Davie's french attraction.

[daviemck2006]

Here's some pics of the beast. The fact it has windows and 6 seats make it into.a car I would say. Some stickers on it and it would take the look away from a van. The towbar will need to be bolted to the back before I attempt moving the caravan with it. I don't think a couple of zip ties will do the job lol

[CitroJim]

Looking good Davie

[daviemck2006]

I'm still here!

I keep on forgetting to update this but it's because I do little miles nowadays and usually have nothing to report. Also I was very unwell for quite a while, I'm a bit better now.

On to vehicles. I will start with the French one, the Peugeot boxer. It's running well, ne real problems. The only iffy thing is the gear change is a bit obstructive. My old relay was exactly the same. It's a common fault if you look on motor homing forums, and usually on vehicles that aren't used a lot. It's a lack of lubrication where the gear cables turn into the actual linkage that goes into the gearbox. Just need to get under the van and spray a releasing fluid on the appropriate part then use some lubrication that will last onto it. The van is due its mot within a month, there's nothing that I know of to fail it, but then you don't know until the day.

My skoda just keeps doing what it should do, at 50 mpg average and in comfort and reliability. It's coming on for 3 years I have owned it, gone from 52k to 73k with nothing more than servicing, brakes all round and a couple of tyres.

My toy Golf, I haven't driven it for months, it's on loan to my son, yes he who used to break cars nearly every time he drove them. It has not broken! I don't know if that's because it's a solid 1.9pd engine which if looked after are nearly indestructible, or if its because at 32, in a committed relationship and a step dad that he has finally grown up. Probably a bit of both. However it's away to get a clutch in the next few days, it's seriously slipping, which I suppose we can forgive at 175000 miles.

Daughter 1 is picking up a new to her car this week. I see no reason why she needs to change, her car is 2019 and only at 54k. However she has had it 4 years and wants to keep up to date. She likes her seat and going for an upgrade. She is getting a cupra version of the same car which has the full hot hatch treatment, although it's another estate. It's alate 2024 one so should be OK.

Daughter 2 still has her 2010 c1 that I bought as a car n write off years ago. She still loves it and it needed welding on the sills for it's last mot but her hubby has a welder and can use it so it cost very little to do. I think it needed 2 tyres also but the little tyres are not a lot for them, and it's rarely very far from home so cheapo tyres do for it.

That's about all my news. I need to go and dewinterise the caravan as Daughter 2 and hubby coming to pick it up on Friday. And, no, not towing it with the c1! He has a vw transporter combi for that.

[CitroJim]

Good to hear from you Davie Pleased to hear that C1 is still going and your son has finally stopped breaking cars!

[daviemck2006]

The boxer is going in for an mot tomorrow. Son is taking it for me, the golf's clutch is not done yet, him and his mate are doing it, the mate providing the know how has very little spare time just now. The gearbox is out, I'm told it was not too difficult a job and shouldn't be a problem putting it together again, hopefully on the weekend. Shaun has the van to get to his work and back, work is not far from a mot station I've never used before. My usual mot man retired last year so I am looking for another one. I hope I can find one like the last one who was happy with me standing beside him doing the test and would point out anything that was a minor advisory without putting it on the pass certificate as he knew I would fix it anyway. So we shall see how this new guy is.

Kerri has her new to her car, it's 18 months old, slightly up on miles at 30k but in great condition. It had been a company car as it was owned and registered to vw finance. We do not know what it's use was but not really bothered. She bought an astra diesel about 4 cars ago which was young and up on miles and it was a daily rental as it had enterprise rent a car literature in the glovebox! It was a good car for her though, she did over 100k in it over 3 years as she had a long commute. Her commute is a mile nowadays, hence why the last car and this one are petrol. Better for the mostly short journeys she does now, although where is her first longer run too? 185 miles to Glasgow on Saturday for a few days away from home lol

[daviemck2006]

Well mot is not done yet. Shaun partner took it for the test. Tester had seen the van when booked it and said it's no problem. However when his girlfriend turned up with it she got turned away being told it needs a class 7 test and we aren't able to do it. So then she went on to the Internet. She is up to speed with cars and looking after them. She booked for the next day a class 7 mot at Kwikfit in Elgin and paid for it and said she would happily take it up. Arrived at kwikfit, no sorry that needs a class 7 test and we can't do it. She just came home again. When I heard this I phoned kwikfit in Elgin asking why when she specifically told then the reg number, make and model and needed a class7 test. That's about £20 of fuel and an hour each way wasted so can you change your website. The guy on the phone said there's very few centers do class 7 and none in Scotland. There's only one garage here does it but I've had problems there once before and don't really want to use them. So I have a dilemma. The van is a L1H1 which is the smallest size. But it's rated at 3300 gross and over 3100 it needs class 7. I will need to find somewhere shortly. I think I will then try the dvla and see if they can downgrade it to 3100kg. I don't think they will.

[RichardW]

That's annoying on the MOT front!

