Here we go again - big bill coming...

[ChinaTom]

 

Decided not to sell, and book the Jag in for the mega-resto.

 

New fuel pumps (could buy a decent XJ40 for the same price as these!)

Full bodywork restoration

Sort ventilation issues and a/c

 

Can you imagine how much this is going to cost? Best not to think about it. There is NO economic case to be made here. This is mindless blind love for an old car with space shuttle mileage and virtually no resale value at all.

 

No doubt I will be scorned in the next parish magazine having blocked my street to traffic during the school run this afternoon. Got sworn at by the school bus driver and I could hear the tsks and tuts from the parents waiting by the post office a full 300 yards up the street. Some were so put out by this inconvenience that they stood out in the road with their hands on their hips. At its worst, there must have been 3 cars queued up waiting. I just know that I'll be ignored (possibly not even allowed in) at the next Coffee Morning in the village hall.

[dollywobbler]

Your love and attention will be rewarded in heaven. Or, if that doesn't exist, right here on Autoshite! Won't ease the wallet burden, but I am actually applauding. And confusing the cat.

[Spottedlaurel]

Rather OTT transporter for just one car?! Good luck with the plans for it though.I think we once attepmted to have a meal at the pub just up the road from you once. Place was completely empty and we went somewhere else instead.

[ChinaTom]

To be fair, he had just dropped a load of Toyotas off at Dingles. This was a Shiply job and he was off back to Dereham anyway with a smallish detour to Spixworth for me.The pub in the photo (The George) is a strange place - usually empty except for Saturday nights when there is the weekly fight. The pub around the corner (King's Head) is actually better for food so I hear - actually never set foot in either of them.I am still trying to find out who the white Corvette belongs to (just visible beyond the truck). Been parked outside the PO for months. I expect the owner lost a fight in the George one Saturday evening.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

There is NO economic case to be made here. This is mindless blind love for an old car with space shuttle mileage and virtually no resale value at all.

I like this quote. And this attitude

[55bloke]

I so understand where you're coming from!! If I had the cash, it's what I'd do with the 25. It'd be fascinating to know what actually needs doing, how long it'll take, and what it costs. Hope you will keep us informed.

[Justin Case]

There is NO economic case to be made here. This is mindless blind love for an old car with space shuttle mileage and virtually no resale value at all.

 

And the world is a richer place because there are people who will always think of something more than just the 'economic case'.

[ChinaTom]

I'm pretty sure I already know the extent of the work required. The last 18 months has seen:new steering rack, bushes and welding to the front suspension mountsnew front brakes and master cylindernew rear brakes, exhaust mounting bracketsfull service and rethread to No 11 spark plugThat lot cost over £2kNext is the primary fuel pump but I will probably have a new tank c/w both pumps as the current ones are both original and probably at the end of their useful life. They tend to last 120k miles - this is at 163k now. The pumps are mounted internally, and a right ball-ache to do. This will be the best part of a grand.The bodywork will not cost as much as I thought - I already have a spare rear door in decent condition, and the sills are not cripplingly pricey. I am expecting a bill for £2k for everything - front wing (the innards will demand a weldathon of epic proportions), rear wing, doors, boot and bonnet. Oh, and sunroof.Then there are the non-essential bits. The cruise control vac pump has had it, but I already have a good one to fit. The a/c system is shot to pieces - probably just a pile of rusty dust. All needs doing, as while he's got the interior apart he can fix all the vent mechanisms that have jammed and fit a new blower motor. Definitely another grand there.So, I am assuming £4k will get that lovely V12 car in excellent condition hopefully by the summer. At least I can recover 25% of that if I decide to sell it! Which I won't, but I will be taking delivery of a new car in July which really ought to live in the garage so I need to either move to a house with more than one garage space, or cancel the new car and get my deposit back.More details as they happen.

[dollywobbler]

Why should a new car use the garage? Keep the class in the garage. New stuff can cope with outdoors.

[ChinaTom]

It's an Audi A8 4.2TDi - I don't want it scratched when the George kicks out on a Saturday night! It's garage or street here - no driveway.

[shite_meister]

You are a Shite-Hero! Stirling work spending out on a car where the sums don't add up thats a great thing to do.

[vicsmith]

Great work, it`s folk like you 20 years ago that we have to thank for the fact that there are still some series 1 XJ6s (a contender for best looking car of all time, I`ve always thought) left for people to admire, I bet a decision like this is somewhere in the past of every surviving example.

[binhoker668]

There is NO economic case to be made here. This is mindless blind love for an old car with space shuttle mileage and virtually no resale value at all.

I like this quote. And this attitude

ME TOO!Okay, maybe not so much the space shuttle mileage, but nonetheless, this is exactly where i was a few weeks ago.Hats off fella!Look forward to discussing such money/car misery at a meet somewhere sometime!

