Cars & (17)Coffees - Corolla-borealis? At this time of year, in this part of the country, localized entirely on my driveway?!

[17-Coffees]

I've decided to amalgamate all my current threads into one, due to the realization I don't really post a lot on my own cars...on the account that I don't actually do too much to warrant there own threads these days. 

So for a quick run up of the current 'fleet' as of April '25...

The SPACESHIP

This has been owned by a few of y'all here, and is the current and only road legal one. Never really gave them a thought until my dad got one in 2019 and since then I've been after one! Plenty of space, comfy enough and the 2.2 is fantastic! Just remind me make sure the bonnet is full secure...

THE MOST BORING CAR...

In the world...A JDM  1.5, 3-Spd with overdrive Salooooon Corolla. Its so humdrum its actually exciting! 

 

The '57 Minor

The one I still post about most here (even if its been about a year since I last did!) and the one people are most interested in. Progress has been much slower the past few years (As said above for the LS) but little things have been done, but fingers cross a little more gets done soon...

The LS400

This was my pride and joy between 2015 and 2017, alas...I grew up and got a mortgage & actual bills to pay, suddenly it wasn't top of the agenda. It's still in my position but in a sorry state...I'd saved up money to get it 're-commissioned' in 2020...but between being made redundant and that there 'Rona the money saved was spent on other things. I still keep high hopes on getting it back on the road! Maybe...eventually...any takers?

 

The 'Bitch Basket' Golf

This ticked the 'drop top curser box' and even though I've had it for sale 'on-again-off-again' It's still in my hands.  As of now it's at my parents place, and they seem to have taken a shine to it for the same reasons I did, with my dad doing a fair few jobs to it over the past few years. I really need to get it MOT'd and sold...any takers? 

 

 

So for the few people who pay attention to my car content, this is where to pay attention to it as of now! 😄

[17-Coffees]

And now, time for a collection Fred, time to board a spaceship and head Souf! 😆

[17-Coffees]

Why did i think driving this is back from Kinross was a good idea 🤣

[AnnoyingPentium]

2 minutes ago, 17-Coffees said:

Why did I think driving this back from Kinross was a good idea 🤣

For fun, innit. 😆

Bet you that'd have been a good laugh in the wind lol.

[17-Coffees]

1 hour ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

For fun, innit. 😆

Bet you that'd have been a good laugh in the wind lol.

My left arm is hurting due to keeping it aline due to the wind on thr way up north. 😂

[17-Coffees]

I am happy to say, it was a Smart idea! 

@The Moog described the car perfectly in the advert, and im very pleased with it! And to boot got to experience the power of an i3 first hand. Again, massive thanks for that! 😄

So the two main issues as noted, is the brakes needing bled and the clutch needing adjusted. The good news is the clutch can be adjusted by use of a Mercedes Star machine, and thankfully I have access to one so should be able to have that delt with. Likewise the brakes should be an easy fix as well.

As of now, this is my driveway..

 

The Up! Isn't mine, but my lodger (renting out the spare room to a mate)...the neighbours will no doubt be thrilled about me having another car in my drive! 😂

[The Moog]

Glad you got home safe! 

Good luck with the wee car and when it comes time I will have two tickets 

[Supernaut]

I go away for the weekend and you suddenly do stuff!

Well bought! I want a look next time I'm up in Aberdeenshire, whenever that is.

[17-Coffees]

So it's been over a month since I got the Smart, here's a quick overview. 😀

Sadly, the SmartMachine I have access to doesn't cover cars as I though it may have, so the clutch adjuster issue is still there, but like the brakes I've grown to know how to get around it. When to change gear, etc to minimize the impact it has. 

The front fog lights weren't working, as well as the screen wash not working as well, so this was a front end off job. The screenwash was thankfully an easy fix, the motor was working and the bottle full but would be a 25-75 chance of water coming out. Checked and cleaned the hoses, all okay. The problem was the wash bottle itself with the filler neck being the main issue...the angle it was sitting caused it to 'fill' up, then when i'd drive, what little water in the neck would land in the bottle. Couple that with a bit of crap in the bottle and that was the issues. So Flushed out the bottle and then cable tied the neck to a more fixed position, sorted! The foglights was a simple case of not being plugged in.

The next week...

