OT: Car history
 

Cars seem to provoke almost as much discussion here as any other subject so , dear reader, share with us if you will your automotive hall of fame or shame. For no reason, other than ridicule or jealous praise from your fellow posters!

I'll start:

A mighty 1.1L Ford Escort as a student.
A 1.6LX Ford Orion, an odd choice in hindsight, for the young about town professional.
My sisters crappy 950cc Fiesta when I bought my first house.
A Fiesta 1.8D of the crappiest trim level possible.
A Ford Sierra 2.9 4x4 when I became sick of the Fiesta.
Another Fiesta 1.4 Si when I became sick of the Sierra's fuel bill.;)
A raft of Mondeo's (new one every 9 months) when I got into company car territory at Ford.
A couple of Discovery's when I worked at LR.
Isuzu Trooper when I left and had to buy my own car. Best car I owned in retrospect. Towed the boat, Good on the motorways, lots of room.
A Volvo S60 2.4T when I sold the boat. Shoulda stuck with the Trooper.

then Canada...

Jeep Liberty Renegade with roof lights and wide wheels. Thirsty and poorly built so replaced it with
A Jeep Liberty Diesel, just as poorly built but economical and confusing to most Canadian's....'Buddy your engine sounds terrible'
A Nissan Frontier truck, which proved too small for family use so was replaced by my current ride.
A Suzuki XL7. Which is as close to a minivan as I'm ever going to allow myself to get.;)

Re: OT: Car history
 

In the UK

Owned:
Mark III Cortina - ended its life in the Grand Union Canal
Mini
2CV - OH loved it, I hated it.
VW Polo

Company cars:
Sierra
Carlton
3 Series
Another one
Audi A4

In Canada

All owned:
Honda CRV
Golf
Hyundai Sonata.

Re: OT: Car history
 

I moved to London aged 18 so didn't need one. I got my first car in my mid-20s. It was a terrific 1985 Fiat Uno 60S.

Since then in the UK:
1994 Mercedes C180 - brilliant car
1996 Citroen AX
2002 Landrover Freelander - thirsty

In Dubai
2003 Isuzu Trooper
2002 Toyota Hilux - great fun for a pickup truck
2005 Mitsubishi Outlander

In Korea
Daewoo Matiz of uncertain vintage.
LPG powered estate car of uncertain marque or specification

In Canada
2007 Dodge Grand Caravam
2005 Hyundai Tucson
1979 Cadillac Coupe De Ville. My favourite car out of all of them.


Plus numerous motorbikes over the years. Favourite - Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Re: OT: Car history
 

Vespa P50
Lambretta SX 200
Toyota Hiace van 1.8 petrol
Toyota Hiace van 2.5 diesel

In NA
VW Golf
Saab 900
Saab 900 conv.
Isuzu Trooper II
Yamaha 650 E
VW Jetta

Re: OT: Car history
 

:thumbup: Ha! My first ever vehicle was a Vespa PK50S. It's still in my cousin's shed in Scotland.

Re: OT: Car history
 

In pictures
88-94 (student daze)
http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0...AAAAAAfybA.jpg

94-96 (first car, regata twin cam fixer upper. Mine had 7 spoke alloys I seem to recall) Head gasket killed it
http://www.motorbase.com/uploads/200...green_1985.jpg

96-98 (1 liter, 4 speed manual! No amenities, nice pioneer stereo in it from my brothers written off Alfa. I expect its still running strong somewhere!)
http://www.autobanka.com/images2/3871n1.jpg

98, arrived in Canada (rush of blood to head, brand new, 4 litre,stick shift, wheel spin in 3rd, fun but very trucky and poorly built, strangely reliable, but thirsty. Manual 4x4 selection))
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/iaink/frain.jpg

2000-present (anyone want a winter beater? A great compromise car, bought a few years old, winter traction, summer fun, no more wondering if I should be in 4x4, although it was an Auto trany by her command)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...n/rubysube.jpg
Then the move out to the country required an extra vehicles, so we got a used protege in 2000 or 2001 (aneamic, automatic, no mod cons like A/C, ABS or airbags)
http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHI...86-300x189.jpgwhich later became this in 2008 (Bullet proof, economical, stick shift (cheaper to buy) fun to drive, my daily driver, would get another in a heartbeat)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...08033Large.jpg
Not to mention this sexy British Racing Green roadster, Fat tires at the back, skinny in the front,auto transmissionhttp://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...nk/new_car.jpg
which we still have...

And this year we got this to replace the old red '97 that is rusting in my yard waiting for me to sell it...
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...n/07sube-1.jpg
Automatic, but at least its not a minivan. I do like my subarus:)

Re: OT: Car history
 

Some that that spring to mind:

3 MGBs, left on top of each other in a rented lock up garage when I emigrated. I later received a letter concerning the MGBs beginning "Dear Shit".