[STUNO]

I'm pretty sure I already know the extent of the work required. So, I am assuming £4k will get that lovely V12 car in excellent condition

I hate to be a pessimist, but double that for safety

[Father Ted]

Top work that man - cancel the new car and use the deposit to buy something you wont care about being scratched, say like a 20 year old diesel BX - oddly I know where there is one going too....

[Gompo]

While i am very impressed with your commitment, I am slightly disappointed...:I'm guessing this means there is no late 90's Quattroporte heading your way?Not to put a knocker on what is a massive 'up yours' to practically everyone apart from shite/classic lovers.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Top work that man - cancel the new car and use the deposit to buy something you wont care about being scratched, say like a 20 year old diesel BX - oddly I know where there is one going too....

The impression I get of CT is that he is very much a luxo barge man!How about an Audi V8 instead??

[MrRegieRitmo]

I am still trying to find out who the white Corvette belongs to (just visible beyond the truck). Been parked outside the PO for months. I expect the owner lost a fight in the George one Saturday evening.

Glad you mentioned that because I spotted it, thought it looked interesting & was going to ask if you knew anything of it!

[brammy777]

Wow, shows you love the car! Not many people seem to cherish these at the moment.Seeing as we're suggesting saloons, how about a top end late facelifted Granada Scorpio?

[meggersdog]

When did Mrs CT realise you are a true British eccentric.I doff my cap to you sir.

[garethj]

Some were so put out by this inconvenience that they stood out in the road with their hands on their hips.

Wow, it doesn't get any worse than that Good luck with it, is it a garage you've used before / trust / are prepared to pay with a blank cheque?

[hennabm]

There is NO economic case to be made here. This is mindless blind love for an old car with space shuttle mileage and virtually no resale value at all.

I like this quote. And this attitude

and againhaving just offloaded to the dealer over £1k on just one side of the engine for the 323, I can only condone the thoughts here. This amounted to various water and vacuum hoses, 6 brand new injectors and a new throttle body It was finished yesterday and runs like new again. (So it b*** should with that amount in it )Would love to see a thread of progress as well as the finished result of the big cat.

[ChinaTom]

Lil' update then:fuel pumps ordered and will be fitted in the next 14 days - £200. That'll get the car moving.Latest quote for EVERYTHING previously mentioned is £3500 including full respray. Had a heartening call from the chaps doing the work - fuel pumps aside, the car is mechanically spot on. Delivery delay on the Audi - took the opportunity to cancel the order with no financial penalty. A 3 year old one in 3 years time will make more sense.Maser QP still a possibility later this year depending on whether I find a bigger house with barns or not. Nice Evoluzione spotted but I can't afford a £10k toy at the moment. I haven't forgotten the pledge though.Off overseas again this month. More decisions upon return.

[VWPowered]

It's an Audi A8 4.2TDi - I don't want it scratched when the George kicks out on a Saturday night! It's garage or street here - no driveway.

i used to live bang between farnborough and cove high streets, great fer work not so great on the weekends when thugs, jump up and down on cars, be sick on them, kick of the mirrors etc, one of the reasons that help me decide i need to be in another country somewhere quiet with no pubs nearby lucky the french all go to bed at 7pm never had a problem since being here (except some numpty opening a door on my car)

[ChinaTom]

I have a strong urge to live in France. One day. I shouldn't overplay the situation here in the village - it is a tranquil and cute ickle place full of proper cottages and eccentric old folk who talk to roses. But the George has started advertising live music nights and this attracts some non-locals who occasionally drink too much and terrorise the village with the replacement of traffic cones, exuberant loud singing, and the occasional vomit/car incident. As always, it is wrangler wearing sozzled sorts who need to lean against a car in between vomit episodes and scrape their arses against the paintwork on their way to the floor. But compared to any town centre, it is still idyllic.

[Father Ted]

If you are popping back to China, why not buy a Monstro and crate it back to Blighty?

[ChinaTom]

If you are popping back to China, why not buy a Monstro and crate it back to Blighty?

The Etsong company no longer makes these - second hand market limited to northern provinces and rural areas at that. I'll be in the south so I'll keep an eye out for 140J pick-ups.

[Father Ted]

Shame - I should have expanded more on my post. I thought China would be a GR9 place to pick up a cheap shiny motor which you probably wont worry about if it gets scratched or vomited on. Do they do any R8 or TT copies yet over there?

[dieselnutjob]

Your love and attention will be rewarded in heaven. Or, if that doesn't exist, right here on Autoshite!

I can't tell the difference between Autoshite and Heaven. If God won't let me play with old cars in Heaven then Autoshite might actually be better. I'm actually quite religious but I'm not aware of any serious theology on the subject of playing with crap cars in Heaven.

[Lukas]

I had the same done to my Camry and I don´t regret it. I had it partly restored after I bought it in sad condition and it cost me a fortune, not only compared to what it´s worth now. But another Camry will survive in good condition, not many more left so it was worth the effort I guess.The only problem is, if someone crashes into you, you will only get the value of the car, not what you put into it. But that´s the only drawback.