Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

[Trainman]

Cards look really good, how is the website coming along, let me know if I can help....... actually must ring you later, I've got this weekend off (hint, hint)

[vince]

Timescale for getting an auto? after speaking to the missus, perhaps June / July time. I am doing a few jobs on the Xantia like tyres, strut top mounts etc which will be replaced etc as i never sell on a car in poor condition. Its not to make more money, moreso so i dont have the guilt that someone has spent their hard earned cash on a nail that needs loads of money throwing at it. Plus i like owning tip top cars in the meantime

Steve, good speaking to you tonight. I was thinking about what you said.....it might be worth doing a website after all? It would be fantastic to be able to earn some good pocket money from doing this stuff. Im sure Linda wouldnt mind the odd unplanned weekend to Edinburgh or somewhere else nice.

I work one on and one off on saturdays. Im off this weekend as its Jack's 6th birthday and we have stuff going on, but then im working saturday next etc. Plan when you want to come over and let me see your new (ish) motor

[vince]

Great My car tax is due tomorrow and its Jack's birthday this weekend....Ive just tried taxing my car online and found out that i require a VIC test be carried out on the car before a new V5 can be issued. Once the test is carried out then VOSA will inform the DVLA which can take normally 48 hours. Once done, the DVLA can issue a new V5 document number with which i can tax the car......

A while back i called an MOT tester i know who checked on line for me and said there was no VIC marker against my car and sometimes insurance companies forget to put them on as its an admin task and s*it happens. So naturally i havent been expecting to have to get a VIC test done.

I have booked the day off on Thursday to spend it with Linda as the last day got ruined by work keep ringing me about a crisis. It seems this one and potentially Jack's birthday party day on saturday will be ruined by me not being able to drive the bloody car

Naturally Linda is p*ssed at me now aswell....she doesnt know we might not be able to drive the car until the DVLA confirm the V5 and i can tax it online.

I hope the VIC test appointment is tomorrow....but that said, my boss is in with me tomorrow so i cant shoot off and get it done, plus its month end in the branch so i need to be there.

Im so annoyed with this whole fiasco its unmentionable.......its been a ball ache since the day that guy crashed into me. Ive had enough honestly.

[Citroenmad]

That is annoying Vince, you would have thought you should have got some kind of formal letter saying your car needs a VIC check before its next MOT/TAX date!

Though it might take a few days for the block to be lifted on the online taxing site, might be better to tax it at a post office.

Just taxed my Xantia today, they could be a little cheaper

[KP]

Sorry to hear that Vince

Maybe get an assistant at work to take it for you??

[Deanxm]

I had the same sort of problem but im interested why they wont let you tax it? the previous owner of my activa got hit on the door by another driver and long story short they wrote the car off so he had the work done himself which totald about £400, when i bought the car i sent the logbook off like you do only for dvla to hold the V5 (which they still have) and send me a letter saying the car was substantialy damaged and needs a vic, ive not had the vic done yet but have taxed the car twice now, they must let you tax the car, how did you try doing it online? did you get a tax reminder?

If they are not letting you tax online get on the phone ad ask what the hells going on, if i can keep taxing mine a year after i bought the car and over two years since the vic marker was set then so should you.

Maybe get an assistant at work to take it for you??

I think only the owner can present the car and they must wait at the test station while the inspection is done.
D

[vince]

Not sure on yours Dean, perhaps it doesnt have a vic marker on it?

I tried on line but you can check on the DVLA website under "Information we hold for this vehicle" and it clearly shows i have a vic marker. That makes your V5 document number invalid which you need for taxing it.

I have got a date for the vic test on Monday at 13:30. Someone else can take it but ive booked the day off work and will take it myself. I have also spoken to the DVLA and they said once i have the document from the vic test i can fill in a V62 and V10 form and they will tax it over the desk at the DVLA office in Trafford Manchester.

So Monday i will be mobile again....wish it was quicker. Ive calmed down alot since last night...i was a tad stressed out Lol.

[Deanxm]

i dont blame you vince, this is strange, i will check online but when i sent he V5 off for change of name i just got a letter back saying the vehicle has a Vic mark against it due to beeing written off, dvla have updated their database for the new keeper (me) but the vehicle must have a ViC check at my local DVLA site before the V5 can be issued, i get no tax reminders and have no V5 still but i do have the green tear off slip from the V5 with the reference and i can tax the car online with it and hae had no prblems, ive taxed it twice now.

Weird.

Edit, sorry just realised ive repeated myself basicaly, its been a long day
D

[Citroenmad]

So if your car is awaiting a VIC check you no longer get tax reminders?