Minivan, destroyed by a truck signwritten "Eat More Fruit" before I even had a license. The driver was a roadie for Graham Parker.

Spitfire, the engine had a turn at overpowering a friend's Triumph Herald before being left in my parent's garage. They subsequently moved twice, with that engine.

MGC, eventually traded for an XJ6 with a mate who was an urban boxer and is now a dairy farmer in Southern Brazil.

Jensen-Healey, I still have the carburettors

Austin-Healey Frogeyed Sprite, went on a camping holiday in it. It had neither boot nor running boards.

Midgets, I like Midgets.

Lotus 7, I commuted to Slough in it, it had no weather equipment at all. Being damp in Slough is not fun.

TR6, I broke the ignition so I could drive away without having to wake a, er, poor choice of overnight companion, to ask her where the keys ended up. One of my children is embittered that I sold that car rather than keeping it until she grew up. I shall never hear the end of it.

SVT Mustang, the current Fairy Ferry, also some hardtops.

Re: OT: Car history
 

After about three months I whacked in a P90 engine so it went much faster. Never had a crash so never had to deal with the invalid insurance aspect.

Re: OT: Car history
 

UK
Mini Cooper (Racing green of course)
MR2 (old shape)
Peugeot 106 xsi (killed it)
MR2 (new shape)
TVR S3
Nissan Maxima (killed it)
TVR Griffith 500
VW Golf
Kawasaki ZX6
Suzuki GSXR750 (killed it and nearly myself)
Suzuki GSXR600 SRAD (killed it)
Suzuki GSXR 600 K2
Honda CBRR 600
Mercedes C class Avandgarde

Canada
Porsche 911 (to be purchased)

Out of the above, my favourite is still the Mini Cooper :thumbup:

Re: OT: Car history
 

This is going to be a long list...and I think I now why I am broke. Average of more than 1 car/year since 18....

UK:
Hillman Avenger (hand painted in bus red paint)
Mini 850
Austin Metro (1)
Austin Metro (2)
Austin Metro (3)
Toyota Corolla
Mitsubishi Colt GTi
Mini Cooper (old type) [ it is around here the trouble started ]
Alfa Romeo Sprint

Canada (1st time):
Mazda MX-3

UK (again):
Alfa Romeo 33
Alfa Romeo Sprint
Alfa Romeo Sud
Alfa Romeo 75
Alfa Romeo 145

Canada (again):
Jaguar XJ12
Hyundai Accent
1969 MGB
Alfa Romeo Milano
Peugeot 505 (really sensible buy in Vancouver in 2001!)
VW Golf

UK (again):
Alfa Romeo 146
Nissan Micra
VW Polo
Alfa Romeo 155
Alfa Romeo 33
Audi A2

Canada (again):
Honda Del Sol (wife won't let me buy anything else...) :(

I am aiming for another V12 Jag or perhaps a Maserati. She thinks I am talking about one of the cool, new ones. I am of course thinking about a 1980's Bi-Turbo:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ193755566

I tried to convince her that this would be a good buy:

http://granturismoauto.com/400i_forSale.asp

Didn't succeed there either. I should add I have no mechanical skills whatsoever.

Re: OT: Car history
 

I barely use my car these days so I've just kept the Jetta to run around in as I'm holding out in the deluded hope that VW will start to sell their camper vans in NA again.

Re: OT: Car history
 

Mini 1.0 (yellow)
Mini 1.0 (green with white roof)
Fiesta 1.1 - that's the law to have one of those isn't it?
Fiesta 1.6 Si at University (my lovely hubby financed it for me while I was studying and he had a real job).
Seat Ibiza 1.8 GTi or something like that (kind of golf GTi crammed into a Polo sized car) fantastic fun.

Company cars:
Rover 620 - hideous heap of green crap
Citroen Xantia 1.8LX, hideous heap of black crap (but perfect for Calais booze runs with the self adjusting suspension :thumbup:).
VW Passat 130hp diesel. Absolutely fantastic. Used to cruise at 90mph and make the miles fly by.

Leased in UK:
320d SE BMW. Fantastic, comfortable, used no fuel, could fling it about and it handled great.

Canada:
Nissan Murano. Thirsty and heavy. Not keen.
Nissan Altima 3.5. Great for eating the miles, and not bad on gas.
Land Rover LR2. Nearly at the end of a 3 year lease. Love this, comfortable, bomb proof in all weather except a hill covered in freezing rain (even my winter tires couldn't save me), been off roading and it did great.

Going back to the UK at the end of the year, probably going to get another Beemer diesel (wagon this time for crap needed to support toddler!)

