Cars You Wish You'd Kept

[Richard Cranium]

Exactly what it says on the tin. What car/s that you've had and flogged do you wish you still had?Mine is my old Herald 13/60 convertible. Lovely old thing, would have been perfect if I'd have fitted an overdrive box. Sold it to buy a GT6 which turned out to have more holes in it than a sieve

[VWPowered]

My Mk1 1.1 Scirocco TS

 

[Rocket88]

'66 Galaxy'71 Riveira boat tail'78 Trans Am'75 Camaro'55 Chevy 210'28 Model A'71 Ventora'64 PB Cresta'71 Chrysler New Yorker'74 Chrysler Cordoba'72 Chevy Monte Carlo71 Eldorado

[Mr Lobster]

This -

 

 

Sold about five years ago, really should have kept it as it was rustfree and very very tidy. I'd lost my old car love at the time and wanted rid so ended up selling at a massive loss just to get rid.

 

Also, this -

 

 

Caused me a whole world of pain and ate the entire contents of my bank but superb when it worked and I really enjoyed owning it. I suspect I'll regret selling in a few years time.

 

Lastly, this -

 

 

Bit modern for round these parts but was a superb car - fast, economical and reliable. Also the car I had when I met Mrs L

[254575]

Daf 66XJ40Land rover lwbrange rover

[shite_meister]

About six or seven years ago I sold a 1988 BMW E30 325i Sport after it pissed me off once too many times although it never once let me down, I regretted it almost immediately as it was one car I had wanted for years and was old enough to be a rare sight and not very common especially around here and ironically the 'issues' it had I would not even bat an eyelid at now.I also sold a highly tuned Rover SD1 fitted with a 4.5i uprated motor which I would regret big time if it weren't for the fact I made a huge profit on it...enough to track down and buy back my old BMW 325i Sport, I paid over the odds for it considering the shitty state it was in, I had to fit a replacement engine in it as the old one was screwed but I knew I had to have it back and its rare spec meant I'd be unlikely to find another very easily and I managed to do well on the spares car I bought for it. Still needs a full body resto though, the previous owner stuck all kinds of crap on it so I've been returning it to standard, I'll never sell it.I recently saw my old BMW 525i E34 about in a poor state and was tempted but doubt I will.Do wish I hadn't sold my Rover P6, even if it was turd-brown.

[AnthonyG]

Renault 25 GTS - wish I had kept for longer, not for ever though. The late Montego I got to replace it in 1995 was a real POS.Also wish I had the 1978 Mk4 Cortina 2.0 GL I sold to my dad's friend in 1997 - it survived until a couple of years ago, being used by the guys son until 2006, but was pretty rotten. The guy started some half arsed bodywork repairs using filler, but gave up and scrapped it some time in 2007.

[dollywobbler]

I think I can honestly say I don't regret any of them. Took me a while to get over selling my Tobacco Leaf Rover P6B Series 1, as it was gorgeous, but ultimately, driving such a fuel-slurping beast did not actually give me that much enjoyment at the time.Similarly, I really did love my Peugeot 306 Dturbo, but after 40k miles, the narrow power band and tractor soundtrack (and onset of French electrics syndrome) mean that parting when we did was probably for the best. I was also sad to see my trusty, rusty Dyane go to the great scrapyard in the sky, but it was riddled with tinworm, so there was no alternative really. Can't really regret saying goodbye to it. It was fooked when I bought it, so did well to last 12 months!

[scooters]

Regret selling bittlery the following:Volvo 940 Sport Estate in mint nick - 200k on the clock never let me down once went all over Europe and 1000 miles a week daily driver - excellent car sold it in January cos I was tempted by a classic 16v 900 Turbo - big mistake!Volvo 244 DL saloon 1979- wonderful condition - concourse car with GLT leather interior and vinyl - yes vinyl roof in mint condition - really nice example however it was a pig to drive with the horrible 3 speed auto box and only did around 22 to the gallon so off it went1996 Citroen BX 19 TDZ estate - top of the range wonderful wonderful car - sold it in 2000 cos I thought at the time 100000 miles was a tad high- more fool me1992 Westfiled Widebody SRi 1600 - enough said - what a car!

