Back In The Fold

[Andy_C 50]

Picked this up from Anthony on Saturday and it's GREAT to be back in a 205 - and a good 'un at that.

 

I detailed this car for its previous owner several years ago and it comes with a file chocked full of history evidencing the TLC it's had. Cosmetically it's not AndyC'd (whatever the f**k that means) but mechanically it's absolutely bang-on and for a 1.9 8 valve goes like a rocket - doesn't feel far off my old Mi powered car TBH.

 

Plans? Drive it, enjoy it and spend as little as possible for now. It has nearly a year's MOT and tax to 31/12 so pretty much free fun for another few months. There's no rot, the rear beam's done, new front pads and the aforementioned strong lump so nothing major needed any time soon.

 

What I'm definitely not go to do is wrap it up in cotton wool. For now at least . Neither am I going to panic like a lesbian if it gets dirty. Again, for now.

 

There's a few jobs that do need doing at relatively little cost to make sure it continues to run well and they'll be diaried here but I'm just going to enjoy what is arguably one of the greatest driver's cars ever made, end of.

 

Handful of pics after a 2 hour run around the B roads near me yesterday - and I drove it to work today so have already done more mileage in 3 days than the E36 did in 3 months.

 

 

 

[GLPoomobile 958]

Another bkack one? You must like that colour

 

[Andy_C 50]

You sound like the Wife mate - it's Sorrento....

[Baz 421]

Lovely car, great to see you back!

 

I've had the pleasure of driving it a few times as i MOT'd it and gave Anthony a hand fitting the rebuilt beam and a few other bits, it's certainly a nice place to be and had me envious of it!

 

Enjoy!

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Feb's old car (shell I suppose?) is it not?

 

Welcome back

 

Incidentally, I am looking at E36 328s as an everyday car. Interesting you say they are 'dull', as I've mostly heard opposite.

[Andy_C 50]

Cheers boys.

 

Baz - passed you leaving Anthony's on Saturday. Well happy with this one - solid, rot free and with a lot of the hard work done by Mr Shuttle already so a winner. Seriously considering scrapping Mi powered ideas as this engine has really impressed so far.

 

Alan - yep, Feb's old car and a testament to the TLC he showered on it. As for the E36, perhaps I didn't give it a chance but in standard form the 328 is breathless and needs farily big £'s spending to free it up. Much bigger and heavier and never felt as lively as the 205 - I guess if I ran one AND a Pug I'd feel a lot different but as it is I have the Saab for everyday duties and the 328 simply couldn't give me the fun factor.

[Anthony 1,003]

Glad you're happy with it Andy, and I'm pleased that it's gone to a good home

 

I would have kept it as it is a good, solid car but I just couldn't justify keeping two 205's particularly with winter just around the corner. All I hope is that I've sold the right one out of the pair, as at this particular moment in time, my white GTi doesn't drive anything like as well as the Sorrento...

 

I see that you couldn't resist polishing it though

[Andy_C 50]

Not a drop of polish has gone near it mate, honest! Gave it a good wash yesterday but that's about it!

 

Quick general question though. Does the coolant need to be drained before I replace the fan switch? Haynes says it does.

 

Glad you're happy with it Andy, and I'm pleased that it's gone to a good home

 

I would have kept it as it is a good, solid car but I just couldn't justify keeping two 205's particularly with winter just around the corner. All I hope is that I've sold the right one out of the pair, as at this particular moment in time, my white GTi doesn't drive anything like as well as the Sorrento...

 

I see that you couldn't resist polishing it though

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If you have the new rad switch ready to hand, and are quick, you can swap them over and only lose 1/2 L of coolant or so. Obviously do this when it is cold! Then just top back up afterwards.

[feb 47]

Hi Andy,

It's nice to hear my old car is with you now!

At least I can get to hear about the progress and hopefully see it sometime soon!

It looks good already

Any plans to fix/replace the driver's wing?

Keep it 8V as these cars are supposed to be

Edited September 13, 2010 by feb

[Anthony 1,003]

Quick general question though. Does the coolant need to be drained before I replace the fan switch? Haynes says it does.

As Tom said basically - I'd have done it for you Saturday, but the engine hadn't cooled down sufficiently prior to you turning up. Just annoying that it decided to fail the day you collected it, after working fine for the months I'd owned it (and I'm assuming in Feb's ownership too) and after the engine swap, but hey, that's a French car for you

 

It's normal blue coolant in there by the way, not the pink long-life stuff, just in case you manage to lose enough that you need to top it up with some coolant in addition to normal water.

[S33GAV 0]

Nice set of wheels on that car.

[Baz 421]

Baz - passed you leaving Anthony's on Saturday. Well happy with this one - solid, rot free and with a lot of the hard work done by Mr Shuttle already so a winner. Seriously considering scrapping Mi powered ideas as this engine has really impressed so far.

 

Yes Anthony mentioned you'd spotted me, i missed you i'm afraid! As said, a decent 1.9 8v as that seems to have shouldn't really leave you wanting much more from a road car IMO!

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Welcome back.

Am awaiting a lengthy detailing thread.....................

[TT205 42]

I know exactly how you feel

 

As of Saturday I am driving around in a totally bog standard phase 1 1.9, I haven't driven a standard one in 10 years now

 

Enjoyed it so much I happened to wake up at 6.30 yesterday and rather than rolling over and going back to sleep I put 50 twisty miles on the clock - still grinning like a Cheshire cat! Instant power from zero revs pulling cleanly all the way to the limiter, so different from nothing until 3.5-4K and then going off like a scalded cat

 

My normal road car is also a Saab - does the job but the 205 is smiles per miles

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

I never realised you'd left!

 

Good luck with it Andy. I'm sure it will look the dogs very soon (although it looks pretty good already!)

[welshpug 1,657]

ahh it would be this car that the wing Goliath had in his hallway would be for?

 

 

if you haven't sorted anything by then I think in a few weeks I'll be heading down the M4 to Windsor, I could pick it up and meet somewhere on the way.

[Andy_C 50]

Seems my reputation for polishing not driving will be hard to shake off but this one's for driving, not pampering right now. The bodywork's not A1 but not rusty which is all that matters. I've not been remotely tempted to break out the buffer as there's other jobs which I want to get sorted first. I'll be going to see Miles soon to sort out a quickshift and that's about it for now.

 

A standard and tidy car is the goal ultimately and we're more than halfway there as it's got a lot of history backing up the TLC Feb expended on it; Anthony's sorted the beam and put in a very good engine. The interior's in brilliant nick considering the mileage (158k). The body needs some work but that can and will wait.

[DaveW 6]

Good to see its gone to a good home