THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[Cavcraft]

Vectra collected! Went first crack after putting some decent jump leads on it. Good laugh driving it back (more of that later) and comparing it to the Pisshat.

[greengartside]

Off to look at a R-reg Nissan Almera 1.4 in an hour. Tax and M.o.T but has a noisy gearbox. Owner doesn't want a lot of coin for it so that's all good.

 

Will let you know how I got on!

[dollywobbler]

Almost binned the 2CV this morning - some rather alarming understeer on my hoon route into town. At first, I thought it was ice. When we got to town, I could see it was because the front passenger tyre was almost completely flat. The rim's all dented so I think I must have walloped a pothole last weekend. Arses.

 

I've tried bashing the rim back into shape, so will see if it holds air. That wheel's suffering from corrosion in places, so I was going to have to do something about it. Just wanted to wait until AFTER I take it to Derbyshire next weekend...

[Cavcraft]

Man the ROFLCOPTER, here's the Vectra. Note the 'every expense spared' use of GENUINE garden twine to hold the front bumper trim up...

 

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10356

 

Surface rust anyone?

 

And in case super secure garden twine doesn't hold your bumper trim up, some self tappers should see the bumpers themselves being mounted ok...

 

There's obviously a water shortage in Ellesmere Port hence the reason it looks like it's never been cleaned...

 

Surprisngly enough it actually drove pretty well and everything seems to work too which was an unexpected bonus. But gutless in some gears until the turbo kicked in but was actually going faster than I thought it was.

All I've done so far is remove the string from the front bumper and launch the trim it was holding up. Oh, I did get as far as putting a Dixie in the garage jetwash but because I was half awake and it was -5 degrees it had frozen up.

It's on a very short stay of execution but I may take it for a pre-MOT and see what it wants if it doesn't find a new home. I expect it'll be worth keeping hold of as a spare car and to test SVO on if needed.

 

Meanwhile I scored a decent used battery for the Escrot Chavriolet for a tenner from a scrappy and it fired up first crack. Took it for an 'assessment' and discovered the stupid bastarding metal pipe under the radiator fan has rotted/holed. No worries, quick look round the garage and I found the perfect sized piece of copper pipe so this has been fitted as a temporary repair. Just as temporary is the cable ties holding the radiator fan housing on, this due to one bolt having long since jumped ship and the other snapping as it came out. But hey ho, it'll do for now and there's no water leak.

 

OMG RS Turbo lookalike hairdresser chariot tastic...

 

Had planned on using the valet machine 'thing' on the interior of the Passat and giving all three of these bangers a wash but darkness stopped play. Special hats off to my lad who methodically worked his way on the Escort and was either too polite or too scared to swear like his dad when he hurt himself on various parts of the engine bay.

[Angrydicky]

I reckon the Escort would be transformed if you got rid of those horrible headlight covers

[pogweasel]

Jesus, you relly do find some disgusting turds.

[Cavcraft]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

Dicky: It'd probably be better transformed with some thinners and a box of matches. I'd drive it round but a) I haven't taken leave of my (limited) senses I haven't taken leave of my sexuality c) I don't live in some God forsaken tinpot seaside 'resort' and d) I don't know anyone called Shaz or Kev.

[Angrydicky]

It's not that bad, I see a lot worse every day in Sarrrrfend! GR8 4 CRAP SEASIDE RESORTS, as you say. I actually like the colour, it reminds me of late Rover Metros.

[Negative Creep]

Checked the levels in preparation for tomorrow's move to Plymouth. I noticed one of the front alloys is missing a weight although I'm not sure if it was on there after I had the balancing done. Since most of my journey is motorways, I'll guess that I'll find out pretty soon

[Lankytim]

I like that old Vectra, what a venerable old bus!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I quite like the Vectra too, the escort is fairly grim however.

 

Those quad headlamps are mad, what I dont understand is, someone goes to some effort to fit those things, paint em up, wire em in, fit em etc, get them aligned up, great - theyre fitted, nice job. Then, what to do now you've deleted the indicators? Oh I know, just self-tapper some cock-eyed 'universal' caravan indicators in the front bumper somewhere to keep the MOT gaffer happy. end result: shitty cobbled-up frontal appearance to car.

[Cavcraft]

I just leaked some GROFLOLAGE out there. The front indicators are indeed self tappered in and resemblant of the marker lights on a 1978 DAF 2800 truck or a Sprite Supertwat 1976 3 berth tourer. Or something like that.

 

Vectra has a sort of warped charm to it. Pretty shit spec, sales rep/mingebag colour and the kind of thing that is very likely to feature on Road Wars with Carl and Daz hot on the chase and some 'donut' 'valve' or 'nugget' behind the wheel. Anyway fuck it, it had a gallon or so of drizzle in it and I ain't giving that way so it'll be the B&Q hack tomorrow.

[Cavcraft]

Deposit received for Escort, someone coming to look at Vectra this afternoon.

[myglaren]

Bought a new wheel arch liner to stop the water and muck being sucked into the airbox.

Daughter has had the car since Friday afternoon so that won't get stuck on for another week.

[BMC Dan]

Me and Dad took the Cambridge out for a spin this morning, running sweet as a nut. Also got waves from a passing Triumph TR4/5 and a scened up Mk2 Escort with a youth behind the wheel which was a bit of a surprise

[Mr Lobster]

SEAT found a most inappropriate time to have a water pump related fit. This meant I have had to do 750 miles this weekend in an MX5 which are without question GR9 on twisty stuff but GR2 on motorways due to noise / space / insatiable appetite for petrol.

