RMweb Premium MJI Posted July 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 16, 2020 27 minutes ago, Kickstart said: In the 159 and Berra it was a derivative of the GM High Feature engine Few details of the various versions here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High_Feature_engine The V6 used in the GT was the traditional Alfa V6 Fiat and GM had a stock swap in the 1990s are did various bits of collaboration. But one of the conditions of the agreement was a put option, where Fiat could obligate GM to buy Fiat Auto. Cost GM a lot of money to get out of that put option. All the best Katy I forgot about that engine, I was thinking of the 54 degree engine. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 21 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said: A friend of mine decided that he would much rather not have his new Lotus delivered by a factory driver. So he caught a train down from RAF Valley down to Hethel to pick up the car. It never got back to Valley. He wrote it off, as I recall, somewhere on the M1. Where the XR5 arrived here in 2007 (I think?) one of the RAAFies here at work flush with cash from an Afghanastan deployment wanted a black one, He scoured the country but the only unclaimed one coming here was down in Adelaide and there was a waiting list of months for another to come into country. He called the Adelaide dealer who turned out to be ex-forces himself so did a bit of list-shuffling, gave our guy priority and he got the car. He flew down , picked it up and got about 30 minutes out of Adelaide on his trip back when he hit a roo (top tip: theres places here you just DON"T drive at sunrise or sunset, boys and girls!) and totalled it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 16, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 16, 2020 Put some new spotlights on the cooper S earlier after the last lot got waterlogged and a few of the LEDs blew also treated myself to a set of refurbished alloy wheels, been looking at getting my white ones refurbished but managed to get these off eBay with the seller taking mine as part ex, got to get the tyres swapped off the existing rims when I have time also mucked the car out of pre lockdown crud while sat at saltley waiting for my train, found the cabin pollen filter too, I suspect it’s not been changed for a while! ive decided regard the manifold (The cat has gone on it) that I’m not going to put a stainless steel sports one on as the end of the day it’s my every day car and I can’t see the point in spending big money squeezing a few more horses out of it when all I do is use it on the motorway or around town 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockershovel Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 On 18/05/2019 at 12:40, big jim said: I buy a lot of cars off a bloke by me who gets them from auction, shoves a 12 month ticket on them and parks them on the roadside for a few hundred quid, I’ve had a good half dozen off him and I run them til I get bored of them had some nails off him that have lasted 6 months before I’ve got bored but I’ve always sold them for around 3/4 of what I i paid none have cost me More than £500, the best was an 05 plate diesel Laguna for £400 that lasted 2 years and only sold it as wife wanted a bigger car to get to the caravan (which i got from a garage and in turn lasted 3 months) my biggest buy with him him was the mini convertible, I gave £1000 for that as I decided I wanted something ‘as a keeper’ rather than a throwaway car, on his drive at the same time was a 2000 Rover 45 in gold, 70k on the clock, 2 owners, absolutely immaculate condition, no rust, no scratches etc, 12 months test and he wanted £400 for it, was seriously tempted but went for the mini I’ve had a lot of cars over the years, often buying them cheap for short periods between overseas jobs and selling them again when work picks up. You can get a lot of car for £1500 or so, if you look! Few really stick in the memory, but the “White Monster” - a late 1980s, LWB Land Cruiser estate usually appears in any conversation about “dads cars” I think the definition is meaningless, now. Most older “classics” are really defined by standing out against the general mediocrity of the time. I always liked Cortinas, but my current Skoda (or for that matter, the Mondeo) beat any Cortinas hands down, for general value, reliability and utility. Modern cars are such that you can buy pretty much ANY car, and it will do anything you could reasonably want to do, and not break down. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2020 I used to buy all my cars from auction, started back in the mid 70’s and it was real Del Trotter territory then, but over the years they got much more “respectable” the last one I think was a 2010 Mercedes ML (33K miles/3 years old) ......direct from MB through the auction, bought it for 15K and sold it a year later for 18K, made a small profit on every car I bought from auction but after about 2007/8 it got a bit expensive as unless you had an account and verified paperwork as a motor trader business they put a big added premium to pay on the sale price, just to keep private buyers out of the system. Had some great cars over the years that way......oh well things change. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockershovel Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 10 minutes ago, boxbrownie said: I used to buy all my cars from auction, started back in the mid 70’s and it was real Del Trotter territory then, but over the years they got much more “respectable” the last one I think was a 2010 Mercedes ML (33K miles/3 years old) ......direct from MB through the auction, bought it for 15K and sold it a year later for 18K, made a small profit on every car I bought from auction but after about 2007/8 it got a bit expensive as unless you had an account and verified paperwork as a motor trader business they put a big added premium to pay on the sale price, just to keep private buyers out of the system. Had some great cars over the years that way......oh well things change. I think that was also due to the rise of private leasing plans, and the “used car supermarkets” buying low-mileage cars 12-18 months old in bulk, squeezing margins in return. There were also issues to do with compliance and money laundering, and the rise of eBay and similar sites.. I think the auctioneers no longer wanted individual sales, if they could be discouraged. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Before I bought my Giulietta back in December 2013 I tried a V6 Brera that I spotted at a dealer just outside Warwick, it was only a short test drive as I was pushed for time but I liked it a lot, despite it feeling very heavy. The V6 , while not the fabulous Busso, sounded pretty good and pulled like a train. The only reason I didn't buy it was the lack of service history, it looked the business in pale metallic blue with the black leather interior. The rear end is a bit bulbous compared to the 159, but the looks would have been improved if they'd gone with the longer wheelbase of the prototype Brera (see the comparison profile shot), which also had scissor style doors.... the slightly dished, multi-spoke wheels look fantastic in the later photos.... