The grumpy thread

[MikeR]

did I say I had the joy of another return  trip between the north and M25 ...........

 

I really appreciate how some people must feel who drive all day , and the number of twonks who act like complete arseholes in traffic jams ...

[alcyonecorporation]

I'm getting hacked off trying to insure this fucking C15.

 

Sat on the phone the first time I tried to buy it, got an high but not unreasonable quote.

 

Finally able to buy the van, go back to accept the quote and it had expired. Run the same details through the system just over 30 days later the quote has MORE THAN DOUBLED.

 

Classic car policies won't touch it (too new, a van), car policies won't quote me happy (not a car) and van policies won't cover me for anything approaching a sane amount of money.

 

How do I insure it? Bear in mind it cost me £34 to add the Impreza to my classic car policy.

Insurance logic makes no sense.

[Captain Furious]

Ring the first company back and play dumb, think there must be a glitch, got this quote, went to buy it but it’s doubked...see if they'll get it down anywhere near the original.

[AlabamaShrimp]

F-i-L gave us a [used] cot bed just before our first was born, which we've had set up for the last 18 months and has still never been used.

 

Went to list it on a facebook free kids stuff page, and looking up what it is has revealed a 'safety notice' from 2010 requiring a strip of aluminium to be posted out and fitted to hold the top and bottom bits together in case of idiots.

 

Why a grump? I don't care, and we aren't going to use it, but I don't want it clogging up the bedroom any longer and we can't very well offer it out knowing it's *UNSAFE*. But it's a perfectly good bed, if someone needed one, and now it's going in the skip.

Sod that sell it anyway. Or open the gap, fill with wood glue and close it. It'll never open up then.

[alcyonecorporation]

Ring the first company back and play dumb, think there must be a glitch, got this quote, went to buy it but it’s doubked...see if they'll get it down anywhere near the original.

Tried. Complained. Tried again. No dice.

 

"Those are the rates blah blah Vnuk, blah blah Ogden rate blah bling jizz dribble IPT rate increase"

 

Yeah, but an increase of nearly £600 in just over a month? Er.....

[Captain Furious]

It’s not a new thing tbh, first car I ever insured I got a quote to insure it on the 29th June 1996...(this was face to face in an insurance brokers in town) it was something like £570...I said ok I’m happy with that, but I’m not going to tax it until the 1st July so can we start it from then....yes certainly, taps away on her computer for a second, that will be £780. Sorry what? Even the girl behind the counter was baffled, “Julys rates you see” - I insured it from the 29th.

 

Like you say, Insurance follows no known logic.

[alcyonecorporation]

Getting closer. Trying a bit of the old third party jism.

[Jazoli]

I'm the kind of dope,  so I decided to pop the impact gun on it 

 

You are, you should never ever use an impact gun on a bike unless its to undo the clutch nut, fork bottom bolts or front sprocket nut, but you know that now

[Talbot]

I'm getting hacked off trying to insure this fucking C15.

Budget Van insurance. I used to insure by Mobile Block of Flats (Citroen C25 LWB high-top) for about £135/annum when I had it on the road.

[Talbot]

I think you just click the thanks again it goes. If not, never mind.

[Eddie Honda]

Getting closer. Trying a bit of the old third party jism.

 

 

When I used to own the misery van (16yo Merc 207, c. 2001), the insurance was bill was massive (because courier use).

 

The TPO quote the broker came up with was £2500 (NU/Aviva), the Comp (AXA) £1300.

 

Good luck with finding a specialist broker that won't ride you raw.

[Talbot]

Mine was on fully comp but not business use. Budget seemed to understand that some private individuals use vans privately and priced accordingly.

[Guest Hooli]

Why do so many people drive at 50-60 down the motorway? Is there some new unwritten rule that the limit has been lowered? In fact, when joining the M4 the other day they was a woman in a Ka driving at 45mph, stayed at that until the next junction, bloody carnage, lorries using lane 3 etc and she was totally oblivious.

 

When the fuck are people going to realise that driving below 60 on the inside lane just slows everyone else down as lorries sit at 60 mph pretty much all the time hence then need to use lane 2 and cause anyone else trying to make good progress to have to use lane 3 all the time.

 

FFS if you can't even do 70mph then get the fuck off the motorway and use an A road, if your averaging 50/55mph it will probably be quicker and certainly more enjoyable, leave the motorway for what it was intended for, fast moving vehicles and freight.

 

I've noticed this over the last few years, what I don't get is why? It's always new cars, so if you're that skint why did you buy something with monthly payments you can't pay & have to crawl like a snail to save money on fuel?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I thought 70 was a limit, not a target.

[Captain Furious]

Quite often, most days infact, I stay in the inside lane with the lorries doing 56mph on my commute, it’s just not worth getting involved in all the pushing and shoving in lanes 2 and 3 to get there 90 seconds sooner.

[dollywobbler]

I thought 70 was a limit, not a target.

 

Indeed, though if they're going to play that rule, they could at least GET OUT OF THE FUGGIN MIDDLE LANE. Or the third lane of the M25 it seems.

[strangeangel]

 It's always new cars

 

Nope, you'll very likely see me kroozing at 60 in the BX and especially the CJ, what with the wind noise and the messing up of my hair when the roof is down. I will also do 60 up the motorway on any of the variety of ancient scooters that adorn my garage. Not that I have to justify this, but mechanical empathy and not wasting fuel are key to making long trips aboard such ancient devices.

