Michel's Motors

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

daviemck2006 wrote: 07 Feb 2018, 18:54 Did that include a tea break and a fag break Mike?


I've given up smoking 9 years ago. It was too cold for a tea too, it would have gone cold. The temperature was a balmy 0c.

I serviced the motorbike this afternoon and it actually took longer than the C1 despite it only having a litre of oil, no filter and one spark plug! It does need 6 screws undoing to get at the air filter and the right-hand footrest and 8 bolts have to be removed to get at the oil strainer which lives next to the clutch under the right hand side engine cover.

I think the bike needs a new battery. It's not the liveliest starter and sometimes refuses if it's been cold for some days. It bump starts immediately though or kickstarts.

I'm unsure how it was actually running with this plug in it. There's virtually no gap!

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It takes a lot less space than a car to service too!
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Hell Razor5543
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

It was running because your other vehicles told it what happens to recalcitrant modes of transport that let you down!
James
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 07 Feb 2018, 20:20 It was running because your other vehicles told it what happens to recalcitrant modes of transport that let you down!


The Grand Picasso hasn't learnt what happens yet. It's telling me sometimes that the parking brake is faulty. I can do without the hassle of all this electronic s**t. I know the 107 and the Yam will get me to where I want to go, honestly I have a distrust of the Picasso . I think it needs to go and be replaced by something German.

I drove 150 miles in the 107 yesterday. Apart from the noise it was perfectly acceptable, even in the lashing rain all the way down to Tidworth. I decided to come back via the A303 as I wanted a coffee and Starbucks app told me there was one on the 303.

There was. Well, half a one, on a not-yet-open new services that are being built. Damn!

I finally got my coffee on the A34 after I'd turned off the 303. Then...
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This prick in the Berlingo parked right next to me in a reasonably empty car park, then thumped the side of my car with the door when they got out. I was sat in my car! I politely asked them to be more careful after checking it had only hit the bump strip. It was an older couple who told me to "Stop crying!". "Well, then, may a donkey mount you, you pair of rude old *&#t@&$s" , was my response. I don't have time for arguments.

If you can't take it, don't dish it out.
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

I'd also like to mention, as per Zel's statement about the spoiler on the 107 helping keep the rear window clear - too right it does. I hardly used the rear wiper in 150 miles yesterday and it was raining most of the time!

The spoiler does seem to drag the economy down on runs at speed though.
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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I'm pleased to see those new Services being built just south of Andover on the A303...

There was services there on both sides of the road many years ago... Little Chefs and Texaco petrol. Both closed about 20 years ago and the sites were left derelict...

I've been watching them being rebuilt and I'm staggered at the speed they are building them - shows that some things can be done quickly when the will is there and begs the question why some things - like road works - take so bloody long :twisted:

That's bizarre with that Berlingo :evil: I've seen similar behavior and just can't understand it. And to be rude to you is just unacceptable... Some people's attitudes these days leave me totally mystified and sad in equal measure...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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It seems it's that time of year when headlight bulbs fail at inconvenient times. Usually I get them off Amazon, but had ran out of stock. On Monday last week, the C4 GP blew one on the nearside, about 4:30pm when I noticed it. As I needed the car for work, and I was near Halfords, I had to succumb to their ridiculous prices. I ended up paying £17 for a pair of standard H7 bulbs. At least I have a spare.

What a pity the 107 takes H4s. It blew one yesterday, and I don't have a spare. Instead of bending over for Halfords, it stayed at home last night and I'll pick a couple up from the local factors today. We've also come to the conclusion that we don't need a big, big beast like the C4 GP. It's quite an inconvenient vehicle really. It's not that much bigger than the Berlingo, when all said and done - it doesn't have the internal height, and it's considerably longer and can be a sod to park, so it will likely be for sale soon, if anyone's interested in a petrol 1.8 C4 GP (it's averaging 34mpg in the 4000 miles I've had it). It'll be replaced by something smaller, diesel, and probably German, as I really, really don't want a Citroen C4 car, and that's about the size of thing I want.
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by CitroJim »

When I saw your C4 GP Mike, I was staggered at its massive size. It fairly dwarfed my, albeit small, fleet...

