What was your 1st car & what is your fave of those you had.

[Paul240480]

Okay, my first car was a Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1.6 GL. White with Black Vinyl Roof. I thought I was well cool LOL. You can see me in the second pic' at the ripe old age of 18 washing my pride & joy outside of my parents house in Allestree, Derby.

My fave of all those I've owned was my first Volvo, a Torslanda. Still going I beleive. Mind you my current 240GL is very very close to it (the one with the 480 in my 'sig pic').
Piccies if poss please.

[ovlov25]

I started off with a 1990 Ford Fiesta 1.1L, it was a complete shed and i rebuilt half the car during the summer before my 17th birthday. Of course the rust re-appeared within a year but i didn't care! The engine threw a rod @ 90k miles. Sorry no pictures at hand

Favourite has to be my current 854 T5 with my MX-5 fighting for second place. The Volvo just does everything so well :D

[bob13]

My first car, a fiesta 1.1. And my second car Escort RS Turbo...and my fav

[acshortt5]

First car was my mums 1990 Volvo 240 GLT which I learned to drive in. Wasn't the best looking but I had the most powerful and quickest car in school! Cared for it a lot, upgraded the suspension, exhaust, cone air filter, changed engine mounts, serviced it, all new stereo + speakers, refurbished clutch system. There wasn't a single nut or bolt (except for the bullet proof gearbox) which I didn't touch on that car. ( I also, rather tastelessly put an "R" badge on the boot!!!) It gave me my car mechanic skills and my awesome parking skills. When you learn to bay park one of these any other car is a walk in the park!

Current fave is my S70 T5. I do miss the really good turning circle and rear wheel drive of the 240 but I love the speed and smoothness of the T5.

Saving up for an S70 R which will be the next fave!

Sorry can't upload pics at the moment. The 240 should be in the sales section which had photos. (Reg H442PYG) And the S70 is in the volvo gallery under my username in the 850/70 section.

[monkeh]

1995 Escort Van, Works van really, treated as my own though.
1991 Escort L 1.4, CVH,Smoked like a coal fired power station, promptly sold,
1987 Orion Biscayne 1.4,
1986 745 Turbo intercooler, Rear diff, O/d Unit Radiator and turbo failed, Scrapped!
1987 Escort estate 1.6 78,000 miles from new, ran for 3 years then SWMBO made me scrap it!
1996 Laguna 2.2D, Crap, no poke, nothing going for it apart from economy.
1990 765 d24TiC, Current car, Still going strong!


My 745 turbo was the best car I had, but the escort estate, was the most fun,

Here she is
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8200/dsc0033cu0.jpg
By monkeh (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/monkeh), shot with Spca533 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Spca533&make=Sunplus) at 2008-01-10
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8205/dsc0038yr0.jpg
By monkeh (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/monkeh), shot with Spca533 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Spca533&make=Sunplus) at 2008-01-10
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5043/dsc0037se6.jpg
By monkeh (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/monkeh), shot with Spca533 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Spca533&make=Sunplus) at 2008-01-10
I used to be able to backfire this girl deliberately, Perfect for the tailgating BMW drivers, Chavs on bikes ETC...

[malcolmk]

first car 1957 ford anglia 100e ex touring race car , full roll cage full, harness,lots of go faster bits,best car is my v70t , but one with fondest memories is between sunbeam rapier 111a 1958 model which when i scrapped it i put seats and all the dash instuments as well as all lights and indicators on to a lowerd and modded 1957 morris minor 1000,that was fun !

[Nunchukhamster]

My first car was a Y-plate Mark 3 Escort 1.3L...in white with burnt orange interior! The best car I have owned is my C70 T5 that I have now, although my Rover 620ti was a great car (once the suspension was stiffened & lowered, before that it was basically lethal on anything other that a straight road!) for shocking the chav brigade.

[cjbailey1]

First car was a 1989 Peugeot 309 1.9 SRD which is currently being run by my Girlfriend as her first car. I have also owned a 1994 Renault Laguna 1.8 RT which was a pile of poo and a 1996 SAAB 2.0 XS with Cream leather interior and lots of additional toys in it, which I have to say is the best car I've ever owned. I now have a 1999 V70 2.5TDI which is growing on me and I will be happy with when I sort out the vast array of niggles on it.

I do also own a 1958 Series 2 Land Rover 2.25 Petrol LWB and a 1964 Series 2a Land Rover 2.25 Petrol SWB. I can't count either of these as my best car though even though they are great, 'cus I could never afford to run one as my main car, even offsetting the tax and insurance savings against the fuel costs...

[angmarwitch]

Volkswagen Polo 1.0
fave car is my ovlov regardless of the fact its a diesel, but i still hanker for a bmw 530D or an M5 - one day...

[st5ve]

My first car was a Toyota Corolla 1.1 estate.
2. Morris Marina 1.8
3. Ford Cortina 2ltr gl
4. Austin Princess 2ltr
5. Renault 11
6. Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6
7. Bright Yellow ex BT van Meastro
8. Ford Sierra 2ltr
9. Volvo 440 1.7 gl
10. Volvo 480 es
11. Volvo 360gl
12 Ford Escort diesel
13 Volvo 854 2ltr
14 Mitsubishi Carisma gdi
15 Volvo 854 T5
16 Volvo 855 2.5 10v
17 Volvo 855 2.5 tdi
18 Volvo 855 T5 gle
19 Volvo 945 sport edition
20 Volvo 855 R

My favourite is the 855R

[DSK]

First Car - 1985/C Audi 80 Quattro.

Cars Owned: 1985 Golf 1.8GL
1989 Toyota Celica GT
1991 Toyota Supra 3.0 Turbo
1989 BMW 325i Sport
1993 Celica GT (x2)
1995 Supra TT
1995 BMW M5 3.8
53 Jaguar XKR
1997 BMW 328i (present)
2000 Volvo C70 T5 (present)

Favourite = BMW M5 - genuine 4 door supercar
Supra TT - FAST, reliable, comfy and FAST!
Volvo C70 T5 - amazingly quick and comfy

[loki_the_glt]

First car: an Austin Maxi 1500 Mark 1 - the one with the cable-operated gear change. It listed to starboard, had a dodgy petrol tank and 2nd and 4th gears made only intermittent appearances.

Favourite: a toss-up between Sweden's finest sporting saloon (which will probably now go off in a huff because it is a toss-up:Not_Impressed:) and Britain's finest tow-car, as shown below.

If the man from Camelot, or Santa Claus, is reading this - I want an AC289 Mk3 and an Overdrive equipped FE-series VX4/90 plus a 5-speed 245GLT that doesn't have any holes in its roof.

[JIM C]

My first car was a tartan red 1965 Morris 1100 on crossply tyres which was great fun at the time. Enjoyed the freedom it gave and wanted a 1300 GT next. My fav car was either my BMW 2002 tii or my MGB GT V8 both gave loads of fun.
Jim

[St Pain]

My first car was an old Ford Squire. This was basically an estate version of the Ford Popular 100e. It got me across to Salford University over the pennines and back every week in the late sixties. It's biggest fault other than only three forward gears, was the vacuum windscreen wipers which gradually stopped working on the uphill sections, and usually at a time when you needed them most. If you managed to reach 55mph (usually on a downhill slope) you thought you were flying. lol.
I think my 740 Estate must be the nearest there is to my favourite car as at nearly 12 years, it is the longest I have kept one.

[Kerry_T-5R]

I have only had 3 cars but Im only 22.

1. 1998 Poseiden Blue Citroen Saxo VTS 16v.
2. 1999 Metallic Black Volvo S40 T4 CD (B4194T2).
3. 1995 Dark Olive Green Metallic Volvo 850 T-5R (B5235T5).

The T-5R has been my one of my dream cars since I was at school - I used to have 850 btcc posters on my bedroom wall and an original double page advert from a 1995 Top Gear magazine! I finally got my own in December 2007 when a nice one came up for sale.

Cheers,

Kerry

[stevo48]

My first car was a reliant robin (does that qualify) my favorite car was my bmw318 that ended up getting squashed by a nissan navara.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/paulstevo/100_5019.jpg

[UnderPeak]

Here’s my list of cars – quite a mixed bag!

May 1975 – 1963 Austin 1100 full of rust -given to me by my aunt to drive until the MOT ran out
Aug 1975 – Ford Anglia – my mum’s old car
Nov 1976 – 1960 Triumph Herald bought for £50 from a 92 year old who had had it from new and had done 16000 miles in it. He was a bit concerned that I was thinking of driving to Wales in it. He thought that I would be alright just going to the shops though!
19?? - Another Triumph Herald - I practised my basic car mechanics on this – as a student nurse I couldn’t afford garage fees!
19?? -Toyota Corolla Estate
19?? -Opel Manta
1985 -1985 Citroen 2CV – my first new car
1988 -1978 Triumph Dolomite
1994 -1994 Nissan Micra - from new
2008 -2000 Volvo V70 2.4T SE

Most unreliable - Opel Manta - called the AA out I don’t know how many times. As I was District nursing at the time and relied on it for work it didn’t last long. (A friend sold it for me and a few months later I was contacted by the police to say that it had been used as a getaway car in a bank raid and was still registered in my name! – I had to make a statement to explain that I was not involved!! I was amused that such an unreliable car had been used – shame that it hadn’t broken down that day!)

Most fun – 2CV – I loved that car because it was so quirky, but without a proper heater it was not very good for doing my visits in winter.

Most comfortable – has got to be the Volvo. We always joked that my Micra didn’t even have a clock, so heated leather seats, CD player , self dimming mirror etc. – pure luxury.

My favourite has got to be the Volvo. I’ve only had it a month and after 13 years with the Micra it is taking a bit of getting used to the size and steering, but it wins hands down.
( However if I could afford a second car, it would have to be a 2CV !! I’ll run and hide now as I can imagine the comments I’ll get on this LOL.)

[caveman]

my 1st car was a '78 cortina 1.6l, best car is a toss up between a capri i had with a 2.1 pinto, twin webbers, kent high lift cam, k&n filters and a 5 speed box or a range rover 3.5 v8 i had. totally different cars but i loved them to bits.

[DuncVolvoTurbo]

Ok, here is my list of cars & bikes (in the order of which I bought them):

1978 Austin Mini 1000 City - Green
1989 Peugeot 309 1.3 XL - White
1991 Volvo 440 1.7 - Blue
1992 Rover 820 Si 2.0 - B.R.G.
1989 Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.6 - Two-tone Red over Grey
1990 Ford Escort XR3i 1.6 - White
1989 Volvo 240 GLT 2.3 - Grey
1986 Austin Mini 1000 Mayfair - B.R.G. with White roof & Cooper stripes
1996 Peugeot 306 XLDT 1.9 - Blue
1992 Rover 827 SLi 2.7 - Red
1993 Volvo 940s 2.0 - Black
1989 Vauxhall Astra SXi Estate 1.8 - Burgandy
1997 Ford Escort Zetec 1.6 - Blue

1995 Honda MT50 X - White
1997 Kawasaki ER-5 - Silver
1998 Suzuki XF650 Freewind - Silver
1989 Yamaha TZR 125 - White & Red
1998 Honda XL 125R - White
1993 Suzuki GSF400 Bandit - Black
1999 Honda CBR 600 FX - Red & Blue

Fastest Car - Rover 827 SLi
Fastest Bike - Honda CBR 600 FX
Best Looking Car - Ford Escort XR3i
Best Looking Bike - Yamaha TZR 125
Most Surprising Car - Vauxhall Astra SXi Estate
Most Surprising Bike - Suzuki GSF400 Bandit
Best Car Overall - Volvo 240 GLT
Best Bike Overall - Honda CBR 600 FX