This time was my nearside headlight wasn't working, which considering I'm a nightshift worker I rather need! Expected it to be a bulb, but sadly wasn't. Really not 100% sure the issue as it kind of solved itself the same night as I drove home. My guess is maybe wiring got wet due to me playing about with the screen wash the week before. After checking fuses, wires, etc I did give the wires a good hose down with brake cleaner and then contact cleaner on the plugs. The same night I also re-secured some of the stuff under the bonnet, headlights, etc..and by that I mean I added new cable ties as most of what's under the front is secured with them! 😂 Talking of cable ties...

The grill is secured by a clip & two cable ties, I only have access to black one's, which stand out like a sore thumb on the silver grill, so rather than get some grey or silver ones I just painted the grill black.

I wasn't too sure about it, as it's a gloss black and a bit too shiny at first, but it's grown on me now. It was only after this photo that I realized the badge on the front is off center. 

This takes me to the start of this week, where I finally got round to giving it a basic service...

As expected, piss easy to do. Also really seemed to run smoother after as well. 

Bonus of the service sticker I added...

Yup, cool as fuck innit. 

 

So overall thoughts? I love it still, much more relaxing to drive than the Abarth, but also really makes you think and plan for hills. My oversight is the fact that the car is maybe only a tiny tiny bit more economic than the Abarth to use every day for work...who'd though that using car made for the city on mainly clear duel carriageways wouldn't be a great idea? 🤣 But I'm happy, taking it on the more rural roads is a massive laugh plus I can tick off having owned one now! 

I could maybe foresee a Mk2 in the future...if the 1.0 they have is better on the dueler that is! 

 

 

 

[17-Coffees]

Turns out the Smart is good for Green Laning... 🤣

 

Context: @Supernaut is back up this part of the world for a few days, so popped on by for a shot of the car as well as one of my BBQ's I always throw when the sun is out. I took it for a burn with him, then recalled you could access the old railway line, which is now a walk-cycle path. Literally just went on, took some photos with creative angling.

I did the same with the Cappuccino on the same path, and it's always tempting to drive along it in a smoll car. Only issue would be getting to the other end at my hometown, as it's got a full size gate across it there. 

[17-Coffees]

One of the LED side indicators booked, and after playing around  A look on ebay would have been around £13 or so for replacements. Or around £15 for a set off original lens. Turns out original A-class's and 2000's gen Vito's use the same lens, So with that in mind and some free time today I nipped last the scrappy when in town and had a look, to my susprise, tucked in the far corner was a Vito! 

So from tinted LED'S....

To original Merc units...

All for the pricely sun of bugger all, and £2.30-odd for a new set of Bulbs. Tidy! 

 

On top of that,  last night at work I removed the odd sunstrip on the roof, which covered part of the panoramic roof that you couldn't see out of...

And in sunlight after a quick clean...

Looks 10 times better and cleaner without it. 

 

I've also ordered some extra things, which should arrive soon*. 

[124Cab]

What a smashing little thing this is! I have a 450 cabrio and have grown quite attached to it in the year I’ve had it. 

The sunstrip was a recall dealer retrofit - if a stone hits the leading edge of the pan roof it’ll shatter the whole thing. 

[17-Coffees]

Update for me. 

Back in July I sold the Smart threw here, it's changed hands again since I believe. Was a nice little thing but as id said for my daily commute to work (80% duel carriageway and lots of hills)  it just wasn't really the car for the job. 

My Abarth has been giving me more problems...so for the last 3 month's I've been useing my mums car , a 1.6, base spec W-Reg Mk4 Golf, Its a great thing, but she's needing it full time again. 

So I needed a car to use for work, and as a replacement for the Abarth when I get to selling it. Since @Supernaut got the Rexton, his Civic was surplus to requirement so....

I've had my eye in one of these for a few years now, since my dad got one. So when he said it'd be for sale I said I'd have it! 

I love the way they drive, the rapid torques and the spaceship design. It'll also do great for the commute for work. I know I'm getting old when I'm starting to care about MPG's! 🤣

 

 

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, 17-Coffees said:

Update for me. 

Back in July I sold the Smart threw here, it's changed hands again since I believe. Was a nice little thing but as id said for my daily commute to work (80% duel carriageway and lots of hills)  it just wasn't really the car for the job. 

