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What's made you smile today?

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What's made you smile today?

portland_bill said:
An Alfa that looks like a Regata is probably the Alfa 33. Successor to the Alfasud, used much the same understructure, but with more space inside, and a little less rust. Even the 1300 went well. Early models used the boxer engines, I thought later ones used normal transverse inline fours, but I could be wrong on that. The diesel might have been like this.
http://www.carsfromitaly.net/alfaromeo/index.html
Click to expand...
I don't know if they did a 33 diesel, but all petrol models used the Alfasud derived flat four engines, and I believe they were also used in the very early 145s, before they switched over to TwinSpark units.
 
Had a very nice day today. Sun shining brightly but just enough of a coolness to the breeze to make it pleasant. I've nearly got my garden licked into shape for the spring/summer. Picked up some petunias, geraniums, and others for my tubs and hanging basket yesterday. All planted out this morning and my Peony and other roses are all just coming into bloom nicely.

The cars around here are all covered in a fine gritty dust. Both my boys, who live to the south of the city, say theirs are the same. Could it be something like that Sahara dust we had a wee while ago? Anyway I was looking at Twinkle (our Ibiza) and realized the door glass seal is trapping lots of this grit against the glass. Yesterday there was a nasty screech when I put the driver's door window down. I'd forgotten about it by the time we got home so didn't look but I think it was the grit bearing on the glass. I don't think much of the design of this seal as it's like a wee channel, with felt at the bottom, just perfect for filling up with grit or moss so as to maximize the possibility of scratching the glass:

P1090275.JPG

Looking at Becky's (our Panda) the design of the seal is much better. More like a wiper blade. Although the car had the same light covering of gritty dust there was none trapped by this seal:

P1090274.JPG

The pictures were taken after cleaning.

Having seen up close how dirty the cars were (didn't look so bad from a few feet away) I spent the afternoon giving them both a good wash with my twin bucket system and then a proper dry off with micro fibre cloths I bought a couple of years ago. Had to use a tooth brush and lots of water to get the grit out of Twink's seal. Considering I didn't polish them I'm very pleased with the result and there's no more screech:

P1090278.JPG

P1090277.JPG

P1090280.JPG

P1090282.JPG

Twink's red looks more shiny than Becky's white but white never looks all that shiny I find? I do like the contrast of Becky's white paint against the black door handles, tyres, bumper inserts, glass roof and grill slot. Her "slotty" grill is one of her styling features I especially like. I probably should give them both a polish sometime soon though. Anyone got a polish (reasonably priced please) which they have found to be particularly good? last time I used Simonize Original and the result was good but the tin is nearly empty and I'm just wondering if there's something "better"?
 
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Ps to the above. What a total Phaf (or is it Faff?) it is cleaning alloy wheels isn't it?. I'm not greatly in favour of alloys on road cars, I'd like to see it being enabled to choose steels as an option.

PPs. Still haven't found any more episodes of "Young Montalbano" available anywhere - although I do see DVD box sets available on Amazon.
 
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Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Ps to the above. What a total Phaf (or is it Faff?) it is cleaning alloy wheels isn't it?. I'm not greatly in favour of alloys on road cars, I'd like to see it being enabled to choose steels as an option.
Click to expand...

I agree, and they are more fragile than steels.
When I bought the Fabia (used), it was shod with alloys (and a goo & pump kit), but all normal models of the Fabia use the same size of wheel and tyre, whether steel or alloy. The dealer, an ex Skoda dealer now a specialist, was quite happy to swap the wheels from a base model, so I got the steels, he gets a base model enhanced with alloys. He chose a set with tyres at least as good as the ones originally on there.
I bought a new steel wheel, put a tyre on it, got a set of tools from Ebay, and now have a spare too, so the learners can bounce off the occasional kerb and we aren't stranded.

