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What's made you grumpy today?
Yesterday came back from a 60 mile round trip to cement some garden steps for one of my daughters, as I backed into drive bottom hose blew off radiator, at least it had the good grace to do it as I got home. Temp normal all trip though weather hot.
So today had a look and the plastic elbow had blown off, no sign of the metal retaining clip, so assume it fractured, luckily the other day when trying to clear space in garage for another acquisition I found a bag with parts from an old radiator that I had hoarded, so a bit of silicon grease and swapped it over, several litres of antifreeze and a pressure test at 1.5 Bar (cap 1.4) road tested , seems OK , but will watch for awhile.
Manufacturers seem to go out of their way to design problems, what was wrong with original rads with an elbow built in and a basic jubilee clip to secure it , it has worked for over 70 years to my knowledge!
So today had a look and the plastic elbow had blown off, no sign of the metal retaining clip, so assume it fractured, luckily the other day when trying to clear space in garage for another acquisition I found a bag with parts from an old radiator that I had hoarded, so a bit of silicon grease and swapped it over, several litres of antifreeze and a pressure test at 1.5 Bar (cap 1.4) road tested , seems OK , but will watch for awhile.
Manufacturers seem to go out of their way to design problems, what was wrong with original rads with an elbow built in and a basic jubilee clip to secure it , it has worked for over 70 years to my knowledge!
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
I really couldnt agree more. I had to change the whole bottom hose after taking the so called quick release joint off to drain the car. No way Jose would it seal again and a whole new hose was called for for the sake of the manky plastic joint and its useless O ring, Having looked at the top end of the hose, and how inacessible it its I just put the new quick release elbow on the old hose and secured it with a jubilee clip. Thankfully no leaks. The best of it is that Fiat think a bottom hose is worth £112! I paid £12 for a quality aftermarket hose. Why anyone thinks these rubbish fittings are a beneficial I cant even start to imagine. I have never had a leaking bottom hose on any of the 90 odd cars I have driven over the last 50 years!.... until this one. Never take the elbow off the rad, cut the hose clip off and resecure it as suggested. Save yourselvbes a lot of painand cost.
It's all about speed, and therefore cost, of building the car. The hose arrives assembled, and it is quick to clip together on the production line. Issues in service? Don't care.
The same cost saving has brought one-piece headlamp assemblies, rather than a separate flasher and sidelight apart from the headlamp. So now we get flashers close to the bright big lamp, making it difficult to see.
The same cost saving has brought one-piece headlamp assemblies, rather than a separate flasher and sidelight apart from the headlamp. So now we get flashers close to the bright big lamp, making it difficult to see.
I went to look at a car yesterday. I won't go into what but I have a hankering for a project and something popped up on ebay I like the look of.
First alarm bell, the engine of the car was warm when I arrived.
Second alarm bell, the dealer stating that it had no rust, I then proceed to find some significant rust.
third alarm bell. I'm literally stood looking at the interior of the car when he tells me the "leather is in perfect condition" and I can see cracks and marks in the leather. Not major but I clearly have eyes in my head.
Fourth alarm bell. It was described as "every button seems to work" except the aircon. That one doesn't work on inspection.
Fifth alarm bell. There is an airbag light on but we don't like to turn them off so the customer can see them, other places just hide them..... when you say "hide" do you mean fix, and by leave them on you mean to say you don't fix them.
6th red flag (we ran out of alarm bells) It has 12 months MOT.... No it has 10 months MOT because the last MOT was done in July and its now september.....
Who did you get to do the MOT, "well it was the last owner so I am not sure" weird... it should say on the MOT certificate.... but I have to question the validity of the MOT given the rust and the Airbag light.
7th red flag only allowed to test drive it with him in the car, along a very specific route, with him directing me a long the way no fast driving. just along some urban roads and only for literally 5 minutes so no chance to test or challenge the car.
8th red flat the service history which he described as complete was full of holes.
9th...... The car had at some point had a pretty terrible respray with lots of over spray on the edges of important badges and along the edges of rubber seals.
10th issue the Cambelt was done 10k miles ago..... Yes but the MOT history shows 10k miles ago was 2015.... and marks on the engine confirm the cambelt was last done 10k miles ago in 2015.
11th issue, its just had a new clutch slave cylinder and brake hoses. Brilliant but the clutch is right at the top of its travel before it bites, its an 80K+ car so I suspect its never had a clutch and now needs one.