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, rockershovel said: I think that was also due to the rise of private leasing plans, and the “used car supermarkets” buying low-mileage cars 12-18 months old in bulk, squeezing margins in return. There were also issues to do with compliance and money laundering, and the rise of eBay and similar sites.. I think the auctioneers no longer wanted individual sales, if they could be discouraged. Well I am still registered and occasionally pop into the Saltash Manheim site for a meander and check prices, plenty of small traders still buying but almost none (if at all) private buyers.......sometimes I am tempted by a vehicle which is a bit out of the run of the mill stuff, but then I work out the expected price including premium and forget it. Edited July 17, 2020 by boxbrownie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted July 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2020 Brera - that is it! Things older cars are better on I have found. Manual gearboxes, compare a 1970s RWD saloon against a more modern car, I have killed 2 FWD Ford boxes due to bad gear change. Ease of servicing. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) Duplicate post Edited July 19, 2020 by big jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 On 17/07/2020 at 09:43, rockershovel said: Modern cars are such that you can buy pretty much ANY car, and it will do anything you could reasonably want to do, and not break down. except it would appear, my mini, broke again the day after payday! It appears to be clutch related, got in, foot on the clutch and it went straight to the floor without pressure and stayed there, ive only had it back a week since having a slave cylinder fitted so I’m hoping it’s just something related to that as I did have an airlock which the machanic managed to bleed but as it stands now the fluid reservoir is full and there is no sign of a leak under the car So until we can have a look in daylight it’s a bit of a mystery 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 You'll have replaced everything on that car by the time you are finished, Jim! Proof that even BMW do Friday cars! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 19, 2020 6 hours ago, big jim said: except it would appear, my mini, broke again the day after payday! It’s because you keep fiddling with it...... Hope it’s a cheap fix Jim..... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) I had problems with my rover coupe last week It was on virtually brand new tyres all round but were a brand called constancy or something which worried me a little. On Wednesday I got a nail in the nearside rear so took it to a friend's garage and had it repaired no problems. On Friday I gave it a boot full off a roundabout on the thorney bypass A47. The rear felt odd then the tyre blew out . On examination I found the repair was absolutely fine and the opposite side sidewall had collapsed and ruptured! After this I couldn't trust the remaining ones so got four coopers from Wilco as was the only place with four in stock and those before on my maestro and are pretty good as made by Avon I think the iffy ones were fitted when the car was in a collection and more or less a static exhibit Seemed as though the tyre didn't handle the stress of been removed and refitted to the rim. The machine that did the job is virtually brand new and didn't give the tyre any abnormal stress whilst being removed or refitted. I was very lucky to not damage the rim at all Edited July 19, 2020 by russ p 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 1 hour ago, boxbrownie said: It’s because you keep fiddling with it...... Hope it’s a cheap fix Jim..... Admittedly I agree with you, 160 to 230 bhp worth of fiddling is bound to find the weak spots in the standard equipment! touch wood the practically unmodified convertible has small issues now but is repaired cheaply but nothing like the cooper! ive just fixed the rattling exhaust on the convertible, all it was was the heat sink above the exhaust had come loose and was sitting on the exhaust and rattling,resecured that just now before jacking up the cooper to see if I can spot anything obvious 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 2 hours ago, Hobby said: You'll have replaced everything on that car by the time you are finished, Jim! Proof that even BMW do Friday cars! my convertible was built in 2005, quite an early one I think and it was when my sister was head of quality control for her shift in Cowley, she had a look at it last year to see if it was one of her shifts cars but it wasn’t her husband worked in the design and development department in cowley mi developing the convertible mini before launch, designing parts of the electric hood mechanism amongst other bits 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 Thankfully nothing major on the blue mini, put the car on axle stands and discovered the pipe going into the new slave cylinder had somehow popped out but was still in place in the cylinder, the top flange should be flush with the metal of the cylinder, took the pin out and pushed it home and have got pressure back on the pedal, my neighbour is coming round in a min to help me bleed it so should be back on the road later! 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 50 minutes ago, big jim said: Thankfully nothing major on the blue mini, put the car on axle stands and discovered the pipe going into the new slave cylinder had somehow popped out but was still in place in the cylinder, the top flange should be flush with the metal of the cylinder, took the pin out and pushed it home and have got pressure back on the pedal, my neighbour is coming round in a min to help me bleed it so should be back on the road later! Hope you get it sorted mate Be careful though you cant call it slave cylinder anymore, someone might push it in a dock if they know its being harbouring slaves! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 19, 2020 Is that the clutch cylinder that isn't kept working against it's own will? Unusual now for it to be outside the bell housing. The 75/ZT is on the inside and the two cars share a lot of design architecture Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 20, 2020 Swapped the alloys over earlier, really happy with how it looks now 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted July 20, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 20, 2020 They suit it 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 please can i have a euro millions win https://www.pickles.com.au/cars/item/-/details/C1985--MG--2-Seats--2-Doors/2302076928?fbclid=IwAR1w3-y0TBOawcr5z4iQ6cgDp0qfqRIcGx8G0PSpYRm9WdIcj6yX_8R_jUg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 22, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 22, 2020 The link doesn’t work Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Phil Mc Posted July 22, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 22, 2020 1 hour ago, big jim said: The link doesn’t work Copy and paste. It’s worth it...... cheers, Phil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 3 hours ago, big jim said: The link doesn’t work Its an Australian link, need to say '"Work, you mongrel!" as you click it. https://www.pickles.com.au/cars/item/-/details/C1985--MG--2-Seats--2-Doors/2302076928?fbclid=IwAR1w3-y0TBOawcr5z4iQ6cgDp0qfqRIcGx8G0PSpYRm9WdIcj6yX_8R_jUg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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