Re: OT: Car history
 

Learned to drive in a Mini in 1982.
Drove my dad's Allegro a few times after that.
Didn't get behind the wheel again until 2000, after I'd moved to Canada.
Once was enough. Haven't driven since.

My chaffeuse had a Pontiac Skidmark from 2000 until last fall, when it was given to the Boy. I saw it at Easter. It now sports Mag wheels, a probably illegal set of modifications under the hood and a sound system that precludes luggage storage or or rear-seat passengers and makes internal organs explode. All he can do with it at the moment is look at it. Pillock.

Current Souvmobile is a 2009 Tuscon V6. Nice enough but not all that big. It's basically a box on an Elantra platform and the wheelbase is no bigger than the Arsewipe's. It passes the 8-foot test, though, which is the main thing.

Re: OT: Car history
 

Coincidence? I think not!

Re: OT: Car history
 

My brother has a diesel BMW wagon in the UK, I believe it has two turbos but I was dozing off by then. I do recall that it was GBP5000 to have the wood removed from the dashboard and the badges taken off the outside. That didn't sound like exceptional value for money.

Re: OT: Car history
 

My list is quite short cos I didn't learn to drive till I got into my 20's.

UK
Mini Metro
Volvo 480ES
MR2 (new style)
another MR2 (after crashing the first)

Here
Toyota Matrix - dull but practical.

The Volvo was the best car I owned - despite endless electrical faults. Reluctantly scrapped it when getting it to pass the MOT was going to cost nearly five times as much as the car was worth.

I liked the MR2's as well; not quite as much fun but they never broke down which was a nice change.

Re: OT: Car history
 

UK:

Fiat Super Strada (not so super)
Triumph Dolomite Sprint (with cross-plys for added oversteer)
Volvo 340 (erm, it was cheap)
Peugeot 405 Mi16 (thought I was growed up)
Triumph TR8 (realised I wasn't)
Fiat Punto Sporting (oxymoron)
BMW 525 (ex-army staff car in British army green)
BMW 328 coupe (mmmm, red interior. Nice)
Ford Focus ST (front end side swiped by an artic on day 1)
Subaru Impreza Turbo ('cos I was McRae's stunt double)

Yamaha RS 125 (£50's worth of raw adrenalin)
Yamaha RD350 VPVS (seized, RIP)
Yamaha XJ900 (worthy, but dull)
Honda VFR 750 (less dull)
Honda VTR1000 SP1 (made my eyes bleed and licence suffer)
Honda XR 600 (bruise inducer)
Ducati S4 Monster (what's the front wheel for?)


Canada:

GMC Sierra 1500 SLT (wallowy)
Madza 3GT (characterless)
Ford F150 King Ranch (business purchase)
Subaru Impreza WRX (recapturing my yoof)
Mercedes ML350 (boat hauler)

Re: OT: Car history
 

It was a shit car, I must be honest. What was with the almost-square steering wheel?

I have little interest in cars, although I'll admit that my BIL's replica Cobra gives me a bit of a horn. Ludicrously overpowered and just a tad thirsty. He worked out that it would be cheaper to go to work (50km) by taxi.

Re: OT: Car history
 

It was the 1970's. 'Nuff said.

Re: OT: Car history
 

They lease well. I would never finance or buy cash anything that expensive. When I leased my previous BMW diesel, it was cheaper per month than a worse specced VW Passat. Residual value and getting a deal on the rate make all the difference.

Re: OT: Car history
 

His is a company car, I don't imagine he'd spend his own money on having badges removed but then, who knows? Have you given up on the idea of moving to the GTA?

Re: OT: Car history
 

England
1. Piece of shit beige Fiesta 1.0
2. XR2 (written off a couple of weeks before car #4 was delivered)
3. Austin Allegro with hydrolastic suspension (made me sea sick if I took it over 45mph)
4. Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi (I cherish each day since, knowing how lucky I am to be alive)
5. Ford Escort :o
6. Porsche 944
7. Porsche 944 S2
8. Porsche 968 Club Sport
9. Porsche 911 Cabriolet
10. MR2 T-bar (new style). The lesson learned here was "lift-off oversteer is scary"
11. Citroen Saxo VTS
12. Citroen family-car-piece-of-shit
13. Another Citroen family-car-piece-of-shit to replace car #12 (which saved my life after some kid T-Boned it at 60mph)

Canada
1. Toyota Rav 4
2. GMC Jimmy
3. Pontiac Vibe AWD
4. Suzuki SX4 AWD ... and seeing as the 968 was totally crap in snow, it's probably my favourite of the whole lot :thumbup:

Re: OT: Car history
 

Yep. It was going to supply a very similar lifestyle to living somewhere commutable to London, without the benefit of having family nearby. We have nearly gone back a few times, but this time we have pulled the trigger. I'm leaving work in 10 minutes to get the cats microchipped and rabies jabbed, and then by mid Nov we can leave.
Just got a house to sell and nail the Citizenship for us (our daughter is Canadian).

