View Full Version : A year in your parking space.
So folks what's been going on in your parking spaces in the last year?
One year ago yesterday I appeared to be missing a car, a red Anglia to be precise :eek:
Not here:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2008-12-16_whereisit/IMG_3380.JPG
Not here either:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2008-12-16_whereisit/IMG_3381.JPG
Or here:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2008-12-16_whereisit/IMG_3382.JPG
Or in there, but I see someone made themself comfortable there instead ::):
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2008-12-16_whereisit/IMG_3383.JPG
Where was it? Ah yes, it was in for some post-resto finishing work at Burnham Autos:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2008-12-16_whereisit/IMG_3386.JPG
I lost motivation in the project a long time before and decided to spend some savings and get it finished.
A few weeks later I drove it home, MOT'd and ready for me to put finishing touches on it:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2009-01-25_wet/IMG_3466.JPG
I sold the Pop in February to a chap on Retro Rides. After many many engine rebuilds I decided the old lump wasn't up to my level of tuning so I put it back to standard, well, almost standard and as far as I know it's still going strong.
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/pop/PopLeaving.jpg
This is it leaving as I actually shed a tear. I'd had a lot of fun in that car and was sad to see it go.
The Anglia looked like that for a few months until I stuck some of the shiny bits back on it, drove it around in all weather, had a lot of fun in the snow and rain and rebuilt the engine for Retro Rides Gathering which was way overdue. Just days before the gathering my engine bay still looked like this, spread round the garage :rolleyes:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2009-08-13_pre-RRG09/garage-shot.JPG
Then it blew up on the way and, still furious with it, the last time I let it out in the sunlight was here on the side of the M3:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/anglia/2009-08-13_pre-RRG09/IMG_5028.JPG
In September I finally got a new job and needed a car to get me out of a stitch so I combined practicality with celebration and brought this home:
http://www.jonny69.co.uk/uploads/27T/2009-12-12/IMG_5284.JPG
And apart from a bit of maintenance spannering that's all I've had to do on this car.
It's been a very quiet year for me, mainly due to lack of work and uncertainty and I fully intend to make a lot more use of 2010. I'm planning to get down and fix the engine in the Anglia, ideal time to do it now it's turned a bit cooler and once that's running I've got a few ideas for the rod ;)
Been plenty of coming and going at ours this year. Started out with 3 MR2s (My Red one, Vix's white one and the track car which at that point was lacking an engine).
January and Feruary saw the installation of a supercharged engine in the track car:
March saw the less than impressive debut of the new engine:
http://www.kaiowas.co.uk/vix/365/2903.jpg
In May things started changing rather dramatically, my road car met a nasty end:
http://www.kaiowas.co.uk/images/mr2/lkjcrash/broken1.jpg
and I got to borrow this for a few weeks:
http://www.finkydink.co.uk/365/2605.jpg
By July I'd had my insurance payout and picked up a new daily from the local auctions:
http://www.finkydink.co.uk/albums/userpics/new.jpg
Then in September we unexpectedly found our way back up to 3 MR2s with a new Arrival for Vix:
http://www.finkydink.co.uk/albums/userpics/nexy.jpg
Since then things have been relatively quiet, still got work to do on getting Vixs new car on the road and we've got to sell her current daily to pay for it then there's a few jobs I want to get done on the track car before the new season starts again in March.
Well, I started out with my pride and joy (still miss her):
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/jeep/bye1.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/jeep/bye2.jpg
Had to sell her because my boss wouldn't pay for the petrol on a V-8, even though I was getting 18mpg out of it and it was perfectly suited to the job.
Ended up picking up a Geo Tracker (Suzuki Sidekick):
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/tracker/poser1.jpg
It lasted all of a month before I pretty much killed it. It wasn't up to the task of being chucked around the motorways at speeds sometimes exceeding 80mph.
Finally got into my current beastie. It's not much to look at, and it's nowhere near the vehicle the Grand Cherokee was, but it gets the job done.
