Guest Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Well I am a happy chappy this morning people, I have just offloaded the nine-and-a-half year old Mondeo that I have owned since Feb '06 for eight hundred pound notes.Perhaps I have been really lucky, but the sum total of the ownership costs over 15,000 miles has basically been the £400 per year depreciation. I had to replace a headlamp bulb and a fuse, battery in the remote key, the wiper blades once, did the oil and filter myself last summer, and that's been it. Even the battery (which looks suspiciously like the 1999 original) is as good as new. The car hasn't gone anywhere near a garage at all during the last 37 months.Going by the ratio of mileage/maintenance it's been the best car I've ever had, although I'll admit that I only had to fork out for one MoT test as I moved back to Jersey with it in summer 2007. Just hope that the clutch, exhaust, lower arms etc don't fail on the new owner within a few months...The point however is this - I never really liked it. Certainly not compared to the mk3 Escort automatic it replaced nor the 1984 XR2 that is replacing it. Driving such cars gives me a much greater sense of pride. I'd rather have a fully depreciated crapper that might need a bit of body/mechanical work to keep it going each year but my friends all think I'm mad. How does one justify (especially to the single ladies) an irrational preference for shite cars over robust, cheap-to-own but boring ex-repmobiles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I find that if you keep it clean and tidy, service it properly and overall have it seem like a nice example, you don't really have to justify yourself much. Especially if it's something desirable like an XR2! There's a certain appeal to having the nicest thing in the car park despite it being much older than everything else. On the other hand, if I turned up to work in a car with red primer all over it, most of the exhaust missing and a tyre that needed pumping back up every few hours, I might struggle.Don't worry about the ladies though, just have a few interesting stories prepared, e.g. "Did you know that my Stanza is the rare 4-door saloon? These were also sold in Japan as the Auster and Violet. This is the T11 series which is noted for being front-wheel drive. In the range it seems pointless, but it actually slots in between the Sunny and Bluebird. Datsun claimed that this was their most European car ever, I guess this would be with regards to the hatchback in particular. As well as the 5-door hatchback, there was also a rare 3-door hatchback. These had a different centre console to incorporate the remote window openers....."Alternatively, don't bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfetta Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I couldn't go back to an escort, what an ill handling rattly piece of crap., well the MK V at least.... Love the XR2 though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If the ladies are interested in you solely due to the car you drive, they ain't the right ladies for you. IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torsten2001 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I can still remember the look of utter horror and disgust when I picked up my missus for a date in my Morris 1000 Traveller! Still nabbed her, the poor cow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 My wife was the opposite. She knew I was into cars, but was worried that I might be a chav. She was DELIGHTED that I was actually into 2CVs, and two were involved in our wedding day celebrations (as well as many owned by our friends which also turned up). Found a good'un! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Backed my 911 (big squashy bumpers!) into Mrs B (designate) Starion.A well practiced manoeuvre that always worked a treat.Once the 'evil deed' was done, transferred to an Imp. Mrs B, unlike predecessors, stayed with it.Nuff said. Brave gurly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If the ladies are interested in you solely due to the car you drive, they ain't the right ladies for you. IMHO.Too tight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Too tight!Was that a Freudian typo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 yep! I meant too right..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason A Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I picked up a then new girlfriend once in an absolute mint Mk2 Granny. She thought it was horrible. Needless to say the Granny outlasted the bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 My wife wondered if I was mad when I chopped in a two-year-old Honda Civic for a 17-year-old Audi 80 quattro when we were "first courting", she understands me better now. She's a Golf GTI girl at heart though so I can't see her tolerating the Accord forever, but while we need a big boot for baby stuff she'll just have to wait a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead_E23 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If the ladies are interested in you solely due to the car you drive, they ain't the right ladies for you. IMHO.If a lady's interest was solely due to the type of car discussed here I suspect something may not be quite right with them anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greenvanman Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If the ladies are interested in you solely due to the car you drive, they ain't the right ladies for you. IMHO.Indeed, I always took the view that someone not put off by my shite would be there for keeps. I had that hopeless Mini auto when I met Mrs GVM... she still won't drive any of my cars, mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 What? You mean its NOT the cars that do it? Incredible. Must be my sparkling conversation and dashing good looks then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If the ladies are interested in you solely due to the car you drive, they ain't the right ladies for you. IMHO.If a lady's interest was solely due to the type of car discussed here I suspect something may not be quite right with them anyway Oh ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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