12th issue despite the relatively low mileage the steering wheel looks like the previous owner drove it with sand paper for hands as the leather is ripped to hell.
And 13th issue for the bakers dozen. Some decent toyo Proxes on the front slightly older tires probably from the previous owner. But a performance car with budget ditch finders on the back, that look new, probably fitted by the dealer or whoever put it through the last MOT.
Its a shame as it was a very nice looking car from the pictures but in person was a turd. The thing is it was largely what I would expect from a 20+ year old Italian car
Told him I'd give him half of what he wanted if he wanted to sell it, but at least If I bought it I would take it as is and he'd not be getting any "warranty claims" Still waiting to see what his reply is. indications from his social media accounts are that he's had it since April so likely needs to get shot and may be willing to cut his losses?
First alarm bell, the engine of the car was warm when I arrived.
Second alarm bell, the dealer stating that it had no rust, I then proceed to find some significant rust.
third alarm bell. I'm literally stood looking at the interior of the car when he tells me the "leather is in perfect condition" and I can see cracks and marks in the leather. Not major but I clearly have eyes in my head.
Fourth alarm bell. It was described as "every button seems to work" except the aircon. That one doesn't work on inspection.
Fifth alarm bell. There is an airbag light on but we don't like to turn them off so the customer can see them, other places just hide them..... when you say "hide" do you mean fix, and by leave them on you mean to say you don't fix them.
6th red flag (we ran out of alarm bells) It has 12 months MOT.... No it has 10 months MOT because the last MOT was done in July and its now september.....
Who did you get to do the MOT, "well it was the last owner so I am not sure" weird... it should say on the MOT certificate.... but I have to question the validity of the MOT given the rust and the Airbag light.
7th red flag only allowed to test drive it with him in the car, along a very specific route, with him directing me a long the way no fast driving. just along some urban roads and only for literally 5 minutes so no chance to test or challenge the car.
8th red flat the service history which he described as complete was full of holes.
9th...... The car had at some point had a pretty terrible respray with lots of over spray on the edges of important badges and along the edges of rubber seals.
10th issue the Cambelt was done 10k miles ago..... Yes but the MOT history shows 10k miles ago was 2015.... and marks on the engine confirm the cambelt was last done 10k miles ago in 2015.
11th issue, its just had a new clutch slave cylinder and brake hoses. Brilliant but the clutch is right at the top of its travel before it bites, its an 80K+ car so I suspect its never had a clutch and now needs one.
12th issue despite the relatively low mileage the steering wheel looks like the previous owner drove it with sand paper for hands as the leather is ripped to hell.
And 13th issue for the bakers dozen. Some decent toyo Proxes on the front slightly older tires probably from the previous owner. But a performance car with budget ditch finders on the back, that look new, probably fitted by the dealer or whoever put it through the last MOT.
Its a shame as it was a very nice looking car from the pictures but in person was a turd. The thing is it was largely what I would expect from a 20+ year old Italian car
Told him I'd give him half of what he wanted if he wanted to sell it, but at least If I bought it I would take it as is and he'd not be getting any "warranty claims" Still waiting to see what his reply is. indications from his social media accounts are that he's had it since April so likely needs to get shot and may be willing to cut his losses?
I may be malaligning some genuine car salesmen and I have known some pleasant ones, but since starting as an apprentice in the motor trade in 1969 not a single one who wouldn't say black is white to do a deal and I include National well known large franchises all the way down to the ones selling from home "It's my wifes car, I don't know much about it", funny she has six in the drive, all advertised for sale!
Cynical Moi
Cynical Moi
Quite a few years ago, I was arranging insurance around a change of car for a gentleman (should say I worked for an insurance broker).
From how the conversation went it was a clear he wasn't quite on the level. Went into the policy history 15 different cars in the year.
"Are you a motor trader?" "No I'm not!" "How did you come by this car?" "I took it as trade in"..ok this isn't for you I'd suggest you look into trade insurance..if you ever attempt to claim on this they are going to laugh in your face.
I assume this was an effort to both avoid tax...and being on the hook as business for the cars he sold which as a private individual he could avoid.
From how the conversation went it was a clear he wasn't quite on the level. Went into the policy history 15 different cars in the year.
"Are you a motor trader?" "No I'm not!" "How did you come by this car?" "I took it as trade in"..ok this isn't for you I'd suggest you look into trade insurance..if you ever attempt to claim on this they are going to laugh in your face.
I assume this was an effort to both avoid tax...and being on the hook as business for the cars he sold which as a private individual he could avoid.
