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Apr 13, 2014 18:04:10 GMT
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New banger arrived... Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TS Sportwagon. Also, homeforsummer, I have MAJOR daily car envy  |
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Apr 14, 2014 22:34:56 GMT
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Apr 14, 2014 22:36:19 GMT
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 And I modified my other camera to match today, too... |
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Apr 14, 2014 22:39:43 GMT
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Ooh look! A hyperbolic parabaloid!! Nice car btw. |
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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Apr 14, 2014 22:44:56 GMT
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That Happy Eater (Little Chef, McDonalds, Little Chef, Derelict heap of sadness) was my absolute favourite place when I was 10. I rarely got to go there despite it being only a couple of miles down the road (and now much harder to get to with the grade-separated junction).
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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It's on the A1 near the A57 junction isn't it? I used to go past it when I lived in Lincoln; been so long I can't place it exactly. Someone with a bit of vision and (very) deep pockets could turn it into an outstanding diner.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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Apr 15, 2014 15:29:39 GMT
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Access is totally screwed. You can only get to it on one side of the carriageway, one joining the roundabout, and it's a few miles before you can turn around. That's probably why the last incarnation of it failed - I think the last time I ate there was around 2006, as I remember parking and finding a pothole so deep that the front bumper of my RX8 grounded. Markham Moor roundabout, near Tuxford/Ollerton etc.
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Apr 16, 2014 13:49:38 GMT
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 New inhabitant. But the efforts are going on getting the A170 back on the road, I think. |
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Sept 24, 2014 17:45:41 GMT
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Wpw. So, those pics in April were about the last time I drove the SLK, which is just shocking.
Offtopic, work hit a point where I had a total stress-related mental breakdown, my fiancé having been out of work for four months then got a job, but instead of that taking pressure off, "things changed" and she left. And whilst fixing the breakdown (mostly a knock-on from the injury that lead me to getting the SLK in the first place) I have sort of lost track of time, so...
The SLK developed a sudden flatspot, rather randomly. I've found a fuel leak, and bought a new fuel filter and hoses to fit it, but because this is under the car and I really need ramps, it's not happened yet.
The little A170 passed the MOT and got thrown into service, and is now being offered up as swap/sell because I've decided I can't be bothered with the pain of manual gearboxes in modern traffic (the snap happened after 3 hours stuck on the M1 in a rainstorm, in chronic agony, and it being that sort of stop/start/brake/stop that never really gives a chance to drop it in neutral and relax).
The 300C is doing what it does; drink fuel and linger about doing odd long trips.
The Alfa went, the other random inhabitants have been a Xantia, a Cavalier Mk 3, an XM, an Audi 100 C3 and currently my main "run about and get bits" car is a 1998 E39 528i, which proved very impressive on the A7 whilst collecting a drumkit. That'll get a thread soon. It's my first proper roadworthy, usable BMW and I'm impressed with it.
I also bought a Mercedes 300CE project which has had the grand sum of "nowt' done to it due to said distractions.
And yesterday my dad bought an MG F, which I appear to be looking after.
I've replaced the stressful work with contributing to a weekly classic car title, so my cars might appear there one day. And I've rebuilt my music studio, so will be able to record again after 5 years of being... not discouraged, so much as just too distracted by life's stress whether it's mine or not. Rebuilding a Roland W-30 sampler, bought a full set of Roland Aira kit and new mixers/audio interfaces and finding that 10 years since I last tried computer-based recording, it's all got a lot easier and more intuitive.
Stress, though. Take a step back. Chill. And when the Doctor offers you drugs, take 'em. It's not good being depressed when you own many cars without catalysts.
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Last Edit: Sept 24, 2014 17:47:29 GMT by Deleted
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Feb 18, 2015 22:42:53 GMT
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And a marker that now 3 year have passed since I got this by firing an email from a hospital bed in Tunisia and a very helpful RR'er who took me at my word that I'd pay if it were delivered, just as much as I took him at his that it was as described, and neither of us were disappointed. Now I've got a space heater for the garage and will be doing some more work on it, MOTing and putting back on the road; it's had a guest appearance in CCW already and will be returning for more. The MG F needs an alternator before the middle of March, and the 300CE I have fixed the pneumatics on but not much else. That yellow car has done so much to keep me sane, truly. I am very glad no-one took me up on the for sale thread  |
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Feb 19, 2015 18:34:22 GMT
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Welcome back! And all the best with what is in your scope! I'll watch this with new interest.
