Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Feb 21, 2016 17:47:24 GMT
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My sat nav isn't supported by the manufacturer any more, so no map updates, and I was thinking of replacing it. However there's plenty of Android apps available (NavMii and Waze to name but two) so I was thinking I might as well stick with one of those. But was wondering how much data they eat up? Any idea how much would I use on an hour's journey?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Well, only a face a mother could love.....having said that I still like Lada's...... :-) I quite like it. It looks a bit like one of those dopey-looking dogs...
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Feb 17, 2016 17:28:58 GMT
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BUMP!
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Feb 11, 2016 11:05:03 GMT
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Just done its last journey in daily use I'll use it now and again until it's sold, just to make sure it's kept 'ticking over'. Still no-one fancying a nice, comfy, reliable, barge?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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New car arrives Thursday, so this will be available from Friday 12th February.
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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...also the mk2 astra became something Korean. That would be the Daewoo Nexia. And the Daewoo Espero was pretty much Mk2 Cavalier underneath as well.
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Bijou bump-ette. No-one even a teensy little bit interested?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Louvres for the rear window. Or a 'backflash' sticker:
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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It was running a 1380 with two twin-choke carbs (I don't know what sort) but apparently, with the boring out needed to take it up to 1380, the wall between cylinders two & three is too thin to handle the power from the blower. So that engine is going in the next project, a Clubman which was going to have a two-litre Vauxhall SRi 130 lump!
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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This is what's hiding behind the grille: I do have some video of it running, but the microphone on my phone is diabolical
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Or dare I say a 2.0 DOHC Sierra? Okay not fast, but the DOHC pulls really well. Although good ones for under a grand are getting harder to get hold of! Or.....*cough* a 2.0 DOHC Granada?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Yes, the time has come for me to part with this comfortable old bus, it's a 1992 Ford Granada Scorpio, with the 2.0 injected inline four and the A4LD automatic gearbox. Believe me, I don't want to sell this car. I've never owned a car I've loved as much as this one. But my wife's medical condition means she finds it uncomfortable to travel in it for long distances, and difficult to get into and out of. And as we can't afford to run two cars, this one has to be sold. I've owned it almost three years, and done just under 20,000 miles. It's always started and always got us where we needed to go. That doesn't mean it doesn't have a few issues, as you might expect from a car that's twenty-three years old. The plan was to do bits as and when I could afford to, so there are a few things it could do with. I always like to hear bad news first, so on that basis, let's get that out of the way.
What's bad? Gearbox - it won't go into top, unless on a gentle downhill stretch (e.g. on M11 southbound from M25 junction). It hasn't really bothered me, it just means it uses a bit more fuel. At an indicated 70mph, it runs at 3400 rpm, and having just done 180 miles from Cheshire to London via M6, M1, M25 and M11, it did 29.8mpg. I've been told it could be a few things, which could be cured by an oil and filter change, or maybe a speed sensor, or a rebuild. Or you could swap it for another 'box (I know of one for sale for £50) or change it to a manual. And it does leak oil. Not massively, but keep an eye on it. Engine - that leaks too. Again, not massively, but it's worth checking the coolant and oil every week. Suspension - the rear bump stops need changing apparently. There is a noise from the rear on surfaces that are less than perfect. I've not managed to get my hands on a set of bump stops unfortunately. Brakes - wear warning light is on because I couldn't get the pads with the indicator strips. Wheels - paint coming off some of the centre caps. I've been meaning to replace them, but they're not easy to come by. Bodywork - scrapes on each corner, that need rubbing down and repainting. Rear of the sill on the driver's side is in primer where welding has just been done. Having never spray painted anything in my life, I was going to leave these to a professional (or at least a better amateur!). Small scratch on the rear passenger side door. Crack in the rear driver's light cluster. Front and rear bumpers a little loose where they meet the wheelarches. Small rust scab in front of the sunroof. Interior - driver's heated seat doesn't work, the element needs replacing so I bought a heated seat cushion from Maplin for £30. There is some wear on the driver's seat bolster. The electric recline on the rear seat doesn't work, hopefully it's just the fuse and I'll try and sort that (just not got round to it!). The heater doesn't work and I cannot fathom out why, tried flushing the matrix and changed the thermostat but no luck. The engine temperature gauge is *really* slow too, so there's an issue somewhere, I just can't find it. The radio and CD are still not right. The tape deck works though, so iPod or phone with a cassette adaptor will give you sounds. MW is crackly, FM needs time to warm up, LW is great so you can listen to Radio 4... Rev counter goes a bit weird when the weather's really cold.