[Jim760]

well theres too many to list but here goes.. 90% of these cars never where on the road after i finished with them (mind you, half of them where sheds to start with!!!
some time before i was 18..
E reg nissan sunny 1.3LX black (hand painted by yours truely)
E reg escort 1.4 Quartz maroon ( slipping clutch, tapping like a B'tard)
B reg granada ghia gold (classic :D but had a broken front spring)
E reg VW polo 1.4coupe S black (the biz in its day)
C reg nissan micra white with sh!t brown int (never again)
C reg nissan cherry with a cherry bomb exaust!! 1.4 GS! (top spec cherry, you choud listen to long wave on the front speakers and play a cassete on the back speakers at the same time!)
F reg vw golf mk2 1.6 met blue (saved me from a skoda that crashed into me)

and after 18..
pug 205 1.8 diesel (LOL)
E reg vauxhall carlton 2.0 GL (meh)
H reg nissan sunny ZX 1.8 16v hatchback version (160 mph rocket ship!)
H reg subaru XT 2.2 turbo white (2nd rocket ship!)
H reg subaru legesy 2.2 gun metal grey(woohoo!)
L reg rover 820si 16v (electical problems from hell!)
Lreg pug 106 1.1 base model (mistake)
R reg pug 306 XSI 1.6 dark met blue(mistake)
F reg volvo 360 GLT met blue/green (ace car, full black leather and all the toys want another!)
E reg volvo 740GL 2.0 estate signal red (previously the old mans)
G reg volvo 480 ES 1.7 light met blue (rusting, dead starter, no handbrake but no leaks!!)
F reg volvo 740 GLE 2.3 saloon auto light met blue (my cruser, used to fit 3 bmx bikes in the boot when going on a trails mission)
J reg volvo 940 SE manual saloon 2.3 turbo dark met blue(£150 in auctions, was a stunner with 70k on it sold on for £600)
H reg volvo 760 GLE-L3.0 v6 limo :D (hell yeah!!)
J reg volvo 940 GL red (for spares)
M reg volvo 940 SE 2.3 trubo (crashed)
G reg volvo 760 GLE 2.8 v6 (when it finally gets here!)
bikes..
E reg Honda C90 met red/white
G reg yamaha TZR 125 blue
C reg honda melody!! black and yellow :D ( aka the bumble bee)



the best has to be the 940SE saloon ,it was like new and went well, i could drive it all day.
the fastest was a toss up between the subaru XT and the nissan ZX, both were stupidly fast..

and the worst.. dear god, the pugs and the micra!

[Paul240480]

Okay all. Thanks for all the quick replies. This seems to have gone into a listing of all of the cars we've owned so thought I'd add the 'gaps' in my original list!

So,as you saw
1) Vaux Cavalier 1.6 GL
2) Opel Kadett 1.3 quicker than the Cav!- mmm, not hard I s'pose LOL
3) Mk2 Cavalier 1.6GL
4) Mk2 Cavalier 1.6L
5 Austin Montego 1.6L Estate.
We then became a two car family so added to the Montego with......
6) Austin All-agro 1.1 deluxe!
7) Volvo Torslanda
When the All-agro died we replaced it with another second car
8) Austin Metro 1.0l
When that died
9) Volvo 340GL - with this we became a two Volvo family woo hoo!
10) Volvo 850 T5 Estate (replaced the Tors)
11) Volvo 244GLT (replaced the 340)
12) Volvo 480ES Turbo Auto (replaced the GLT)
13) Volvo 240GL Est (replaced the T5!!!)

The last two are still with me as appear in my sig-pic.
Sorry to dissapoint but no piccies of the All-agro or Metro!

[callme57]

hi. my first car was a 1938 series e morris 8. next a standard vanguad followed by vauxhall cresta, i then used my lorry as my car for a few years. had a few brand new cars, fiesta, astra, fiat maria, nissan tino, grand senic, but now have 1997 v70. 2.5 10 valve. really enjoying it so far.

[cywprof]

Okay, my first car was a Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1.6 GL. White with Black Vinyl Roof. I thought I was well cool LOL. You can see me in the second pic' at the ripe old age of 18 washing my pride & joy outside of my parents house in Allestree, Derby.

My fave of all those I've owned was my first Volvo, a Torslanda. Still going I beleive. Mind you my current 240GL is very very close to it (the one with the 480 in my 'sig pic').
Piccies if poss please.
Thanks Paul,
will get back to you on this. Will post 1st Import, 1st car overall & favorite imports & favorite overall. Import for me refers to non-North American.
later,
Bill

[caveman]

Okay all. Thanks for all the quick replies. This seems to have gone into a listing of all of the cars we've owned so thought I'd add the 'gaps' in my original list!

So,as you saw
1) Vaux Cavalier 1.6 GL
2) Opel Kadett 1.3 quicker than the Cav!- mmm, not hard I s'pose LOL
3) Mk2 Cavalier 1.6GL
4) Mk2 Cavalier 1.6L
5 Austin Montego 1.6L Estate.
We then became a two car family so added to the Montego with......
6) Austin All-agro 1.1 deluxe!
7) Volvo Torslanda
When the All-agro died we replaced it with another second car
8) Austin Metro 1.0l
When that died
9) Volvo 340GL - with this we became a two Volvo family woo hoo!
10) Volvo 850 T5 Estate (replaced the Tors)
11) Volvo 244GLT (replaced the 340)
12) Volvo 480ES Turbo Auto (replaced the GLT)
13) Volvo 240GL Est (replaced the T5!!!)

The last two are still with me as appear in my sig-pic.
Sorry to dissapoint but no piccies of the All-agro or Metro!

i always liked montego estates, my friend had one though...and the rust put me off having one but i still like 'em, and mk 1 astras-superb i love them to bits i almost bought one once and wish i had of!

[jajrst]

My First Car was my mums 1995 Suzuki Swift GL 1.0 in VERY bright green lol! (I was aged 17-18 inclusive). I'm now 19 (20 in august) and now have a Volvo S80 2.4SE which I love, It costing a fortune to bring up to standard though! lol I kinda expected that though. (Needs New ETM, Airbag System sorting out and Alarm Siren; Its just had 4 new tyres this month and previously new alarm keyring fob, new front disks and pads and 2 new roll bar linkages-Think thats all lol since august when I bought it, this all needed doing really when I bought the car, my bad for not knowing exactly what to check for! apart from the roll linkages which was probably a unmade roads fault)

[Paul240480]

i always liked montego estates, my friend had one though...and the rust put me off having one but i still like 'em, and mk 1 astras-superb i love them to bits i almost bought one once and wish i had of!

Hi Caveman, yeh I always liked the Mk1 Astra (or Kadett in my case)I very nearly got my hands on one of the limited edition ones, can't think of the name, but they were two tone, gold & metallic bronze (tasty LOL) with mustard velour trim! It was 'sold from under me' so I ended up with the Kadett. Mind you as the Kadett was built in Germany in 81' it was prob' better built than a UK built Astra!
The Montego lastest me 7 years, but in that time it did rust severely & bits just kept on falling off. Kept going all the same tho'!LOL

[excopper]

appologies, I'm a serial car changer my first car was inherited and the rest I bought.
1977 mk1 fiesta 957cc
1981 343gl (GRG 546W if anyone has it I'd like it back please)
1983 mk1 1100 golf in red
1981 mk1 golf gti in scwarz black
1980 mk1 golf gti im mars red
1981 mk1 golf 1100 in blue
C reg astra (cant remember the year) 5 door 1300 merit
1991 cavalier 1.6l
1998 renault laguna 1.8rt sport
1988 cavalier sri (owned it twice!)
1986 audi 80 sport saloon
1985 peugeot 205 gti
1988 bmw 730
1987 bmw 520I LUX
Gplate cavalier again!!
1995 renault laguna 2.0 rt
1993 honda civic 1.6 VTI
1992 Vauxhall Senator 2.5 Auto
1991 Vauxhall senator 3.0 24v
1993 citroen Xantia 1.9td
1988 mitsubishi shogun
1997 Jeep cherokee 2.5TD limited
1994 mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 SWB
1991 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 LTD
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0LTD (on gas)
1995 subaru imprezza Wagon Turbo
1988 Range rover Bobtail
1998 Range Rover Vogue 4.6 HSE
2002 renault laguna 1.9 DCi Dynamique estate
1993 Ford maverick 2.7
1996 Vauxhall Calibra v6
1998 Volvo V70 T5 estate

I think thats the lot! I reckon the volvo pushes the most buttons so far but only time will tell........

[pookie]

hi. my first car was a 1938 series e morris 8. next a standard vanguad followed by vauxhall cresta, i then used my lorry as my car for a few years. had a few brand new cars, fiesta, astra, fiat maria, nissan tino, grand senic, but now have 1997 v70. 2.5 10 valve. really enjoying it so far.

I didn't think I'd see anyone with the same first car as me, but there you go. As I've been driving for more than 40 years I shall not bore you with a complete list just the cream.
Mk 2 Jaguar with a modified E type engine and suspension to match.
Alpina A4S ( Modified 2002 tii )
Alpina C1
Mk 1 Escort twin cam ( Lotus engine not BDA )
Transit Van ( Rover V8 powered - great fun-had it for years )
Finally my 855R.
How could I pick a favourite?


Pookie

[Berbatops]

Do scooters and motorbikes count? If so

1. Lambretta 125
2. Triumph Tiger 90
3. Vespa 90
4. Honda 90
5. MZ ETZ125
6. Honda CB750
7. Honda VFR750

Cars
1. Triumph Herald 13/60
2. Vauxhall Victor FD
3. Vauxhall Viva HC
4. Ford Capri 1600
5. Ford Cortina MkIII
6. Volkswagon Transporter Type 2
7. Fiat Brava 1.4HX
8. Jaguar XJ6 Series II
9. Fiat Panda
10. Renault 9
11. Montego Estate
12. Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 (present)
13. Volvo V70 D5 SE

Best two-wheeler? The VFR, a fantastic all-round bike for commuting, touring and fun, but I did like the Tiger 90 - even though it leaked oil, terrible brakes but it was a British bike.

Best car? The Jag was pretty luxurious, the Herald was a dream to work on - just lift the bonnet forward sit on the front wheel - perfect! But although I have only had the Volvo for a few months and it is the first Volvo I've ever owned it is the best by far, but then again some people will lok at my list and think that it hasn't got much to beat!

[angmarwitch]

I didn't think I'd see anyone with the same first car as me, but there you go. As I've been driving for more than 40 years I shall not bore you with a complete list just the cream.
Mk 2 Jaguar with a modified E type engine and suspension to match.
Alpina A4S ( Modified 2002 tii )
Alpina C1
Mk 1 Escort twin cam ( Lotus engine not BDA )
Transit Van ( Rover V8 powered - great fun-had it for years )
Finally my 855R.
How could I pick a favourite?


Pookie

Christ, you animal! lol

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Learnt to drive in a VW Beetle 1300 Orange. Talk about stand out!!!

First car was a Mars Red VW Polo. Old style like the Audi 50 but with the plastic bumpers.. :)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Audi_50_a_Strasbourg.jpg

What fun!!

Followed that with a Volvo 244 GL... Been downhill since... :lol:

Des. . . :)

[Clan]

1967 Sunbeam Imp sport was my first car

Driven 290000 miles in it , Turbocharged since 1983 :car:
998cc . . from 130 bhp to 175 bhp depending on fuel system and camshaft.
Used LE from 360 GLT then K jetronic from 240 GLT now on Emerald engine managment .

[JIM C]

Your Imp looks superb. Not many around these days.
Thanks for posting the photo.
Jim

[Swigster T5]

My first car was a 1300 ford capri, it was the most sluggish car I ever owned but loads of fun all the same! Picture is obviously not mine but I did try to treat mine like that!! It had to be scrapped after I swung it round a corner and parked it on a wall (oops) I was showing off!

My first ovlov was 850 T5 piles of fun too but problems with overhead gasket forced me to sell (fast)! However, my most fave car by far.

Great thread this is. Pleasure reading all, thanks Paul.:thumbs_up:

[Velorum]

My first car was a 1975 Austin Allegro estate - an interesting experience. My most unreliable was my Citroen CX and my all time favourite is my current 240 GLT!

