Rank Taxi Two. The Octavia - Back from whence it came..01/09/24

[320touring]

It is a tale as old as time.

Boy convinces mate that a Clio 182 is a fine plan.

Mate buys Clio 182.

Inevitably, mechanical maladies abound.

Clio 182 returns to its natural habitat.

Clio Stu works his magic.

Clio 182 is ready for collection.

 

At this point, @loserone decides to repay the misery I foist upon him Clio 182 wise by letting me know of the existence of this fine specimen...

It's a 2009! MK1 Octavia 100 pd..

Low mileage

 

Never raced or rallied, but extensively mini-cabbed (and doggo cabbed)

 

Nevertheless, it forged northwards in fine fashion

[loserone]

1 minute ago, 320touring said:

misery

Remind me who it was who had to drive the thing north instead of just getting a lift from the nice mister @gm in his mini.

 

Honestly, it was a fine experience except for being allergic to dogs.

[320touring]

Just now, loserone said:

Remind me who it was who had to drive the thing north instead of just getting a lift from the nice mister @gm in his mini.

 

Honestly, it was a fine experience except for being allergic to dogs.

Away man, that was character building...

 

[320touring]

As alluded to above, @loserone took some antihistamines and trooped north, arriving at mine in good time.

I then took over for the last hour to Clio Stu's

It was all I had hoped*

 

All things considered, it drives fucking lovely! Bit of a shudder from the brakes and the shocks are not in their first flush of youth..but it boosts!

[320touring]

At least it's clean outside..

[Jim Bell]

Thanks I hate it. 

[320touring]

You'll never guess what happens next!

 

*Clickbait warning - about to go into a meeting*

[Supernaut]

I reckon the next installment features a laptop and/or WVO.

 

 

I was actually offered this as a replacement for the bastard Astra (Bastrard?) but I ummed and aaahed for about half an hour before being told it was spoken for. When I was told who claimed it I thought "ooh, this'll be good" and got the popcorn ready.

[GeordieInExile]

2009! I'm guessing these were only sold for use as taxis by that point?

[hairnet]

jetwash set on 500?

 

[Dave_Q]

2 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

2009! I'm guessing these were only sold for use as taxis by that point?

Yeah they soldiered on for years with PD TDIs and even non-turbo SDIs almost exclusively for taxi use.

RE what happened next, obviously more boostage but maybe also some stickers and rustoleum green for a quality* homage to one of these rally weapons?

[JakeT]

What a huge turd. I love it.

 

Been busy tonight, boss?

[320touring]

Right, where was I? Oh yes...

After a scent* filled sojourn to Clio Stu's and back, I had to do some emergency work to make the car suitable for initial deployment..

Firstly, assemble the "first pass" troops

 

Initial assessment indicated it was not so much a thorny problem as a hairy one.

Deployment of a dustpan and brush brought significant improvement

The spare wheel needed some shovelling too

 

Again, dustpan and brush to the rescue.

Then it was time for a first pass over the surfaces

Mild profit

 

The back came up well too

[loserone]

So good you cleaned it twice

[2flags]

That is grimmer than Grimms fairy tales! Brave man there! Be great to see what it's like when it's clean!

[320touring]

With that done it was time for deployment.

I went out to the car on Wednesday morning and realised 2 things:

1. The heated rear windscreen switch on MK1 Octavia's has no warning light and will remain pressed in.

2. The cig lighter socket is a permanent live - so the Bluetooth to FM doodad I had plugged in had drained the battery overnight.

I swapped the battery for a charged one - the one from the car was from 2016 and still had one of the vent holes blocked from shipping..

It went onto charge and seems to have come round alright. It'll get refitted in good time.

then it was off up the rank

 

JOAKS!

I was assisting @Lacquer Peel dae an flitting.

The boot on these hatchbacks are pretty spacious.

 

[320touring]

2 minutes ago, 2flags said:

That is grimmer than Grimms fairy tales! Brave man there! Be great to see what it's like when it's clean!

Cheers, I find it therapeutic cleaning them - the day job doesn't let me see progress often, so physically cleaning stuff is satisfying as see the results straight away!

[2flags]

31 minutes ago, 320touring said:

Cheers, I find it therapeutic cleaning them - the day job doesn't let me see progress often, so physically cleaning stuff is satisfying as see the results straight away!

Don't say that too loud, you'll have them queuing round the block!

[320touring]

Fast forward bro Saturday and I was over at the Clio doing some welding.

@jaypee was also in attendance and keen* to get stuck into this tub!

 

Many thanks to him for all his graft!

