The grumpy thread

[Mike D]

I am fuming this afternoon after wasting a 420 mile round trip to go and see a supposedly 'mint' JZA80 Supra.... looked great in the pics, described as excellent exterior and interior, loads of history and receipts, and ran like new....

 

I agreed to come and see it this morning at 9am with the nobhead selling it earlier in the week.. arrived to no one about, had to ring and wake the lazy bastard up.... Car was sat with a flat battery, it doesn't really take much to charge the bastard up before someone comes to view it! Anyway, it was a right shitbox, one rear arch was full of wob, the mint bodywork was covered in dents, battery was dead, the mint interior had numerous trim pieces missing, speaker covers falling off, the electric seats wouldn't move forward.... wrong grade of oil bottle laying in the boot, engine well overfilled....

 

Fecking tossbags...

 

Don't buy this car!!!! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2326958.htm

[Lord Sterling]

I think it depends who you bank with. Taxpayer-funded Halifax/Bank of Scotland is great for online money transfers, you just tap the name, amount, account number and sort code in, it's often instant.

It's the way I receive my earnings much of the time, which was a relief after my last job where I was paid by cheque.

 

I use what is now Santander but began life as the National Girobank.

Has always been excellent and online payments/standing orders/direct debits are a doddle.

There are often payments between my account and my#3 daughter's (Barclays) and the reverse, same with my youngest son (Lloyds)

 

I'm talking about a specific bank, not all of them. I used to be a Lloyds TSB customer and despite thier questionable banking practises, huge charges and dipping into your account when they have no right to etc... Thier online banking services was great, easy to use, user-friendly layout and a doddle. My current bank's online layout is a huge mess, difficult to use, you have to a seperate card-reader (Like a small calculator) to get codes in order to complete transactions.

[mattblack]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HELP-HEROES-CHARI ... 41536382f2

 

London to NEWQUAY!?!?!.... are you FUCKING MENTAL????

 

[barefoot]

Rat look & a narrowed beam

 

 

 

Mmm, I wonder what improvements that will make to ride, handling, longevity or resale value.

[seth]

Rat look & a narrowed beam

 

Mmm, I wonder what improvements that will make to ride, handling, longevity or resale value.

 

I still can't find a beam under there...

 

As for the rest I guess ride is probably a bit harsh, handling interesting, it'll last as long as any other car depending on how its looked after and you can keep an eye on the auction for the value. But then don't stress yourself about it too much as its not yours.

[55bloke]

The phrase "More money than sense" springs to mind!

[BMC Dan]

Each to their own I guess but this tidy one owner 1968 Cambridge on another forum that was dry stored from 1981 to 2003 and was totally original with a number of period accessories fitted has now been given the usual 'classic scene' treatment as you can see by the removal of those 60's spotlamps and grille badges and replacing the dealer fitted raised letter reflective plates with wanky looking black and silver jobbies (apparently it's what it would have had originally ). The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

[trigger]

I am fuming this afternoon after wasting a 420 mile round trip to go and see a supposedly 'mint' JZA80 Supra.... looked great in the pics, described as excellent exterior and interior, loads of history and receipts, and ran like new....

 

I agreed to come and see it this morning at 9am with the nobhead selling it earlier in the week.. arrived to no one about, had to ring and wake the lazy bastard up.... Car was sat with a flat battery, it doesn't really take much to charge the bastard up before someone comes to view it! Anyway, it was a right shitbox, one rear arch was full of wob, the mint bodywork was covered in dents, battery was dead, the mint interior had numerous trim pieces missing, speaker covers falling off, the electric seats wouldn't move forward.... wrong grade of oil bottle laying in the boot, engine well overfilled....

 

Fecking tossbags...

 

Don't buy this car!!!! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2326958.htm

 

I feel your pain, I have also experienced this ugly side of buying cars as many on here will know...

[trigger]

The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

I can see where your coming from Dan but I'd much rather see that happen then it just being another rodded/rat rod special bought by someone with no love for it and it just rust away to scrap, At least is going to be cared for and enjoyed.

