Is everyone okay??

[Hasbeen]

Gingerbread Man, Coffs is a much nicer harbour today than it was in the early 70s. It used to be just a big open area, with no boat harbour divided off at all.

Did you have a look at the harbour during this? Were the waves breaking up through the main jetty?

I was anchored about where the eastern boat harbour wall ends, with another yacht behind me in a big gale in 1972. No breaking waves, but a huge swell coming in the entrance, & braking over the eastern outer wall. Where this serge met the one coming back off the beach the water was metres over the main jetty.

A trawler was on the jetty, craned up for repairs. It was washed off, as was the owners ute, & some fool in a Fiat 500 that drove out there for a look.

After the blow the harbour board boat which lived in a shed, was launched & kindly came out & winched our anchors up for us. They had been driven into the bottom so deep, neither of our yachts were capable of lifting them.

Coffs may not be the best place in a big gale, but it is a whole lot better than being out in it.

[Jader1973]

Beginning of the end today

This went to work


and this came home


Cruze stopped production in October - Astra went on sale at the start of this month.

I suspect the Redline wagon I collect early next year will be the last new V8 Commodore I get

[Google [bot]]

She's a beaut mate

I bought another motorbike on Sunday, or rather I sealed the deal. Then went out and got pissed to celebrate, stacked my (push)bike and fractured 2 bones in my hand. No bike collecting for me this year.

Edited by Google [bot] on Tuesday 20th December 10:21

[Gingerbread Man]

Upgraded a horrid X Trail for a more capable model. Not quite my Defender of old, but will hopefully get me off the tar.

[Gingerbread Man]

Hasbeen said:

Gingerbread Man, Coffs is a much nicer harbour today than it was in the early 70s. It used to be just a big open area, with no boat harbour divided off at all.

Did you have a look at the harbour during this? Were the waves breaking up through the main jetty?

I was anchored about where the eastern boat harbour wall ends, with another yacht behind me in a big gale in 1972. No breaking waves, but a huge swell coming in the entrance, & braking over the eastern outer wall. Where this serge met the one coming back off the beach the water was metres over the main jetty.

A trawler was on the jetty, craned up for repairs. It was washed off, as was the owners ute, & some fool in a Fiat 500 that drove out there for a look.

After the blow the harbour board boat which lived in a shed, was launched & kindly came out & winched our anchors up for us. They had been driven into the bottom so deep, neither of our yachts were capable of lifting them.

Coffs may not be the best place in a big gale, but it is a whole lot better than being out in it.

Bit late in replying! The marina boardwalk is still closed. The marina wall walk is still closed. They're rebuilding both.
I don't recall the harbour being too choppy, but there are works on going to improve the breakwalls effectiveness come future stormy waters.

I have seen the past pictures of Coff's Harbour that you refer too.

[Pommygranite]

That Astra must be nicer than the Cruze surely?

And I have sympathy for the arm but, you know, bloody cyclists

I'm all good. Been waiting on my Mustang for 9 months and only another 5 to go...

[Jader1973]

Pommygranite said:

That Astra must be nicer than the Cruze surely?

And I have sympathy for the arm but, you know, bloody cyclists

I'm all good. Been waiting on my Mustang for 9 months and only another 5 to go...

Yes, a lot nicer, although the Cruze was a good car.

14 month wait for a Mustang?! Did you order unicorn leather trim or something?

[PomBstard]

Google [bot] said:

She's a beaut mate

I bought another motorbike on Sunday, or rather I sealed the deal. Then went out and got pissed to celebrate, stacked my (push)bike and fractured 2 bones in my hand. No bike collecting for me this year.

Edited by Google [bot] on Tuesday 20th December 10:21

That's a bit of an arse - presume ambidextrous for drinking though...

Managed to confirm some work for 2017 so have made further contributions to Buchanan Retirement Fund and got a couple of things done on the 928. Golf has settled in nicely and is fun - rides well too on 17s.

Went over to NZ a few weeks ago and the hire car was a Gen 5 Lib wagon - annoyingly the kids fitted in the back well as there just 2 slimline boosters, and Mrs PB said she liked driving it and is there a sporty version? I feel like a Lib politician, flip-flopping....

More importantly managed some decent mtb'ing and came back in the same number of pieces.

[Pommygranite]

Jader1973 said:

Pommygranite said:

That Astra must be nicer than the Cruze surely?

And I have sympathy for the arm but, you know, bloody cyclists

I'm all good. Been waiting on my Mustang for 9 months and only another 5 to go...

Yes, a lot nicer, although the Cruze was a good car.

14 month wait for a Mustang?! Did you order unicorn leather trim or something?

Hard to love an Astra hey

Apparently normal wait time when I order - supply n demand n all that it seems. That and were in Australia which is the ginger step child of receiving goods. Apprently it's a March 2017 compliance plate build whatever that means - any ideas?!

[Bibbs]

Pommygranite said:

Apparently normal wait time when I order - supply n demand n all that it seems. That and were in Australia which is the ginger step child of receiving goods. Apprently it's a March 2017 compliance plate build whatever that means - any ideas?!

I'd be tearing my hair out. Any concerns? I've seen a few issues in build quality pop up ..

I'll have to put a date in the diary to start posting the "driving into crowds" memes to your FB.

[Jader1973]

Pommygranite said:

Hard to love an Astra hey

Apparently normal wait time when I order - supply n demand n all that it seems. That and were in Australia which is the ginger step child of receiving goods. Apprently it's a March 2017 compliance plate build whatever that means - any ideas?!

