THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[garethj]

  dollywobbler said:

Gareth - what sort of roads are you driving on? My 30mpg in the Volvo involved absolutely no town driving, just 60 or 70 on single/dual carriageway.

Ah, I'm got a fair amount of town driving. On the motorway it should be fine, overdrive 4th gear is very high indeed, in fact 4th gear is as high as 5th on most cars.

 

mk1_4dr - on the Volvos beware of electrical gremlins. Non working fuel gauge is common, but watch out for anything more serious, anything with an engine management light glowing or water in the footwells.

[dollywobbler]

I vote for Honda Prelude. I've always liked them, but have never really been able to say why. I just love Honda's low-scuttle designs.

[pogweasel]

LJK sez: "Psst - Preludes are the win"

[mk1_4dr]

I like the Prelude, not really what Im looking for though, and I feel something like that should really be a manual.

 

The Maroon 960 is on my doorstep, I might go for a looksee tomorrow. Not got masses of MOT, but then again it is cheap at the moment.

Its doesn't mention any electrical gremlins either. I imagine the MPG will be ruinous though.

Whats the general thoughts?

 

Clicky

 

and can I live with this crease in its slab-like side...

[barrett]

I reckon that Ovlov would be a great car if it stays mega cheap, fairly rare, acres of cow inside and 'running in' mileage. Lots of car for the money, as the saying goes. MPG would doubtless cripple you but if it's on the £2-300 mark it'll be worth it, shirely?

 

Prelude is more my sort of thing though, and being a bader doesn't it just mean it'll be less likely to have been thrashed (and attract any residual drift-tax)? I reckon in mills-mode it'd be a nice gentle cruiser which is what Hondas should be, in my view.

 

Don't buy the Mondeo.

[mk1_4dr]

Hold the phone!!!!

 

Having a bit of a poke around on ze internet for info on those 960's. 24mpg when new .

Not sure I can stomach that to be honest.

 

That Prelude is hawt, and yeah, badermatic can have its advantages.

 

clicky

 

Again its round the corner so I might go for a look after work tomorrow.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Bigger Honda engines aren't very efficient either I'm afraid, I don't think the Prelude coupled with an automatic 'box will manage much better mpg than the Volvo.

All hinges on the kind of driving you do I suppose.

[mk1_4dr]

Im a heavy footed lummox, so I'd probably end up either dead in the Volvo or skint in the Honda.

Hmmm, there are some other options though (thankfully )

[Cavcraft]

  mk1_4dr said:

After an afternoon of investigation yesterday, Ive found what I suspect is waterpump failure on the K10.

Ive priced the job up to about £150 (pump, cambelt, headskim, headset, oil + filters), then a weekend to do the work (if I could even find somewhere to skim a head while I wait on a saturday dinnertime..)

 

Im looking at a few cars on Ebay, specifically these...

 

 

 

All look like decent motors. Iam actively looking for slightly bigger stuff (after driving the K10, I realise Im not cut out for small cars) and for stuff with the longest MOT but basically I'll drive owt.

 

Wish me luck.

 

[skattrd]

Well, didn't go to see the Lancia today, I ended up going to Great Yarmouth with a mate to pick up a vehicle for him instead:

 

 

I've just driven it back 100+ miles and must say it drives rather nicely, good old straight six petrol engine.

[sporty-shite]

Well, the 635 went last night, after a bit of a disaster on my part.

 

Only got round to trying to start it on Saturday morning, and the battery was flat. No probs, thinks I, he won't be ready to be picked up from the airport til about 3pm, so I can charge it up, and job's a good 'un.

 

Ended up jump starting it off the (ex-Scooters) Golf, cos my battery charger is shit, and the buyer had phoned to say he was at the airport.

 

On way for pez, it ran out. Walk to pez station in pissing rain, buy can, fill can, get lift back to car off random guy in pez station. Fuel in car, turn key, nothing.

 

Phone sporty-wife to come and jump start. Won't go. Drag it to pez station, thinking it needs more than a gallon to fire up. Plenty of fuel. No go. Try towing it, just pops and misses for a minute then cuts out. I know this is no big problem, because it's happened before. If it gets run then switched off when it's only "half warm" it floods itself when you try to start it. However, by this time, Eric from Luxembourg has been at the airport for an hour, and is getting concerned that he might miss his Eurotunnel booking.

 

So, go to pick him up in the Alfa, whilst phoning the AA to meet me back at the car in an hour. Get to the airport, meet the guy, and tell him the script.

