what cars have you owned?

joelsim

I absolutely adored my Alfa, the best car I've owned, great to drive, just lovely.

Also the worst. Bought it new, and must have been back to the garage at least 15 times in 4 years. Not great.

First.Aspect

Veronese68 wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

I really want an Alfa 159 but I know I'd be disappointed after a couple of weeks.

Why? I love my 156. It's done over 100,000 miles and it still goes well. Did 2,500 miles going to Italy in summer. Got over 125mph on the autobahn on the way back 4 up with a boot full of stuff.
When the crank sensor failed a few people said "what do you expect it's Italian?" I then pointed out that it was a bosch part as fitted to VAG cars and BMWs. The Bosch numbers are even the same. I don't believe my car is any lessreliable than an equivalent BMW. But, it's a third of the value and better looking.
I grant you, it's rubbish as an estate car. The boot opening is tiny. But who cares, it sounds great.

My car isn't one of the flash BMWs, but what it has is done well and its a nice place to be.

I tried a few 159's and the armrest was in the wrong place for human beings, the controls on the steering wheel require a magnifying glass and a stylus to use, so did the ones on the door, several of the remaining buttons look like Ford leftovers from 1978, the and roof racks (which I use a lot) would take 3-6 months to install and I don't like the sense that bits of the climate control or radio are going to come off in my hand if I try to use them. I guess the main problem with cars is that no matter how pretty they are, you only get to enjoy how they look when someone else is driving them. So if its a bit British Leyland inside, its a non starter for me.

But I still kind of want one.

chadders81

Veronese68 wrote:

Chadders81 wrote:

Bit jealous of all the Alfa owners on here. I'd have had one last time but my old man talked me out of it.

Do it.

Will do next time I get a car. I love the Brera and I can't ever imagine that will not look good. You look at some of their older cars now and they have stood the test of time so well.

meanredspider

First Aspect wrote:

So if its a bit British Leyland inside, its a non starter for me.

But I still kind of want one.

I've heard some criticisms of Alfas over the years but never a comparison with BL :shock:

Normally the best way to describe an Alfa is a great place to be - doesn't sound like the 159 has done that for you.

First.Aspect

meanredspider wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

So if its a bit British Leyland inside, its a non starter for me.

But I still kind of want one.

I've heard some criticisms of Alfas over the years but never a comparison with BL :shock:

Normally the best way to describe an Alfa is a great place to be - doesn't sound like the 159 has done that for you.

Sadly not. I tried, I really did, but I never got over the "oh, bug8er" moment when I first sat in one. Maybe I could get on to Pimp My Ride and ask them to put a BMW dashboard in one for me.

meanredspider

First Aspect wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

So if its a bit British Leyland inside, its a non starter for me.

But I still kind of want one.

I've heard some criticisms of Alfas over the years but never a comparison with BL :shock:

Normally the best way to describe an Alfa is a great place to be - doesn't sound like the 159 has done that for you.

Sadly not. I tried, I really did, but I never got over the "oh, bug8er" moment when I first sat in one. Maybe I could get on to Pimp My Ride and ask them to put a BMW dashboard in one for me.

Have you tried the GT? If I'm honest, I'm not fond of the 159 - it feels too heavy. Mind you, I've never been in a BMW that has stolen my heart - albeit I love RWD cars. Beemers are always so incredibly dull inside.

joelsim

Agreed. BMW is a very dull brand, The Ultimate Driving Machine it ain't.

First.Aspect

meanredspider wrote:

Have you tried the GT? If I'm honest, I'm not fond of the 159 - it feels too heavy. Mind you, I've never been in a BMW that has stolen my heart - albeit I love RWD cars. Beemers are always so incredibly dull inside.

Can't get a boat on the roof of a GT, unfortunately, because its made of foil and only stays on because of the roof lining.
Yes, BMW's are dull inside, but sensible. No need to reach under the seat to use the wipers, or anything like that. And compared to a VW its like being on the set of Tron.

MarcBC

1975 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL
1979 Renault 18 GTS
During the 80's
A Toyota Celica, a Peugeot 205 1.6 GTI and a Fiat UNO 45. All from new
During the 90's and into the 2000's
A coupe of Golf GTI's, incl a 16v, a Renault Clio 16v, a Renault 19 16v, Mini Cooper S, Saab 2.5 litre Convertible, 2x Range Rover Vogues.
Motorbikes: Suzuki GSXR 750, Suzuki GSXR 1000, 2 x Ducati Monsters.
All from new.
Current:
2005 VW Polo 1.4 Twist
2007 Porsche Carrera S (997)
2009 Honda Fireblade
2010 Landrover Defender 90xs
All from new.

