Car history.

General Discussion Forums Car Talk
61

1971 VW Beetle 1300 with sack of potatoes in the front on wet roads to defeat understeer.

1977 Ford Escort 1300 Mk2 bought new. Terrible car. Used to continue running when ignition turned off from new and roof seam welds corroded after 2 years.

1979 Austin Maxi 1750. Great interior space with fold flat seats.

1984 Ford Granada 2.3V6. Great motorway cruiser. 100k miles until gearbox failed.

1990 Renault Scenic 2.0l petrol. Removeable rear seats meant great load carrier for transporting kids back to university.

1994 Peugeot 405 Turbo diesel. great performance and 110k miles before broken piston ring scored the bore.

2005 Skoda Mk1 Superb 2.0 diesel. 1 year old demonstrator. Lovely comfortable car, 100% reliable over 100k miles.

2010 Ford Model 1.6 diesel company car. Terrible, no power and sounded like a tractor but reliable motorway car.

2012 Skoda Mk2 Superb 2.0 diesel Estate. Company car bought new. Best motorway cruiser with incredible interior space and comfort. 75k faultless miles in 3 years.

2015 Skoda Octavia Estate. Bought new, daily drive.

2007 MX5 2.0l Sport. Bought in 2015 if its not raining then top down all year.

62

Mainly been into motorbikes over the last 36 years (owned over 50 and have 6 at the moment - 2016BMW RnineT Scrambler X, 2001 BMW R1150GSA, 1990 BMW K1, 1998 Suzuki DR350S, 1977 Honda Camino and 1962 AJS 250CSR).

Cars owned (not so many, as had many years without one):

1962 Triumph Spitfire Mk 1

1965 Singer Chamois

1970 Ford Cortina Mk II

1973 Ford Cortina Mk III

1976 Ford Capri Mk II

1970 Morris Minor

1986 Volvo 360

1977 MG Midget 1500

1995 Citroen C15 van

1992 Rover 216GTI

1990 BMW 316

1977 Bedford CF Campervan

1983 Porsche 944

1979 Bedford CF Ambulance (converted to campervan)

1997 Ford Mondeo Estate

1989 Mazda RX7

1995 Eunos Roadster 

2006 Rover 200

1998 Vauxhall Astra

2009 Hyundai i20

2006 Toyota Prius

1997 Mazda Bongo Campervan

2007 Honda CRV

1995 Eunos Roadster

  • still own the last two; this Eunos is the vehicle which has done the most miles (165,00)

 

 

63

My contribution:

1 1938 Morgan 4/4 (Climax engined) (DFM 436) (bought for £95 in 1964)

2 1963 Austin Healey Sprite Mk II 

3 1966 Morgan 4/4 Mk 5 Competition Model 

4 1969 MG Midget Mk III (stolen)

5 Triumph Spitfire Mk III

6 Opel Manta A 1.6

7 Opel Manta GT/J (two door)

8 Opel Manta B 2 litre turbo (hatch)

9 Volvo 480 ES coupe

10 Volvo 480 Turbo

11 Volvo V40 SE 1.8

12 Saab 9-3 2 litre turbo coupe

13 2003 MX5 Nevada 1.6

14 2011 MX5 Kendo 1.8

 

David

64

Some of the lists in this thread have been very exotic.

When I was younger, I could never afford to insure a sports car - even if I could have afforded to actually buy one, so as a lowly-paid motor mechanic, and then a married lowly-paid motor mechanic, I had to make do with ‘normal’ motors…

1963 Austin A40 - resprayed 1970s British Leyland golden yellow, with matt black bonnet and roof.  Only 8 years old when I bought it for £200, but rusty as a pear, and couldn’t stop water from leaking into the passenger cabin - had to wear bicycle clips when driving it, to stop my flares from getting wet !

1968 Ford Cortina

1970 Vauxhall VX 4/90 - lovely

1973 Morris Marina - the less said about this, the better !

1976 Ford Capri

1978 Opel Ascona

1982 Vauxhall Cavalier

1980 Mini - modified with a Metro 1275 motor and gearbox.  Completely wrong gearing of course, but fabulous off the lights, although it did run out of breath a 75 mph !

