Only one car, forever - could you do it?

[Pete-M]

I doubt I could.Cars are like therapy for me, I buy them when I'm pissed off and miserable or when I'm happy and bored. Just having one car forever would be nice, it'd save me a fortune, but it wouldn't be easy. I've had a succession of lovely cars that I always wanted, but I don't have them now - because another one has turned up that at that minute had something that my car at the time didn't have.I had the nicest RS2000 Custom in the country back in '92, perfect in every way, but I sold it and bought a Delta HF Turbo because that was the car I fancied that day.I sold a 500 bhp Sapphire Cosworth because I wanted an Integrale.I sold a Porsche 911 because I wanted something quieter on the motorway. No car I've found has everything I want from a car, I love Jag XJRs but they can't be driven like a Mk2 RS2000 so I'd get bored. I've had loads of Sierra 4x4s, but you can't get 'em sideways without near killing yourself, so they've been replaced by 2.8i Capris and the like. I've had Alfa 164 3.0s that were beautiful cars, but too fragile to be used to the full. Can't get band gear into a Mazda MX-5, can't leave Cosworths parked in the street, Mk2 RS's don't have enough space to carry four full sized people (The front seats steal all the rear legroom), The T5 was a lovely car but no fun on country lanes, Integrales are great fun on lanes but crap on motorways, the Audi is incredibly surefooted but not that quick off the mark.I think there is possibly one of the new AMG Mercs that would come closest to ticking all the boxes, maybe a C63 AMG Estate... but then I'd be complaining about fuel consumption.Other than that, a properly LPG'd Range Rover LSE is quite probably the nearest there is to a car I could keep forever - although having said that, an Audi RS6 Avant would be more fun.

[dollywobbler]

I couldn't do it. I love my 2CV a great deal, but I love other kinds of car too much to give them up.

[Rusty Pelican]

This , had her 22 years , still makes me smile

 

 

Or more so this , Only had this 18 years , i prefer this as its more waccy , could quite happily poddle about in either one till i pop off

 

[outlaw118]

Is that a Husky, or an Imp?It's teh nutz anyway.

[VWPowered]

what if you could only have one car and had to keep it forever.

couldnt do it i like variety

[Father Ted]

Would probably have to be either a Mk 2 Transit SWB minibus, or Synergie with the 1.9TD donkey. Something that can accommodate 7, tow a trailer / boat / caravan and be used for the trips to the local refuse tip or B & Q.

[pogweasel]

Something that can accommodate 7, tow a trailer / boat / caravan and be used for the trips to the local refuse tip or B & Q.

Yes, all those things, but which is also has a bit of class about it, and wouldn't drive like a total crock of shit. About as far as you can get from 'shite', but an XC90 or somesuch would be nice, and should it survive fire, flood, rust and electrical doom after 30 years should be nicely shabby/mellow...

[Mr Lobster]

Fairly sure I couldn't do it. Love my R4 to bits but then it's not much fun if I want to drive to the South of France, or anywhere I need to go anywhere quickly. Toledo is a lot more practical and useful but doesn't have the character of the Alfa 145 I had.So no. Variety is the spice of life and all that.

[barrett]

Would probably have to be either a Mk 2 Transit SWB minibus, or Synergie with the 1.9TD donkey. Something that can accommodate 7, tow a trailer / boat / caravan and be used for the trips to the local refuse tip or B & Q.

Citroen CX break?

[Milford Cubicle]

I think a nice old mechanically controlled diesel would be good as a 'car for life'. Not much to go wrong, and great for surviving electrical flares. You can also feed them all kinds of waste oils. Great for when fuel is £3/litre.

Which one though?

 

 

Obviously not a diesel as it's the ill-fated yank version, but you get the idea.

Early Rover 825D would be good too. I love those crocks.

[Cavcraft]

I honestly don't think I could. Had some cars a few years but just love swapping/changing.If push came to shove and I HAD to choose one I suppose a Mk3 pre-facelift Cav SRi hatchback would be the answer.

[Guest]

If I could only have one car due to some kind of bizzare situation, it'd have to be the Charmant.

 

 

The main thing is that I wouldn't have the heart to choose anything else. Even if I was offered any car I wanted in lieu of it, a Quattroporte or anything, I'm too attached to it. Whilst it is easy to joke about its shite status, it is my favourite motor and driving it around makes me feel like a king. The only thing that could replace it is another Charmant and I don't think it'd feel quite as special - this one is mine. Took me years to get one, I don't think I'll ever feel quite as pleased as I did driving it home down the motorway repeatedly going "YES". If I get to being an old giffer and I've still got the Charmant, my life can't have turned out that bad overall.

 

Still, I like the variety of driving around in numerous cars. It does cause me some financial pain, but I get enough enjoyment out of it for what I spend. The main thing is that I'll jump at the chance to drive anything, if someone said I could lend a Kia Clarus for the day I would be well chuffed.

[pandamonium]

A tough one. I'd have to say one of these.

The Mazda that is.

