Your Cars

[nicanary]

It's always a complete bummer when anything like that happens.   I was fortunate that they took nothing else, just the car and 5 sets of car keys, two of which were for my Audi.  My daughter and her husband have been able to have their cars reprogrammed so thay can't be started with the keys which were taken.
My S3 was meant to be for my retirement.  I ordered it 2 years before it was delivered and there's no chance of finding another with the same specification.  I had no Gap insurance...  That'll teach me!
I've found a very nice Audi S5 which cost about the same as I should get from the insurance company.  It's not new but looks and feels it.  I avoided getting the same as it would remind me of the one which was stolen so now I have the fun of a completely different car: just as fast but somewhat less lairy and more grown-up!
It's not so much the car, which is at the end of the day just a hunk of steel and other materials, but it was full of my personal stuff like CDs, footwear and all sorts of items.  They are irreplaceable.
Boy, if I could get my hands on the perpetrators....

I even had a tracker on my car, but it was useless at the time. The usual MO in Ireland is to take them to the Republic for a couple of months until the heat dies down. The Irish police don't have equipment fitted to their patrol cars which can trace tracker transponders. After a while the Northern Irish police lose interest and the vermin (it's still a sore point with me after 10 years) bring them back to the Province for stripping. My opening sentence mentioned "at the time" - in fact the tracker had been activated and the batteries must be extraordinarily powerful, because they showed the position of the car 6 months later, and the police could finally advise my insurance company that the car had been found in a write-off condition. Then and only then, I received my insurance payout.

I never did get my private plate - in the confusion and hullabaloo of the theft I had forgotten to tell the DVLA that I wished to retain the number. It still exists unused but their petty regulations mean that it cannot be re-allocated. Red tape!

[Djetset]

I had my very tidy and original 1954 ripple bonnet 2CV stolen (supposedly to order, as lots of early 2CVs were going to the Netherlands at the time) from a lock-up about 25 years ago, and it still bugs me today, especially as these early examples are now worth a small fortune  :-[

More recently, I had a mid-50s Velo Solex bike taken, as well as the (rare) hard-top roof of my Smart Brabus Roadster Coupe. Bloody criminals!

[nicanary]

I met some fellow AP members at the Goodwood Revival and one of them asked what I drove and seemed mildly surprised at the answer (foot of the list). I suppose because I'm so interested in 1950s/60s motor sport it would be expected that I would have an interesting daily drive, but that's not my MO. I was brought up and influenced by a father who would make a Scotsman or Yorkshireman look like a spendthrift - it definitely rubbed off on me and I have always bought relatively sensible cars which were apt for their purpose. Clearly when I was younger I had to be careful of running costs, but later in life I needed small/medium hatchbacks because of my work, and diesels because I covered circa 30,000 miles per annum. Having fun didn't come into it.

Some of the early cars were chosen with care because of the opportunity to make money - I used some of them for 12 months and then sold them for more than I'd paid. I'm a parsimonious man. Everything I bought had to justify itself. What would I really like? A well-built replica Jaguar C-type, to be honest. Can't justify (or afford) it.

Vauxhall Viva SL (HA)
Austin 1100 de luxe (a purchase from a probate sale - bargain)
MG Midget 1275
Ford Escort 1300 Sport Mk1 (I dread to think how much the shell is now worth)
Triumph Spitfire MkIV
MG Midget 1275
Vauxhall Chevette GLS (my father-in-law was the manager at the local dealer)
Vauxhall Cavalier GL Mk1

(Now began a period of company cars, after which I returned to using my wife's Metro)

Austin Metro City
Vauxhall Nova Merit
Vauxhall Corsa ( carjacked during what is known in the UK as The Drumcree Riots)
Vauxhall Corsa Premier
Peugeot 306 XL 1.9td
Peugeot 306 XL 1.4
Seat Leon SE 110 Tdi
VW Golf Sport 1.9tdi (carjacked and never recovered - plus no insurance payout because the gang has to be at  least 5 people)
Seat Toledo SE 110 Tdi (interim panic purchase)
Audi A4 2.0Tdi S-line (stolen from my house after 5 weeks ownership)
Honda Accord Sport 2.2 Cdti
VW Golf 1.6 Tdi
Seat Leon SE 1.6 Tdi
Seat Ibiza FR 1.2 Tsi

During my company car years I had a 1972 MGB GT, a 1965 Morris Minor 1000 Traveller, and a Ford Orion Ghia for the wife to shut her up. Without going into too much personal detail,  I had a drop in financial fortune at one stage, which explains the drop down to the Metro and the slow build up back to newer cars.