 

Fortunately he's VERY understanding, and pretty confident the AA will sort us out. Luckily, just as we get back to the car, the AA phone to tell us they're there. Patrol gets out of wagon, puts booster pack on battery, and oit fired instantly. Phew!

 

Sort out paperwork, exchange folding, and they're on their way back to Luxembourg.

 

Haven't heard any bad news, so I'm presuming they got home. I'm going to email him in the morning to see how he got on. I'll also send him a link to this place, seeing as he's a serial tat hoarder, and also mad enough to do that sort of mission for a crusty old Bimmer that he's only going to use for spares!

 

Now I'm off on the lookout for semi-practical, reliable shite to replace it. Can't go on in the Golf with no proper rear belts for the Juniors. Been looking longingly at Corrados, does that make me a bad person. All other suggestions welcome.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Except Invacars and Perodua Nippas.

[dollywobbler]

Perodua Kenari!

[sporty-shite]

  dollywobbler said:

Perodua Kenari!

 

I seem to remember google imaging that suggestion when I was looking for inspiration for sporty-wife's car. It hurt my retinas!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Serious suggestion:

 

[sporty-shite]

Good looking thing, that, Leonard. Too new, though. Got a classic multi car policy, and the "modern slot" is taken up by the Alfa.

 

Thinking Corrado, cos they're 20 years old now, possibly Scirocco, but not sure whether they have retractable or fixed belts in the back. Also liked the look of that Astra GTE on R-R, but that's sold now. Possibly 309 GTi if I can find one old enough. Otherwise, I don't know. Luckily, I'm in no rush, so won't have to jump at the first shitter I come across just so I can get to work.

[barefoot]

  sporty-shite said:

Got a classic multi car policy, and the "modern slot" is taken up by the Alfa.

 

Where is this from?

this is the sort of thing that satisfies wives!

Thanks in anticipation,

[Guest]

  mk1_4dr said:

 

WATANABE ANNOTATES UR SEARCHES LYK TELETEXT WITH A CRAP HAIRCUT AND MORE SWEARS.

 

FIT

 

 

OMG THE CAR STEERS ITSELF O HAI HEDGE

 

 

I LIKE DUPLO BRICKS AND HALFORDS IN THAT ORDER

 

 

THIS MOTOR CAR WOULD BE ENHANCED 100% (NOT XANAX !!!!!!!!!11111111) WITH THE ADDITION OF GAFFA TAPE ON THE BUMBERS (sic)

 

Wish me luck.

[Pete-M]

XJR?

[skattrd]

  barefoot said:

  sporty-shite said:

Got a classic multi car policy, and the "modern slot" is taken up by the Alfa.

 

Where is this from?

this is the sort of thing that satisfies wives!

Thanks in anticipation,

 

It sounds similar to my policy from Footman James, my little Daihatsu is classed as my modern, and theoretically my most used car and all my other cars are "classics" so it works out quite cheap. I pay £500 for 6 cars on the poilcy and to add another classic costs me £46 (£26 + £20 admin fee). I think its a great deal as I've got breakdown cover, unlimited mileage and business use included on the lot as well.

Give them a call, they're quite friendly in the multi-car dept and on occasion will haggle

 

Sporty - why not go for a Merc? I was toying with a diesel barge or a pillarless coupe for a daily. If your insurance is with FJ they consider Mercs over 15yrs classics.

[dollywobbler]

Similarly, they consider Jags classics at 15 as well. Just saying like, while hinting about a certain XJR (is it 15 yet?)

[Cavcraft]

I seem to have pissed some miserable looking snob in a modern Merc 'C' whatever coupe this morning, he obviously wasn't happy about me razzing past him in a rusty arched Vauxhall barge.

[sporty-shite]

  skattrd said:

  barefoot said:

  sporty-shite said:

Got a classic multi car policy, and the "modern slot" is taken up by the Alfa.

 

Where is this from?

this is the sort of thing that satisfies wives!

Thanks in anticipation,

 

It sounds similar to my policy from Footman James, my little Daihatsu is classed as my modern, and theoretically my most used car and all my other cars are "classics" so it works out quite cheap. I pay £500 for 6 cars on the poilcy and to add another classic costs me £46 (£26 + £20 admin fee). I think its a great deal as I've got breakdown cover, unlimited mileage and business use included on the lot as well.

Give them a call, they're quite friendly in the multi-car dept and on occasion will haggle

 

Sporty - why not go for a Merc? I was toying with a diesel barge or a pillarless coupe for a daily. If your insurance is with FJ they consider Mercs over 15yrs classics.