[Alexg]

The only car I spent 'proper' money on is my Girlfriends Aygo I got for her 2 months ago. A one elderly owner '56' plate Sport 5 door, 15k miles with full Toyota history stamped up till 3 weeks before I bought it, aircon alloys etc. I happily gave 4k for it, especially due to its 'out the box' condition.

 

Yesterday found someone has keyed down the drivers door, fucking deep too

 

 

Oh FFS, went out today to try and get the VVC running and out the garage. It needed a jump so went to get my company motor (Nissan Note- future shite) and some prick has fucking keyed that as well! Exactly the same as the Aygo. If I catch this cunt I'm going to smash his fucking face in

[dollywobbler]

The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

I can see where your coming from Dan but I'd much rather see that happen then it just being another rodded/rat rod special bought by someone with no love for it and it just rust away to scrap, At least is going to be cared for and enjoyed.

 

Aye. I agree with Trig. The number plates look crap though. I feel a rant coming on there...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

I can see where your coming from Dan but I'd much rather see that happen then it just being another rodded/rat rod special bought by someone with no love for it and it just rust away to scrap, At least is going to be cared for and enjoyed.

 

Aye. I agree with Trig. The number plates look crap though. I feel a rant coming on there...

 

At least rodded/rat look has a bit of character, Seth's old one for example. Like Dan said removing all the old boy period modifications has turned it into a generic 'cla**ic car'.

[eddyramrod]

I did enquire about getting some pop-on-letter plates for my Granada to replace the home-made-looking black pair that are on it now. Apparently they are no longer being made (not here anyway) which makes them all the more valuable on that Cambridge. It's a 1967/68 car, it most likely would have worn them from new, the black plates are not correct. White and yellow backgrounds were introduced in about 1967 IIRC; I remember my dad's Cortina (HWM 457F) being delivered with black, which he later replaced with the new style. By the way, if you have to pay UK road tax, you shouldn't be using black plates at all. The new style was made compulsory from the beginning of 73.

[Guest]

I don't really have a massive problem with people putting cars back to standard really. For all we know, the spotlights could have been a right lash-up - electrical tape all over the joint and housings which slowly fill up when it rains. I'm sure the badges went to someone who wanted them. Not saying I didn't like it in its old state, but it's hardly ruined by them getting the rot out, painting it and swapping a few bits round.

 

Hope the old plates are in the boot though.

[seth]

I did enquire about getting some pop-on-letter plates for my Granada to replace the home-made-looking black pair that are on it now. Apparently they are no longer being made (not here anyway) which makes them all the more valuable on that Cambridge.

 

Framptons do them, as do other places I think.

 

http://www.framptons.net/

 

Thank you Leonard, I do still have it though but I suppose it is "old"

 

Better that treatment than the oval for the Cambridge.

[eddyramrod]

Now that we've all had a go, let's remember: this is his car to do what he likes with! It's none of our business what he does, although of course we can all have an opinion; we will, that's human nature. If he wants to paint a maroon stripe on it, or whatever else he decides to do, then as long as it makes him happy, fine.

I realise these comments could now be used to defend the VW-led "ratlook" scene and many other assorted crimes against cars, but if anyone tries that, I'll sulk. I'm only defending his choice (and reluctantly) because I'm building a similar-aged A40 in a style of my choosing, rather than showroom-stock. And that's against very similar comments made to my face by owners of other classic cars.

 

Would my Granada have worn whitewall tyres in 1972? Pretty bloody unlikely. Will it in 2011? Take a guess. Who will complain? Very few, probably (I hope!).

[Guest]

Nice to see Framptons have these on offer:

 

To be fair they said they'd do pre-2001 style plates when I asked them a couple of years ago, but it's nice to see a picture of them. Might get some!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Each to their own I guess but this tidy one owner 1968 Cambridge on another forum that was dry stored from 1981 to 2003 and was totally original with a number of period accessories fitted has now been given the usual 'classic scene' treatment as you can see by the removal of those 60's spotlamps and grille badges and replacing the dealer fitted raised letter reflective plates with wanky looking black and silver jobbies (apparently it's what it would have had originally ). The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

 

WTF! Hes just tidied it up a bit, hardly a fuggin crime that is it! What if the chrome on the spotlamps was manky? I'd take them off too. It looks like he's gone to town on shining it up, thats the first time i've ever heard of that being a rant. Jesus.