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/jeep/xj1.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/jeep/utahcrew/5milepass091909/PICT103.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/jeep/utahcrew/5milepass091909/PICT099.jpg
I have since painted the roof and the bonnet black to cover up where the original paint faded off. It was starting to rust and I didn't want it to get worse. It's just rattle can for now, but it's protecting the metal. I've also installed a cheapy set of fogs and got some new tyres. I've also cut a couple hood vents as these Cherokees have issues with their cooling systems. On board air (engine driven compressor 12.5gpm @ 125psi) has been added as has been a 1600W inverter. Next projects for it are to get some taller springs and to fab up some steel/fiberglass bumpers and some rocker guards. More lights are in the works, too. Wish I'd kept the set of Hella's I had on the green Jeep :(
volospian
17-12-2009, 22:14
No pics, I'm afraid, at least not at the moment, but it was nearly a year ago (Jan 30th 2009) when some nice woman decided the boot of my TVR Cerbera was such a nice place that she would like to park her brand new Fiesta in there. On the motorway. At (relative) speed.
Feb was spent enjoying a Merc E320CDI hire car while they wrangled over my dying trev. Eventually, and lucky, in a way, I think the bottom end may have been a few k short of needing a rebuild, the insurance company scrapped it and paid out £70 more than I paid for it 15 months previously...
So I went out and bought myself a big fat Jaguar S Type R. 400hp blown V8 means it's not that much slower than the trev and it doesn't smell of petrol and make my wife car sick.... which is a bonus (well, for her anyway).
Now I am gathering my forces for a V8 landy project (the block is waiting to be honed as we speak) and a dabble in Alfa Romeo ownership (top gear has a lot to answer for!).
I will have another TVR at some stage, but not with the AJPV8 powerplant. Nice motor, but worrying to own :D
Not much change here. Got the 99T road legal again after a year or so break. Bluey still off the road. Still got the corsa. Work van was taken off me and replaced with an utter poverty spec new van :(
No changes here, I started the year with a Golf R32 on the drive and am ending the year with the same Golf R32 on the drive.
Briggykins
18-12-2009, 10:15
Starting and ending with my Focus. Did change my parking space though.
The Feekmobile started the year and is ending the year as well.
Any broken springs this year Feek?
Started and ended the year in one of these cars:
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/autoreview/400x266/2004-Honda-Civic-04802031990002.jpg
A 2004 Honda Civic LX.
Nice car, handles well, performs fine. Only one thing wrong with it and that is that it's automatic, but that's about par for the course in the US. Easily pushing 35+ miles per US gallon (42MPG in Imperial.)
Just got hit with the cost of 4 new tires for it though (old ones were a little bald)
Dymetrie
18-12-2009, 21:26
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/autoreview/400x266/2004-Honda-Civic-04802031990002.jpg
That is quite possibly the gayest car I have ever seen!
Considering that the contract manager that works for me is the gayest man in the world, and drives a Focus, your car is pretty damn gay!
:D
The photo doesn't do it particular justice. It's a fairly homogeneous saloon car in design, not wildly different from many others.
I did get a chance to drive a 2L 2009 Nissan Almera in black last month which my sister had hired:
http://www.auto123.com/media/videos/specs/2009/nissan/en/altima_hybrid.jpg
Very nice, very nippy, key-less and an absolute pleasure to drive. One really irritating flaw with it: It's too bloody low to the ground. If I had one I'd take it in to the garage to be raised a couple of inches. It was nigh on impossible to go over any speed bump even at <10 mph without scraping the underside.
Flibster
18-12-2009, 22:42
Elise, Excel, Megane 225, RX-8
And in total - a little under 2000 miles.
Elise, Excel, Megane 225, RX-8
And in total - a little under 2000 miles.
Sorry, Simon. But I have to giggle at that. I do that in less than two weeks. ;)
I started the year with a 1987 MK2 Golf GTi on 106,000 miles and end the year on a 1987 MK2 Golf GTi on 126,000 miles. It's been given coilovers this year and a set of RH Cups as well as taking us to France camping and behaving very well. MOT cost me £4 (excluding the MOT cost) for a new CV boot and we've had 1 breakdown, which was a flat battery caused by Leon leaving the fridge & Tom Tom plugged in for too long in France :rolleyes:
Still very happy with it and really enjoy driving it :D It really has grown on me!
