Ungrateful offspring....
Discussion
Have been put in my place…..
Jnr turns 17 in March so had been wondering what to get him for his birthday…….a learner shed being top of the agenda….
Chatting at work last week on the issue – I learn of an ’85 Mk2 Polo breadvan…. 30k on it from new, pensioner property, garaged from new, rust free and after many years of denying the inevitable it’s one owner had conceded that it wouldn’t be driven again and would be willing to let it go….maybe…
Fast forward to Sunday, with Jnr out with his mates – I hotfoot it around doing my best pretence of charm, and 10 mins later job done and £150 changes hands - asking price was £100 so for the first time in my life I voluntarily paid more for something than was asked – my growing , but still limited conscience at work.
Grab best mate and tow bar - nothing wrong with banger – just hadn’t run since last taxed in 2007 so a bit risky to fire straight up before some tlc and drag the little hun home…
Before sprog got in we set to with a boxload of GSF’s finest offerings – and it goes beautifully – barring a very lumpy idle & slight misfire which is probably down to ancient fuel….
No hiding it as it’s on the drive….
At this point I cast my mind back to when I approached 17….. my granddad took me to the dump a the mortal remains of a mini and a crashed metro were dragged home for the combined princely sum of £40 and after many hours of blood sweat , tears and a few frayed tempers a very ratty mini was the result…...
I know times change and every neighbourhood Tarquin, Crispin, Quentin & Tabitha will receive a shiny eurobox horror from doting mater & pater….. but I’m on a tight budget (besides having done a bit of advance research insurance on the polo is just hideous rather than horrendous) and want Jnr to learn such lost skills of his generation – such as maintainence and repair rather than being permanently affixed to the pc/ ipad / phone and viewing manual outdoor work as something for Dad to do…..
So what do I get when he spies and addition and jumps to the correct conclusion…..
“what’s that POS?”
“I’m not driving that”
“I hasn’t even got a CD player”
My sprog, lazy tyke though he is (wholly my fault) has at least not been an ungrateful little sh*t before. I’m bloody hopping mad and was hoping he’d apologise after thinking it through…. But two days later nothing…..
Half inclined to not mention it and hide it in a friend’s garage until March…… unless anyone can think of a better way to teach a seriously needed lesson…….????
Jnr turns 17 in March so had been wondering what to get him for his birthday…….a learner shed being top of the agenda….
Chatting at work last week on the issue – I learn of an ’85 Mk2 Polo breadvan…. 30k on it from new, pensioner property, garaged from new, rust free and after many years of denying the inevitable it’s one owner had conceded that it wouldn’t be driven again and would be willing to let it go….maybe…
Fast forward to Sunday, with Jnr out with his mates – I hotfoot it around doing my best pretence of charm, and 10 mins later job done and £150 changes hands - asking price was £100 so for the first time in my life I voluntarily paid more for something than was asked – my growing , but still limited conscience at work.
Grab best mate and tow bar - nothing wrong with banger – just hadn’t run since last taxed in 2007 so a bit risky to fire straight up before some tlc and drag the little hun home…
Before sprog got in we set to with a boxload of GSF’s finest offerings – and it goes beautifully – barring a very lumpy idle & slight misfire which is probably down to ancient fuel….
No hiding it as it’s on the drive….
At this point I cast my mind back to when I approached 17….. my granddad took me to the dump a the mortal remains of a mini and a crashed metro were dragged home for the combined princely sum of £40 and after many hours of blood sweat , tears and a few frayed tempers a very ratty mini was the result…...
I know times change and every neighbourhood Tarquin, Crispin, Quentin & Tabitha will receive a shiny eurobox horror from doting mater & pater….. but I’m on a tight budget (besides having done a bit of advance research insurance on the polo is just hideous rather than horrendous) and want Jnr to learn such lost skills of his generation – such as maintainence and repair rather than being permanently affixed to the pc/ ipad / phone and viewing manual outdoor work as something for Dad to do…..
So what do I get when he spies and addition and jumps to the correct conclusion…..
“what’s that POS?”
“I’m not driving that”
“I hasn’t even got a CD player”
My sprog, lazy tyke though he is (wholly my fault) has at least not been an ungrateful little sh*t before. I’m bloody hopping mad and was hoping he’d apologise after thinking it through…. But two days later nothing…..
Half inclined to not mention it and hide it in a friend’s garage until March…… unless anyone can think of a better way to teach a seriously needed lesson…….????
458bhp said:
Sell the car, go down to Halfords, buy a headunit (CD capable of course) and give him that instead.
Best suggestion yet!!!! Just got home and it seems we're in conversational limbo..... he's perceptive enough to catch the vibe that I'm not amused!!!This is why I love PH - some humour, some straight talk, the odd bit of common sense and the obligatory nuke form orbit, surprised the hammering of sausages hasn't cropped up yet!!!
