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Do your dream cars ever change...?


egg

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...or have they always been the same...

Back in September 2016 I wrote that my three 'must try before I die' cars were...

1. 2CV

2. Volvo 740

3. Jag XJ40

Here in 2020, none of those cars are on my list, despite not owning any of those 'must haves' in the interim.

The 2CV became a Dyane became an LNA became probably a twinpot Visa. My Volvo and Jag are now a Renault 16 TX and Panhard 24BT (umm, bit of a price upgrade there).

So to repeat the question - are the cars you'd love to own (not the day to day shiters) the same as last week, last year, childhood - or do you change with the weather?

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Cars I want to drive. But used to want to own

Escort Coswart. 

Cavalier Turbo

SD1 V8 vitesse

TR7 

Cars I want to own. But only on the last 3 years

Monaro 

SL55

BINI COOPER S GENERATION 1 

Car I should own. 

Omega estate 2.5 TD 

Car I actually own

Omega 3.2 Saloon

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As soon as I have a driveway with enough space for two cars, there are a number of cars I really, really want to own for reasons that are difficult to explain.

  • Pre-facelift Omega (1995-1998), preferably a manual
  • Mk1 Lexus GS300
  • Volvo 960 with either the 2.5 or 3.0 six-pot
  • Volvo 850 with the 2.0 20v or 2.5 20v petrol

I don't think I'll have a second parking space available until such a time that most of these are either well into classic car money territory or cheap but completely banjaxed. 

Before owning my current steed, my only dream car was an LS400 with VVTI and a 5spd auto. 

I'd happily forego all the expense and faffing involved in owning any of the cars on my shortlist above if it meant I could eventually have an LS460.

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I think that variety is a good thing. I don't have a particular car I'd like to try, but do get excited by different engine/transmission layouts. I recently got to try a 4wd flat 4 which is a tick in a box. Up to now virtually all my cars have been 4 cylinder FWD, I'm now driving a RWD 4 cylinder car, I've had the chance to have a go in both a H6 RWD (porsche 911, 997) which was a massive disappointment, a V6 MR engined rac ing car (Palmer jaguar) and a RWD supercharged V8 Jaguar XKR. These were on a track thing that work paid for about 10 years ago.

The next car I'd like would be either a V6 or V8, and ideally would like a go in a hybrid or full electric car soon. I'd also really like to try something three wheeled, a morgan aero is top of the list but anything really. 

So in summary, No. But also sort of yes. Just less excited by specific makes and models (other than a caterham which I've driven and if anything exceeded my already high expectations) vs different engine and transmission layouts which makes it a bit easier. Maybe also to try a twin-engined car but I bet they are incredibly hard to get an actual go in. 

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Mine change from time to time. Day to day even!

Currently I’d like:

Lexus LS - either a 400 or 460 (so I like Lexus and these are big uns)

Honda Accord Coupe (I cant explain this one - I just like the look of ‘em)

Mazda MX-5 (sometimes this seems a good idea, sometimes it seems it’s too damn small,and I’m too damn old)

Subaru Forester XT (drove one last year and rather liked it)

but tomorrow it’ll be a different list.....

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I suppose my must-drive list has changed over time.  Surely it has to!  I've been driving over 40 years.

Before I could drive I reckon a Cadillac would have been top of my list.  Huggy is my third, so I think I can say I've ticked that box!  I've always liked a big car, so next up would probably have been either a mk1 Granada (owned two) or an XJ6 (owned one, badged Daimler, and now own an XJ8).  There isn't really much left.  I've never driven anything with more than 8 cylinders; I've also never driven a straight-eight.  Surprisingly, I don't think I've ever driven anything older than I am.  I was born in 1959, and I've owned or driven several 1960 cars.  I'd particularly like to drive an old sidevalve Ford V8. 

I'm sometimes amazed at the variety I have driven.  Two cylinders, three, four, five, six, eight; straight, V, flat; petrol, diesel; FWD, RWD, AWD; front'mid/rear engined; manual, auto.

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When I was 10 I fell in love with the Palladium light car, but as only two exist I figured I'd never even get near one. It took 22 years but I managed to get my mitts on one, and I wasn't disappointed. 

My other all time dream car aged 10 was an Ogle 1.5 GT, but as only two survive etc etc... I have at least managed to track one down, and know the previous owner of the other who reckons he might be able to trace the owner, so who knows? I'm a cussed bastard and don't like to make things easy on myself, so if I can prove the existence of a single remaining Fairthorpe Atom I'd be very happy.

I've owned a few of my other 'dream cars' (and some of yours, @egg) along the way, but there are still plenty to try. Mine don't change, but the list grows ever longer...

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Been the same since I was about 13 (9 years ago now), Honda Civic EG6 SiR-S.