[eddyramrod]

Seth, thank you for that link, what a find! I feel a hit on the credit card coming...

[55bloke]

Each to their own I guess but this tidy one owner 1968 Cambridge on another forum that was dry stored from 1981 to 2003 and was totally original with a number of period accessories fitted has now been given the usual 'classic scene' treatment as you can see by the removal of those 60's spotlamps and grille badges and replacing the dealer fitted raised letter reflective plates with wanky looking black and silver jobbies (apparently it's what it would have had originally ). The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

 

WTF! Hes just tidied it up a bit, hardly a fuggin crime that is it! What if the chrome on the spotlamps was manky? I'd take them off too. It looks like he's gone to town on shining it up, thats the first time i've ever heard of that being a rant. Jesus.

 

Absolutely!! I think I'd have probably done something similar, had I been the one lucky enough to buy it. And of course, it is his to do what he likes with - just be thankful it's not being bangered.

[MrDuke]

[MrDuke]

Each to their own I guess but this tidy one owner 1968 Cambridge on another forum that was dry stored from 1981 to 2003 and was totally original with a number of period accessories fitted has now been given the usual 'classic scene' treatment as you can see by the removal of those 60's spotlamps and grille badges and replacing the dealer fitted raised letter reflective plates with wanky looking black and silver jobbies (apparently it's what it would have had originally ). The owner is now considering painting a maroon stripe on it too so rather than it being a genuine 'old boy special' it's now just another show car with less charm imo.

 

 

WTF! Hes just tidied it up a bit, hardly a fuggin crime that is it! What if the chrome on the spotlamps was manky? I'd take them off too. It looks like he's gone to town on shining it up, thats the first time i've ever heard of that being a rant. Jesus.

 

Exactly - all he's done is unbolt some stuff and swap the plates. I personally think a stripe wouldn't hurt it, either.

 

Jeez, be thankful I didn't get my hands on it, she'd be riding the bumpstops and wearing 5 litres of satin brown by now...

[dollywobbler]

Oooh, I quite fancy lobbing some proper-size number plates on the 2CV and Mini. HATE the skinny font. Shame I've got no dough.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

That old font acrylic numberplate is excellent, though some of the characters look a bit wonky. It would look wrong many cars though. I remember it being an Austin Rover/Rover Group favourite, and selected on some manufacturer registered Peugeot and Rover numberplates up until about 1995.

[wuvvum]

That looks like they've used the stick-on characters you can buy from motor factors, then laminated them.

[Angrydicky]

Come on guys, give Dan a break. What I will say is there are a few nice features of the car that could have been kept to add to the interest, however as has been said at least it's in the hands of an enthusiast who is spending money on it and it is a nice looking car, rather than some half-arsed rat project or being ovalled.

 

The numberplate thing is a bit of a shame, but I don't suppose he's thrown the original plates away, and could be reinstated in the future. Everything he's done is reversable.

[Lankytim]

Those plastic black and silver numberplates do look a bit wank though.

[BMC Dan]

Ok everyone I must admit I did overeact a bit!! At least it's in safe hands now and will be looked after for many years to come, and the new plates will probably save the owner getting moaned at by the 'educated on 60's culture by Heartbeat' brigade at shows about why it has 'incorrect white and yellow plates' too.

[Angrydicky]

I'm actually waiting for someone to comment on the Landcrab's (original) reflective plates (1971 K reg) and tell me they are wrong for the year.

[trigger]

I've got to agree about the plates, when i got mine it had black and white plates fitted which i quickly swapped with the original pressed steel ones which came with it as i personally think they suit it more.

 

1972 Opel Kadett 1.2 31S by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1972 Opel Kadett B 1.2 31S by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr