Car (or bike) Chat!

[Marco]

Ah, so that's the difference - and I thought it was just the woolliness of the sheep, or the dual-language road signs. Actually there'll be some parts of England that are no different to Wales, like Burnley or Maryport

If I'd just wanted a dumping ground for my "old toot" I would have gone straight to the tip where I could park right next to the skip, job done. But I only tried the one charity shop - I'm not prepared to lug stuff from one shop to the next, in the hope that one of them will deign to relieve me of my burden, my life is busy enough without having to spend my all too brief leisure time going door to door like an unpaid encylopaedia salesman.

Lol - fair enough, but as I said, I've never had that problem. Any charity shop we've give stuff to has always been very grateful for the donation, so no traipsing around required!

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ha - or you're attempting to use their shop as a dumping ground, by bringing them a load of 'toot', so quite rightly sent packing!

Seriously though, none of the charity shops here have ever refused anything we've taken them.

Plus, there are no issues with parking in Wrexham town centre. You get two hours free parking outside of Home Bargains (huge car park with always spaces available), and which is right next to most of the charity shops, so Del and I do a 'team effort', and simply park the car there and both of us carry stuff into the charity shop(s) in question, where the friendly staff are invariably always grateful

You see, that's the difference between Wales and England!



Marco.

So what kind of items do you take to your charity shops? I know you don't bother with books, at least not ones without pictures, and I can't see Barnardo's wanting to take on your 'specialist' magazines

[Marco]

The scrap rats are the worst culprits I think - if they come past where I am working, and there is something that has value, I then have to find somewhere else to put it, cos sure as eggs is eggs they'll be back later, after you've left

Yeah, I know what you mean, but as our house is in its own grounds, away from the main road, we don't really get 'passers by', so there's little opportunity for such folk to pinch anything.

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Sometimes leaving stuff under the car port, or close to the front gate .... they just disappear!

Sometimes, in fact, stuff which has just been put out temporarily, disappears!

Re the books - years ago we inherited loads of books, and took many to charity shops. On one occasion, one of the charity shop people spotted us (not me, actually - my "agents") and came out and said something like "if that's more books, you can turn round and take them away right now!". After that we found another charity shop in another town not so far away where they at least professed to be grateful for what we gave them.

I heard of a woman who had a new washing machine installed, and rather than take the old, perfectly good machine to the tip, instead left it outside her house with a sign saying 'free to good home'. Several days later it was still there, and on the advice of her friend changed the sign to say '£30 ono'. It went overnight

[Pigmy Pony]

Yeah, I know what you mean, but as our house is in its own grounds, away from the main road, we don't really get 'passers by', so there's little opportunity for such folk to pinch anything.

Marco.

No you should be safe from them. More likely to be bothered by that flasher lurking in the bushes - oh sorry Marco, didn't recognise you with your pants on

[Pigmy Pony]

Just me and thee on Abstract Chat at the moment Marco, how intimate is that? Whose character should we assassinate? Or you can tell me how your new outfit went down with the others at the party. I know you were worried that it may be "a bit much"

[Marco]

So what kind of items do you take to your charity shops? I know you don't bother with books, at least not ones without pictures, and I can't see Barnardo's wanting to take on your 'specialist' magazines

Haha, no my 'Saddle Sniffer's Monthly' mags are safely 'filed away'...

Del's an avid reader and has loads of books, but rarely disposes of any, as she likes the look of bookcases full of books, neatly stored (as do I), and is rather attached to most of them, especially anything antique or of sentimental value.

No, what we mainly dispose of is old ornaments (often proper, although not valuable, antiques), which are always in good condition, as we look after our things, or lamps, pictures, tables, glassware, brand new unwanted/unused gifts, and new, unworn clothes or shoes. And in terms of clothes, if they have been worn, then only if they're still in very good condition, plus we also wash them first before taking them to the shop, as stuff that's been hanging around in wardrobes for years can sometimes be a little fusty.

We're the type who always buy quality things, and keep them for a long time and look after them, not cheap tat to forever swap, simply to follow fashion [not saying you do that either, though], so when we decide to dispose of stuff, it's always good gear, mostly in the same (or near to) condition we bought it in. In all seriousness, if I'd taken stuff along to a charity shop, and it'd been refused, I'd have been rather embarrassed!

Btw, if you're busy, you should try Freecycling stuff. Nothing easier than posting details of unwanted items on the Freecycle site, someone living locally contacts you who wants it, and they come and collect. Simple, easy and good for the planet!

Marco [hasn't been to dump/skip for about 2 years].

[hifilover]

Howdy folks

Long time n all that How's things

What's new in peoples garages?

I'm down to one car currently; still looking into a new toy for next year. It could be an idea that I buy one that's 2 fold... A car that the wife can use daily to work and back and then a hoon machine for the evenings and weekends... So thinking along the lines of a BMW 135i or a built FN2 Civic Type R etc. I have thought about an E46 330 Clubsport or E90 330i/335i too, but I know the M54 engine so well and know how strong they are, the N range engines do like to chuck up issues for the fun of it!

This is my daily for now; it's a 2002 E39 530i. Japanese import that's absolutely rust free, everywhere I popped up to Glasgow in March this year to collect it. So far I've fully rebuilt all the suspension and brakes as they needed it. The car had been well looked after, but the rubber bits did need some TLC, so thought I may as well just get it all done. Cooling system has had a full overhaul too, for peace of mind

This is t on some E31/E38 Style 37s (they're a wider wheel with a more aggressive offset than the standard Style 37s, the 5 series came on):



However; I have just sold them, so it's sitting on it's winter wheels and tyres currently:



I'll look to sort some different alloys come the New Year; either OEM 18" Style 32s I think, or possibly a set of BBS RX alloys I've got my eyes on currently. Or, if I'm feeling really brave, I may go for a set of 19" BBS CH-Rs in satin black (that's if a) I can bring myself to spend that amount of money and b) I've still got the car by then)

[Gaz]

Nice car but strange choice for someone living "oop North" where it snows lol

[hifilover]

Nice car but strange choice for someone living "oop North" where it snows lol

Why?!