[pbottomley]

What wheels are those, I wants some of them they look fab

 

 

 

Keeping it on subect of course... Me HA is for ever, just like its bleeding rebuild LOL

 

[Guest]

I would like to think I could keep one of these for the rest of my driving years

The best cars I have had were Cortinas-miss them but too dear for me for the good stuff now. 2000cc Ghia would be my choice.

[seth]

Hillman wheels look like Wellers to me. The more modern motorsport ones rather than the old rust-spokes.

 

 

I could live with the Oxford forever I expect, and hopefully will. It always did what I needed it to when it was my only car and I can't see that much has changed even though there's a family now.

 

[outlaw118]

I'm with Rootes_arrow, my old Cortina 2.0Ghia EJN 546Y (IIRC). Oyster Gold, big chocolate brown velour seats, RS 4 spokes. The car I miss the most, and could quite happily smoke about in that agian.

[Guest]

I'm with Rootes_arrow, my old Cortina 2.0Ghia EJN 546Y (IIRC). Oyster Gold, big chocolate brown velour seats, RS 4 spokes. The car I miss the most, and could quite happily smoke about in that agian.

Registration EJN546Y Make FORD Model CORTINA Description GHIA Date of Liability 01 01 2003 Date of First Registration 01 08 1982 Year of Manufacture 1982 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1993CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour GOLD

[outlaw118]

I'll have to try and find some photos.....(sobs uncontrollably)Might have to by that fleabay estate that Hirst found......

[Richard]

Renault Savanna 1.9D.

[Rusty Pelican]

What wheels are those, I wants some of them they look fab

They are indeed Modern Wellers , oval circuit wheels IIRC , Imps and HAs share the same stud pattern I believe , nearly bought an HA earlier this year , 40k from new for £ 1100 , just didnt quite have the dosh , back on the subject , ive had countless motors from Morris,s to Fiats , nout comes close , think i need therapy

[Spottedlaurel]

I have had this thought a number of times during 2009, because I think I already own what would suit me best:

 

 

Big enough for the family, amusing to drive, doesn't look like most other stuff, reliable and it's in decent condition. It doesn't contain any complicated bits, has a solid rear axle and it's RWD, so it could easily be upgraded or kept running with bits off, well, anything really. Economy isn't actually that bad, but of course LPG would help running costs if necessary. Or chuck in a BMW diesel?

[Guest]

Don't you dare stick a smelly diesel in that Laurel! Nice picture though.

[Spottedlaurel]

Don't you dare stick a smelly diesel in that Laurel! Nice picture though.

Ta! Not my house, fortunately. Got enough work still to do on my own...Fear not, diesel hopefully just a hypothetical thing, but with a sizeable engine bay it would be moderately straightforward to put something else in there should spares for the old L-series 'six' become difficult to find.

[Father Ted]

 

OR...

 

 

Hmm, the latter is a better looker, but I bet I cant fix it with a hammer and duct tape.

[Pillock]

Hmm, the latter is a better looker, but I bet I cant fix it with a hammer and duct tape.

Wash your mouth out! A true autoshiter's toolkit contains little else.... (maybe a jubilee clip and a packet of tie-wraps). ANYTHING is fixable with a hammer and duct tape.

[sporty-shite]

No way could I live without a bit of swapping and changing!I'll probably keep the Celica for a good few years, but that's always going to be a second car, anyway.I could never decide on one car and then never change, the buying and the buzz of collecting it and wondering whether it will make it home, are too attractive!

[Split_Pin]

Thats something I doubt I could do. My Vectra is the daily hack - it carries most things, goes most places without fuss and is comfortable and has a great heater. I can leave it anywhere without worry and dont mind getting it dirty.The Astra is not 'shite' however it caters for a my 'other' tastes and I have spent 4 years and god knows how much making it the way I want. Everything I have either done myself or observed a friend doing the job for me. It makes me feel like a million quid every time I drive it. However it isnt practical as an every day car due to the fact that its quite low, the suspension is pretty hard and I dont like getting it dirty.I think I'd go for something a bit 'special', and definetly shite. I'd jump for a Chrysler Alipne Mk1 in a flash, but it must not be impossible to get parts for so perhaps something hat has bits common to other vehicles. Practicality would be a must. I'd say either a Sierra Ghia V6 or a 4cyl Volvo 760 Turbo Saloon then.

[Spiny Norman]

Probably this.

 

My old 520i Auto, lovely smooth comfy old bus, no ball of fire but it would easily cruise at 100mph back in the days when you were really unlucky to get zapped by a tax camera. Did close to 30mpg most of the time and over the 4 years I had it, ended up being one of the cheapest cars I've ever owned.

 

So why did I sell it???

Because I'm a fecking idiot, that's why.

 

Like most of us, I get the car equivalent of ants in my pants after I've had a car for a while. The time varies depending on the car, but eventually I'll just decide that I want a change.

[whitevanman]

all together impossible..my other half destroys cars at an alarming rate.....so I would need to replace most of hers every year or 2as for me, I could...Just about it would either be the V6 Cortina P100 or the V8 Cortina Mk3 2 door, but as I live to play with cars, I kinda figure I would die of boredom before geting bored with the Cortinas