Dean's Activa/XM/V6 and now Talbot blog

[Deanxm]

usualy have to put new sills on and repair around the filler cap but dont get that involved anymore, still plenty of good ones about down here, we dont get much salt so............... i usualy hear about them going to scrap or that someones had enough of some car and go and offer some money, a lot come out of the local rag or shop windows but you have to be quick, super quick.
The trouble with auctions is that you just pay trade prices which is fine but you dont really ever get a bargain, you just get what nobody else wants at a price nobody else is willing to pay.
I never spend more that 200 or £300 because im tight, but also i make sure i can get my money back if it turns out to be a total writeoff by breaking it.

writeoffs i like because you know the car was running fine with no probs before it got damaged, what you see is what you get, auctions can turn up some real ropey stuff.

D

[Citroenmad]

Yes, the one car we got through auctions was terrible. It needed a new clutch, door panel, EML was on ...

Bargains are few and far between and the ones I have came across have been usually because the seller doesn't know what they are worth.

Putting new sills on a Ford Ka does not sound like a lot of fun, that is quite a job.

[CitroJim]

Putting new sills on a Ford Ka does not sound like a lot of fun, that is quite a job.

To do well it would be due to it being a two-door. I've seen loads of KAs with terribly ugly patched sills just to get them through the MOT but to do a proper job and blending the new into the existing rear quarter must be quite a job...

[Deanxm]

depends how many times you've done it its not as bad as you think though.

D

[Citroenmad]

Yes, there are many badly patched up Kas running around, alarmingly ones which are not all that old. Ive seen as new as 05 plates with very bad rust issues, nearly every Ka you look at close enough has rot somewhere. Behind the rear bumpers seems to be a very bad rust trap too. Shame as I like they way they drive, not at all bad for a small car with an ancient engine.

By far the best car I have bought and sold was a 2003 Seat Arosa 1.4TDi. I had to spend a bit on the bodywork but i made a good £550 on that one. Shame I can't find them one after the other, as I have had a couple and they sell like hot cakes, for good money too.

[Deanxm]

Well thats the Focus sold, £700! new owner is very happy and went off in a very shiny car, ive had an offer on the Activa today too which is a bit low but close enough in a way, not sure if i can let it go to a muggle for the forum price though................
Done a llittle rotary polish on the activa today, the results are superb, will pop some piccies up after i get littlun down.

D

[CitroJim]

That was a nice result Dean

Nope, no Activa to a Muggle. Absolutely not. Any prospective new owner must be carefully vetted and made aware of their responsibilities and necessity of joining this forum....

[Deanxm]

We shall see Jim, its good the Focus went but IF the activa goes i will be car less for a good few months which isnt really ideal.

I always thought the activa was clean and never polished it because, well, its silver isnt it, but today i noticed how much tar is on the skirts and dead bugs etc, i manage to get one side done and the front passenger door and front bit of the skirt that side but it came out great, im very pleased an looks 1000% times better.


SAM_1060 by Deanxm, on Flickr


SAM_1062 by Deanxm, on Flickr

The paint now reflects the blue of the evening sky whereas before it reflected the light a sort of brown colour, see if you can spot where i polished and where i have not on the skirt, its not really noticable in the photo as i left my blue kneeling sheet reflecting in the bit i had done and the camera doesnt show the light in its true colour, the whole car has been washed, any muck on there is tar, bugs and fence paint etc.

SAM_1061 by Deanxm, on Flickr
D

[CitroJim]

Gosh Dean, if you'd have done that before CXM you'd have won the cup

It looks stunning!

[Citroenmad]

Good news with the sale of your Focus but less so on the Activa! Keep it a few months until your ready to sell it

That does look very well after a polish, that gives me the encouragement I need to do my silver one now

[Deanxm]

yes i was a little dissapointed i didnt get to valet it before the rally, it di look very grubby covered in tar and bugs with moss an lichen growing out from all the rubbers and door trims etc but i was feeling so rough on the runup and time did not permit either, i was just glad to make it and catch up with everyone and im very happy with 3rd believe me, there were a lot of exellent examples at that rally, your activa included.

Good news from the doctor today anyway, she phoned me up to say this weeks blood test shows my liver function is down from 470 to 65 (i asked out of interest and 40 is normal) so a speedy recovery is underway, hope you have recovered from the rally Jim, i see your getting back into some proper citrosurgery with your bendix system too, good work there.

Chris i really never thought silver came up well and to an extent it doest compared to a ark colour but it hides the dirt so well you dont seem to realise just how bad the paint has got untill you really give it a good going over, you must have a go now you have the gear.

D

[Citroenmad]

Glad to hear your making a speedy recovery Dean

I do intend to machine polish my Activa and my C5, which is a pale blue/silver. Your pictures show it will be worthwhile doing

[CitroJim]

Great news on your health Dean

Doing all this Citrosurgery (I love that term ) has shown up a new problem - how much my eyesight has deteriorated recently

Off to see the optician!

[Deanxm]

yep me too, things have been getting difficult to see lately, especialy in low light and reading off of screens, detailing the car yesterday seemed to strain my eyes and make them worse for a bit so im booked in for saturday. That will make you feel a bit tired too if your eyes are constantly straining too. no more pressing my nose against tthe laptop screen
Got up this morning to take the rubbish out and thought i would snap this one


SAM_1063 by Deanxm, on Flickr

D

[CitroJim]

Nice I love shots like that full of atmosphere...

Somebody else who's recently attended the James Walshe school of Citroen photography!!!