I live in an apartment with one allocated parking space, and nowhere for storage. Hence only one sensible car.

[mekubb]

A few yers ago I already posted pics of some of the cars I have owned, but here is the full list (including company cars) :

Volkswagen Beetle 1972
Volkswagen Beetle 1969
Alfa Romeo Alfetta 1.6
Ford Escort 1.6 D
Peugeot 406
Nissan Primera 2.0 SLX
Ford Mondeo wagon 2.0
Opel Omega 2.5 V6
Volvo V40 1.6
Renault Laguna
Fiat Marea Weekend 2.0 HLX
Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 Betone
Citroen C5 break 2.0
Hyundai Terracan 2.9 crdi
Volvo V70 2.0 T Momentum
Volvo V70 2.4 D5 Summum
Volvo V70 2.4 Comfort Line

My worst car ? Citroen C5, mainly electrical problems, so typically French...
My best car ? Hyundai Terracan, very reliable and fun to drive
My favorite car ? The Alfa Bertone, no doubt !

[ChanceHuncha]

"But Chance, you're only 14, you can't possibly have owned a car or driven a car!"

You see thats where you're wrong pal, I've driven all the Cars you can think of, and raced them on the track too. Granted they were hotwheels.  ;)

My first car was a Matchbox Tow Truck that had decals from the Nickelodeon show 'Jimmy Neutron' Granted now it is destroyed but I still have it.

There was also a Ford Focus with 'Dora The Explorer' decals but lets not loose track.

From then, all I played with was Hotwheels, and Matchbox. My Grandfather Is the cause for this. He is a Hotwheels collector himself, and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has been collecting since my own mother was born. (Hotwheels came out in 1968, the same year my mother was born.)

Over the years, my toys grew and grew, then It started to take shape into a Collection. My basement is bombarded with crates of Hotwheels from all different sets, and all different years, still in box.

My rarest set to this day is a set of Hotwheels cars from their 35th Anniversary, In which they made a movie, "Hotwheels: World Race" along with a set of 35 cars that were in the movie. It took me 2 years but I succesfully collected all 35 cars, which in total almost costs $2,000.

As for REAL Cars, In 2 years, I start Drivers Education, and that will be when I get my Driver's Permit. There Is a high possibility I will take the car that my mother currently owns now...

A 2002 Oldsmobile Alero...

I'm actually quite excited for this, Brown, Dull, 2-Door car for one reason. My Father bought this car off of my Grandfather (not the same as before) before he had passed away not too long ago. We say the car is possessed with his spirit because It still runs today, even thow the Drivers side window is broken, panels are falling off, It still works. And I would love to continue the legacy of this car before my Mother throws it in a dump.

Well thats my experience with cars. I'll be back in 2 years to ACTUALLY tell you my first car(s).  ;D

[nicanary]

I would hope it does still work - 2002 year build is like a new car in my neighbourhood  ;D. Plenty of taxis round here that are a lot older than that.  Enjoy.

[gilescooperuk]

2002 an old car - nope my 1989 BMW easily beats that only 193000 and still used to commute to work (about 36 miles a day).

[thorax]

my "new" little car  ;D

[neilshouse]

An update since my 2008 post...

The Mercedes 190 2.5 diesel has gone to a better place after 330,000 miles. I wish I still had it.

1984 Porsche 924, pretty car that never worked properly, caused a standstill to the rush-hour traffic in Colchester when it refused to proceed, seemed attractive to thieves for some reason. It's now gone, I'd love to drive a good one one day.

1996 Jaguar X300 3.2 Executive, bulletproof! A lot of motor car for the money. Now sold but I enjoyed 5 years of driving either like the Lord Mayors chauffeur or a 1960's bank robber, 2 cars in 1!