My Abarth has been giving me more problems...so for the last 3 month's I've been useing my mums car , a 1.6, base spec W-Reg Mk4 Golf, Its a great thing, but she's needing it full time again. 

So I needed a car to use for work, and as a replacement for the Abarth when I get to selling it. Since @Supernaut got the Rexton, his Civic was surplus to requirement so....

I've had my eye in one of these for a few years now, since my dad got one. So when he said it'd be for sale I said I'd have it! 

I love the way they drive, the rapid torques and the spaceship design. It'll also do great for the commute for work. I know I'm getting old when I'm starting to care about MPG's! 🤣

 

 

Good car that when I had it.

[Noel Tidybeard]

they can do ridiculous mpgs- my 1.8 could crack 50 on a run

[17-Coffees]

It's been 3 months today since I got it and around 4.5k added! Have to say, since it's now in daily use it's improved itself. 

Did a few fixes* the other month when I had free time.

The front end had a fair few panel gaps, which I would could hear the wind resistant, so had an easy, albeit crude fix...

Self tapping screes on the wheel arch trims on both sides. As you may have seen, on the first photo there is no grill, I'd removed it as it was rather loose, and glued a few of the broken bits back. Refitted and it's much better. The next bit was getting the front bumper to sit slightly better, and bring the gap between the bottom on the headlights and it to a minimum, which I also managed to do. 

The end result was worked as well as I wanted, and there is a great reduction in wind noise! Huzzah! 

 

[17-Coffees]

As stated in News24 Yesterday, I had a mishap with the Spaceship... 

I was an idiot and never closed the bonnet fully, the secondary catch for the bonnet is strong enough to drive you 15 miles at 70 on a windy day before it'll blow open.  😵 Thankfully I was just at a turnoff for the Aberdeen bypass, so quickly put 4 ways on and limped onto there and turned off while trying to looking threw the small gap at the bottom of the windscreen (bonnet stayed up), and then leaning out the drivers window once off the main road. Thankful me and my passenger were fine other than a near heart attack...

Called my Dad and he came out with some stuff and to act as a escort car to get me home. So strapped the bonnet down, used duct tape on the wings to help stop any marks, then took the backroads home slowly. Only came across a tractor, who did ask if everything was okay, but otherwise was unphased...

Once home, lept into action mode to replace the bonnet...

"But Coffees, you don't just have a spare bonnet laying around?"...

Not exactly, you see my Dad's Civic shat itself last week and is waiting for it to be collected, so...

Thankfully, was just the bonnet and not hinges that was damaged so was a straight swap...4 bolts. 

I actually think the black suits it, coupled with the black glass roof and the rear window.  Talking of that glass roof, I'm bloody thankful that that never got touched! As dread to think of the cost for that! 

So with the bonnet sorted, windscreen is getting replaced (as expected)...£115 via insurance but have to wait till June 6th. Oh well. 

 

Talking of my dad and his Civic, of course he's been using my mums car the last week, but finally got something today which I got to have a poke around...

I really like it, need an excuse to borrow it one day. 

[gadgetgricey]

Had exactly the same happen years ago on my Gallant.
Luckily was a hot day and drivers window was open , so was able to lean out and come to a stop.,
50mph on a straight road was also fortunate, but its amazing how fast the bonnet flips up...
Just glad you (and car to a fashion) are both ok.
Actually dented roof on mine as bonnet bent back at top of roof line.

Not an experience I'd wish on anyone or like to go through again...

[Noel Tidybeard]

it's prolly an advantage that hunda made the bonnet able to go vertical into a "service" postition which maybe saved the hinges

[17-Coffees]

Smoll Update...

Abarth is gone, bye bye! It was much fun, and good memory's but it was time to part ways.  Sorry for everyone who messaged about it and I never responded, a deal was done very quickly! 

This past 3 weeks I've been off on Holiday, this has meant the Civic has been enjoying long drives around Scotland as I've been playing tourist with my other half visiting places while she's over from the US of A. Most of it has been dull duel carriageways and A-roads, but yesterday we went to Loch Ness...

Forgot how nice the road from Inverness to Drumnadrochit was when you don't get stuck behind anything!  

