Eddie Honda's 96 Citroen Synergie VSX 1.9TD 7 seater.

[Eddie Honda]

Have you played it?
Screenshot_20191019-075927_Gallery.jpg

No, but I'd be shit-hot at it!

I've been miles more productive than usual, primarily because of lack of meticulous planning and just getting on with it and working it out on-the-go.

[Eddie Honda]

All that effort to collect utterly undesirable cars, I'm lost for words.

Knew you'd miss the point. They aren't cars, they are tricycles.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

All that effort to collect utterly undesirable cars, I'm lost for words.

My life feels less futile for reading this.

10/10 for persistence.

[SiC]

Nice selection of slightly enlarged Invacars you have there

[LynehamHerc]

I've obviously missed a key point amongst all the ferries and trailers but why are you doing all this?

[bub2006]

All that effort to collect utterly undesirable cars, I'm lost for words.

Knew you'd miss the point. They aren't cars, they are tricycles.

Prices seem to be on the up again after a plateau for a year or so. I'm finding it tricky to even get bits these days.

[Eddie Honda]

I've obviously missed a key point amongst all the ferries and trailers but why are you doing all this?

I'll explain a bit more later. It's a very good question that needs answering.

[fried onions]

Aye I was wondering too, I never knew you had so many vehicles squirreled away.

[Eddie Honda]

I've obviously missed a key point amongst all the ferries and trailers but why are you doing all this?

I'll explain a bit more later. It's a very good question that needs answering.

To which I wrote this the boat last night (the internet is dog-slow if you don't pay)

Why?

My parents used to live in Carlisle. Mother Honda died May 2017. House ownership at that point became 50% Father Honda, 25% Bro Honda and 25% Mine. Father Honda remarried in June 2018 and in September 2018 emigrated to the Philippines. Bro Honda lives in Japan. I live in Ireland. As the closest to the property, I have been lumbered with finishing off emptying out the house. The task was partially completed by Father Honda prior to his move. So the house has sat empty since then.

Some of my belongings are there, as are my bro's. The two major items to shift were my tricycles. The Regal is my 3rd car and I have owned it 28 years. The Rialto I bought as a hack in 2007.

Now getting these things shifted moved up the priority queue to be prepared for possible Brexit Oct 31st deadline. I had 9 days annual leave to take before the end of November, so I elected to take 2 days per week for four weeks during October.

My Peugeot 306 cabriolet is in Glasgow along with Tommy's* Jaaag. Both vehicles are without towbar and both are poorly suited for tip runs (although that didn't stop me so just that when I first got it).

It was suggested to me to get a van and reduce runs to the tip. Cumbria County Council have other ideas and vans with private waste are only allowed in with a permit. Only one permit per household per month, which whilst free needs to be applied for and a full description of the waste to be disposed of listed.

Having a van with windaes gets round that problem. If said van with windaes has a towbar then doubleplus good as I can also bring in a single axle small trailer to the tip without hassle either.

A work mate offered me a loan of his car trailer. It was an offer too good to refuse. I could worry about space later.

In both cases man maths applies. For the vehicle - cheaper than renting unless it grenades at the start of the task. For the trailer - Indespension Carlisle charge £60/day, £100/weekend, £300/week or £950/month (ex-VAT).

Tricycles are cheap to import because they are taxed the same as motorcycles. As they are both over 30 years old, they have a VRT rate of zero. Also the annual motor tax would be €22 instead of €88. Tricycles also are exempt from M50 and East Link tolls, for other tolls they are clased as a motorcycle. If I took a car to work, I'd end up paying not far off €1000 pa in tolls. That's why I ride to work. I could do it in dry and warm in a Reliant.

As plasticvandan will testify, they aren't as cheap or plentiful as they once were. Whilst I'll probably flog the Rialto on when the time comes, the Regal is a keeper despite being a horrendous thing to drive.

The Citroen Synergie was the right vehicle at the right time. It's not over 4.7m long or 2m high for the cheapest ferry tickets. Max trailer weight is 1300kg which is enough for a 700kg trailer with a 450kg car on top.

tl;dr I've got a house to empty and stuff to move.

[SiC]

I thought the max capacity on a trailer, even if unloaded, had to be under the max towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
It's what has always put me off getting my towing licence (I passed in 2003) as I'd unlikely have a vehicle capable of towing 2000+ kg and I'm only going to want to tow cars.