Chris2cv's Fleet - Farewell to the Clio 14/10/24

[Chris2cv]

I thought that it was about time that I wrote about my fleet!  The Stepway has it’s own occasionally updated thread on the Modern board, but the others just get occasional mentions dotted around the place.

 The 2cv - A 1985 Citroen 2cv6 Special - Greased Lightning

 The 2cv was my first car. Bought way back in 1994, before I could even legally drive! My Dad and I tidied it up a bit, restoring the bumpers etc, it had some welding done and it was soon ready for the road. Quite a bit sooner than I was! It was my only car for 8 years, and I had many adventures in it (including 3 of my top ten worst journeys of all time!) I joined the local 2cv club (CARS) and went on a variety of rallies and club nights with them. I'm more of an "associate member now, as I haven't been to a meeting for a long time, but am still in the mailing list and sometimes see them at rallies. I still do a couple of rallies every year. It’s not immaculate, but it’s an “honest” well loved example.

 It is mostly standard, apart from the wheel trims and striped roof, which should only be on a Dolly. The “dalmatian skin” door cards came with the car and were not really to my taste. I briefly removed them, but it looked far too dull, so they went back in. There is now more padding in the (probably) four layers of seat covers than in the actual seats, another layer being added each time that the previous ones got tatty. Like many cars, there is an element of “Trigger’s broom” about it when debating how original it is, but it has not been restored, more preserved.

 Once I started working in the motor trade (which was probably a lot better for the car than when I was using it to deliver phone books!) I was getting quite a lot of earache about parking it outside the showroom. At the time, it was 17 years old, and I was considering changing to a newer car anyway. I finally had a regular, if not large, income and I had been looking at the various trade ins as they came in . Eventually I started to realise that if I bought a cheap one I would not necessarily be any better off than I was, but the decent newer ones were often not much cheaper than buying brand new.

 While I was thinking about the options one day, a worrying creak developed in the 2cv. While it was still driveable, something was clearly very wrong. My then mechanic declared the chassis “buggered”. On looking at it, there were A LOT of patches on it, and there just wasn’t really enough left to repair it. This made everything rather more urgent. (Funnily enough, the previous year, the MOT tester said "this weldings awful, it's a definite fail, who did it?" When I replied "You!" it turned out that it was ok!)  The 2cv was now basically worthless (it was 2002) but I couldn’t bring myself to just scrap it, when the rest of it was still pretty good.  I knew that trade in was pointless, and I’d get very little selling it as it was, but for £350 (new chassis and labour), I’d get a car worth probably £1,500 back. (Note, my ideas of valuations do not necessarily bear any relation to reality, but enabled me to justify my decisions!)

 So I ordered the Clio! The 2cv was eventually repaired, but was promoted to holidays and adventuring, while the Clio was now my main car. So now I accidentally had 2 cars! I couldn’t justify selling the 2cv after spending all that money and to be fair, I didn’t really want to.

 The Clio - 2002 Renault Clio 1.5 Dci80

The Clio was (and is) an excellent car. It’s comfortable, it’s fast (1.5 dci80) very economical (65 mpg) and is superior to the 2cv in every way. But, it’s not the 2cv. Going out was no longer an adventure. You couldn’t see the car across a car park (although nowadays, cars are so enormous that the 2cv is dwarfed by virtually everything). I remember when the Clio was around a year old, I’d taken both cars out over the weekend. The entire exhaust had fallen off of the 2cv and the air box had come loose, but the plip battery had failed on the Clio and I was FAR angrier about that!  I suppose that it was unfair, and over time I got very attached to it. I had all manner of holidays and adventures in the Clio and it served me very well.

 Of course there has been the odd thing go wrong, I think that I’ve changed all of the injectors over the years, at least two rear wheel bearings and the usual wear and tear, but really nothing that significant for 18 years and 97,000 miles of use.

 Which brings us to 2017. The Clio was fast approaching 15 years old and as we are regularly told that French cars don’t last very long (!) I was thinking about what to do. The Clio was worth maybe £500 despite being a great little car, but any significant bills would probably mean the end. The car tax laws were changing, meaning that what was then £0 would soon be going up to £120 or more per year. When you keep a car as long as I do, that’s a lot more important than if you are only thinking of a few years. 

 So, I once again weighed up my options. I’d used a Sandero for a training course and found it to be quite a good car. Then I used a Stepway, and it was like a completely different car, it just felt so much better equipped and generally better, even though it was essentially the same car! I would have happily had another Clio, and to be fair that probably IS a better car, but I could have bought a Sandero AND the Stepway for the same price. I simply couldn’t justify that.

 So, I looked into trading in the Clio. It was worth very little, and they would give me even less than that. My Dad had just retired and wanted a runabout rather than running his Scenic everywhere. So, it made sense to keep it until something expensive broke. So now I accidentally had 3 cars!

 Dad did indeed use the Clio for a while – regularly telling me when he had put diesel in it, despite the fact that he had used all the fuel that was in it, so not really as generous as he made out! Then my brother’s moped was stolen (within 3 hours of him buying it!) so he borrowed the Clio for a while, and it became a “pool” car, where I paid all the bills except for fuel, but rarely saw the car. I couldn’t really help feeling that this wasn’t ideal!

 Eventually it came back (broken!) and is now mainly used when I am going somewhere that I don’t want to take the Stepway, like occasional commuting. The merit of this was proved recently when someone snapped the rear wiper arm off while it was parked. I got a very good deal on the new arm because it was obsolete stock!

 The Stepway - 2017 Dacia Sandero Stepway Laureate 1.5 Dci

The Stepway is a very good car and has everything that I need. It’s a high spec one with Sat Nav, parking sensors and camera etc. That’s a bit extravagant, but I intend keeping it for a long time, so wanted it to be “right”. No, I won’t get the difference back when I sell it, but in all probability, in around about 2032 I’ll accidentally end up with 4 cars anyway!

 It is really just an updated version of my Clio, with essentially the same engine and a lot of the same equipment, but I knew that and I liked that! If something has served you well for (then) 15 years, why not get another? It’s bigger and higher, so not quite as economical, but I have no complaints.

 It may seem very extravagant to have a growing fleet, but between them they probably cost me less per year than many spend on beer and fags. They do all still get used, the 2cv not as much as it should, but it will be back in use soon (when I get the oil leak sorted). One major bonus of the virus, is that we don’t open Saturdays at the moment, so I have a bit more time to try to give them a run when the rules allow.

 Which brings me to the mopeds!

 Unfortunately, my cars were repeatedly vandalised outside my work place – keying, broken window, repeated punctures, culminating in one of the 2cv headlamps being removed, smashed and the glass spread under all 4 tyres. I always made sure that it was parked in a general use space, never outside anyone’s house, not in the same place every day and it was virtually without fail the oldest car in the road by a BIG margin, but yet nearly new cars from the showroom might sit on the road in the same space for weeks on end untouched. This meant that I could no longer risk the damage, and even though the suspected culprit seems to have long gone, I only use the car for commuting in an emergency now. So, I bought a series of mopeds that I can keep in the yard – in that they have never specifically said that I can’t, so therefore I can!