I'm still debating on if to keep the black bonnet or to try find a red one. As expected it has seemed to attract some attention from the ST lot while driving...but on the other hand getting a red one would be spending money on a part I don't really need, replacing a part I got for free*. (Not including price of replacement windscreen) 

[17-Coffees]

The other week, the Civic threw up a 'Check system' warning, and the battery light. Odd, as the battery was 2 months old and no prior warning...checked the system, it was charging at 16v on idol! Ah, nice. Suspect it's the regulator, so I've ordered a new alternator, belt and while I've got it off the road doing a service, and a few other things. 

 

This is great and all, but it means I'm without a working car for work, which due to where I work and the hours I work (Backshift FTW!), I cant get public transport. So last week I blagged a shot of my brothers project 325Ci, ordered the parts for the Civic. Grand, but I could only use his car for a week. So how do I get out of this issue? Simple...but another car that I dont really need! It's the AS way of course? 

 

So that's how I ended up with an incarnation of the best selling car...in the world...

A JDM spec, 1.5 3Spd with Overdrive, Corolla Saloooooon!  

It's a lovely thing, Very comfy and relaxing to just bimble about in. The Bumpers are rather shabby as you can see, but I'm fine with them and if I decided to keep it long term could be sorted. 

 

Took it to the Grampian Transport Museum for there Autojumble, it's a lovely thing to drive!  And it met a friend!

 

[Tickman]

On 13/03/2022 at 01:08, 17-Coffees said:

The '57 Minor

 

Anything happening with this yet?

[Supernaut]

6 minutes ago, Tickman said:

Anything happening with this yet?

...apart from me trying to convince him to sell it to me?

[17-Coffees]

2 weeks with the Corolla, really fallen for it!

Used it for the commute to work the first week while the Civic was out of commission. Great car but if you know what Aberdeen's AWPR is like, you'll know how hilly it is...and a 3-spd slushbox is not a great fan of that. But did the job.  At work I gave it another check over, sorted out a few niggles and lubed a few bits, as well as a power wash.

So that takes me to last weekend I got the alternator fitted to the Civic, with @Supernaut lending a hand and banter...and giving him a shot of the Corolla. 

Not as bad to do as expected! So back to running it for the work commute,  which it does without effort.

I also got some extras for the Corolla, the first being a GPS speedo, much better to actively gauge my speed than the hand written sheet I had taped to the centre unit! 

On top of that, got a basic wheel lock, not that it's a 'hot' car, but more it's basic enough to be joyridden....pointles? Maybe, but better than the basic locks!

Yes,  I also added a giffer spec wheel cover I've had lying around for 10 years! 

and to top it off  added a mascot as well!

 

[Lord Sterling]

11 hours ago, 17-Coffees said:

Those 2 little mats on the floor are, as the youngsters say, giving me the "ick". I know there is one under there but even that doesn't look like it fits properly. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134771737409

Now, I really do dislike tailored floor mats, but not as much as I hate universal mats or those horrid faux "metal" ones that chavs fit in their badly modded cars.

The above is the best I could find, unless you're willing to find some JDM ones that fit properly which are notoriously expensive. I got a set of JDM mats for the Micra just before prices shot into 3 figures.

It's such a nice clean car, particularly that interior.

[Snipes]

"Weeb Logistics" lol

Never understood why we got the bug eye version and not this.

[17-Coffees]

11 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

Those 2 little mats on the floor are, as the youngsters say, giving me the "ick". I know there is one under there but even that doesn't look like it fits properly. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134771737409

Now, I really do dislike tailored floor mats, but not as much as I hate universal mats or those horrid faux "metal" ones that chavs fit in their badly modded cars.

The above is the best I could find, unless you're willing to find some JDM ones that fit properly which are notoriously expensive. I got a set of JDM mats for the Micra just before prices shot into 3 figures.

It's such a nice clean car, particularly that interior.

Don't worry, the small cheap ones were just a temporary measure which I have now since chucked in the boot.  I have a pair of old trainers I were for going to work, often wear them around the workshop at the end of my shift to make sure doors are locked and such before leaving, so chucked them in to help stop accidental grease or anything getting on the floor. 

Admittedly the floor mats in it already do a good job, not a 100% tailored fit but colour wise look the part. Although I have a spare black set that fits in from another ToMoCo car that fit much better than expected...

*Don't worry, I've since cleaned it and fitted it much better, such as sitting under the boot release.