Cars owned and best of them

[Frenchtone]

Hi all

An intersting thought occured along the Profession line, what cars have we all owned, and views of the best?

Mine are

Late 60's - Wolseley 1500 driven hard, a potential death trap

Very late 60's Singer Chamois(Imp)with an Emery positive camber kit to the front - that really improved it!

70's Morris Marina's - dictated by family expansion etc

Early 80's BMW3 series (1.8 / 2.0) Ok in straight lines very lively rear end - worryingly so!

Mid 80's Porsche 924 definately a brilliant familly car - you had to leave 'em at home!

Mid 80's Mk 2 Golf GL wonderfull piece of kit covered 300k miles

Early 90's Corrado G60 brilliant car wish it was still here - ecu packed up 2 weeks out of warrantty VW not interested!

Late 90's BMW 318ti - cr*p mobile not a shadow on the Corradd - stolen - glad to see it go

Very late 90's MX5 - what a brilliant fun car

Early o's Berlingo superb load mover etc

Now Yeti SE 110 also brilliant

0's Building a Marlin kit(early 30's Aklfa 2300 lookalike)running gear a 1.8 5spd box job almost finished however my wife has a terminal illness, which has curtailed work on the kit

Most fovorite

The Corrado obviously!

Tony

[kprida77]

V reg. Renault 4GTL. Fantastic fun to drive, great first car (that I owned). Rust got to it and the nearside rear trailing arm came off.

A reg.Fiat UNO 70s. It got me from A-B, not a good car. Engine ok but rusted away. Final straw was when the car handle came off due to rust.

F reg. VW Passat GT 16v Estate. Great car, same engine as the Golf GTI. Handled surprisingly well for its size. Shame I drove it too hard and the gearbox died.

E reg. Renault 5 1.7. A heap. Was cheap but leathel. Throttle would stick, something to do with the carb. Master cylinder failed, made for interesting experience. Finally the cambelt snapped.

K reg. Peugeot 205 1.8D. Slow, very slow. But fantastic on the fuel. Had air leak in the fuel system that could never track down so it would cut out at the most inappropriate moments such as halfway out a junction.

03 Vauxhall Astra 1.6Sxi. Mechanically fine, but the most uncomfortable car ever. Killed my back and right leg to drive. Still have trouble since having it.

'95. Westfield SEiW Pinto. Fun fun fun. Still got it, currently changing the engine to Zetec power.

06. Skoda Fabia Vrs. Great fun. Loved the PD punch. Didnt love the colour of the seats though.

56. Skoda Octavia Vrs Petrol hatch. Even more fun, loved the engine. One of my favorites.

59. Skoda Octavia Vrs CR170. estate. Not as much fun but a great load lugger.

11. Skoda Yeti 1.8Tsi Elegance. Lovely smooth engine, goes reasonably. Just waiting for the engine to bed in.

Favorites:

Renault 4GTL.

Octavia Vrs petrol.

Westfield.

Not had the Yeti long enough to reach the favorites list. But I'm not considering changing it yet which for me is unusual so it could make the list.

[hmibennett]

There was another thread on this topic I think about 6 months ago.

[calv123]

There was another thread on this topic I think about 6 months ago.

My link

[Frenchtone]

My link

Sorry if there was didn't find it!

[Macdemon]

Vauxhall Viva, then a Datsun 180B SSS Coupe, then a Talbot Avenger, Then a Yamaha RXS100, Yamaha TZR250, Honda CBR400RR, Honda VFR750, Yamaha CRB600, Honda Civic, Honda Accord Trpe-S and now I have Ivor the SM

This is a shared vehicle with Kitten. She had various Yarises and Puntos over the years.

For those that are unsure, the vehicles in red were motorcycles. :yes:

[CFB]

Various motorbikes including Kawasaki zxr 600, Honda sl125, 250 and 400 super dream, cb900f2, '92 fireblade, 600 and 900 hornet and now own a '07 Triumph tiger 1050.