Looks quite a lot when I list them. :oops:

joelsim

Agreed again. The VW GTi that I had was very poor indeed. Mark 3. Just boring.

unixnerd

BMW is a very dull brand, The Ultimate Driving Machine it ain't.

Old ones are better - www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/bmw.html

meanredspider

First Aspect wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Have you tried the GT? If I'm honest, I'm not fond of the 159 - it feels too heavy. Mind you, I've never been in a BMW that has stolen my heart - albeit I love RWD cars. Beemers are always so incredibly dull inside.

Can't get a boat on the roof of a GT, unfortunately, because its made of foil and only stays on because of the roof lining.
Yes, BMW's are dull inside, but sensible. No need to reach under the seat to use the wipers, or anything like that. And compared to a VW its like being on the set of Tron.

Facelift 156 2.4JTD Wagon then. Life's too short for "sensible". TBH, though, there aren't too many people that make the switch from BMW to Alfa or vice versa. They meet pretty different needs and desires.

optimisticbiker

oooohhh... let me think.... starting in 1976...

1965 Triumph TR4A IRS - eventually succumbed to chassis worm, stripped for restoration and eventually sold as a kit of bits for double what I paid for it 3 years earlier

1963 Ford Cortina mk1

1966 Mini 850 - eventually turned into a junior motocross racer

1967 Mini Van (stolen and used in a ram raid in Basildon!)

1970 Mini Clubman 1275GT, bored out 1340, 731cam, blueprinted, twin webbers, wolf in sheeps clothing

selection of boring company cars inc Ford Orion, Maestro, Metro, etc.

then changed employer so a selection of reasonable company cars, Peugot 405GRi, Saab 9000SX 2.3 turbo special edition

then changed again, no car scheme so a beat up Volvo 245DL estate in mustard yellow + rust, bought for £300 with 250,000 on the clock, sold 3y later for £150 with 320,000 on the clock, 80%+ were business miles @ 40p/mile and total running cost for the 3y other than petrol of £450!

Along the way, kids came along so VW Passat (written off), Nissan Micra (bought new), Renault 19 (bought new, moment of aberation) and other forgettable family runabouts plus another couple of Saab 9000

2002 VW Golf
2002 Audi TT Roadster, heavily modded, still owned
2009 Mini Cooper Graphite Special Edition, still owned

DonDaddyD

I passed my test in November 2008. A day or two before I moved out of the parents house and in with Mrs DDD.

In my time I've owned:

'96 (N reg) 1.3l Ford Fiesta
Given to me by my grandparents. Battery wouldn't charge properly. Took a portable jump start pack around with me and jump started the car on almost all the return journeys home. Passed every MOT without fail though.

'00 (W reg) 1.4l Seat Ibiza
Sebastian, my first 'proper' car that I bought with money. I loved it but quickly outgrew it. The car slowly fell apart around me. 64bhp, staggeringly underpowered yet economical with a resiliant engine. Never serviced it once. It eventually died on me with 98000 miles on the clock and then somehow started when I sold it to be scrapped.

'06 2.0l Mazda 6
My first 'big man' car. Was going to be an Alfa GT. Baby meant it needed 4 doors. I absolutely love everything about it. I call it KITT

Headhuunter

I'm almost 39 years old and I have never owned a car in my life.... Have owned a lot of bikes though...

veronese68

meanredspider wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Have you tried the GT? If I'm honest, I'm not fond of the 159 - it feels too heavy. Mind you, I've never been in a BMW that has stolen my heart - albeit I love RWD cars. Beemers are always so incredibly dull inside.

Can't get a boat on the roof of a GT, unfortunately, because its made of foil and only stays on because of the roof lining.
Yes, BMW's are dull inside, but sensible. No need to reach under the seat to use the wipers, or anything like that. And compared to a VW its like being on the set of Tron.

Facelift 156 2.4JTD Wagon then. Life's too short for "sensible". TBH, though, there aren't too many people that make the switch from BMW to Alfa or vice versa. They meet pretty different needs and desires.

