Winter Shite

[Craig the Princess]

As the temperature reaches 27oC it's the perfect time to think about winter banger purchases.

 

My dilemma is do I continue to risk my Rover 220 Coupe through it’s third winter, I’m not keen on ruining it as an everyday car anyway and would hate to have some mong skid into it in the snow and ice.

 

My problem, a 30 mile cross country commute and no real funds.

 

So options:

205 diesel – Probably missed my chance with the two that were on here recently that couldn’t go for, but cheap and if it’s like my AX the heater was awesome.

Mk4 Astra Estate – I really like these and at the £250 - £300 there are plenty of MoT to spring cars out there.

Mk6 Escort – I know they are awful, but I’ve never owned a Ford and it’s a itch I’d like to scratch one day.

Whatever is cheap in the local paper – sort of shite roulette, could be exciting.

 

Any one else with winter plans yet?

[andrew e]

Buy an escort 6 and a pair of new wishbones for buttons, they really R GR8.

[Albert Ross]

I'm going to buy a new scraper. And keep using the Land Rover.

[eddyramrod]

I really ought to put the top back on the X1/9 before the cold weather comes (after Christmas)...

[KruJoe]

The BX has been great all summer, but I really ought to get my shit together and weld some patches on the Samara for its test and run that through the slush and salt. Dunno if it'll happen or not though... Anyway I'll be in the foreign to miss the worst of the OMG SNOW CHAOS.

As the temperature reaches 27oC...

Does anyone know how to get the 'degree' symbol on the 'puter?

Happy shopping, Craig!

[worldofceri]

º

Alt+167

 

Hold down Alt while typing 167 on the numeric keypad. On a laptop you might have to use the Fn key to activate NumLock.

 

A list of codes I found just now.

[KruJoe]

• Thanks for that, though Alt+167 comes out as a bullet point in FFox and MSWord: •

Sorry for the hi-jack!

[Cavcraft]

I'd go for either of the first two in that order.

205 dizzlers are actually quite a good car to knock round in and cheap to run, espesh if you get one with a Bosch pump of course.

[pompei]

I've just had a text from the local builders merchant suggesting I stock up on rock salt as snow is forecast for October

[Negative Creep]

Just do what everyone else does when it snows. Spend 5 minutes trying to get out your parking space at 5k revs, crash into your neighbour's car, then ring work and say you can't make it.

[andrew e]

I've just had a text from the local builders merchant suggesting I stock up on rock salt as snow is forecast for October

 

I have two bags left in the shed... I sweep the snow from the culdesac to the main road and sprinkle it so I can get to work... chap who lives a bit deeper into the culdesac asked why I never swept round his bit

[Craig the Princess]

Does anyone know much about diesel Ford Focuses? A Sub-£500 one must be shite, right?

[andrew e]

Beyond shite. RUN AWAY!

[Craig the Princess]

Beyond shite. RUN AWAY!

 

Why is this not putting me off? I don't even like fords.

[Father Ted]

Well, thanks to the wife spending my "new car fund" on some leather sofas from DFS the A series Frontera I was going to replace the Micra with has become a thing of fantasy.

As Im stuck with the Micra the car is winterised with the aid of some nice chunky mud and snow tyres, a gas stove that doubles up as a heater, some coffee, some sugar, some high calorie foods, Snow Socks, a colapsable shovel, some warm fleece blankets and of course, jump leads, a selection of spares and a mobile phone.

 

The wifes car for winter, has in its boot some Ambre Solare factor 30 sun cream and a copy of "Blackpool - Fun in the Sun 1996".

[eddyramrod]

Bloody hell Ted, where do you live, Snowdon????? I just have to make sure my tyres and wipers are up to scratch, which is most of my UK winter routine anyway.

[Father Ted]

Bloody hell Ted, where do you live, Snowdon????? .

Noooo, a little place called Capenwray.

But I managed to get snowed in work twice last winter. Its not happening again.

[dollywobbler]

Let's see. I've got a rusty 2CV, an even rustier BX and a Range Rover with a non-working heater. Looks like I'm sorted then!