 The Sky - 1999 Honda Sky 50cc

Firstly, there was a 1999 Honda Sky. Due to a mistake at the DVLA, it was registered to my brother (who bought it for me, via a contact). It actually took them longer to sort this (changing the name from Andy2cv to Chris2cv) than it lasted! It was vandalised at work, and according to the mechanic needed all the seals replacing on the engine, which just wasn’t worth doing. The following day, the V5 arrived (after 6 months and I think 8 letters)

 I’d had enough, so gave the remains of the bike (it had thrown me off when I tried to ride it after the vandalism, so was quite broken and the seat is still in my garage 13 years later!) to my brother on the understanding that anything he got for it was his. I know that someone bought the remains because the DVLA later wrote to me and told me someone was trying to register it! They had somehow missed the re registering to my brother and then to whoever bought it! I have no idea what the new owner registered.

 I was telling this story at work, when a colleague said that she had an old moped in her garage that I could have. A deal was struck and I swapped a bottle of Jack Daniels for it – bizarrely, the cashier at Tesco wouldn’t sell me a 1L bottle as he thought that I was under age (I was in my 20’s) but a 750ml bottle was fine! A bit of work, a new exhaust and it was back on the road. It was a 2002 MBK Ovetto and became know as Pedward (because like Jedward, it was a bit shit!)

 The MBK - 2001 MBK Ovetto - Pedward

It was never a great bike, the speedo didn’t work, so I got a new cable for it which lasted for maybe a fortnight. I kept trying to get a new speedo, but they were normally well over £100, or came with a scrap bike, which I didn't want! Having spoken to an MOT tester, the speedo and mileometer don’t HAVE to work, so I just left it – it was hardly going to affect the value! I was much later told that it had been adapted, apparently into a 70cc! I didn’t know about this, it must have been done before I had it. It was surprisingly fast! I obviously didn’t know how much faster, but it kept up with my brother on his much larger bikes!

 I remember one day, (maybe 2008?) we were doing the Mayday rally to Hastings in convoy. Rather foolishly we went on the M25, as it would have meant a long diversion to miss about 2 miles of motorway. Of course the police were there, and pulled me over. It then occurred to me that two policemen were controlling maybe 20 scooter boys on the hard shoulder. I was at the back, so I gunned it and got the hell out of there! There were literally thousands of bikes out, so once I was off the M25, I was safe. I should add that all of my vehicles are totally legit now and I haven’t done anything like this since!

 Pedward broke a few times and was getting less and less reliable. It didn’t owe me anything, and then a (different) mechanic told me that the fuel tank had cracked and would cost way more than it was worth to replace. So I sold it to some 16 year old, who gave me £150 for it!   He crashed it the next day. Three years I kept it going, he didn’t even manage a day!

The Peugeot - 2010 Peugeot V-clic - Junior 

The day that I found out about the tank splitting, I investigated new mopeds. After a good look around I saw a brand new (2010) Peugeot Vclic for £995. At the time I had been advised to avoid anything Chinese, as they were “shit”. I thought Peugeot should be ok. I (much) later found out that it is in fact Chinese! As with the cars, I’d looked at second hand, and the best(!) that I saw was marginally younger than Pedward, had clearly been in a crash, needed both tyres and the exhaust replacing (at least), and was £600! The new one suddenly seemed far more sensible. Especially when the salesman accidentally gave me a £100 helmet when I collected it! (He asked “did we say that we would give you a free helmet in the deal?” I was hardly going to say no, was I? )

 The V-clic has been fairly reliable. Not so much in recent years averaging 3 FTPs a year, but it lives a life of 2.6 miles each way 5 or 6 days a week in all weathers and is routinely caned the whole time. I have thought that I have killed it on at least three occasions, recovered it to my mechanic who has patched it up and charged something like £30! We have decided that the next big bill will be the end, but it just keeps on  surviving!

 I have thought about a new one. That model is no longer made but I looked at the new equivalent at my local dealer and was fairly impressed. Not so much when talking to the dealer who said “you’ve got a Vclic? That must be the only one still going!” 

 I was getting close to going in and ordering one in early 2020, when a colleague said “do you know that your bike is on it’s side?”  Obviously I didn’t, so I went to look and it was indeed. About 6 feet from where I’d left it, now with a big scrape along one side. On looking at the CCTV, a customer had hit it when driving her car out of the yard and dragged it along, before driving off. To be honest, if she had said sorry, maybe bought me a drink, that would have been that. Instead, Big Boss billed her for the damage and had our bodyshop repair it!

 This kind of put me off having something that wasn’t a bit crap, and while I was thinking about what to do, covid happened, so everything went on hold. At the time of writing (February 21) it is currently broken, but I will try a new battery on Monday.

 

So, current situation:

2cv – Fun car - working, not used enough, currently leaking oil.

Clio – 2^nd car. Working. Recent new battery.

Stepway – Main car. All good, recent MOT and service.

Vclic – Commuter- Recent FTP, awaiting battery/further attention next week.

 

Updates to follow occasionally.

 

 

 

 

[Chris2cv]

As I've detailed the current fleet, as well as the two previous mopeds, I might as well cover the previous two cars.

The Yellow Metro - 1986 Austin Metro

When I was learning to drive, my instructor suggested that the 2cv was a bit too unconventional (how could he think such a thing!) to learn in, so he suggested that I got something more "normal". My Dad was thinking of getting a second car as his commute was now 40 miles a day rather than 10, so he didn't want to use the family car all of the time. So I could use it in the evenings and at weekends. At the time we had two second hand car dealers just down the road (now a bookies and a tile shop) and we found a 1985 Austin Metro in Primrose yellow with a dark brown interior, in one of them. Lovely!

Dad was convinced that this was much better than the 2cv. It was certainly a more modern design, but it was only about 6 month younger than the 2cv (so about 9 years old at the time) and we later discovered previously owned by BSM! Not long after, the very first Euro NCAP (?) crash test reports came out and I found that I had the least safe car of all (2cv) and the least safe modern car (Metro)!

It was a good little car, but it always leaked. I'd just put a tray underneath, but Dad endlessly chased leaks, spending far more than it was worth, despite it losing maybe about 100ml a month. I just kept an eye on the level. 

It was very fast, being a 1.3 (remember I WAS used to a 2cv!) and I got into a few adventures with it. There is a road near home, known as the Mad Mile, that is nearly straight, 1.5 miles long, with no junctions, just a roundabout at both ends. At the time it had a 60 mph limit, and I used to go "quite quickly" up and down there (hey, I was 18 and stupid!), everyone did - even the bus that I used to get to college used to really cane it down there! My brother and I used to time the bus between the last lamp posts at each end and it was quite a challenge to beat their record in the 2cv, but now I had the Metro! So, we got it nice and warm fairly late one summers evening, nobody around, let's do it! At the last lamp post I pressed the brakes. By the far side of the roundabout, it was starting to slow down! I've no idea how fast we went, as my brother was too terrified to check his watch, and I couldn't look at the speedo. To be fair, I wasn't necessarily doing as much as 60 mph, but I was certainly going faster than the brakes allowed! That was the last of the speed trials!   I did once drive it across a golf course though!

