what cars have you owned?

Greg T

Veronese68 wrote:

Greg T. A CX500? Were you a despatch rider in a past life?

Loved that bike . . .

Working for a living much too much like hard work . . .

Like the Triumph . . . . every now and again I get an itch . . . and also fancy getting a bike again . . .

veronese68

I'm rebuilding another Triumph. The frame is hanging from the Garage roof in the picture of chaos. Unfortunately I've got to sell it when it's finished. I will have to ride it for a bit first though.

asprilla

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

Until it swallows one of it's own butterfly valves and rights off the engine in a fashion not covered under warranty.

Fireblade96

I've only ever bought one car, my trusty 51-plate Ford Focus estate - bought nearly 4 years ago, and only because I need something to transport my toys (bikes, kayaks,...).
I've driven a few others:
- Renault 5 (lovely metallic brown), my Mum's. Crashed it, fixed it, it disintegrated and was sold for scrap.
- Renault 5 (gold, 5-door) - Mum's again, given to me when I left home. Sold to a mate for a pittance.
- Jeep Cherokee (company car when I worked in the States) - primitive engineering and interior but got me to/from ski areas several times a week with no complaints.
- innumerable rental cars, almost all GMC sh1te. Forgettable.

I've always spent my own money on motorbikes:
- Honda VT250. Passed my test on that bike, and had many youthful adventures. A great piece of kit, only sold when I moved to England for work.
- Kawasaki GT550. Solid, reliable, slow and dull. Still took me all over the country, to France, trips back to Ireland,...
- Yamaha XJ900. Torque on tap, great two up, comfy, handled like an undersprung armchair. Tank-slapped every time I took a hand off the bars, nearly killed me on at least one occasion.
- Yamaha TDM850. The Tedium. Disappointing and unreliable.
- Triumph Trident 900. The only bike I've ever bought new. Black and red with hand-painted gold pinstriping on the tank ! Loved it, but it was heavy and blew up (thankfully under warranty). Sold when I moved to the US.
- Suzuki Bandit 1200. Great bike, fast, reliable, handled well. Rode it to California and back, drag raced it, sold it when I moved.
- Triumph Speed Triple T509, bought in New York. Ridden all over new England, up to Montreal, sold when I moved back to UK.
- Honda Fireblade RRT. Owned since 2003, the best bike I've ever had. Fast, comfy, handles better than I do.

I'm now shopping for a 2-up touring bike, as I can't get Mrs FB and any luggage on the 'blade at the same time. Not selling my Blade though, this is definitely going to be N+1.

okgo

Ford fiesta 1.1 - written off rolled it into a field
Renault Clio 1.2
Citroen AX 1.5 D
Pug 306 gti-6
MINI Cooper-s company cars for a year or so
Pug 306 gti-6
E39 528

I've been car-less for a year, about to buy another, probably a cheap Golf, probably try and find a V5 or something so it at least has a little shove, I'd like an M3 CSL, I'd not want it lefton the street where some scummy cnut is going to scratch it etc. So that will have to wait for a year or so, which handily is when I hit 25 so cheaper insurance

BigLee1

since passing my test in `88
MK2 1.3 Escort
MG Metro, worst car I ever had
Mk2 Cavalier SRi
MK2 Escort RS2000
MK3 RS1600i
MK3 RS Turbo
E30 325i Estate
MK2 Golf GTI 16v
MK2 Golf GTI 16v 2litre GTI Engineering modifield, bought off a vicar and it was a shed
Subaru Impreza Turbo Terzo ltd edition
Volvo 850 T5 auto
E39 530i sport
Current car for the past 4 years, p2 Volvo V70 D5, brill car, quick (200bhp ) plenty of toys in it and can carry anything from 2 mtb`s and camping kit to a full IKEA Kitchen I`d really struggle to find anything to better it


Bikes,
600cc Bandit
CBR 600FW
Triumph Daytona 955i
R1200GS
Triumph Tiger 1050

Sailorchick

Drove my Mums Volvo 440 for a year after passing my test. (My brother had the same deal but wrote the volvo off after driving into the back of a stationery cavalier at 50mph a few years later)

Then had a C reg VW Polo Coupe Fox. Loved this car, it also taught me basic engine maintenance as it regularly broke down. Managed to sell it for the same amount as I bought it for after 4 years.

Parents bought me a M reg Honda Civic 1.5LSi for my 21st birthday. Again loved this car and basically drove it into the ground. Managed to use it for part exchange after 3 years as I couldn't have sold it to anyone - it used more oil then petrol near the end.

Bought a '02 Seat Lean 1.4. Had this for 3 years and would never buy another. Leaked, weighed a tonne, took ages to get too speed as too heavy for the engine. Was probably a good car for me though as needed to reduce the speeding points on my licence and you couldn't speed in this tank! Sold it for cash.

