Sc@ Chi
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Posts posted by Sc@ Chi
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Any guidance on transporting it from Auckland to Wellington central?
Best online quote I've got is $660, but will fly up & drive back if I can't find anything cheaper. And I LOVE a decent road trip.
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17 hours ago, 3S_KE said:
Aside from the wheels and the fact MY one will have front suspension, that's the same colour as the one I just pulled the trigger on.
Thanks for your help, guys. Helped my decision making a lot.
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Each to their own, but I can't stand white cars
But what I really hate are the marks left by sunscreen. May as well be brake fluid, Christ knows if it's safe to put on kids! When we get a new-to-us car, I'll put ceramic coating and/or wax to try and avoid it.
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Okay, nearly there
Current target is a Honda Accord wagon.
2009 2.4L engine:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/honda/accord/listing/3988977077?bof=QYzI9LqN2011 2L engine:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/honda/accord/listing/3782041821?bof=QYzI9LqNPreference is for the 2.4 because biggerer (and betterer?) even though two years older. Same model it would seem.
Both options will need towbars. Towing duty is infrequent but open road/long Ks.
Anything I need to be wary of & ask about?
And thanks for your help everyone.
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Thanks. If I can keep it, I will. I'm tending towards the second car anyway, but a sorta shiny Honda Accord wagon is appealing. Or if I could swap those hideous wheels on that Harrier.
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Yup, checked Falcons (I like 'em, my wife likes Commodores; it's a wonder we're still together), but wagons are rare. There's only 16 on Trade Me including this. $30k for a 23 year old unremarkable car? No thanks.
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Do you reckon anyone would want to swap their standard wheels for these?
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Nice - I like the concept although the one you linked to has a pretty fucked up interior - seats split etc. But others seem pretty reasonable and I like it's a Toyota. Only issue is Toyota seemed to hang onto beige interiors long after the world said 'no'
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Thanks for the rec. The Scouts seem to hold their value well, so outta my price range, but there's this sedan/hatch which seems crazy cheap? $10k and it's done 43,000ks. I like it's a diesel. Hmmm.....
<edit> Reading up on it (It's a 2012 model, not 2013 and the DSG gearbox is apparently a potential issue. Might be a 'no' from me
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Yeah, but it failed twice on our annual holidays. Once for a coil, once for alternator which was like $1,500 to replace.
Plus we started to get worried AA wouldn't let us renew our membership since we were nearly on a first name basis with their recovery guys...
But man, it was a lovely car to drive.
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We have a Nissan X-Trail T31 diesel manual with 215k on the clock. I love it to bits, we've taken to Cape Reinga and Fiordland and everywhere in between, but it has a very subtle whine when cold and my mechanic says that a sign it's on the way out. I sometimes haul a trailer for holidays and MTB trips.
So I've got two options:
1. Buy a smallish second car, probably manual, low Ks, not visually hideous (i.e. no Nissan Dukes, Leafs etc), up to maybe $7k as a runabout to 'save' the X-Trail for trips and eek it out as long as I can.
2. Buy a replacement, preferably manual or very low Ks auto, and doesn't need to be an SUV, could be a wagon or decent sized hatchback but no sedans. Current contender is a Honda Accord wagon like this trade me listing. Up to maybe $16k.
We had four cars shit their automatic transmissions. A Renault Grand Scenic, a Merc wagon, a Volvo T5 wagon and a Subaru Exiga which had a weird transmission fault which couldn't be diagnosed. However, it typing this out I bet you've spotted that three of those were european cars. Hence, the only euro cars we'd consider are possibly VW Golfs.
Also a bit gun shy about towing with an auto.
Oh, and NO SUBARUS! The Exiga was the biggest heap of shit I've ever driven. Same basic engine format (2.5 litre turbo petrol) as the Volvo T5 (which was just awesome to drive. Hit a passing lane and it'd whip up to 140 like a big rubber band was pulling you to the horizon and just wanted to keep going) but the Exiga was all out of puff at 140 and not happy to go much faster, but also got shameful fuel consumption. Also permanent AWD was shit.
Top of my list of must haves:
- Reliable
- Not hideous
- If a replacement for the X-trail, able to tow a reasonable sized trailer long distance
- Obviously not CVTs
- Unlikely to go for a hybrid as also gun shy of second hand complexitiesA decent Holden Commodore would suit my wife. We don't do much driving around town and don't commute so the fuel consumption isn't a big deal.
Hatchbacks: I'd like an Alfa 147 or similar, but would have to be manual, not sillyspeed etc.