To round out the position I've been single dad to him for years so the blame is mine, I've always preferred old cars and so does he - his covetous eyes are on my garage queen mini - but thats a rollcaged screamer hillclimber, besides his number one want would be for a beetle - as Karmann Ghia somewhat out of the question - this I've always known, but he does love Mk1 golfs too..... so thought I was onto a compromise winner with the breadvan.....
Thank you to all kindly volunteering to take it off my hands!!!! most kind, but whatever happens it's staying (may go on secondment for a couple of months!) they, as has been pointed out - have an increasing following - good condition ones being offered for £2K!!! - grief!!! - "mine" is almost showroom condition too....and being a 1.3 5speed its barring the G40 the best of the bunch...
It's not a matter of "£150" car - given its age and lack of use - every service item is being done, all suspension renewed, new tyres, and hydraulic hoses - all reagrdless of thier current apparent condition... the cost is mounting..... but I won't let him out in anything I consider unsafe - I have perfectionist standard so all the work will be done by me using OE spec parts - so I know that when the time comes it's as good as the day it rolled from the factory.... so far - assuming car is worth £2k.. were above £2½ .... it's not about the money though!!
Those with the view I should cosset him in airbag equipped air conditioned splendour... I'd venture the majority of PH'ers cars of the day weren't sporting airbags.... - mine weren't - and despite he being the most precious thing there is to me - life is a risk and a level of risk is acceptable to me for him....besides the majority of learner sheds being somewhat aged - how many will have had their bags replaced as specified to ensure they work ? - precisely none I'd venture....
I'm leaving the conversational stand off for the eve - the PH collective wisdom is more than appreciated... has lightened my mood considerably! - Friday will be D Day - if no grovelling appreciation by then there'll e choices to be made!
Having been up close with the thing for a while now..... one question raises it head (no bad pun intended) ..... castex....without being a hobbit....HOW?????? (really not sure I want the answer!!!!)
Well ladies & gents..... my jaw dropped this evening..... crawled in this eve vowing not to let the issue taint conversation..... and..... on the side in the kitchen are three things.....
1. A used but perfectly functional CD/MP3 player with various speakers - courtesy of his best mates Dad (top bloke!)
2. An amazon delivery of iron cross decals.....
and..... 3. Beers (ok ok they're from my stash anyway but.......accounting for teenagerconomics that's at least some thought..
Turns out the "disappointment" of no beetle and the implied clarity that he won't be having my mini came as a bit of a shock....no expectations were ever raised by me - but he'd assumed the mini may have been on Dad's "to do" list to retrofit its 998...
So..... I've got a "Thanks Dad - it's pretty cool"......
What will come as no surprise to some.... apparently a plan has been formed... ICE, lower it, alloys, a bonnet bra (wtf???) and some relatively tasteful stickering...(no rat look thank god.. I mean why?????)
Contrary to some views it seems I got it pretty much spot on - assuming the college population of WSM vaguely representative of teenage aspiring driver kind.....then I am warmed by reported comments - apparently I'm a "legend".... and car is indeed perceived as "cool"when modded gently .....(god how times change it was, to be fair a grannymobile to me....)....
Off to get reacquainted with Timothy Taylor.... and all is well with the world - work commences on the w/e..... as some stickering is inevitable - it'll have a PH one applied - so should anyone spot it out - give it a flash!!
Don't let finality on my part ruin the debate - it's a good read and appears a commonly touched nerve!!!
p.s - farlig.... is that pic through a smashed back door???
1. A used but perfectly functional CD/MP3 player with various speakers - courtesy of his best mates Dad (top bloke!)
2. An amazon delivery of iron cross decals.....
and..... 3. Beers (ok ok they're from my stash anyway but.......accounting for teenagerconomics that's at least some thought..
Turns out the "disappointment" of no beetle and the implied clarity that he won't be having my mini came as a bit of a shock....no expectations were ever raised by me - but he'd assumed the mini may have been on Dad's "to do" list to retrofit its 998...
So..... I've got a "Thanks Dad - it's pretty cool"......
What will come as no surprise to some.... apparently a plan has been formed... ICE, lower it, alloys, a bonnet bra (wtf???) and some relatively tasteful stickering...(no rat look thank god.. I mean why?????)
Contrary to some views it seems I got it pretty much spot on - assuming the college population of WSM vaguely representative of teenage aspiring driver kind.....then I am warmed by reported comments - apparently I'm a "legend".... and car is indeed perceived as "cool"when modded gently .....(god how times change it was, to be fair a grannymobile to me....)....
Off to get reacquainted with Timothy Taylor.... and all is well with the world - work commences on the w/e..... as some stickering is inevitable - it'll have a PH one applied - so should anyone spot it out - give it a flash!!