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Sadly, that sums up the way so many still see the motor trade, and that guy is doing his best to keep the reputation going. There are good reputable salesmen out there, easier nowadays with the improved reliability and rust protection, but they can be difficult to find.
From teh mid 70s to the late 80s, I worked at a large dealership in Dorset. Despite being part of a large group, they'd previously been a family owned pair of garages, and still maintained that ethos. Three honest salesmen, keeping all promises made, a proper appraisal of all used cars, either traded, or made right, and a good warranty. Most of their business was repeat, with so many customers specifically seeking out the same salesman as had sold them their last few cars.
Never met a dealership as good since.
The records archive, all paper of course, was intriguing. You could see whole families being customers for decades. Being in a market town, there were records of taking livestock as part-payment, delivered to the market on a Wednesday, the sale price becoming the deposit on the vehicle. Luckily the animals never arrived at the garage.
From teh mid 70s to the late 80s, I worked at a large dealership in Dorset. Despite being part of a large group, they'd previously been a family owned pair of garages, and still maintained that ethos. Three honest salesmen, keeping all promises made, a proper appraisal of all used cars, either traded, or made right, and a good warranty. Most of their business was repeat, with so many customers specifically seeking out the same salesman as had sold them their last few cars.
Never met a dealership as good since.
The records archive, all paper of course, was intriguing. You could see whole families being customers for decades. Being in a market town, there were records of taking livestock as part-payment, delivered to the market on a Wednesday, the sale price becoming the deposit on the vehicle. Luckily the animals never arrived at the garage.
There are some who understand repeat business is worth having, a small profit often being better than one large profit and no repeat business.
In my small service and repair motor trade business up until I retired I could count knowing some of my customers and families since around 1970, which gave good trust and continuity on both sides.
Correct , another poster agreed with me , with more detail , anything more than 20 minutes on a proper cooker and the potato is inedible .
But contrary potato head knew best .
I once got accused of being a trader by my own car insurance company.
I had two mondeos, and my Range Rover at the time and I had used the range rover till the MOT ran out, switched it back to my original Mondeo, then changed it to the other mondeo a very rare 4x4 Mondeo I’d managed to pick up cheap. I then sold the 4x4 because I didn’t need two mondeos, and I put the insurance back on my original Mondeo, just before I then hit a dear in that car and had to go find another car. So admittedly there were a few changes but they were all between the same cars all of which I owned.
Thankfully it was only on the last swap when I got my £400 Saab off eBay that I promised I wasn’t a trader, they allowed it and I kept the Saab for a couple of years.
I guy I did work with in the trade use to do swaps with cars so he would forever be coming into work in a different car each day, usually with some story of how he swapped it with some guy down the pub.
I suspect now that he never insured any of them and probably didn’t even register them in his own name.
I don’t mind a bit of BS from a sales man but don’t tell me a 24 year old Italian car has no rust and don’t tell me things are perfect when I’m literally looking at them
Back in the late seventies, early eighties, I had a 1974 Opel Manta. Probably called a 1900 on your shores. Great little car, but a 79 Fox body Mustang caught my eye and I sold the Opel to my wife’s little sister. A dumb move because, A, the Mustang was a POS, and B, little sisters’ boyfriend wrecked the Opel.
Anyway, a couple years ago, I spotted another Manta in a car lot, same year, same color, auto transmission, though. I wasn’t in the market for a fourth car, but I stopped to look. I was approached by the sales guy and before he opened his mouth, I put my hand up and told him I owned one thirty years ago, so I’ll know if you’re trying to bullshit me. He was ever so quiet after that. I did walk away because they wanted $3200 for what was a $1500 car.
Anyway, a couple years ago, I spotted another Manta in a car lot, same year, same color, auto transmission, though. I wasn’t in the market for a fourth car, but I stopped to look. I was approached by the sales guy and before he opened his mouth, I put my hand up and told him I owned one thirty years ago, so I’ll know if you’re trying to bullshit me. He was ever so quiet after that. I did walk away because they wanted $3200 for what was a $1500 car.
On the system we used you could see what cars had been on so to be fair while it's not a typical use case it's not that unusual. We used to have customers who had a Jaguar V12 Convertible on in the summer and would then put it away for winter and put their beater on that kind of thing. Also they'd have been able to see an open claim on the Mondeo..provided you reported it of course which would normally explain why you needed a new car as long whoever was dealing with it had 3 or 4 brain cells.
