Collection thread: Mission Improvisable

[RichardK]

Have I mentioned that I am sick of cars this month? With the C6 gone and not using the BMW at the moment in the hope it finds a home (though it is taxed. Ouch), @gadgetgricey's Focus CC has been an absolute lifesaver. It has also inspired a lot of eBay/Marketplace/Autotrader searching - though I am not sure how much I trust the automatic option of these and like any 2006-2017 car, the absolute prevalence of potentially utterly knackered, DMF, DPF etc.-laden diesels is thoroughly depressing. Also most of the ones I like are miles away, and the only interesting colour one I saw has an MOT advisory for rust on the subframe a couple of years back which has magically vanished, but I suspect that's down to the MOT tester rather than actual maintenance.

I had a cunning plan to buy an Elgrand to replace the camper - first, @Flat4's looked very appealing, but the MOT expires so close to the time any logistics could happen I just can't take on yet more projects. Then I thought about the cost of prettifying and my desire for sunroofs and so forth, and talked myself back up to spending EVERYTHING I COULD to get one.

Except, the seller wouldn't accept the agreed offer on eBay unless I said I would 100% take the car I hadn't seen. It looked good. It looked 85% good. But not 100%. Then someone bid on it anyway.

So now I'm off on a mission to get /something/. And of course, as I wanted a newer, comfortable, reliable, working single car to replace the X3 and C6 and maybe also my gf's C3... it is pretty much none of those things 😕

But first, the Focus springs into action!

[RichardK]

Be Prepared

[High Jetter]

Chodspeed. 

[hairnet]

so youve bought a C1

yeah dont get the offer then look then agree

you dont buy something over the web or phone without looking whether its 20k or 2 quid @beko1987 vehicles (joke sam)

people are mad

so derbys

kubota then

[RichardK]

1st stop. Mostly because forgot the wire so no nav.

Wonder where I can find some car parts at my destination.

[gadgetgricey]

2 minutes ago, RichardK said:

1st stop. Mostly because forgot the wire so no nav.

There's a wire in the glovebox, not used by me , but might be the one you need,
Next to the Rolls Royce windscreen wiper

 

[RichardK]

24 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

There's a wire in the glovebox, not used by me , but might be the one you need,
Next to the Rolls Royce windscreen wiper

 

Aux and lightning - a year ago, it would have been perfect for tunes! I have 10 USB-C cables - all have vanished.

Spotted:

[gadgetgricey]

OMG a Transporter - Love those

Remember seeing a sport at the Motor Show years ago.
MOT runs out in a few weeks and 4554 last year, so just run in.
16km between tests back in 2009

 

[RichardK]

Destination:

PC - 0

But bits of the ring road were smelly

[RichardK]

Waiting for the man

[GeordieInExile]

Was hoping it would be another C6. Bah. 

[24vdiamond]

Must be old if the tools are going for a ride! 👍

[gadgetgricey]

57 minutes ago, RichardK said:

Destination:

PC - 0

But bits of the RING road were smelly

 

Never quickly scan as if you miss a word you get very worried

[RichardK]

Citroenesque

[RichardK]

Why are alternators such a pig to fit?

 

[beko1987]

3 hours ago, hairnet said:

so youve bought a C1

yeah dont get the offer then look then agree

you dont buy something over the web or phone without looking whether its 20k or 2 quid @beko1987 vehicles (joke sam)

people are mad

so derbys

kubota then

There's always a lower limit where the mere fact it has a valid mot is good enough 👌

[RichardK]

This one was £1500 asking

I lost a 1 from that,  but have to fix it to get it home

Two and a half hours later I am still swearing at a bastard inaccessible alternator with a driveshaft, intake manifold, suspension arm, steering link in the way.

What sadists car production engineers are.

[RichardK]

I hate this bolt.

Giving up and coming back tomorrow.

[320touring]

Guessing fiat 500?

[brownnova]

The purple paintwork suggests back for the joy machine! 

[RichardK]

Finally assembled, checked and insured!

[gadgetgricey]

6 hours ago, RichardK said:

Waiting for the man

Where was/what was this off.
Its been bugging me all afternoon?

[RichardK]

Progress check - nearly home as it happens.

Everything except the radio works. There is a button marked S on the steering wheel. I think it stands for "scream" since that's what the engine does if you press it.

[RichardK]

10 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Where was/what was this off.
Its been bugging me all afternoon?

HR-V!

[RichardK]

Now wash your hands

(my face matches)

[stuboy]

very nice, well bought

[gadgetgricey]

2 minutes ago, RichardK said:

HR-V!

Soon as you posted pic above realised front indicator.
Must have been in the back of my mind from my flks one years ago.
Awesome car. theirs was an auto as well.

 

[brownnova]

1 hour ago, RichardK said:

Finally assembled, checked and insured!

Love it!
Dibs when you sell please! 
I’ve always liked these, especially in early 3 door, especially in purple! 

[High Jetter]

42 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Where was/what was this off.
Its been bugging me all afternoon?

Seems familiar to me, not Honda. Oh hold on, early Civic?

[RichardK]

Home safe!

I will change the belts - I can't believe I got away with reusing the one I'd pried off the pulley...

A/C is working. Drives smooth, the brakes are grinding due to lack of use but stop well and ABS works. Only the radio seems out of action and I have a bluetooth one to swap in.

I feel quite bad really, as I wasn't even trying to haggle it down when be offered me it as is - but I didn't think he was expecting me to fix it right there as his mechanic had told him it needed recovering and a lift to get to the bits.