[kev240]

Here is my list of cars that I have had, my Mk5 Cortina GLS, was a lovely car, my red 360 GLT was a cracker, and Iam enjoying my current 240GLT, and I intend to keep it for a long time. Have photographs of most of my cars, but it would take up too much space to post them all. Passed my test in a GPO Morris Minor van, but it was'nt mine!
Kevin.

[Mike_Brace]

First car was a 1953 Ford Pop 1172cc. Really learnt about driving and fixing cars with this one. Three speed box with no synchro on first which was often needed so double duclutching soon mastered. Ultra skinny tyres and one single transverse leaf rear spring meant opposite lock driving was manadtory. Rear axles were so week that I had changing them down to under the hour. Mind you it was basic. Rod operated brakes, clutch pedal direct of the box, vacuum operated wiper (singular) that stopped going up hills. Marvellous 6v electrical sytem operating 2 x 30 watt lights and starting handle for when battery wouldn't cope - often! Oh and no such luxury as heaters or indicators.
My favourite of course goes without saying.
I've lost count of the vehicles I have had through all sorts of cars andvans, a Bedford TK 330 wagon and a Renault Dodge bus.

Mike

[Clan]

Your Imp looks superb. Not many around these days.
Thanks for posting the photo.
Jim

Thanks Jim that was the car i wanted when i was 12 , a scottish car built in Linwood with a coventry climax racing derived engine.
The Sunbeam Imp won the British Saloon car championship in 1970 1971 AND 1972 It was clocked at 135 mph down hanger straight at Silverstone ,
998 cc 135 bhp 9000 rpm before Turbochargers ! ... Still winning the Historic Touring Car championships today the last 5 years out of 7 ...

[NDL]

My first car was a 1990 998cc Rover Mini. Bought for £1300, worth about half that... although in my young naiveity I just wanted a car and was too excited to care. No idea what edition it started life as... Currently a shell in my (mum's) garage.

My second car is my 1992 1275cc Italian Job edition Rover Mini. Bought for £2550, worth about a grand more; when I bought it in Feb 06, it had 11,500 miles from new.

My third car is my Volvo, a 1994 1986cc turbo 940 GLE, bought for £450 as a workhorse to keep the miles off the Mini.

Pictures: First car (http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n205/edit_suisse/Mini/?action=view&current=MiniandLandRover.jpg) - Second car (http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n205/edit_suisse/Mini/?action=view&current=STA60088.jpg) - Third car (http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n205/edit_suisse/?action=view&current=Ovlov1.jpg)

My favourite, by far, is my Italian Job Mini (sorry guys!) It's in such good condition and is so fun to drive that the Volvo, even with it's RWD, doesn't come close.

[PeteV70]

First car was a Renault 4..took it on the continent winter of 1977, the hoses disintegrated and the heater was bypassed to keep us on the road. Temperature dropped to minus 11 in the Black Forest. My mate had to scrape the condensation that had frozen on the INSIDE of the windscreen so I could see where I was going. Slept in the car a couple of nights...fond memories of when I was young and daft (now just old and daft!).
Favourite has to be Volvo 240 GL estate 2.3 manual 7 seater...it was just perfect for my young family at the time...it felt like I was "driving" a boat but loaded up with a family and roof box or towing a trailer it was just "sorted".

[pete-d]

Herewith my list...

1. 1990 Fiat Pando 1000S - I know everyone laughs but it was simple, reliable, flexible and handled OK.
2. 1991 Citroen AX 14 - a bit roly-poly but quicker than the Fiat
3. 1992 Ford Sierra 1.6 - I like RWD!
4. 1979 Vauxhall Viva - reduced income meant old banger time (and learn to do your own servicing/maintenance!)
5. 1983 Renault 11 1.4 GL - I paid £200 for it with 11 months MOT, spent £60 on a clutch kit, put a new clutch in, MOTed it 10 months later (having taken it from 100k to 110k miles) for £300
6. 1985 Austin Meastro 1.3 HLE (?) hoped to do the same deal as the Renault but BL let me down!
7. 1982 Peugeot 505 estate 7 seater diesel - engine and gearbox fine, problems with clutch slave cylinder and the bodywork rotted madly.
8. 1986 Ford Escort 16. GL Auto - my first auto and actually a much better car than most people imagined.
9. 1990 Alfa 75 2.0 Twin Spark - best car I've ever had - took it from 27k miles to 90k miles in 18 months and it never put a foot wrong.
10. 1989 Alfa 33 1.7 8v - replaced because some b*st*rd joy rider stole the 75 and wrote it off. Tremendous fun and surprised quite a few people.
11. 1985 Audi GT Coupe - I lived in London and needed an banger for the odd time the public transport wasn't possible
12. 1983 BMW 735i - it had seen better days but was still fun.
13. 1991 Fita Tempra 2.0 - I like my Italian cars - this one again did me about 20k miles without any major dramas.
14. 1996 Saab 900 2.0 Turbo (190 BHP) - nice car and did me well for 3 years. A bit more body roll and torque steer than I'd like but good Q Car.
15. 2001 Renault Laguna 3.0 V6 24v (new shape - 210 BHP) - a complete crock of sh*te - fantastic when it ran OK but 90% of the time it was broken. The worst, least reliable car I have owned (even worse than the Maestro!).
16. 1996 Daewoo Espero 2.0 CDi - I needed a banger to use when the Renault was laid on its back smoking a cigar...
17. 2000 Seat Cordoba Vario TDi - basically a VW Polo TDi estate with a Seat badge - it did me 20k reliable miles and my housemate now has it with 97k on the clock.
18. 1988 Volvo 760 GLE - even with 185k on the clock it only felt about 5 years old (though looked a bit dated) - now passed on to my housemate for his weekend luxury.
19. 1999 Alfa 166 2.5 V6 - a great drive and nice to be back on the Italians but too many minor electircal gremins to make it worthwhile (and only 24mpg doesn't make it a good daily commute - especially with a clutch on its way out).
21. 1999 Volvo S70 2.5D auto - my current daily runner.
22. 1995 Volvo 960 3.0 - just bought from John850 on the forums to replace the 760 as a relaxed weekend and evening car.

Basically I love the excitement of Alfas and the reliability/safety of Volvos. I'm thinking of adding an 850 T5 to the fleet as a fun car to see if it's the right compromoise...

Pete

[alsner]

Hi

My first car was WHO 395V which was a Mitsubishi Colt GLX 1979 with a silly but fun 4speed box with power and economy which effectively made it an 8 speed box, since then I've owned too many to list.

But my favourite car was my Classic SAAB 900 16v Turbo in black.

Ali

[jamrussell]

my first car was a flame red 998 metro city x, what a beast lol!!

since that i have had:

1.0 fiat uno
1.8 vauxhall cavalier gls
2.0 vauxhall cavalier sri
1.8 8v mk2 golf gti
1.8T nissan 200sx
1.4 nissan sunny (current work hack)
2.0T 940 wentwort est (current baby chariot)



of the lot i have to say the golf was the most fun (more of a go-kart with a roof) and the 940 has been the nicest to drive and live with.

[cywprof]

Hi Paul & All,

Great question.
I restricted list to vehicles owned by me (pink slip), excluded family owned.

1st car:
1955 Chev 150 2 dr cpe, auto, inline 6 (Blue Flame), frost green, AM radio.

1st Import:
1959 Austin Healey Sprite (Bug Eye), white exterior/red interior, 2 seater,
4 spd, black button down convert top, chrome luggage rack, AM radio

Favorite Cars:
1959 Thunderbird Convert, red/ beige leather interior/white top, V/8, auto;
1951 Ford Sunliner Convert, red/black interior/black top, V/8, 6 seater;
1965 Mustang 2 dr cpe, 6 inline, automatic, blue/black leather interior;
1969 Mustang 2+2 Fastback, V/8/, red/black leather;
1979 Mustang, 2+2 Hatchback, inline 4, automatic, bronze/beige leather;


Favorite Imports:
1980 Volvo 262 C Bertone Coupe, Gold/white leather interior, V/6, automatic;
1978 Porsche 924, 4 cyl, 4 spd, BRG exterior/beige leather & cloth,
1972 BMW 2002, 2 dr cpe, sunroof, blue/black interior, std 4 cyl;
1965 Volvo P1800S, 2dr cpe, white/red, 4 speed +OD, 4 cyl ;
1959 MGA FHC, 4 cyl 4 spd, Black/red leather interior, luggage rack;
1959 MGA convert, 4 cyl, 4 spd, Grey/black/black top, luggage rack;


Favorite Vans or Trucks:
1971 VW Westfalia Pop Top with Camper package;
1978 Chev Beauville Custom Camper package, raised roof, 350 V/8 auto;
1989 Nissan Pathfinder XE, 4X4, V/6, standard, Black on Black;
1989 GMC/Chev Tracker, 4X4 (had 2, 1 Red & 1 Grey), std;
1997 Dodge Caravan SE, V/6, auto, 7 passenger.

Lots more, too many to mention here. A list of autos that gave us more grief than pleasure might also be of interest?
regards,
Bill

[cywprof]

Hi again Paul,

You started me thinking about cars that "gave me grief" and cars that
"I wanted". Mind you as a "certified car nut", I can usually find something good in most cars. A few did give me more grief than pleasure. Short list:

Chrysler Le Baron 2dr Coupe, looked great, motor was a mistake (2.5);
Renault Caravelle, good looker, mechanically a disaster, was there a frame?
Ford Grenada 2 dr Cpe, nice lines, couldn't hold a charge, dealer no help;
Plytmouth Belvedere, bought new, great style, ate transmissions (5); New Chev Corvette, blew a transmission took GM 2 mths to replace; just to mention a few!

Cars I would still like to own: Jaguar XK150S FHC; Porsche 911; TR2 or TR3; Volvo 120 series, Volvo P444 or 544; Tucker; 1955 T-Bird; 1975 Rolls Royce; reown: Volvo P1800S, 1959 Ford Thunderbird convert; 1959 MGA FHC.
regards,
Bill

[infinity1]

excellent posts guys! if i can remember the cars..
1st, ford fiesta 1.1 l bought for £75 ran for 18months mega reliable!
2nd vauxhall astra 1.3 gl bought for £50 so reliable it hurt until i sold it (£80!!)someone then used it in an armed robbery...try explaining that to the police...
3rd another vauxhall astra bought for £25!!,1.4 l.. crock of sh** sold within a week for £50
4th sierra 4x4 estate 2.9 bought for £250 awesome car had 140000 miles when i bought it very fast car for its day,double the legal limit in it! stolen from lakeside shopping centre one afternoon and actually watched 2 blokes walk up to it open door a drive away in about 10 seconds,with all my kids seats,clothes in it...gutted for weeks..
5th another sierra 4x4 est 2.9 ebay(early days) job bought for £100 with tax and mot!!
again very quick reliable motor,sold for £450
6th subaru legacy turbo est,£2600 utter sh** gearbox went sdold for £1500(?)
7th volvo 240 gl est bought for £50 from the side of the road! run for about 2000 miles sold for £150 got me into the whole volvo thing..
8th 740 est £150
9th 740 turbo est £350
10th 740 est £500 (gradually going up..)
11 740 est £375 90k miles full service history 2 owners...should of kept that one..
12th vauxhall omega elite est 89000 miles £1500 lovely car but all vauxhalls have bloody head gasket,rocker gasket,issues,lovely to drive and a real luxury car price of this one when new was over £35k!!!
13th volvo t5r hooray after being after one for about 5 years finally one turns up 2mins from my house!!!! love it!!!
there was a couple of 940's ut im stuffed if i know where???
still would like a go in...
alfa 75 2.5 v6
saab 900 turbo old style one..

