Not crashed, or anything to sinister. Just in need of some TLC which I don't have the time, space or money to administer at the moment 
She is being stored safely in a barn, and we had a bit of fight getting her there.
I bought a replacement car last month and the plan was to drive Chii until I had a free weekend where I could drive her up to be stored and then transfer the insurance etc over onto the new car. However, she had other plans - shearing a bolt on one of the engine mounts last week and forcing a rapid change over of insurance!
With the bolt 'kinda' repaired, temp insurance was sorted (and AA Roadside Relay added for an extra pound!!) and we were ready to set off. Quick trip to the nearest Shell station for some fuel and... the fuel cap would not budge. The key would turn a tiny amount, but not enough to unlock and release the cap... uh oh. Insurance was only valid that day, and a bus ticket (£25) was booked for the following day.
Wrestled with the fuel cap a wee bit and then gave up. Worried that if i broke it, i'd be well and truly stuck and that I knew of other ways to get fuel into the tank. Up comes the back seats, off comes the plate and out comes the fuel gauge sender unit. Direct access to the fuel tank. Perfect.
Only had one petrol can, so a few back and forth trips to the garage and some odd questions off the bloke behind the counter and the tank was eventually full.
So off we trotted for our 150mile trip. Very gingerly as I was only too aware that the engine mounting wasn't exactly clever. Once I got within 25miles I thought it was only right that I have a bit of fun on the country lanes seeing as though this was going to be the last drive in a while
So I did, and it was fun Then got within 5 miles and heard a weird noise from the back of the car. Pulled over and a had a look. The backbox had snapped the rear most exhaust hanger off. Broken the weld, and had then fallen off the next one along. The weird noise was my tailpipe skimming the floor. OOOPS.
Couple of cable ties later, and i was on my way. Made it to my destination - and parked her up for the last time in a while
Long term plans are to strip, rebuild and restore. But it'll be done as and when i've got the time / money / space. Which at present I've no idea when that'll be possible. Doesn't help she is stored 150miles away.
This is not the end, just a long break.
She is being stored safely in a barn, and we had a bit of fight getting her there.
I bought a replacement car last month and the plan was to drive Chii until I had a free weekend where I could drive her up to be stored and then transfer the insurance etc over onto the new car. However, she had other plans - shearing a bolt on one of the engine mounts last week and forcing a rapid change over of insurance!
With the bolt 'kinda' repaired, temp insurance was sorted (and AA Roadside Relay added for an extra pound!!) and we were ready to set off. Quick trip to the nearest Shell station for some fuel and... the fuel cap would not budge. The key would turn a tiny amount, but not enough to unlock and release the cap... uh oh. Insurance was only valid that day, and a bus ticket (£25) was booked for the following day.
Wrestled with the fuel cap a wee bit and then gave up. Worried that if i broke it, i'd be well and truly stuck and that I knew of other ways to get fuel into the tank. Up comes the back seats, off comes the plate and out comes the fuel gauge sender unit. Direct access to the fuel tank. Perfect.
Only had one petrol can, so a few back and forth trips to the garage and some odd questions off the bloke behind the counter and the tank was eventually full.
So off we trotted for our 150mile trip. Very gingerly as I was only too aware that the engine mounting wasn't exactly clever. Once I got within 25miles I thought it was only right that I have a bit of fun on the country lanes seeing as though this was going to be the last drive in a while
So I did, and it was fun
Then got within 5 miles and heard a weird noise from the back of the car. Pulled over and a had a look. The backbox had snapped the rear most exhaust hanger off. Broken the weld, and had then fallen off the next one along. The weird noise was my tailpipe skimming the floor. OOOPS.Couple of cable ties later, and i was on my way. Made it to my destination - and parked her up for the last time in a while
Long term plans are to strip, rebuild and restore. But it'll be done as and when i've got the time / money / space. Which at present I've no idea when that'll be possible. Doesn't help she is stored 150miles away.
This is not the end, just a long break.