After a couple of years, Dad saw a much newer version at a local Rover dealer (perhaps ironically now a BMW dealer!) and decided to trade it in.

The Red "Metro" - 1996 Rover 100

This was a much better car. It was allegedly the MD's wife's car, was about 6 months old with a few thousand miles on the clock and a big discount. It was in Nightfire red, and looked beautiful. I was living in Bournemouth at the time, but was sent a photo (an actual photo, in a letter! How times change!) Apparently Dad and my brother were so determined to get the most for the old Metro, that he took the aerial off (as it was probably the best bit on the car!) and pushed it the last few hundred yards to trade it in, rather than putting any more fuel in!

A month or two later, I moved back home, so Dad collected me in the 100, and I drove us home - 130 miles in a car that I had never even seen before, having not driven for 6 months!  This one was more Dad's car than mine, as I was now mainly using the 2cv although I had been unable to take it to Bournemouth with me, but we still had a few adventures in it. It was mostly just running relatives about, as they moaned about the 2cv, I still did quite a few thousand miles in it over the next couple of years though. And crashed it.

I still like the look of the Metro/100 and wouldn't mind another, but I suppose that each generation does the same, as they think nostalgically back to their first (or second) cars and forgets about their limitations and leaks. They are getting dearer now, so I may have missed the boat on them. I have also quite emphatically been told that I have enough cars! 

Eventually it passed on to my Sister, who learned in it, then used it for college before moving up north with her now husband. It served her for some time until a "friend" ripped her off by changing the head gasket, but apparently mostly using mastic! He charged more than our local garage would have to have done it properly. Incidentally, I know that it's hard to believe that a Metro needed a head gasket! It still drove ok, but obviously needed to be fixed properly.

I tried to convince my colleague who was a trainee mechanic, that he could buy it, fix it for next to nothing and then have a great little car, but he bought a really crappy 205, then a Fiesta, an Escort, Clio and many more, changing very regularly instead, usually at big losses. Strangely enough, he's not a mechanic anymore!

It sat outside our house for some time as it wasn't worth spending money on, as by then it had a high mileage and a bodged engine. Eventually, a customer of my brother's "Big Vince" bought it to use "when I'm not in prison!"  - EDIT  I should clarify that my brother worked in a locar car accessory shop at the time, so usually knew who was buying and selling cars  (and mopeds) at the time.  The way that I had phrased things, seems to have accidentally suggested that he was some sort of gangster!

 

Hopefully the next installment will see the V-clic repaired.

[Chris2cv]

Slight update.

The moped has been broken for several weeks. I've not been that bothered because I'm being made to drive the van all day at work, so I'm commuting in that (driver's perk). I got a new battery for the moped last week, which SHOULD be a 5 minute job. Had it all ready within a few minutes, then dropped the screw into the hole next to the battery. Could I find the magnet to get it back out? Of course not. Was it dark? Oh yes!

Eventually ready to go, 

Offered it up

It's the wrong poxy battery! Doesn't fit in the hole.

Put it back together, because everything will have mysteriously vanished otherwise. (still lost a screw somehow!) Put it away. 

About an hour later, found the magnet sitting on top of my coat. That I had been wearing.

 

So, today, I tried again, now with the right battery. Dropped the screw again. Didn't matter, battery came with 2 new ones - maybe this isn't an unusual phenomena!  Fitted it. Nice bright stop light, fuel guage swung around. Does it start?

Does it bollocks!

Starter is turning, but doesn't sound like engine is. To be fair, battery wasn't great anyway, so no real loss, other than time.

No chance of getting it to my mechanic for over a week, but he said that he'll look at it when I can get it there.

 

Tune in next time, to see if the moped starts! Or maybe something happens with one of the cars.

[Chris2cv]

So, "slightly" over a week (by 3 weeks!) later, the moped has finally reached the mechanic. It was just bad timing that held things up really, it broke just after it came back from the MOT, then I was off for a week, then the mechanic was away, then I was off again! I only have access to the van when I'm  at work, so it all gets complicated. 

Anyway, it's there now. He's going to have a look tomorrow. To be honest, I think that we're at a cross roads. Looking at it in the van, the seat is splitting (not expensive, but another cost), the exhaust was surprisingly rusty (having sat for a month, I'd have seen and sorted it before it got that bad if I'd been using it, but may well need replacing) plus of course the fact that it doesn't currently go!

He was telling me that a customer has an 18 month old Lifan electric scooter that she wants to sell as she isn't using it. Probably £1200.  I could do that, I've barely been out in the last year, but have been working as normal almost the entire year. Of course everything logical says buy that and get rid of the crappy old one. As does my Dad. Many times.

But, this is Autoshite. Where we keep vehicles that are long beyond the end of their sensible life and we have spent many times their value. In a way, scrapping Junior (yes, he's called Junior) means giving up on him. Is that ridiculous, yes. Does it mean that I'm going to keep him?  Honestly, I don't know.

Chris (yes, my mechanic is called Chris, which never* causes confusion)  is going to ring me tomorrow. We shall see.

[Chris2cv]

Shock news from my mechanic today - Junior lives!  Apparently the starter bendix was worn out, which makes sense really, It had sounded like something wasn't engaging properly. I believe that 19,000 is quite high mileage for a moped, and the kick start broke years ago.  £30 fitted. 

This is the trouble really. I know that it's old and shit and it keeps breaking, but it keeps being bought back to life for small amounts of money. If he'd said £100, I'd have really had to think about it. £200? No, that would have been the end.  

I know that I have to move on. He's asked the owner of the Lifan to bring it to him, and then I can have a look at it next week. Has anyone got experience of these? It all sounds very good, the reviews are positive and apparently the battery is guaranteed for 9 years. So, what's the catch? Presuming that this one hasn't been repeatedly crashed. 

Incidentally, I mentioned that I could have the money for the "new" one fairly easily, as I've not been out for a year, I'm not spending that much on socialising! Its just that without any events, concerts, travel, barely using the cars etc plus Junior has been at death's door on quite a few occasions, so I have got a bit put aside for his replacement. Of course, much like the cars, I'd quite like to just accidentally have two bikes, but that's not really an option. This is probably the end of the road, it's just not quite as desperate as it might have been. I'll use him for now, but have to get either the Lifan or something else in the next few weeks.

 

In other fleet news,:

I haven't got around to sorting the 2cv oil leak yet. Soon. Probably. 

The Clio? All good except that it needs a wiper blade, which I keep forgetting, until it is raining.

The Stepway? All good, just needs a wash.

 

[Chris2cv]

I was clearing out some old emails, and found a bit that I had written about some of the adventures that I've had in my 2cv. I thought that I might as well add it on here:

 

I’ve been meaning to write about my 2cv for a long time, last September 25th (2020) marked 25 years that I’ve owned it! It was initially purchased for me, as a first car, for £270, having initially been advertised for £750, but I didn’t see it until some months later, when it had a large “£500” sign across the windows. The owner had acquired a Renault 4, and no longer needed the 2cv.  A friend test drove for me (as I was too young, and would be learning to drive in the car) and said that all was good, so it came to live with me.