[cywprof]

Ok, here is my list of cars & bikes (in the order of which I bought them):

1978 Austin Mini 1000 City - Green
1989 Peugeot 309 1.3 XL - White
1991 Volvo 440 1.7 - Blue
1992 Rover 820 Si 2.0 - B.R.G.
1989 Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.6 - Two-tone Red over Grey
1990 Ford Escort XR3i 1.6 - White
1989 Volvo 240 GLT 2.3 - Grey
1986 Austin Mini 1000 Mayfair - B.R.G. with White roof & Cooper stripes
1996 Peugeot 306 XLDT 1.9 - Blue
1992 Rover 827 SLi 2.7 - Red
1993 Volvo 940s 2.0 - Black
1989 Vauxhall Astra SXi Estate 1.8 - Burgandy
1997 Ford Escort Zetec 1.6 - Blue

1995 Honda MT50 X - White
1997 Kawasaki ER-5 - Silver
1998 Suzuki XF650 Freewind - Silver
1989 Yamaha TZR 125 - White & Red
1998 Honda XL 125R - White
1993 Suzuki GSF400 Bandit - Black
1999 Honda CBR 600 FX - Red & Blue

Fastest Car - Rover 827 SLi
Fastest Bike - Honda CBR 600 FX
Best Looking Car - Ford Escort XR3i
Best Looking Bike - Yamaha TZR 125
Most Surprising Car - Vauxhall Astra SXi Estate
Most Surprising Bike - Suzuki GSF400 Bandit
Best Car Overall - Volvo 240 GLT
Best Bike Overall - Honda CBR 600 FX
Nice presentation of your cars, thanks
Bill

[felix65]

1st car back in 1983 was an M reg toyota celica auto coupe
with a black plastic rack on the back window.
My favourite car ive just sold
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/totallyfocused/kitties049.jpg
and the hard top made a cat conservatory in the summer
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/totallyfocused/kitties053.jpg

[keithyboy]

My first car was a 1983 Lada 1300 in orange. You may laugh with with double wishbones on the front and a properly located live axle at the back it handled quite well once you got over the initial roll when you turned in.

Favourites:

My first MKV Cortina (Just like to say thanks to whoever nicked it when I'd had it six weeks)
The Tasman Blue Sierra GLSi with Cossie wheels which I piled into a bollard
My current Primera GT

Best

Volvo 440 or 1.6 Primera. Neither were fast but they both gave you the impression that they'd get you to the moon and back.

[GSS]

First car 1968 Triumph Herald bought in 1977 when I was 17 for the princely sum of £190; great little car with a marvellous turning circle, but a bit like sitting in a torpedo tube with the pedals slightly offset to one side and the steering wheel to the other!
Second car a 1974 Lada 1200 bought in 1979.
Third car another Lada 1200 bought brand new for £2800 on the road in 1981 when I was 20. Traded in four and a half years later with 48700 miles on the clock for a brand new 1985 Lada Riva 1200 at £3313 on the road when I took it to the dealer for it's 48000 mile service. (Trade in price for the old 1200 was £2200 plus the dealer paid for the service, so total trade in was £2548 so I lost £452 un depreciation over four and a half years, which I don't think is bad. That Riva was brilliant. I had it for ten years, it covered 185000 miles, broke down only once when the condensor failed, (cost me £2.25 from the AA to fix), and was sold to a couple of Russians who shipped it out of Teignmouth back to Russia in 1995.
Fourth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate.
Fifth car Lada Riva 1300 saloon, (turned into a replica Russian police car and went all over the country doing car and charity shows. Greta fun on the motorways, especially with yours truly in full Russian police uniform.
Sixth car Volvo 245 7-seater estate, old X reg, (bought when wife p*ssed off with family GP so could take children, (5), out when with me. Great car, loved it to bits. Had at same time as fifth car.
Seventh car, Lada Riva 1500 saloon with extras, (spoiler front and back, extra brake lights, walnut dash, etc.) Had at same time as No.s 5 and 6.
Eighth car, Volvo 240 7-seater estate, 1989 model, still have , excellent condition.
Ninth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate. Had at same time as Nos. 5, 7 and 8
Tenth car, Lada Riva 1500 slaoon. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7. 8, and 9.
Eleventh car, Toyota Townace, 8 seater. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Originally bought to replace Volvo 240, but thought better of it and kept Volvo as well.
Now only have Volvo 240 and Townace. All Ladas sold, (first time in 30 years I have been Lada-less).

[Paul240480]

First car 1968 Triumph Herald bought in 1977 when I was 17 for the princely sum of £190; great little car with a marvellous turning circle, but a bit like sitting in a torpedo tube with the pedals slightly offset to one side and the steering wheel to the other!
Second car a 1974 Lada 1200 bought in 1979.
Third car another Lada 1200 bought brand new for £2800 on the road in 1981 when I was 20. Traded in four and a half years later with 48700 miles on the clock for a brand new 1985 Lada Riva 1200 at £3313 on the road when I took it to the dealer for it's 48000 mile service. (Trade in price for the old 1200 was £2200 plus the dealer paid for the service, so total trade in was £2548 so I lost £452 un depreciation over four and a half years, which I don't think is bad. That Riva was brilliant. I had it for ten years, it covered 185000 miles, broke down only once when the condensor failed, (cost me £2.25 from the AA to fix), and was sold to a couple of Russians who shipped it out of Teignmouth back to Russia in 1995.
Fourth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate.
Fifth car Lada Riva 1300 saloon, (turned into a replica Russian police car and went all over the country doing car and charity shows. Greta fun on the motorways, especially with yours truly in full Russian police uniform.
Sixth car Volvo 245 7-seater estate, old X reg, (bought when wife p*ssed off with family GP so could take children, (5), out when with me. Great car, loved it to bits. Had at same time as fifth car.
Seventh car, Lada Riva 1500 saloon with extras, (spoiler front and back, extra brake lights, walnut dash, etc.) Had at same time as No.s 5 and 6.
Eighth car, Volvo 240 7-seater estate, 1989 model, still have , excellent condition.
Ninth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate. Had at same time as Nos. 5, 7 and 8
Tenth car, Lada Riva 1500 slaoon. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7. 8, and 9.
Eleventh car, Toyota Townace, 8 seater. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Originally bought to replace Volvo 240, but thought better of it and kept Volvo as well.
Now only have Volvo 240 and Townace. All Ladas sold, (first time in 30 years I have been Lada-less).

Great Post GSS! I beleive you are owed a medal for 'Lada Ownership - Beyond the Call of Normality' :hidesbehindsofa:

No, seriously I had a mate long time ago, who swore by his Riva Estates & like you he got a brill trade in each time form the mainstealer.

Thanks again

[740 In France]

What an amount of cars you have had.

I have only been driving since late 1999 and have driven.

My very First van (N87 ENX) a 1996 Daihatsu Hi-Jet 1.0l Hated it after 1 year and then drove my Nan's C reg Volvo 340. C159 BTA. Sold Van for loss.

Kept the 340 1.4 for 5 and a half years. Cost 1100 pounds when we bought him and spend very little on him in that time.

Sold the 340 for 50 pounds with T&T and then I bought my first ever own car it was a 1986 740 GLE estate with a B230K engine. D795 RJW. Had also had, I believe a private plate in the past as A111 PSA or somethink similar.
Moved to France with it and used it to fetch and carry building materials. Kept it for 3 and a half years and then as We were having trouble with it My Grandparents wanted to buy a brand new car and so I agreed to PX it as the Toyota Dealer were offering 1500 euros discount on the new car.
Febuary 2007 Toyota Corolla Techno 1.4 D4D diesel 5 door hatch which we have had for a year now. Good car very economical but find it caracterless. Done 19,300 kilometres now.

Out of all of the cars I have owned or used I would have my 740 back tomorrow, I felt very sad to see it go.
This year I will get a 97-98 940 LPTetc estate preferably a Celebration or if not at least one with AC. I will be looking out for one when one of the house sale completes. I am really looking forward to being a volvo owner again and my Nan preferes driving a RHD car. James.

[GSS]

Thanks Paul for your comments.

Have to admit, although I love the cars I have, I do miss the Ladas, especially the 'police' car.

Best wishes.

[Paul240480]

Thanks Paul for your comments.

Have to admit, although I love the cars I have, I do miss the Ladas, especially the 'police' car.

Best wishes.

Hi GSS, if you have a piccie of The Police Car, you've just gotta post on here!

[m0bzy]

First was a 1934 Hillman Minx , two of us spent two days with tensiometers in an attempt to make the Bowden cable brakes work ,first time I tried them on the open road the car span around to face where I had just come from.
There are a few BEST cars :

1938 Singer Le Mans,
1952 ish Austin Atlantic drop-head.
Jaguar 120 D/head,a presant from a lady friend , wife made me sell it!!
Jaguar Mk V111, oh I wish I still had that one.
I have only ever bought one new car ,a Hillman Imp Californian , hated it,part exchanged it after six weeks for a cracking Saab 96 2stroke.
Citroens have served me well, DS23 ,CX 2200 ,Gs,Gsa van & BXgti 8 valve.
Mike

[Clan]

a cracking set of cars, what didnt you like about the hillman californian ?

[m0bzy]

a cracking set of cars, what didnt you like about the hillman californian ?

I dont think there was any one thing,it was just a car that I took an instant dislike to , I do remember I could never get comfortable in it and it was a two door.

Mike

[Alec Dawe]

1st car... a 1955 Austin A50 Cambridge 1500cc flat out at 75MPH = 5000rpm, 4 speed column change (perm any 1 forward gear from 4) Accelerator pedal was once described as a cough lozenge on a prong!, Mind you, it was built like a tank, and saved me and 5 friends (front bench seat you see) from serious injury when rammed by a drunk in a Skoda Octavia (the OLD one) one night.
2nd car...Morris Minor 1000 (1959 model)
3rd.....Wolesely 15/50
4th.....Mk 1 Cortina 1500 (wide wheels, lowered 2", HUGE peco big bore exhaust under drivers door.
5th.....Austin 1300 Countryman estate.
6th ....Mk 3 2.0 litre Cortina Auto
7th.....Bedford CF Van converted into a motor Caravan
8th.....Colt Lancer 1600, fast, but with a ride like bouncy thing!
9th... Fiat Miafiori 131 Mine didn't rust, but thay were mostly rustbuckets
10th... Austin Maestro 1300
11th ...M.G. Maestro 2.0 litre Injection (NOT the one with the talking dashboard!)
12th....Austin Montego Estate
13th....(Company Cars not counted) a very, very strange supposedly 998cc Mini. Why strange, well I was being gentle with it, in deference to about 80,000 miles on a mini engine, which seemed rough and slow, uintil one day on the A1 I was overtaking something, really put my foor down, and discovered that HUGE amounts of power (relatively) came in a 5000rpm, and this carried on up the revs until I chickened out at about 7500rpm!
14th....Mk 3 1300cc Ford Escort
15th....Volvo 240 GL estate.. Lovely car, the kids loved it!
16th...(I was still in Company cars, and Marion wanted something more economical) Escort 1.4i
17th...Renault Clio (Marions)
18th...Ford Fiesta (Marions)
19th...Ford Fiesta (the New Shape, Marions)
20th...End of Company Cars my car Saab 9-5 TiD estate. Lovely to drive, but the unreliability drove me mad
21st...Ford Focus C-Max (Marions)
22nd...The Saab HAD to go.. Volvo S40 2.0D Sense again
23rd....Volvo 240GLT fun car
24th...Ford C-Max Ghia (Marions)
25th... Volvo 960 Estate (this was to be mine for my retirement BUT!!!)
26th...Company changes retirement policy, not in my favour, so Volvo V70 D5 geartronic... The 960 will have to go...

Above list does not include all the Company Cars that I have had with 20 years of working for an Engineering inspection company.

[vollnut]

Here goes with my list.