1990 MX5, just superb to drive, but it had to go due to the usual rusty bits.

1999 MX5 Mk2, also superb but slightly less 'sports car' than the MK1. Due to an altercation with a Scania on the A12 it has sadly gone.

1964 Morris Minor 2 door, a bit 'hot rod' with a 1275cc engine, Toyota 5 speed box, disc brakes and telescopic shocks. Really good fun. It seems that everyone smiles when they see a Minor, but not as much as the driver.

1994 MX5 MK1 1.8. I need to keep this car forever, and fix the heater.

[Carnut]

Latest update to my list!



So here they all are in chronologial order, starting with my first car when I was 17:

Austin Mini
VW Beetle (oval window)
Morris Mini-Cooper
Austin 1100 Mk 1
Austin 1100 Mk 2
Morris 1300
Triumph Toledo (worst car by a long way..)
TVR Vixen
Austin Allegro (yes, really!)
Alfasud Sprint
Alfasud Sprint Veloce
Ferrari Dino 246GT
VW Scirocco GTI
Trident Venturer
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT
Ford Escort Mexico
Audi 80 quattro
TVR Trident prototype No. 3
Audi 90
BMW 320i
Alfa Romeo 164
Alfa Romeo 166
Alfa Romeo 156
VW Eos 2.0 Turbo
Audi A5 2.0 Turbo
Audi S3 Saloon 2.0 TFSI Quattro DSG (new September 2014) Stolen on August 3rd 2017
Audi S5**
Abarth Simca 2Mila
Morris Mini Cooper S**


These are cars I have owned or still own that are not on the list because I have them for others to drive, although some of them I've driven many miles in myself - mainly because I like them!:

Fiat 128 3P
Fiat Panda (original style)
Fiat Panda (another original style one)
VW Polo Coupé
VW Polo
Fiat Panda (2nd style)
Fiat Panda (3rd style)
VW Lupo

**These are the cars I still have.

Another thing struck me just scanning the list to see if I'd forgotten any:

All the cars without exception are either  British, German or Italian!  Nothing French, Swedish, Japanese or anything else!

Sadly the Abarth Simca has now gone (blame divorces and lawyers...) but here's a picture of it for posterity's sake:

[nicanary]

I didn't know about the Abarth-Simca! Lovely little car, what's not to like. I take it this is your "fun car" while the TVR is being rebuilt.

[Carnut]

I didn't know about the Abarth-Simca! Lovely little car, what's not to like. I take it this is your "fun car" while the TVR is being rebuilt.

No, the TVR is back and looking fabulous.
The Abarth-Simca is being restored so only ready in 2021..

[nicanary]

I didn't know about the Abarth-Simca! Lovely little car, what's not to like. I take it this is your "fun car" while the TVR is being rebuilt.

No, the TVR is back and looking fabulous.
The Abarth-Simca is being restored so only ready in 2021..

Thanks for the update. Really chuffed for you about the TVR. Long wait but obviously worth it. Let's hope that clutch holds out  ;D.

I moved to Belfast in August and since then I've done about 300 miles. It makes me wonder whether I need one at all.

[Carnut]

I had another new clutch and flywheel fitted whilst the car was away, at an AC Cobra specialist so it's the correct one this time..
All performing superbly!

[Arthur Dent]

Owned a few since I last by these parts.



Cheap MG B for a season



Beater Civic for the kids to learn to drive on



Acura TSX with 6spd manual (current daily driver)



Suzuki TU250X - did a 5500 km road trip on it because 250cc says road warrior. Still have this one.



1961 Pontiac Laurentian - Canadian model so Chevy mechanicals. Revived a field car that had been off the road almost 40 years. Drove it over 1,000 kms over a weekend.



1984 Innocenti SE - sort of a failed project car I recently sold.



1996 Toyota Tercel - replacement kid's car. This time with manual gearbox. Still have this one.



2003 Nissan Fairlady Z - yes right hand drive. Fair weather driver.

Plus some other boring stuff mostly for the wife. :)

[thorax]

can we also insert motorcycles?

[Carnut]

can we also insert motorcycles?

I don't see why not!

[thorax]

Yamaha Fazer FZS 600 my 2003: