The grumpy thread

[ShiteRider]

I not getting the datsun laurel.

We agreed ( Alan the salvage guy and myself) on £200, and i'd pay him when i get paid.

He assumed he'd get it for bridge money and make £50 out of me for fuck all, apparently not, the insurance company put it on the "system"* with a start price of £250**........it ended this morning at £700.

 

 

 

 

* I'm guessing co-part or similar

** Because, somewhat surprisingly considering the state of the car,, they paid out £1700

[dugong]

Buyer for my GS has pulled out. 

Its time is up. I can't keep it any longer. 

[warren t claim]

Buyer for my GS has pulled out. 

 

Its time is up. I can't keep it any longer. 

Is it still in Bootle?

[dugong]

Is it still in Bootle?

Probably. 

[Ghosty]

The first time maybe not, the following two DEFO. Profitable trip each time though it has to be said, so can't complain too much.

Did they base Roadwars on that estate by the way? It's shit where I live, but there isn't as many 15 year old looking lads driving brand new Fiestas up the pavement.

That's nearby Wythenshawe, probably only Moss Side is worse. Withington is on the edge of student land.

[alf892]

Amazon rebuild is starting to get irritating. 

 

Bloke who did the suspension work still won't say how much I owe him after me asking repeatedly for four months. 

 

The engine has come out to allow the bay to be sprayed. I said to the garage doing the work that I cannot, cannot, CANNOT afford an engine rebuild because the B18 is not staying in the car forever. I wanted it refreshing (i.e. gaskets, rings and a carb rebuild) to stop it breathing heavily and puking oil all over the drive. 

 

Bloke has taken the engine out and has now said it smokes (er, no it doesn't) and that it's pissing oil out of every location. He says that a ring and gasket replacement will still make it smoke (except it doesn't smoke, it just breathes heavily) and that it's pointless replacing them without doing a full engine rebuild. We agreed on an earlier refreshment price of £250 and now says the rebuild will be £600. I have said again and again and again and again I have no more money left and CANNOT afford to have the engine rebuilt. I don't want the engine rebuilt because I want to spend the money on the B20.

 

I don't see how it's suddenly starting leaking oil from the front crank oil seal when said oil seal is less than 2 years old and made of neoprene, ditto at the back. They now need an answer quickly (after two weeks of no contact) meaning I have reschedule what I'm doing to go down and discuss it tomorrow. 

 

Tell you what lads - instead of leaning on me to have work done that I don't want \ can't afford (the amount in the pot for the work hasn't changed), put the engine back in the car untouched and run some engine cleaner over it. I'll sort it at a later date. I know that engine and I know that car. Scaremongering will not work on me when the car was perfectly capable of moving under its own power. It can now stop and corner better, so there you go. 

 

I wish people would do what I bloody tell them to when I'm paying the bills.

 

Agree with your point about following instructions...........surely just get back to calm and inform him you will take the risk on outcome and he just needs to do what you want?

 

I would add though that if it is breathing heavy it very (VERY)likely to leak.

 

When you take an old engine apart 'drawing the line' on repair is very difficult. I have done a few old Continental flatheads over the years and they will run fantastically with very little sign of distress...yet when you strip them there will be bearing shells turning in the ends and crank end float that makes a Triumph 1500 look fine. Old 4.203s will soldier on with valves flapping around in the guides and pistons/cranks that find their own middle quite happily.

 

Old engines are like that.

[HillmanImp]

Moving house today. Grrr. 

 

Must stop looking at shit on here and pack some shizzle. 

[dugong]

Agree with your point about following instructions...........surely just get back to calm and inform him you will take the risk on outcome and he just needs to do what you want?

 

I would add though that if it is breathing heavy it very (VERY)likely to leak.

 

When you take an old engine apart 'drawing the line' on repair is very difficult. I have done a few old Continental flatheads over the years and they will run fantastically with very little sign of distress...yet when you strip them there will be bearing shells turning in the ends and crank end float that makes a Triumph 1500 look fine. Old 4.203s will soldier on with valves flapping around in the guides and pistons/cranks that find their own middle quite happily.

 

Old engines are like that.

It's not that I disagree with what he's saying, it's the way he's saying it. I know that engine has issues, but it's not staying in the car forever. That £600 would go a long way to making that B20 sweet, even if it is seized solid. 