1. Mk2 Ford Escort - Great car
2. Mk1 Vauxhall Astra - Okay
3. Mk 2 Vauxhall Cavilier estate - Don't know what I was thinking
4. Mk 3 Ford Escort - Good car, rot box though
5. Austin Maestro - Crap!!!
6. Ford Orion - Good car
7. Volvo 360 GLT - Superb car
8. Talbot Solara - Only bought this because I crashed the 360
9. Volvo 440 GLT - Just okay
10. Volvo 850 T5 - This was my favorite car until I got the V70R
11. Volvo 850R - Nice car apart for the auto box ( never want an auto again )
12. Land Rover Discovery 200TDI - Great workhorse
13. Porsche 928 S4 - Still have this, my stepping stone to a 911
14. Land Rover Discovery TD5 - Current and great
15. Volvo 144 - Current and fun
16. Volvo 164 - For sale if anyone is interested
17. Volvo 360 GLT - Current and still a superb car
18. Volvo V70R - The ultimate car I have owned ( so far )

[m0bzy]

I have been a car owner since 1956,untill the last ten years or so I swapped cars at least once a year. I thought I would compile a list but after three attempts and realising that I had still missed some out , I give up.

Some noteables:

Austin Atlantic
Jag 120
" Mk V111
" 2.4 Mk1
Daimler/Jag 250
Sunbeam Alpine
Riley Pathfinder

[lone chippy]

My first car was bought for me by my father , a new golf 8 valve GTI , I think more as a toy for him as he did tend to borrow it quite a bit before a went to University .

Best car without a doubt for sheer quality and reliability has to be my current 530 d touring .

[m0bzy]

I have been a car owner since 1956,untill the last ten years or so I swapped cars at least once a year. I thought I would compile a list but after three attempts and realising that I had still missed some out , I give up.

Some noteables as they come to mind:

Austin Atlantic
Jag 120
" Mk V111
" 2.4 Mk1
Daimler/Jag 250
Sunbeam Alpine
Riley Pathfinder
Lanchester 2 1/2 liter
Riley Kestral
Borgward Isabella TS
Mercedes 220
Mercedes 219 Drop-head.
A huge Frazer-nash 4 seater convertible
MG tc
MG td
Auto Union 1000
Supercharged Morgan.
Oldsmobile Rocket
Straight eight Buick 1938 vintage
and for one whole week I was the co-owner of a Jaguar D Type!!!!!!!!!!!

There are more less notable.

mike

[Viking V40]

My first car was a Skoda Rapid 130, this one...

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/Kaefer1/SkodaRapid130.jpg

I kept this car for quite a long time, loved it to bits, very reliable and I still have a lot of time for the rear-engined Skodas. It took me a few years to save for my first car and I learned a lot from working on it. It was a bit different to the Nova/Golf/Fiestas that my friends all had. After that I moved to a Volvo 340, had a few Volvos since then and I can't pick a favourite amongst them - each one has been fantastic.

[gnhuk]

After a few years of two wheels:

Alfasud 1.5ti - bought off an old boy who also had a (circa 1930) Bentley (this was the best car I've ever owned - as a driving experience. Most of my spare time spent keeping up with the rust - and the spares prices made Volvo prices almost reasonable...) only lost £50 when I sold it :) :) :)

Viva 1800 - well I had a mortgage to pay - it was cheap and lasted 18 months

Chevette - still skint :)

1983 FWD Escort - slightly less skint now
etc

[niveaus]

My first car and the one I learnt to drive in was a 1275 GT mini. What fun. I lived in London then and it was amazing. Thank goodness for Dad's Insurance.

My favourite car so far has to have been my 1991 Toyota celica with the CS bonnet.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/our_cars/celica.jpg

Haven't got to know my Volvo yet as Stu takes it to work every day.

[irf]

my first car was a W reg BMW 316, that is a 1979 not a 2001 model lol!! favourite without a shadow of a doubt was my 200sx that i had previous to the volvo.
bought it standard(197bhp) apart from some BK racing wheels and took it up to approx 320-330bhp with a GT28RS turbo, 550cc denso injectors, FMIC, coilovers, CF bonnet and so much more. took it on a trackday at brands hatch(awesome), took it to santa pod (13.4@109mph) and took it drifting every weekend with some of the east london boys. sold to my cousin who subsequently wrote it off!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v304/irf200/parkinondrive.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v304/irf200/240820060011.jpg

[Rubber]

1. Triumph Dolomite sprint (loved it!)
2. Alfa Romeo 33 (Fell apart)
3. mini clubman (still got it)
4. Escort Mk3 1.1 (pile of poop!...hated it!)
5. MK2 Astra (great..compared to escort)
6. Sierra Saphire 2.0LX
7. Mk3 Cavalier 1.6L
8. Mk3 cavalier 2.0 GLI (I Liked this one)
9. Carlton CDXi (nice)
10. Frontera 2.5tds (great truck)
11. Volvo V70 D5 (theres no going back now!)

[Rubber]

After a few years of two wheels:

Alfasud 1.5ti - bought off an old boy who also had a (circa 1930) Bentley (this was the best car I've ever owned - as a driving experience. Most of my spare time spent keeping up with the rust - and the spares prices made Volvo prices almost reasonable...) only lost £50 when I sold it :) :) :)

Viva 1800 - well I had a mortgage to pay - it was cheap and lasted 18 months

Chevette - still skint :)

1983 FWD Escort - slightly less skint now
etc

Lol...sounds like my Alfa33, only i couldn't keep up with the rust!....both front wings completely rotted away at the bottom, and were only held on by the row of bolts at the top, they used to flap like a couple of wings

[malcolmk]

I have been a car owner since 1956,untill the last ten years or so I swapped cars at least once a year. I thought I would compile a list but after three attempts and realising that I had still missed some out , I give up.

Some noteables as they come to mind:

Austin Atlantic
Jag 120
" Mk V111
" 2.4 Mk1
Daimler/Jag 250
Sunbeam Alpine
Riley Pathfinder
Lanchester 2 1/2 liter
Riley Kestral
Borgward Isabella TS
Mercedes 220
Mercedes 219 Drop-head.
A huge Frazer-nash 4 seater convertible
MG tc
MG td
Auto Union 1000
Supercharged Morgan.
Oldsmobile Rocket
Straight eight Buick 1938 vintage
and for one whole week I was the co-owner of a Jaguar D Type!!!!!!!!!!!

There are more less notable.

mike

some serious good stuff there.i`ve got a 1;12 model of d type and i`m proud of that .

[cywprof]

I have been a car owner since 1956,untill the last ten years or so I swapped cars at least once a year. I thought I would compile a list but after three attempts and realising that I had still missed some out , I give up.

Some noteables as they come to mind:

Austin Atlantic
Jag 120
" Mk V111
" 2.4 Mk1
Daimler/Jag 250
Sunbeam Alpine
Riley Pathfinder
Lanchester 2 1/2 liter
Riley Kestral
Borgward Isabella TS
Mercedes 220
Mercedes 219 Drop-head.
A huge Frazer-nash 4 seater convertible
MG tc
MG td
Auto Union 1000
Supercharged Morgan.
Oldsmobile Rocket
Straight eight Buick 1938 vintage
and for one whole week I was the co-owner of a Jaguar D Type!!!!!!!!!!!

There are more less notable.

mike

Hi Mike,
enjoyed looking at your list. I have also been collecting since 1956! Between 1956-60 Vehicles were provided by my Dad. An offshoot of his Petroleum Business was a Service Station with a used car lot. I had access to many of the cars that came in on a trade. I didn't go independent & purchase on my own until the early 1960's.

A few on your list were on my dream list. Regretfully I never did get to own, e.g.: Jag 120, MK VIII, Sunbeam Alpine, MG TC & MG TD. I did nearly own a Sunbeam Tiger, but lost out to another bidder. I had a 1947 Buick Super 4 dr sedan. Also had a 1978 Olds Cutlass SW (Estate). Had 2 MGA's & 1 AH Sprite,
along with many other makes & models. Only regret that I have is that I took so few photos of the cars along the way.

Thanks,
Bill

[cywprof]

My first car was a 1983 Lada 1300 in orange. You may laugh with with double wishbones on the front and a properly located live axle at the back it handled quite well once you got over the initial roll when you turned in.

Favourites:

My first MKV Cortina (Just like to say thanks to whoever nicked it when I'd had it six weeks)
The Tasman Blue Sierra GLSi with Cossie wheels which I piled into a bollard
My current Primera GT

Best

Volvo 440 or 1.6 Primera. Neither were fast but they both gave you the impression that they'd get you to the moon and back.
Looked @ a Lada once, think that it was a "Cossak". A little 4X4. Technology was dated. But impressive none the same. Chickened out & bought a Chevrolet Tracker 4X4 instead. Bought a 2nd Tracker after 260,000 km. Sold the 1st to my brother (we are still speaking) who put another 100,000 km on it. Trackers in Canada were built by Cami (General Motors) & were the same as a Suzuki Sidekick. Not unlike the Lada Cossak. Any I knew who had a Lada were ambivalent but always defended its' honor!
regards,
Bill

[cywprof]

First car 1968 Triumph Herald bought in 1977 when I was 17 for the princely sum of £190; great little car with a marvellous turning circle, but a bit like sitting in a torpedo tube with the pedals slightly offset to one side and the steering wheel to the other!
Second car a 1974 Lada 1200 bought in 1979.
Third car another Lada 1200 bought brand new for £2800 on the road in 1981 when I was 20. Traded in four and a half years later with 48700 miles on the clock for a brand new 1985 Lada Riva 1200 at £3313 on the road when I took it to the dealer for it's 48000 mile service. (Trade in price for the old 1200 was £2200 plus the dealer paid for the service, so total trade in was £2548 so I lost £452 un depreciation over four and a half years, which I don't think is bad. That Riva was brilliant. I had it for ten years, it covered 185000 miles, broke down only once when the condensor failed, (cost me £2.25 from the AA to fix), and was sold to a couple of Russians who shipped it out of Teignmouth back to Russia in 1995.
Fourth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate.
Fifth car Lada Riva 1300 saloon, (turned into a replica Russian police car and went all over the country doing car and charity shows. Greta fun on the motorways, especially with yours truly in full Russian police uniform.
Sixth car Volvo 245 7-seater estate, old X reg, (bought when wife p*ssed off with family GP so could take children, (5), out when with me. Great car, loved it to bits. Had at same time as fifth car.
Seventh car, Lada Riva 1500 saloon with extras, (spoiler front and back, extra brake lights, walnut dash, etc.) Had at same time as No.s 5 and 6.
Eighth car, Volvo 240 7-seater estate, 1989 model, still have , excellent condition.
Ninth car, Lada Riva 1500 estate. Had at same time as Nos. 5, 7 and 8
Tenth car, Lada Riva 1500 slaoon. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7. 8, and 9.
Eleventh car, Toyota Townace, 8 seater. Had at same time as Nos 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Originally bought to replace Volvo 240, but thought better of it and kept Volvo as well.
Now only have Volvo 240 and Townace. All Ladas sold, (first time in 30 years I have been Lada-less).
Impressed with your Lada stories. Came close to owning a small Lada 4X4, think that it was badged as a "Cossak". Chickened out & bought a Suzuki Sidekick facimilie (General Motors Tracker) instead. Actually had 2. Always wondered if the Lada would have served me well.
regards,
Bill

[James A]

My first car was a 1989 Fiesta 1.1LX which I owned from 1996 until 2000, when it was written off by an artic on the A2 outside Dover. I replaced it with a 1994 Rover 214Si, which wasn't very good at all, even though I kept it for four years; in the end I had to buy a raggy old car (a Volvo 240GL, which sold me on the idea of RWD Volvos) to use when it was off the road being repaired...

My favourite car out of the four I have owned so far has to be The Volvo :)

[m0bzy]

Hi Mike,
enjoyed looking at your list. I have also been collecting since 1956! Between 1956-60 Vehicles were provided by my Dad. An offshoot of his Petroleum Business was a Service Station with a used car lot. I had access to many of the cars that came in on a trade. I didn't go independent & purchase on my own until the early 1960's.