[Cavcraft]

Mk2 Cav 1.8 SRi facelift. Loved this car with a passion and it was the one I collected our first born in from the hospital. Chucked a cheap boy racer exhaust system on it, thrashed it every single day, raced everyone in sight and carshed it twice and yet it never gave up. Cannot believe I swapped it for a 405 petrol Cav Mk3 SRi 2.0 8V: fucking brilliant car pretty much as above. Bullet proof engine, caned it everywhere and again refused to die. The sound it made and the way it pulled in 3rd gear was music to my ears.Cav Mk3 (there's a pattern forming here lolsters) GSi red top 2wd: Amazing performance, srsly not short of Subaru standard. Looked a right shed but handed loads of flash car drivers their arse on a regular basis. Even got away with having some knob in a chavved up Corsa up through town when pulled by the police because 'I didn't look like a boy racer' Calibra red top: great fun, fast, reliable and just ace to drive. Written off by some silly bint in a people carrier who pulled straight out on me Nova TD: What can I say? Pulled like a train, burnt almost every other small car off, had shed loads of torque and was ace on fuel. Ran until MOT expired and was due to be an engine transplant into a Corsa I had until some wanker nicked both of them.Lada Riva 1500: Five quid all in out of the auctions and was an absolute riot to drive. You had to turn the wheel 357 times to get it moving one inch in the direction you wanted (which was fun when I was playing rally slags down the lanes) but just exuded shiteness and fun. Had off by some twat in a Hiab Cargo with rainbow stickers on the doors apparantly.Jag XJ6 Series 3 4.2 auto: Really the nicest driving car I've owned, all the cliques about arm chairs etc were spot on. Fairly young when I had it and used to bait anyone at all at the lights, have handbrake off and foot on the brakes then just dabbed the go pedal and left 'em for dead. Rusted like a bastard and swapped for...(*Not a car sorry) Honda GL1000 Goldwing lowrider: What a laugh, torque nearly took my arms off, louder than a loud thing on national loud day and was incredibly 'in your face'.Vectra Supertouring: recently had this and didn't keep it anywhere near long enough. Smart car (sad I know!) that was very tidy and pulled really well.Cortina M4 2.3 Ghia manual: bought cheap from a very dodgy in-law of mine who had (*allegedly) done some sort of 'money making' schemes in it. Favourite memory was overtaking some prick in a 924 in it who just seemed to go completely ape by being done over by this rusty heap. Raced him for about 8 miles and he couldn't get past due to roads and my driving. I swear to God as I turned down my road and he was at the side of me at the lights my sides were aching so much from laughing at the 924 driver I could hardly drive.Cortina Mk5 2.0 auto: another favourite, had it three years I think and went everywhere in it.Capri Mk2 1.6 Crossflow: first Capri I had and it had that uncanny knack of making me a million dollars driving it. Clutch pedal used to sink to the floor quite often and I got so used to 'fixing it' I could do it by leaning out of the car, jamming a pop bottle between the pedals and adjusting the cable underneath.There's been quite a few others I regret selling too (especially a few 2 stroke triple motorbikes) but the cars above were my favourites.

[peter9000uk]

