Athena TGS on Car and Classic

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:06 pm

I'm can say with absolute certainty that if you're buying a car from Bob, there will be more than enough fuel in it to get you to the nearest filling station and beyond.
And all the brakes will work!

Paul296 · Post by **Paul296** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:14 pm

I really think that would be a good buy - even at 850 quid (I'm not Bobs PR man or anything!)

The only draw back I can see (apart from the wheel trims!) is that once it gets to 100,000 miles there are a few big(ish) jobs need doing - cam belt (if it hasn't been done?) rear arm bearings etc. Also my 16 petrol did start to play up a bit after 100,000 miles, although if you're a bit more 'spanner savvy' than me (not difficult) that might not be a problem.

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:46 pm

I quite like the wheels he has on it - it's hard to tell in the picture but to me they look like Pug five spoke alloys... either that or Halfords value range. He says replaced the cambelt and trailing arm bearings about 10K ago when he bought it, so that looks pretty healthy. Weirdly however the MOT database only goes back to 2006, so I think it must have been SORNed for a few years beforehand - just hopefully not stood outside in that salty Anglesey air...

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:56 pm

Good afternoon gentlemen. I heard from a member that you were discussing my Athena, so I thought I'd drop by and make sure there were no misconceptions.

1. I don't think I claimed there were no niggles. There are ALWAYS niggles with a classic car. In my case there are a few. Rattles - I hate them, and any 20+ year old car will have them. They drive me nuts and the Athena has a couple. One's in the headlining and the other's behind the passenger side dash. They're minor but they annoy the life out of me. Then there's the waxoil in the engine bay. That stuff gets everywhere. There are niggles OK - but one man's niggle is another man's disaster. My wife usually keeps me in a straitjacket.

2. The wheel trims are currently on the TZD (which I'm donating to another forum member) and can be swapped over if required.

3. There will be at least 2 gallons of bang juice in the tank - enough to get well off the island. I drive like an old fart (hell, I AM an old fart) and, with the Weber carb, I reckon a get around 40mpg.

4. I did the rear arm bearings just out of curiosity when I got the car, and I fitted a Xantia set which are a straight swap. The job took an afternoon and was a success.

5. From what I can gather, there's a 'hole' in the car's existence, where it was taken off the road for some years and shoved in the back of a garage. It reappeared in '06.

6. Chaps, this is a car that's coming up for a quarter of a century old. A classic car's rarely going to be perfect AND driveable on a daily basis, so this one's collected its share of battle scars (like the rear bumper ding from the mongette in the 4WD who decided her satnav was more important than stopping). However, I've lavished time and money on making this old lady the best I could and it's appearance speaks for itself. It's NOT concours (I've never polished the plugs, licked the windows or glossed the tyres) and it's done 80,000 miles - some of them I'd imagine at something more than Old Fart speeds.

I don't want any potential buyer turning up expecting a showroom condition car when this one is only considerably better than average.

There. I feel better now.

EDIT: The wheels are Halfords chrome trims. I was given them and I liked the look - plus it meant I could keep the original trims out of harms way.

Wooscary · Post by **Wooscary** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:13 pm

Linegeist wrote:. It's NOT concours (I've never polished the plugs, licked the windows or glossed the tyres) and it's done 80,000 miles - some of them I'd imagine at something more than Old Fart speeds.

I will only consider buying a car with well licked glass all round, inside and out.

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:41 pm

Can I consider this an offer of a (hot) date ...........?? <PANT><LUST>

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:43 pm

Nice to hear from you Bob , hope all is well and I take it the move is still imminent?

Wooscary · Post by **Wooscary** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:19 am

Linegeist wrote:Can I consider this an offer of a (hot) date ...........?? <PANT><LUST>

Absolutely. Windolene at the ready.

Paul296 · Post by **Paul296** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:57 am

Spotted this recently on one of my 'Millesimes I wish I owned' forays on Leboncoin. Beige Metallise (nice!) 69,000 miles - Turbo diesel - complete with those plastic covers that go over the tyre pumpy uppy valve thingies. Yours for a mere 3200 euros (ouch! vous est 'avin une larf etc.)

Definitely makes Bobs look 'priced to sell' - bit of tyre gloss wouldn't go amiss though. Despite all my experience to the contrary I still labour under the illusion that shiny tyres will prevent a car from breaking down

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:36 am

Defender110 wrote:Nice to hear from you Bob , hope all is well and I take it the move is still imminent?

Hi Kev,

You too. The move to Reading has (thankfully) been postponed - we boxed clever and bought the oldies a easy-clean bungalow, (into which we moved 'em last month and then nailed the doors shut) <snigger> So far, they're coping far better than they were in the enormous pile they inhabited previously.

All we need to do now is sell their (now vacant and mouldering) pile (and pocket the lolly). <-This last bit is humour before anyone kicks off (again).

That Millesime is stunning ..........................

Post by **Defender110** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:17 pm

Linegeist wrote: The move to Reading has (thankfully) been postponed - we boxed clever and bought the oldies a easy-clean bungalow,

That's excellent news, it would have been a great shame to loose your little island retreat, just a pitty you have chose to drop the cars that kept you out of mischief

Don't be a stranger mate your humourous posts are missed.

Linegeist · Post by **Linegeist** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:05 pm

Car now sold.

Bob.