1989 Ford Sierra 2.0L GT - Fab car, with very loud exhaust - once you got to 80 mph on the motorway though, you couldn’t hear it !

1992 Ford Sierra 1.6L Special - lovely low-mileage example when I bought it, with alloy wheels and boot-lid spoiler

2005 Mazda 6 - superb

2008 Mazda 6 - ditto

2011 Mazda MX-5 2.0L Powershift coupe (PRHT) - reminded me of how much fun driving should be !

2015 VW Scirocco 2.0L Turbo-Diesel - very sexy, fab colour blue, and bloody quick.

The above Scirocco together with our second-car, a 2008 MX-5 2.0L Sport coupe in Galaxy grey with black alloys - truly scrumptious - needs a black roof though I feel.

Well that’s it - boring as hell for the most part, but twelve years of wonderful Mazdas has topped the list off nicely.

 

65

1 Datsun 120 F11

2 mazda323

3 Vauxhall Astra 

4 Ford Fiesta ghia

5 ford orion 1.3GL

6 mazda323Fastback

7 Renault 5 

8 Vauxhall cavalier 1.6

9 Vauxhall cavalier commanda

10ford escort xr3i Mk1

11 ford escort xr3i

12 Peugeot 106xs

13 Astra 1.7 diesel 

14 BMW 325TDSSE2.5

15 BMW 318 E36

16 Renault megane 

17 Renault Clio 1.2

18 BMW 316tise compact E46

19 Bmw E90 325Se diesel

20 Mazda mx5 mk1 1.6 owned x3

21 Mazda mx5 mk3 1.8

22 Vauxhall Adam still own

23 Porsche 944 1984 78,000 miles still own

24 Mazda mx5 mk4 Artic Edition now driving 

25 own 5 motorbikes Honda vfr400 nc30

26 Honda max Grom 

27 Yamaha fs1e fizzy

28 royal Enfield 350 bullet

29 royal Enfield GT continental 535cc

I missed a few 

also owned 

rover vitesse 316

mazda 626 2.0 injection 1985 /86D reg

Mitsubishi colt 

nova 1.2 merit 

 

 

 

 

 

66

Okay is my turn…

 

Mk2 Cortina 1.6DL

Mk3 Cortina 1.6XL

Mini Clubman 1100

1986 Seat Ibiza 1.2L (Bought New)

Peugeot 205 GLD…Absolute Crap

Rover 213S…Cracking screamer of an engine (Honda 12v)

Rover 820…Very under rated

Rover P6 3500

1989 Jaguar XJ6 2.9

1994 Jaguar XJ6 4.0S (Bought in 1998 and still have her, now just a show car. Inspired me to set up xj40.com)

Porsche 924…Nice Car Crap 2.0 engine

2002 MGTF 1.8 135…My first rag top bought new…nice car let down by shoddy build and even worse dealers

Proton Coupe 1.8 (Cracking Car basically a Mitsubishi CC Coupe with a Proton Badge)

Proton Coupe 1.8 Evo (Proton did a limited run that were uprated by Harry Hockley Motorsport)

Kia Sedona Bought New

Dodge Caliber Sport Bought New with a massive discount…got to 70k on its original tyres/ brakes

Dodge Nitro 3.5 V6 New…Beast of a SUV…

Jaguar XJ8 3.5 Sport Current Daily Driver

Mazda MX5 1.8 Mk3.5 

Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport ND (My 50th Present)

Mazda MX5 1.8 Indiana 10k from new

Phew I think that’s it…

67

Ford Fiesta 1.1L

Ford Escort1.3L

Ford Capri 2.8i

Mini  with 1.3 allegro engine

Triumph Acclaim (stop laughing)

Datsun 240z

Ford Capri 2.0 caberet

Nissan sunny ZX   haha…missing my capri so…

Ford Capri 2.8i special

Toyota MR2 T bar   fab car

Toyota Celica with sport pack duntcha know

Audi TT 225 bhp

Merc Vito

Ford Mondeo Estate

Ford Passat Highline

Aaaaahhhhh Eunos Roadster g-ltd 

 

 

68

Well my list is cars I’ve owned and excludes company cars. Quite a varied list!! Wish I’d kept some of them!