I came up with a couple of others a bit later on (Dream RWD car would be a RHD VAZ 2101 and dream AWD car would be a MK1 Subaru Legacy RS Turbo) but they haven't changed either.

The list of cars I would like to own does, however, increase by the day!

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Always liked the mk3/A70 Supra. It would have to be an import as it would be in much better shape and have the funky full-width taillights. 

Before that, I'd always wanted a Corolla GT Coupe (as they were known back then). Before drifting, before the mk2 Escort drove up prices of anything vaguely RWD or sporty, there was this sharp little hatchback with a sweet 1.6 16v engine. Wasn't especially fast or anything, handles alright but was dated in its day (being sold alongside the more modern FWD Corolla that the rest of the range had moved onto, including another GTi).  Now they're mega bucks.

Maybe if I had some proper secure, dry storage at home, but that's not looking very likely so I doubt it'll ever happen.

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I’m a fickle bastard.

Always wanted a go in an RX-7, a 3.0 24v senator, e38 and e32 bmw...Volvo 480, bmw 850...xedos 9, mk1 Dodge Charger, Bentley Turbo RT...Svx, H6 Outback, Shogun 2.6 BBR Turbo, Starion, Diablo VT, 300ZX, basically a a massive stream of consciousness keeps me happy...but right now and probably @Jim Bell’s fault by tangential autotrader mooching I seem fixated on a smoll multijet fiat Idea or Doblo, which I will probably not buy.

basically four wheels and assorted engine/drives and I’m happy.

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For the last 10 or so years I've always wanted a proper Jag. Series XJ, X300, even XJ40. But they're now all out of viable daily driver category for me. I still totally would if I ever won the lottery.

 

Another one is the Volvo 850, I still want a manual turbo but they're way too rare and the more common auto is naff.

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This forum has helped me realise my modest motoring dreams, through it I've owned a Merc, a Jag, something V8 engined (Audi A8)  and TWO Saab floppytops. Only thing I really have to tick off is a proper 4x4. Maybe at the end of this year

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Back when I was about 12 it was this exact car in this exact photograph in, I suspect, this exact book.

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However, then you grow up and learn and realise that they were some of the worst cars ever built. Your tastes become more refined and you understand how things should be done. This is why about the only car I really want to own is one of these...

005-pur-sang-bugatti-type-35_2.jpeg

Everything else is just transport.

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I had two specific 'realistic' dream cars as a teenager. 

1) Land Rover 90 V8. I even wrote a short story in English that included one in a chase scene (with a Toyota Hiace van because I've always been an idiot). DREAM ACHIEVED!

img_6894.jpg?w=660&h=495

It was utter disappointment. It wasn't fast, didn't actually sound that nice, didn't like water and did 15mpg. At least it turned in a rare profit.

2) 2CV/Dyane

2CVs always fascinated me, and a book with a photo of the Yellow and Black one from the Patrick Motor Collection only confirmed my need for one. I got that book when I was ten, and it was followed by another  - the A-Z of Cars 1945-1970 which contained a photo of a Dyane being properly hooned. I was hooked.

DREAM ACHIEVED!

citroens.jpg

This dream didn't disappoint. I could not imagine life without some aircooled Citroen action in it. I am missing my 2CV very much at the moment.

3) Land Rover Discovery

I've always loved them. Wonderful styling, classy blue or beige interior, Tdi engine. Had to have one.

DREAM ACHIEVED!

flexible.jpg

 

May not have been the best example, and may have continuously frustrated me (it broke down on the way to Shitefest 2 and missed the Shiteroading) but I'm still glad I owned it. 

Other dreams remain a dream, but generally fairly consistently. A Citroen GS or GSA, Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, Skoda Estelle. But others join in. I have a real hankering for a Ford Sierra at the moment, for reasons I don't entirely understand.

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An Xr2, a 2.8 Capri and a MK1 focus RS amongst other blue oval tat are all parked in the would live to drive. But I no longer even bother looking at prices as realistically I'd pay my mortgage down before spending the sort of money hot fords go for. That's where dream cars change for me, as retro / classic prices have pushed cheap cars out of range of being a daily driver.

The other car that hasn't changed is a TVR Cerbera. If I had the funds to own / garage / employ a tame paint shop on account I'd have one just for the looks with no concern there were 'better' cars out there. 

 

Bike wise I'm a lot more fluid. A 'proper' Enfield is achievable with space and would be all the tinkering classic I'd fancy without the cost or hassle of a proper classic bike.

At the other end of the scale a Vincent of any type I'm desperate for a ride of, living a hundred yards from where they used to be made would makes them a fascination for me. Obviously out of any realistic price range.

