The life of... SharkyUK's Trophy

[SharkyUK]

Are you heading the CSF in this? @SharkyUK

Sadly not mate, my missus needs it for daily duties over the weekend! Her Abarth is off the road so I'll be slumming it in the GT4! 🤣

Good to hear its sorted. Old cars can be testing at the best of times, stick with it though.

Thank you, mate. I don't know why we put ourselves through it sometimes!

 

[Jaff.]

Petition to rename the car to Christine please.

Being as it’s intent on destroying its owner, financially, emotionally and physically (didn’t you break a rib on it?)

 

[SharkyUK]

Petition to rename the car to Christine please.

Being as it’s intent on destroying its owner, financially, emotionally and physically (didn’t you break a rib on it?)

Yeah, broke my lower left rib!

 

[SharkyUK]

My missus has just informed me that it's dead again.

I give up.

 

[Louis]

My missus has just informed me that it's dead again.

I give up.

Probably alternator pulling all from the battery and killing it

 

[SharkyUK]

Probably alternator pulling all from the battery and killing it

Yeah, think you may well be right fella.

 

[Ex-User (60778)]

So, #165 has earned a reprieve and I'm really hoping this is the last niggle for a while! It's getting to the point where even stupid and simple things - like this battery issue - are really getting to me, as it feels as though it's one thing after another, after another, after another...!

My missus has just informed me that it's dead again.

I give up.

 

[davo172]

My missus has just informed me that it's dead again.

I give up.

Gotta be 50k plus total gone into this car now! I reckon think you really need to get rid mate tbh!

 

[Stefan.]

Gotta be 50k plus total gone into this car now! I reckon think you really need to get rid mate tbh!

What would Andy realistically get for it. So I see where both sides of the debate are coming from..

 

[Oggy997]

My offer still stands, could stretch it to £550 if you tow it to me with the GT4

 

[davo172]

What would Andy realistically get for it. So I see where both sides of the debate are coming from..

All about cutting losses tbh all it does is cost money so whatever he gets for it will be better than keeping it imo

 

[SharkyUK]

UPDATE // 31-MAY-2023

Yup... still broken.

I think this really is the last chance as far as my relationship/ownership with #165 is concerned. I have arranged for the car to be transported to Mick at Diamond Motors once again in a bid to fix the remaining issues and to try and tease some life and enjoyment out of it. Right now, I'm 50/50 as to whether I want to keep it or sell it.

As it has literally been standing neglected since it broke down last July, it really has suffered in terms of cosmetic appeal. The inside is immaculate despite a brief mould invasion due to a failed window seal. That was cleaned up quickly and it now looks fabulous in there (apart from the melting steering wheel!) But my, the paintwork is a real mess. In cleaning off the green moss and pollen I have found more window seal/bonding issues, leaking lights, and the paintwork has become etched in places from prolonged exposure to pollen, dirt, and poor weather (and the odd bird poop, although I always try and clear those asap). It can be brought back but will require several days with the DA polisher and various pads and compounds. Mind you, it is also waiting to go for partial respray as that was on the cards until it broke down, hence I had to cancel with the body shop last July.

In readiness for the trip up to Mick's on Friday, I decided to at least try and get the worst of the crud and detritus off of it. In a cruel twist of fate, I lost some of the side skirt decal and the resulting message was, I think, quite apt. I kid you not, this was not intentional nor was it done for the likes! It did actually happen and I will need fresh decals. Again!

Despite having to push it around the driveway, I decided to grab a quick photo of the two T44s and the ASBO Abarth.

I'm sure I'll have more news in due course, but I'm still feeling pretty flat, numb and "meh" as far as #165 is concerned. I think our time together may be coming to an end. We shall see.

 

[gez 172]

I can’t say anything more than just throw the towel in…

 

[Bertie Smalls Junior]

If that’s not a message from God I don’t know what is! 😕

 

[gambit]

Don't give up on it. Keep persisting!

 

[Louis]

Scrap it

 

[dann2707]

What's actually wrong with it mate?

From the post it seemed like just paintwork issues but is there something underlying?

 

[JamesBryan]

What's actually wrong with it mate?

From the post it seemed like just paintwork issues but is there something underlying?

I thought it just needed a new alternator and battery.

 

[SharkyUK]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks!

The alternator is still an issue but I have a replacement and, hopefully, this will fix the majority of the current nagging electrical problems. Current. Electrical. Fnar fnar. Sorry. Seriously, I'm hoping that that is all that's needed. It's nothing major but it has just worn me down over the years and it all adds up. There may also be a niggle with the loom but I'm 99% certain it is the alternator causing the problems.