 

I need to know what I owe this bloke who did the suspension so that I can get an idea of what's left in the pot. 

[M'coli]

"So, we'll say £20, plus whatever the parts were at cost for the supension rebuild - are you happy with that?" might goad him into action.

 

 

Ps, What do you intend to do with the GS?  don't answer this if you don't want to.

[purplebargeken]

Just tell em to wipe it over and put it back in and you will sort out alternatives, Make sure you do this verbally and via email or letter (just so that there is a proper record). This can also be used to formally request a price update in preparation for final payment. make it clear that you have already informed them of your budget and/or limited funds and whatever was agreed. Written is always best, that way there is no error or bollocking around. verbal is dead useless.

 

By the way, my Ammie is staying.

[dugong]

 

Ps, What do you intend to do with the GS?  don't answer this if you don't want to.

You know me, and you know my limited tolerance for situations like this. My threat to frag it was not an empty one. 

One last shot on eBay (with an insulting reserve) and then I'll strip it for the engine, box, wheels, bonnet and boot lid, bumpers and grille. The rest I will have crushed into a cube. In 1080p. 

 

It'd make a nice feature, don't you think?

 

GSs are supposed to be rare and sought after. The supposed 'enthusiasts' of the model couldn't give a toss about it, and whenever that particular car is mentioned all I seem to get is a load of sniggering and comments along the lines of 'Well, no-one wants that, it's fucked.' 

 

Ah well, I'll be laughing my bits off soon. Can't wait to see their reaction. 

I never thought the boot would be on my other foot. What a sad state of affairs. 

[dugong]

 

By the way, my Ammie is staying.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. 

 

On the engine front, don't worry. I'm not being 'done', I'm just leaving the suspension bloke to ring me himself. Unfortunately as he didn't finish the job, I'll pay him back at my leisure (and I do mean, 'leisure' as in whatever I happen to have spare per week) he does come out of the woodwork. 

 

I also have a very reliable witness for whatever transpires today. 

[Micrashed]

I am ill and have the shits and for the first time in my adult life shit the bed.

 

Quite literally.

 

Fuck. Its all downhill from now isnt it?

[Micrashed]

Three times I've been to the same place (Withington*) this week, inc. twice today and I'm forced to conclude that a very large proportion of drivers in the Manchester area are weapons grade bellends, especially the wankers on the M56.

 

*What a lovely place.

Carry on down the Parkway/56 and get off at Newall Green - then pop into the Newall Green pub and tell me its not worse than Withington. I lived there (Newall Green not the pub) for 6 years.

[chaseracer]

You know me, and you know my limited tolerance for situations like this. My threat to frag it was not an empty one. 

One last shot on eBay (with an insulting reserve) and then I'll strip it for the engine, box, wheels, bonnet and boot lid, bumpers and grille. The rest I will have crushed into a cube. In 1080p.

Sorry to hear about this, Jon. Sadly, you would probably make more folding - and have an easier time - flogging the GS in bits... 

[Caffiend]

Women. (sorry caffiend)

 

That's OK, I'm a bloke in a woman's body: it takes an apocalypse to make me ask for directions, RTFM* or go shopping for clothes.

 

*= read the effing manual.

 

Get the LDV and help me move, I'll pay you

[Bobthebeard]

I am ill and have the shits and for the first time in my adult life shit the bed.

 

Quite literally.

 

Fuck. Its all downhill from now isnt it?

Sadly so.....

The odd botty burp is excusable here. You are amongst friends. I once sneezed in bed and made a terrible mess.... Was pissed and reading Practical Classics. Not entirely sure of the cause and never told anyone up til now!

[panhard65]

How true thit is and not just for citroen's. When I had my 14 there were lots of people saying they really want one but when it comes to it they won't put their hand in the pocket and pay for it. I did get a bit of grief when I weighed in a right hand drive one but it was offered around at bridge money with no takers. These dreamers won't buy and probably wouldn't have it if it was given to them but will still moan when you frag it. It is a shame to see a rare car go but we can't save em all. Be nice if it was saved but if it does go over the bridge plenty of pics to really wind the moaners up

GSs are supposed to be rare and sought after. The supposed 'enthusiasts' of the model couldn't give a toss about it, and whenever that particular car is mentioned all I seem to get is a load of sniggering and comments along the lines of 'Well, no-one wants that, it's fucked.' 