 

It is indeed FJ. I've got me and Mrs S covered on the Alfa, Golf Cab, Celica and BM, with unlimited mileage and breakdown cover including Europe, so it's worth looking into. Difficult to put a cost on mine, as there have been quite a few changes, but it works out well if you've got a modern to cover. Also, they don't limit the policy to one modern, you just need to have more classics than moderns, which I won't have once the BMW is deleted.

 

On the subject of Mercs, I really need something economical, but don't fancy an old diesel. I've also come to the conclusion, after having the 635, that big cars aren't really my thing. And Mercs scare me a bit with potential money-pit-ness, and rust.

 

  Quote

Similarly, they consider Jags classics at 15 as well. Just saying like, while hinting about a certain XJR (is it 15 yet?)

 

MORE ECONOMICAL!!!!!! I thought the BM was bad at around 20mpg, but Pete's quoting some scary round-town figured for the XJR. Although it is a very pretty car.

[Shep Shepherd]

Took TV2 to my local garage (Sun Motors in Southend) in order for it to be divested of its locking wheel bolts, a job which was fairly easy for people who have Full Trade Facilitiesâ„¢ at their disposal to complete; the recalcitrant bolts yielded within minutes using a tool not dissimilar to the ones in my ill-bought removal kit. The time the job took was reflected in the bill, which was a lot less than I expected. Hopefully, I be able to finish replacing the front pads before the weekend now!

[CreepingJesus]

I now need a wetsuit and flippers to sit in the Renault. The water's coming in everywhere. Finishing a night shift, and getting back to the car to sit on a damp seat, is a little unpleasant. Must do something about it.

[pogweasel]

  Leonard Hatred said:

Serious suggestion:

 

 

Are these actually any good?

I have espied one (with the pram handle deleted) for sensible money, but assume that you need to wring the bollocks out of them to get them to move along nicely, and 7000rpm isn't good on the dino-juice situation - or can they be used for pottering?

[cort16]

If it's anything like the civic type-r then it's just like a gutless 1.6 saloon when you're pottering about then once your get past 4000 rpm it goes nuts. It really don't feel right reving something up to 8000rpm and it not exploding especially when you're used to a diesel. I think they can see 35mpg if you're not consitantly revving the nuts off it, which you will be.

I've seen a few of these recently with detonated engines. I don't think they take well to neglect and and they're getting into that price range, where dealer interval servicing doesn't happen maybe when it should.

[Pete-M]

  dollywobbler said:

Similarly, they consider Jags classics at 15 as well. Just saying like, while hinting about a certain XJR (is it 15 yet?)

 

It's a '94...

[Pete-M]

  pogweasel said:

  Leonard Hatred said:

Serious suggestion:

 

 

Are these actually any good?

I have espied one (with the pram handle deleted) for sensible money, but assume that you need to wring the bollocks out of them to get them to move along nicely, and 7000rpm isn't good on the dino-juice situation - or can they be used for pottering?

 

Yes they are good.

 

Usual Honda lack of suspension travel, but otherwise they're a bloody nice thing. They are short geared, but the engine is very very smooth at 3500 rpm, which is about 75 mph. Not that shite on juice either, unless you use 7000 rpm all the time. Unfortunately, revving the nads off 'em is amusing, produces quite a large grin and does get pretty addictive.

 

They're not utterly lacking in torque either. If you're in the right gear they waft along very nicely, not happy trying to do 5th at 30 type stunts but the gearbox is ok in 'em and so it's no real hardship to do a bit more gear changing than in your 318. As it's a Honda there's bugger all weight in anything you operate anyway. Light pedals, light gearshift, light steering.

 

Interior is blander than a cheese slice but if it hasn't been abused it'll look like it did at 30k miles, and it should have all the toys. Cruise as well I think. The one I used for a while had the satnav kit with a BOSE* stereo that wasn't awful.

 

They do knock out wishbone bushes a bit easily and they're sensitive to wheel alignment but you won't have any issues with the engine as long as there's reasonably fresh oil in there.

 

 

*BOSE = Buy Other Sound Equipment.

[Guest]

 

Went to Wales in the 480 last night. It was good.

 

Except the Amazon's battery had gone flat.

[Station]

I've had a lot of trouble in the past with Rover's K-series engine, so in blind celebration I've just bought a 16v Metro GTi. If that's not punishment enough - IT'S BEEN STANDING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS!

 

 

From what I remember from school reading Dante's Divine Comedy, the 7th circle of hell was lined with K-series engines. Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate!