Bringin' On Back The Good Times!

[yes oui si]

Fb memories popped up with this one today:

Yes. This. Excellent. 

[eddyramrod]

Are we looking at the same picture?

[warren t claim]

 

[warren t claim]

I noticed that your Omega also has a Trafficmaster button.

How long has it been since Vauxhall stopped providing updates?

[yes oui si]

TM only stopped a couple of years back, didn't it? 

[lesapandre]

Given you now have 'sensible' car @eddyramrod - how about a mad project? Currently on Ebay minus engine...🥳

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256836967488?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MA0unktbSt2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=rmbjp-qvseq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[FakeConcern]

Somehow I seem to have missed how the name Desmond came about.

 

[eddyramrod]

8 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Given you now have 'sensible' car @eddyramrod - how about a mad project? Currently on Ebay minus engine...🥳

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256836967488?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MA0unktbSt2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=rmbjp-qvseq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I saw that!  If only...

8 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

Somehow I seem to have missed how the name Desmond came about.

 

Look at the engine size... 2.2  

[BorniteIdentity]

On 01/03/2025 at 19:37, eddyramrod said:

pose Desmond

 

On 04/03/2025 at 11:31, eddyramrod said:

spare bumpers from Desmond

 

On 04/03/2025 at 11:32, eddyramrod said:

Oh and... Desmond will be getting dressed up

 

[Dobloseven]

56 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

 

 

 

I don't think we can stop him!

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

 

 

 

I'm afraid the name comes from the previous owner, though I do, as I'm sure you've noticed, like to name my cars.  Desmond might not have been the first choice that sprang to my mind, but since it came with the car, it can stay.  The Austin A40 I had in Cyprus was Annie for the same reason.

 

What is it they say in Management Training?  Never Apologise, Never Explain?  Well I'm on course for a Fail on that module, aren't I!

[bangernomics]

So pleased to see you have a fun new companion. Always had a softspot for these. That engine is a good one too assuming it is nice and quiet place to float about in.

[Barry Cade]

Wibble.

 

[Wibble]

17 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Wibble.

 

That looks awesome!

[eddyramrod]

Well... kind of.  Those rubber-band tyres would have to go, and who the fuck ever thought that offensive non-colour was a good idea?

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying a calmness and serenity that I haven't felt in at least three years.  

I seem to remember the 2.2 in my Road Wars Vectra felt rather more powerful than the 2.2 in Desmond.  Is the Omega really so much heavier than a Vectra?  Or maybe the auto box doesn't help?  It doesn't matter really.  I wouldn't trade the auto for a few more bhp, and the FWD Vectra would always be the wrong answer set against the RWD Omega.  I'm not used to a car suiting me this well.

[Sunny Jim]

That's great news - it's good when are car just 'fits' you. Long may it continue. 👍

[Wibble]

16 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Well... kind of.  Those rubber-band tyres would have to go, and who the fuck ever thought that offensive non-colour was a good idea?

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying a calmness and serenity that I haven't felt in at least three years.  

I seem to remember the 2.2 in my Road Wars Vectra felt rather more powerful than the 2.2 in Desmond.  Is the Omega really so much heavier than a Vectra?  Or maybe the auto box doesn't help?  It doesn't matter really.  I wouldn't trade the auto for a few more bhp, and the FWD Vectra would always be the wrong answer set against the RWD Omega.  I'm not used to a car suiting me this well.

Sorry, I’m so used to the “AVAS” moniker, I may have got over excited.

[hairnet]

On 08/03/2025 at 08:09, Dobloseven said:

I don't think we can stop the craziness

 

[hairnet]

14 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Wibble.

 

apart from the spoiler on the back

umphhhhhhhhh

eddy you need some parameters changing

 

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

apart from the spoiler on the back

umphhhhhhhhh

eddy you need some parameters changing

 

I have no issue with the spoiler.  What would you have me change?

[eddyramrod]

The other day I parked next to another Rival...

Mmmmmm Volvo 850.  I have a feeling it's not a match, because didn't Volvo go to the more rounded front before 2001?  Still, the 850 would have been a direct rival to the mk1 Omega, so it's good enough I think.

[eddyramrod]

Forgot to tell you about this on Friday....

I parked in town for a meeting.  When I came back to the car, there was some random oddball chap photographing Desmond!  He said he hadn't seen one in ages, I told him I think I've got the only one on the road in Barrow.  His Omega memories were of a light-gold estate.

Nice to be a celebrity!

[lesapandre]

On 07/03/2025 at 11:03, lesapandre said:

Given you now have 'sensible' car @eddyramrod - how about a mad project? Currently on Ebay minus engine...🥳

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256836967488?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MA0unktbSt2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=rmbjp-qvseq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Back on Ebay. Two bids and at £1000. Seems an interesting project  for someone. 

Seems little interest tho from the wide world.

[eddyramrod]

If I was 20 years younger I would have loved to grab that Cresta.  Whether I could have sourced and fitted a suitable engine is another matter, but I would have enjoyed trying, or at least working out the options.

Experience suggests, however, that within a couple of years it would have been back on ebay at a tragic loss.

[lesapandre]

I'd have thought it would have 'flown off the shelf' - just shows the changing taste in old cars and maybe the changing depth of buyer's pockets. 

30 years ago these big Vauxhalls were one of the most desirable 'collectors cars' - and this has some history as a custom car. Amazing thing.

But there you go - yes time moves on - let's hope it goes to a very  good home.

[eddyramrod]

Everybody knows how I love a PA.  You only have to look at my Facebook avatar:

...it's the famous black-and-white pic of me at 18 in my Velox, the first car I ever bought.  I never got to drive it on the road, and that was a complete, unmolested example.  I've never driven one since, and mine went to scrap in 1983.

But the Omega is the spiritual equivalent; probably faster and maybe even more comfortable.  It'll have to do (which it does very well tbh).

[lesapandre]

Lovely picture Eddy. 🥰

Looking forward to hearing of your exploits with the new Vauxhall.

[eddyramrod]

It's going on A Trip next weekend, so there will be an exploit to tell you about!  Hopefully it'll be a pretty dull story: set off, drove there, stayed over, drove home, arrived in one piece.  Hopefully!

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

Everybody knows how I love a PA.  You only have to look at my Facebook avatar:

...it's the famous black-and-white pic of me at 18 in my Velox, the first car I ever bought.  I never got to drive it on the road, and that was a complete, unmolested example.  I've never driven one since, and mine went to scrap in 1983.

But the Omega is the spiritual equivalent; probably faster and maybe even more comfortable.  It'll have to do (which it does very well tbh).

Car design and styling really has gone to shit over the last few decades hasn’t it!?

Id gladly put up with rust issues if we could have cars that looked that good again. I wonder if any of the idiots styling modern cars ever look back at cars like the Cresta and then look at their own modern day designs and wonder what on earth they’re doing! They really should if not.

[eddyramrod]

TOTALLY!