I can well understand you all fining it a bit inconvenient. Parking it in standard British Standard parking spaces must be a nightmare...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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CitroJim wrote: 16 Feb 2018, 06:24 When I saw your C4 GP Mike, I was staggered at its massive size. It fairly dwarfed my, albeit small, fleet...

I can well understand you all fining it a bit inconvenient. Parking it in standard British Standard parking spaces must be a nightmare...


It's a bit of a nuisance, that's for sure. Fortunately we've often got Sam in it and park in the wider spaces for those with kids. It's not even that useful as a load-carrier if you have tall stuff. A Berlingo, especially the shape I had, is very deceiving as to the amount of stuff you can get in it. It's only car-length but swallows an enormous amount of stuff. I can't get two bikes in the C4 GP without dismantling at least one of them.

I got headlight bulbs for the 107 from an Esso garage, £4 each. They do the trick!

Today shall be spent cycling, motorcycling and doing a bit of exercise. Mrs Michel and child are off to Hayling Island with friends. I have been invited, but I'm just finishing "work", and though well-rested, I'm not sure I can be bothered, as it would mean me driving all 6 of us in the Picasso!
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CitroJim
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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Michel wrote: 16 Feb 2018, 07:32 Today shall be spent cycling, motorcycling and doing a bit of exercise.


Excellent! I was very happy to be able to cycle to work this morning :) Seems years since I've ridden and I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the cold and the fact none of small roads had been gritted!

Have an excellent session of exercise and spells on two wheels!
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Zelandeth
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Zelandeth »

Have fun changing the headlight bulbs in the 107.

Nearside one is an absolute pig as both the battery and air con pipework get in the way. Back of the headlight is barely a hand width from the suspension turret to start with.

When I had the bumper off mine the first time (swapping out the twin headlights when a lens got cracked), I made a point of removing the screw securing the light unit deep behind the bumper. This means removing the headlight involves taking two screws out. Changed a bulb swap from a 30 minute swear fest to 10 minutes, and actually getting the thing properly seated first rather than third try.

It's the only routine job on the car that was really a pain.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
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Zelandeth
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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Could I ask a favour?

If you're going to be around these parts with the C4GP before it moves on, could you let me know?

I'd really like a proper look at one, as I could see one being the workhorse of the fleet a few years down the line. I like the look of them, and from the photos it ticks my "feels like a spaceship inside" box...but if I can actually have a proper look in person it would be great.

Sadly won't be able to offer you a deal on this one as the need isn't here yet... it's just one quite high on the potential future list.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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Zelandeth wrote: 18 Feb 2018, 03:44 Could I ask a favour?

If you're going to be around these parts with the C4GP before it moves on, could you let me know?

I'd really like a proper look at one, as I could see one being the workhorse of the fleet a few years down the line. I like the look of them, and from the photos it ticks my "feels like a spaceship inside" box...but if I can actually have a proper look in person it would be great.


It would be a pleasure Zel. I intend to come up and see Jim and go on his off-road cycle that he does with him in the very near future, hopefully next week if not this.
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

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Well, in my search for a reasonable priced Berlingo replacement, I appear to have bought... a FIAT.

It's a 07 plate Multipla 6 seater, black. FSH. 130k miles , 120bhp turbo-diesel. Saw it on AutoTrader and went to have a look, thinking I'd hate it.. but no, what a great vehicle! It's like a refined MK2 Berlingo, not *quite* as spacious but smoother and frankly weirder. Took it down the M4 and around Slough on a test drive. Lovely. Not as refined as the Picasso but really quite nice. Has all the manuals and 2 keys with it too :)

Now I have to get back to Slough tomorrow to pick it up. I have trains!

It's properly strange! I love it.
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Hell Razor5543
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

What time?
James
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ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
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ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: Picasso Procrastination and Yamaha Yobishness

Unread post by Michel »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 19 Feb 2018, 16:43 What time?


I suspect early afternoon. Morning will be spent cleaning and hoovering the Picasso!