A few on your list were on my dream list. Regretfully I never did get to own, e.g.: Jag 120, MK VIII, Sunbeam Alpine, MG TC & MG TD. I did nearly own a Sunbeam Tiger, but lost out to another bidder. I had a 1947 Buick Super 4 dr sedan. Also had a 1978 Olds Cutlass SW (Estate). Had 2 MGA's & 1 AH Sprite,
along with many other makes & models. Only regret that I have is that I took so few photos of the cars along the way.

Thanks,
Bill

Hi Bill,
The Alpine nearly killed me , both rear brake cylinders split leaving me with no brakes.Two vehicles I missed owing to indecision A Chevvy Bel-Air and an E type,the Chevvy was a left hooker but the E must have been the last before the second hand prices shot up,never had another chance.I too wish I had pictures of then all.

Mike

[peterelectric]

Hillman Hunter 1725cc bought in 1972 for £200. It had a black vinyl roof (all the rage then) and went very quickly. Unfortunately it needed a lot of work, especially the strut mounts which had to be plated as they were prone to rust. As also unfortunately were the sills. Bought in the dark from a bloke on the phone in Harpenden high street. Well, we all were very wet behind the ears at some time. Nonetheless it was a good puller and the interior was usefull with reclining seats.

[cywprof]

Hi Bill,
The Alpine nearly killed me , both rear brake cylinders split leaving me with no brakes.Two vehicles I missed owing to indecision A Chevvy Bel-Air and an E type,the Chevvy was a left hooker but the E must have been the last before the second hand prices shot up,never had another chance.I too wish I had pictures of then all.

Mike
Hi Mike,

we all must have "near missed" stories where luck or whatever prevented serious accidents. Had a friend whose wife drove a Sunbeam Alpine. Looked great, but was under powered according to the owner. Whereas I understand the Alpine Tiger was a beast! Chev Bel & E Type would have been good catches. Only Chev I didn't like much was the 1957 model year. Thought Ford & Chrysler outdesigned the '57 Chev by far. Interesting that in true revisionist style the '57 Chev is now considered by many a collectible. No reason or rhyme to trends. Had a few Chevs. They were ok. Too bad you missed out on an E Type, it apperas to be a great car.
regards,
Bill

[D5driver]

My first car was a 1987 205 1.9 GTI. The most fun car i had was a 1990 205 GTI with an MI16 running throttle bodies and 50 bhp nos kit :thumbs_up:.
Most reliable and comfortable car is my S60 D5. :-)

[ted lay]

ford anglia 100e with the go slow wipers
1959 austin mini great for parking in the city
1961 Volvo 120 b16 import from cyprus 81 DUL
1963 122s 3950 PJ great caravan tow car
1964 121 EPD 440B
1967 121 LAJ 176F
1968 131 XLM 947G
1969 FGK 20J first 140
1973 GJJ 888J first 164
1984 CYK 871 V 244
1989 Austin Montego small car comfort big car economy dire
1992 Toyota Carina brill
1993 Honda civic great
1994 Ford Fiesta
1998 Ford Fiesta
2001 Mitsubishi Carina
2003 Mitsubishi Carina and now 1965 Amazon HUR 122C
There's nothing like an amazon

[hansol]

1. 1978 Allegro 1.3 Auto ( what was I thinking ! )
2. 1983 Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6 GL
3. 1979 Cortina 2.3 ghia auto
4. 1983 Fiat Uno 55S
5. 1985 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Merit saloon
6. 1984 Austin Maestro 1.6 Vanden Plas ( complete with annoying voice )
7. 1983 Mazda 323
8. 1983 Fiat Argenta 2.0 TC
9. 1989 Renault 21 1.7
10. 1990 Volvo 460 GLEi
11. 1998 Peugeot 406
12. 1999 Volvo V40 D

Daft as it sound my fav car in that list was the Fiat Argenta. Looked just like a big Lada but went like s**t off a shovel. That car left many highly embarressed boy racers in its wake thinking they had just been blown off the road by and old brown Lada.

[m0bzy]

Hi Mike,

we all must have "near missed" stories where luck or whatever prevented serious accidents. Had a friend whose wife drove a Sunbeam Alpine. Looked great, but was under powered according to the owner. Whereas I understand the Alpine Tiger was a beast! Chev Bel & E Type would have been good catches. Only Chev I didn't like much was the 1957 model year. Thought Ford & Chrysler outdesigned the '57 Chev by far. Interesting that in true revisionist style the '57 Chev is now considered by many a collectible. No reason or rhyme to trends. Had a few Chevs. They were ok. Too bad you missed out on an E Type, it apperas to be a great car.
regards,
Bill

If I remember right the Alpine was about 1700cc,for the time I don't think it was that underpowered,I remember crossing Bodmin Moor with Ex-wife beside me and two kids and a dog stuffed in the back,god knows how,we managed over a 100mph with the kids chanting the numbers off as the speed increased.You are right about the Tiger,I only rode in one once and wheel spin could be produced in any gear.I still regret losing the 120,should have got shut of wife and kept car and lady-friend,wife went a few years later anyway.LOL

Mike

[Sid60ish]

First car was a second-hand 1956 Vauxhall Velox, (model E). 2262cc straight-6 with 59bhp IIRC, 3-spd column gearchange, valve radio, no power steering but bench seats front & rear. Body in deep Black and interior in Carnation Pink & White. Soooooooo cool.

Most enjoyable car ? Bit of a toss up between a 1984 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi and my recently departed Skoda Fabia vRS. On balance the Fabia gets it as it was just plain brilliant. Always reminded me of a Jack Russell that wanted to be off the leash and picking a fight with anything bigger. :animal-smiley-037:

[wagonracer]

right here goes in assending order

1st. mk2 cortina 1300 super 2 door with lots of go faster bits
2nd. mk1 escort 1600gt
3rd. ford corsair 1500 2 door with 1600gt engine and 7 x 13 superlites
4th. siera 2lt twincam cosworth replica
5th. bmw e34 5 series
6th mk3 escort cabriolet
7th opel manta gte coupe ( i still own this )
8th renault 9 turbo
9th nissan 200sx
10th toyota mr2 turbo
11th toyota mr2 turbo (the first didnt last long)
12th a cheep runaround manta gte coupe
13th volvo 945 turbo

i liked them all for diffrent reasons (but mostly because they were rear wheel drive)

[Aeroresh]

My first car was a 1980 Audi Coupe. 10 years old when I bought it for £1000. Absolutely brilliant first car...only cost me £500 in insurance too and that was when I was only 18!

Fave car so far was my old Aston. Had to sell it as I was getting too much grief from the wife 'cos I never had time to drive it and she figured I should be spending the money towards our self build:nah:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/79/254263481_d9422c8368_b.jpg

[oman5]

My first car was a morris Ital. mainly because it was cheap for a 17 yr old to insure. yes the handling was crap, but it was a superbly reliable car with good economy.I'm embaressed to say I've got a hankering for another one.

Now favourites, oo, let me see, out of about 60 cars I've owned, it'd be a toss up between

1, 1981 Rover sd1 V8
2, 1991 Granada scorpio 24v
3, 1981 chevrolet caprice 5.0 V8

These are the 3 I wish i could have kept

[tingy]

ive only had 2 cars

1.Mazda 626 saloon
2.volvo v70 D5

no prizes for guessing which is my fave

[DmcL]

first was an old shape 90 318i.

after that i had (in no order)

96 ford fiesta zetec (1.25)
89 honda civic saloon (1.5)
92 ford sierra glsi (2.0)
2x bmw 318i (92 and 96 se)
91 bmw 325i se auto
96 vauxhall omega 2.5 V6
91 honda civic hatch (1.6i-16)
90-something citroen zx d-turbo

[S40_Paul]

In order of ownership

1) M Reg Ford Fiesta Mk3 Azura, converted with Xr bumper's and resprayed, gave to my dad when I got my 2nd car
2) X Reg Renault Clio 1.2 Liberte : Modifed quite a bit then traded against third car
3) 52 Plate Seat Leon 1.6 S : Spent thousands modifying then due to finance troubles at home had to sell and bought...
4) W Reg Golf mk4 GTTDI 115 (remaped to 150) Helped sort my finances out and later traded in for...
5) 2002 S40 1.9 Sport 115

I'm torn between the last 3 as these all had unique bits, my Leon was heavily modified, £2000 overall, Golf was a fast bugger at 150bhp but was getting on a bit and had a custom boot install fitted then my S40 is my current project which is so unique as to be (although not 100% confirmed) the only S40 BTCC replica currently in the UK. Again I dont know 100% but I aint seen one except show ones that dont drive around normal roads.

I think I'l say my it's a torn decision between Leon and S40 but the S40 is far more comfortable and practical so the Volvo wins! I'll try and get some pic's if I can find some.

[MTerry]

My first car was my grandmother's '73 Volkswagen Super Beetle. Flat blue with a factory sunroof. It had been resprayed by a guy "down the block" and the paint was flat and peeling. I could wax it and it would look good for exactly two days, unless it rained. Also the most fun...really. I could drive that thing like a go-kart. Even though top speed was a whopping 88 mph, all it took was a little moisture and I could drive it with the throttle. When the front would start to slide, all you had to do was dump the clutch and the rear would more than make up for it. If you ever want to practice drifting in something so slow you probably can't hurt yourself, there's your car. I got some very bad habits in that car. Next came an '86 Ford Escort that my mother bought for me because she hated the VW. It was black, and it had all the options, but it was in the shop more than it was on the road, and one of the lifters stopped doing what its name indicates at 75,000 miles. I got $300 for the pile of crap and bought my '92 Toyota Tercel, which now has 332,000 miles on it, and is currently my transportation while I figure out how to get the Volvo's exhaust to stop blowing so I can get the emissions tested. The Volvo came as my new wife's first mother's day present. Her old Golf needed brake work and she wanted something "big and safe." After two more kids and a live in mother-in-law, it became too small, so we got a 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan. I call it the Blue Behemoth, enough said. I reluctantly started driving the Volvo when engine #2 went out in the Toyota, but now I can't wait to get it back. It's basically my car now since I converted it to a 5-speed, and it's a whole lot easier to get the kids off to school in a 4-door. Sorry, I don't have any pictures of the VW, but I've got one of the Toyota, and I got pictures of the Escort and the van off the net.

[30yearvolvoman]

Hillman Minx/Sunbeam ....rotted to death
Austin 1800 .... Run out of MOT scrapped
Vauxhall Cresta PC.....Sold to a banger racer
Mk1 Transit Van 1700cc V4....really cheap to insure
Mk1 Transit Van 1600cc crossflow.... cheap to insure also
Austin Princess 2.2 Straight 6..... used more oil than petrol
Daihatsu 55 wide van.... economical beyond belief
Sherpa Crewbus Diesel....Slug
Mk1 Fiesta .....boring
Mk3 3.0s Capri .....Ace
Rover SDi 3500cc .....Auto box died as did the car
Renault 12 Estate economical ..... smelt of burgers!
Talbot Sunbeam .....kept for exactly 2 days what a crock of Sh*te
Volvo Amazon Estate...run out mot sold to a banger racer (ooops)
Triumph 2500pi ....very bad electrics sold to the same banger racer
Chrysler 180 ....front wheel snapped away from the chassis
MK3 Cortina ....went the same way as the Chrysler
Peugeot 504 Diesel .....Gearbox parted company with the engine

Got a decent job...

1 year old MK3 Escort 1300cc ....After all the junk I'd had this was heaven

Was made to sell it for a deposit on our first house, back to Junk

Renault 18 Diesel..Alternator bolt went throught the radiator and killed it
Mk4 Cortina Estate....Rubbish sold it nearly straight away
Mk1 Granada Estate .... Bad electrics sold it to a banger racer
Mk3 Escort Van .... Good but gearbox gave up

Then the house was done up, I trawled the small ads and the Yorkshire Trader, My first proper decent car.....

Volvo 240GL Estate ...we called it APY after the first three reg letters,sold it to a pub landlord for £200 more than I'd bought for.

Volvo 740 Turbo Diesel Saloon Auto....Traded it for...