Next year will see the fitting of a much-needed new bootlid as the current one is rusted to bits. I have the new boot, but Leon needs to spray it. I'll also replace the bonnet and the rear valance needs some welding.
Any broken springs this year Feek?
Nope, but the way the weather has turned I'd not be surprised if one were to do the 'OMG, how brittle am I feeling today' thing and crack.
Darn you Johnny and your cool cars.. Nothing at all happened this year, well other than a failed mot costing me close to £200 in parts, still better than their £800-£900 quote. Hopping to get some work done next year on the rust bucket though.
Knipples
19-12-2009, 09:59
MOT cost me £4 (excluding the MOT cost) for a new CV boot
My CV boot cost me 90 quid including labour! Was I done then? And the same darn thing went last year as well...grrrr! :angry:
My CV boot cost me 90 quid including labour! Was I done then? And the same darn thing went last year as well...grrrr! :angry:
CV boots cost absolute pennies and pretty much all the cost is labour. Luckily for Kate she has a mechanic who accepts payment in kind ;)
Flibster
19-12-2009, 13:04
Sorry, Simon. But I have to giggle at that. I do that in less than two weeks. ;)
:D
Not been driving much at all, most of the while I haven't been able to. Add to that my unemployment meant I haven't needed to drive anywhere and when I have been working, it's pretty much been in walking/hobbling distance or from home.
Been a very cheap year car wise. :D
Creature
20-12-2009, 00:08
I'll drive you places, providing it's your car that's used...
Flibster
20-12-2009, 00:37
I'll drive you places, providing it's your car that's used...
I'm fine to drive myself now. :D
Spent the last 48 hours having fun in the show. RE040 tyres aren't great in the wet and on snow they are absolutely hilarious! Traction control fully off and wooo! ;) :D
Creature
20-12-2009, 01:58
Ah,. good memories of doing that. Miss my dads RX8, was awesome.
My drive has had a very big swap around this year.
Started with a 1998 Rover 214SI and a Ford Fusion. Around the end of January, the Rover started having issues starting, and on one occasioon, lost all power whilst at 35mph in a town centre, not fun.
We decided that my brother should probably have a car at this point, to get him around, and so I had a fall back incase mine died, so we got him a cheap little Peugeot 206 which was horrendus, but it worked, so that was all it needed.
In march, the Rover finally gave up the ghost, and so we sent it off to the scrap yard, and was replaced 2 weeks later by a nice shiny Ford Mondeo, which is still happy, even if it has spent the last 2 days more sideways than anything else.
In August, my mums company car lease for the Fusion expired, so that had to go, and was replaced by a brand new Ford Ka. I had to drive it pretty soon after getting it, and the image of me, at 6'3"ish getting into this tiny car filled me with dread, but it was actually ok. It is slow, lower power and other stuff, but mums content, so can't complain.
Doubt there'll be any additions next year, but we'll see.
Darn you Johnny and your cool cars.
I thought mine had been pretty dull this year ;D
Emma and I share her car - a purple R reg Clio called 'Roxy' and it does the job just fine.
Fortunately for this review 'the job' is getting from A-B :p
When we go over bumps parts of the interior facias fall off, the sun roof has been made leakproof with window sealant and gaffer tape, we get ~325 miles out of a £40 tank and the stars PG's sister painted on the side are not coming off (despite much elbow grease! :p)
It's not the most presentable car either with dents in the side from the same 'sibling-in-law' and a wing mirror that is most flexible due to her lack of depth perception; nonetheless, it drives us happily around wherever we want - whether it's to Bristol or Kernow, Tesco or Lincoln it's a brilliant little runner.
MOT cost us £5 for 4 new bulbs and we'll keep her until her dying day* ;D
simply because I invisage Renault build quality outlasting our financial difficulties lol
Started the year with the motor love of my life, my Megane. Sold it for financial reasons and got a dirty great Saab (which is still sat on Mikes driveway if anyone wants it!) which was just tooooooooo enormous. Now have a Fiat Stilo which Does The Job in a thoroughly practical and uninspiring way.
I get genuinely upset when I think about my Megane :(
I get genuinely upset when I think about my Megane :(That's still how I feel about my S14a :(
That's how I still feel about my green Jeep. Every chance I get I set the screw a little deeper into my boss that if I still had it <insert reason here> would be done better/faster/cheaper.
