Cars you used to dislike

[Mash]

Morris Minors and Beetles. I've been taking more notice of Beetles lately (if standard as Torsten says) and thinking that it would be quite fun to have one.Similarly the Minor - far too ubiquitous to be of any interest and too much of a cliche when choosing and old car, but I must admit I wouldn't say no nowadays.

[garycox]

I had a Beetle briefly, it was slow, cramped, heavy, thirsty, noisy and just generally impractical and awkward. Rubbish.I'd like to try a Minor, I've not had a proper go in one. My 'popular' car of choice would still be a standard 998cc no-frills Mini.

[alfetta]

volvo's, always hated them, drove a 940 and still hate them. total barge...Merc 190's, now I bought this as a stop gap car, didn't have any feelings one way or the other for mercs but can't fault it!Ford sierra, never imagined ever owning one of these things but was pleasantly surpised with my 2.0LX, went well, nice driving position, nice gearchange.about 900 turbos, they're a 31+ year old design so I can forgive some quirks - turbos can be very variable I've had ones that went like a rocket and others that felt a bit flat. Depends how they've been looked after...quite hard on suspension and eats balljoints and and shockers so can feel a bit sloppy with age...

[Cavcraft]

Vauxhalls: because I went to school in Ellesmere Pit, sorry, Port, and every bastard's dad had a Viva which I always thought were shit.Then, many moons later, I got a Cavalier Mk2 and the love affair started.Volvo: always thought they were well suited to the coffin dodging/motorcyclist knocker-offer/indicator leaving on-er but the 740s I had changed my mind and I was very impressed.Merc 190Es: considered them cheap, nasty entry level shite but seriously impressed by them and had mine about 6 or 7 years now.BMWs: still don't like them but a couple of old (E30?) three series I had were fantastic things.VWs: never got the hype and still don't. Had a few which I wanted to like but just couldn't. In fact I recently bought a G*lf diseasel and nothing, not one thing, about it inspires me or makes me think it is any better than any of it's rivals. Dull as dishwater and I hate the fucking thing. It'll be gone very soon all being well.

[mouseflakes]

Standout example for me has to be the Chrysler Alpine. I hated them when they were introduced.

 

Now, however, it strikes me as such a pure, clean design. Just look at it! Gorgeous!

 

[Pillock]

Beetles are OK in a no-worse-than-anything-else way. I'm 6'11" and didn't find it cramped, didn't even have the seat on the furthest notch. The design is great for headroom. Had three-up quite a lot, four-up a few times and five-up once which was cramped, but I'm sure it'd be cramped in a Marina/Escort too. Mainly width issues, not legroom.It'd cruise at 80mph happily (1600cc twinport), cost me hardly anything to keep going, and the noise is minimal unless you start putting on silly exhausts. The engines are uncomplicated, you can rebuild them with a cheap toolkit and a workbench.I do think it's the 'modified' scene which gives them a bad name, years ago you got a rotten bag of wag for a few grand. A nice stock 70s example would make a great daily for not much cash. Certainly they're not the be-all-and-end-all of classic cars but they better than you may think. Oh and there's a lot of obnoxious people in the 'scene' which puts a few folk off!

[Pete-M]

I had a Beetle once. It was awful.I don't get the whole VAG = premium thing. I know I drive an Audi at the moment but that's just because it was there for the right price when I sold the Volvo. Ok, the trim rattles less than it did in the Volvo, but there are a lot more bits of broken / wobbly plastic in the Audi than the 850.Then again, I've run a couple of Mk2 Golf GTis over they years and they've been bloody good, but they've needed a lot of fettling to get them that way.Having said that, I actually quite like 'scene' VWs. A lowered Beetle looks a hell of a lot better than the standard dumpy looking thing. That Passat a couple of days ago on the the ATS Cups looked rather good as well. I wouldn't say no to a Porsche engined 23 window Samba bus.

[Mr H Sceptre]

I'm 6'11"

Jesus wept thats some height

[morris_ital_lover]

I have to admit, having been raised as a golf man they are quite good. As for cars I used to hate, most 70s/60s cas but today I am a reformed man!m0rris

[Mr Lobster]

I used to hate VW's - partly because for a good few years I worked at a VW dealer so saw loads of the bloody things - familiarity breeds contempt or whatever - and whilst I still don't get the idea that VW is a premium brand and most of the new stuff does nothing at all for me, I would really like a nice Mk2 Golf - doesn't need to be a GTi either, Driver or even a 1.8 GL would do it for me. Scirocco or Polo would be more than happy with as well.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Whilst talking of VW's, I really like the new Scirocco. Beautiful car.

[dollywobbler]

Whilst talking of VW's, I really like the new Scirocco. Beautiful car.

Yeah, even I must admit that. And I generally hate anything post-1993ish!

[morris_ital_lover]

I have to admit, having been raised as a golf man !m0rris

I read this and had this mental image of you spending your years growing up, always clad in a nice pastel sweater, plaid trousers and a jaunty cap?

Hahaha, sadly not, I have to admit that I hate the sport! And as for the Scirocco, it is indeed an interesting beast!m0rris

[pogweasel]

I'm 6'11"

Jesus wept thats some height

Quite. And it also means that you are not the person I thought you were. [is confused]

[Pillock]

I'm 6'11"

Jesus wept thats some height

No, that's some typo, one too many ones in there

[pogweasel]

Good. I thought I was going a bit nuts for a minute there.

[Pillock]

Who do you think I am? Or think I was? I didn't think we'd ever met.Unless....DAMNIT POG GET OUTTA MY HEDGE.

[Parky]

Late eighties Nissan Bluebirds. Hated then when new, love them now. Perhaps its because no-one does classic three box saloons any more?