As for cars... '63 Mini cooper s which was heavily modified by the time I sold it.

Cortina mk2 1600, triumph dolomite 1500, fiesta1600 diesel, astra diesel, pug 306 estate and hatch, pug 307 1.6 auto, fabia vrs and now Harry the yeti.

Favourites are the fireblade, hornet 900 and tiger for the bikes

and for the cars it has to be the cooper s, the fabia and the yeti.

The most hated has to be the Peugeot 307 auto. it spent more time in the garage than being driven

[jst_at_home]

Here goes:

Ford Anglia 1200 Super

Hillman Imp

Renault 6TL

Mini 850

Peugeot 504TI

Peugeot 106

Peugeot 304

Austin Metro

Fiat 127

Fiat Uno 55

Fiat Panda x 2 (1 written off)

MGB GT

Citroen 2CV x 2

VW Derby (first Polo with a boot)

Volco 340 x 2

Renault 21 Savanna x2

Rover Maestro Diesel x 2

Skoda 120Y

Skoda Felicia

Skoda Felicia Estate

Skoda Fabia 1.4 Elegance Estate

Skoda Fabia 1.9 Tdi Elegance Estate

BMW 316 Estate

Honda FRV

Skoda Roomster 1.9 Tdi

Daewoo Matiz x 2

Mini One

VW Passat 2.0 Tdi

Merecedes SLK230

Smart Passuion Turbo

Mercedes A170 auto - currently owned

Skoda Yeti 140 Tdi Elegance - currently owned

Mazda 1.8S - currently owned (relaced H-D XR1200)

And now the bikes:

Honda SS50

Yamaha XS250

Yamaha DT250

Honda CB250

Yamaha RD350

MZ ETZ250

MZ 660 Skorpion

Honda CB500

Honda 250 scooter

Piaggio Skipper 125

Piaggio Hexagon 250

Honda Varadero

Piaggio XEVO 125

Piaggio XEVO 400

Aprilia Atlantic 500

Triumph Bonneville Scrambler

Ducati Monster 600

Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster

Harley Davidson XR1200

Ego Helio Electric Scooter

This is the first time I've done this. The list is horrific if you tried to put a cost to it. But I am a petrol/diesel head.

Not really going to identify a favourite as the best has usually been the one I woned at the time.

Thr Peugeot 504 stands out, as does the MZ Skorpion.

John

Edited 5 July, 2011 by jst_at_home

[looby]

My pick would be the Yamaha RD350, now that's what you call acceleration! The Fiat 127 also, very quick with good handling, a great sporty drive..loved them both..

[grayson]

Clan Crusader(quirky.Grippy ),Alfasud Ti(just fabulous ), Golf Gti s Mk 1(no brakes) and 2( all round brilliance) ,2CV6 (soo much fun),Uno Turbo (rocketship acceleration-no grip), AXGt - beyond hopeless build quality but great handling, Caterham VVC and R400 Duratec(driving does not get better than this ) and lots of dull but worthy Turbo Diesel Hatches. And a Yeti.

[Macdemon]

My pick would be the Yamaha RD350, now that's what you call acceleration! The Fiat 127 also, very quick with good handling, a great sporty drive..loved them both..

My TZR 250 was CRAP as the powervalve never worked

The CBR400RR was fun though Until some ARSEHOLE of a postman forced me off the road one night and I collided with a telephone booth at 30mph

In fact, a MORON of a pensioner forced me to ditch the TZR when he pulled out from a side junction into my pacha, and the VFR750 was written off after a police traffic car did an illegal U turn at a set of traffic light. AND it was a sergeant who was driving. He lost his class 1 licence after that error haha

Had LOTS of close calls on motorcycles, thats why I always wore brown trousers

Just as I got my CBR400RR, a friend got himself a 125cc moped. We were hacking down a country lane and he hit a speedbump, took off in the air, and landed in somebody's front garden. Was the FUNNIEST thing I've EVER seen

[Yeti_Man]

Fiesta 1.3 Ghia 5dr - State Blue metallic - total pile of pants - really badly maintained by previous owner but I knew nothing about cars back then!

Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr - Pepper Red metallic - Brilliant, fun car. Absolutley anhililated it every where I went. Changed the oil every 5,000 miles and its now on 120,000 with the current owner!

Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec Collection 3dr - Panther black metallic - ended up as a 2 litre supercharged, turbo charged, nitrous monster with 330bhp and 320lb/ft torque. Expensive project that Im glad I did when I could afford it! (ie before a mortage and babies came along!)

Honda Civic Executive 1.6 vtec 5dr - Grey metallic - very reliable, very practical hatchback but so boring to drive and wallowed excessively in the bends.

Skoda Octavia Mk1 4x4 Elegance Hatch - Ocean Green - so so underated as a car. Amazed me (and many other people) with what it was capable of after being fettled! Great ownership experience. A £23 temperature sensor was the only unexpected cost whilst I owned it!

Skoda Octavia Mk2 VRS Estate - Race Blue - a good all round car but never really felt like real enjoyable fun to drive - even at stage 2+ tune. I missed the 4wd ability of the mk 1 above. Stunning looker imo.

Ford Fiesta Zetec Climate 1.6 TDCI - panther black - fettled with remap, big brakes and some handling mods. Embarrasses things with twice the power. £20 road tax and 50mpg around town with 68 achievable on a decent motorway journey. Amazing little car.

Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSi 4x4 Elegance - Grey metallic - by far the best all round vehicle Ive ever owned. Only real downgrade was in terms of boot space having come from the estate. Fettled it goes very nicely and its a great long distance cruiser. Amazingly capable in serious snow.

So the best three:

The Focus...

This was the day it actually set fire to Power Engineering when on the final stage of the rolling road tune! :wonder:

Octy Mk 1 4x4 Turbo - should have let Jabba do the big turbo converstion on it I was planning...

And of course, Beti the Yeti, who I cant see myself parting with for some time...

[andyspan]

Here's mine:

Berkeley T60 three wheeler................Reliable wasn't a condition it was familiar with!

Hillman Imp

Hillman Super Imp

Sunbeam Imp Sport.................First new car I bought at the age of 19 (happy days :yes: )

Hillman Avenger Super 1500

Hillman Avenger 1600 deluxe estate............Family man!

Colt (Mitsubishi) Celeste 1600 ST..............Great looking car and totaly reliable and owned for many years together with some of the later ones.

Ford Sierra 1.8

Rover 214Si ...................Pre 'bubble' one, good car apart from head gasket probs.

Suzuki SX4 GLX............Second ever new car

Now the Yeti 1.2 Elegance.........The very best (and dearest!!) car I've owned, hope to keep for a few years.

Along the way have also been a two vehicle chap with these:

Mini Mk 1 Estate

Mitsubishi L200 Van/mini-bus

Ciroen Berlingo Van 1.9D ........(currently)

Bikes

Honda CG125 for commuting to work many years ago

Suzuki GS500E which I have currently and only get a chance to use now and then (hence the heady mileage of 1200 in nearly 11 years of ownership!!)

Yeah they do add up a bit when you write them all down but pretty modest copared to others

[Peter a Proud Yorkshireman]

Ford Corsair V4 F reg

Ford Capri GXLR R= reclining seats! H reg

Escort 1100 mark 1 K reg

Escort 1300 GT mark 1 K reg (great car for burning off Yoffers in MGB`s)yoffer= posh git who laughs in yoffing manner

Vauxhall Viva M reg (first company car and worst car ever!!!)

Morris Marina 1.3 P reg (collapsed after 40000 miles!!)

