bottle neck and replace the painfully missing cap in no time.

Obviously, the method comes with an inherent danger - leaving the open package in glove box could lead to a very extreme interrogation by Spanish Inquisition (AKA girlfriend/wife).

[Jim Bell]

1 minute ago, Bitzer said:

There are certain items of hygienic nature used when e.g. dealing with certain ladies of frivolous nature. They are made from latex and often found in colorful boxes of three. I am sure one of these contraption would fit nicely over the screenwash bottle neck and replace the painfully missing cap in no time.

Obviously, the method comes with an inherent danger - leaving the open package in glove box could lead to a very painful interrogation by Spanish Inquisition (AKA girlfriend/wife).

I'm sorry sir, but as Mormon, the best I can do is I hole cut in a pair of magic underpants. 

[Lacquer Peel]

Enjoyable new arrival. I have always admired the Panda 4x4. 

Did you know they are the only car as far as I know with a driven torsion beam rear axle? 

[Jim Bell]

7 minutes ago, Lacquer Peel said:

Enjoyable new arrival. I have always admired the Panda 4x4. 

Did you know they are the only car as far as I know with a driven torsion beam rear axle? 

I did not know that!

[cobblers]

I've always had a damp spot for these. I'm a bit disappointed though, You can get italian made remould mud terrain tyres, honestly there is no more suitable tyre for this car. (Other than they're noisy, wear fast, wobble, halve your MPG and BHP etc etc)

[Jim Bell]

10 minutes ago, cobblers said:

I've always had a damp spot for these. I'm a bit disappointed though, You can get italian made remould mud terrain tyres, honestly there is no more suitable tyre for this car. (Other than they're noisy, wear fast, wobble, halve your MPG and BHP etc etc)

Yes, the eventual plan is a lift kit and big knobblies. Even the remould mud tyres I was looking at were quite expensive. At the moment, some wet weather road tyres made best sense. 

 

One day plan:

 

[garbaldy]

Better make that one day plan this week then before you decide to sell it again.

Nice buy so what's the plan with the cavy. 

[Jim Bell]

3 minutes ago, garbaldy said:

 

Nice buy so what's the plan with the cavy. 

After its repaired and known good I think the Cavalier is going to be for sale man. 

Only room (and finances) for one keeper unfortunately. 

 

[garbaldy]

Cavvy looks pretty nice I better start saving my pennies for that raffle then 😉

[High Jetter]

So quite a dull, boring day then Jim? Thanks for sharing