Honda Z600 what a hoot to drive with no synchro, great on fuel2 x Mk II Lotus Cortinas, one of which I threw loads of wonger at with a complete rebuid of engine and running gear and a bare metal respray then swopped for a Toyota Celica for some obscure reason that now escapes me as the thing was rotten underneathMk1 RS2600 Capri, Albsolutely loved this car but a real bugger to get parts for.Mk III 3dr Cortina GTDolomite Sprint, Parked it up one night after work and wife rang me the next day at work saying it wouldn't start. Sounded like battery was flat but she had asked neighbour to jump start with no joy, they even towed it down the road and locked up rear wheels. Got home checked it over and found the camchain had snapped. Sold engine to bloke with a TR7 and rolling shell to a lad with a Dolomite but couldn't afford the insurance on a Sprint.Alfasud sprint, sounded like sex on wheels on full chat. Went past the redline and out the other side with no valve bounce! Well you have to show these boys in their shiny new XR2s the way home don't you? Never had a thing go wrong except for a thrust bearing break up. Body however rusted away around the driver and engine! Scrapped Mini 1275GT, ate main bearings for breakfast2002 Tii BMW complete with Minilites. Threw a rod whilst testing the top speed. Mechanical fuel injection was the devils own invention3.0 CSi BMW, bought with 45k on the clock for a silly cheap price from a bloke on Wentworth estate who'd owned from new. Sold to Iranian ambassadors son for an obscene profit. This along with my Transit and 2 x Husqvarnas enduro bikes funded the purchase of mine and Mrs 9000's first love nest.Mk 1 Zephyr complete with 289cu in V8 and 4 speed manual. In the wet you may as well have walked as it would have been quicker. Ate starter motors1970 Z28 Camaro, Spun a bearing on the crank on the start at Santa Pod1972 350SS Nova, surprisingly good on fuel if driven sensibly1969 440 Plymouth Roadrunner 4 speed. hooligan car!

[j-j]

shame i can't join in - all of my sold cars were sold coz I'd had enough of them!Tho I'm currently selling my Mk1 BX and I think I'm gonna miss that

[Arragonis]

I wish I still had a Metro. I had a 1.0 HLE which was my first motor, ex-grandma and slow as hell - 82MPH flat out and 0-60 in 18 secs. In those days because of the handbuilt nature of the engines some felt bad and some good, my dad had a new one every year and could tell the difference. Old BBV924Y was one of the best, smooth and powerful. Well for 46hp anyway.Then later 2 MK2 MGs, low 17.2 per 1000 rpm gearing but a lovely burble on idle.Then a 1.1c 5sp. Super smooth. My last, a 1.4 SL is best forgotten. Smooth, but thirsty and it smelt of old people too much. Overheated and no power so I got a Nova TD but a merit which had 135 tyres. Even my Raleigh chopper had wider! It would wheelspin in 3rd gear in the dry and 4th in the wet.But the one I really want back is K42TFR - Maestro Clubman TD from 1993. I bought it new and it was super economical and after 6 months I had removed all the rattles from the interior. Fast too - 0-60 in about 10 secs when a 306 XRTD could only manage 11. Ride quality of a limousine. Why oh why did I sell it...

[Rusty Pelican]

This , four years of screaming about in this ex stage rally Quattro was a real hoot , just got too bloody expensive to run , and started to smoke rather a lot above 7000rpm ( see the back end smoke in this )

 

[trigger]

The car i miss the most was also my biggest bargain.

 

My 2000 Audi A4 1.8 SE, I found it on the side of the road where i had just been put out by the owners, They had just bought a Citroen C2 (guess someone has to) and was selling there old car.

 

It was 2006 at the time and it had done 88000 miles, Full Audi history, 2 Owners, years MOT and Tax, Mint condition, drive perfectly and was fully loaded and was only up for £2100, I haggled it down to £2000 and walked a very happy man.

 

I had a years cost free motoring in it until i decided i wanted a Diesel and traded it in for a awful TDCi Focus, Still i got £2700 trade in for it.

 

[pogweasel]

I would have kept:- my first Skoda Estelle, because I let it fo to ruin for a fault I could fix in a couple of hours now, and it was an absolute riot when it was working properly (not very often)- my Mk1 Escort, only so I could sell it now and retire. I did actually love blezzing about in it too, brown wagon stylee- my '93 Astra 1.4LS, only because it was so obscenely reliable & frugal- my '68 Land Rover, because it would go anywhere and carry anything (very slowly)- my E30 318iS, because it was simple the best car I will ever own.

[Gompo]

Mk2 Escort 1300.My second car, although the first one I drove on the road. Sold because I wasnt going to be using it much over the winter, didnt really have a job and was making a profit on it. Would be worth a lot more now obviously, but that doesnt bother me. Sold in winter 2002.I dont think I regret it per-se, but if there was one car I could have back out of those i've owned it'd be this one.

