First car

Started by dannyboy, April 21, 2015, 03:53:51 AM

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dannyboy

Well, I certainly started something !!
I have owned a number of cars in my lifetime, some of which were, (in no particular order), 2 x Mk2 Cortinas, Triumph 1500, Hillman Avenger, (that was such a rust bucket, I drove for long enough with a piece of wood in the footwell to stop me using my feet as brakes  :smiley-laughing:). I have also had a Morris Marina, Austin Princess, a BMW 3 and a 5 series. The best car I ever owned in the UK was a Sunbeam Rapier H120 - what a car, it was gold in colour with two red stripes down the sides - if memory serves me correctly, it was registed AHV360G. I think it was the Mk5 Rapier, with engine and other bits tuned by Holbay Racing engines, (hence the H120). The one and only time I hit someone was in this car - a teenager was at the side of the road with his Mum, me thinks, "He's gonna run" - I took foot off accelerator, started braking, he ran, I hit him  :censored: His leg was broken in two places and I only had a slight dent in the bonnet leading edge. When we decided to move to Ireland, I bought an old transit, made two trips on the ferry with all our wordly goods, (I refused to make a third trip  :no:) and then sold it when an engine blanking plug (?) went and would not stay in its hole. I am currently on my third Opel (Vauxhall) Astra. I bought the latest in July 2013, as new, although it was one that the dealer had registered in January, (to artificially inflate the sales figures!), so technically, it was second hand. However it only had 36km (23 miles) on the clock. It is the saloon version which, for some reason, Opel/Vauxhall did not release in the UK.  :(  David.
David.
I used to be indecisive - now I'm not - I don't think.
If a friend seems distant, catch up with them.

DELETED

I don't think most of you guys will like my cars!  I think you may see a trend in my car preference in terms of where they are manufactured:


  • Silver 1992 Honda 1.5L  Civic LSi (FIRST CAR IN 2001)
    Aquamarine 1993 Toyota 2.0L MK 2 MR2 GT-i (ended up totally modified with rare Toyota 2.0L VVt-i engine, custom ECU and dyno'd about the most powerful naturally aspirated MR2 anywhere)
    Astral Black 1995 Toyota 2.0L Gen 6 Celica GT4 (4wd, turbo, JDM)
    Blue 1994 3.0L MK 1 Toyota Aristo (3.0L twin turbo, same engine later put in the Supra, JDM)
    Blue grey 1988 1.6L petrol MK 1 VW Caddy –stripped down and re-furbished by me
    White 1994 2.0L Gen 6 Celica GT4 WRC (4wd, turbo, WRC homologation model number 1,500'ish of 2,500 made, JDM)
    Silver 2004 Land Rover 1.6L petrol series 2 Freelander
    Silver 2000 Toyota 1.6L MK 3 MR-S (actually wrote this off when a deer jumped in front of me driving it home from buying it, so I only had it a sum total of 3 hours, JDM)
    Blue 2001 Toyota 1.6L MK 3 MR2
    Canary yellow 1995 Toyota 2.0L MK 2 MR2 GT-S (2.0L turbo, with copy TRD wide-body kit fitted, JDM)
    Silver 2003 5.0L Mercedes CL500 coupe
    Metallic white / champagne 1998 Nissan 3.2L TD E50 Elgrand (CURRENT CAR -2015, JDM)

...My preference was and still is pre 2000 Toyotas and much prefer Japanese import's for the spec and better condition.  Not a boy racer but I just like modified Japanese cars and waiting to get another one, only thing is they're all getting a little shabby now for my standards.  For me, pretty much anything post 2000 (any make) is just plain boring and uninteresting in looks and performance.

I have pics of them all, most of them were almost up to show spec, but I don't think you guys want to see a showing of Jap cars.

I just totted up and between 2005 and 2009 I also had 11 works cars, all 4x4 SUV's and pick-ups including Defenders.  This is the first year since 2005 I have only had one car (usually had 2-3 at any one time).

TDM:  If you're into classics I'm not sure if you'll ever end up in Berlin (you may have already been) but you might want to check this place out:

http://www.remise.de/Classic-Remise-Berlin.php

I couldn't believe the amount and quality of the classics stored there when I visited the other year!

Rich



Rich

4x2

Nothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !
If it's got rails... you have my full, undivided attention - Steam, diesel and electric, 'tis all good !

Mike

Sprintex

Ditto but an R33 V-Spec GTR for me :thumbsup:


Paul

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QuoteNothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !

...I can't resist then, sold as a Lexus GS300 in Europe my MK1 Aristo (next to my MR2).  Big comfy machine, all soft luxury leather, electric everything -even ultrasonic wing mirror for demist, pioneering electrical gizmos back in the day -but nearly 350Bhp under the bonnet.  I just lowered it a tad and had some nice wheels.  Not bad for something with 5 seats, 4 doors but 0-60 more like 5secs, hardest part was keeping it in a straight line when second turbo kicked in (regularly left skid marks at 60mph!!)...



...Was such a mistake selling it.




DELETED

QuoteNothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !

QuoteDitto but an R33 V-Spec GTR for me :thumbsup:

I looked at skylines for a good while, to be honest the 32 takes me more than the 33 or 34.  I really like the G35 in black though and would love to track one down at sensible price.  Looks over performance.  Trouble is trying to get good cars at reasonable price.

If I had choice and good budget though I'd be hard pushed to choose between a Toyota 2000 or an early Z car.  A 3SGE or SR20DET or plus would fit in each size chassis car (wouldn't sacrilege an original car).




Tdm

If I was rich I would like one each of the following :-

The Merc because I think it is the best looking model they ever produced,
The GTO because I love old American "Muscle" cars,
and the Ferrari because like the Merc, I think it is one of the nicest cars they ever produced.


4x2

I must admit I do like that merc... Well classy  :heart2:
If it's got rails... you have my full, undivided attention - Steam, diesel and electric, 'tis all good !

Mike

DELETED

#68
MR TDM I don't disagree with you on 2 accounts and I am with you on the GTO, but in my mind the best looking car ever bar none for me is always the Dino:






DELETED

...what car is this? ( I may have given too much away)


Greybeema

:Class414:
Worlds Greatest Suburban Electric - Southern
(Sparky Arcy 3rd Rail Electrickery Traction)

My Layout on NGauge Forum:- http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=12592.msg154278#msg154278

Komata

Tdm

Absolutely agree about the Merc (220 SE model?) - a really beautiful car, and IMHO, a more graceful design than the later 280 SL  'Pagoda' - especially in the dark maroon scheme that the vehicle in the image is wearing.

FWIW: A one-owner, well-garaged and carefully maintained 'maroon' 220 SE  lives locally, the original purchaser's widow using it as a 'shopping basket'. It is truly a work of art, and being one owner, is absolutely immaculate. it ALWAYS gets admiring looks as it drives by. No doubt the owner has received some potentially-lucrative offers.
   
"TVR - Serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "

Oldman

Mini 850cc Estate.
Graduated over years to Japanese .
Last 3 Cars have all been Subaru with a Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki before that.
Modelling stupid small scale using T gauge track and IDl induction track. Still have  N gauge but not the space( Japanese Trams) Excuse spelling errors please, posting on mobile phone

Roy L S

My first car was a Hillman Imp bought from next door before they emigrated. My brother and I spent a good while fixing it up and fitting a rather sexy (in 1979) front air-dam, it was then repainted metallic blue!

We rebuilt the engine too, I passed my test in it and it was loads of fun even if it had the annoying habit (like many Imps) of blowing the cylinder-head/gasket, meaning water in the cylinders. As I understand it a big problem with the Imp's all aluminium engine being in the back and getting too hot. We had fixing it down to a fine art, could have the engine out, head off, reground the head flat (grinding paste and a big bit of plate glass) new gasket and back together in about three hours!

Next car was a Mini Clubman followed by a couple of Ford Escorts (A Mk2 and Mk3). Favoured choice from 1987 to last year were various incarnations of VW Golf and Polo (three of each) and my current car is a Seat (so same family).

Roy

Trev

My first car was a Daf 66.

Very basic but a great car to learn maintenance on.
One thing I remember about it, it was belt driven. The belt went between 2 cones and as you got faster, the cones moved apart on springs. A bit like an automatic. The same design was later used in the Volvo 340 I think.
Because of this arrangement, it could go as fast backward as it could forward which was a little disconcerting if you forgot.

All you had to control direction was what looked like an umbrella handle coming up from the floor. You put it forward and you went forward. in the middle was neutral and move it back, you were in reverse.


I remember once going down Stokenchurch hill in it with 3 friends and decided to see how fast it would go. I bottled it at 98mph and slowed down but the car was still accelerating at that point.

Then moved on to a Talbot Sunbean, Talbot Horizon and then an Austin Maestro - Lovely car
Whenever I write a letter to someone, I add a footnote briefly explaining Ohm's law. It's my P.S. de resistance.

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