Now only have one car between myself and husband, '53 Peugeot 406 estate. Its huge and has plenty of power which is great. Neither of us drive to work (both cycle) so car is mainly used for towing boats all over the place and its big enough to sleep in when at events.

trekker12

Ford Fiesta Mk2 bought off my sister @ 18
MGBGT 1980 Borrowed/share owned with Dad @21
MGBGT 1976 bought two years later to replace above car when driven into by a lorry (Dad was driving)
Citroen Saxo VTR @ 23 drove for 110,000 miles - crashed twice (one was my fault but there was no-one around and the other wasn't) used for rallying, recce'ing and general hack for many years. Finally gave it to the scrap man in 2009

Now drive the MGBGT as my only car.

I've navigated many more rally cars than cars I've owned - it's more fun that way and you don't have to buy the car!

Pokerface

Not that many over the years.


Honda Civic for 2 weeks, traded in for...
Jeep Wrangler
Audi A4
Given by father: Ford Mondeo
Audi A4
Porsche Boxster
Suzuki Grand Vitara


Only one car was new. The last one which I still own!

tailwindhome

Mini
Citreon AX
Renault Clio
Seat Toledo



Nothing worth bragging about eh?

Never been a petrol head.


Have had the Toledo for 5 years and done c100,000 miles. It's one of the new shape - an Altea with a big boot which is great for a cyclist as folding the rear seats means the bike can lie flat without having to take off the front wheel.

clarkey cat

Couple of Golfs.
Peugeot 205.
Couple of Fiestas.
A big Rover.
Vauxhall Astra.
BMW 320i
Ford Ka.
Skoda Fabia (current).

walkingbootweather

A few company cars but have owned:

Marina fastback (always slow getting anywhere but fast back)
Mini
Sierra
Primera eGT (excellent)
Lexus GS
Zafira & Hyundai i30 (family cars)

Now thinking about something different. Recommendations anyone?

il_principe

None!

Next question.

Would rather spend money on bikes. Dreading having to own a car.

secretsam

Errrr....
Escort Mk3 x 2
VW Golf Mk2 GTI
Ford Puma 1.7

That's it for "me", but "we" have also owned:
Audi A4 estate
Seat Alhambra (current car)

But I've driven around 88 different cars in my life, in total (so far), mostly for work reasons (hire cars, etc) :shock:

Mark__gti

1.3 mk4 ford escort
peugeot 106 quiksilver
toyota starlet gt turbo ep82
mk1 golf gti

1971 volkswagen campervan

saxo vtr
mk4 golf gttdi

gtvlusso

Urmm:

Owned:

Citoen 2 CV - Red - The "L" plate care
Fiesta Mk1 - Reddish Brown
Renault 11GT - Blue
Alfa Romeo GTV Lusso 2.0 - Red - Tuned to buggery
Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2 V6 - Red
Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 - Green
Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 2.5 V6 - Blue
BMW 318 iSE - White
BMW 318 iSE Estate - Silver
Audi 80 2.8 V6 - Green
BMW E30 325 - Gunmetal
Merceds ML 4 x 4 270 CDI - Silver - Current, although soon to be replaced by a new ML.

Company Cars:

Ford Orion 1.8 Diesel
Ford Escort 1.8TD Estate
Ford Mondeos - lost count!
Land Rover Discovery's x 3
Mercedes E320TD

Motorbikes:

Honda Express
Honda CB125
Suzuki GS1000 (customised to be a cafe racer)
Suzuki GSXR1000W
Sukuki GSXR1000R K4 (The widowmaker)
Suzuki GSXR600W SRAD
Ducati 748BP
Ducati 996 SPS (with 'R' engine - (The pantwetter)

There are some missing and the timeline is incorrect.

What I want to own:

Jaguar XKSS:



And I want white leather driving gloves with an 'L' and an 'R' on the back - aid memoir....



Urmm.....not in any order, some missing, lost count....

walkingbootweather

gtvlusso wrote:

And I want white leather driving gloves with an 'L' and an 'R' on the back - aid memoir....

My wife uses a similar mnemonic. She has C&A in her pants

Agent57

VW Type 1 1500 semi-automatic:



Crashed it into a cop car.



Replaced it with another Type 1, this time a 1200. Lowered with Sway-A-Ways:




Fiat Tipo 1.4ies
Rover 620 SLDi
Triumph Spitfire 1500
Fiat Bravo 1.2
Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 HDi Desire

Also have a Honda CB600SF Hornet.

afcbian

Here goes .............