 

  1. 1952 Riley RMA 1.5 ltr
  2. Triumph TR3A
  3. Vauxhall Victor F type
  4. Ford Popular 100E
  5. Wolseley 16/60
  6. Hillman Hunter 1725cc
  7. Jaguar S Type 3.4
  8. Austin 1300
  9. Ford Cortina Mk 1
  10. Ford Cortina Mk2 
  11. Hillman Avenger (Why???!)
  12. Jaguar 240
  13. Ford Cortina Mk1 Estate
  14. Vauxhall Ventora
  15. Daimler Sovereign 420
  16. Ford Cortina Mk2 again!
  17. Ford Cortina Mk4
  18. Daimler Vanden Plas XJ12
  19. Triumph Spitfire 1500
  20. Daimler XJ6 coupe 4.2
  21. Suzuki 412J
  22. BMW 735
  23. Vauxhall Omega Elite
  24. Jaguar XJ8 3.2
  25. Ford Mondeo Ghia !! 
  26. Ford Cougar V6
  27. Mercedes CLK320 Convertible
  28. BMW Z4 3.0 ltr
  29. BMW 330D Touring
  30. Ford Fiesta Ecoboost
  31. 1998 Mk2 Mx5
Plus numerous Vauxhall, Audi, Merc company cars.........
69

I don’t know if you’re still active on here Barry but I’ve just bought and am restoring A212 NKP your old Saab 900.

I think you were the last person to run it as it’s been parked up for years and has an 04 tax disc in it!!

Any old stories to tell?

70

1952 Morris Minor split screen side valve
Ford 100E
Bedford HA van
Saab 96 2 stroke
Mini 1000
Peugeot 304
Peugeot 104SL
Peugeot 104GL
Vauxhall Magnum 1.8
Opel Kadet 1.2
Opel Rekord 2.0
Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6
Opel Manta GT/J
Alfa Romeo 75 2.5 V6 cloverleaf
Vauxhall Nova 1.56TD SX
Vauxhall Vectra 1.8
Honda Civic Aerodeck 1.6
Honda CRV
Skoda Octavia PD140
Mazda MX5 NA 1.8 - the old gal still going strong at 125000 miles
Mazda 6 2.0 estate A pattern begins to emerge :wink:
Mazda 3 1.5 petrol
Mazda 3 Sportnav 2.0

The Motorcycle list is twice as long and growing. In brief from
1958 Matchless G2 250
lots more British grey porridge until the light dawned
1980 Moto Morini 250 (with a DIY inserted, as soon as I bought it at two years old,tuned 375 engine) - still in the garage :smile:
then several others including last few years

2000 Voxan 1000 Roadster (aka the French Tart)
2008 Moto Morini Corsaro 1200 (sold while I was still young enough to manage it before it saw me off!)
2020 Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen - picking up on 2 March :smile:

That was a good test for the old grey cells!

71

Honestly can’t remember all the cars I’ve had (including many dull company cars), but some of the more memorable ones:

2019 Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition (current)
2014 BMW M4
2015 VW Golf R
2007 Subaru Impreza WRX
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX
2004 Audi S4
2004 Vauxhall Astra 2.2 SRI
2004 Ford Focus ST170
1998 Vauxhall Vectra 2.5 V6 GSI
1990 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v
1989 Peugeot 205 GTI
1990 MG Metro Turbo

Motorbikes:
Ducati Multistrada 1200S (current)
KTM 990cc Superduke
Suzuki GSXR-750
Honda XLR250
Yamaha YZF-R6
Suzuki GSXR-600
Kawasaki ZX6R
Kawasaki ZXR-750
Suzuki GSXR-400
Suzuki GSXR-400
Kawasaki KH100

72
  1. Escort Mk2 1.1 3 Door Beige :joy:
  2. Astra Mk1 1.3 China Blue
  3. Cavalier 2.0GLi Red
  4. Nissan 200sx 1.8 turbo S13 Silver ( should never have sold it!)
  5. Mondeo 2.0L ( written off after being rear ended )
  6. Fiesta Flight 1.4L
  7. Peugeot 205 1.6L
  8. Eunos 1.6L NA Mariner Blue ( written off by my son! and now the Exocet )
  9. Graphite Sport NC 2.0L Limited Edition Red / Grey option
  10. 25th Anniversary (No 980) Soul Red (obvs)
  11. ND 1.5L White
  12. ND 2.0L Soul Red
  13. Mazda 3 2L Sport ( 13 now it all makes sense! Ah I miss my ND )