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So what's the go with these 'What car to buy' threads? Can I commandeer this one, or should I start my own?
<Edit> Just found out about this 'Clean Car Fee'? WTF? I thought that was just a rebate, not a penalty if you bought anything else!
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Well, my 'plan' was to find a crashed one so I have a complete car to pick over - from what I've read, there's quite a few components to include if you want the functionality, like regen braking, ABS etc. Can you tell I haven't read too much yet?
Only prob is there's so many Walter Mitty types like me (dreams beyond their ability) that the prices of written off Leafs (Leaves?) is probably on the rise.
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I have a pipe dream of converting our Clubman using a Nissan Leaf, but probably beyond me.
Anyway, if I did, I'd have to school myself on EV safety to avoid this:
[spolier]
[/spoiler]
(Damaged finger due to electricity/wedding ring combo)
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Link to discussion thread:
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Crikey, 2 1/2 years between posts
In my defence, there's been other stuff happening, but the main reason for the delay is my rotisserie was down the road (with a Mk II shell on it) in a neighbour's garage. In between me shifting it in there and now, she built a garden in front of the garage... So today I finally got my shit together and my son helped me get it out. I had to build a bridge out of pipe (the old gates from the Karori Sanctuary!) to slide it across her garden to the trailer.
Anyway, got the rotisserie and the old shell into the driveway, and the Clubman shell onto the rotisserie.
You'll note that I 'had' to cut the slam panel. Turns out Clubmen (Clubmans?) don't fit like round noses.
First job is to brace the shell. Then the plan is to start on some easy to get to repairs, work my way around various bits, then if the planets align (i.e. I think it's justified continuing), ordering floors and sills. There is a bit of rust:
When I rotated the shell, heaps of rust fell out, and:
When did ring pulls like this stop being made? Sometime between '77 and now obviously.
Anyway, there it is. The Mk II is listed on TradeMe for $200 to prove to wifey that it's not a money pit. Actually, she want me to build up the Mk II, but I said it's at least $20k to do that.
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Yup, so gonna go with using the originals as lock nuts. I'll test 'em and add Loctite if necessary. Yes, belt and braces...
Thanks all.
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Hi all,
I'm fixing a tandem axle box trailer and the suspension linkages have been sorted, but I'm wondering what to do about keeping the nuts on.
I replaced the original worn bolts with SS 8.8 ones (they're 16 x 100mm) because I had them, and added washers and greased the heck out of 'em, but I'm worried about the nuts coming loose, particularly as the linkages lock up if I tighten them.
This trailer will be drafted into taking scouts on adventures and I'd rather not have to deal with collapsed suspension on the Desert Rd at night - there's a 100% certainty of that if I don't do something.
I thought about drilling a hole through the exposed thread and using R clips.
Or Loctite? Or lock washers? There's no flats on the threads though.I have the original steel nuts which I could use as lock nuts.
Suggestions?
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Thanks for that recommendation - that's cheaper than the options I'd found. I'm quite constrained in terms of workshop space so don't know if I'll have room for the stand, but looks like a good Christmas present.
I've been a bit inspired by Project Binky so keen to try doing something a bit different in the load space. I need to change the spare wheel well anyway as the standard one is too small for the spare wheel now it has 12" Revolutions.
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Right, enough lurking; here's my project thread. Finally.
Here's the discussion thread for my build.
So I bought this on TM from someone in the Hawkes Bay. It was originally mustard/baby poo brown but the PO had painted it yellow. So its always been known to us as The Banana Car, but it won't be yellow once I've finished with it.
This is what it looked like in its prime:
Later, I dropped in the obligatory 1275 from a Metro I bought just for the engine, and vented disks and quite neat grey leather seats from the same car. It's got a set of Phil Deane's extractors, a 2" exhaust and HIF44 carb. Plus a Smootharide suspension kit with adjustable everything. Certed. The arches are quite wide (wider than the ones in the pic above) as the wheels and disk combination means they stick out quite a bit and the steering is consequently quite heavy at low speeds.
It was originally for my wife to use for running around doing deliveries etc for her cafe, but was taken off the road four years ago (to my eternal shame) for rust repairs. I'd previously painted it in acrylic lacquer but the paint's nowhere near durable enough, so I'm going to get it professionally painted this time.
This photo's about eight years old and illustrates the adage "You know when you're a mini owner when people ask how many cars you have and the answer includes fractions". The shell of EF7688 is in a garage down the road, live plates, so I may see if anyone here wants it for free.