Minor things that need addressing include new side repeaters (they fill with water), the rear window glass needs de-bonding (un-bonding) and then re-bonding as it has failed in the lower corner, and it needs a bit of paint/respray where I fixed a bit of rust where the rear licence plate had been screwed through the metal skin. I had it booked in for respray actually but had to cancel when it decided to stop working again last July.

Other than that, it needs a good detail due to the neglect.

 

[Cub.]

If it gets sold, can you sort a club send off please. Seems like part of the family this car.

 

[Bertie Smalls Junior]

If it gets sold, can you sort a club send off please. Seems like part of the family this car.

View attachment 1646262

What, like @Hixle ’s trophy? (Is it yours I remember on fire at the unit?)

 

[Clio_fool]

You can't sell it Andy, be like chopping your leg off! A week after selling mine I was looking at trophies for sale 😂. Save yourself that pain and just keep the one you have 👍.

 

[Hixle]

What, like @Hixle ’s trophy? (Is it yours I remember on fire at the unit?)

 

[Oggy997]

First dibs if you sell, pm me etc

 

[Chode Lint]

The curse of the red Renault

I feel your pain Andy. I too have spent far too much modifying a Pink car only to realise I was a f**king r****d for doing so. Instead, I should have withdrawn thousands of pounds in cash and set fire to it. At least the fire would have kept me warm

 

[Sir Nancy Flowers]

Ill put myself forward to buy the Trophy and then totally disappear off the face of the earth like the rest of CS when this happens 🤣

 

[Rojer]

@SharkyUK come on, put them out of their misery. It was scrapped iirc.

 

[SharkyUK]

The curse of the red Renault

I feel your pain Andy. I too have spent far too much modifying a Pink car only to realise I was a f**king r****d for doing so. Instead, I should have withdrawn thousands of pounds in cash and set fire to it. At least the fire would have kept me warm

I take comfort in the fact I'm not the only idiot with a pink car (with all due respect, sir!) I'm down to my last tenner and there's no way I'm putting it towards the Trophy. I'm just about to set fire to it now (the tenner, closely followed by the Trophy). Come join me and we can be warm together.

Ill put myself forward to buy the Trophy and then totally disappear off the face of the earth like the rest of CS when this happens 🤣

I'm going to have to stop the list... far too many people approaching me and asking if I'd be interested in selling it to them! Is my project thread not clear enough? It's bl00dy cursed!

 

[SharkyUK]

@SharkyUK come on, put them out of their misery. It was scrapped iirc.

It's beat me, mate 💀 I've simply had enough so sent it packing to the scrappy in the sky. I didn't get a great price for it but I was past the point of caring and decided to be rid of it before spending even more on the damn thing. I wouldn't have wished #165 on anyone.

 

[Louis]

Good riddance mate. Onwards and upwards.

 

[Clio_fool]

It's beat me, mate 💀 I've simply had enough so sent it packing to the scrappy in the sky. I didn't get a great price for it but I was past the point of caring and decided to be rid of it before spending even more on the damn thing. I wouldn't have wished #165 on anyone.

View attachment 1646957

Looks great that mate. 😍

 

[hopgop1]

It's beat me, mate 💀 I've simply had enough so sent it packing to the scrappy in the sky. I didn't get a great price for it but I was past the point of caring and decided to be rid of it before spending even more on the damn thing. I wouldn't have wished #165 on anyone.

View attachment 1646957

I hope people believe that instead of it being picked up to go to Mick's

 

[SharkyUK]

I hope people believe that instead of it being picked up to go to Mick's

It's not out of the woods yet!

 

[Cub.]

 

[Chode Lint]

It's a good job youre filthy rich

At this point Mick is 1 step away from being your mechanic and butler👀🤣

 

[16V F7R]

I would love to read the for sale add for this…

 

[Clio_fool]

I would love to read the for sale add for this…

Clio trophy, standard. Lovely condition. £58,367.28.

 

[SharkyUK]

It's a good job youre filthy rich

At this point Mick is 1 step away from being your mechanic and butler👀🤣

I wish! I haven't got 2x million-pound bundles of crisp bank notes to rub together at the moment. Donations and GoFundme accepted.

Mick? Yeah - he's already mine...

I would love to read the for sale add for this…

I couldn't afford the column inches mate!

Clio trophy, standard. Lovely condition. £58,367.28.

Knowsit! It is actually standard and in very lovely condition.