1974 Viva 1256 HC x 2
1982 Cavalier 1.6L MK2 saloon
1981 Passat 1.6 MK 1
1982 Cavalier 1.6 GLS MK1
1984 Opel Kadett 1.6 MK 1
1985 Cavalier Commander 1.6
1982 Cavalier 2.0 GLS Auto MK 2
1987 MG Metro
1991 Cavalier 1.6 LS MK 3
1992 Mondeo 1.6 LX MK 1
1991 Sierra Sapphire 1.8 LX
1991 Citreon ZX Volcane TD
1988 Cavalier 2.0 CDi
1995 Rover 1.6 SLI company car
1998 Vectra 1.8 LS company car
2001 Volvo V40 1.9D SE company car
2002 Skoda Octavia 1.8T VRS company car
2002 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Ghia X
2002 Skoda Octavia 1.8T VRS
2001 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Veloce
2001 VW Passat 1.8T SE MK 2
2002 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec
2002 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec S
2000 BMW E39 523i
2002 Volvo S60 T5 SE
2004 Mondeo ST220 V6
2008 Volvo V50 D5 R Design company car
2008 Skoda Octavia VRS PD TDi company car
2011 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi Exclusiv company car.......by a million miles the worst car I have driven recently.

bobhitch

1975 Austin allegro 1100
Austin maestro
Rover 214
Volvo V40 T5 estate
Mercedes CLK 230 cabriolet
Porsche 911 C4S
Bentley continental GT
Bentley continental GTC

Things have come a long way since the allegro !

nich

None...I haven't taken my test and I'm in my 30's :oops:

I do have a scooter though 8)

essex-commuter

Cortina 1600E
Lotus Cortina Mk1
Opel Manta


5 Fiesta's
8 Escort's
3 Mondeo's

shouldbeinbed

cor, some pretty thorough record keeping going on!

a mini
a lada
a cortina
a bunch of golfs over the years
the big bouncy citroen with the letterbox rear view (? bx)
a fiat uno
a passat
a qashqai.

theres a couple of others too but I can't bring them to mind, didn't last long.

BG2000

veronese68

That Citroen SM is nice. I was once looking at one in a customers garage and with my shins agains the front bumper I couldn't reach the engine, and I'm quite tall.

CiB

essex-commuter wrote:

Lotus Cortina Mk1

Faints with joy & pleasure...

That's about the first thing on here that made me grin & go into meltdown, and is top of my list of 'cars that I'd really like to have but probably never will.' Includes the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a pukka RS1800 and even maybe a mint RS2. Exotica? Not really. Big fan of wolf in sheep's clothing type things though.

Essex-commuter. Add yourself to the Stats board and have this here 17500 miles on the house, in recognition of your good taste (and deep pockets + oily patch on drive)

mudcow007

CiB wrote:

essex-commuter wrote:

Lotus Cortina Mk1

Faints with joy & pleasure...

That's about the first thing on here that made me grin & go into meltdown, and is top of my list of 'cars that I'd really like to have but probably never will.' Includes the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a pukka RS1800 and even maybe a mint RS2.

what about an RS200? just for sheer naughtyness an "dont know if i will survive driving it" thrill

sketchley

CiB wrote:

essex-commuter wrote:

Lotus Cortina Mk1

Faints with joy & pleasure...

That's about the first thing on here that made me grin & go into meltdown, and is top of my list of 'cars that I'd really like to have but probably never will.' Includes the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a pukka RS1800 and even maybe a mint RS2. Exotica? Not really. Big fan of wolf in sheep's clothing type things though.

Essex-commuter. Add yourself to the Stats board and have this here 17500 miles on the house, in recognition of your good taste (and deep pockets + oily patch on drive)

One for sale here.... £42k mind....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Cortina ... 4842436dba

jrduquemin

My car list is as follows:

1984 Vauxhall Nova 1.2l in rusty silver
1990 Ford Escort Estate 1.3l with knackered fusebox
1994 Vauxhall Astra 1.4l - killed crashing into a Land Rover
1998 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 GLS - blew a valve and required a full head rebuild and reskim
2007 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 Exclusiv

essex-commuter

CiB wrote:

essex-commuter wrote:

Lotus Cortina Mk1

Faints with joy & pleasure...

That's about the first thing on here that made me grin & go into meltdown, and is top of my list of 'cars that I'd really like to have but probably never will.' Includes the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a pukka RS1800 and even maybe a mint RS2. Exotica? Not really. Big fan of wolf in sheep's clothing type things though.

Essex-commuter. Add yourself to the Stats board and have this here 17500 miles on the house, in recognition of your good taste (and deep pockets + oily patch on drive)

I owned it from 1985 to 1987 and loved every minute. It nearly didn't happen due to an insurance quote of £360 ( I can remember it to this day). It was a toss up between the Lotus and a Mk2 Jeff Uren Savage, I'm glad I pulled togher the insurance money in the end!

Funnily enough I've just collected a Ford in Britain book from my employer to celebrate 100 years, it shows every model made from the 1908 Model T to a present day Focus ST. Page 104 is dedicated to the 1963 Lotus Cortina....0-60 10.15s, 108mph top speed. They made 3301 of them and the price new was £910.