Never sat in a 159. But like the 156 interior. It's a bit rubbish as an estate car as far as getting stuff in the boot. But everything else more than makes up for it.
I struggle with diesel Alfa's because the petrol ones sound so good. I had to take the big silencer air box thing off mine and fit the big inlet trumpet off a GTA.
Used an early 1.2 Alfasud for a fortnight in Italy a few years back. It was brilliant. A friend used it to recce rallies, so full cage and racing seat. It was thrashed to within an inch of it's life everywhere it went. Unfortunately it eventually got driven off a mountainside.

el_presidente

maroon Escort 1.6L. Bought for £700, leaked like a seive and carpets were always damp & smelly. never bothered locking it. Rear-ended into a ditch on Xmas Eve & written off - the perp drove off, I assume he was pissed.

Orion 1.4L. Caught on fire on the Littlehampton bypass

Peugoeot 405, 2 litre, nice driver. took it up to about 120,000 miles and was still going strong when I sold it

Rover 620i - 2 litre turbo. Great car, really fast but super stealthy. My mate was driving it at 100mph in the fast lane of the M6 when the rear tyre exploded - superb bit of driving to get us to the hard shoulder intact. Then I lent it to another mate and he managed to blow the head gasket.

Audi A4 avant tiptronic - hated the gearbox

Honda Accord type-R. Bought of a friend in Jersey super-cheap, 3yrs old and 8000 miles only. Lovely car, why did I ever sell it?

VW Golf R32. Awesome power but a bit too small and too nice to park on the street in central London.

Mondeo ST220. Nice but started to look tired very quickly and let me down badly in the snow.

Honda Accord tourer diesel (current) – yes I now have a family

Gussio

el_presidente wrote:

Rover 620i - 2 litre turbo. Great car, really fast but super stealthy. My mate was driving it at 100mph in the fast lane of the M6 when the rear tyre exploded - superb bit of driving to get us to the hard shoulder intact.

The horror.

Wheelspinner

1963 Ford Falcon. Slow, but comfortable.
Mitsubishi D50 Utility. Tartan pattern vinyl seats and wild go-faster stripes. :roll:

Alfasud Sprint, with full Zender kit. Hooligan car. Sold to avoid bankruptcy.
Honda Prelude
VW Golf of some sort
Audi A4
BMW E46 330 Ci convertible. Gorgeous, wish I still had it.
BMW E39 530i Individual M-Sport. Even more gorgeous, interior in cream and black Alcantara (like suede). Should have kept that one too.
BMW E61 530i Touring. Current daily drive.
BMW Z3. Hairdressers car by reputation, but really are a lovely thing to drive on a sunny day, roof down, with the small six cylinder humming. Current weekender.
Honda CRV inherited from itinerant sister as she has no fixed address these days.
Old Mazda utility for carting stuff around.
BMW R1200S is current bike (avatar)
R1100S was previous bike
Honda Bol d'Or 900 bike ages ago...

Mr Plum

what cars have you owned?

A really sh*t '86 Vauxhall Astra, in faded red, looked more like pink.

Greg T

Where are the pictures?

Right then . . with some licence re colours etc . . .

First motorbike . . Yamaha RD50



Then Honda CX500



Dad saw a bad bike smash whilst I was away at university so he sold that for me (without asking) and bought me my first sports car with the proceeds - deaf aide beige metro!



Sports handling was in my blood so when that gave up on me . . . .

Rover 214i!



Ah . . . .

Things got better . . . .

Alfa "wedge" Spider



Then in the breed, Alfa 156 V6 - beast engine sounded lovely




BMW 3 series



Then my current car of seven years . .



and in the meantime . . .

Mahoosive Land Rover Vogue



and a volvo that I can't be bothered googleising

jedster

Austin Metro 1 litre beige - horrid
Audi A4 1.9TDI - very basic spec, bit dull but a big improvement
VW Passat 1.9TDI 110 - a little better in almost every way than the A4
Mazda MX5 1800, manual, no power steering, no ABS - technically my wife's, wish we hadnt sold it
VW Passat 2.8V6 Syncro - all the toys - fast, comfortable but not a very exciting
BMW 530i Touring - just a brilliant car. Totalled when some daft woman in a Cayenne drove into my wife. Never liked those horrid Porkers
BMW 535D Touring Msport - colleague of mine races GT cars. He describes this bimmer as the best allround road car you can buy. Hard to argue - does everything well. Oh, unless it's snowing...

Santa cruzing

In chronoligical order, starting around 9 years ago:

89 Fiat Panda 1.0 - Kermitt green and a roll back roof for the summer yo!
82 Mk1 Golf GTi 1.6 - Rotten as a pear

Then I moved out and got Motorbikes - the last one being a j-import Bandit 400. Great bike for short people!