 We didn’t get off to the best start, as it needed some welding, costing nearly as much as the car had, but then it was finally MOTed. The plan was that I’d do some restoration, learn to drive and then get something newer. Only some of that plan actually happened! Dad and I restored the bumpers as they were pretty awful. I’ve now done this job 4 times I think! Last time, I (if I do say so myself!) made a really good job of it and they actually looked good. Then the paint reacted and they looked terrible. So they are currently Hammerited!

 There have been many, many adventures over the years. It was my only car for 8 years, and become well known locally, as they were fairly rare even then. Unfortunately, somebody hit it and drove off, and while it looked ok, the chassis was beyond repair. I then faced a choice of scrapping what was basically a good car, or spending more than half of it’s value (possibly more) to change the chassis. a friend of mine did the job, and did it as cheaply as he could.

 Unfortunately this meant that it was off the road for some time, which when you work for a car dealership is not ideal. I got persuaded into a brand new Clio, which became my main car, with the 2cv still in regular use for outings and “fun” trips. To give the Clio it’s due, it has been an excellent car, serving me very well, but has now been joined by a Dacia Sandero, so the 2cv was then promoted to 3rd car! I never intended collecting cars, but with the 2cv needing a chassis, I would have got nothing for it, and by the time I had changed it, I wanted to keep it until I got my value out of it.  Similarly, with the Clio, a 15 year old Clio was not a valuable vehicle, but it had been very reliable, Dad wanted an occasional runabout, so it became a sort of family pool car whenever someone needed one.

 Sadly, the 2cv doesn’t get nearly as much use as I would like. Due to living in South London, space is at rather a premium and scumbags like a 2cv – I had a window broken, lots of nails under tyres and in the final straw, a headlamp removed, smashed and the glass spread under all 4 tyres! After that it went to live in it’s own garage at my parents house 70 miles away. I still try and use it at least monthly. It’s not ideal, but due to that, and further vandalism to the Clio, I have to use a moped for commuting (as I can keep it on work premises) so it’s the best that I can do at the moment.

 So, I mentioned adventures, a few that spring to mind:

Driving home from Croydon College some years ago, I noticed that a dip bulb was out. A quick check of the connections got that sorted and I headed home. It was only once I got home that I discovered that I now had no rear lights! It was about 9 PM in midwinter!

 I really don’t like using it on motorways any more, (not so much because of the car, but because of everyone else) although it never used to bother me. I had to bring it home a few years ago (I think for the Bromley Pageant of Motoring), so talked my parents into following me back to make sure that all was ok. It ran very well, and was off the clock for quite some time (70mph+) but I was a bit concerned that they were tailgating me for most of the journey. Dad knew that it bugs me when people do that, and I was going as fast as I could, so I didn’t understand. It was only when I finally got home that he said  “We’ve rung you 17 times, didn’t you hear it?”  I was driving a 2cv at 70 mph, a bomb could have gone off and I wouldn’t have heard it!  “You haven’t got any rear lights!”  I’d just done 70 miles. In the dark. The majority on the M2 and M25! They were making sure that I was visible to everyone. It had passed an MOT a few days before, so I didn’t really think it necessary to check them.  Nearly 6 months later, an electrician managed to fix it, being the 3rd person who’d tried, 2 of whom had done all sorts of jobs that I hadn’t asked them to do, but not the one that was needed.

 Many years ago, my brother and I drove it to Bournemouth. 130 miles. It turned out that the map (pre sat nav) covered the whole of England on 4 A5 pages, so wasn’t really that helpful! It performed well, but it rained VERY heavily all of the way there and all of the way back, although it was sunny the whole time that we were there. Unfortunately, in the only time it has ever happened, the wipers caught against the aerial mast (on the A pillar) every single time, so we “enjoyed” 260 miles with the window open, and my finger pushing the wiper to stop it catching, every single time!

 Probably the worst journey of all time. For reasons that I no longer remember, I was driving the car home from the coast. I had my Mum, Nan and dog (Tom) in my car. My brother and his now wife were following in their car. We got about 5 miles into the journey and there was a horrific burning smell and a fair bit of smoke. Obviously I stopped as soon as I could, to find that the mechanic who had just “serviced” the car had got more oil on the engine than in it! It was just burning off.  Reassured, but now worried about what else he had bodged, we pulled off the motorway and followed the back roads, which is a similar distance, but seems to have a set of (red, obviously) traffic lights at least every mile. Gradually, we made our way back, until we reached Rochester. Where Nan decided that she needed the toilet. At around 9:30pm on a Sunday night. We found a pub car park, and they went in to the pub. For at least half an hour. I didn’t like to turn the engine off as it was now hot, and I thought that they would be back soon. I decided to exercise Tom. “where’s his lead?”  Nan replied “he wasn’t wearing it, he got in by himself!”  So I had to use my belt, and hold my trousers up with my other hand, while keeping an eye on the car.

Eventually they returned, and seemingly about 6 hours later we got home, after 70 miles. Every new noise (it’s a 2cv, there are lots of noises) bought ever more panic from Nan. Tom was snoring very loudly and it turns out that I only know the way TO the coast via the back roads. There were a lot of one way systems that we discovered that night! We originally planned dropping Nan home in the 2cv, but as I was nearly passing my house anyway, we decided to swap to the Clio first. It may not seem like a horrific journey, but with an elderly woman panicking for most of the journey, the incredibly long time that it took, and the concern over the smoke, it's not a journey that I want to do again!

 

[Dave_Q]

I'm sure I remember someone on here buying a Lifan electric ped. 

Maybe @Cavcraft? Or @Jerzy Woking?

Anyway my 2p on the moped situation is to keep the one you have, the electric one may be newer with less moving parts but if the battery or motor shit themselves it will be more than you paid for the bike, with Junior I can't imagine you would ever get a bill that big, even a full engine rebuild on a 50cc can't be more than about £300 even if you are paying someone to do it.

[Chris2cv]

7 hours ago, Dave_Q said:

I'm sure I remember someone on here buying a Lifan electric ped. 

Maybe @Cavcraft? Or @Jerzy Woking?

Anyway my 2p on the moped situation is to keep the one you have, the electric one may be newer with less moving parts but if the battery or motor shit themselves it will be more than you paid for the bike, with Junior I can't imagine you would ever get a bill that big, even a full engine rebuild on a 50cc can't be more than about £300 even if you are paying someone to do it.

Thanks for your thoughts. To be honest, I'd rather keep Junior, but I know that it's only a matter of time until he breaks again. While I do my best to keep the cars in good condition, regularly serviced etc, Junior is used 5 days a week for a 5.2 mile commute, mostly flat out and is really treated quite badly, only sees any tools when it breaks etc. I'm not proud of this, it's my fault that he's knackered. To be fair, he cost me £1000 (including a £100 helmet) in 2010, and really doesn't owe me anything.

