Hi Everyone,
I put a little thread up in the newbie section, only joined this morning, but been advised to start a project thread. I'm not expecting this to be much of a project, but I'll try to keep this reasonably up to date with progress anyway.
About me - I'm Richard, I'm 20 and I'm a final year Aeronautical Eng Student at Loughborough University, where I'm also a member of the Motor Club and I've been working on cars for years. I drive an '89 Volvo 745 which I fitted with a 940 2.4TD and gearbox after the original 2.0 8valve petrol expired (i couldn't be arsed to replace the HG). My girlfriend, Kirsty, is a teacher in Sheffield, and has only just passed her test, so set me the task of finding her a first car, cue yesterday...
Yesterday was an early start, leaving Sheffield at 0715 to head to Bristol (via Loughborough to collect trailer) in order to 'have a look' at a Ph1 XRDT with no MOT. Here was the only AutoTrader photo I can find now the ad' has gone.
![[Image: image_zpse6f4fbd3.jpg]](http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/wally111111/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zpse6f4fbd3.jpg)
More in a mo.
The ad' was simple - three outside pictures, two inside, and a short paragraph saying the MOT had just expired and the car had done little milage since it's last. Selling much loved family car due to no longer needing two, and asking £495. I thought the price was a little steep but other than that it looked worth a try so off we went.
Having a look over the car it seems to be solid everywhere, just a little bubble by the O/S/F arch and a little one on the front edge of the bonnet. Brakes apparently a little worn and a few C/L gremlins but seemed ok. The chap selling it seemed so sad to see it go I thought it would be mean to offer too much under the mark, so £450 was agreed on without haggling and she was loaded up...
![[Image: image_zps30623cd8.jpg]](http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/wally111111/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps30623cd8.jpg)
She's had one owner from 1997, owned by a dealer before that I think, and was still being dealer serviced in 2008. Mileage is c154000, and there is every MOT and seemingly all the receipts as well.
More in a mo.
Got her home, stopping off at my mom's in Northamptonshire last night and then finally on up to loughborough today, she's now happily away at the Motor Club where I'll be getting on with the jobs over the next few weeks!
![[Image: image_zps9c9f5f63.jpg]](http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/wally111111/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps9c9f5f63.jpg)
On her way from the trailer to the compound she was parked up next to my mates 1.4hdi 307 briefly. We actually have a fair french contingent down there now, having had an AX as a club car (with a sax VTS engine), chair of the club has a 2CV, and between the members there is now a few 205s, a few 306s and a 307
Will have to get the 306s together with the 307 and do an old to new photo
![[Image: image_zps3a35d928.jpg]](http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/wally111111/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps3a35d928.jpg)
More in a moment!
Right, enough of the happiness about the new purchase, what have I got myself in for choosing her a french car?
Well, as expected with a cheap runabout that's nearly 20 years old and has no MOT, there are a few issues.
Temperature gauge light doesnt seem to work
![[Image: image_zps5597de74.jpg]](http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/wally111111/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps5597de74.jpg)
Few other lights inside gone, including the boot light,
Not sure if there should be two rear fog lights or only the O/S one that's working,
N/S numberplate light isn't working,
Front indicator lenses both very faded, will try flat and polish but probably easier to replace,
Boot struts are a bit weak,
Clutch feels like the cables dirty, and a bit heavy,
Couple of rust bubbles as mentioned earlier,
Few suncream handprints from kiddies here and there, and normal scratches,
Couple of chips in the windscreen,
Slight squeak at idle - sounds like aux belt,
Pedals worn,
Split seam in drivers seat base,
Central locking issues - drivers door sometimes works fine, sometimes immediately locks car again the moment you unlock it (guessing door loom worn?) - N/S/R door doesn't do anything on C/L at all,
Radio seems to be a bit mad, asks for code briefly when turned on, then starts working anyway, goes off completely at some volumes or some of the time, screen only half works.
Plans to come,
I put a little thread up in the newbie section, only joined this morning, but been advised to start a project thread. I'm not expecting this to be much of a project, but I'll try to keep this reasonably up to date with progress anyway.
About me - I'm Richard, I'm 20 and I'm a final year Aeronautical Eng Student at Loughborough University, where I'm also a member of the Motor Club and I've been working on cars for years. I drive an '89 Volvo 745 which I fitted with a 940 2.4TD and gearbox after the original 2.0 8valve petrol expired (i couldn't be arsed to replace the HG). My girlfriend, Kirsty, is a teacher in Sheffield, and has only just passed her test, so set me the task of finding her a first car, cue yesterday...
Yesterday was an early start, leaving Sheffield at 0715 to head to Bristol (via Loughborough to collect trailer) in order to 'have a look' at a Ph1 XRDT with no MOT. Here was the only AutoTrader photo I can find now the ad' has gone.
![[Image: image_zpse6f4fbd3.jpg]](http://s774.photobucket.com/user/wally111111/media/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zpse6f4fbd3.jpg.html)
More in a mo.
The ad' was simple - three outside pictures, two inside, and a short paragraph saying the MOT had just expired and the car had done little milage since it's last. Selling much loved family car due to no longer needing two, and asking £495. I thought the price was a little steep but other than that it looked worth a try so off we went.
Having a look over the car it seems to be solid everywhere, just a little bubble by the O/S/F arch and a little one on the front edge of the bonnet. Brakes apparently a little worn and a few C/L gremlins but seemed ok. The chap selling it seemed so sad to see it go I thought it would be mean to offer too much under the mark, so £450 was agreed on without haggling and she was loaded up...
![[Image: image_zps30623cd8.jpg]](http://s774.photobucket.com/user/wally111111/media/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps30623cd8.jpg.html)
She's had one owner from 1997, owned by a dealer before that I think, and was still being dealer serviced in 2008. Mileage is c154000, and there is every MOT and seemingly all the receipts as well.
More in a mo.
Got her home, stopping off at my mom's in Northamptonshire last night and then finally on up to loughborough today, she's now happily away at the Motor Club where I'll be getting on with the jobs over the next few weeks!
![[Image: image_zps9c9f5f63.jpg]](http://s774.photobucket.com/user/wally111111/media/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps9c9f5f63.jpg.html)
On her way from the trailer to the compound she was parked up next to my mates 1.4hdi 307 briefly. We actually have a fair french contingent down there now, having had an AX as a club car (with a sax VTS engine), chair of the club has a 2CV, and between the members there is now a few 205s, a few 306s and a 307
Will have to get the 306s together with the 307 and do an old to new photo ![[Image: image_zps3a35d928.jpg]](http://s774.photobucket.com/user/wally111111/media/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps3a35d928.jpg.html)
More in a moment!
Right, enough of the happiness about the new purchase, what have I got myself in for choosing her a french car?
Well, as expected with a cheap runabout that's nearly 20 years old and has no MOT, there are a few issues.
Temperature gauge light doesnt seem to work
![[Image: image_zps5597de74.jpg]](http://s774.photobucket.com/user/wally111111/media/N544%20VAV/Collection/image_zps5597de74.jpg.html)
Few other lights inside gone, including the boot light,
Not sure if there should be two rear fog lights or only the O/S one that's working,
N/S numberplate light isn't working,
Front indicator lenses both very faded, will try flat and polish but probably easier to replace,
Boot struts are a bit weak,
Clutch feels like the cables dirty, and a bit heavy,
Couple of rust bubbles as mentioned earlier,
Few suncream handprints from kiddies here and there, and normal scratches,
Couple of chips in the windscreen,
Slight squeak at idle - sounds like aux belt,
Pedals worn,
Split seam in drivers seat base,
Central locking issues - drivers door sometimes works fine, sometimes immediately locks car again the moment you unlock it (guessing door loom worn?) - N/S/R door doesn't do anything on C/L at all,
Radio seems to be a bit mad, asks for code briefly when turned on, then starts working anyway, goes off completely at some volumes or some of the time, screen only half works.
Plans to come,