Volvo 740 Turbo Diesel Estate Auto.....Sold because I was skint

Volvo 740 2.3 Estate......one of the first, what a workhorse sold with 300k

Volvo 760 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooled Saloon Auto....The best car I ever owned, went all over Europe in it, sold it to a mate who kept for 5 years and he sold it to his dad who kept it another 5 years then my mate got back who traded it after another two years

Volvo 760 2.3 Turbo Int. Petrol Estate Auto....Drunk juice converted it to a 2.8 Turbo intercooled Isusu put 200k on the clock sold it to a one armed lorry driver who left the sump plug loose after an oil change, sorry to see that go to the scrap yard.

First new car..

Volvo V70 (850 shape) 2.5 TDi Auto....traded after three years for

New Volvo V70 (new shape) D5 (163bhp) Auto....traded after three years for

New XC90 D5 (185bhp) Auto .....Still got it, nearly three years old


The best I ever owned was the 760 GLE TDi Saloon, I think about the old girl now.

The absolute worse car ever was the Talbot Sunbeam.

The most fun probably was the 3.0s Capri.

The hardest working the C reg 740 2.3 Estate, it towed monster loaded trailers, the wife once brought it home seats down, stacked to the roof from the back of the front seats to the tailgate with freshly cut turf, the car was dragging on the floor, I heard coming down the road, I rushed out and asked her what the hell she was doing......her reply 'it's alright, it's a Volvo' I was speechless, we unloaded it and it was fine. She said ' ...see I told you it would be alright'. The chap who bought it from went on to abuse it for his building business.

I feel the newer Volvos are not as robust as the 2 and 7 series, but I don't need to work them as hard as I did my first Volvos.

[Jona76]

A cracking thread. Passed test when 17 -

1 - 950cc 1984 Fiesta Mk2. Thrashed and erm crashed.
2 - 1986 BMW 320. Knackered.
3 - 1989 Fiesta XR2. Loudest exhaust ever!
4 - 1988 Fiesta XR2. Concours (pic below)
5 - 1996 Escort Si. 1.8 Jobbie kitted to look like an RS2000. Sad haha.
6 - Volvo 850 T5 ex plod (the cleanest white one on here!)
7 - 1 owner 1978 Capri 3 litre Ghia. 40k. Concours (picture below)
8 - Corsa Gsi (miss it!)

Out of the lot, naturally I've got my Volvo still but the most fun was the Capri. It was concours and the amount of looks I had!!!

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/IMG_1888.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/DSC00680.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/DSC00677.jpg

[Paul240480]

A cracking thread. Passed test when 17 -

1 - 950cc 1984 Fiesta Mk2. Thrashed and erm crashed.
2 - 1986 BMW 320. Knackered.
3 - 1989 Fiesta XR2. Loudest exhaust ever!
4 - 1988 Fiesta XR2. Concours (pic below)
5 - 1996 Escort Si. 1.8 Jobbie kitted to look like an RS2000. Sad haha.
6 - Volvo 850 T5 ex plod (the cleanest white one on here!)
7 - 1 owner 1978 Capri 3 litre Ghia. 40k. Concours (picture below)
8 - Corsa Gsi (miss it!)

Out of the lot, naturally I've got my Volvo still but the most fun was the Capri. It was concours and the amount of looks I had!!!

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/IMG_1888.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/DSC00680.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq264/sammo1976/DSC00677.jpg

I'm glad this thread has been revived. lovin the Capri!!!!

[Laney760]

Well, here goes, have probably forgotten a few!

1 - Hillman Imp
2 - Humbre Sceptre with column gear change
3 - Austin Mini (resprayed by ICI, covered in Levi decals, for which I
received a monthly payment)
4 - Mk 2 Ford Cortina (I hand painted it purple)
5 - Mk 3 Ford Cortina (engine as unreliable as the Mk 2)
6 - VW Beetle (absolutely hated)
6 - Triumph Herald Estate (written off by a Juggernaut driver who fell asleep
at the wheel and ran up the back of me at traffic lights)
7 - Simca (company car - unsafe rubbish, my axle broke in the fast lane!)
8 - Vauxhall Astra (company car - rubbish)
9 - Vauxhall Cavalier (company car - rubbish)
10 - Ford Capri 2 litre GTXLR special edition one of made especially for Ford
director's wife, I bought at 43 thou (unreliable engine)
11 - Rover V8 3.5 litre (the twin headlamp version) - super fast (ex husband
left a can of petrol in the boot with the battery cover off, the car
exploded whilst I was driving it, I had it all rebuilt, bolt-on panels)
12 - Ford Granada - very reliable, comfortable
13 - Vauxhall VX2000 - very fast
14 - Citroen 2.0 Reflex with pump up suspension, very comfortable, had a
Renault engine in it, went round the clock with zero repairs/services
15 - Fiat 126, 650cc, lot of fun, minimum 70mpg, could take it around
roundabouts on 2 wheels!
16 - Audi 100 2.2 litre - fast
17 - Volvo 244DL Saloon - utterly reliable but boring
18 - Peugeot 305 GL Diesel Estate (biggish car returned 70+ mpg, utterly
reliable, next owners took it around the world)
19 - Austin Maestro - total utter rubbish, kept for only a few weeks, RAC
had to come out nearly every single day for different faults!
20 - Nissan Primera 2.0 first year edition
21 - Volvo 740 estate 2.0 petrol (stolen)
22 - Volvo 940 estate turbo diesel with VW 2.4 D24TIC engine (as a fellow
member taught me, the very best car if you are tailgated, drop a gear,
accelerate, leave them in a cloud of smoke! A very interesting engine!)

My favourite had to be my first year 2.0 magical Nissan Primera which had the same engine in it that year as they put in their sports cars. You would still be at the top of the throttle at 140 mph, astronomical acceleration even up steep hills, whatever speeds you did on motorways you always returned up to 40mpg (auto gearbox with overdrive), she never not started in nearly 10years, she only had one breakdown/replacement part in nearly 10 years. The bad bits - serious understeer a bit hairy on tight bends, the most awfully huge turning circle and poor vision. Sadly sabotaged by envious lowlifes

[motas-88]

First car was a 1993 vauxhall cavalier 1.8 8v, bought for £425 with 138000 on the clock. lasted three months, and thats all i have to say on the subject.

second car was a 1999 ford mondeo lx 1.8 16v my brothers old one, it was an indoor swimming pool, and thats all i have to say about that one.

Third and forth my Volvo S40 1.8 SE and my VX signum 2.2 dti design no complaints apart from my volvo is giving me a bit of trouble at the moment but it's lasted longer than my mondeo and my cavalier put together.

As for my favourite car, its a toss up between the two.

Signum and S40: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/album.php?u=32814

12400

12401

12402

12403

12404

[BrockyV70Turbo]

My driving career started in 1985.
1/ Datsun 100A bought from my folks.
This was written off by a pi**ed up taxi driver.
2/ Datsun 180B I wrote that off lol.
3/ Datsun Cherry 1.3 GL, I wrote that one off ( gud driving eh ? )
4/ Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint. That was a right lemon. I ended up giving it back to the garage for a full refund.
5/ Honda C50 moped (after I left the forces).
6/ Guess what !!! Datsun cherry. That didnt last long before I got my next car.
7/ Toyota Cressida, that was a big car but very very expensive for a 20 something to insure and run.
8/ Yugo 33 knicked from my folks.( until my bro wrote it off !!!!)
9/ Triumph Acclaim ( I drove to Denmark via Holland and Germany in that one , and it had 125K on the clock at the time).
10/ My first German car mistake was then a Volkswagen Scirrocco Mark 1.
11/OH YES my next car, and by far my fave car to date was a Ford Capri MK3 2.0 S. Such good fun to drive and FAST AS F**K. That car had been owned by a guy who worked at Lancia in Bolton. He did it up with new sills, body kit etc. I raced BMWs along the motorway with that one .
12/ My next car was a Rover 316, It was the one that had the Honda enine in it.
13/ Volvo 340 GL. Again liberated from my folks after my dad stopped working.
14/ Volvo 440 SI . I got this after I seccessfully sued my exboss for negligence. Anyway the body gave up on the 340.
15/ Ford escort 1.6 zetec Tournier estate. I bought this when I emmigrated to Germany as I needed an estate car for my shop.Long story, but because we dont have V5s as they have em there, and the Volvo didnt show up on DEKRAs computer system ( 440 SI`s were never sold on Germany ), I couldnt put it onto the German net.
16/ BMW 520I SE 1994. Bought this when we moved back here, silly really but the g/f liked it.
17/ VOLVO V70 T SE T 2.5. Thats the car I have now, excellent car.

[keithyboy]

My first car was a Lada similar to this:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/keithyboy/old%20cars/300px-Lada_1200.jpg

Favourites:

I loved this: Sierra 2.0GLSi lowered, Cossie wheels, 57i. Went like a good 'un. right up until the point where I crashed it.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/keithyboy/old%20cars/sierra1-1.jpg

My Primera GT was a great car too. 150,000 miles, 150 BHP, supremely reliable, 0-60 in 8.5 seconds insurance group 11, £700.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/keithyboy/primera/DSCN0822.jpg

However, I'm completely smitten with this now:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/keithyboy/Alfa/Alfiethebirdmurderer011.jpg

[saturnuranus]

1st - Mini City E (998cc)
2nd - Pug 106 XSi
3rd - Pug 106 XSi
4th - Renault Clio 1.4
5th - 850 T5

2 3 and 4 were owned at the same time. The first xsi (below) was a track toy with a 16V motor. By far the most fun I've had in any of my cars :)

http://www.caliper.myzen.co.uk/img/history/DSCF0069.JPG

Anyone guess the circuit? ;)
http://www.caliper.myzen.co.uk/img/history/IMAGE_096.jpg
http://www.caliper.myzen.co.uk/img/history/DSCF0121.JPG

[LSG_1]

First car I had was Ford Granada 3 litre it was black and I had a sticker in the windows saying official mafia staff car and curtains in the back I thought I was really cool, everyone used to look at the sticker o those were the days now I have an Omega and a 2003 Combo Di woohoo :(
Second car was a 3.0 Capri in white that blew up outside my back gate :'( and so may more after them two.

[Pogmahog]

1971 Vauxhall Viva
Mini 1000
Datsun Sunny 1200
Saab 900
Volvo 240
Volvo 760 (engine blew replaced with V8 chevy) :ani_heart: a few boy racers in Pug GTI's had red faces!!
Triumph Aclaim (2 days bought £50, £1000 P/X!!)
Vauxhall Astra
Nissan Bluebird
Volvo 850GLT
Toyota Camry
Volvo 940
Volvo 850 SE Estate
Volvo V40
Mercedes C200 Estate
Landrover Discovery
Range Rover P38
Volvo V70


Best was Range Rover, only one I really miss

[Brian_V40]

My 1st car was a 1979 Ford Escort 1600 Sport, it was great fun, but I spent as much time repairing it as driving it. However, if it hadn't been stolen, I would still have it now.

The best drivers car I had was a 205 1.6 GTi, the hadnling was sublime and the power was more than adequate, and despite its reputation was very reliable.

The best all round car is my current (joint 1st) car, a 2003 Golf GT TDi 150. It's very quick, has averaged 52 mpg long term, and apart from the average handling is a superb all round car.

Unfortunately, my other current (joint 1st) car a 2004 V40 1.8 Classic Sport is very poor when compared to the Golf. It's slow, thirsty, expensive to maintain (£113 Xenon bulbs and unnecessary 50 series tyres), dull to drive, and has suffered horrific depreciation.

