Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

@tmevans Two years ago I drove the family to Fort William from Bexleyheath, it took us twelve hours including stops, total driving time was 9.5 hours, but we left 6.30am
Shifts were four hours me, two hours the missus, last three & half me

Route was M25, M11, A1M to A68 then A69, M6 , A74, M74, the A82 which is beautiful that last bit through Glencoe

So long as pads are over 1.5mm they would pass, I always added an advisory if they were between 1.5mm and 3.0mm

Any roads leading from Bexleyheath are good, I spent my teens there and bits of the last few years watching my parents decline. Bexleyheath has few saving graces, Dad drove a Maxi in the 70s, better vehicles were available.

Ha, ha. I have pretty much grown up around here we moved out of Camberwell in the seventies

Ditto, but from glorious scenic Catford in the late 60s. I have the distinction of being simultaneously banned from every pub on the Broadway in 79/80.

@Fixedwheelnut cheers! One to watch when I buy my next car

So damn cool.

I’ve always had a strange liking for Volvo 480’s hadn’t seen one for donkeys and a mint one passed me today.

Made me see if any were for sale...

Found this little peach on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183994990278

`if this were an estate I would likely own it already.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-740-turbo-manual-rare-retro-744-TIC/323967765353?hash=item4b6dfbcb69:g:RsUAAOSwQG9dvfdL

This is bound to be a worry free project that can be completed for very little: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-G-WAGON-V8-5-6-AMG-SEC-MOTOR-AUTO-NEEDS-PAINT-USE-OR-RESTORE/202813575786?hash=item2f38a1926a:g:0lkAAOSwjE1dXYev

The bi-tone also seems strangely appealing now. My mum had one of these, rev happy engine but dulled by the weight of the thing, particularly the ES. Laden with toys and deep grey fabrics, it felt quite luxurious to be in.

yes boss

you should get it T. that is in great nick. no idea what they are like to drive.

So...
Rear tyre keeps loosing pressure despite a new tyre being fitted.

So guessing the alloy has a crack in it. Also guessing welding (TIG?) will solve this.

Yey or ney?

A guy at Kwik fit fill a crack in mine with some kind of sticky filler stuff while he was changing a tyre. I don't know what it was likely whatever was lying around, but to my surprise it actually has stopped it leaking for the past 18 months.

But yeah, welding is probably a better idea...

If it's a proper crack then it may have structural consequences in which case welding might not be a good idea. It's more likely to be porosity, in which case a lick of paint or getting the wheel properly refinished is likely to be a better plan.

Also guessing welding

I had an AMG alloy welded, went to a wheel refurb specialist. They sent it away though but took the warranty. In the 10s of £.

Just recently had my SC430 in for a Airbag Recall. All very civilised, courtesy car, coffee and biscuits etc. Had thought it was just a Lexus thing. Reading up it seems it is very wide ranging and encompasses lots of cars. It stems from a bag going off and causing more damage than it saved.

List here

My Volvo wheels started doing this- it was porosity. Getting them refurbed sorted it.

Thanks. The previous owner of the car loved kerbing the alloys.

I'll take it to a alloy specialist and get them to look at it.

I wish I could, my sensible, mundane and bland Civic is serving me just fine and swallows bikes.
Afraid my head has to rule my heart for a year or two yet.

Is it an alloy? Some times the alloys can go porous (sp) as the paint/wheel coating starts to fail or poor paint/coating can causes seal issues. Cheating I have used slime before, as that can be washed out.

See if there are a refurbed set going then sell yours on.

So looking for a new run around 89 lancia prisma or a cheap 100hp panda. Lancia is £1500 and the panda is alot less than that. Or a shitty punto and dump it in the spring? Or stick to look for A2?

Surely something like a Prisma wouldn't work too well as a run around? I'd imagine like most old, idiosyncratic 80's cars, trying to use one everyday would cause more problems than it would solve? There can't be many of them left either.

I'd go with a Panda. Much more fun and should work well as something that would need little to no maintenance.

Supposed to be a really good prisma, and twin cam is still a twin cam...or another project to make it in to a prisma integrale...or live in reality just use it over the winter and then sell in the spring.

Looking at pandas, talking to owners looks like there seems to be issues with the rear engine mount and rear suspension spring cups rust from the inside out and with my luck...