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Post by michael on Sept 24, 2018 17:15:09 GMT 1
Twenty-five to thirty years ago I had the choice of four motor accessorie/spares shops and seven petrol stations. Many of the petrol stations also sold bits an pieces like bulbs, fan belts, etc. Now I have the choice of two petrol stations and one accessorie/spares shop. The petrol stations have a small supermarket each but hold barely anything for cars beyond screen wash and oil...
The accessorie/spares shop doesn't really keep long hours and doesn't open Sunday. Today I popped in as I needed some rubber sheet to make a small gasket. Guess what they do not stock it! Why does everything have to become hard work...
All I could do was get a coffee and post a moan! Yes we have endless coffee shops, charity shops and hairdressers...
What's it like where you live...
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Post by bhups on Sept 24, 2018 22:59:51 GMT 1
It’s the same where I live. Only a handful of petrol stations where I live and maybe one or two car accessory shops.
I think with car accessory shops these have been on decline as many parts in the day were interchangeable cross manufacturers. Now not so much.
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Post by Joe on Sept 25, 2018 7:21:08 GMT 1
I think we must be blessed in my part of the world, in Colchester we have Halfords (ok but they are better than none) Wilcos (better than Halfords for car stuff) and a propper old school car accessory shop (he had plugs and points for a MK3 on the shelf)
I can also think of at least three propper old school garages within ten miles of my house.
It's all about supply and demand and as hardly anyone works on their cars anymore it's not surprising.
And of course people just order up online...
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Post by Eddie on Sept 26, 2018 23:15:23 GMT 1
We now have only 2 proper petrol stations - almost everybody goes to Tesco's because they are so much cheaper.
There is a motor factors but the staff there have never heard of a Zephyr or Zodiac. They did once let me have a look in their warehouse to see if I could find anything useful. I found a few Anglia parts but nothing for us.
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Post by cardaft on Sept 30, 2018 10:03:01 GMT 1
Hi, Blimey what is left? ,one place here in Girvan, Scotland, all ways been helpful with advice with modern cars and sells A/F nuts bolts and washers, no service parts for the older car.I remember there used to be a place in Hillingdon, West London, had everything for my daily driver that was a MK3 Executive then (still looking for it) great place, unfortunately stank of cat pee!! I suppose eBay and others have done for that,very simple and easy now to have substandard rubbish delivered to your door.
Remember , as a kid ,in Coatbridge Scotland ( if Scotland needed an enema that is were they would insert the tube!!) My dad used to buy 4 gallons of petrol a week ( nobody filled their car up then) plus 4 shots of Redex ( upper cylinder lube, remember that?) for his Morry Minor, always BP and the forecourt attendant would put the fuel in ,pump could be pre-set, I remember watching the dials go round, he would then check the oil and clean the windscreen, his morry did not have washers then or flashing indicators, trafficators and if they stuck,which they often did, hand signals!!
Has anybody given thought to self service replenishment of petrol,in industry it would be a requirement to train the operator in hazard materials use, slip hazards, static electricity precautions and I'm sure many others, but here we are,let lose with a high capacity pump,with very flammable liquid, forget your suicide bomb all you would need is access to a petrol pump and a lighter or match.
If you care about your car never ever use supermarket fuel, quality can be very iffy,it is usually bought on the 'spot market'
cd
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Post by jeffturbo on Oct 6, 2018 11:17:44 GMT 1
I have 2 motor spares shop here in Lincoln that I use, one is very helpful but not a lot for either my zodiac or consul but plenty for my other cars. I use Stewart Flett for anything I need and try not to use ebay. Also have a great auto electrician I use here who knows old cars. All garages here are just for petrol and groceries.
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Post by theswede on Oct 13, 2018 7:16:33 GMT 1
In Sweden, almost all gas stations has become grocery stores/hot dog stands, maybe some oil and washer fluid. But we have a local brand gas station "Rune's" here, that since 1955 has served people with car parts and gas.
Remember one Christmas evening early 2000's. I needed a charge regulator for my -67 Volvo 121. Rune's was open and they hade it on the shelf. Otherwise all cities of rank will have "The IKEA for cars", Biltema. They have a lot, but maybe not for a Zodiac -63 ...
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