Cars of Crackers: (Was) Live Breakdown!

[dozeydustman]

@CrackersForgot to mention there is a Saab specialist in Bracklesham. Prices not too bad.

[Crackers]

I've already started spending money on it, not to fix the niggles, but because I am a tart:

Stay tuned for additional shameless poncery. 

[Crackers]

I bought a carcoon 2nd hand a few months ago for a fraction of RRP - had intended to use it for the P6 (remember that? It does get many mentions these days) but since the Mazda is now out of use, I thought I'd be good to get it washed and covered for the winter months while I think about selling it. 

A few clip-together rubber floor mats under the ground sheet and cardboard on top, then fire up the fans and away she goes. 

[Crackers]

Bloody brilliant car, this. 

It's been carting us around Snowdonia in total comfort for the last few days and so much nicer to travel in than the M2 pictured next to it. Which cost more than 30 times what this Saab did... 

I had to change a headlight bulb yesterday which cost £53 and was a bit of a pig to get done but Xenons last forever so I shouldn't need to do that again. 

It's been a truly lovely way to get around!

[Crackers]

Also, going back to green gauge lighting is YES. 

[mat_the_cat]

I recognise those spots...Llyn Celyn, dunno, Llyn Tegid x2 from your photos in order 😂

Are you still up here?

[Crackers]

1 hour ago, mat_the_cat said:

I recognise those spots...Llyn Celyn, dunno, Llyn Tegid x2 from your photos in order 😂

Are you still up here?

Correct, outside our AirBNB in Trawsfynydd, correct! 

Sadly not - came home today via all sorts of beauty spots. North Wales is so gorgeous, I mustn't leave it so long for my next visit. 

This Saab is definitely the best car I've owned so far. I love it. 

[brownnova]

Here in north wales is a great place to be for scenery! 

[mat_the_cat]

I was going to say, today was a lot better weather! You were staying about 5 miles away from us so I should have recognised that one

[Crackers]

Some good news tonight, despite not advertising the MX5 anywhere I have an interested party who is happy with the price I proposed, so that might be out the door much sooner than planned and will release some welcome cash. 

The Rover still hasn't turned a wheel since my last visit to it and I keep scratching my head about what to do with it. It's not really costing me anything to have it parked at the moment, but I've got a lot of money tied up in it which could be used better elsewhere. 

The Saab continues to give excellent service although I noticed today a small drop of fluid under the front bumper so I wonder if we're looking at a tiny coolant leak. Hopefully I'll get a chance to check it out if I get any daylight hours at home in the coming week. 

It got a post-Wales bath yesterday and (admittedly from a few feet away) really does still brush up well. 

[Crackers]

I am utterly fucking livid with myself. 

For some ungodly reason I have just driven to the Bluewater shopping hellhole near Dartford. Looking for a parking space I swung the car round the multi storey, didn't spot a high kerb and dragged the car on the passenger side sill so that's now stoved in and fucked. 

The damage is one thing, but I'm seething with myself for doing something so stupid, the one thing I trust myself with is driving a car and now apparently I can't even be trusted with that. 

This Saab is the best car I've ever had and I'm gutted to have damaged such a well looked-after car after one month of ownership. 

I guess I'll have to start trawling the scrap yards to see if I can get lucky with a sill cover off a car of the same colour. 

Fucksticks. 

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 minute ago, Crackers said:

I guess I'll have to start trawling the scrap yards to see if I can get lucky with a sill cover off a car of the same colour. 

Happy to have a look at a few yards up here for you when I'm trawling for parts, if that would be of use.

Sorry to hear about the damage, mate.

[Mrs6C]

Ah, bad luck!

If the sill cover is plastic, you may find it will spring back to shape with the application of heat. Try removing it and pouring very hot water over it. You may need to assist the reshaping by pushing out dents from the inside surface. It's worth a go, anyway.

I have seen large dents in plasticbumpers be resolved in this way.

[Crackers]

13 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

Ah, bad luck!

If the sill cover is plastic, you may find it will spring back to shape with the application of heat. Try removing it and pouring very hot water over it. You may need to assist the reshaping by pushing out dents from the inside surface. It's worth a go, anyway.

I have seen large dents in plasticbumpers be resolved in this way.

I haven't had a proper look yet but it looks like the concrete has completely taken the surface finish off. I'll look at it in the light tomorrow I guess. 

[Mrs6C]

Just now, Crackers said:

I haven't had a proper look yet but it looks like the concrete has completely taken the surface finish off. I'll look at it in the light tomorrow I guess. 

With luck, it may polish out enough that it won't be noticed...

[Wgl2019]

Sorry to hear that mate. 

Easily done though...... Good news is that the sill covers are quite big and also easy enough to remove. I had them off a while ago to clean behind, what I would say is that the fasteners are a bit brittle so copious lubricant is is a good idea!

 

If a replacement is needed this may be suitable, alternative is to ask on the UkSaab forum as there's normally a few being parted out on there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264272007010?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ldG_y-9QQyK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=09aDL_0rSPS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Crackers]

4 minutes ago, Wgl2019 said:

Sorry to hear that mate. 

