Bought me sent a car ....

[SGHOM]

.......... Wasn't going to, I have my scooter and plenty of shops nearby, and more being opened new year close by.

But, with the limited range of my chariot, boredom kicked in. I can only watch so much daytime TV !

So, got me a Little run around. Cheap and cheerful.

It has a tiny engine so is very economic...... Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what? Usual bag of sweets on offer.

[Amonlym]

Austin metro with absolutely any engine option, they all did 43 to the gallon town, motorway or track.

[SGHOM]

Bigger..... But with smaller engine

[Nick Mann]

VW UP. Aka Skoda Citygo.

[SGHOM]

One more clue..
... Hopefully a few guesses, then I will tell you before I go to bed.

It can lift it's petticoat if required !!

[SGHOM]

Sorry.... Falling asleep on the settee Doe's nothing to aid late night replies !

Basically, I did not want to use my mobility allowance, so I was looking for second hand cars. I wanted an old school merc s class 320 d ... Looked at a few and even got insurance quotes. But getting the finance was impossible. So.... It was either new or no car at all...... Not an option.
Yesterday, I went to lookers ford and having done loads of online research, I knew I would have to compromise.

NO !!!! I got the exact car I wanted down to a tee..... Happy days

Fiesta ST navigator X in the right color. Pearlescent magnetic titanium..... Or dark gray to you and me !

A bit of spec:
3 door
Lowered
17" titanium alloys (2018 spec)
Privacy glass
Front and rear parking sensors
675w 10 speaker bang & ollufson sound system
6 speed with stop start
And then the usual..... Part leather, cruise, climate, Lane change warning, auto brake's.... So if I forget, the car won't !! Not sure I will put that to the test lol !
And the engine....?? 1 ltr 3 cylinder Eco boost. Producing 140 pferdestarke. ( 138 bhp) enough grunt to get it to 60 in under 9 second and 126 mph ...... Not too shabby? I await delivery

[TAR]

The little Ford engines are really good. You'd never know it was missing a cylinder.
Excellent choice Derek.

[Amonlym]

I have done some maths.
6/2 = 3,
280/2 = 140,
4/2 = 2

you have half a VR4

[SGHOM]

Cheer's Peep's.
ETA 29/12......but I'm in no rush.
Mpg is irrelevant, you will never achieve. But , FyI......
53 urban, 76 extra urban and 63 combined.......... Dream on !!

[Davezj]

Excellent little car.
If it is half a vr4 then it should respond nicely to one td04.
Lol

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

[SGHOM]

Good idea Dave!!
I think I will stick to a private plate....... Possibly.

My Dan has D 7 TEW ........ I can get D 19 TEW for £400 including transfer and plates....... Would look quite cool together outside a nice restaurant

[SGHOM]

Well...... looking forward to my ickle fester in December, even though I'm going to try and defer it until march. not for the kudos of an 18 plate.... but for various other reasons.

meaning..... I'm in no rush........ also whilst ever I delay, more money in my account..... & if we have a bad winter (not personally too bothered about that ! ) It will probably not move until spring ! If you didn't know..... every road in Sheffield is a hill ! I can drive level to meadowhead..... kick the clutch out.... & coast the remaining 3 miles to town !!!!! getting back would be the problem.

Also, after reading many blogs on social media etc...... ford are struggling to meet delivery targets. one person was promised her car in 4 weeks. 17 weeks on, & still no car !!

anyhow, I WILL get the car regardless, even though someone has chucked a spanner in the works...... & not a small spanner !!! but more on that later.

[SGHOM]

The HUGE spanner was launched by the DWP..... bastids !!
They decided....after my last medical ... that I'm 100% fit and able for work & must sign on & be actively seeking work !! ESA stopped. They even sent me my P45 & a list of possible employers....... back in the building trade !! FFS..... getting into a loft or under a floor in my wheelchair ?? err...... I think not!

After many phone call to the DWP, who openly admitted they hadn't got a clue as to what they were on about........ I took it to a higher level & eventually got a positive response. I can now reaply with a new claim...... disregarding any previous claims.

It may take a while.... but I'm prepared to wait a 'normal' outcome.

without too much detail...... the DWP decided I could live on £55 per week (after paying for car ) soo...... lets take in to account full rent £100 + council tax + bedroom tax + gas / elec + food etc ! I'm no mathematician....... but I don't think the sum's add up !!

[swinks]

More gloomy news for you Derek...
Talking from "other side of the desk", as an insider I can tell you that gov budget cuts were enormous this autumn, and next finacial year looks really very bad. Prepare for a very hard fight for ESA. At the moment guidelines are to get every soul off benefits if there are even slim chances, offer them training for like office job and kick them out to Jobseekers. This year several bilion of pounds had to be relocated to Brexit funds (secure agriculture and fishering subsidies, divorce bill). Same next year, but on bigger scale. Fingers crossed for you, but please prepare your case very, very well.

[SGHOM]

More gloomy news for you Derek...
Talking from "other side of the desk", as an insider I can tell you that gov budget cuts were enormous this autumn, and next finacial year looks really very bad. Prepare for a very hard fight for ESA. At the moment guidelines are to get every soul off benefits if there are even slim chances, offer them training for like office job and kick them out to Jobseekers. This year several bilion of pounds had to be relocated to Brexit funds (secure agriculture and fishering subsidies, divorce bill). Same next year, but on bigger scale. Fingers crossed for you, but please prepare your case very, very well.

Thank you Tomasz for your input, much appreciated.

As it stands now, & after many calls to & from the DWP........ most of them apologetic from higher standings ! I have been advised to apply for 'mandatory reconsideration'. I should hear within 10 working days. If successful, my ESA will be reinstated & backdated. failing that..... my case will go to appeal.

An appeal can take up to 6 months, in the meantime, I will get full ESA. failing that...... I will have to go on JSA..... but.... not actively seeking work due to health issues. the money will be made up by means of income support....... not as much as ESA, but liveable.

I now need to know as soon as possible.... certainly before Christmas .. where I stand. The money will come from somewhere, where ? I don't know as yet.

In my opinion Tomasz........ the impending 'universal credit' has fecked everything up !!! not available to me until 2018, or even 2019 !! If at all !!

[chris g]

I thought you were nearly 40...?

Whats all this benefit malarkey...

Get out of that wheelchair, stop using the Stannah and get a job...

Or at least get on yer bike and cycle to next town, is that Rotherham?, to look for one...

[SGHOM]

Well.... mandatory reconsideration failed plan B...... whatever that might be ? appeal ?? don't think I have much choice at the moment.

[SGHOM]

beware the ides of march !

[TAR]

Well, you eiher have a mate called Caesar who got some trouble coming or you may be getting your new car?

[SGHOM]

I feed the neighbours german shepherd Caesar........ but that's about as roman as I get !

car now delayed (by ford) until march 15th..... at the earliest . & their excuse is...... they can't get the leather for the seats !! As excuses go, that's got to be up there !!!