Also ( family cars )
Toyota Previa, Ford C-Max, S-Max (3), Kuga(2), Focus ST
Peugeot 106
Mazda 2 (2)
Mazda 6 Estate
Renault Twingo 0.9 TURBO :joy:
Eunos 1.6L NA Mariner Blue (current)

73

I’ve absolutely lost count.
I had 20 years as a company car driver, with many hire cars, loaners, replacement etc etc etc.

My memorable ones:

1973 Hilman Hunter - my first
1976 - Mk2 Escort - My teenage car
1984 - XR3i - My early married years
1986 - Orion Ghia - my baby years
A few Fast Fiestas.
A 20 year company car driving blur. - 20 or more different cars.
2003 Suzuki Bandit 1200 - technically not a car, but great fun
2007 Chrysler 300c - What a car
A few Kia Sportages (great car and still have one)

somewhere between these two Kia’s I sold my bike and bought my MX5, I’m calling these my ‘safety years’

the listed years are the year of the car, not the year I had them.

74

Snap with the '76 Escort, what exciting colour did you get? Mine cost me £550 and the first time I drove it in the rain I got wet feet as there was a massive hole in the off side front wing :rofl:

75

Vauxhall Viva 1300cc (bought from a car-dealer distant relative of my mother, who must have seen me coming). Unreliable and rusty, but my introduction to the freedom of having your own car.

Fiat 128 1100. Squealed like crazy going round a roundabout at more than 5mph. Rusty.

Volkswagen Polo 900. Great wee car

Vauxhall Astra 1200 Somehow managed to buy the non-OHC version. Dull

Vauxhall Astra 1300. Much better.

Saab 900S 2000 My first decent car; great sense of presence

Citroen ZX hatchback 1900 Quicker than the Saab

Citroen ZX estate 1900

Citroen Xantia 2000 Fantastic revvy petrol engine

Subaru Legacy estate 2200. For our horse-box phase. Incredibly competent.

Peugeot 309 1900

Ford Focus 1800 Warm hatch

2002 Mercedes C220 CDI Elegance 2200

2009 Mercedes C220 CDI Sport w some AMG options by first owner. A great road car, but “entertaining” used on rural tracks for location photography business. Sadly, had to go.

2011 Honda CRV. Diesel automatic. Incredibly well made, reliable, comfortable, carries loads of kit, goes anywhere in any weather. Not known for its sporty handling, hence added…

2011 Mazda MX5 NC 2.0 “Kendo” sp ed. Bought Feb 2020 as weekend car. Does everything the CRV can’t and vice-versa.

76

Vauxhall Nova 1.2L 3dr
Vauxhall Astra 1.3 Merit 5dr Estate
Toyota Corolla 1.3GL 5dr Estate
Ford Escort 1.6i Cabriolet
Mini Moke 1.0
Mini Moke 1.3
Mazda MX-5 Merlot
Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi
Smart Roadster
Nissan 100NX
Rover 216 Cabriolet
Eunos Roadster 1.6
VW T2 Devon Moonraker 1.6
Eunos Roadster R-Limited
Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6 Encore
VW T4 Caravelle 2.4D (Current)
Eunos Roadster 1.8
Mazda MX-5 1.8
VW Polo 1.4 16v (Current)

77
2004 VW Polo 1.2

Great first car, interesting electrical gremlin caused the throttle to stop responding periodically

1992 Toyota MR2 2.0

First venture into modifications, Jap import shared with my flat mate, insurance for two 19 year olds wasn’t actually too bad at ~£750 each

2013 Audi A1 1.6

Loaned from my mum while at uni after the Polo was sold and before I had found something else I wanted

2006 Mazda MX-5 2.0 (NC)

My first foray into MX-5s, borrowed from my mum while the rest of the family were on holiday and then bought from her a few months later

2017 Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND RF)

Birthday present time myself last year, went searching and eventually found a RF Launch Edition as I attended the Manchester Launch event in 2016