Just been out and given it a wash, was also covered with a fine grit.
 
portland_bill said:
I agree, and they are more fragile than steels.
When I bought the Fabia (used), it was shod with alloys (and a goo & pump kit), but all normal models of the Fabia use the same size of wheel and tyre, whether steel or alloy. The dealer, an ex Skoda dealer now a specialist, was quite happy to swap the wheels from a base model, so I got the steels, he gets a base model enhanced with alloys. He chose a set with tyres at least as good as the ones originally on there.
I bought a new steel wheel, put a tyre on it, got a set of tools from Ebay, and now have a spare too, so the learners can bounce off the occasional kerb and we aren't stranded.

Just been out and given it a wash, was also covered with a fine grit.
Click to expand...

Relying on the goo and pump kit? insanity in my view! - seems you would agree PB? First thing I did with mine was to try one of the road wheels in the boot well and, hurrah, it fitted! so I bought a bare steel wheel which another SEAT dealer, now no longer a SEAT dealer, Couldn't compete with AC? had in stock at a good price and fitted it with one of my favourite Barum tyres. Sorted! (luckily I already had a jack off an old VW which worked just fine and I keep a power bar and socket for the studs.)

I count myself lucky that my version came with the basic 185/60x15 tyres and not the inflatable rubber bands fitted to the posher/more sporty versions. I bought the Ibiza "on the rebound" when I couldn't have the Honda Civic Tourer I'd set my heart on because Mrs J, being one of the smaller people of this world, couldn't find a satisfactory driving position. I was unsure at that time, still am actually, whether it's a "keeper" so didn't entertain the prospect of reducing it's resale value by going the steel wheel route.

There used to be an old Skoda garage on the outskirts of the city, from the days of the rear engined and Favorite models, who became an independent when the big boys moved in. Years ago I got a wee bit involved with those older models and their liking for overheating and he was just so helpful and full of "useful tips". I didn't actually ever go there but did ring him a few times, always got a courteous and helpful reply.

Looks like the sandy grit is nation wide then? might be stratospheric Sahara dust after all?

Kindest regards and stay safe
Jock
 
I’ve been seeing to my wheels and tyres on the Coupe lately, I do like to keep things clean, so when I came across pink stuff spray, two 750ml bottles for 8 quid seemed a bargain compared to what is out there. Ninety odd % natural, cleaned the rubber and alloy well. It left a Matt finish on the tyre which I prefer.

Loads of actual wheel and tyre cleaner out there but at a cost, I do like to save where I can, it’s bred into me :D
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Ps to the above. What a total Phaf (or is it Faff?) it is cleaning alloy wheels isn't it?. I'm not greatly in favour of alloys on road cars, I'd like to see it being enabled to choose steels as an option.

PPs. Still haven't found any more episodes of "Young Montalbano" available anywhere - although I do see DVD box sets available on Amazon.
Click to expand...

I googled 'y.i.m' ;)

It seemed there were several at least

Search out the 'Romanzo Criminale' trailer

More your era than mine Jock :)
 
varesecrazy said:
I googled 'y.i.m' ;)

It seemed there were several at least

Search out the 'Romanzo Criminale' trailer

More your era than mine Jock :)
Click to expand...
Sorry Charlie, my sciatica is playing up badly today and I'm not thinking straight but "y.i.m"? I'm guessing at Young something or other Montalbano? but if so what's the i? So far I see there are two series of 6 episodes each for me to try to track down. I'm on a mission.

Never heard of the other series but just looked it up on google and it looks interesting. Trouble with being up here at the cold end of the country is that we sometimes don't get the programming you guys down in the south get. Mind you I wouldn't have done without "Still Game" for almost anything.
All kindest regards
Jock
 
Ah, Inspector, simples! told you I wasn't firing on all four today - I suppose these days it might be all three?

I've been having a look at Romanzo clips and looks very promising. Thanks for the suggestion.

