The year so far in pictures, let's see your's....

[Cavcraft]

...got through quite a few shite-mobiles last year and off to a flyer in 2010 already.

 

This wasn't too shoddy. Bit dull and probably hopeless off road but pretty decent to drive...

 

Replaced by this, 1.4 dizzler. Absolutely GR9.6777 on fuel, 60mpg no danger. Not a bad old thing to drive either to be fair. Probably should have kept it but was a bit useless as a van (too small) and only having one passenger seat was a right old bleeding nuisance...

 

In turn that was replaced by this. I do really regret letting this go, 1.5 Satira Sport. Fantastic fun to drive, a modern day 205GTi in fact. Had been lowered a bit and had a boy racer exhaust that made just the right noise. Fast as you like, cornered like a train and everytime I went out in it it made me grin. Next owner lent it someone who managed to write it off apparantly. Waste of a bloody good car...

 

 

Next another favourite that was lovely to drive. A bit daft on fuel (low twenties not unusal) but extremely well screwed together, enough toys to keep most people happy and was the 2.8TD lump which had plenty enough torque...

 

Around this time I managed to squeeze an Ovlov into the equation. Bit of a giffer's image but there's something I like about the OL FASHUND 'style' of Volvo estates and thought the colour suited the car well. 2.5 petrol, indicated 46mpg on a run but started to get silly round town. Loads of toys and very relaxing drive but I'd get a dizzler next time I reckon...

 

Next up Renner Grande Espaz. 2.2 dizzler, loads of miles but really impressed with it. Good on juice, more room than a roomy thing and nice driving position. Got shut when the gearchange cable thing did a Joey Deacon on me but would certainly have another one...

 

UH-OH EPIC FAIL time. Sadly I'd always fancied a Vectra C and this should have lived up to my expectations but instead lived down to your's. Six speed box, cruise contorl and shizzles but plagued by stupid (insert swear word here) fault code gremlins which meant it rarely drove anywhere not in limp mode or with the big spazzy YELLOW SPANNER OF DOOM lit up. One one occasion talking my lad to work I deliberately drove through a big eff off puddle, just because I felt like it. Of the many stupid ideas I've ever had that was one of the worse as the car went a bit Radio Rental and started thinking it was in cruise control and limp mode at the same time. It actually sort of started driving itself though touching the throttle made no difference whatsoever. Glad to see the back of this one to put it mildly...

 

Next up sorting some wheels for my lad. This was cheap enough and although had (has) some silly niggles it's doing us proud so far. Quicker than my Mk4 1.6, reliable as you like and firmly in the shite radar I'd have thought. Sorted the non-locking rear door, started tidying the arches and MOT due soon. 1.4 single point injection, pretty lame spec inc. no power steering but soldiers only daily without complaint...

Oh, also got to work with my Karcher on this one...

 

This was a blast and thankfully lives on in the capable hands of Mr S...

 

This was way to chavvy for my liking. (Probably) spurious claims of 170BHP YO!, tacky bodykit, incredibly annoying drainpipe exhaust and lowered suspension meant it wasn't especially nice to drive at my age. Seemed to attract nuggets, chavs and spotty birds....

 

So it went for this 1.9 petrol E46 thing. Some bits I liked such as loads of torque, pulled well from 60 onwards in top gear and some bits of it reminded me of E30s, others I didn't such as didn't feel like it was anything 'special' or particulary well made and hadn't been serviced since the year dot. Oh it also had seriously gash M3 lookalike mirrors too.

 

Somewhere in the middle of these is my current daily and thermostat-but-hopefully-not-headgasket be-troubled Astra.

1.6 8V of loveliness. Despite mayonnaise/temp gauge related shenanigans it drives ok, is pretty well screwed together and gives me that lovely warm Vauxhall glow. You know that sort of 'at home' feeling you get when a car just feels right for you and you're confident in it? Well, that one. Yeah it's not going to set the world on fire but it's a competant (hopefully) reliable car and I'd jump in it and drive anywhere I had to go without question...