I am concerned about going electric, it's quite a step into the unknown, but Chris (my mechanic) tells me that a battery is about £300, and he's never changed one yet- guaranteed for 9 years apparently! There does seem to be very little online, a few reviews of new ones, but very little from owners, groups etc. I would like to see something about how they last. I'm not really worried about range as my commute is short, and I have 3 cars for longer journeys. It's more the power and the longevity that bothers me, as you say parts are likely to be dearer.

If I had the skill to do my own maintenance, I'd probably just keep Junior. Chris is very reasonable in his work, but it's getting Junior to him and being off the road for weeks at a time until I can. I haven't heard any more about the Lifan, so it may be academic anyway, but I know that I have to do something soon. Sadly Junior has a few problems, mostly minor like the seat splitting and a snapped stud on the manifold, which means it backfires periodically,  but it's all a bit "tired". I did tidy up the exhaust though. About an hour rubbing down, painting and then polishing the "chrome" and it looks a lot better, Not good, but from a distance it's ok! 

[Chris2cv]

 

Having just had a message from a regular, I’ve just realised that it’s been more than 3 months since my last post. A few things have happened since then.

 

Junior – the moped – Sadly Junior has now reached the end of the line with me.For the last few years, it has suffered a FTP every 6 months or so, been patched up cheaply then away we go again. Over the last few months it has happened several times, the last time it only worked for a day or two before breaking again. I truly believe that it can be repaired and live on, but I’ve just had enough now. It’s my commuter, and I need it to be at least mostly reliable. I’ve been investigating replacements and am currently choosing between electric ones. Either a Niu or a Keyway.

 

The Clio – the Clio has been pushed back into use for commuting, which is not without it’s benefits – I don’t get wet, I’ve got a radio etc, but is obviously speeding up wear and tear. It also takes considerably longer as I have to sit in traffic instead of filtering through. The bonnet catch failed recently, but was replaced and all has been ok since.

 

The Stepway – All ok at the moment.

 

The 2cv – currently in pieces as we sort out the oil leak. Problem found, parts obtained, but just need time to rebuild it again. Every person that I have asked has recommended a different oil for it, although the consensus seems to be “brown and wet”. Cleaned the engine up while it was dismantled. Will give it a service while we are at it – I’m changing the oil and the wings are off anyway! As tends to be the way with these things, I suddenly got busy after dismantling it, and haven’t had a chance to put it back together yet.

It had started straight away after having sat for some months untouched, but it was low on oil and it seemed a bit pointless adding some, only for it to leak back out again.

 

 

So, all is fairly good on the vehicles front. Which brings us to the elephant in the room. Where have I been for the last few months?

 

I felt that having been on here for years, posting on a variety of subjects and having finally got around to starting a thread about my own fleet, but then suddenly disappearing, it was only right that I explained why I’ve taken a step back. If some want to see it as a flounce or tantrum, then feel free, but here is my side.

 

On Sunday 25th April 2021, I walked away from the forum.

 

For the last few months, my health had been rather up and down, with some rapid weight loss and quite a lot of pain. While that seems to have settled down again for the moment, it took it’s toll on me mentally, I was getting increasingly frustrated, worrying about things that weren’t particularly important and spending far too much time online. Without the freedom to meet up with my friends and family, I was becoming increasingly isolated. The choir remain a huge comfort to me, but we were on our Easter break, and I was really missing the interaction.

 

Bizarrely, the “enforced mourning” for Prince Philip, with all radio and tv being suspended for days on end, had really pushed me to the edge. Not because I had any real problem with him, although I’m not particularly a monarchist, but because there was just no escaping it. I put something on here about the old family video of me and Prince Philip walking along the seafront at Cowes, apparently deep in conversation, although in reality he probably didn’t even know I was there, but as time went on, I needed to escape the coverage. Even Cheesy FM was playing endless dull ballads! I do sympathise with the Queen and her family, to be honest the news footage reminded me of my Nan after Grandad died, which really hit her hard and a lot of her spirit died with him. But, the world didn’t stop for my Uncle’s death in January. 130,000 people had died, but we had to stop everything for one elderly man who had been very ill. It was sad, but maybe a few hours of coverage was in order, not 8 days. Maybe I’m a terrible person, but I just needed an escape.

 

That fortnight had been one of the worst yet at work, not because of bullying (my two main causes of aggravation were both away) but because we were ludicrously short staffed and very, very busy. I was on the go from 8am until 5pm every day, only managing any sort of break on two of those days It’s not hard work physically, (although I normally walk more than five miles a day while working) but it’s relentless. We are nearly always busy, but this was way more than usual. I know that I’ve moaned about my job for years. I don’t dispute that I need something better, but I’ve had many, many years of having my confidence destroyed and it is very hard for me to just move on. Every time that I seem to be building my confidence, something comes along and shatters it. It’s not just a matter of going and getting another job, selling myself is really not something that I am comfortable with, which normally causes my stomach to flare up, and then things just get worse and worse. Trying to give a good impression when it feels like you have been eating glass is not easy! Quite apart from this, a friend’s wife is a recruitment consultant, who said that they generally get 100 – 150 applications for jobs. A recent advert got 36,000 applications! I don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve no real reason to doubt it. It’s not really the  best time to be quitting! I’ve said before, that I view many of my stories as the sort that if I was telling them to a friend in the pub, there would be a quick discussion, probably a bit of moaning about my boss, then that’s it. Done. Next subject. Yes, sometimes it is awful, but a lot of the time I am not convinced that I would be treated any better anywhere else. I’m also rather concerned that after so long in the motor trade, I’m not sure whether I can deal with civillised people anymore!

 

I’d been chatting on another forum and it got onto the subject of Covid. I was told that it was all fake and nobody had really got ill. I mentioned that I had lost 2 relatives, (I’ve now lost 3, and several friends have lost parents) and was told “well, you are obviously weak, so your family deserves to die!” Obviously a troll, but not very helpful.

 

Then, I got a message from a friend who had been a great comfort to me, someone who has helped me get through the last couple of years. She was moving to Greece in a couple of months. For good. It was not totally unexpected, but it was considerably sooner than I thought it would be. (She went a couple of weeks ago) So, it’s fair to say that I wasn’t at my best that weekend!

 

There is a thread on Van Driving on here. I was finding it interesting comparing how hard some work to earn a living, and just how easy some of my colleagues have it. I talked about some of my experiences when I drove the van (something which I did for many years and have been regularly pushed back into recently) and also offered some advice to someone who was helping a friend to move house – something that I’ve done quite a few times. One of the site’s “usual suspects” then had a rant at me for “ruining yet another thread” and about how I should stop posting and quit my job. I can’t remember the actual words, and I’m not going to check, but I would presume that it’s all still on here. Another poster then weighed in with a similar theme.  My (current) final post read a little more passive aggressively than I had intended but it came from the heart. The comments made me think. I decided that I needed to take a break, to reduce my time online and to try and improve things for myself. Will I still be doing the same job next year? I really don’t know. I know that things have generally improved dramatically in the last year, but it’s not perfect. There are still some awful times.  But a former colleague changes jobs at least once a year and never seems to be happy, several others have left and come back again. Is the grass really any greener?