I had a garage but that became the front room again, so I recently extended the Clearlite roofing to form a big carport where I can work out of the weather. Not much but probably will work out okay.
I'd stripped most of it a couple of years ago, but set to today and removed the doors and windows.
There's a bit of rust.
I know I'm up for new floors and sills all round, and remedial work on the corners and arches. That doesn't bother me much. I'm a reasonable welder and have plenty of gear (wondering if I need a stretcher and shrinker... hmm, maybe a Christmas present to myself).
I need to order some steel. I'll start by bracing the shell and working on the areas where I can start off reasonably slowly. If that goes well, I'll order the floors and sills, then get it sandblasted to see if there's anything else that needs patched. Then professional paint and reinstall everything. It's only a two seater (seats don't fold forward), so I'd like to do something in the back to get some strength into the shell, possibly a half height 'wall' behind the seats to tie the door frames together across the shell. The Estate and van shells can't be anywhere near as rigid/safe (!) as a saloon.
One improvement I'm going to make is ditching the horrible metal & fabric channels the rear side windows slide in. They're the same as Land Rover ones and just the worst idea. They get wet, moss grows, the windows don't slide and they leave rust dribbles down the side of the car. I may 3D print something and seal it to prevent water ingress.
Anyway, I hope to make reasonable progress over summer, although I've also just committed to getting a tandem axle box trailer roadworthy again for the scout group of which I'm a leader, so gonna be busy.
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More to follow, just wanted this link to put on my build thread.
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Dunno how I missed this thread for so long. This is exactly what my next project is going to be: an adaptable self-contained camping trailer. No loo though in my plans.
Something like this:
This above pic shows it half erect; the roof keeps folding to provide a sleeping surface.
And a bit like this:
I'll be basing it on the trailer I built a couple of years ago:
My version's going to be different from the concepts above though. My idea is the roof folds over, opening the already attached tent and form the sleeping platform to the side, but the trailer is open underneath the tent.
The idea is you can stand up in the trailer, out of the weather and the climb up a bit onto the platform for sleeping.
This is a very rough concept:
It'll be a little 'home away from home' but incorporate:
- Solar panels charging a 12v battery system, including lights
- Built-in air compressor for the inflatable mattress and MTB tyres
- Pseudo-plumbed* in LPG for cooking with a fold-out cooker, both under the sleeping platform and inside
The bit below the sleeping platform but above the trailer itself will have canvas sides (one bit bit that wraps around) so the entire thing is weathertight both for travelling and camping.
My overall plan is to have the top half as a demountable unit that I can partially disassemble for storage for most of the year, leaving my trailer for general use and MTB shuttling missions, but a super convenient camping trailer for a couple of weeks of the year. The sleeping platform is likely to be aluminium to make flipping it over easier. The rest will be RHS steel. Fold out awnings for shade and storing bikes etc under when camping.
Ideally, it wont look like much when travelling (It's not a big trailer), but once on site, a couple of minutes and she's good to go, with no need to climb outside and into the tent. This is my problem with pretty much the style of all camping trailers including teardrops - you struggle to shelter if the weather's inclement, but my version provides standing room. It's cosy but there's room for a couple of people to move around, cook, storage etc.
My wife's a crafty type and awesome at sewing so she can make the tent unit including a fly for rain and warmth.
BTW, the top camping trailer is AUS$32,000. It does have some techy features (built in solar with charge controller) so as usual I though "Bugger that; I'll make one"
* I don't want to have to get an electrical or gas certificate, so the LPG won't be permanently mounted.
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This is the last one I did a couple of years ago (Pic of rally Mini at the bottom of the post). The one before was the SAS Land Rover that was sort of painted pink, aka the Pink Panther:
Working on a Revell 1/24 Routemaster Bus, which has stalled for a couple of weeks as I have to make all the seats...
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[/spoiler]
Another what car to buy thread
in General Car Chat
Posted
Just wanted to say we picked up the CM Accord Touter yesterday and drove back to Welly over the course of two days.
Car's good, but as with our X-Trail, the stereo is Japanese and frustrating: No translation available, so just a massive thing in the dash which does nothing. Even the clock is tied to it and gets its signal from GPS, which is cool but you can't offset it from Japan time - grrrr!!! Most frustratingly, you can tell that it was an expensive option. The stereo in the X-Trail cost US$3,300 for the head unit alone!
So I joined NZHondas.com forum to see if anyone there knows. I want to find out if anyone's tried an Android version from AliExpress:
Link to AliExpress
Anyway, thanks again for the advice; very happy with everything else about the car