Modern bike wise my tdr 125 was a cracking little bike so would love a shot on a 250 howeverlike all 250 2 strokes they're too expensive and all a bit long in the tooth to easily find parts for so probably won't ever own one. I guess a modern supermoto is the equivalent and would probably suit my current use better than the VFR.

The really flexible bit is I'd love a ride of one of the modern litre superbike with all the electronics etc... The new blade looks ridiculous, I'm not sure my back will be able to take it by the time they get down to shiter money.

Any of them would be so far beyond my skill it wouldn't matter which it was, but who doesn't want to pretend they're Marquez while shitting themselves at 10 percent of the bikes capability.

Overall as the surveillance society kicks in more and more. I do have a feeling we're in the last throws of being able to enjoy motorised transport to it's fullest so feel if you're able to, now is the time to get that V8 and give it a good thrashing. I'd guess no matter how good electric cars are they'll all have apps that will tell you where you're parked and how much charge you have left. All useful other than also being a tracker and one step from emailing you a speeding fine each time you look at a road sign and slip above 20 in a town.

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As a child my dream car was the Outspan Orange car (mini), I sat in one and basked in its orange awesomeness.
As a teenager the younger teen years were all about the 80s american sport convertibles, also a lot of film and tv favourites. As an older teen in the 90s it was the turbo'd bodykitted fast car/max power cars that I lusted for.
Late teen me was a fool but I would still have the rest.

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I have always wanted the same car: a 1930 Bentley 4 1/2 litre with the open tourer body. Never drooled over the blower Bentleys as they were a bit unreliable but I did want with an even greater passion one of the very rare Bentley 3/8 specials. 3 litre chassis with the 8 litre engine and running gear! One of them (I think) still holds the lap record at Brooklands and is very unlikely to be beaten now! They are few and far between and a tad pricey...

Also always wanted a Ducati 916, never even ridden one and with the state of my spine, never will but, man, they are pretty.

 

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My first dream car , at the age of 5 or6 was a Rover 2000 TC, then this was supplanted in my affections by a Jensen FF , presumably influenced by my yellow Dinky oneimage.jpeg.452e9d3a3906ceffcee4ad39c123e790.jpegimage.jpeg.a3e57286df4f8d099c1908fac2439aa0.jpeg

From the age of 11( 1975) I was obsessed with rally cars , so dreamt of 124 Abarths, Fulvias, Stratoses( Strati?) Saab 96s and of course Escorts, Chevettesand Sunbeams.

image.jpeg.6820db3ccb2fc3f70d27bb89bfb4eb8d.jpeg

My first car was a Mk2 Cortina and I remember thinking  after a job interview , where the earth was promised, that I could get a loan and buy a Fiat 128 3P!

image.thumb.jpeg.77b8e14b59e06916f4fe7c916d8f0c7c.jpeg

My next dream was to find an immaculate Granada 3.0 S in red without a vinyl roof, just like the one in the 76/77 brochures.

image.jpeg.86288b672ce067595b85ed93a0672034.jpeg

Needless to say I never bought any of the above, I had a lot of Escorts , a lot of Granadas , I owned a couple of P6es but never a S1 TC, passed up on a couple of Interceptors when they were £1000 shitters- but I hadn't got £1000 to spare. 

I went on to spend my life getting paid to drive what to some people might be dream cars and spend my days dreaming about shite- currently Maxis, Mk6 Escort Ghia Estates early Legacy Turbo saloons.image.thumb.jpeg.b04a5aa46daae6b1003f08ace506c709.jpegimage.jpeg.55d22639399609fdb37d248a318cd2e1.jpegimage.jpeg.f1855597bca5b99a4b5495c849151440.jpeg

oh and of course a 3.3LiA BMW

image.thumb.jpeg.76985f5ee3b48341646f331d01bda023.jpeg

 

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1. I read a book about the Doble steam car when I was about 15 and was hooked - sophisticated engineering (flash steam generator, no boiler, 4cyl compound engine, condenser) gave it excellent performance for 1925 and, with a 60mph cruise capability, not bad even for today. I have never seen one in the flesh. It will remain a dream car (Series E).

2. Another long term dream car is the Trojan RE. Again, never seen one but I'm fascinated by the oddball engineering - rear mounted 4cyl 2 stroke and epicyclic gearbox *good for 40mph.

3. Crossley Burney Streamline. Rear engined pre war oddity. I'd settle for a Tatra 603 (post war of course) instead and have actually been driven 20 metres in one and seen at least 6 more over the years. I've missed the boat on Tatras and it will remain as a dream car.

4. Oldsmobile Toronado. Considered buying one for $500 whilst in the 'states in the 1990s. Common sense stopped me from actually owning a dream car.

5. Citroen CX GTi Turbo 2.  Bought one in the 1990s. It did not disappoint. An incredible car.

My other 'dream cars' vary like the weather, though a Wartburg Knight features quite regularly.  

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