For a base spec the Astra is really good - DAB, apple CarPlay / Android thingy, alloys, rear camera, rear park assist etc. It looks good and is much more refined than the Cruze. It is perfect for the OH's 5km commute and buzzing about at the weekend.

As for the Mustang, Ford put compliance plates on the cars at factory. I'm not 100% on how it works (because we fit them here) but I suspect that means they'll build it in Jan or Feb with a March label and by the time it gets here it is March. Takes about 6 or 7 weeks on the boat depending on where it is going.

[Pommygranite]

Bibbs said:

Pommygranite said:

Apparently normal wait time when I order - supply n demand n all that it seems. That and were in Australia which is the ginger step child of receiving goods. Apprently it's a March 2017 compliance plate build whatever that means - any ideas?!

I'd be tearing my hair out. Any concerns? I've seen a few issues in build quality pop up ..

I'll have to put a date in the diary to start posting the "driving into crowds" memes to your FB.

I would normally but suits me financially - weirdly enjoying the wait as it feels like a big present to myself.

Well I got warned not to slam the bonnet with hands to shut and just let it drop shut due to paper thin bodywork.

Also the door mustang light thingy is a bit temperemental and the seats occasionally go off - anything else?!

Haha yeah gonna live up to the Perth tradition off sticking a car in a tree when there's no real reason.

I am starting wonder whether it's worth it or not and am I bet spending $25k on a car than $70k. Common sense kicking in-yo...

Jader1973 said:

Pommygranite said:

Hard to love an Astra hey

Apparently normal wait time when I order - supply n demand n all that it seems. That and were in Australia which is the ginger step child of receiving goods. Apprently it's a March 2017 compliance plate build whatever that means - any ideas?!

For a base spec the Astra is really good - DAB, apple CarPlay / Android thingy, alloys, rear camera, rear park assist etc. It looks good and is much more refined than the Cruze. It is perfect for the OH's 5km commute and buzzing about at the weekend.

As for the Mustang, Ford put compliance plates on the cars at factory. I'm not 100% on how it works (because we fit them here) but I suspect that means they'll build it in Jan or Feb with a March label and by the time it gets here it is March. Takes about 6 or 7 weeks on the boat depending on where it is going.

Amazing what you get now - remember when an Astra L didn't even have a rev counter... Sounds like a decent car.

Thanks for that, makes sense.

[Bibbs]

Pommygranite said:

I would normally but suits me financially - weirdly enjoying the wait as it feels like a big present to myself.

Well I got warned not to slam the bonnet with hands to shut and just let it drop shut due to paper thin bodywork.

Also the door mustang light thingy is a bit temperemental and the seats occasionally go off - anything else?!

Haha yeah gonna live up to the Perth tradition off sticking a car in a tree when there's no real reason.

I am starting wonder whether it's worth it or not and am I bet spending $25k on a car than $70k. Common sense kicking in-yo...

They do look and sound the part though. All this economic doom and gloom, and I'm seeing more 'toy' cars on the roads.

$25k? I've a nice 10 year old GTS you can have ..

[Jader1973]

Collected this on Friday - went for a Redline wagon this time.



I suspect it may be the last Australian built Commodore I get - supply is a bit restricted now that the end date is fixed. I'm going to order one on the off change though.

[Google [bot]]

Very nice that, Jader.

[PomBstard]

Jader1973 said:

Collected this on Friday - went for a Redline wagon this time.



I suspect it may be the last Australian built Commodore I get - supply is a bit restricted now that the end date is fixed. I'm going to order one on the off change though.

Good shout on the Redline - can't think of a better value car on sale at the mo. Only thing I don't like are the black wheels, but could live with them if I had to...

In other news, Mrs PB's Golf continues to impress and provide fun - glad I got one. Manages to be fun at sensible speeds too. Liberty is proving immensely capable. Only thing lacking is the drama of the old 2.0T - the 2.5 is smooth, powerful and torquey, but the boooooOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSTTTT of the 2.0 was more fun... Progress, huh?

[motomk]

Maybe just a bit too low now. Will get it raised up this week hopefully, now moved into daily driving duties. just over a year old 10,000kms



When one VF is not enough, completely demolish the bank account. Just under a week old. Car is a bit ridiculous!

[Pommygranite]

motomk said:

Maybe just a bit too low now. Will get it raised up this week hopefully, now moved into daily driving duties. just over a year old 10,000kms



When one VF is not enough, completely demolish the bank account. Just under a week old. Car is a bit ridiculous!

Ooof like that - nice!

So, what's it like? And do you spend more time at the pump than behind the wheel?

That's lovely

[Bibbs]

motomk said:

Maybe just a bit too low now. Will get it raised up this week hopefully, now moved into daily driving duties. just over a year old 10,000kms

When one VF is not enough, completely demolish the bank account. Just under a week old. Car is a bit ridiculous!

Nice, how do they compare?

[motomk]

Pommygranite said:

Ooof like that - nice!

So, what's it like? And do you spend more time at the pump than behind the wheel?

That's lovely

It does like drinking! Comfortable in touring mode. Haven't really tried the loud modes too much.
It's not slow, and it stops well to.

Bibbs said:

Nice, how do they compare?

One is fast and the other is very fast!
The SSV is nice, the GTS is more comfy and stops a bit better obviously.
Neither has a sunroof as I needed the headroom. There is more headroom in the GTS than the Maloo I used to own.