[504GL]

Well, thanks to the wife spending my "new car fund" on some leather sofas from DFS the A series Frontera I was going to replace the Micra with has become a thing of fantasy.

As Im stuck with the Micra the car is winterised with the aid of some nice chunky mud and snow tyres, a gas stove that doubles up as a heater, some coffee, some sugar, some high calorie foods, Snow Socks, a colapsable shovel, some warm fleece blankets and of course, jump leads, a selection of spares and a mobile phone.

 

The wifes car for winter, has in its boot some Ambre Solare factor 30 sun cream and a copy of "Blackpool - Fun in the Sun 1996".

 

Do not simply go for M+S tyres. M+S actually isn't a rating at all, if a manufacturer wanted to, they could get trackday tyres and have M+S on the side. They'd be stupid to do it of course but it's 100% legal.

 

What you want if you're going to be running a seperate set of wheels is a set of proper winter tyres with the snowflake in peak logo on them as below

 

 

I got some Vredestein Snowtrac 3's for our 500 as it was more sled than car on snow and ice and they're fooking fantastic.

 

As you can see they're rather different to normal summer tyres and they're bubblegum soft which is really good in the winter because summer tyres go all hard

Best thing about them was being able to rock into work after everyone and still be able to get a parking spot near the door

[DCLane]

Last year I used the Saab convertible plus a set of 'snow socks'. Did the trick - and the faces of people who were stuck seeing me sail by with the roof down

[504GL]

Last year I used the Saab convertible plus a set of 'snow socks'. Did the trick - and the faces of people who were stuck seeing me sail by with the roof down

 

I got lots of horns and fingers whilst overtaking people who were struggling to do 20 Only think I'd say about snow socks is that with winter tyres you only have to fit them once each winter and invariably when you have to fit snow socks it's going to be focking cold and snowy.

[scooters]

My 306 td will be my winter car...

 

Could be an option for you...these are now at scrap prices...my one was 200... more available than 205s these days.get an xud td rather than an hdi

[jonny69]

Not really a 'shite-friendly car but I'm getting my Anglia ready for winter. It's time.

[fiatdaft]

As before on another thread,i recently bought this for £300 lets see if it even lasts the winter !

 

[binhoker668]

Well I have 4 new Firestones on the transit, the heater works well on all settings, the engine is awesome (even more so since I started adding 2 stroke to the diesel), it's comfy and the kids love it.

Shame VOSA spot checked me yesterday and forced me into an early MOT test.

Fail sheet will be collected tomorrow aft.

Money = zero.

It's gonna be a welding jamboree!

Damn.

Fingers crossed!

[504GL]

As before on another thread,i recently bought this for £300 lets see if it even lasts the winter !

 

Just remember that 4wd doesn't help you stop, as my wife found out last winter

[Father Ted]

Do not simply go for M+S tyres. M+S actually isn't a rating at all,

 

Marshals.

These are the ones I have, though mine are M&S marked the newer ones seem to be ice flake marked.

They did OK last winter, but this year I invested in some snow socks and a shovel too, just in case I get snowed in at work again - living on pot noodles and sleeping on the examination couch is not my idea of fun.

[504GL]

Do not simply go for M+S tyres. M+S actually isn't a rating at all,

 

Marshals.

These are the ones I have, though mine are M&S marked the newer ones seem to be ice flake marked.

They did OK last winter, but this year I invested in some snow socks and a shovel too, just in case I get snowed in at work again - living on pot noodles and sleeping on the examination couch is not my idea of fun.

 

THey should be fine then. My Vredestein's are M+S marked too, I was merely pointing out that there's no legal obligation in terms of tread depth, tread design or anything to put M+S on tyres.

[fiatdaft]

I forgot some of these weekend pics of the heep,

 

Small hole.

 

 

 

Turns in to just over 2 feet of sill !

 

 

And a wee bit on the passenger side.

 

 

Sills are galvanised and have plenty of clear drain holes,the metal is very thin though and has now been painted with black hammerite.

 

Toal cost is now £305.95.

[Craig the Princess]

As before on another thread,i recently bought this for £300 lets see if it even lasts the winter !

 

 

Toal cost is now £305.95.

.