MOTOR CHAT

[highlandsflyer]

I am due MOT on one on the 14th, should go through with the fog lamp reconnected and exhaust sorted, been waiting to get it indoors to do the work. I tend to put them in and keep crossed fingers these days, where I used to meticulously prep my vehicles.

Not too bad, local place does 14 days with no re test fee.

Time enough to order up parts and do the work, unless it snows!

Group 19, eek!

Perhaps try a low annual mileage, classic?

 

[Rumble]

Took the Paj to a garage out of town, they're a bit more... sympathetic, than the garages around here. While we were in the owner may have got the impression that I was interested in buying a brand new car off his forecourt on finance. Now he came to that conclusion all by himself, but I didn't discourage him. Reckon that might have knocked a wee bit off my final bill for the Paj.

 

[Tazio]

Nice Fiat, I really like those cars. Not sure about your parking spot though

 

[Rumble]

Oi - it's definietly outside the lines of the disabled bay!

Think we're going to get a decent alarm fitted. It's got an imobilliser but I want something highly visible as a deterrent to scrotes slashing the hood.

 

[RobMac]

Did you mention your car was left hand drive to your insurance company?

 

[Tazio]

Oi - it's definietly outside the lines of the disabled bay!

Think we're going to get a decent alarm fitted. It's got an imobilliser but I want something highly visible as a deterrent to scrotes slashing the hood.

I drove past it not half an hour ago. Maybe your end of Albert Street is more genteel than mine. And the kids that hang around the Chinese can keep an eye on it for you. They seem a nice bunch.

 

[Rumble]

Good, so it's still there then I do feel better about it right at my end - partly because it's right outside my door and partly because it's fairly open, well lit and it never gets that quiet. It's the middle of the street that I don't like - that's where my Pajero got nicked from, right in front of the Neighbourhood Watch sign :roll: It's a bit darker there and with less passing traffic scum-bags will feel a bit safer.

Got some decent-ish quotes now - similar fully comp to what I pay 3rd party, fire and theft on the Pajero. Lots of the usual suspects were around the grand mark and the highest I saw was £4k - that's with 10+ years no claims bonus!

Rob - the sites "know" it's LHD once you put the reg number so there's no getting away from it. Lots of the classic/sports specialists were no different from the mainstream lot - seems you have to have it garaged and/or limited to a tiny mileage to get any real discount.

 

[RobMac]

Its just that I was under the impression that a LHD car cost a bit more to insure than a RHD car in this country :?

 

[Rumble]

Yeah, it seems like it. Guess it's that and the rag-top that put it in insurance group 19. That and it'd cost more to fix as the body panels can be a bit pricey.

 

[ajm]

The S70 just failed its MOT last week... quite annoying really as I'd had a reasonable look over it first and gone to the lengths of replacing CV boots and ABS reluctor rings on both sides (removal of one driveshaft requiring five minutes solid of beating with a 15lb mell, all sophisticated options having failed), and adjusting up the handbrake to "definitely working" status.

Sailed through other than the handbrake - overall efficiency was comfortably greater than required, but it was all coming from the offside - fail!

One new handbrake cable (and not inconsiderable disassembly of the interior) later it's hopefully getting that retested tomorrow.

Total parts bill for the above was £35.50, so can't really complain, especially when it'll be 15 this year... I'm just glad I wasn't paying someone else do do the work!