Easily done though...... Good news is that the sill covers are quite big and also easy enough to remove. I had them off a while ago to clean behind, what I would say is that the fasteners are a bit brittle so copious lubricant is is a good idea!

 

If a replacement is needed this may be suitable, alternative is to ask on the UkSaab forum as there's normally a few being parted out on there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264272007010?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ldG_y-9QQyK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=09aDL_0rSPS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Thanks man, sorry to bend your car. First damage I've done to any car, and of course it had to be this one which you looked after so well!

I'll keep an eye out for sill covers, that one looks promising so might give them a shout. 

[Dan29]

3 hours ago, Crackers said:

Fucksticks

These things happen! I'm sure all of us here will have had something similar - or much worse - in the past. Please don't beat yourself up about it!

[High Jetter]

I 'parked' my T72 Bluebird once by hitting a rather large round stone ball outside one of the UK's top girl's schools (due to play a gig). Made a right dent, easily done in the dark.

[Crackers]

Not sure which other thread this could've gone in, but thought I'd share a couple of pics from today. 

Got invited out on a multi-pub road run behind this Aveling and Porter steam roller which was good fun, a nice relaxing day out and good company all round. 

[LightBulbFun]

3 hours ago, Crackers said:

Not sure which other thread this could've gone in,

My thread maybe? I mean its got 3* wheels and is mostly (all?) Hand controls 

 

*runs a mile*

(*or does the split front roller count as 2 separate wheels?)

 

jokes aside, some lovely photos  

[Talbot]

On 12/13/2022 at 7:16 PM, Crackers said:

I have just driven to the Bluewater shopping hellhole near Dartford.

Shopping that is.

I know how bloody irritiating it is to bend a car you've only just bought.   Had an unfortunate incident with an unseen black-painted steel bollard 1 month in to ownership of my previous merc.  Stoved the wing and bumper in good and proper.

At least the sill protectors did their job and you're not looking at steelwork damage.  That would have been significantly more irksome.

[High Jetter]

On 12/26/2022 at 10:09 PM, Crackers said:

Not sure which other thread this could've gone in, but thought I'd share a couple of pics from today. 

Got invited out on a multi-pub road run behind this Aveling and Porter steam roller which was good fun, a nice relaxing day out and good company all round. 

3 wheels on that wagon... What a great pub crawl (literally, at that rate!)

[TwyRob]

. 
The Saab continues to give excellent service although I noticed today a small drop of fluid under the front bumper so I wonder if we're looking at a tiny coolant leak. Hopefully I'll get a chance to check it out if I get any daylight hours at home in the coming week. 

This could be a power steering fluid leak. The pipe that runs across the front is prone to rusting through on these.

[mintwth]

Alternatively, it could be washer fluid. If I filled the washer fluid tank on mine above a certain level it used to leak and drip off the front bumper. 

[Crackers]

4 hours ago, TwyRob said:

 

 

This could be a power steering fluid leak. The pipe that runs across the front is prone to rusting through on these.

 

Pretty sure it is Coolant, it asked for a top up the other day. 

[Crackers]

I've got my annual good deed out of the way early this year by lending the Saab to a friend for the week so he could get around. We were out in his car at the weekend and got a puncture on the way back to mine, no spare/repair kit/goo can, so got the car rescued to my place as it was much closer. 

You can see the damage on the SP of "Sport". Nearly new Pilot Sport 4, I'm glad I'm not paying the bill on that one! 

Of course that now means I've been left with an immobile BINI until the tyre fitter comes later this week, hopefully I don't need to go anywhere because I can't! 

I think I need to refer to the @Six-cylinder book of motoring and buy another car to prevent this happening again 😁

[dozeydustman]

18 hours ago, Crackers said:

I think I need to refer to the @Six-cylinder book of motoring and buy another car to prevent this happening again 😁

You are welcome to borrow my wife's pushbike to get around on. It has a basket on the front if that helps seal the deal 🙃

[Crackers]

59 minutes ago, dozeydustman said:

You are welcome to borrow my wife's pushbike to get around on. It has a basket on the front if that helps seal the deal 🙃

A very kind offer - Ladies, form an orderly queue please! 

Local friendly tyre man should be here tomorrow morning assuming he can get hold of tyre, so fingers crossed should be back on the road.

[Crackers]

Over a month since I received the money for it, the MX5 has finally left the building. 

May not be the last time it features in the thread, as I've sold it to my uncle's friend who has had it transported away this morning to a specialist in Essex who will be converting it for trackday use, and if I play my cards right it'd be nice to get a go in it one day! 

In Saab news, it's developed a slight exhaust blow from (I think) the centre silencer, nothing too major but its slowly getting worse so I'll get it sorted when it fails the next MOT in Novembereventually. 

Can't be having too bad an effect on it though, as on a non-stop run from Farnborough to Loughborough this weekend, this was the reported figure just before we left the motorway! 😮

What a score, this car is bloody fantastic as a cruise missile.