Ford Cortina GLX 1.6 S reg (written off in multiple on M62)

Fiat Mirafiori 1.6 T reg.(Pink! Boss made me have this colour as punishment for writing off Cortina!)

Fiat Super Mirafiori 2 litre V reg (went like stink but subject to horrendous brake fade when hammered on country roads)

Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6 GLS X reg

Vauxhall Cavalier 1.8 SRi B reg

Vauxhall Cavalier SRi 130 D reg

Lancia Thema Turbo F reg

Lancia Dedra Turbo J reg (v.quick but always breaking down)

Ford Mondeo 2LTs Ghia estate L reg( first estate now a family man off to France with French Country Camping now Eurocamp)

Vauxhall Omega 2.5 GLS estate petrol P reg

Skoda Octavia 1.9 diesel 110 SLX estate X reg (first diesel and great car)

Ford Mondeo 2L diesel Ghia Auto Estate 03 reg

Skoda Octavia 140 Ambient estate DSG 07 reg. (now my car until Yorkie arrives)

Plus wonder woman`s 8 year old Fabia TDi also a great car.

You can tell I have nowt much to do until cricket starts and its raining here!!!

[Fluffy destroyer of worlds]

Like so many I started off with a Mini-

A very rusty Clubman, it never let me down (except at MOT time) and was wholly responsible for me getting caught by one of the first radar guns – nowt was forthcoming by way of a fine or ticket fortunately.

I then had two Suzuki Sc100GX’s, tiny little things with a rear mounted engine. Very prone to spinning but great fun. Didn’t like starting on wet mornings however.

I then started to get my fathers Alfa hand me downs.

Sud Sprint Veloce (95bhp) owned two of these, utterly fab. Also had the Green Cloverleaf version which was eventually fitted with the Zender bodykit that Alfa themselves used a couple of years later (like to think I caused that). Also had the Ti QV as well – none of these two were as good as the early Suds.

I then went all sensible and on Autocar’s recommendation purchased a Pug 205XS (the one down from the GTi) utter crap and as dull as ditchwater. For years I had been driving according to the mags a rusty/unreliable/poorly made/car suited to people shaped like an Ape. I learned never to trust magazines after the Pug debacle.

Being slightly richer I purchased a 1750 GTV Bertone bodied 105 series Alfa (1971) with the intention of sticking it back together in the right order, never happened as I sold it the chap next-door who chopped a perfectly nice Golf Gti 1.8 16v for it. I then got a 1750 Spider (also of 1971 vintage) and kept it for 8 years, still a record for me. A truly wonderful car, I miss it even now. As an ‘everyday’ car I ran a Honda CRX, cracking little car which left me with great respect for Honda engineering.

I part ex’d the Spider and the Honda for one of the first Fiat Coupes in the UK. Another belting car and to this date (clutching wood) the only car I have had a large bump in. I survived unscathed and promptly bought an early Punto GT Turbo. This was hilarious in a straight line and like the Mini was entirely responsible for my second brush with the law concerning a surplus of pace on a motorway. This time money changed hands and points were scored.

The Punto proved incredibly reliable; in fact in the 3 years I owned it I had zero defects. It did like a drink however and it sadly made way for a Lupo 1.4s. This of course proved horribly unreliable and fell to bits.

I then bought one of the first Mini Ones on sale, custard yellow. It was always surrounded by curious onlookers within the first 6 months of ownership. This too broke down 3 times but was utterly endearing.

Next was one of the last Civic Type R ‘breadvans’ not the current monstrosity. Again another great Honda, do remember its Bridgestone tyres to be awful in the wet though.

Needing something more practical I then purchased a Colt CZT. It was quick-ish but utterly soulless. Never gelled with it at all though it never broke in a major way even when the sump plug was not screwed in properly after a service. I got 100 miles out of it before a very panicky message came up on the centre console saying the engine was very hot indeed!

