2016 - New Year Resolutions - Car related

[chris2cv]

2015 was a rubbish year, with the death of 2 family members, as well as the usual work and pressures. The 2cv did 13 miles! No I don't mean 13,000, or even 130. This year I WILL fix the leak that has kept it off the road since June. I will get it MOTed and actually use the car. Maybe then I will get back my love for the car, which I seem to be losing.

I will look at demoting/promoting the Clio from daily to occasional and getting a newer car. The Clio is worth next to nothing, but is still a good little car. I just fancy a new car.

I will try to actually complete some of these resolutions this year. (but might not!)

[lukas]

The green garage-queen will stay as she is and will get driven occasionally when the weather is nice. No plans for it.

The V6 may get sold, but maybe not. Don´t know yet.

The Park Avenue started to make troubles now, after ~ 500 miles from buying. Don´t know if it will stay or if it will become a garden-planter.

[ruffgeezer]

Sell a lot of my tool surplus, and invest in a new project once the decks are cleared a little.

[scratcher]

Buy panels for my Renault.
Have said panels welded on.
I've said for years I want to learn to weld so there's an ideal opportunity, I just need the space to do it.
Change the heater matrix - I've had a new one in the shed for about 6 years now.
Swap dash wiring loom.

It'll end up turning into a full resto but saving for a wedding will make it tricky.

[PandaSelecta]

Stop buying car related curse word, and sort out what I already own.

Ban myself from ebay for above reason.

Get the Holden solid and usable to burble around the coast

[Seth]

a) Finish the welding on the Oxford, do the rear axle/suspension stuff it needs so it is 100% finished underneath and get it rolling on its proper wheels.
b) Tidy up the remaining bad bits of Hillman's bodywork and re-spray it.
c) Continue to ignore the Herald's deterioration as far as possible.

[squonk]

1. Get rid of at least six of the pieces of scrap in the drive
2. Buy something decent to replace them

[slammage]

1. Stop buying projects
2. Start to finish said projects

Will I ever learn? Probably not.

[tdk]

Jan 8, 2016 19:37:33 GMT DWDarkWheels said:

Jan 8, 2016 13:57:40 GMT tdk said:

Basically, less Porsche, more Lotus.

Funny you say that, tdk. I took a gamble on an '03 Elise this year. It has definitely been fun, and I've mostly used it on my 30-mile A and B road commute, at which it has been surprisingly capable. It's made going to work fun. Even at that age, they're still a very mechanical car, with the biggest worry being HGF. All told, doing a Rover K-series HG is a small worry for an exotic.

Fantastic. I'm a big Lotus fan, just never gotten round to owning one. HGF is no big deal, is it? I recall someone telling me it's £300-£400 to fix. I paid £300 just to fix the handbrake on my Porsche! 968 prices are rocketing, and the Evora seems to be dropping still, when I can swap one for the other I will be a very happy man.

I also want a Mk2 Jag or a Volvo Amazon. Missus not happy. I'll work on that

[309jazzpanda]

Finally finish the 309 and get it out on a rally. Start the girlfriends Panda 4x4 resto and get it back on all 4 wheels are my resolutions for the this year. J have dragged my feet for far too long.

[DWDarkWheels]

Jan 10, 2016 20:26:57 GMT tdk said:

Jan 8, 2016 19:37:33 GMT DWDarkWheels said:

Funny you say that, tdk. I took a gamble on an '03 Elise this year. It has definitely been fun, and I've mostly used it on my 30-mile A and B road commute, at which it has been surprisingly capable. It's made going to work fun. Even at that age, they're still a very mechanical car, with the biggest worry being HGF. All told, doing a Rover K-series HG is a small worry for an exotic.

Fantastic. I'm a big Lotus fan, just never gotten round to owning one. HGF is no big deal, is it? I recall someone telling me it's £300-£400 to fix. I paid £300 just to fix the handbrake on my Porsche! 968 prices are rocketing, and the Evora seems to be dropping still, when I can swap one for the other I will be a very happy man.

I also want a Mk2 Jag or a Volvo Amazon. Missus not happy. I'll work on that

I've not had to face the head-gasket, but it's not scaring me if it comes up. That's about the budget I've read, which is minimal for a car of that capability. The rest of the car is so simple it's a DIY doddle.

Evora is gorgeous, but still about £30k, and clutch replacement at £3500 is a bit worrysome.

[SmokeEm]

Only just noticed this thread as been real busy moving home this year - got keys in early Feb but still sorting things out!

My resolution for the year was not spend a single second of 2016 looking at or more to the point BUYING another car.

This is because A) I don't need one as Wife has a daily B) I work 500m from home C) When I do have a 'Toy' I tend to do no more than 1000 miles a year in it.

Here we are 4 months later and I have just realised I suck at resolutions!

So: I started to look for something to tick off my 'Must own one day' list.

As usual, when looking for a vehicle for myself, I have a rule book which I steadfastly stick to:

1) Must be practical

2) Must be insurable easily (No ncb myself as only had classics b4)

3) Must be reliable as could sit for days without use

4) Must not be in any way 'Controversial' i.e. J Import/LHD/SA Import etc to avoid complications

5) Must be able to go into use as Wifes daily if hers suddenly falls to pieces - Which it sometimes does

6) Must be Auto

7) Must be interesting enough to get a 2nd glance from car people

8) Must be easy to get car seats in for my Grandaughter to use

9) Must be cheap to tax - i.e. Less than £300 a year

I also now know that I am no good at sticking to the rule book as I have broken one rule...

It won't be classed as retro on here which is a shame but some will like it I hope

I viewed the car 2 weeks ago in Sunny Winchester (Didn't see pistonpopper )and it should be in my posession Wed 18th

[pistonpopper]

Ah, you should've said, I'd have been up for a coffee and a chat:) can't wait to see what you have bought!

[SmokeEm]

May 12, 2016 12:29:47 GMT pistonpopper said:

Ah, you should've said, I'd have been up for a coffee and a chat:) can't wait to see what you have bought!

The wait will be over by end of next week - the car in question is being delivered on Wednesday next week, then it's booked in on Thursday for a little 'Personalisation'... so I will try to get some nice pictures of it both as bought and after small mods on the Friday.

Like Mrs Pistonpopper said all those years ago - Buy a sensible daily - (Your Stang..)

MrsSmokeEm didn't give me the same brief - she just said "Buy something interesting, that can be used every day if needed) and she added... "It must be practical" - A brief I took to meaning, 'Don't buy something that scrapes on Cats eyes'

So i did exactly as instructed.....