This was every 1-4 weeks different car also different types of car as well. It used to happen that people were just outta luck, they'd buy something new it would be on it's last legs and end up getting shot in a fortnight for something stop gap and then they found something a bit better and put that on that went on usually without raising an eyebrow. Usually any more than 3 or 4 would have the underwriter asking us to investigate. This was just another level. Especially that the cars were such a disparate bunch so he'd go from a Mini cooper...to a Picasso...to a Shogun to an escort van that it was pretty unlikely there were for his personal use.
That and he'd taken the latest car as trade in and for some reason decided not to lie about that
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It was the manta here as well, though as a child of the 80/90s they were all rotten long before I was old enough to drive.
My era would have been the opel/Vauxhall calibra
I don’t understand why dealers feel the need to spout so much BS
One thing that annoys me is “I’ll leave you to look round it” 30 seconds later theyre stood over you answering questions you’d not asked
Fed up with diesel,EGR and DPF. Used the better part of the weekend to remidy the error codes on the Peugeot van. Soot,tar and sore fingers. Hopefully years until next time. Also tried to determine why the Quattroporte behaves so jerky at low rpm. Suspect an injector rebuild is due as a few spark plugs has more soot than others and it sure is smelling rich out the back.
I had an old Opel Ascona 1.6 automatic with auto choke carb, it came in as a cheap part exchange , not the most thirsty on fuel I have ever owned but certainly approaching up there, especially on short journeys.
The one I always fancied was the Opel GT. a pretty little car with nice flowing lines.
Sometimes it works in your favour...everytime the sales girl in the Citroën dealership opened her mouth when we were looking at C3 the price dropped.
She was still shadowing or possibly being shadowed by another sales person at the time and watching him die inside was a picture. Money just kept coming off.. possibly to stop us wandering off.
Strangely enough when we went to pick up 2 months later she was in the parts department, never seen again after that. We literally turned up to order a specific car as well so it wasn't like there was a huge requirement for any sales as such.
Although bloke at Mazda clearly had his vehicle training from Google.."you need to switch the boot light off at the switch to stop the battery going flat". This is on one the big buying sites it's horse apples, you can ascertain this in 20 seconds if you have a car sitting on the pitch in front of you. But clearly had a Google surf as opposed to you know looking at the stock in front of him. Only reason I remember is because it's flipping bizarre surely it's a design fault if that happened..it did have a switch on it but not for that.
If the quality of used cars wasn't so variable online ordering would be preferable a lot of the time...but the test drive would be tricky.
I've still got one
Years ago my mum went to trade in a car with BMW, they offered about 3k below the market value. When she questioned it they claimed these books on market value always over estimate the price. They weren't happy when she then pointed out that the car she was looking at in their forecourt was £4k above the book's over-estimated price.
I have heard dealerships downgrade the part exchange price of a customers car when service book stamped by a non franchised dealership, so I thought it funny when a Toyota salesman rang me saying one of my customers had bought a new Toyota, part exchanging the one I had serviced for several years as an independent business, saying they had seen all my customer invoices for the vehicle and could I stamp the service book to match that work as the customer had never produced the service book when visiting my business.
Funny enough the customer, who was a local tax inspector, had always been very relaxed about his car, cars not being of great interest to him, although having it regularly serviced. I recall going to collect it for it's service one time finding the clutch was slipping so badly I had a job getting it back. I rang him explaining the problem, he said he had noticed "something" and could I sort it for him.
Funny enough the customer, who was a local tax inspector, had always been very relaxed about his car, cars not being of great interest to him, although having it regularly serviced. I recall going to collect it for it's service one time finding the clutch was slipping so badly I had a job getting it back. I rang him explaining the problem, he said he had noticed "something" and could I sort it for him.
August 2003 my Seicento alternator failed. As it had aircon, it meant degassing to remove the pump as the alternator was trapped above it, so not really a DIY job. Car was getting tired, so had done some sums the night before. Arrived at dealer in Swindon early, and was looking around the forecourt. Sales manager approached. I asked, what have you got, 4 doors and aircon. Only one he had was a Punto auto, ex demo. That was the one with the CVT gearbox. I spent the test drive explaining to him how the CVT worked. He had no idea.
Deal done. Got a surprisingly good price for the Sei. They lent me a Stilo for two days until the Punto was ready. Didn't like that much.
Deal done. Got a surprisingly good price for the Sei. They lent me a Stilo for two days until the Punto was ready. Didn't like that much.