I've had wee twinges of the sciatica for a number of years now but never lasted more than a day until recently when, since early in the year I've had two in particular which were considerably more painful and lasted 2 to 3 days each. This last one has been the worst though, lasted for over a week now! It gets very sore indeed from deep inside my lower back/hip right down the leg and into the outside edge of the foot and varies in intensity hour on hour - for no obvious reason I can understand - One side only, other side is A1. The Doc has had me on ibuprofen (no use at all) and cocodamol (quite good at suppressing the pain but terrible constipation so I've stopped taking them) Starting on Amitriptylene tomorrow if the chemist has it. Fingers crossed! It's a real pain in the bum (pun intended) because I am a very active person and now I can't really do much more than walk around the block! I'm told she wants to get me x-ray'd but that facility is not available to me at this time. So just got to wait I suppose.
Stay safe
Jock
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Relying on the goo and pump kit? insanity in my view! - seems you would agree PB?

Looks like the sandy grit is nation wide then? might be stratospheric Sahara dust after all?
Click to expand...

Absolute pain the goo phenomenon..one of the reasons I keep looking at PSA cars they come with a spare as standard. Never actually used a spare wheel since I stopped using Continental tyres (8 years ago), but it was on the Swift 4 times. Apparently Premium Contacts are magnetic, as since I switched to Goodyears any punctures have been slow enough to pump up and drive to the garage though not always repairable.

If I upgrade to a new Mazda 400 quid for a spare...nah mate you still have the bolt pattern I'll have the wheel and jack that came free with my current one at trade in.

Fairly sure the dust is pollen/the lack of movement meaning atmospheric dust/dirt builds up. Mines mainly yellow currently.
 
Listening to the birds. Noisy critters aren't they. But good to thear them with much less other ambient noise.

Watching a large brown rat at the end of the garden, gently helping clear up under the bird feeder. He seemed happy in his world. Our wimp of a cat looked out, growled, and hid.

A van arrived outside, quite violently. The idiot then spent 10 minutes 'sorting' through the contents of the van, throwing things from one end to the other, until he found the parcel for next door. Then rushed off in a hurry to the next confusing delivery.

Window cleaners arrived, not seen them for some time of course, nicely cleaned off all the dust and bird gifts.

Then just listening to the birds again.

A good day. Tomorrow got some work, out in a supermarket van 3:30-9pm.
 
Caught up with jobs that needed seeing to and getting a bit stir crazy I cast my eyes over the wife’s bike. All that was needed was tyres inflated and some lubrication spray, and of course a test run :D this is where it gets interesting. I used to cycle quite a lot, but age, old and new war wounds unfortunately have taken their toll. I can’t jump on a bike like I used to, I have literally sit on first and pedal off. Good job there is not much traffic at the moment is all I can say....:D
 
StevenRB45 said:
Hmm...

Wonder what happens when this happens to a 10 year old one out of warranty?

https://www.whichev.net/2020/06/03/...made-before-april-2018-you-need-to-read-this/

Rather heavy paperweight that like...

Take what is in theory a simple and robust drive train and add so many computers that it'll be lucky to work for the life time of an ice car..winner.
Click to expand...

Dan is a what..?

A Bleedin' Tech Developer.. :eek:


Most of that meant little to me.. :(


However 2 points ring true..

Tesla got in hot water when Chinese production started..
They used cheaper tech..and got found out :eek:

Updates wirelessly... its becoming 'the norm'

But when doing anything important with MES.. fixed cables are highly recommended..

How are we going to fare when a '3 tonne JLR's' ABS update gets corrupted.. :(
 
jimboy said:
I’ve been seeing to my wheels and tyres on the Coupe lately, I do like to keep things clean, so when I came across pink stuff spray, two 750ml bottles for 8 quid seemed a bargain compared to what is out there. Ninety odd % natural, cleaned the rubber and alloy well. It left a Matt finish on the tyre which I prefer.

Loads of actual wheel and tyre cleaner out there but at a cost, I do like to save where I can, it’s bred into me :D
Click to expand...
When she was saving every penny she earned to go to university, I told my daughter that she was as tight as a ducks ***. Oddly enough she cried.
My friend in Yorkshire said he couldn't understand why she cried as it was the greatest compliment I could possibly have paid her.
 
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