R9UKE's French Car Blog...

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 26 Mar 2011, 22:45

Ohhh, it might have been the same one, this one was also silver, and not a million miles away from Ballygowan. It was near comber. Was Glenn's on the road?

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 26 Mar 2011, 22:52

Was parked at a garage called sq designs or something? The reg is TCZ 9803. Just had news of a Vel Satis owner I know experiencing turbo failure as we speak.... another one bites the dust

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 27 Mar 2011, 09:04

That could well have been it, there aren't that many around, and I was passing through Saintfield as well.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Mar 2011, 21:08

That Clio looks a little dull imho, but if you like it ...

I saw a very nice Vel on Friday, parked up in a tiny village i passed on my way to the Lake district. Im pretty sure it said V6 on the door trim, though I was driving past it at the time. Looked very tidy though.

Get a MeganeI Cabrio for the summer Luke, you've mentioned those before and are a little nice than a random Clio with an auto box attached. I saw one with its roof down the other day, looked good. It then parked and put the roof up, looked good up too!

Can we not tempt you into something with the double chevrons? Or EVEN a Peugeot? What about a 306 Cabrio, now they are nice!

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:06

A Mégane I Cabrio, sounds excellent, a 1.6 auto would be fab

Well I bought a Citroen, Chris, not a proper one though!

A 1998 Citroen Saxo 1.4 West Coast 3 Door. One owner from new and 80,000 miles. The West Coast seems a pretty respectable model - remote locking, CD Player and Electric windows. Plus that mad yellow piping on the seats and different coloured seatbelts!

Can somebody tell me if that subtle bodykit is standard? And should it have had alloy wheels?

Today wasn't too good on the Mégane front. I managed to screw up my auto wipers, auto lights, auto dimming mirror and automatic climate control

I took the panel off that the cruise control switch would sit in to see if the wiring was behind it... and it was! So I bridged the connections with a paperclip like I did with the heated seat switches to see if a message would pop. Instead there was a click noise and faults brought up on the dash. Now I have none of these features - so angry at myself. I've checked all fuses and they seem fine. Auto-electrician it is, I can feel my wallet emptying

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Apr 2011, 23:31

That is so much better and nicer than that Clio Luke, what a good find

The West Coast is the old Furio - a car with a body kit the same as the VTR/VTS but with a small engine (1.4) and steel wheels - though most have been swapped to VTR or Chav wheels by now ... so yours must be a very respectable one! I do like the slightly mad interior on those, with the differently coloured seatbelts, yellow gearknob and door lock buttons.

They do drive well the little Saxos, quite fun to chuck about actually.

Shame about the Megane though, Id have said a fuse, but you have checked. Hopefully its nothing too serious

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 03 Apr 2011, 14:09

Ah thanks for confirming that, Chris. Looks a bit odd with wheelcovers and fat arches! It is driving very well, but it needs MOTd, so I just hope it is as good as it seems.

Robert got the full effect of the Clio's leakage yesterday!

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 03 Apr 2011, 19:54

I'm still drying out! Attacked from all angles! Wet seat, and whatever the sunroof "drainage" tray was holding.

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 07 Apr 2011, 15:12

Been a bit too long since I've updated this, uni is mad at the minute, so here goes!

I'm really pleased to say that DLZ 3494 has moved on to a forum member (stevenc75) who looks to be treating it to a new timing belt? Excellent, was great to meet you Steve, you're welcome back to have a nosey at my ever-changing set of cars anytime

The Volvo is up for sale on both Gumtree and Car and Classic, thanks Robert for the template!

The Mégane is fixed after I broke numerous electronic luxuries by messing with the cruise control switch. Turns out it was a fuse buried in the box under the bonnet. My auto-spark changed this and a headlight bulb for £25. If anyone has ever changed a headlight bulb in a Mégane, you'll know that £25 is well worth this job alone

Ironically, my worst car, the Clio, is in the garage staying warm and dry. (Robert, I know you want it)

I also have the possibility of flying over to Lincolnshire for a Vel Satis in the coming week. The car was parked up in December 2009 after it failed the MOT and the owner bought another Vel Satis. It is a 3.0 dV6 Privilege Auto. with no leather and 110,000 miles. The MOT failure points were:
Front brake pads and discs
Trake Rod ends
Electronic Parking Brake fault

The car also overheated on a 300 mile trip just before it was parked up in Dec-09. He hasn't had a chance to drive it far since, so this could well be a problem (head gasket issues are starting to become more common with the 3.0 dV6). At £575, I really can't see money being lost on the car, even if the head gasket is done, and if it were closer, I would have it right now. But is it worth travelling for? I think so

But then again, Robert pointed out this beauty this morning. Hmmm, decisions.

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 07 Apr 2011, 19:29

Buy the XM, you have had Vel Satis(i?) before!

stevenc75 · Unread post by **stevenc75** » 07 Apr 2011, 19:58

robert_e_smart wrote:Buy the XM, you have had Vel Satis(i?) before!

I suspect that Luke's obsession with Renaults will see him buy the Vel Satis.

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 07 Apr 2011, 20:13

I suspect you may be right Steve, I have been doing my best to get him to move over to the Double Chevrons, the Xm is the only one I can see him getting though!

Go on Luke, a nice V6 Petrol XM! You know you need to buy it. PRV V6, so a bit of Renault in there!

stevenc75 · Unread post by **stevenc75** » 07 Apr 2011, 20:24

I have to say that I did feel some negativity towards Citroens yesterday.

He also seems to be strangely attached to that complete bucket of a Clio in the garage! The chap clearly has issues. I say he should indulge his psychosis and buy the Vel Satis.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 07 Apr 2011, 20:39

Perhaps someone could send him some chevrons to stick on it - at least it will be halfway there

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 07 Apr 2011, 23:25

myglaren wrote:Perhaps someone could send him some chevrons to stick on it - at least it will be halfway there

Nice idea, I reckon it would suit them

And yes, I'm sorry, but I'll take a Vel Satis over an XM any day. Plus, don't you think this V6 will fetch stupid money? £1000?