TinkerBell
23-12-2009, 22:32
I started the year off with a dented and damaged Vauxhall Corsa, and now I have an even more dented and damaged Vauxhall Corsa:thumbup: Good times :p
I started the year with a 1987 MK2 Golf GTi on 106,000 miles and end the year on a 1987 MK2 Golf GTi on 126,000 miles. It's been given coilovers this year and a set of RH Cups as well as taking us to France camping and behaving very well. MOT cost me £4 (excluding the MOT cost) for a new CV boot and we've had 1 breakdown, which was a flat battery caused by Leon leaving the fridge & Tom Tom plugged in for too long in France :rolleyes:
Still very happy with it and really enjoy driving it :D It really has grown on me!
Next year will see the fitting of a much-needed new bootlid as the current one is rusted to bits. I have the new boot, but Leon needs to spray it. I'll also replace the bonnet and the rear valance needs some welding.
And you didn't bloody let me sit in it or take me for a spin in it because it was "too low" :( :angry: :p
Still have the Triumph TT600, albeit with a lovely titanium can now.
Still have the 147, though with better brakes and a beautifully crafted exhaust.
And you didn't bloody let me sit in it or take me for a spin in it because it was "too low" :( :angry: :p
:confused: Don't remember that, sorry chuck!
:confused: Don't remember that, sorry chuck!
LOL :p I was teasing. Remember when we went to Wagamama's weith Leo and Kitten? I ended up throwing you around roundabouts in the Flafla instead! Not that I minded at all - didn't make any of you sick though :( :p
Knipples
24-12-2009, 10:08
I ended up throwing you around roundabouts
:shocked:
;D
LOL :p I was teasing. Remember when we went to Wagamama's weith Leo and Kitten? I ended up throwing you around roundabouts in the Flafla instead! Not that I minded at all - didn't make any of you sick though :( :p
Ahhhh, yes. Now that makes sense. Don't really like carrying 4 people in it.
I remember now..... GASH! :p
Started the year with a "new" addition after a major hydraulic failiure in the Xantia,a rustbucket P plate Rover 200 diesel. It's in terminal decline and will be going to the great carpark in the sky when the Xantia gets resurrected.
When the Rover was in for repair, we hired a Vauxhall Insignia for the weekend which was all kinds of awesome. Automatic everything and lights that shone round corners.
We are currently car-less because my now ex-mechanic *still* hasn't picked up the Xantia for repair.
Back to the bus and train for me till it's fixed by a more reliable mechanic. :(
a dirty great Saab (which is still sat on Mikes driveway if anyone wants it!)
How much?
And can someone lend me ^^ this much? ;)
I get genuinely upset when I think about my Megane :(
I've never really cared about a car that much. Mind you, mine have all been s**t heaps...
Del Lardo
28-12-2009, 14:04
Started off the year with the trusty Mundano doing its job of ferrying me to and from Heathrow, a big reduction in the amount of business travel I was doing meant that I only put 12000 miles on it this year instead of 20k in previous years. Apart from servicing and tyres it's cost me nothing though I do need to get the central locking looked at as it frequently fails in cold weather.
In September I changed jobs meaning that I didn't have to have a practical car (car allowance meant I wasn't allowed softtops, sports cars, etc) so I thought about selling the Mundano and buying something with two seats like an S2000 or Z4. I did have big concerns about leaving either of them at Heathrow as the Mundano has been hit twice in three years in the car parks so decided to stick with a Mundano and bank the money.
Then in October I got a call from my best friend who had decided to sell the Elise that I had sold to him two years previously. I had a long hard think and realised that I couldn't justify buying the Elise back as I would hardly use it (walk to work and Mundano for commutes) but then realised this would be a good thing as driving it 12k/year as an everyday car had damn near bankrupted me. On 2nd November I had a jaunt up to Newcastle on the cough train cough and a far more enjoyable jaunt back to Cambridge in my Elise.
So I finish the year with a Mundano V6 and an Elise 111s sitting in my residential parking area and often 2-3 weeks go by without either of them moving :o
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