1989 Renault Express 1.6 diesel thread - DAILY EXPRESS - UK registered, house prices rise wherever this is parked

[DoctorRetro]

13 minutes ago, Talbot said:

It's specifically against the law to do so.

I know, I'm saying I don't see why it is. 

[Saabnut]

To and from a pre-booked MOT is the only exception, and then direct journey only, otherwise it is illegal full stop. I got away with it for a few months on Swedish plates, but that was a few years ago and I would not risk it now.

[juular]

5 minutes ago, DoctorRetro said:

I know, I'm saying I don't see why it is. 

Presumably to stop people driving around a foreign heap to avoid MOT, tax, insurance etc.

Although, I don't understand why it has been made illegal even if you DO have the relevant tax etc.  

[Fumbler]

34 minutes ago, juular said:

Presumably to stop people driving around a foreign heap to avoid MOT, tax, insurance etc.

Although, I don't understand why it has been made illegal even if you DO have the relevant tax etc.  

Are foreign plated cars registered in the UK traceable on the DVLA? I'm wondering if this law is to do with VOSA or any of those people.

[Talbot]

42 minutes ago, DoctorRetro said:

I know, I'm saying I don't see why it is. 

Quote

Why Aren’t UK Residents Allowed to Drive Foreign Registered Cars?

It seems strange that non-residents are allowed to enter the UK with foreign registered cars, but the residents of the UK cannot have such freedom, but there are good reasons that the government insists upon this.

The UK government estimated that between 2010 and 2013 an estimated 350,000 cars had been driven in the UK illegally, which costs £60m in unpaid road taxes.

But the financial hits don’t stop there. An estimated £2.3m in speeding fines were avoided by improperly registered drivers over a two-year period, as well as millions of pounds of parking tickets. (source)

There is also an association between criminal activity and foreign-registered vehicles. Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles are difficult to track down, and they know it. They are more likely to flee the scene of an accident, and a foreign registered car will allow someone to get away with a crime more easily. (source)

Of course, most people driving foreign registered cars are a tourist and not criminal masterminds, but using foreign-registered cars is a method used by some criminals to avoid detection.

If a car is going to be in the UK permanently, the UK government wants to be able to track down who is driving it. It is not just about the money, but about the safety of the roads.

 

[DoctorRetro]

@Talbot - I was talking about to and from the MOT, which @Saabnut has clarified.

 

[Lacquer Peel]

5 hours ago, Fumbler said:

Are foreign plated cars registered in the UK traceable on the DVLA? I'm wondering if this law is to do with VOSA or any of those people.

Nope

[Lacquer Peel]

We have a registration number fellas. 

[somewhatfoolish]

My brief taste of courier driving was in a 1.9 one of these in appliance white; it did a comfortable indicated 80 on suitable roads and was only slightly deafening.

[Lacquer Peel]

31 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

My brief taste of courier driving was in a 1.9 one of these in appliance white; it did a comfortable indicated 80 on suitable roads and was only slightly deafening.

It is very drum-like and the metal is very thin. I think it would go better with a 1.9, the 1.6 is a bit breathless

[somewhatfoolish]

I think the one I drove had a full bulkhead which I suspect makes a huge difference.

[320touring]

1 hour ago, Lacquer Peel said:

It is very drum-like and the metal is very thin. I think it would go better with a 1.9, the 1.6 is a bit breathless

What's that? Needs BOOZT?

[Lacquer Peel]

1 minute ago, 320touring said:

What's that? Needs BOOZT?

Yes definitely. But even a cc boost would help.

[artdjones]

1 hour ago, somewhatfoolish said:

I think the one I drove had a full bulkhead which I suspect makes a huge difference.

My Berlingo with no bulk head is very noisy. I'm looking for a Kangoo Maxi to replace it, as they tend to have a full metal bulkhead, and are a foot longer, which would be handy.

[tooSavvy]

19 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said:

It is very drum-like and the metal is very thin. I think it would go better with a 1.9, the 1.6 is a bit breathless

My 1.6D was, err, FullWelly 24/7 to get any pace....

Not having PAS was... "HEAVY" *no reference to BTTF!

[Lacquer Peel]

Yes haha yes, registered, taxed and insured. I had a burl in it yesterday and it is very slow and squishy in very good ways. 

[Jim Bell]

Fantastic Font.  

[Leyland Worldmaster]

5 hours ago, Jim Bell said:

Fantastic Font.  

Awesome alliteration ! 🤓

[Lacquer Peel]

172/54

 

[dome]

Van Fwend!

Thanks for a shot of this thing @Lacquer Peel It's in amazing condition and drives lovely. 

And yeah, i did mentally size up under the bonnet for an F4R fitting in but I reckon a GT Turbo conversion would be far cooler.

[Supernaut]

A 10-second exposure of Lacquer Peel working on the LH front indicator...

 

EDIT: I got a bit silly in Darktable

[Lacquer Peel]

My dad was a tradesman, he had vans like this, so did his friends but they were always on their last legs and ready to burst. 

A van like this would have been great for my dad or my various non-family "uncles", it's just a tin box with a small diesel engine attached. 

This thing is sweet because it's not the fucked auction-bought or Scot Ads Escort or 305 vans I remember from that time but something that could be a reliable tool for a long time. 

[Lacquer Peel]

This has been an utter champ to everyone who has been involved with it. What a van. 

[320touring]

Best of all the vans!

[Jimbob McGregor]

It’s bloody superb. I might have even driven it the most (Glasgow-Weardale, bumble about for ten days then back to Carluke to fix/pick up a Panda 4x4 that I abandoned mid-collection). 

[Jimbob McGregor]

[Jimbob McGregor]

Also tweaked the wheel alignment, fixed an injection pump leak that sprang up whilst I borrowed it and did some other things that I’ve forgotten. Such a lovely thing to tool around in.

[Dave_Q]

Great photos all round in this thread, all mine look like I let my 4 year old take them with an Iphone 3GS

[320touring]

25 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Great photos all round in this thread, all mine look like I let my 4 year old take them with an Iphone 3GS

Having an Express makes you a better photographer

 

PHACKT

[bangernomics]

The little French tax dodgers window. Has it got a folding rear bench?


Could it get any worse?