78 MGB GT - Bought in pieces. Stil In pieces. Will drive it one day - bought around 04 - fast road build in progress. Bumpers in the bin!

Then after playing with Motorbikes and not driving I passed My test in Jan 2007:

88 Mini City 998 - Buckets, rally stickers etc - off the speedo once!
98 306 1.4 - errmmm
92 Mercedes 190e 2.0 - In white, naturally - Awesome and want it back - best car ever!
95 306 1.8 - Cheap and nasty
95 Clio 1.4 - for the missus you see....
01 Mondeo 2.0 TDDI - diesel pump went at 157k and not worth replacing
00 306 1.6 auto - for the missus you see....longest we have kept a car at 2yrs 3months and counting...(MG Excluded)
88 Mini City 998 - orange, wide arches and 10 inch mambas. damn cool!
01 VW T4 - homebrew camper conversion with Ikea kitchen and stuff - had it 1 year last week and nearly finished now. Spent several nights away over the spring/summer and love it. Havn't even thought about selling it yet - Think this and the MG will be with me a loooong time.

I have to make a concious effort not to look at ebay motors as it gives me plenty of bad ideas and results in an everchanging wish list the length of a loo roll.

BenS999

1998 - Mazda 626, written off 6 weeks after passing drivers test in South Africa
1998 - VW Jetta, water would boil in traffic, so it was very economical as I was always using Manual Start-Stop Technology (MSST) via the ignition key :-)
1999 - VW Polo (my only purchased from new car, never again, lost too much money)
2000 - BMW 535i - the most fun car i have owned. Until I remember the fuel bills.
2002 - BMW 520i - first car in UK.
2005 - VW Polo (moved to London - sold BMW for a Polo and a scooter!)
2010 - Audi A3 - currently still have it.
I've had my eye on another 5 series...maybe a 535d of some sort. Certainly wont go near the petrol ones again...I have learn't from that lesson!

gixer5

1981 Austin Metro 1.3s
1987 Peugeot 205 Gti 1.9
1988 Peugeot 205 Gti 1.6
1999 Citroen Saxo VTR
2001 Peugeot 206 CC 2.0
1994 TVR Griffith 500
2000 VW Golf GT Tdi (full ABT kit) - owned for the last 10 years

1999 Suzuki GSXR 600
2008 Suzuki GSXR 600 K7 - owned from new

2011 Ibis Mojo SL - the best one of the lot :-)

Torvid

1997 2.0 mondeo
1998 2.0 escort
1999 1.6 feista
2001 1.4 rover 214
2002 1.5 accent
2005 1.8 MR2 roadster
2010 2.2 astra coupe bertone (bag of shite)

Just eyeing up 3 series to blow the redundancy money on after I buy a new frame.

rrice

1990 Audi 80
1992 VW Polo Coupe Sport
1994 BMW 316 - complete with crazy set of wide wheels. REally tacky and full of rust
1995 Honda Prelude 1.8 - great handling car, that one
1996 BMW 325i Sport - bright red with full M-Tech interior and kit. I loved that car! Also met my wife who had own Mercedes E300 Estate. She hated by red beemer!!
2001 Brand new Audi TT (work car). Sell red beemer and Merc Estate for Mercedes E320 Saloon - boring or what!
2004 Swap TT for new BMW X5
2007 Swap X5 for new Land Rover Discovery 3. Trade Merc Saloon for Passat Estate
2010 Swap Discovery 3 for Discovery 4

Think that covers it

veronese68

Greg T. A CX500? Were you a despatch rider in a past life? They were known as Maggots as I recall. MCN had a comic strip about the CX500 brotherhood, aka the Undead.
Here are some pics of my motorbikes:




The black Ducati in the first picture was bought as a write off and rebuilt ot the condition of the third picture. The Triumph was also completely rebuilt.

blu3cat

Only ever owned one car.

A clapped out mk 2 Fiesta was once red, but had faded to a rusty orange colour. Went for 6 months and then stopped.

Cost me £50 and a crate of beer.

meanredspider

jedster wrote:

BMW 535D Touring Msport - colleague of mine races GT cars. He describes this bimmer as the best allround road car you can buy. Hard to argue - does everything well. Oh, unless it's snowing...

I'd argue that the Merc E320CDI Sport is the best all-round road car you can buy - but then it's almost the same spec as the BMW. It's FANTASTIC in snow too, though. But you do need to fit winter tyres - then it just goes...