 

I will say, that on a thread about van driving, I still believe that my posts about a job where I am either “managing” (doing the management, but not actually hired or paid as a manager, it’s just that if I don’t do it, then it doesn’t get done) the drivers or often having to drive the van myself, were surely relevant, or answering points raised. Apparently they were not relevant, so I “left them to it”. I’m sorry if it derailed the thread, but I’m not sorry for what I wrote, any of it.

 

I’ve generally enjoyed my time on here, I’ve seen some amazing rescues of cars, made some friends, learned about new things, as well as having deeper chats like the one about attitudes towards women, or the depression thread, but I found some time ago that things were getting increasingly toxic here. I went away for a while after feeling attacked on the depression thread for “not being depressed enough”, and things seemed to have improved when I came back, but it feels to me like things turning sour again. I would have to ask that if a “slightly” odd man who enjoys weird old cars, doesn’t really feel welcome on a forum about weird old cars, is something going wrong?

 

I haven’t written this for any sort of sympathy, to get back at those that pushed me away, or because I want people to beg me to come back. I just wanted to set the record straight. It wasn’t really my intention to walk away from the site, just the thread, but as the weeks and then months wore on, I realised that I wasn’t really missing it. Maybe I’ll be back, maybe not. Time will tell.

 

Chris

[Eyersey1234]

Just to wish you good luck for the future Chris. I don't know where you are based but had you considered giving bus driving a try? A lot of companies are screaming out for drivers 

[neil1971]

I've always found your posts interesting and well written Chris, car related or otherwise, and can empathise with a lot of what you write, so I hope you can continue to post but the main thing of course is to do what's best for you, so it's good luck wishes from me too

[eddyramrod]

What they said!  Good luck Chris.

[Chris2cv]

Thank you for your kind words. I felt that I needed a bit of time away, I didn't really intend for it to be so long, but time will tell if I come back. It's not all been bleak, I've had some great times with my friends and it felt so good to reunite with the choir for a few hours recently, but like many people, I found the prolonged isolation very hard. I'd just say, if you don't like my posts (and I know that some are more like essays) just ignore them. I won't be offended. Just don't attack me, or anyone else for that matter, you don't know what is going on in the real world that isn't being said.

Thanks

Chris 

[Cookiesouwest]

Something to consider.

Best of luck

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/aug/12/ready-to-quit-your-job-here-are-the-17-questions-to-ask-yourself-first?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

 

[Chris2cv]

A car related post this time! 

I've realised that the reverse lights aren't working on the Clio. It could be the bulbs, but it seems unlikely that they'd both go at once. Thinking back, the rear wiper used to come on when I selected reverse, if I had the front ones on. This may be unrelated, but if it is connected, they might have been out for a while! I've ordered a reverse light switch, so will try and talk one of the mechanics into fitting it for me. 

In other Clio news, the right indicator now flashes when I close the drivers window! I doubt that's anything serious, just the joys of an elderly car being pushed back into regular service, because I still haven't sorted out a new moped.  

The Stepway is still going well, and has been on a few adventures lately, but I don't want to use it for commuting. Too many scumbags near work.

 

[Chris2cv]

A week or so later, and I still haven't sorted the Clio lights out, although I have now got a switch.

Instead, there has been considerable progress on the 2cv! Get yourself a drink, this is one of my long posts!

Having had a minor oil leak for quite a long time, (as in several years) it was getting progressively worse. This wasn't a major problem, but at the start of the year, building work meant that it was temporarily evicted from it's garage and had to live on neighbour's drives for some time - a few weeks with one neighbour, then a month or so with another. It seemed to be either heavy rain or strong wind (or both) everyday for all of this time  and  the drip tray disappeared at some stage, so I had to clean both drives, and dry the car out. Fun times.

Back in June, my brother came over, and we dismantled the front of the car to find the problem. One of the rocker covers was obviously leaking badly, so we got it all cleaned up and prepared to sort it out. Then darkness stopped play.

Then life happened, I had a very busy schedule for some weeks, then he was busy, holidays etc until eventually we were both available this weekend. I had cleaned the engine and got most of the supplies in the meantime. So, we had a look.

 

Saturday

 

Pulled 2cv out of garage. Started almost immediately, after about 4 months, once fuel came through. Ran it for a few minutes, then turned off.

 

Removed o/s rocker cover and left to drain. Cleaned cover up.

 

Painted heater boxes (in place) and front of exhaust as they were looking tatty.

 

Moved oil tray and removed n/s rocker cover. Cleaned that.

 

Changed spark plugs. Looked OK, but had been in for quite a long time (5 years?) and wings off anyway, so might as well.

 

Changed air filter

 

Found a hole in o/s rocker cover. Probably why it leaked! No idea why there was a hole, but couldn't see it until it was cleaned up.  Looked for quick steel. Did not have any. Probably have a spare rocker cover at home, but staying with parents 70 miles away!   Also knew that I had quick steel and drain key at home. Unfortunately, wherever I am is rarely where the thing that I need is!

 

To Halfords for Oil, quick steel and a sump drain key. Much debate about what oil to use, as everyone seemed to say something different. Eventually went with what it said in the handbook. 

 

Sprayed rocker covers as both rather tatty.

 

Drained oil from sump.

 

Changed oil filter. I had apparently bought two in the time since I decided to do it! But not the air hose. Put one in my online basket with the supplier, a job for later.

Refilled oil. Seemed to take a lot, but I suppose that you wouldn't normally remove the rocker covers, so it was probably really empty, not just normal drained but probably virtually dry. No gauge on bottle.

 

Fitted n/s wing

 

Tried to fit o/s wing but getting dark, and it was fighting us, so gave up for the night.

 

 

Sunday

 

Refitted wings. Not very willing and seemed a bit proud. Had tried to keep them safely, but likely to have distorted a bit in the months that they had been off. Not the original wings anyway.  (Due to an incident many years ago, and only being abl to get slightly later ones at the time)

 

Reconnected wiring. A few new connectors required and fitted. Much cursing and didn't have the right connectors, despite having a big box of connectors. Not sure that all of the lights worked beforehand anyway!  Older niece shouting throughout as she wanted someone to play with her - her mother and grandparents sitting inside playing with their phones.

 

Checked all lights. Eventually all worked except for the reverse light –found that the bulb had fallen out! Replaced and now working. Should really have fitted a new bulb as quite crusty.

 

Ran for a while and drove in and out of the garage a few times to get things moving. Dad and younger niece decided to play football right in front of the garage while I was doing this, so they had to keep running away. Obviously they both went inside as soon as I put the car away.

 

Cleared up various tools and rubbish.

 

Getting dark, so stopped.

 

 

Monday

 

Pulled car out of garage. Started straight away. 

 

Checked oil, Level good, no sign of leaking.

 

Out for about a 20 mile drive, pulling well, although I didn't try any great speed. 

 

Back, no oil leaks, job done!

 

Brother polished chrome on the 2cv while I pumped up the tyres on his elderly mopeds, which live behind the 2cv.

 

 

Some hours later

 

Found big box of electrical connectors!

