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

that shit ain't cool anymore.

(In their eyes)

Shows how disconnected the 1% are. Muscle cars are always cool...

My first bit of car maintenance didn't go as well as I'd hoped.

Replaced the alternator last night, got a new battery and just went to fire it up. Sounded like it was really struggling to turn over, then it kicked into life but there was a lot of squealing and some smoke as I assume it burnt out. Then the car died.

I wonder if the belt was too lose/tight? Can't see what else it could be

Loosened the belt and it started right up but it squealed a hell of a lot so I turned it off. It's definitely a looser than before judging by the marks left by the bolts so I think it actually needs tightening?

#ihavenoideawhatimdoing

did you just say "farking"?!?!

assimmilation almost complete

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ford/mustang/1893413.html

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ford/mustang/1892964.html

i have serious lobbie for a 69/70 stang at the moment. even one of the cooking spec early cars. they are reasonable affordable at the moment.

@BRM I've been watching all the episodes of Roadkill and now I really want a classic American car again.

Just a petty roadrunner for me ta...

I do love that Petty Roadrunner

Update on the w124 saga...

Throttle body - manufactured 1994 = probable cause of high / odd idle. Found a replacement at a breakers for £100

Wiring loom - probably old, tbc though = probable / imminent cause of issues. Cheapest replacement I've found is around £300

OVP relay - need to test, but looking at £25 if I'm lucky on ebay.de

Handbrake shoes - £100 + work

MAF - replaced = £180

Ignition leads - replaced = £100

Front + rear wheel bearings - replaced = £500

Then we have the clunk in the diff, prob another coupla hundred...

This is all within the last 18 months and the next few weeks to get it through the MOT

Where do you draw the line for keeping an old car running? As much as I like it, I think I'm about to step over some kind of repair-at-all-costs line soon

Ha. Classic.

All that is still less than 18 months' depreciation on a 3 year old Mondeo...

With the added bonus that you get to drive a rad old merc not a mondeo.

It never stops, but you do get ahead of stuff going wrong.

High idle: air getting in somewhere?

^ ha! No chance! £260

^^ Yet to check all vacuum lines. Gonna try and do it once I have a bit more time, or get the mechanic to do it at the same time as he'll fix the hand brake

^^^ Thank you, that actually helps. I did look into finance on a new car but quickly turned away

In all honesty though, this merc would've been perfect if it was an automatic and had cruise control. I'm yet to find one as nice with those two boxes ticked, but when I do I have a feeling I'll start from scratch

As the high idle is only occasional, wouldn't that rule out a leak?

What about an occasional leak?

Why not. But as a blip on the throttle "fixes" it every time it doesn't seem likely?

I'm learning as I go though, so happy to be proven wrong

You decide what needs fixing and what doesn't.

In my case the line was £6000 on a car that I bought for £800.

I have an intermittent high idle, I'll get all the vac pipes changed in the new year plus all the pipe work local to the throttle body.

Other than that I want to swap an intermittently working head lamp wiper motor, but I think that's it for maintenance. I'm going to swap the rear brakes for AP units, but that's mainly vanity.

fingers crossed I've got ahead of maintenance tasks - mainly by swapping every system for new, but there you go.

Interesting exercise valuing the old girl these days- 20 years old, cosmetically and mechanically in great condition, and only a handful left now.

I'm considering buying a second hand Volvo V50 in part exchange for my Renault Twingo because baby. I've never bought a second hand car before - any tips on what to ask about/look for? Any opinions either way on the V50?

Surely the more appropriate vehicle is an XC90 or Q7.

Otherwise how will you fit the child in?

Well what I really want is the Yukon XL...

Finally ordered my new sills for the mini, went down today to tidy the garage. Hopefully I'll start them next week.

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Glad your picking it back up, think it will be super worthwhile doing even if it may not be monetarily worth it or anything.

(Welcome to car restoration in general)