 

Meh.

[Cavcraft]

Hmm, dilemma time. Just been to see a bloody tasty car that's right up my street but it's sort of big money for what it is and has no MOT. It's actually worth more in parts/weigh in but I couldn't really be arsed doing that.

[dollywobbler]

SEAT found a most inappropriate time to have a water pump related fit. This meant I have had to do 750 miles this weekend in an MX5 which are without question GR9 on twisty stuff but GR2 on motorways due to noise / space / insatiable appetite for petrol.

 

Meh.

 

Are they that bad on fuel? Sure, no diesel, but thought high thirties might be possible on a run.

[Mr Lobster]

MX5s EAT ALL UR FUELS

 

Are they that bad on fuel? Sure, no diesel, but thought high thirties might be possible on a run.

 

Yes.

 

Over about 750 miles of mainly motorway stuff at about 75-80 it averaged 28mpg which tbh I was horrified by. When I do the exact same journey in the SEAT I get 36mpg so I reckoned that the lighter, none turbo'd Mazda should do high 30s. Even the Sprinter can beat 28mpg

 

By coincidence, I've just been talking to a customer who has a 1.8 MX5 and he said its a case of 'they all do that' and said that they generally are pretty thirsty.

[Guest]

MX5s EAT ALL UR FUELS

 

Are they that bad on fuel? Sure, no diesel, but thought high thirties might be possible on a run.

 

Yes.

 

Over about 750 miles of mainly motorway stuff at about 75-80 it averaged 28mpg which tbh I was horrified by. When I do the exact same journey in the SEAT I get 36mpg so I reckoned that the lighter, none turbo'd Mazda should do high 30s. Even the Sprinter can beat 28mpg

 

By coincidence, I've just been talking to a customer who has a 1.8 MX5 and he said its a case of 'they all do that' and said that they generally are pretty thirsty.

 

What, so MX5s are crap on fuel and rust like bastards?

Fuck that, I'll just buy an MGB. It's not as though I'll be going any slower, is it?

[trigger]

Hmm, dilemma time. Just been to see a bloody tasty car that's right up my street but it's sort of big money for what it is and has no MOT. It's actually worth more in parts/weigh in but I couldn't really be arsed doing that.

 

What is this TASTY MOTTA?

[Richard]

The Mazda 626 we had was the thirstiest, and slowest, car I've ever known. I don't think it ever cracked 15mpg.

[seth]

What, so MX5s are crap on fuel and rust like bastards?

Fuck that, I'll just buy an MGB. It's not as though I'll be going any slower, is it?

 

Or put the MX5 engine in something even lighter But probably more rusty.....

 

The Herald is achieving mid 30s on the normal commute route (mostly motorway but its the M1 so a bunch of it is 50mph and then traffic at the MK end) but we're pretty happy with that considering its sucking fuel from a pair of HS6 carbs with lighter than normal springs.

[Cavcraft]

Hmm, dilemma time. Just been to see a bloody tasty car that's right up my street but it's sort of big money for what it is and has no MOT. It's actually worth more in parts/weigh in but I couldn't really be arsed doing that.

 

What is this TASTY MOTTA?

 

 

Omega 3.0 Elite. Nicest colour (sort of maroon-ish metallic) and full hit with leather etc. Not everyone's china beverage container of the young dried leaves of an eastern Asian evergreen shrub or small tree (Camellia sinensis) having fragrant, nodding, cup-shaped white flowers and glossy leaves, admittedly. But a bloody nice car non-the-less.

[pogweasel]

pre-facelift I hope. Later ones ming. Hard.

BMW-engined Elite TD with manual box in a dark metallic is on my to-do list.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I'm usually fairly indifferent about Vauxhalls but I would "have" the one pog suggested.

[Mr Lobster]

What, so MX5s are crap on fuel and rust like bastards?

Fuck that, I'll just buy an MGB. It's not as though I'll be going any slower, is it?

 

I suspect the problem is they are really not motorway cars, taller gearing would be the answer i guess... For twisty stuff they are ace though. If you weren't trying to do a lot of miles in a shade over 24 hours then they'd be a lot better.

 

Although they aren't the comfiest cars if like me you have a fondness for food and beer.

[Cavcraft]

Face-lift(ish) on an 'X' plate. Fine looking car and the centre part of the dash was very similar to the Vectra C. In fact the only thing letting it down (that I could see) was the rear arches had 'done a Vauxhall' and the nearside was bloody bad. Still some Iso (Griffo) Pon (the left hand side) uncarefully grafted in and mixed up on an old wheeltrim in the middle of winter then badly sprayed over in the wrong sahde of colour would see it looking better. Or better still some half-arsed gaffer taped shenanigans.

 

Seller seemed a bit unsure what he was doing with it and didn't like my initial bid of a ton fifty at all. Hmmm...

[wuvvum]

The Mazda 626 we had was the thirstiest, and slowest, car I've ever known. I don't think it ever cracked 15mpg.

That's odd. I've only ever owned one 626 - an L-reg 1.8. It was sluggish and mind-numbingly dull but I was averaging over 40mpg.

[Cavcraft]

Escort gone, deposit on Vectra taken, Lambretta* negotiations started.

 

*SIL unfortunately.