By this time I had kind of twigged that whenever I bought a ‘sensible’ car of whatever persuasion I would end up fed up. I saved pennies hard and drove around for two years in the wifes smart fortwo – penance enough!

I did learn to prefer flappy paddles as a means of changing gear though.

I then found an imported Alfa 156 GTA Selespeed. Effectively brand new with zero miles. At this stage Alfa had ceased to make the GTA some two years previously. As the Sele box bore no resemblance to the much maligned one in 4 cylinder Alfas I took the plunge.

Again I struck lucky. I consider the V6 to be the best the world has ever seen (Ok the NSX might just pip it but that was handbuilt) gearbox was a gem and the looks have yet to be equalled in a saloon imho.

But it had to go. The hobbies of both my wife and self invariably centred around boggy fields, dirt tracks and torrential rain (fell running, ultramarathon running & Pike fishing) Alfa GTA’s are rubbish on such terrain. It is in fact a crime to subject such a car to these conditions I think.

And so we come to the Yeti. A Candy white 4wd Elegance Tdi140. My first ever diseasil.

I was worried it was a bit ‘sensible’, utter tosh ‘Snowy’ as he is affectionately known is now an indispensable part of our lives. It’s a horrible word but it fits our ‘lifestyle’ perfectly. It’s early days but so far it’s looking like it will give my old Punto GT a run for its money too in the zero defect category. A very different car to my beloved Alfas but just as endearing.

Good job I am not a badge snob though, my Alfa colleagues were very supportive when I sold the GTA for the Yeti which is more than I can say for the BMW/Audi/VW brigade! Strange when 3 of those latter makes are siblings.

[kevberlin]

Had loads of cars and bikes over the years. Some cheap, some not so cheap.

Pound for pound, the best are@

2003 Mk1 Skoda Octavia Diesel Estate 90bhp

1982 Honda CB 250 RS single cylinder motorcycle.

I like both vehicles so much, I now own both for a second time!

[BossFox]

Owned over 30 cars, but the best are probably these:

Blue 2005 Range Rover Vogue Td6, (which I traded in for a) Grey 2008 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8.

My offroaders, both Defender 90s with a few modifications... Orange one has portal axles!

This pic was for a magazine.

And the Camel I still own and like very much.

Yes, they are all Land Rovers.

Best car in terms of fun is my current Fabia VRS SE with a few mods. It's an animal.

[Bobdog]

I posted my full list on the earlier thread four or five months ago, if anybody is that interested, go and look, it's still there. Worst of them, no question, a Subaru Forester. Bought it on the strength of all kinds of recommendations about Subaru reliability (despite the fact it was pig ugly) and it never stopped breaking down. Add to that the fact it was a boring, uncomfortable and lousy drive ... shortest period I've ever kept a car, it was gone within 6 months.

Best is more difficult. Of the 'sensible' cars it's a close run thing between a Golf VR6 and Betty the Yeti, and on balance I'd go for Betty (just). But the most fun I've ever had in a car, by a very long way, was in the Austin-Healey Sprite I used to own; with the standard 65bhp BMC A series engine replaced by 2.0 litres and 150 bhp of Alfa Romeo twin-cam. All those drivers in BMW 3 series and similar who would try to race away at the lights, or thought they had the ooomph to overtake on a country lane ... the looks on their faces!

[topaz10]

This is my list - more or less in the right order :-

Hillman Imp

Ford Escort (x2)

Ford Capri

Datsun Bluebird

Ford Cortina

Ford Sierra

Fiat Panda (x2)

Datsun Terios (x2)

Mitsubishi Spacestar

Honda CRV (x2)

Hyundai i10

Skoda Yeti

The Capri was the only car with automatic gearbox and the only one I ever had an accident in (so far, touch wood !)