[daviemck2006]

Got the MOT at last on the boxer. I did not take it for test so have no idea how the tester is. It has 3 advisories, rear discs corroded but not seriously weakened, handbrake cables damaged but not to excess, rear offside brake backing plate corroded. Probably all those are due to living 200m from the sea and not being used a lot. I was otherwise engaged today delivering my son in law to the heliport at Aberdeen airport for his three weeks offshore. I also picked up my caravan from other daughters house as they had been away in it for Easter. First tow for a while with the skoda. It was very windy but the tow was good. I use the manual mode on the dog box and do t use top gear. 40 miles at 50mph and it did 31.4 mpg. 95 miles today on its own at 55 to 60 left in D and it returned 53,5 mpg. I'm happy with these figures although not happy at diesel at 196.9ppl here!

[daviemck2006]

I got the second straight pass first time this year today. The skoda, 2 advisories. A small chip in the windscreen not affecting drivers view. It was there and not mentioned last year and was "fixed" by autoglass two winters ago. All 4 wheels slightly protruding beyond wheelarches. It has audi a4 wheels on which are 8&1/2Jx18 with 235 50 18 tyres on instead of the standard skoda 7Jx18 with 215 50 x18 tyres which have full winters on. If I could have been arsed changing the wheels that wouldn't be there and is not bothering me. Again it passed last year with those wheels on so doesn't bother me. It's only done 5885 miles in the year and since the last service and it will be serviced too before it returns tomorrow.

[CitroJim]

That's a good result Davie

Autoglass fixed one of my AX windscreens a couple of years ago. a 'star' as a result of a flying stone hitting the screen. They did a great job and these days I don't even see it...

[daviemck2006]

That's a good result Davie

Autoglass fixed one of my AX windscreens a couple of years ago. a 'star' as a result of a flying stone hitting the screen. They did a great job and these days I don't even see it...

The guy who "fixed" the star said it was a poor job and if I weren't happy call them and they would replace the screen. I didn't really want the screen replaced, it's unnecessary and I don't really notice it now. No need to risk chipped paint or a leaky screen if it's not needed. I'm just a wee bit annoyed that I'm not able to give the car a service nowadays and having to pay a garage for it.

Other news, daughter one is happy with her new to her cupra (seat) Leon, daughter 2 is looking for a new to her car. Her elderly c1 had a mishap at speed, ran over some metal debris at speed which has removed 1/2 the exhaust and the handbrake cable and made a hole in the floor. Her husband was driving at the time and daughter and both of their daughters were in the car. Very lucky that although the car is damaged that it did not cause a major accident. It could have been much worse than ending a 16 year old c1. It's done well though, I bought it 7 years ago as a category n write off for £1300 if I remember correctly, it needed a steering rod replacing which cost £20 and a slight straightening of a wing and refitting of the bumper and that was it. Been a really cheap wee car, ideally suited to its main job of taking the girls to school, daughter to work and occasional runs here to visit the rest of the family. Great things the original c1, 107, aygo trio.

Son, who used to break every car he drove is now happily settled with a partner who has a 8 year old son and there is going to be more kids there hopefully. He is running the vw golf mk4 that I bought a couple of years ago and for an old car, it's a 2002, is holding up well. Had a couple of little things gone wrong but for it's age and mileage of 175k I think now, it's great. Needs a clutch which it it getting.

My health at 62 is not that great, but although it's not good enough for me to do a lot of what I would like to do, it's not bad enough to make me house bound or bed bound. As like everyone with chronic conditions there's good days and bad days. I do not dwell on the bad days as that just makes it worse. It is what it is and I make the best of it.

[CitroJim]

My health at 62 is not that great, but although it's not good enough for me to do a lot of what I would like to do, it's not bad enough to make me house bound or bed bound. As like everyone with chronic conditions there's good days and bad days. I do not dwell on the bad days as that just makes it worse. It is what it is and I make the best of it.

Precisely my mantra Davie! I could have written those exact words...

Bad days I always find can turn into much better days when spent in the company of the grandchildren

And you once again reinforce why the old original C1/107/Aygo were such awesome little cars... Quite a way for one of your fleet to end its days but at least it kept its occupants safe... Says a lot

[PaulC5]

I have started deciding on what to do each day depending on how I am by classing things as
1. things that have to be done asap including things like appointments
2. things that have to be done but it does not matter when until it then becomes asap
3. things I or others would like to do but if never done it does not matter
4. things that do not need doing but I enjoy.

As a result 1 get done, 2 are put off, 4 trumps all others.

[CitroJim]

I have started deciding on what to do each day depending on how I am by classing things as
1. things that have to be done asap including things like appointments
2. things that have to be done but it does not matter when until it then becomes asap
3. things I or others would like to do but if never done it does not matter
4. things that do not need doing but I enjoy.

As a result 1 get done, 2 are put off, 4 trumps all others.

Good plan!

That works well for me too Paul Except that is, 3 has now become totally irrelevant and 2 only when I really must...

[daviemck2006]

I have started deciding on what to do each day depending on how I am by classing things as
1. things that have to be done asap including things like appointments
2. things that have to be done but it does not matter when until it then becomes asap
3. things I or others would like to do but if never done it does not matter
4. things that do not need doing but I enjoy.

As a result 1 get done, 2 are put off, 4 trumps all others.

I would say my list of doing is pretty much the same as that.most of the physical things are in 2 so third in line. Appointments are usually must do as if I miss a hospital or Dr appointment then it's about a 6 month wait for another. Dentist, optician and any others if I'm OK I go if I'm crap I dont. Number 1 and 4 are kind of equal, well important appointments are, and number 3 can f oooopppppssss nearly said a bad word there I meant go away!