 

This did not take three days, probably two hours each day on Saturday and Sunday, and most of Monday's time was taken by the test drive.

[Chris2cv]

A little postscript to my last ramblings.  I was talking to my Sister in law about the joy of trying to stop an aged car from leaking.  It turned out that the 2cv and her are almost exactly the same age, just a couple of months apart. "All 36 year old females leak a bit!" she said.  I had no idea how to respond to that!

[Chris2cv]

I was clearing out some old emails, and found this. The mirrors on the 2cv tend to vibrate when driving, so there is a fitting kit to replace the internals. These were my revised instructions.  Please note that ALL problems were caused by me and my incompetence, not the kit.

Rebuilding a 2cv mirror, or How I spent my Weekend By Chris2cv 

 

1  Remove mirror from car – 2 screws Circa 5 minutes (including getting the screwdrivers out)

 

2 Remove glass and trim from mirror body  C1 minute

 

3 “Undo screw inside body” Find out that screw is just a rusty blob with no discernible head.

 

4 Try to undo screw from mirror arm end. Destroy head on screw.

 

5 Get drill and try to drill out inner head. Get cross. Slip 4 times causing large cuts to hands  C1 Hour

 

Next day

 

6 Continue drilling. Decide to drill out rubber ball holding it together as the kit replaces this.

 

7 Find that rubber ball moves constantly and it is very hard to hold a 2cv mirror in a vice. C1hour

 

8 Eventually destroy rubber ball and pull arm from body. Expect bolt to come out of mirror arm.

 

9 Find that bolt does not come out of arm. Cut bolt with hacksaw.

 

10 Break hacksaw blade. Find another hacksaw.

 

11 Cut bolt. Expect bolt to come out of arm. Find that bolt does not come out of arm.

 

12 Gradually hammer bolt out of arm. C 1hour

 

13 “Hole in arm may require drilling to correct shape”. Drill using small drill bit to widen hole. Get to 90% of shape.

 

14 Break drill bit.

 

15 Find another drill bit, spend about 10 mins drilling then find that hole is harder that the drill and you have destroyed the drill bit.

 

16 Mirror Arm falls from vice. Grab arm.

 

17 Find that arm is very hot. Burn finger.

 

18 Go and treat burn.

 

19 Go to Homebase (Other shops are available) for a new drill bit.

 

20 Try again with new drill bit, successful this time. C 5 minutes (+half hour travel)

 

21 Gather new fittings, from safe place on bonnet of car (not the car I went to Homebase in!)

 

22 Find that grease has disappeared.

 

23 Find grease, C 5minutes

 

24 Assemble mirror with various new fittings

 

25 Drop mirror and all fittings all over floor.

 

26 Find all fittings C 5minutes

 

27 Drop mirror and fittings again.

 

28 Find all fittings except for one washer C10 minutes

 

29 Find that socket set is in the back of the Clio. Which is 70 miles away.

 

30 Find another socket set.

 

31 Loosely assemble mirror then go to car

 

32 Attach mirror to car

 

33 Realise that I have not fitted the new gasket between the mirror and the door

 

34 Take mirror off again

 

35 Fit gasket

 

36 Fit mirror body again

 

37 Find that I have lost one of screws holding mirror arm to car. 

 

38 Spend 5 minutes looking for screw. Do not find screw

 

39 Refit glass and trim c5 minutes.

 

40 Close door of garage and go to clean wounds.

 

 

[Floatylight]

9 hours ago, Chris2cv said:

I was clearing out some old emails, and found this. The mirrors on the 2cv tend to vibrate when driving, so there is a fitting kit to replace the internals. These were my revised instructions.  Please note that ALL problems were caused by me and my incompetence, not the kit.

Rebuilding a 2cv mirror, or How I spent my Weekend By Chris2cv 

 

1  Remove mirror from car – 2 screws Circa 5 minutes (including getting the screwdrivers out)

 

2 Remove glass and trim from mirror body  C1 minute

 

3 “Undo screw inside body” Find out that screw is just a rusty blob with no discernible head.

 

4 Try to undo screw from mirror arm end. Destroy head on screw.

 

5 Get drill and try to drill out inner head. Get cross. Slip 4 times causing large cuts to hands  C1 Hour

 

Next day

 

6 Continue drilling. Decide to drill out rubber ball holding it together as the kit replaces this.

 

7 Find that rubber ball moves constantly and it is very hard to hold a 2cv mirror in a vice. C1hour

 

8 Eventually destroy rubber ball and pull arm from body. Expect bolt to come out of mirror arm.

 

9 Find that bolt does not come out of arm. Cut bolt with hacksaw.

 

10 Break hacksaw blade. Find another hacksaw.

 

11 Cut bolt. Expect bolt to come out of arm. Find that bolt does not come out of arm.

 

12 Gradually hammer bolt out of arm. C 1hour

 

13 “Hole in arm may require drilling to correct shape”. Drill using small drill bit to widen hole. Get to 90% of shape.

 

14 Break drill bit.

 

15 Find another drill bit, spend about 10 mins drilling then find that hole is harder that the drill and you have destroyed the drill bit.

 

16 Mirror Arm falls from vice. Grab arm.

 

17 Find that arm is very hot. Burn finger.

 

18 Go and treat burn.

 

19 Go to Homebase (Other shops are available) for a new drill bit.

 

20 Try again with new drill bit, successful this time. C 5 minutes (+half hour travel)

 

21 Gather new fittings, from safe place on bonnet of car (not the car I went to Homebase in!)

 

22 Find that grease has disappeared.

 

23 Find grease, C 5minutes

 

24 Assemble mirror with various new fittings

 

25 Drop mirror and all fittings all over floor.

 

26 Find all fittings C 5minutes

 

27 Drop mirror and fittings again.

 

28 Find all fittings except for one washer C10 minutes

 

29 Find that socket set is in the back of the Clio. Which is 70 miles away.

 

30 Find another socket set.

 

31 Loosely assemble mirror then go to car

 

32 Attach mirror to car

 

33 Realise that I have not fitted the new gasket between the mirror and the door

 

34 Take mirror off again

 

35 Fit gasket

 

36 Fit mirror body again

 

37 Find that I have lost one of screws holding mirror arm to car. 

 

38 Spend 5 minutes looking for screw. Do not find screw

 

39 Refit glass and trim c5 minutes.

 

40 Close door of garage and go to clean wounds.

 

 

Reg Prescott popped into my head

 

[Chris2cv]

@Floatylight That's pretty accurate!  That's why I tend to leave such jobs to others, I'd rather pay someone that knows what they are doing, than bodge it up myself.  That said, my brother and I did fix the leak, even if I was mostly his assistant. 

[chaseracer]

4 minutes ago, Chris2cv said:

That said, my brother and I did fix the leak, even if I was mostly his assistant. 

Car, or sister-in-law...??! 😁

[jon928se]

On 8/20/2021 at 7:58 AM, Chris2cv said:

I've realised that the reverse lights aren't working on the Clio. It could be the bulbs, but it seems unlikely that they'd both go at once. Thinking back, the rear wiper used to come on when I selected reverse, if I had the front ones on. This may be unrelated, but if it is connected, they might have been out for a while! I've ordered a reverse light switch, so will try and talk one of the mechanics into fitting it for me. 