[Guest]

1.9 Petrol 405-drove/went very well-sold when company van went back to be replaced by a 309 diesel.

Sold because I replaced it with a Toledo

[Pillock]

Almost every car I've ever owned!Audi 90 Quattro Sport 20v.... huge fun, paid peanuts for it. Owned it over the winter and actually thought I was Juha Kankkunen. Sweet drifting action and easily the most 'luxury' car I've ever owned. And the 5-pot noise.... mmmmmmmmm.Scirocco Mk2 Storm..... pulled so well, those 1.8 8v motors are just the nuts. Really good looks, top notch interior (25 year old leather with no cracks) and just a great car to drive. And it was the brownest thing I've ever seen.VW 1303S.... first car, loved that little orange bug. Went everywhere in it, it just became an extension of me. Looked ratty, went well, was with me through some of the best years of my life.But if I had to choose just one, my Polo G40..... the first expensive car I bought (£1500!), the first scare-myself-stupid fast car, and probably the most fun I've ever had on four wheels. Be it baiting boy racers once it was debadged, or just hogging the outside lane of the M1 flashing 330d's out of the way, it was a hoot. It was polished weekly, it was fixed when it went wrong, and it was fettled to make it faster. J711KLY, I really really miss you.

[Milford Cubicle]

Almost every car I've ever owned!Audi 90 Quattro Sport 20v.

WANT.

[Pillock]

Almost every car I've ever owned!Audi 90 Quattro Sport 20v.

WANT.

Just to upset you more, I found it in the salvage yard at the end of my street. It was £350. I haggled it to £275. I then discovered it had had about a grand spent on it recently and it was in fantastic shape.Sport Recaros, 178bhp, lowered suspension, faux-splitrims.....Bizarrely enough the guy that bought it for £600 did quite a lot of work - performance manifold, got the scabby front arches sorted, refurbed the wheels - and had loadsa trouble selling it. Saw it on eBay 4 or 5 times.

[Pete-M]

 

Wish I'd kept 'em all. There are more, but this post is gonna be frickin' huge as it is.

[Richard]

The car I wish I still had was my Renault Savanna. It was just the right shape and size for me, was comfortable and easy to drive. It had excellent lights and brakes and just enough toys to make it pleasant.

 

Because it was effectively an inflated R19 it was dead easy to work on- I think it might be the easiest transverse engine timing belt of any car.

 

Unfortunately I crashed it. I'd love another but old French cars always need a heap of work to make them right (the work usually stays done though, unlike on some cars) and they've all had another five years of neglect since I had mine.

 

The only picture I can find of it at the moment.

 

[r.welfare]

Is that silver, rusty thing a Chevelle, Pete? Did it have the swivelling front seats?

 

Just these three for me.

 

 

If I had to choose one, it would probably be the Audi. 2.1 quattro and a genuine 1 owner with 51k on the clock. Stupidly full service history too, including a full respray at Oxford Audi in 1994.

[pompei]

Alfasud Sprint in 43 shades of red/pink with more fibreglass than steel. But boy did it go well! It finally had to go when I came home , opened the door and the hinge and door fell off.It's strange how you can form a bond with a car that objectively speaking is crap - this was supremely unreliable, the heater barely worked and it leaked (= massive condensation) and the lights were like candles in jam jars (if they worked at all) But it was probably my favourite of all the cars I've had...

[Pete-M]

Is that silver, rusty thing a Chevelle, Pete? Did it have the swivelling front seats?

It was actually green but it was a Chevelle, yeah. Had bench seats front and back. Interior made everyone who got in it say the same thing "Oh man, you shot Marvin".Was a rusty old thing, but it only cost me £300 odd quid and it passed the MOT even with that bootlid.

[mattblack]

My Mk1 EscortsMy MK3 CortinasMy MK5 CortinasI'd be able to retitre now...

[VWPowered]

My Scirocco Scala

 

 

My First Scirocco GTI

 

 

My Old 1.1C Mk1 Golf

 

[Milford Cubicle]

I'm struggling to work out the manufacturer of the bottom car.

[VWPowered]

was fully stripped out buckets, harnesses, cage, extinguisher, dropped 60mm and was most uncomfortable megane took the front end off about a week later