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151

General Car Chat / Drove a new Viva this evening...

« on: 20 June 2016, 23:34:15 »

...Woman brought one home, as you do...

1.0 ecoturbononsense. Enough for getting about, but not enough for spirited driving. Terrific sound though, like half a 911.

Ride is amazingly good for a titchy entry level car - 15" wheels and fat tyres are good... would be even better without runflats - and less tyre noise too.

The clutch has a very long travel, mildly irritating. Brake feel and progression is terrific. And drums on back, pleasingly simple!

I found the interior build quality absolutely astonishing - last Corsa I drove, an 08ish one, had tupperware plastics and didnt feel Peteproof. This Viva was like a recent VW - soft but not too soft plastics, very well screwed together and excellent fit. Only thing I would break is the heater dials!

All this positivity, however, ruined by the electric steering. Predicatably utterly devoid of feel. Clings on wel enough but its a case of pointing and hoping...

Still worth a look, much brtter built than a Fiesta...

...im not sure why im reviewing shopping cars on here but there you go. Next week, Top Gear...

152

General Car Chat / Well, that was unexpected. ..

« on: 19 June 2016, 00:07:30 »

...took one of the 190s to the Mercedes National Concours at Milton Keynes. 28 years old and just ticked over 96k miles. Amongst various E500s, SLs, Fintails, and proper show cars that come out in summer.
Only went and won "best interior"!

I genuinely can't take any credit, MrsGK (or when she's on here, MV6Haze of course) did every millimetre of the interior. Seats, carpets, dash, headlining, glass... absolutely spotless and immaculate, she's made good use of her OCD. Still chuffed to bits!

(Also I was quite taken aback when they callef my namr out. A few of the older gentlemen got a start when I accidentally went "opps ME... I mean er heavens".

Doubtless she will be posting the photos on here to show off in due course. ..

153

General Discussion Area / Halfords trade card and axle stands...

« on: 18 June 2016, 23:58:38 »

I have a car that is too wheely. To make it less wheely and more levitating, one requires a set of four axle stands. Will my Halfords trade card get me a get me a decent discount before I look elsewhere and online?

For the record I may be northern but I'm not going stealing rims, I need to drop a subframe off one of the 190s... and not tie up my current stands while I fanny about rebushing and rebuilding. ..

Also any recommendations for other places to look for a full set? I dont trust Ebay not to be fakes and land the car on my head...

154

General Discussion Area / Beep... beep... leap...BANG!

« on: 18 June 2016, 07:31:55 »

One problem with having conditioned myself to leap straight out of bed when my alarm goes off... I usually sleep in the centre of the bedroom.
This morning I'm in the MK Novotel amd theres a wall two feet to my left... just saying

155

General Discussion Area / Car transport Alfreton to Billingham. ..

« on: 15 June 2016, 17:59:05 »

Any of you good chaps available for such a task? Ive accidentally bought an old Polo for MrsGK (no expense spared...) that has been VOR for a year or so, and thus is unMoTed.
Payment in beer tokens and of course cake!

(For the record, as those who have met her will testify, MrsGK is a VW nut and loves the breadvan shape. I suspect she is partially sighted. .. but that works in my favour on many levels)

156

General Car Chat / Lotus Senator for sale...

« on: 14 June 2016, 21:36:29 »

Not mine, nothing to do with me, I've only been to me, to you, to Rotherham once.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/190122/vauxhall-lotus-senator-sale-rotherham

Seller or seller's mate seems to be keeping it vague to avoid any tricky questions about provenance - but I still like it!

157

General Discussion Area / Eating late in MK

« on: 12 June 2016, 09:55:46 »

Since Woman and I are arriving late in MK next Friday, perhaps half nine or so... any recommendations for a nice meal? Chinese... pub grub... Italian... American diner? If its within staggering distance of the Novotel, so much the better!

158

General Discussion Area / Lol, Beardy Media

« on: 22 April 2016, 12:43:53 »

Having done the maths and decided to go with BT, MrsGK rang to cancel our Virgin account. Having gone through their usual rigmarole of "no, I'm probably the woman listed on the account, not MrGK", she explained precisely what BT were going to give us for £31/ month. This didn't really square with the woman on the other end, the conversation went something like - "Well, we can give you slightly less services for just £42/month" "Well that's not less, is it" "Yes, but, but, er, we have nice red walls in the office and Richard Branson does a lot for chairty" "Just set it to cancel, you imbecile".

Is it any wonder they lose customers when they can't get within 50% of the deal BT are offering? Most of which is permanent and not a new customer 6-month swizz like VM are fond of?

159

General Discussion Area / Freeview boxes. Whats hot?

« on: 21 April 2016, 08:11:58 »

Finally at the end of our contract with Beardy Media... now Woman and I want to get a cheap internet deal, and some sort of freeview box.
We assume you can get ones that you can record onto, preferably in a "series link" style? Any recommendations chaps?

160

General Discussion Area / Big big thanks to Harris!

« on: 14 April 2016, 17:55:59 »

Just wanted to do a public thank you and recommend Mr Telemacher - parts arrived today as promised, and properly well packaged as well (kept MrsGK entertained for a while)! Shall be getting fitted tomorrow eve if I get off shift on time

161

Omega General Help / Faulty ECU... or just me?

« on: 05 April 2016, 17:48:06 »

The ongoing "get this bloody car working" debacle continues.

While saving the pennies (and having sent a deposit, all above board) for a new ECU/key/immobliser setup from another member... I was able to borrow a key, ECU and immobiliser chip from another 3.2 manual. On the proviso that "the car it was fitted into, every now and again lost power for a second - I think it's just a loose connection as it's not logging any codes and it returns to normal within a second".

Felt all pleased with myself, swapped the lot over last night, unable to test it as flat battery, so charged overnight. Started up this morning, no real issues. Took for a test run and sure enough, despite having checked every single connection for tightness, both the ECU wires and anything I'd touched, there's been half a dozen sudden power loss, EML and spanner light on, then power resumes.

Also worth noting that the throttle body clicks like mad, opening and closing, when ignition in pos 2, engine off. Popped the bagpipes off and observed the throttle butterflies opening and closing slightly but rapidly. EML and immobliser lights flash in time with this occurring, so there's clearly some electrickery going on.

I have just fitted a new crank sensor, VX, brand new from dealer - possible faulty part but IMHO unlikely...?

Have checked all the fuses and connections in and around the engine bay fusebox, nothing seems amiss... any other suggestions chaps?

162

Car Parts, bits For Sale & Wanted / Anyone breaking a manual police Omega?

« on: 29 March 2016, 18:51:54 »

Need some bits

163

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / New key needed... options?

« on: 27 March 2016, 16:19:13 »

After I proved my manliness and broke the key into three pieces earlier, I need a new one.
The key blade is intact but the plastic horseshoe piece is broken. Can I take this piece to a key cutting place and get just that replaced? Is the immobiliser chip in that bit or the transponder part?

164

Omega General Help / Flat battery and bonnet down

« on: 27 March 2016, 09:06:03 »

Trying to get in to do the cam cover gaskets and the battery is flat as can be. Jacked front end but seems no way to manually pull the bonnet cable?
Understand I can connect a charger to starter motor positive and an earth - will a trickle charger work? Also have old battery on charge to try jump leads... any other suggestions chaps?

165

General Car Chat / Bolts for a 190e exhaust

« on: 16 March 2016, 18:53:57 »

...I have a full NOS system waiting to go on one of the Mercs... but with no bolts. Any recommendations for size and type to go for? Should I just ring Merc, or is Ebay the better place?

Im currently not with the car to measure up and check...

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