Grogee's spannering (Maestro , Corsa & Avensis). MAESTRO NEWSFLASH

[Sunny Jim]

All the best for Monday.

[Cookiesouwest]

Best of luck in the new role

[grogee]

Most kind @Sunny Jim and @Cookiesouwest. I appreciate it. 

[grogee]

Swapped the fleet round this evening as I want to drive the Partner to work tomorrow. We've got one of those drives where one car blocks the other. 

Anyway while maoeuvering the Avensis I noticed Partner brake lights were on, even though it was parked with handbrake on. 

When doing the clutch pedal bushes I dislodged the brake light switch but I didn't think anything of it and just replaced it. I must have bent the bracket though as a quick tweak set it back in the right position. 

Have to say the Avensis was brilliant today on my long commute. Quiet, comfortable and efficient. But since the Partner is here I'd like to do a 'back to back' and see which one feels best for that route, which is a mix of A-roads and motorway. 

Here's a picture of our local sweet shop, for no reason at all. 

[Cookiesouwest]

Hows the new job going?

[grogee]

Day 1 was pleasant enough. Got sorted out with a pass card, laptop, desk and a site map within an hour of arrival. For context, that lot took me over two weeks to obtain at Ford and JLR. 

Straight into a working meeting, a barrage of acronyms but I'm used to that, it's the auto industry. 

Later on a sit in a new Kia EV3 that I will be driving once its number plates arrive. I'm slightly blown away by the modern tech but that's the job - find out what is cutting edge in ADAS, record and document it. 

As an aside the Kia is £36k (ish) and has a 375 mile range and shitloads of tech. I'm out of touch but I don't think £36k is considered expensive these days. Particularly next to a Qashqai/Leaf.

Nice bunch of guys I'm working with and a site that isn't too massive (Gaydon takes 30 min to walk from one side to the other). 

[grogee]

I've just received notice that the Maestro tailgate is ready for pickup, after welding

and spraying. 

Not ready for fitment though as I need to fit rear wiper gubbins, rear latch, and drill holes for spoiler 😬 which I've also got to remove from old tailgate. So a spring project I think. 

But the guy (Tim, who did my Puma a few years ago) wants it out of his workshop so I'll go and pick it up Monday and shove it in storage or garage until it's needed. 

£500 for cash. That's a lot for just a tailgate but you could argue I'll have the world's best Maestro tailgate. 

I've got one of the red stickers to go on it, I think I need the octagon and the actual 'Maestro' badge as well. 

Might demote my AS badge to the bumper... 

[grogee]

This is what it should look like. As I say, I think the red octagon to left of number plate may be hard to come by. 

I'd also like to carefully remove the dealer sticker from my rusty original to put on the new one - any tips? 

[auntiemaryscanary]

32 minutes ago, grogee said:

This is what it should look like. As I say, I think the red octagon to left of number plate may be hard to come by. 

I'd also like to carefully remove the dealer sticker from my rusty original to put on the new one - any tips? 

If you get stuck I reckon @AnnoyingPentium would be able to direct you to somewhere who can make you a new sticker.

[grogee]

3 minutes ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

If you get stuck I reckon @AnnoyingPentium would be able to direct you to somewhere who can make you a new sticker.

Thanks, after 30 sec of "research" I found a reproduction one on the bay that may do the job. 

[grogee]

Tailgate collectified. 

Went to the bank this morning to get £500 cash for Tim the body wizard. The clerk helpfully informed me I could get up to £800 via the cashpoint which I wasn't aware of. In my head there was a limit of £250 but that might be a memory from before the End Times. 

At first glance the colour match looks OK, difficult to tell in current circumstances but hopefully it'll scrub up nice once the trim is on. 

Next job will be to remove existing tailgate and break down all the trim bits and wiper. Would be much easier if it was a City trim! 

[Noel Tidybeard]

when i had mine i lost the maestro script but kept MG & EFi