What's good? Engine - pulls fine. It always starts, and is lovely and smooth (well, as much as a 2.0 four-cylinder can be). Suspension - new track control arms fitted about a month ago. Everything seems good. Brakes - new discs all round, new pads all round, new flexible hoses all round. Never needed to try the ABS but no reason to believe it won't work. Tyres - two brand new ones on the front, one brand new one on the rear. The other rear and the spare have about 4mm. Bodywork - paint in nice condition, polishes up well. New indicator units about six months ago. Interior - everything else is great. Black leather seats really comfortable, with no splits or tears (the rears barely used) and all the other electrics work. Aircon is lovely and cold. Heated windscreen and rear window work well. Cruise control works perfectly. Chassis - new exhaust mid-section and back box just fitted. Welding to sills done. Electrics - all the fuse boxes are dry and with all their covers intact. MoT - a full year, with no advisories.
Mileage is 158871. Service history is fully stamped, but I have no receipts. The previous owner had work done at Car Bar in Reading, and another of those things I meant to do was go and see them to get a copy of their servicing file. None of the stuff that needs doing stops it being a lovely thing to drive.
Photos will follow tomorrow (although there are a few on the Reader's Rides thread in my signature).
I (and the car) am in Forest Gate, East London and happy to go to anyone not too far away, but I also work in Ebbsfleet, near Dartford, so can always meet there if that helps.
If you're interested, please drop me a PM.
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2016 17:18:16 GMT by Del
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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This is my stepdad's 1976 Mini, which he has built over the last couple of years. I think you might like it... Nice BRG paint job, fat Ultralites. So far, so what, you may say. But that bonnet looks a little unusual. I wonder what's under there? Is that a 1310cc A+, with a BMW 16v twin-cam head? Why, yes it is! And what's that big air filter connected into? Oh, that? That's just a Rotrex supercharger It develops about 200bhp at the flywheel and will apparently do about 130mph (not that he's tried it that far yet). I'm trying to get him to sign up to tell you all a bit more, but without success so far!
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Last Edit: Feb 4, 2016 17:39:07 GMT by Del
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Just got a call from my Mum and it's all fine. A loose wire that my stepdad had missed despite saying he'd been over it with a fine-tooth comb, probably the one on the neg terminal that sarkie83 mentioned
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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My stepdad has been doing some work on the Granada for a few weeks. Put it all together this morning to go and get the tracking checked and...click! Nothing else. It's always started fine for me, the alarm and immobiliser have never given me a problem, but the car has never been sat for so long (about four weeks) and when the doors are open, of course the door lights and interior light run the battery down. Is it likely to just be a flat battery, or is there something else that's well known to cause issues? I'm supposed to be going 250 miles to pick it up tomorrow...
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Jan 29, 2016 16:32:51 GMT
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Working. But on my days off next week, I'm going up to my Mum's to pick up the Granada, that's got its new brakes, tracking done, and all freshly welded underneath. And then prep it for MoT and sale.
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Last Edit: Jan 29, 2016 16:33:15 GMT by Del
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Jan 22, 2016 10:13:05 GMT
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If anyone's looking to scratch the Mk3 itch, my one will be coming up for sale soon
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Jan 15, 2016 19:41:29 GMT
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What about something like a Berlingo?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Jan 15, 2016 17:37:35 GMT
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Railway bridge liable to flooding...Carrick or Mullingar, by any chance? Get well soon, fella. Between abbeyknockmoy and turloughmore..... And sneakily it doesnt flood often Oh, I know that one! The dip there caught me out the first couple of times that I was going at a bit of a lick...
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