 

Can't really fault that diagnosis. I'ld have checked everything else before I reached that conclusion assuming I had remembered that the rear wiper was supposed to come on in reverse if the front wipers were on, and then remembered that they hadn't been doing so.

[Chris2cv]

Took the 2cv for it's first car show in 2 years today!  I'd started it yesterday, to make sure that all was ok, then gave it a wash - which was well worthwhile as it's covered in dust now!

Drove around the coast to get there, hitting heavy traffic for the last few hundred yards, about half an hour to get through. Unfortunately, air cooled cars do not like slow traffic, so when I accidentally stalled it, we suffered a FTP. Fortunately, I had a spare coil fixed to the headlight bar, swapped them over, and away we went. Not really the cars fault, also rather nice that the people behind and some pedestrians immediately offered to help. 

A good turn out, although some people couldn't come due to fuel concerns. To be honest, I did question my logic in going, but there is half a tank in the 2cv, that is of an unknown age as it didn't move for three months, and it didn't see much use before that due to covid. So, I thought that it really needed some use.   All manner of cars there, from a Piaggio Ape, to vast American cars. Lots of shite too,

Went for a little drive afterwards and all seemed fine, maybe a little sluggish, but that might just be lack of use. 

Other fleet news

Stepway - all good, have done a few seaside runs lately.

Clio - Still in daily use. Reverse lights still broken

Moped- Still broken, nothing done about replacement.

 

[Chris2cv]

A little progress this week. My colleague Tig changed the reverse light switch on the Clio today, so I now have working reverse lights and the rear wiper comes on when I reverse with the front wipers on, like it should do. It took him about 15 minutes, plus at least a month of forgetting to do it.

The MOT is booked for tomorrow, so I've cut it a little bit fine. It should be ok, but I hadn't really intended a very nearly 19 year old Clio being my main commuting vehicle. I must get around to sorting out the moped .................

 

The 2cv. Well, I haven't had a chance to use it for a couple of weeks. The MOT ran out last week, but it's safely in it's garage until it's MOT which is booked for next month - my next free Saturday. The 2cv's MOT is never a high point of my year. There is no reason to fear, I keep it maintained, but it's an old car and they normally find something. It generally alternates good year and bad year. Last year was good year, so we will see what joys await.

[wuvvum]

On 9/27/2021 at 12:01 AM, Chris2cv said:

Went for a little drive afterwards and all seemed fine, maybe a little sluggish, but that might just be because it's a 2CV.

FTFY

[Chris2cv]

17 hours ago, wuvvum said:

FTFY

A fair and valid point! It's not fun on the motorway (maybe because I'm used to much faster cars now) but around town and country lanes, it's ok. Not fast, but it's not really the point. The Clio and Stepway are superior cars in nearly every way, but going out in them isn't an adventure like it is in the 2cv!

 

 

Yesterday, I mentioned that the Clio was going in for it's MOT. Well, it passed. No advisories, all is good for another year. Admittedly, I've just put a new set of tyres on it, and it's now got functioning reverse lights, but that's pretty good for a car that will be 19 years old in a few days.  We will see whether the 2cv passes next month.

[Chris2cv]

So, freshly taxed and a new MOT, all was good with the Clio.  I drove to choir tonight, and as I headed home, the rain got harder and harder. Lots of flooding so I was taking it carefully. Then as I passed the Fantail (a well known local restaurant that hasn't actually been called that for years!) I hit a really bad flood. The car lifted off the ground and slid what felt like a very long way. The engine cut out. Fortunately it restarted and I managed to limp back. I tried to ring my friend, who I knew would be about 5 minutes behind me to warn her to go a different way.. No hands free in a 2002 Clio, so I tried to find somewhere to pull over that wasn't flooded. Found a nice wide, high bit of road, but apparently the van that came up behind me, couldn't get through what was easily 10 feet of space. So he just sat there beeping.

Got a bit further down, and it narrowed again. No streetlamps, wipers going flat out and I hit something. Don't know what, probably just water, but it made a big bang. Limped home as there was nowhere safe to stop before I was about 100 yards from home, so might just as well go home. Some (different) utter bell end in a van sat right on my bumper for the last mile or so, flashing his lights. I put the fog lights on, in the hope he might take the hint. He did not take the hint.

Eventually get back to my road, some twat is sitting right in the middle blocking it. I flash the lights to let him go first. He reverses diagonally about 3 feet and then sits there, so I have to  negotiate my way around him. Left the car running for a few minutes to hopefully dry it out a bit.

Still raining biblically and dark. Tried to check all around the car by phone light. The front number plate was hanging off and I've lost the n/s/f bumper trim, but seems ok otherwise. Shoes saturated in that couple of minutes of looking.

Could be worse, but just really annoying. But, as I say to the customers if they damage their cars, "at least you are ok!"

[CaptainBoom]

I’m glad you are ok. If it’s The Fantail junction I’m thinking of (near Princess Royal Hospital) that is a horrible rain trap. And close to where I live. Yes, the bell end count is high round my area.

[Chris2cv]

1 hour ago, CaptainBoom said:

I’m glad you are ok. If it’s The Fantail junction I’m thinking of (near Princess Royal Hospital) that is a horrible rain trap. And close to where I live. Yes, the bell end count is high round my area.

Yes, that's the one. I was in Orpington and was on my way back.  I'd expected puddles, but that was DEEP! Obviously it was probaly a couple of seconds at most, but feeling the car loose all grip and slide sideways, felt like a very long time was passing. To have the engine cut out as well, was not a great experience. Fortunately, no real harm was done, just a lost bit of bumper, but I've ordered a replacement - the chances of finding it intact are slim to nil, and it was £15 delivered. From Ebay, not Renault. How does it take me months to make no progress on the others, but I'd got a new trim on order within minutes? Of course, I've still got to fit it.

[Chris2cv]

As my last posts were a bit downbeat due to the floods, and I'm off this week but not using any of my fleet, I thought that I'd share a couple more tales from the Sister in law. We're on holiday together this week - the whole family, not just me and Sister in law, that would be weird!

Firstly, we've got a huge window here looking over a selection of bird feeders. We've all been watching the variety of birds and (red!) squirrels that visit. She has repeatedly pointed out "look at these great tits" and "do you like tits Chris?"  Now, obviously she is talking about birds, but it's a little bit awkward and surely she knows what she is doing?

Secondly,  she told me that she'd recently been having a bath, when their new kitten somehow got in to the bathroom. It had climbed up to the taps then promptly fallen in! She'd panicked and in the chaos, eldest daughter had to come in and rescue the cat. I've no idea what she expects me to do about this story or how  I'm supposed to react. Obviously I'm going to picture the scene. I know what went through my mind, but decided that would not be a good response!

I've always believed that she thought I was weird (which is fair) and just tolerated me really, but I don't really get why she's saying this stuff. Is she trying to embarrass me or is she really that relaxed with me, that she thinks she can tell me anything? 

Normal rambling about old cars to resume next week.