[Moosejaw]

Sorry about the lack of Volvos (only 2) but here goes...
1; VW Beetle 1971. Bought the day after I passed my test! A total banger which was held together with P38 and Duck tape! Had it about 6 weeks.
2; Audi 80GL 1974. Mk 1 model in a lovely brown colour! I liked it a lot, had it for 18 months.
3; Austin Princess 2200HLS 1978. My dad talked me into it! Comfy old bus, better than you'd think.
4; Fiat 128 1300CL 1980. Red. Rorty. Rusty.
5; Vauxhall Royale 1979. Brilliant car, used to bait XR3s with it! Quick, well equipped & comfy.
6; Renault 5GTL 1982. What can I say, the Royale's appetite for fuel was killing me!
7; Volvo 264GLE 1979. ...what good does petrol do just sitting in the ground anyway? Liked it a lot.
8; VW Jetta 1983. Nasty, slow, tinny, unreliable, poverty-spec, junker of a thing. Worst car I've ever had by miles.
...then came some company cars....Austin Metros!! (I was an ADI with BSM at the time)
9; Ford Sierra 1983. Had a "666" registration plate, which really freaked out my old gran! Had it a week, then it became the only car I've ever totally demolished in a crash!
10; Citröen CX Diesel 1982. Loved the "CX-ness" of it, but hated the clattery Diseasel, and I've never had another oil burner since.
11 & 12; Two Renault Clios '93 & '95. Meh!
13; BMW 520iA 1985. One of the best cars I've ever had. Kept it for 4 years.
14; Fiat Punto 1998. Very useful wee cars, Puntos, and cheap as chips to run.
15; BMW 530iA 1992. Must have been a lovely car when it was a bit newer, but mine was a bit sick!
16; another Punto 2002. I like Puntos!
17; Current main car, Alfa 156 2.0 2001. Love it. Totally reliable, a delight to drive and to look at. Probably my favourite car ever.
18; Current "fun" car & the reason I'm on this forum, a Volvo Amazon 133 1969. Drives great, not too rusty, usual leaks!

As you can see, a motley bunch of cars bought nearly new and very secondhand, as finances and circumstances dictated!

[Tsavo]

I am not going to bore you with my list of cars as I am new here and you may not give a toss.
So......my first car was a Nova Sr, white with brown and yellow recaros (great colour choice there :err: )
My car at present is a Volvo V40 2.0 turbo sport, and this I can safely say is my favourite car, love it!

[oman5]

Is this thread still running? My first motor was a morris Ital 1.3.. about all I could afford to insure at 17 seeing as I didnt want a mini. Yes, it was crap at handling but it was mega reliable and did 40 mpg.

favourite car was a '92 Granada scorpio 24v- the one with the cosworth "developed" engine. This was the only car I paid serious money for, I used to actually polish it and feed the leather seats. It was a seriously fast car, and it would actually kick down at 120 mph and take off again.it was immaculate and only got sold when the kids started arriving and I couldnt handle an average of 21 mpg any more. I wish I could have kept it.

[dodgyken]

Here goes:

1) Peugoet 306 1.6XR - Brilliant chassis
2) Vauxhall Vectra 2.5 SRi - First introduction to 6-cylinders
3) Ford Focus 1.8 LX - Company car. Great chassis - lift-off oversteer on demand - brillinat fun.
4) Ford Focus LX TDCi - Company car
5) BMW Z3 2.2 - Straight 6 engine - slightly soggy chassis - but still a great drive.
6) Volvo S80 2.4 (company car) - sooo comfortable, awesome stereo.
7) Volvo 240 GLT 2.3 - hhhhmmmmmm lots of torque, just brilliant. Then the head gasket went
8) Volvo 740 2.0GL - Supremely reliable 26,000 miles in 18 months, without a problem. Excellent
9) Volvo V70 T5 Phase 1 - love the power, hate the FWD. Warped the brakes after 1 particular enthusiastic run
10) BMW Z4 3.0 - loved it. Looked great, superb engine, good handling, good sized boot. Rubbish ride.
11) Mercedes W124 E280 - effortless cruising, unbelievably compfortable, great loadspace. Stupid sloping rear screen
12) Alpina B2.5 - screamer of engine, LSD. Rust and the ability to let go at 120mph on track :(
13) Volvo 760 GLE - lovely engine - lovely engine note - comfort. Not allowed in Switzerland and doesn't tow 2000KG :(
14) Volvo V70 D5 - plenty of power and torque after tweaking. Great seats and ergonmics. Economy not great, and too heavy.

If I had a choice I would go back to having the Merc, the Z4 and the Alpina. Now I have the Volvo and a smashed Alpina waiting to be repaired :(

[Clan]

My first car was one i had wanted since i was 12 it was a signal red Sunbeam Imp Sport and was lucky to have a loan from mum to buy one when i saw it in a local used car showroom just after i passed my test .
I still have it , have driven 300,000 miles in it and done lots of modifications ,I first turbocharged it's 998cc engine in 1983 , i made my own manifolds which took me 3 months alone . but the results then were phenomenal . although the smallest turbo chargers at the time were for a 1300 cc engine ( IHI RHB5) it started producing boost from 3500 rpm and went all the way to 8000 and beyond if you were brave producing about 170 bhp , over 4 times the power of the standard IMP .
The sunbeam Imp was racing in the British Touring Car championship at the time and won the championship outright in 1970 , 1971 and 1972 , reputedly putting out 135 bhp from it's Naturaly aspirated 998cc engine , which cant be too far from reality as it was clocked at 135 mph down hanger straight at silverstone in the races . I had great fun driving my Imp around for decades , it has been off the road the last couple of years as i'm freshening up everything ready for another long innings with this time a T6 turbocharger :-)
I still get a smile when i go out and sit in it , much like steve on here with his Mist blue 244 will in 20 years time ..

[Laney760]

My first car was one i had wanted since i was 12 it was a signal red Sunbeam Imp Sport and was lucky to have a loan from mum to buy one when i saw it in a local used car showroom just after i passed my test .
I still have it , have driven 300,000 miles in it and done lots of modifications ,I first turbocharged it's 998cc engine in 1983 , i made my own manifolds which took me 3 months alone . but the results then were phenomenal . although the smallest turbo chargers at the time were for a 1300 cc engine ( IHI RHB5) it started producing boost from 3500 rpm and went all the way to 8000 and beyond if you were brave producing about 170 bhp , over 4 times the power of the standard IMP .
The sunbeam Imp was racing in the British Touring Car championship at the time and won the championship outright in 1970 , 1971 and 1972 , reputedly putting out 135 bhp from it's Naturaly aspirated 998cc engine , which cant be too far from reality as it was clocked at 135 mph down hanger straight at silverstone in the races . I had great fun driving my Imp around for decades , it has been off the road the last couple of years as i'm freshening up everything ready for another long innings with this time a T6 turbocharger :-)
I still get a smile when i go out and sit in it , much like steve on here with his Mist blue 244 will in 20 years time ..


How wonderful to still have your first car. You may have seen my first car too was a Hillman Imp, still have a photo of it, a white one. My Dad taught me to drive in it, oh the shouting that he did!........

[Clan]

I feel sorry for most younger people today There are few who actualy know which car they want or stick with any particular one because the mass market cars are all the same . No individuality , they all look the same , have identical engines what ever the make , and smell the same and all interbreed identical features . You open the bonnet and they look like a washing machine , so hard to choose your individual characteristics and stick with them , At least we have found a common goal here, ...Volvos .
Yes the Imp was "a great car to learn motor racing in" Ayrton Senna said .
I have posted a picture of mine , and parked outside it's suppling dealer in Bournemouth in the 1970's where i used to make a yearly pilgrimage for tuning parts , and George Bevan in his triple championship winning car ..

Lets see your white Imp ..

[Laney760]

Having trouble uploading it, scanned it, comes up as a bmp image, when I try to upload it getting 'IE cannot display the web page' but I am connected to IE, will try again later

[Laney760]

Surprised, old snapshot from an instamatic type camera, too many pixels, had to use free web software to resize, mine not working.. Mine looks like a pretty basic model! Yes, I agree about today's cars, at the meet I went to I felt that I had the most interesting engine apart from the Amazon, when the bonnets were opened to the common-rail diesels I was very dissapointed! I do love a proper old engine! I'm more interested in my engine that any other part of my car








http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=211

[Clan]

Nice classic old picture , looks like a 1969 basic model £509 new :-) did it have door bins?

[Laney760]

Nice classic old picture , looks like a 1969 basic model £509 new :-) did it have door bins?


Afraid I don't remember that far back! I think it was you who posted on here to someone who had run their Volvo engine out of oil that you wouldn't be surprised and nor would a Vovlo dealer if it ran after they refilled it? I think the main reason I keep my rusty old Merc 307D Mercedes Motorhome is for the engine - you can park these vehicles up for years in fields, put a charged battery in 2 - 4 years later and they'll still run even if they've not been turned over and 'oiled'.... It's the most simple diesel engine I've personally seen, very mechanical, they go on for ever, and it's between my front seats, very handy, only downside is priming, nightmare. People do Volvo type mileages in these, a friend in Cornwall has done 750,000 on one engine.....

[Paul240480]

Fantastic, I'm loving the pics of the Imps! Remember them well from my childhood, 60s & 70s.

Come on folks, let's see some more pics of your first cars:thumbs_up:

[oman5]

Afraid I don't remember that far back! I think it was you who posted on here to someone who had run their Volvo engine out of oil that you wouldn't be surprised and nor would a Vovlo dealer if it ran after they refilled it? I think the main reason I keep my rusty old Merc 307D Mercedes Motorhome is for the engine - you can park these vehicles up for years in fields, put a charged battery in 2 - 4 years later and they'll still run even if they've not been turned over and 'oiled'.... It's the most simple diesel engine I've personally seen, very mechanical, they go on for ever, and it's between my front seats, very handy, only downside is priming, nightmare. People do Volvo type mileages in these, a friend in Cornwall has done 750,000 on one engine.....


LOLOL!!! I've got a 307D myself, I agree with everything you said. a fantastic engine for longevity

[michal940se]

My very first car was 1981 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 and i loved it,What a personality that car had.Many cars between,but have to mention,that most fun was 1984 Maserati Biturbo with carburatted 2.5 V6,great fun and actually not as bad as people think.

[andyv70t5]

1. 1989 1.1 Fiesta, old thing on choke used to buck like a horse
2. 1996 1.2 Clio, ltd edition, very nice looker - still going today
3. 1991 1.2 Clio, stuck this into the side of someone on a dual carridge way
4. 1991 1.4 Astra, in the end got rid, broke down everyday
5. 1994 1.4 Fiat Tipo, very fast but needed work so often, eventually sold for £26
6. 1993 1.8 Renault 19 16v, such fun, fast and s**t at the same time. Comfy-ist seats of all time bar none
7. 2004 1.0 Corsa, 3 cyl. So slow its was unbelievable and was recalled all the time for something or other
8. 1996 2.0 Subaru Impreza Turbo - great car, warped clutch plate coming out of a t-junction too fast
9. 2000 2.0 Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 - my fav car I've ever owned
10. 1996 1.4 Astra - got me to germany and back but never started again
11. 2000 Volvo V70 t5 rica'd to 310 bhp

[bvs]

My first car was a Black 1956 Austin A40 Cambridge (£35) in 1971,1200cc of pulsating power (42bhp...allegedly) and with a column change that was so worn I had to scrape the steering wheel for 1st and 2nd gear.Got plenty of practice with the starting Handle and of course had the obligatory clothes peg to stop the choke cable slipping 'in' when cold.
My favourite...possibly my Nissan Silvia Turbo...it was what the Capri should have been,had to sell because it was so effortless I could visualise losing my licence.
Volvos I like because they are well engineered and (usually) fairly easy to work on because of that.

cheers baz

Library pic from wiki

[Chris740R]

Volvo 740SE

I think I've done it the wrong way round.

I'll be in a 1.1 fiesta when I'm 40.

[505]

Never owned a car until got married so inherited a allegro oil burner and i don't mean a diesel. Second best car jointly owned peugeot 305 1.6 auto ,but the best car jointly owned Peugeot 505 GT diesel turbo 2.5 auto 7 seater estate it's 21 years old on 1/1/2009 had it fom new.. Find another car you can carry 3 mt kitchen worktops in AND shut the tailgate with room to spare!