Don't let finality on my part ruin the debate - it's a good read and appears a commonly touched nerve!!!
p.s - farlig.... is that pic through a smashed back door???
Edited by Tim-D on Wednesday 13th January 18:40
Just for those that asked - this is the banger in question...... no sprog with thumbs up as he's out and has left me fettling the thing.... he gets to wash & polish tomorrow... :-)
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/timduncan70/libr...
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/timduncan70/libr...
Negative Creep said:
Looks nice and clean. Just hope it doesn't end up on chopped springs and a metal roofrack
Certainly is & Oh it will........if it survives..... but year one splattering it in stickers is all thats going to be permissible - not by me I hasten to add...but governed by insurance premium......Just brakes to bleed, work out why number plate lights u/s, (and for those who have suggested - I'm hot on the trail of a servo from a 2f) a wash & buff up & mot next week....ICE install can wait .... sprog actually v proud of it now!...
Thanks wormus - never can get the hang of linking pics- - may try again when I'm warm inside & he's polishing tomorrow!!!
So ladies & gents -
Time to quite pleasurably update this thread - car has proven to be a real hit with jnr. He's now actively learning to drive, and detractors aside the banger has proven to be classified as Uber cool with his contemporaries and will be making a trip to Bristol Volksfest in June (where tons of godawful stickers accessories etc will doubtless be scored...
Best part of the experience thus far is recommissioning has been a doddle and jnr has helped throughout and LEARNED a lot after initial protest / reluctance.... (now knows "everything" hmmmm....
Recommissioning has needed (in no particular order) fuel filter x 3 (lots of crap in the tank), oil, HT Leads, plugs, oil & air filters, cambelt, alternator belt, carb flange, disks & pads, MP3 headunit, OE Alloys & new tyres, fuel pump, battery, brake flexi's, carb rebuild kit, servo & master (a la scrapyard) and sundry cleaners..... thank god for GSF weekend offer codes and fleabay (alloys with new tyres £26!!!) and the total cost - including buying the car stands me the grand total of £382.......including MOT fee....
Failed MOT on Friday with low handbrake efficiency.... (cable has no adjustment left ) so another £20 quid to come but should be sorted this week.....
Predictably desire for a little light lowering & roofrack has been voiced & rebuffed for the time being....
Insurance for me £81 a year... and including sir as a learner £403.....
He's busting to slap on the L plates..... currently despoiling my alfa and never to be applied to my mini (and before any comedian points out - yes they would stick to the mini - it's never welded solid steel....)
So with a year's tax, he'll be a mobile, insured, learner in his own car for under a grand - and loves it too .... dad did, I'd conclude... OK ...my nerves already shredded with the learning experience!!!...
Time to quite pleasurably update this thread - car has proven to be a real hit with jnr. He's now actively learning to drive, and detractors aside the banger has proven to be classified as Uber cool with his contemporaries and will be making a trip to Bristol Volksfest in June (where tons of godawful stickers accessories etc will doubtless be scored...
Best part of the experience thus far is recommissioning has been a doddle and jnr has helped throughout and LEARNED a lot after initial protest / reluctance.... (now knows "everything" hmmmm....
Recommissioning has needed (in no particular order) fuel filter x 3 (lots of crap in the tank), oil, HT Leads, plugs, oil & air filters, cambelt, alternator belt, carb flange, disks & pads, MP3 headunit, OE Alloys & new tyres, fuel pump, battery, brake flexi's, carb rebuild kit, servo & master (a la scrapyard) and sundry cleaners..... thank god for GSF weekend offer codes and fleabay (alloys with new tyres £26!!!) and the total cost - including buying the car stands me the grand total of £382.......including MOT fee....
Failed MOT on Friday with low handbrake efficiency.... (cable has no adjustment left ) so another £20 quid to come but should be sorted this week.....
Predictably desire for a little light lowering & roofrack has been voiced & rebuffed for the time being....
Insurance for me £81 a year... and including sir as a learner £403.....
He's busting to slap on the L plates..... currently despoiling my alfa and never to be applied to my mini (and before any comedian points out - yes they would stick to the mini - it's never welded solid steel....)
So with a year's tax, he'll be a mobile, insured, learner in his own car for under a grand - and loves it too .... dad did, I'd conclude... OK ...my nerves already shredded with the learning experience!!!...
Trying not to! as there are unconventional options with this car - such as classic insurance - conventionally (i.e no classic cover and no telematics) it's going to be in todays' quotes a whisker over £1800.... ouch! But uninformed as I am with such things - that's painful - but within reason.....
It's the principal reason lowering isn't occurring just yet!!!
It's the principal reason lowering isn't occurring just yet!!!
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