Much hoover and @sdkrc's wet vac were deployed to great success.

 

The rear seats are incredibly easy to remove for cleaning, and the fronts are a couple of nuts and a couple of grub screws each.

Before anyone asks, no the 323f is not mine nor is it for sale!

 

Over lunch we had a "Skoda Inception" by sitting in an Octavia, looking at an Octavia. Both had done time as private hire vehicles, and despite 7 years (and two iterations) between them, the mileage difference is only 50k.

Suffice to say @jaypee 's MK3 Octavia has had a much easier life doing airport transfer runs!

The interior is now so much nicer it is hard to believe it is the same car!

This was independently* verified by @sdkrc on a jaunt in it on Sunday.

 

 

[320touring]

this is what came out the carpets and seats..

 

 

Anyways, we moved on to the Exterior.

As @Dave_Q mentioned above, these were a run out "Taxi Special".

Any colour you want as long as it was metallic black

Windy windows in the back

No AC

No trip computer.

 

So it should be black? Only in the shutlines!

The car itself is painted, not wrapped. 

It appears to be something that is almost like a lime wash😂

 

Handily, this lends itself to propagation of numerous lifeforms as photographed below.

[320touring]

The only option was a 50/50mix of TFR and water, plus a floor scrubbing brush.

Progress was swift and vengeful. 

 

It was done a panel at a time.

Skoosh on,

Sit for 30 secs

Attack with scrubbing brush

Decimate the ecosystem

Rinse off with water to avoid the TFR stripping the paint.

 

 

The results were spectacular!

 

After a pass over with a wash mitt it is almost passable.

 

It'd benefit from a polish and a wax - just to seal the paint and stop any recolonization of the panels.

 

Lastly, on the way home it was topped off with finest derv.

Bearing in mind this is a 55L tank, I'd say it was needing some fuel.

 

Then it was off for a jaunt up to Kinross for a stoat with some shiters

[320touring]

Not for me , the joy* of working!

Instead, a trek to Sunny Lochgoilhead for a walk and a spot of lunch.

130 miles covered, all good! 17/10 would hoor down single track roads again

[cort16]

Not too bad I thought it was going to need at least some measure of semtex to clear that interior out. 

[chaseracer]

On 18/03/2024 at 10:02, 320touring said:

At least it's clean outside..

Feck me... how long was it in the river...? 😁

[fatharris]

Looking a lot better than when you found it!

[warren t claim]

Is that direct ex taxi? 

300000 miles is fucking low for a car of that age.

[Dave_Q]

25 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Is that direct ex taxi? 

300000 miles is fucking low for a car of that age.

Looking at the mileage chart:

Mileage increased gradually until 2013 when it looks like we gave up clocking it but it was still working. 2013-17 was roughly 50k a year so if we extrapolate this back for 2008-2013 it should have been on a real 300k by 2013, and more like 500k now.

[warren t claim]

1 minute ago, Dave_Q said:

Looking at the mileage chart:

Mileage increased gradually until 2013 when it looks like we gave up clocking it but it was still working. 2013-17 was roughly 50k a year so if we extrapolate this back for 2008-2013 it should have been on a real 300k by 2013, and more like 500k now.

I agree. It looks like it worked in an area that had a 15 year age limit.

[320touring]

Just been to the cowp in this.

It takes a wheen of shite even with the back seats up and the parcel shelf in.

Eminently practical , and still in the original tank of derv, some 560+ miles ago.

 

I should probably sell it😂

[320touring]

Took this over to the unit today to get working on the Jaaaaaag.

 

I'd decided it was time to splash the cash on this old tub!

The local parts store could get me an oil filter in for 3pm, and had a 21" wiper in stock. A whole £14.95 was spent..

Best of gear!

Whilst changing it, the opportunity was taken to "restore " the wiper arms!

Result is a wiper that clears the screen, and super glamorous wiper arms.

 

The oil filter was duly collected and determined to be correct. With that established, the old Pela was deployed and the old oil extracted.

New filter in, and it supped from the 20L tub of 5w30 from Mannol. I think total cost was £14.84 for the oil and filter. 

I inspected the air filter..

I didn't put it back and will see if I can get one ordered up.

The interior also got another pass with the drill brush and magic sooker - it's much better than when I got it.

 

Lastly, whilst waiting for the oil to drain, I took drastic measures and made the car CONKERZ..

Materials gathered..

 

Prior to any work..

 

Paint preparation* completed 

 

Factory finish applied

Made a big difference for absolutely fuck all effort. Ideal!