Ah well, I'll be laughing my bits off soon. Can't wait to see their reaction. 
I never thought the boot would be on my other foot. What a sad state of affairs. 

[dollywobbler]

The problem with the GS is that there is a limited market. Most Citroen addicts want a DS, a 2CV or a Traction, not a GS. (I do not include myself in that I hasten to add). Those that do want a GS want a good one (and I do include myself here) with corrosion being a major turn-off. Yours sadly has such troubles. I know one of the club experts has one with troubles that he's offered on the market and had no interest in at all (not helped by a too-high asking price). Very few people seem prepared to shell out to restore one because they know it's a ball-ache (that said, show me ANY car that isn't a ball-ache once you start digging). So, it's probably entirely true that the most sensible course of action is to break it and flog the bits. Tragic but that seems to be the reality.

 

French cars that aren't the few mainstream icons can be a nightmare to shift. Pete-M experienced it with his 604, Panhard65 with his 14 and now you with the GS. My guess is that it won't be too long before anything but an immaculate BX will be as popular come sale time as a Jimmy Savile Onesie. 

[HillmanImp]

I totally agree eith DW. With selling anything like that it will only sell when someone actually wants one. If you wanted a car you could punt on again at a moments notice you should have bought a 53 plate Mini.

 

It took about 6 months to sell on the DAF for the money i paid for it and the Lancia took even longer until i found someone who wanted it.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Its flipping impossible selling obscure old project shiz. If you think how many people there are out there who are thinking 'I fancy rebuilding an old GS' its probably 0 or less. Then factor in Xmas and it reduces by a further 10.

[Junkman]

Nobody buys anything. There is a crisis in England. Since 1966.

[Station]

Jon. It sounds like the ECU. It'll need a new one from the dealer at £2000. Also ABS doesn't work. £500 for new sensors. Also where's the cat? MOT fail that. Well Your car your money though, you do what you want. (Proceeds to suck teeth while vigorously scratching balls inside overalls pockets)

[Lord Sterling]

GSs are supposed to be rare and sought after. The supposed 'enthusiasts' of the model couldn't give a toss about it, and whenever that particular car is mentioned all I seem to get is a load of sniggering and comments along the lines of 'Well, no-one wants that, it's fucked.'

I know exactly where you are coming from Jon. Some vegtable feltcher called me a 'provocative knob' on the other Rover site because I'd discouraged someone from buying a D-reg Rover 820 currently on eBay, the potential buyer was moaning about it not being shiny, a manual and having a Grey interior.

 

Most people on that site seem far more worried about how shiny the car is rather than how rare it is, they honestly still expect to be able to buy a shiny Rover 800 with full Tax and test for less than £300 like its 2002 still or summat. It was an enthusiasts site once, but now its more of a sad 'look how shiny and sporty my car is' exercise.

[Station]

The GS is nice and anyone with welding skills could do a good job if it. It's not a stealth fighter.

[dugong]

 It's not a stealth fighter.

It's not a knackered Golf, knackered Escort Mk1 or a knackered Mini, so that's a 99% of the population who are 'into' old cars excluded. Then again, it's also my GS so that's the rest of the COC[ks] out of the running as well. 

 

I might have it cubed, dip the remains in chip fat and start posting pieces of it to Lacquer Peel. I have my bell-end status to uphold, innit. 

[Station]

I meant it's not double skinned with compound curves to negotiate etc

[Junkman]

It's not a knackered Golf, knackered Escort Mk1 or a knackered Mini, so that's a 99% of the population who are 'into' old cars excluded.

 

Add the bloody E-Type and you have 127% against you.

[dugong]

I meant it's not double skinned with compound curves to negotiate etc

It doesn't have a Bosch fuel pump or good tyres either so no-one wants it. PERHAPS IF I START RITING ABOUT IT WITH APPALLINGLY MISPLACED APOSTROPHE'S PEOPLE WIL TAKE ME SERIUSE

[garbaldy]

its flipping impossible selling obscure old project shiz

 

Not just old shiz selling anything seems pretty damn awkward these days nobody seems willing to pay even low prices for things, I virtually gave the 306 away still have the landy and van,

Its not that way when I am trying to buy something though every time I call up about a bike they want offers but wont give a ballpark wtf is all that about then, 

I am sitting with money in the pot waiting on winter bargain prices but I fear I may have to keep mine for another season.