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1986 Mercedes 200 (W124) (Standard and daily)
1976 Peugeot 404 1800 Stickshift (Standard - awaiting complete resto, engine done)
1984 Ford Cortina (P100) LDV - Cab and chassis restored, interior and glass not fitted, brand new 3 liter engine (last 110kw Sierra XR6 engine fitted and married to 5 speed Toyota Gearbox), load body needed.
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I cleverly ordered the parts I need to tidy up the fuel leak/pump, thinking - AHA! A Bank Holiday Weekend! No-one will bug me! None of the bits arrived. So instead I've been working on tidying this:  And it looks like something else yellow could be joining the fleet on Monday, at least for a short period (the BMW was for sale to get me closer to owning something large, French and blue, after all!). Note for Avantime owners - you CAN change the rev counter bulbs in about 5 minutes, without dismantling anything. |
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Last Edit: Apr 4, 2015 19:03:51 GMT by Deleted
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Well, at least this one is tidied up a fair bit now! Finished with the waxing:  Even got up on the stepladder and did the roof...  Looking good.  And this is why I enjoy it so much...  Can't imagine a better viewpoint for my gf's daughter to see her first visit to Britain from!  After cleaning, I looked up through the rear roof glass and had a momentary panic...  Then remembered that it's the FM antenna. |
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Looked at one of these years ago as an option for company car.
I still like them.
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Top choice. I ran a Vel Satis from nearly new to seven years old. Really really want one of these.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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Apr 20, 2015 21:38:19 GMT
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I've never driven a Vel Satis - I had a C6 2.7 HDi instead for my 21st Century French White Elephant experience. The Avantime has just done about 1,200 miles going from Brighton, to London, to Berkshire, to (and around) Scotland, then back to Heathrow (from Berwick - thanks to 50mph limits and so forth, almost 8 hours driving); the "Renaultness" is apparent in rattles and clonks here and there but the concept is so sound it's depressing that it had to be Renault behind it - amazing visibility, great handling for the size of car (familiar A6089/697/68 territory) and very comfortable, plus great to look out of.
Even got it to 36.9mpg without dawdling, and that's with a split breather hose and loose oil cap not helping the whole emissions/efficiency stuff. And the Collinite 476S wax I used is living up to the claims - got home, aimed the jetwash at it and the muck just fell off, the water doesn't even like to stay on the car long enough to get it wet. So it looks fantastic.
Today's discovery, a broken exhaust rubber and no wheelbrace under the seat. New seat clips arrived for the squab hinges and that's reduced the number of rattles in the car somewhat.
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Ooooh a C6. That's definitely on the list. Had a couple of CX's and an XM - love the look of the C6. Will be interesting to see how you get on with the Avantime.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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Apr 27, 2015 12:28:28 GMT
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SLK fuel leak fixed! Still cutting out sometimes at idle. There's one non-genuine part on the car that I have never trusted, an unbranded cheap MAF - so I've bought what claims to be a genuine brand new Bosch item on eBay to see if that resolves it. After that I'll check the codes again and the coils could be getting on a bit. Filled it completely with super unleaded too, just in case I really did have a bad batch of fuel (the car failed suddenly - it had never misfired or stalled before, then it did after I filled up somewhere a bit rural in an emergency). Leak was a hose perished badly on the inside; fuel filter replaced, fuel pump wiring boots replaced, new rubbers to support the pump/filter... can't believe it took me so long to get it fixed. A-class has had the reluctor ring break off, then I snapped a bolt trying to remove the ABS sensor. JOY. MGF's alternator is totally shafted, was a bear to replace, and now I can see the rear quarter repair was true 1970s bodge-tastic gauze and filler, angry with myself for getting it. Got the 300CE out to wash and should really do something with it...  |
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2015 13:50:40 GMT by Deleted
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Apr 27, 2015 13:15:38 GMT
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Apr 27, 2015 13:17:24 GMT
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This wheelarch/sill on the MGF is just depressing...   But I am sure it can be repaired, I've seen much worse brought back from the near-dead on here. Where to begin, though... |
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2015 13:31:36 GMT by Deleted
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