Cabriolets

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Sixmile

Guru
Location
N Ireland
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This is my 2005 Suzuki Jimny O2 that I bought last Spring. This thing is slow as heck but most importantly; me, the kids and the dog love it, the wife is less keen but she has her sensible civic. It's surprisingly practical as the rear window zips out for longer items i.e. daughters cello & my guitar gear and has been used to lift a dishwasher, large chimenea and a double bed headrest. It's also provided some quality time with my retired neighbour who has really taken to working on it. We've done a little body work and chassis repair and have replaced both roof sections. The previous owner had screwed the rear roof into the body itself with woodscrews - I suppose that was a security thing but with a bit of isopon and a few spray tins from Home Bargains, it is good as new.

I'd previously owned an immaculate MG TF before no 1 arrived but after a failed HG repair I regrettably let it go for next to nowt - especially raging when I seen it a few years later driving through my local town all guns blazing again. Maybe I'll get another when the kids are up and doing their own thing.
 
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Accy cyclist

Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
I'm thinking about dying the roof of my Fiat 500C. It's a but grubby and I've always liked the burgundy roof on Fiat 500C's rather than the so called ivory on mine. I wouldn't call it ivory, more a shade of beige. I'm thinking if I bought this

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https://www.theleathercolourdoctor....ertible-roof-dye-soft-top-hood-canvas-restore
...and either did it myself, or more likely paid someone to do it for me, would it be a decent result, meaning would it cover the grubby beige with maybe 2 coats, or is it meant to re-dye already burgundy roofs?

Could it be turned burgundy, or would I be making it worse?🤔 Maybe a black dye would work better?🤔

hc=2FbtwT71JykQ7kNvgHU4a0n&_nc_ht=scontent.fman2-2.jpg
 
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Spiderweb

Not So Special One
Location
North Yorkshire
I'm thinking about dying the roof of my Fiat 500C. It's a but grubby and I've always liked the burgundy roof on Fiat 500C's rather than the so called ivory on mine. I wouldn't call it ivory, more a shade of beige. I'm thinking if I bought this

View attachment 743011

https://www.theleathercolourdoctor....ertible-roof-dye-soft-top-hood-canvas-restore
...and either did it myself, or more likely paid someone to do it for me, would it be a decent result, meaning would it cover the grubby beige with maybe 2 coats, or is it meant to re-dye already burgundy roofs?

Could it be turned burgundy, or would I be making it worse?🤔 Maybe a black dye would work better?🤔

View attachment 743012

I think I would give it a proper clean with the correct cleaning products, either do it yourself or get a valeting company to do it. It will need doing anyway before you dye the canvas although you may like the new clean cream colour.
There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to clean a Fiat 500 cabrio roof.
 

DRM

Guru
Location
West Yorks
Heap,it seems to fail every year then gets just enough work done to scrape a pass, avoid like the plague, it's also in Manningham, Bradford, home of many a dodgy dealer, Cazoo are just an online advertiser for car dealers
 
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Jameshow

Guru
Heap,it seems to fail every year then gets just enough work done to scrape a pass, avoid like the plague, it's also in Manningham, Bradford, home of many a dodgy dealer, Cazoo are just an online advertiser for car dealers

Deffo
I have lived in a dozen different places and Bradford especially Manningham / Manchester rd is the Oxbridge of dodgy car sales lots!!
 
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Accy cyclist

Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
Heap,it seems to fail every year then gets just enough work done to scrape a pass, avoid like the plague, it's also in Manningham, Bradford, home of many a dodgy dealer, Cazoo are just an online advertiser for car dealers

Ah, thanks for that DRM! 😉 The wonders of CC at work again, saving me a lot of cash!!😉👍 A friend of mine bought a 09 Fiat 500 for her just passed her test daughter for £1,950 from a similar dealer in Blackburn the other week. The exhaust fell off the thing! They went back to the dealer after 2 weeks of owning it to find the forecourt and sales portacabin empty, with the dealer going bust according to neighbours. She asked a garage how much it'd cost to get the exhaust fixed. The garage owner said it'd fallen off the end connected to the engine as it looked like the seller had had it stuck on bodger style to sell the car. It cost her 800 quid to get it made right, with the garage saying it might only last another year, then it'll have to be scrapped!!🙄
 

johnnyb47

Guru
Location
Wales
I bought a Peugeot 206 cc this time last year for around £1700 with a crazy low mileage of around 35k.
I was a little bit dubious of it to begin with.
Low mileage examples can often harbour lot's of gremlins due to there infrequent use, but touch wood it's been a good car
Also, dropping lucky with the half decent summer we've had this year the tops been down lot's of times.
When I never had one ,I would often think people were crazy when I saw one in the winter with the hood down,but you would be surprised how warm they are with the heaters turned up to max.
It's like sitting in a bubble of warm air.
In the really hot weather though,they can be uncomfortable to enjoy with the hood down.
The sun can get a bit to much.
The 2 litre engine and small size of the car makes it ideal for enjoying the twisty roads of Wales where I live.
Driving along the coastal roads gives you a great sense of freedom.
I've not driven it on a motorway but would imagine it would not be a nice experience due to the wind and traffic noise.
As for image,oh I get some stick and banter off my mate's.
Do I care?
Not a hoot.
I'm to old to care about what others think of me😂👍
 

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
Heap,it seems to fail every year then gets just enough work done to scrape a pass, avoid like the plague, it's also in Manningham, Bradford, home of many a dodgy dealer, Cazoo are just an online advertiser for car dealers

And ladies of the night. :laugh:

I've got to give some credit for the ladies though. They're dedicated. When I was a young bloke I was driving home from work in a snow blizzard. Just about every road in Bradford area became gridlocked. I tried to get around by using back roads through the old terraced roads around Manningham lane. There I was wheel spinning in the snow, this scantily clad woman in high heels knocked on my passenger window.

I scrolled the window down an inch, the words she said I never forget.

'Do you need any help, are you looking for business '.

It threw me a little thinking how is she going to push my car up the snow laiden road in those high heels. :laugh:

Its only when I got the end of the road, it dawned on me her motives and intentions, innocent young man back them!
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
We've just scrapped our Aygo as on-going work was going to be expensive, and we were planning on selling. When we bought it, we had to replace the whole exhaust within a couple of months - the cat snapped off at the engine manifold. Roll on four years and 50k miles extra, the cat has snapped at the exhaust flange. Headlamps had faded enough to fail, and I'd polished them. Also needed some welding in the usual spots on an Aygo. Repairs were looking at about £1k, when the car was now worth £1,500.

At least you know the history of your 500, it's not worth swapping for fancy seats and a red roof. I'd enquire about getting your roof properly cleaned if you are bothered about it.
 

Sharky

Legendary Member
Location
Kent
Funnily, our grand kids are mad on "Hot Wheels" toys. They couldn't believe what they were seeing when we parked next to an immaculate, red MGA. They thought it was a giant "hot wheels" car.
 
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