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it was from the other direction but not this way, also when I went back up the road there was a very small sign that has been there for months,(scince they dropped the speed from 40 to 30) I could fight it but if I lose I will have to pay court costs, a bigger fine and could get 6 points. I know what will happen next time a copper asks for help... Simply be told to eff off! Out in the sticks with us they relie on the community helping them police the area, well I won't be anymore that's for sure. Ok I was technically breaking the law but I allways drive at a speed that I feel is safe for the conditions etc and can't be that far out as I've kept a clean licence for 18 years, only ever been done for speeding by the French police up till nowand that was with them hidding behind an embankment as I was comming down off a dual carriageway where the speed limit dropped drastically. I just wish they would target proper criminals instead of using motorists as a mobile ATM!

Sorry if any members are coppers but I'm starting to have enough. When we get broken into for the third time in months they don't seem to give a toss, (even when we recovered some of the items and gave them a name and address of the perportrator they still didn't prosecute ) yet on Sunday morning when driving my crap hole of a focus for the last time I got caught by a hidden speed camera doing 36 on a deserted road. Now they've sent me a letter giving me the chance to send them £100 in exchange for them sending me 3 points or the chance to send them £85 and do a safety course. Surely if it's about safety then they wouldn't have hidden behind a hedge?

I think you're going to need yet another shed soon...

Thanks, I forgot it's only Britain that calls them vauxhalls.

Ive never had a Vectra before, but used to have mk 3 cav's, at the time bar rust in the arches and track rod ends that used to sieze in the steering so you couldn't adjust the tracking,I never had any problems with them. My daily run around is a 1.7 Diesel Astra Van, regularly clocks over a thousand miles a week, and not to many issues with it. No where near as quick as the Vectra though but if driven sensibly on the motorway will genuinely return 70mpg+ (6 speed box). Apparently post 2005 Vectras had the suspension issues sorted so they now handle ok. I guess to a certain extent this new one is recapturing my youth with everything on it that I wanted as a teenager and yet had to do without because of the insurance issues and lack of money (still haven't got the money but insurance is only £260 a year for me and the wife). I also like the idea of shocking a few boy racers in a diesel automatic.

Just had a look on how many left and apparently there's only 36 of these autos in the country. Should make getting parts tricky...and expensive.

At least that means you can easily date the mower.

What engine is fitted to this one Paul?

But I'd keep having to go back for everything that flew off the trailer. Just googled it, apparently it's good for 143mph.

May be but I've got the restricted towing licence. If it's all ok after a month I'll probably fit a towbar and maybe get rid of my skoda fun to save on tax and insurance.Apparently this car has won towcar of the year by one of the big caravan clubs so should be up to the job of a combined 750kilo load. The problem is I may keep forgetting its behind!

Not that I've tried (haha) but triple figures are only about 2800rpm.

Thanks Paul, I had been looking at the 1.9 vectra's and I know that from a cost point of view the smaller engine would be the better buy, (tax, insurance,mpg and maintenance all quite a bit lower)however having had a test drive down the m4 all I can say is OMG! to hell with cost and lets start having some fun again. It hit the legal speed limit within seconds ( honestly I didn't go any quicker officer,lol).I've had to put up with the focus for 3 years and almost never driven it in all that time because I dislike it so much. Plus the amount of issues it's had I don't trust it-even if I was given a new ford I wouldn't accept it.This was quite a big cheaper to buy than the smaller engine vectra's due to people being frightened by the potential running costs.

I've been looking for a diesel automatic for quite some time due to no cartalidge in my left knee.As you may be aware good diesel ones aren't common unless you've a small fortune to spend. When I was a teeenager I allways loved my cavillers, and always wanted an sri but due to insurance had to settle for bog std 1600. This morning I've just purchased this wolf in sheeps clothing in the shape of a v6 3.0 turbo diesel automatic vectra sri.(didn't know they did such a beast) It's the first car I've ever had that genuinely throws you back in your seat if hit the throttle yet the insurance is only group 12. Should do in the late 30's mpg and drives way better than clarkson ever claimed. Let's just hope it's not an expensive mistake. Can't be any worse than my horrible focus. Can't wait to collect it in the week.

Are you using an iPad? I've found if I use mine, the photos come out upside when viewed with an iPad yet the right way up on a PC for some reason. Seems to do this on all forums.

Today I gave them both a run up, luckily both pumps are fine. Only 3 more packs to finish now. I did want to do a video but it starting peeing down, hopefully tomorrow. The beaver is giving 17litres a minute and the compact is giving 17.5. Even when brand new you are lucky to get around 18 so I am very pleased with the result.Anything over 15 will run a breaker fine.

Bar a few checks this Beaver and the Compact are now ready for a trail run and flow test. Today I wired up the stop switch,(new one obviously on the left) fitted the guard that I found for the oil cooler, (can see why so many got smashed off!). Fingers crossed that the pumps are ok as otherwise these projects start to get very expensive. Ive had no way of checking them until Ive got this far.

Been sorting out the oil cooler and guard today. Also dug out my doner machine for the pump which was cleaned up, just got to get the drive cog off along with the key.

Great looking van and great to see its still earning its living.

Got to admit I'd allways be very wary of claiming that ive got the earliest of something, unless I had actually number 1. Theres usually allways at least one tucked away somewhere in a barn with a lower number that will suddenly surface. Still nice to see such an early example though and I loved the old Castrol oil can repair patches that somebody had very neatly carried out. It would be a great shame if this part of the vans history was lost for the sake of a shinny coat of paint. Am I right in thinking the rubber winged examples were produced for the post office only?

Heres a couple more shots.

There's a few on ebay.com the American ebay.

A look on Dvla has no record of the number.

I don't think it is, but at a quick glance it didn't look too far away.

Went to Shrewsbury Steam Rally today, the show in itself was great however its the last time I will ever attend due to the last 2 miles taking as long as the first 65 miles due to the organisers only opening one of the entrances to the show to the public and causing a two hour tail back. (this is the 3rd time Ive experienced this ) and then having to que for another half hour on top just for them to take my money! I even witnessed an ambulance with its siren on getting caught up in the jam. Any way heres a few photos of items that caught my eye, like I said a great show once you got in. Particuarly loved the moggie van, its claimed to be the oldest RHD one, it was really nice to see one preserved like this in original condition.

Nice to see plant starting to turn up at shows, got to admit at first glance it looked like a converted forklift.