I might be considered a mere mortal amongst some of you MX-5 owning gods and godesses. However, at the age of 30 years ancient, I have owned my fair share of motors, and regard myself as a general motoring fanatic. I believe that my impecible ownership history reflects this perfectly (wait for it, wait for it).
So, what cars have you owned, what did you do with them and why did you get rid of them? Here is my list:
#1: B plate Mini 25 Special Edition (Ernie!)
This car sat in my driveway gather rust, while I feverishly tried to pass my driving test. An unfortunate change in circumstances halted my learning, and there the car sat for nearly two years, untouched. A local rally driver bought the car from me for a few hundred quid. Only once did I see the car again, it had just two fron bucket seats, a full roll cage, and 6 hella spot lights. It sounds lovely. I believe that it died shortly after that.
#2: B plate Petrol Green Ford Fiesta Mk2. 1.1 Ghia
My first legal car! This car was pre-modified when I bought it, as it was sitting on XR2 pepperpots, and XR2 springs and dampers. The rest of the car was standard. It cornered like a rocket on rails, and quite regularly outran much bigger cars (courtesy of North Wales valley roads). Eventually it got a K&N pancake filter, and it was set to take on the world (more mouth than action!). It was my daily runner for nearly a year, before a local girl pleaded with me to sell it to her, which I gladly did.
#3: A plate Hearing Aide Beige Fiesta Mk2 1.1
My mum’s old car, handed to me as a feebie. This car was made mostly of tappets and rust. It lasted all of two months, before it decided to tap no more. Had a short meeting with a long crusher.
#4: D plate silver Peugeot 209 SRi
This car was my first real introduction to insanity on the roads. It was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as it was pretty much just a 205 GTi engine in a 309 shell. It got lots of love from my by way of a full engine rebuild from Pug specialist Skip Brown. The car was scarily fast for an 8v 1.6 injection, possibly even too fast for it’s light rear end, as it did light to kick on roundabouts. I joined the Peugeot Sports Car Club, and attended regular meetings where I met the car’s eventual new owner. He promised to love it as much as I did. The last I saw of it, it was stripped of excess weight, and running quarter mile drag races.
#5: T plate green Mk1.5 facelift Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 SRi 120 Saloon
This was my first “grown up” car. By this time, I was a professional, and my car had to reflect it. It was slow, heavy and drank oil like tomorrows business. But it had electric bits! It was again fun to drive around twisty corrners, and when you could keep momentum going, was pretty good. However, it was blindly bought from Yes Car Credit, and the APR was 5,000,000% a year (ok, maybe not, but not far off), so after half of it’s term, it went back to them, with a glad wave and a cheery song. No more Vauxhall’s for me, thank you very much.
#6: X plate black Saab 9-3 2.0T HOT:
Oh. My. God.
Imagine a boat with a rocket attached to it. This was my old Saab. Very comfortable car, air con, cruise con, everything else con., you name it this car had it. I fashionably fitted a Viggen exhaust system to it, induction kit, strut braces, new bushes, new turbo lines, new brake hoses, dump valve, etc. Eventually, the car was able to challenge Porsche 911 in a straight line, and it sounded awesome. Sadly, it was still a boat, and it was almost dangerous to drive around corners. It was also a monster on the pocket as it cost me nearly a tenner a day to get to work and back. Also, the gear box was on it’s way out, so I had to get rid. Managed to get rid of it at Fords of Winsford, and did a straight swap for …
#7: V plate electric blue Citroen Saxo 1.8 16v VTS:
I have no idea why I bought this car. It was a loutish, boy racer-ish and noisy. Also, made by the French. Horrible build quality, funny looking engine bays. However, it absolutely rocked. De-catted, stainless system fitted, ram air induction. It regularly cornered on three wheels, and was stupidly quick for such a small car. It had no torque, but didn’t need it as it weighed as much as a Pepperami. Soon after completing my usual modifications, I moved to Manchester, where I promptly lost my job, and the car then sat for nearly a year before I decided to get rid. Sold to the first bidder on a Saxo Owners Club forum. Next day and 900 quid up, I was less one small French car.
#8: P plate white Renault Laguna 2.0 RT:
Have had faster peddle boats. That would corner better. And lasted longer. This horrendous shed was given to me by the in-laws, to see me through last Xmas. Sadly, it lasted until 3 weeks ago, when I got my current runner …
#9: N plate montego blue Mazda MX-5 Gleneagles:
Hurrah! This is what I have been looking for, for the last … 8 cars! At last, a car that appreciates me, and that I appreciate. It’s good on my pocket, great in my hands, and it sings to me when I ask it to. If I get too hot, it cools me down. And if I’m cold, it keeps me warm! It makes people laugh, then soon after, cry. It’s everything that I want in a motor vehicle. Well, apart from being able to carry two mountain bikes. But that wouldn’t look very cool, would it?
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for halli, this was where I lived at Chalel lands Alnwick.
