The Car Thread.

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

👍Always best to be on the safe side. Hope it does end in good news 🤞

Thanks, and thanks for asking!

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

👍Always best to be on the safe side. Hope it does end in good news 🤞

Bolts came out in the end, car largely back together but still needs a few pieces that will hopefully arrive today. Fingers crossed I'll be back in the saddle by Monday!

Not looking forward to the bill, but I'll take it on the chin.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Back in the garage now, after a highly enjoyable drive home. I know lots of people say that they love their cars, but I suspect I am veering towards the extreme end of this sentiment!

The removal of the front added about £300 to the bill, but keeping something I love going feels great, and in comparison with the depreciation of buying something new, I'm quids in...

 

[DougK1]

The removal of the front added about £300 to the bill, but keeping something I love going feels great, and in comparison with the depreciation of buying something new, I'm quids in...

You either commit or get shot. With a car like yours I would commit all the way 🙂

 

[Gray]

I know lots of people say that they love their cars, but I suspect I am veering towards the extreme end of this sentiment!

It's just as well you do love it!
£300 extra on the bill ☹️
The only time I've spent as much as that on any car was for poxy road tax.

(Driving has always been a 'necessity' rather than a fun thing for me - other than at 2am, driving home from somewhere when cold / raining - then I find it bit more fun.....than walking 😐).

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

It's just as well you do love it!
£300 extra on the bill ☹️
The only time I've spent as much as that on any car was for poxy road tax.

(Driving has always been a 'necessity' rather than a fun thing for me - other than at 2am, driving home from somewhere when cold / raining - then I find it bit more fun.....than walking 😐).

I think one thing that's absolutely clear from forums everywhere is that we all value different things. The road tax on it is appalling, so I won't go there. Whenever people talk about paying £20 p.a. and I do a pro rata against mine based upon CO2, I can see I'm being shafted and tend to get a bit ranty. So I'll shut up!

 

[Gray]

Whenever people talk about paying £20 p.a. and I do a pro rata against mine based upon CO2, I can see I'm being shafted and tend to get a bit ranty. So I'll shut up!

Well sorry then, because I've just changed from a £415 to a £20 car*....so I'll shut up! 😗
(If it's any consolation, it won't be £20 from April).

* Entirely based on your ' shafted' reasoning.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Well sorry then, because I've just changed from a £415 to a £20 car*....so I'll shut up! 😗
(If it's any consolation, it won't be £20 from April).

* Entirely based on your ' shafted' reasoning.

Not begrudging you that at all!

 

[Friesiansam]

Well sorry then, because I've just changed from a £415 to a £20 car*....so I'll shut up! 😗
(If it's any consolation, it won't be £20 from April).

Ours is going up to £20 this year...

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Ours is going up to £20 this year...

You can go off people, you know...

 

[Gray]

Ours is going up to £20 this year...

What is it before the rise?

 

[Friesiansam]

What is it before the rise?

Nowt, official CO2 emissions 98 g/km. Citroen DS3 Diesel.

 

[plastic penguin]

Today the Alfa failed it's MOT. Knackered anti-roll bar bushes are the culprits. Not too scary but the subframe has to be dropped, so not the easiest either.

Booked in for the 7th Feb.

 

[DougK1]

Today the Alfa failed it's MOT. Knackered anti-roll bar bushes are the culprits. Not too scary but the subframe has to be dropped, so not the easiest either.

Booked in for the 7th Feb.

It happens with consumable items. My garage tends to start the work immediately and I get the car back the following day.

 

[plastic penguin]

Engine on the Alfa has been behaving itself. Whoever rebuilt it did a good job. The suspension no longer sounds like a one-man band going along. Everything seems hunky dory in the Alfa world.

My daughter's Mini on the other hand....👎

 

[Al ears]

Bolts came out in the end, car largely back together but still needs a few pieces that will hopefully arrive today. Fingers crossed I'll be back in the saddle by Monday!

Not looking forward to the bill, but I'll take it on the chin.

I think you're more likely to take it on the credit card... 🙂

 

[JDl]

Engine on the Alfa has been behaving itself. Whoever rebuilt it did a good job. The suspension no longer sounds like a one-man band going along. Everything seems hunky dory in the Alfa world.

My daughter's Mini on the other hand....👎

Lots of people think Alfas are unreliable. My brother's Brera 2.4 JTD has been great.

 

[plastic penguin]

Lots of people think Alfas are unreliable. My brother's Brera 2.4 JTD has been great.

Indeed. Alfas have always made good diesel engines, that was why they collaborated with Vauxhall to produce petrol engines for the Brera and 159. Sadly, all their petrol engines, although based on the Insignia platform, we're a complete dogs dinner. The only really good petrol engine for those models was the 1750 TBI, the only Alfa-built petrol engine for those models.

GM only got involved because they wanted to cash in on Alfas diesel engines. Disgraceful.

 

[JDl]

It happens with consumable items. My garage tends to start the work immediately and I get the car back the following day.

That seems like a good garage you go to. Here in West Wales, I haven't been able to find a garage like that.
In Wales, there's a famous saying;
"I'll be there now."
That means anything or nothing.

 

[DougK1]

That seems like a good garage you go to. Here in West Wales, I haven't been able to find a garage like that.
In Wales, there's a famous saying;
"I'll be there now."
That means anything or nothing.

If it's an MOT failure they always bell me first to get the okay to proceed, but I did once have a split hose on the vacuum system for the brakes, they put a bit of tape around it to get it through the MOT - no charge, had a new hose fitted later in the year. Last year had a dodgy rear brake caliper, they let me take the car away and do the repair myself - some garages won't allow removal of the car if it's failed the MOT.
Once you find a good garage it's best to stick with them, there's lot's of dodgy ones around.

 

[JDl]

If it's an MOT failure they always bell me first to get the okay to proceed, but I did once have a split hose on the vacuum system for the brakes, they put a bit of tape around it to get it through the MOT - no charge, had a new hose fitted later in the year. Last year had a dodgy rear brake caliper, they let me take the car away and do the repair myself - some garages won't allow removal of the car if it's failed the MOT.
Once you find a good garage it's best to stick with them, there's lot's of dodgy ones around.

Yes indeed. I did have good garage very near me and I seemed to have a decent relationship with him but since around 2020 something's gone wrong with him. He's like a different person now.
It's not so easy around here to find consistency and honest pricing.

 

[Al ears]

That seems like a good garage you go to. Here in West Wales, I haven't been able to find a garage like that.
In Wales, there's a famous saying;
"I'll be there now."
That means anything or nothing.

I'll be there now, in a minute.... To quote full saying
(South Wales), equivalent to the Cornish "dreckly"

 

[Friesiansam]

Once you find a good garage it's best to stick with them, there's lot's of dodgy ones around.

Were lucky here, got a local garage and used car dealer with a fine reputation, they've not let themselves down. Also, they are handily close, can drop off the car and it's only a 12 minute walk home. Any minor MOT work, they just fix it and the car gets a pass.

 

[JDl]

I'll be there now, in a minute....
(South Wales), equivalent to the Cornish "dreckly"

Ha ha, you've heard it too then. I didn't know of the Cornish version though.

 

[Roger_A]

I'll be there now, in a minute.... To quote full saying
(South Wales), equivalent to the Cornish "dreckly"

They use "dreckly" in Devon not just in Cornwall. It's been described as rather like the Spanish "mañana" but without the overwhelming sense of urgency.