Davie's french attraction.

[daviemck2006]

My list of jobs is getting longer. This is mainly due to shauns civic type r still sitting in the drive on my axle stands being a PITA. So the activa still has not got its new rear brakes, and now has a green leak to investigate and the mot is looking closer. I have a reconditioned axle coming for the blingo which a mate and i will be fitting later this week hopefully. Then Kerri's astra decided today to blow a hole in the radiator and not switch on the overheating warning light. It kept going until it blew the head gasket letting engine oil into the space the coolant had just left. It did put on a light saying I want oil. It is now homue been left to cool, oil and water added, it is running with no apparent other damage so needs a hg, a radiator and cambelt and waterpump while at it. I suppose she has owned it for 7 years and it has 140000 miles covered and never put a wheel wrong it has done ok. They were saving to buy a new car with no finance so my advice to get is sell as it is for spares or repairs and buy a cheapie to keep them going and continue to save for a new or nearly new car.

And Shaun has just been warned that if that civic is not out of my drive by next weekend I am selling it. I have a mate wanting it for breaking and offered a grand for it and he will come collect it. That might sort the little bugger out.

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[CitroJim]

In what vicinity is the green leak on the Activa Davie?

[daviemck2006]

It's on the passenger side engine compartment somewhere. It hasn't been started for over a week now. I need to get it on ramps to get under it for a better look.

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[CitroJim]

Ahh, I disturbed a lot of pipes in that region... How bad is it Davie?

[daviemck2006]

It just an occasional drip Jim. I haven't been using it or even looking at it. I've had a lot on since I noticed it. I need to get it on the ramps so I can get a look. Said ramps and axle stands stuck under a civic,,,,,,,,,,

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[Hell Razor5543]

How uncivil of the civic!

[daviemck2006]

How uncivil of the civic!

More like how uncivil of the civics owner, who has until this weekend to get it moved. If I have to bolt in a wishbone to get it moving it will get filled up with the owners clothes and stuff and parked 4 streets away where he won't find it.

I have a friend coming here 9am Saturday morning to provide labour for swapping a berlingo back axle. I have a reconditioned one here. We don't think it will be too bad a job with two doing it, but one would be awkward. I'm not using the activa until the green leak gets investigated and fixed, the micra I have still been using as my friend doesn't have her licence returned yet is now in the hands of Kerri as a run around until she finds another car.

Kerri's astra has turned it's last wheels for her, £250 for bits, £45 to pressure test the head £100 to skim it if necessary plus maybe £5 to £600 labour from a garage makes the guys of a grand for repair. The car, due to its mileage is only worth £12 to £1300 andvthat still leaves it with noisy bearings in 5th and 6th gears, which will need a replacement or rebuilt gearbox in the not too distant future. So its off to the local car auction to get rid and tahe what she gets. The vxr alloys which were just wrapped in New uniroyal tyres a fortnight ago have been removed and the standard Sri alloys which have 4 season old winters with two needing replaced put back on. They won't get finance as her hubby does agency work so no fixed or guaranteed wage. So the hunt is now on for a decent replacement car, the same size or bigger than the extra for £1500. I won't manage to persuade her into a French car, her brother in law has already done the persuasions to go for something from the VAG stable with the 1.9tdi engine. Skoda Octavia or Seat Leon looking favourite at the moment. I don't have a problem with any of them, should get one without much problems. I just hope it's not an A4! We don't do audis lol

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[CitroJim]

Oh gosh, sorry to hear about Kerri's Astra Davie and the ongoing Civicness

Best move though to see the Astra off but a shame all the same as it's been such a good car up till now...

All the best with the Berlingo Axle transplant!

[daviemck2006]

The astra has gone to a new home, who knew about its problems so no one getting stung. We may well have made more at the auction, but some young family could have bought it thinking it was a good car and losing their money, so the outcome is ok. It means that the car itself cost 8 grand in depreciation alone over 7 years. It has been replaced by an Audi A4 tdi avant sport which is old enough to have the standard front wing rust. Enuf said about it!

The activa hasn't turned a wheel for a couple of weeks, it's green leak has yet to be found. It is going to a welder next week to get any bits done that needs done. It was supposed to be at a local classic car show yesterday but did not get due to me.

The berlingo is at a mate's who is doing the axle transplant. I know not how it is getting on.

I'm still running around in a micra, which I hate. It's not a patch on a 107/c1. The sooner the berlingo is on the road and the micra moved on to its new owner the better.

Finally on to me. I have had a burn out and am feeling as poorly as I have been for quite a long time. I've been doing too much, so for now, rest as much as I can. Not able to do the pizzas either, so the shop needs someone else so that could be the end of that if I don't have a remarkably quick recovery.

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[CitroJim]

Davie, all best wishes for a quick recovery ....

[daviemck2006]

I've made a descision. I'm going to part company with the activa. That will leave me with the berlingo which is comfortable enough, nippy enough, cheap enough and hopefully reliable enough for a daily, including if I get back to the pizza run. I shall still want something else though, just so i can have a change. It must now be an auto, I would be quite open to the idea of a xantia v6 auto, or a c5 v6 auto. It all depends on what is available when the activa sells. Someone will get a bloody well sorted car with the activa. Chris asked for first refusal when I sell, I have contacted him and he wants to keep his memories of it and not renew his relationship with it. I have posted it on the for sale section. There's no hurry, if someone wants it but not for a while that's ok. It's mostly the return big time of sciatica in my left leg which has prompted this descision.

On to the garages around here again. A friend put an 04 reg Ford fusion in for test, which it failed for smoke emissions, both front brake flexi hoses perished and two brake pipes corroded. That's not bad for an old Ford but the bad bit is how much they charged to fix it. £265 + vat on top of the mot fee. I think that is too expensive, but the friend paid it. I won't go there though!

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[bxzx16v]

A sad day Davie . Bear in mind the road tax on the C5 V6 would possibly be more than some are worth . Good Xantia V6's are getting rare but worth waiting for . If it wasn't for the low slung driving position a 406 V6 coupe would be good . Hope your health improves .

Mark

[daviemck2006]

The high road tax on a c5 v6 wouldn't worry me now. If I do have one it will be registered disabled anyway. It's the only saving grace of being on this new personal independence payments that I am on.

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[DHallworth]

Go the whole hog and find something after 2006, Davie! That way you're getting the most of it! £515 a year tax for free!

David.

[CitroJim]

Davie, I'm very sad to hear this and can only hope your health improves very soon...