[Yeti_Man]

This is my list - more or less in the right order :-

Hillman Imp

Ford Escort (x2)

Ford Capri

Datsun Bluebird

Ford Cortina

Ford Sierra

Fiat Panda (x2)

Datsun Terios (x2)

Mitsubishi Spacestar

Honda CRV (x2)

Hyundai i10

Skoda Yeti

The Capri was the only car with automatic gearbox and the only one I ever had an accident in (so far, touch wood !)

Wasnt the Terios made by Daihatsu?

[g6zru]

I've just seen two Daihatsu Terios this morning!

Fred

[loftypeak2]

Here is my list:

1960 mini 850, clapped out, but with rebore and skimmed head - not bad.

1963 Austin Cambridge - comfortable, reliable car.

1965 Morris Oxford Traveller - ditto until the jacking points (not rusted!) had an argument with a tree stump - written off.

1966 Land Rover 109 safari - brilliant family car, front seats from a vitesse, petrol price increase caused sale.

1972 Marina 1.3 coupe - economical, vague handling, wife felt sick, so had to go (the car, not the wife).

1974 Triumph 2000 auto - cured me of wanting an automatic again.

1980 Cortina 2.3, very fast, good handling car.

1983 Saab 900 fast, comfortable, very good handling car.

1990 Mercedes 250D, comfortable, quiet, brilliant handling, economical car - botched repair before purchase caused a lot of rust problems.

2003 Volvo V70 , not a patch on the Mercedes, but a good car.

Next one - probably a Yeti - watch this space!

2011 Yeti TDI 110 SE 4X4 one of the best handling yet!

Edited 22 December, 2011 by loftypeak2

[topaz10]

Wasnt the Terios made by Daihatsu?

Oops, sorry, so it was :yes:

well spotted !

[Pete-n]

My list

Mini clubman 1275GT (1340GT when i sold it with various mods)

Ford capri mk1 facelift 1600GT (Not changed much but put a 1300 box on for greater acceleration and twin 40 webbers)

Ford capri mk2 2000XL (2100 and twin 40's with a high lift cam)

Ford cortina mk5 1600XL (2900XL 5sp manual when i sold it again various mods)

Fiat mirafiori (tried something different but a good car killed by rust)

Golf mk1 GTI 1600 (hell of a car but rubbish brakes no servo on these early pocket rockets

Golf mk2 1800 16V (shrick cams polished c&r intake manifold hd clutch polybushes bigger injectors lowered 30mm k&n adjustable suspension etc etc)

Cavalier 1600 something (bugger all done apart from some pads and body filler on the rear arch for mot , my dad gave it to me and for a year and a half it done 60 miles a day 6 days a week used no oil no water used got hit twice by people and payed out by there insurance no real damage that pk srews couldn't solve on the bumpers but a respected old nail)

Golf mk5 GT TDi 140 (k&n filters tunit upto 178bhp new head due to cracks in the head manifesting after cam belt and new water pump which increased pressure) gave the car to my wife and still have it as her old 306 was getting tired it still goes like a rocket

Yeti 2.0 Tdi 140 elegance (Tunit variable chip K&n's amp speakers headrest dvds etc)

Bikes

Kawasaki KH250

Suzuki GSX750

Suzuki DR250

Honda Hornet 600 FS

Scooters

Peugeot 100 (130 when finished)

Yamaha aerox 100 (125 when finished)

Bikes given up when children appeared as they need a sensible father all cars and bikes enjoyed at time of ownership but i really love my Yeti !

it ticks all boxes

Peter

[lok]

- Zastava 101 (first car.. crap)

- VW Passat 1.6TD (first and last diesel in my life (piston burned on the freeway))

- Opel Rekord 2.0i Berlina (very comfy, thick seats, automatic)

- Opel Calibra 2.0i 16V (very fast and responsive, and very reliable engine. Light rear-end, "coffin on wheels")

- Toyota Corolla 1.6 VVTi (boring, but very reliable car, never had any problems with it)

- Skoda Yeti 1.4 TSI (probably most balanced all-rounder I owned so far)

Edited 10 July, 2011 by lok