 

 My advice to anyone who wants to go faster? Don't whine or wave and GO THE FUCK ROUND ME. Hardly rocket science, is it?

[Guest Hooli]

Nope, you'll very likely see me kroozing at 60 in the BX and especially the CJ, what with the wind noise and the messing up of my hair when the roof is down. I will also do 60 up the motorway on any of the variety of ancient scooters that adorn my garage. Not that I have to justify this, but mechanical empathy and not wasting fuel are key to making long trips aboard such ancient devices.

 

 My advice to anyone who wants to go faster? Don't whine or wave and GO THE FUCK ROUND ME. Hardly rocket science, is it?

 

Yeah that'll work if you're one of the few who do it in the left hand lane. Most of the fuck nuggets I see prefer to do it alongside trucks ffs.

[Saabnut]

Well, another great* day! Started off with thick fog and heavy rain, so decided to visit Kinkersaab and drink his coffee, and took the super reliable* P38 for a run, to make sure the suspension was behaving itself after this weeks fix. Within 3 miles, the rain turned to snow and soon there was 2" of snow on the road, so was glad I had taken the P38. As I went further inland and higher, the snow thinned and after about another 5 miles it was dry, sunny and warm, and snow free. As I started to press on a bit, I was not happy with the handling round bends, so slowed it down a bit until I got to Kinkers, where I checked tyre pressures, and sure enough 2 were low, one very much so. Happy that was fixed, shite was talked and coffee drunk.

On leaving, I decided to call in at Tescos, and stick 30 quid of diesel in, so if I needed four wheel drive in the coming week, it would be ready to go. This Tescos has the pay at pump things, where you can pre set the amount delivered, so pressed the tenner button 3 times and started to fill. When it got to 10 quid, the pump shut down, the bloody thing had only registered the first press. Whilst 10 quid barely wet the bottom of the tank, it at least meant I would have enough to get to a fuel station if it was needed during the week, so decided that would do for today and started out towards home. The handling did not seem to have improved, despite the addition of compressed air to the tyres, but hey ho. As I progressed, I noticed the rear of the Rangey seemed to be a bit bouncy, and when stopping at traffic lights, it took a while for the car to stop bouncing!

Took my time for the remaining 10 miles home, but it was obvious that there was no damping at all at the rear, and spent the journey trying to remember if the air suspension had conventional shockers as well, and I am fairly sure it does, so thought I would check when I got home. On the way down my track, as well as the bouncing, I got the distinct feeling the rear axle was moving around. Of course it was nearly dark by the time I got home, so will have to check it tomorrow, but I fear this could be the death knell for the P38.

Got home, put the kettle on and the phone rang, a friend had just fitted a new rear calliper to his MX5 but the rear brake was still getting hot. Finished my tea, and took the Polio to have a look. It would seem he has managed to purchase a faulty calliper but will go and have a proper look tomorrow. Went out to the Polio and now the damned nearside headlight bulb has blown, which according to the book needs the bumper removing to change it, like the offside. I managed to change the offside one a couple of weeks ago, so will remove the battery etc tomorrow and see if I can get to that one. FFS I hate modern cars!

This is the first winter where I have taken all the classics off the road and relied on moderns (ie post 1970s) and 2 out of 3 develop faults in one day. Going to find a cheap old banger for  next winter.

[Christine]

F.I.L. Grandad (92 ) had an accident.... parked  driver opened his door without looking behind first    Grandad clobbered it.. More distressed now , especially after losing his hubcap last month !!

Need a wing and liner,  a door and electric mirror ...Anyone near Ealing,? There's one  being broken in  the right colour on Ebay , but I cant do London !! Van's too old  Can do outside the M25...

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

.....Anyone near Ealing,? ...

I work in Ealing.

[Christine]

 Oooo , Could you get the panels to somewhere outside the 25 , if i can buy them ? I'm in  Sussex , and would coming anticlockwise ... They are W13 8PJ

[Tadhg Tiogar]

 Oooo , Could you get the panels to somewhere outside the 25 , if i can buy them ? I'm in  Sussex , and would coming anticlockwise ...

Depends when. I have a full diary in the office this coming week, but week after is do-able. Where are the panels to be collected from?

[Christine]

 W13 8PJ

[Tadhg Tiogar]

W13 8PJ

West Ealing. Just along the way from my office on New Broadway, W5. Hmmm.... *starts juggling times*

 

That postcode happens to be very near to where I park the car (free parking) in the morning.

[Christine]

Looks ideal for a getting a puncture !

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Looks ideal for a getting a puncture !

Gordon Road. One of my clients lives there.

 

No problem collecting. Just a matter of when to come down to Sussex....

[Christine]

 I can come and get them , I just need  them to be outside the M25...! Preferably very late when the roads are quiet too. I hate traffic..and the 25 .. 

 

I meant i'd come m25 clockwise..i'm an idiot !!

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I can come and get them , I just need  them to be outside the M25...! Preferably very late when the roads are quiet too. I hate traffic..and the 25

Er.... I can offer (just) outside the M25, but it would be a hack for you to come up to Kings Langley / Sarratt (where my horse is).

[Christine]

I'd do it if it was early on a Sunday morning..     I'll wait to hear what the ebay seller has left and get back to you . Thanks