CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[Stickyfinger]

Remember we have that spare SAXO down here Jim....carnival season (going tonight) is over on Sat so James and I can go fetch it soon. Fancy a day down here robbing parts (has 2 week old new drive shafts for example) before we scrap it ?

[CitroJim]

Fancy a day down here robbing parts ?

In answer to that, all I can say is does the Pope follow a certain religion?

That'll be great fun and just the ticket We'll arrange via the usual channels...

I will, as usual, combine it with Southwick parkrun

[Stickyfinger]

Wilko

[Zelandeth]

Thought just sprang to mind that I should have asked earlier when I saw you Jim, but I didn't because I'm an idiot.

Assuming it goes through the test without any dramas (fingers crossed!) do you want me to drop the Skoda off at your place?

Thought just being that given I'll be taking out a day's insurance on both cars tomorrow, it saves me having to take out a second one to deliver it later/or would mean that you could have your first drives over there where you know the roads best.

Happy with whatever arrangements work best for you, just thought I should ask while it was in my head.

[CitroJim]

Assuming it goes through the test without any dramas (fingers crossed!) do you want me to drop the Skoda off at your place?

Yes please Zel!

I must admit I thought that was sort of implied anyway I think we both thought and assumed without really saying so...

Fingers well crossed for both cars

I'm as nervous as hell to be honest, a trembling wreck today... Blood pressure is well up already

Bloody MOTs. I really do detest them

[Zelandeth]

No problem Jim.

Made it to the test station in the Skoda at least! Just waiting in line now.

That new thermostat is coming out and getting a bypass hole drilled in it as it's too slow to respond when driving - gauge swings far too far for my liking. Easily resolved though at least.

Reckon given the noises they've made on the way here that she's going to finally need discs, but honestly I'm not too worried about that as it's an easy fix.

[CitroJim]

You shall have music soon Jim .

Mark

Thanks Mark That really is appreciated!

And I do Mark, wireless arrived today Most incredibly quick service I must say both on your part and the post office!

It's a really lovely wireless too... All installed and working a treat even if I did have to read the manual to learn how to work it!!!

It's really appreciated Mark, thank you so much Please advise how much I owe you for it... I can't have such a good one for nothing, no way!

In other news, as seen in another blog post, my erstwhile Activa passed her MOT today and has now gone to her new owner She may no longer live with me but I shall still see plenty of her and doubtless still wave spanners all over her from time to time - she's not gone far

Meanwhile my new car has taken up residence on my driveway...

Own Work

This will be a nice, gentle long-term project and a total change from Xantias, just what I need...

[daviemck2006]

I used to think that skoda was red, but against its newer stablemate its definately not red!

[bxzx16v]

Result on the Activa Mot Jim but with your pampering a certainty. Do worry about the postage Jim it wasn't much , its just good to see the radio go to a good home .

Mark

[Stickyfinger]

Porker engined conversion Jim ?

...

[CitroJim]

Porker engined conversion Jim ?

...

Zel would never forgive me if I do that to her!

Do worry about the postage Jim it wasn't much , its just good to see the radio go to a good home .

Mark, that's so much appreciated Be sure it has come to a very good home indeed...

[Stickyfinger]

Let him "have a go on it" and he would ...reported as 0-60 in 4secs

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

had a red car that was at least as badly faded as that, if not worse: bought it in the dark...oops!

Cutting Compound (not T-Cut, that's for Pussies, lol!) and polish and the transformation was remarkable. Hard work mind, I did the ZX a panel at a time.

Only ever seen a couple of 2 door 'non-Volcane' ZX's in a number of years since owning it.

Got some nice pix of similar era Rally prepped Skodas at Technoclassica Essen, couple of years back, if you want copies Zel.

[Zelandeth]

It's a very reddish orange. Looks more or less red depending on the light, and is one of those colours that cameras seriously struggle with.

Silly Porsche conversions like that are inevitably cheaper to buy than build...and at least over here there are probably more modified examples of the Estelle than standard!

I've driven my fair share of stupidly fast cars thanks to having been friends with someone who had a rather exotic garage and who was of the belief that it was pointless if he didn't share the cars with people...a converted Estelle I don't really see the point of these days. Not when for the same money you could buy something equally electrifying to drive that will actually work properly and had the handling done by someone in a white lab coat who knew what they were doing rather than bolted together by someone with a baseball cap on backwards.

That said, heavily modified vehicles have never really been my thing. Plus performance wise I thought the DeLorean felt more than zippy enough despite half the motoring world calling it sluggish.

I get the impression that 54bhp, squidgy seats and soft suspension are more in keeping with what an Estelle should really be known for though, and more what our Jim wants.

Flat six in that engine bay would be an absolute pig to work on too...

The actual rally spec cars are allowed though, and I salute the few folks who have made a couple of near perfect replicas. Those are allowed to be loud, brash, ridiculous and go everywhere sideways.

[demag]

I saw the rally Skoda's on the RAC obviously many years ago. They were fastest in their class and I seem to remember they drove them over from the factory, did the rally then drove them back again. I also remember Michelle Moutand wrestling the fearsome Audi through the mud. The sound was incredible, like someone firing a gun.