Does that mean they would rather you were not using it on the road?

[Trainman]

I was thinking about what you said.....it might be worth doing a website after all? It would be fantastic to be able to earn some good pocket money from doing this stuff. Im sure Linda wouldnt mind the odd unplanned weekend to Edinburgh or somewhere else nice.

I work one on and one off on saturdays. Im off this weekend as its Jack's 6th birthday and we have stuff going on, but then im working saturday next etc. Plan when you want to come over and let me see your new (ish) motor

Okay buddy, I'll be in touch, I'm off this weekend as well, but don't worry, we will sort something out, I work one off and two on, though I did have a bit of a brainwave (I'll PM you the idea) and if you can let me have a e-copy of the Pallas business card, I'll have a little play if you want, there are shed loads of FREE web domains out there. This one I did for the original C6 I had http://citroenc6.yolasite.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; it will give you some idea.......

As for the road tax, JEEZ .............

[Deanxm]

So if your car is awaiting a VIC check you no longer get tax reminders?

Does that mean they would rather you were not using it on the road?

I think its something to do with the VIC marker, no V5 has been issued so its sort of off the radar for them in a way, they know its registered to me but they wont have anything to do with the car intill the vic test has been done and proven its not a ringer or something like that.

The joke of all this is that if the previous keeper had chosen not to tell me it was a writeoff i wouldnt have know until the dvla contacted me almost two weeks later, so whats the point of the VIC check? i thought it was to protect people from being sold stolen cars wearing someone elses shiny new vin number, all that could have happened in this instance is i end up with a ringer that would be taken from me when they discovered the cars true identity come vic check time and been charged £45 for the privilage, thanks DVLA

D

[vince]

The crap thing in all this is I get crashed into, i end up paying for the VIC test £41 and possibly a £25 charge for the new V5 issue.

Steve, sounds good, PM awaiting.....

[vince]

What terrible weather today up here

Steve (Trainman) popped over today so i could have a look at his blue C6....a tremendous car

What always gets me about the C6 apart from the styling and fabulous interiors (his is beige all the way) is the ride and punch these cars have. The ride is what would would find in a Rolls Phantom and the V6 HDi is a powerhouse of a motor...returning 32mpg after 6000 miles of driving with tremendous torque for such a big car. A really nice machine, and amazing value for money.

With the weather so bad, rain, wind and about 5 or 6 degrees, the idea of giving the car a good polishing session was over....we did manage to give the engine bay a spruce up though...plastics fed and some marks removed. Wasnt a full on job as that takes a few sessions but i think Steve was happy with the quick makeover.

Ive said i will help get the car tip top for the northern rally as it deserves to be at its best being a classy motor, will be a pleasure to work on

[Trainman]

Vince, Thanks so much for today, Engine bay looks stunningily shiny, I take a couple of pics tomorrow, it was .......raining hard (read what you want into that) need to do the rest of the car now.

[vince]

Well ive had a jolly enjoyable Citroening kind of couple of days......

A few days ago a guy called the shop and said "can i give you a reg please"...Duly inputted it turned out to be a 1975 Citroen DS 23 Pallas in black

I said to him....."Ah a DS"! to which he replied......what youve heard of one? I was expecting to have to explain myself

After a brief introduction of how and why i know what one is it turns out he lives just the next town over from me and is involved in planning the ICCCR in Harrogate this year I couldnt get hold of the oil filter he needed, (you dont get asked for these everyday) but ended by saying that if he needs any help with quirky french cars then im the only guy i know in GSF who will know what he is on about so to ask for me and ill help him where i can.

So then......yesterday one of my guys shouts out "here's one for you Vince" as the same guy pulls into the car park in said DS Pallas

I had a good chat with him and he told me of quite a few other classic Citroen owners in and around Manchester. I didnt get his name or number but hopefully i will see him again as he is going to the Northern Rally (As am I) and get to know some of the other "Citroen heads" in Manchester. It is probably usefull for them to know that there is a guy nearby who can help them with parts they may need and the service they would expect from a guy who is as enthusiastic as they are

So other than that....my enfatuation with GS's has risen to the top again and i have been pouring over GS stuff on the internet for the last couple of nights. I so would have a GS Pallas with the full chrome hub caps probably in brown or some other suitable 70's colour if i was more "financially established"

I still kick myself for not buying into classic citroens when i was wasting so much money buying old german cars...i had the money, the driveway, the time to invest in them etc..and i missed the boat.

Lottery tonight