Re: OT: Car history
 

Canada - never owned a car.

USA - car #1 was an Eagle Vista (hand-me-down from parents). Made by Mitsubishi in Japan, sold by Jeep/Eagle dealers in Canada only. Never marketed in the US. A crossover before its time. Its odd parentage made obtaining parts & service an adventure in the US, but despite that it was a nice car and never gave me any trouble. Eventually it was wrecked. That led to car #2, a 1998 Ford Taurus. It was cheap, got decent mileage, and the first 90,000 miles were trouble-free. After that it started becoming a money pit. Got rid of it this past December after 11 years and 120,000 miles for car #3, a 2008 4Runner. The Toyo is big, heavy, trucky, and I love it.

Re: OT: Car history
 

The MR2 was worse about that than the 911? :blink:

Re: OT: Car history
 

Were you a hairdresser in the UK?:rofl::p

Re: OT: Car history
 

England

Renault 9
Ford Capri
Morris Ital
MG Montego Turbo
Mitsubishi Lancer
Rover 214


Canada

Grand Caravan
Chrysler Sebring
GMC Yukon

Re: OT: Car history
 

And you had the gall to take the piss out of Greenhill's choices? :lol: ;)

Re: OT: Car history
 

Were you a squaddie in the UK? ;)

Re: OT: Car history
 

I knew I was asking for trouble posting the list (and that's not the first time I've been called a "hairdresser" based on the car choices :o)

Re: OT: Car history
 

I think that so far, that takes the prize for 'most embarrassing car'. The Allegro has a certain retro awfulness chic. The Ital? Nahh.

Re: OT: Car history
 

I had a test drive of one of those (I was thinking about getting an MG Maestro at the time). The salesman told me something like "you really have to slow down at roundabouts as they have a tendency to continue on in a straight line when you're steering at speed".

I didn't buy one.

Re: OT: Car history
 

It was crap, I'll give you that. I was 18 and had just written off my Capri, a friend sold it to me for 50 GBP I think and it lasted for a few years. At the time I was a carpenter so I really didn't care what I was driving.

Re: OT: Car history
 

It was OK. I had to get rid of it in the early 1990s when the new insurance rates went through the roof. I went to a dealer and tried a direct swap for a regular Montego that was 4 years older and had 50,000 extra miles on it. He wouldn't do it as he said that he would sell the regular one before he sold mine. I swapped it for the Lancer.

Re: OT: Car history
 

It's because I have such a list that I am able to take the piss out of others:p

Re: OT: Car history
 

If I could buy any car, I would buy one of these in a heartbeat.

Back in the early 90s, there was a pristine black one, like the photo, for sale in my street in Fulham. I think he wanted GBP 12,000 for it, which was about 11,500 more than I had.

Swoon.

Re: OT: Car history
 

You and I think alike....

in the meantime:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/citroends/pool/show/

I've seen a couple of them around town....one in particular driven by an ex-pat who I saw wearing an ascot in a day when it must have been +35 c in the shade....a vision of sartorial eloquance.

Re: OT: Car history
 

I'm not a car freak but I'll join in...

UK
Morris Minor (1959 model)
Hillman Imp
Saab 95 or 96 can't remember (2 stroke 3 cyl triple carb, fun car)
Austin or Morris 1100

USA (CA)

Olds Cutlass Supreme
Chevy Nova Wagon
Mitsubishi Colt (Plymouth badged)

Cdn (1st time)

same Colt as above
Dodge Dart

Germany

Volvo 360
Peugot 205
Mitsubishi Spacewagen
(seems to me I'm missing one here.... oh yes...)
Opel Kadet

Cdn (2nd time)

Mercury Villager
Lada whatitsname <- prize for worst car ever built?
Chevy Cavalier
Mazda 3
Nissan Altima
Pontiac Sunfire
Hyundai Sonata
Toyota Yaris
Chevy Epica (really a Daewoo)
another Toyota Yaris

...I think that's it.

Re: OT: Car history
 

Niva? the little boxy 4x4 POS? I cant imagine you in one of them. Not what one expects of a "sexy hero professor" at all!

Re: OT: Car history
 

No the small 4 door saloon. It was named after the city where Ladas were made but the minds a blank. Hang on I'll google... Samara that's it.

Piece of crap but C$6500 on the road new car in about 1995 IRIC. It came with a 3-yr warranty and I got rid of it after 2 yrs 11 months.