Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[CitroJim]

That's looking great Zel

[Zelandeth]

It's been a pretty busy week so haven't really had much chance to play around with car things. Trabant has mostly been out and about for local duties. Had an opportunity to get a photo where there's little on show to date things so grabbed it.



Did have some slight excitement a couple of days ago when I heard the sound of something bouncing off the underside of the floor and saw in my rear view mirror a bolt bouncing off into the verge of the A5. Thankfully not into the front of someone else's car or windscreen, so that was a win.

I was 90% certain it was one of the exhaust downpipe flange bolts (I'd planned to change them with the exhaust but the ones I'd bought were too short). However the 10% uncertainty of whether it was something critical meant it was a bit nerve wracking while I got to somewhere I could safely stop. Sure enough my suspicion was proven to be correct.



I need to get some further new ones that are the proper size (the internet was wrong *gasp*) as these are a bit too narrow but there are now spring washers hopefully stopping this from unbolting itself. Again.



I'll double nut it as well when the proper bolts are in. You don't want to go too crazy tightening it up given you're clamping against a cast iron assembly - an expensive cast iron assembly that I really don't want to break one of the ears off of.

[MattBLancs]

Plenty of copper grease on the threads too, then they might "just unscrew" in years to come (if needed) ?

[Zelandeth]

Folks will have probably noticed that I have been "rather dissatisfied" with the Google Pixel phone since I picked it up a few months ago. Today that impression got even worse because this happened.

Yep, screen has been broken. What horrendous accident befell it to cause this? It fell out of my pocket. A huuuuuge distance, all the way from my pocket to the floor here.

I think it bounced off the seat adjuster on the way...but I'm sorry, WHAT?!? This thing was in a chunky shock absorbing case and had a screen protector in place. Even without any of that, it should have been absolutely fine. It's a phone...it is going to occasionally have to deal with things like this. If it can't it's simply unfit for purpose. My old P30 Pro had a simple silicone slip case, and it has been dropped, sat on, dropped down the back of engines, out of the loft hatch onto a hardwood floor, plus a bunch of other mishaps...it has a couple of scratches and a ding or two on the edges but it still works absolutely fine after all that. It's a tool after all, I'm not about to spend half my life worrying about babying it. Not going to go out of my way to be careless, but accidents happen.

It's now been punted off back to Google by Vodafone as a warranty repair. It may well be they insist on me paying for the repair as they're going to deem it accidental damage. It is what it is. Once it's back it's getting paid off and sold on. I'm done with it.

Back on the P30 Pro now and it feels like I've made an upgrade rather than six year downgrade...

Unfortunately I will need to figure out an alternative given that due to the spat between the US and China that kicked off right after I got this, Huawei were basically kicked out of the Western market and as such there haven't been any major software updates in a long while - so I'm I think two or three android releases where I'd probably expect to be on a Samsung or similar of the same age. This is a problem as several apps I use have ceased to work for (obvious) security reasons in the last couple of years. So I am going to have to upgrade... Though I can absolutely say that it won't be another bloody Pixel, and that they won't be ever getting another penny off me for hardware after my experience with what was supposedly a flagship product. Not sure what it will be, some research to be done. Not sure where mind you given that everyone seems to be falling over themselves to praise the Pixel in any reviews, because nobody wants to risk angering Google I guess!

[CitroJim]

That's beyond shocking Zel

My Samsung has been through much worse many, many times and is still good... Maybe the silicone case helps?

On that basis, my choice for my next phone is made... Been running Samsung phones now for years and never a problem. I cracked one screen years ago in a big drop on tarmac whilst running but with a screen protector it soldiers on as my burner phone...

[mickthemaverick]

What a complete PITA!!

However given my general opinion of Google I can't say I'm surprised!!

Just to give you an alternative I can tell you I have been using Sony phones since managing the BT Mobile Product Approval Lab where they always topped the test results for consistency through a series of tough physical tests!!

Like Jim I have never had a problem at all and the camera is superb. Currently I have a Sony Xperia X10V which I have had just over 2 years and remains as brand new!!

[Hell Razor5543]

I have also used Sony phones for a long time. My first mobile phone was the Sony CM-H333, which was (apparently) their first commercially available mobile phone.

[mickthemaverick]

My first hand held mobile was a pre production Ericsson 'Olivier' I think it was labelled.. We had it in the lab in 1986 and I used it for a few weeks. From then I stuck with Ericsson until they became Sony Ericsson around the turn of the century and subsequently just Sony. Memories!!

[myglaren]

Hadn't been aware that Ericsson was swallowed by Sony.
Ericsson had a huge factory where I lived (Borås), lots of folks I knew worked there.
Landline phones back then 'Ericofon' anyone?

First mobile phone was a works Nokia 3310. Then a free HTC with a proper keyboard, from BT,
Succeeded by a Huawei, thirty quid from Asda.
Currently a Motorola G30. £120.

[xantia_v6]

I think that Sony only took over the mobile phone division of Erickson, the network division was independent for several more years, but I don't know about now.

[mickthemaverick]

Yes, Sony started in the mobile phone market by partnering Ericsson in 2001ish and then Ericsson pulled out of mobile to concentrate on their telecomms network equipment leaving Sony to go it alone! Very successfully too IMO

[Gibbo2286]

My daughter bought me a new phone for my birthday so I popped this onto Ebay, it's had no bids after three weeks so if anyone wants it they can have it for the price of the postage.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226760477227

[xantia_v6]

I am fairly sure that Sony was independently designing and marketing phones before the Eriksson tie-up. I think I interviewed for a job with them in 1999.

[mickthemaverick]

Before you give it away Gibbo, try a quote from here, you'll get more than the postage I'm sure:

https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/sell-mobile-phones/

[mickthemaverick]

I am fairly sure that Sony was independently designing and marketing phones before the Eriksson tie-up. I think I interviewed for a job with them in 1999.

Yes indeed they were Mike, but not too profitably which is why they went for the joint venture in 2001 to capitalise on Ericsson's market share.

I believe they introduced the camera phone concept at that time to give them a market gain over Nokia and Motorola.