 

And finally the latest wheels. Bloody good laugh to ride, though motorway/bypass riding is going to take some getting used to as it seems to want at least one more gear, probably two. For bumbling round on in the nice waether though it's a real treat and I'm considering a few bits of tat to throw on it. Currently (arf arf) looking at extra lighting. Thanks to eBaY and a couple of Autoshiters this is coming along nicely though yet to be fitted...

 

 

Show me your year so far please...

[Mr H Sceptre]

Only the Maxi to show & I think I've posted plently of snaps of her already!I really love your scooter Billy. I'm not a fan of motorbikes in the slightest, but I reckon I could happily bimble about on an old Vespa or Lambretta (would have to wear my parker for authenticity!)

[Guest]

Billy, your Vectra wasn't a 2.2 was it? They're notorious for eating fuel pumps and regulators.Me mate Darren's just got a two-two on tick with the arrival of a wee one, and I haven't the heart to tell him what a potential lump of fail he's bought......

[Cavcraft]

The 2.0 versions were the worst of the lot in the fuel pump stakes Jon, but the 2.2s aren't exactly fantastic either.Mine was the 1.9CDTi 120 (or possibly 130) engined one, it defo wasn't the 150 anyhow.It would have been a reasonable car if it hadn't been for wanky sensor problems, just didn't fancy lobbing good money after bad at it.

[Minimad5]

No mention of your Merc Sell the ashtray and start using the 190

[jonny69]

Only her R-reg Scenic which is to the left of my Anglia in this picture:

 

 

It's going this year. Autobox started playing up at 97K miles but it's still not quite let go and it's done 135K now. Rust all over the place. I can count the number of times it's been washed in the time she's had it on one hand. Since 2005, that is. Exhaust is made up bits of the original patched in with bits of shit off the garage floor, jubilee clips and gasket goo.

 

I was so convinced it was going to die at some point I stopped changing the oil but it managed 12K on the last £3.99 bottle of 20W50 and was still fine.

 

Don't know much about the 205 to the right of the pic but the woman washes it even less than she washes the Rennie and it's completely shagged. She owns one of the flats but doesn't live here so it's a pain in the arse having it parked here. Less space for my fleet of 3 *spit*

[Cavcraft]

No mention of your Merc Sell the ashtray and start using the 190

Sell the Ashtray MY ARSE. Merc will get mended at some point, probably as soon as I can get some money and find my mojo. You'll get the call anyhow MM

[Minimad5]

Jonny that is one nice Anglia, do you have any more pictures ?Cavette - No worries sir, i just thought it would look fantastic out in this weather

[Polystratus]

Jonny that is one nice Anglia, do you have any more pictures ?

Agreed - more photos please?

[seth]

Not exactly a huge a amount of movements here. Just two sold, the MGB GT and the Honda PC50. It didn't take me long to decide that two wheels powered by anything other than my legs was not to be.Jonny's Anglia is the bizz, and the best bit is that our Herald is now probably faster than it

[Pete-M]

A6 went, 318is came and went, Rover has taken up that bit of my driveway that always seems to end up with V8 engined stuff in.The Rover isn't for sale.

[trigger]

Jonny that is one nice Anglia, do you have any more pictures ?

Agreed - more photos please?

Same here, I love 105E's.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Hey Billy, I reckon your scooter would look good like this...

 

[Cavcraft]

Looks like a Mk1 T5 same as mine is supposed to be. Apparantly in the scooter world arsing about with T5s is supposed to be on par with colouring in the Mona Lisa, which to me sounds like fucking good reason for doing just that (not the colouring in).Anglebox looks fantastic, +11 for more pictures and details.Seth: PC50 rings a bell, are they the pedal and pop things, probably forerunner to the Honda Express?

[pogweasel]

No changes here whatsoever. Maxi remains sleeping in the garage.BMW is now road-legal again having eaten an unholy amount of my moneyRenner van plods on regardless, becoming increasingly raggedy at the edges'Er Indoors Focus quietly gets on with things, though is imminently to be superceded by something larger.

[Polystratus]

Looks like a Mk1 T5 same as mine is supposed to be. Apparantly in the scooter world arsing about with T5s is supposed to be on par with colouring in the Mona Lisa, which to me sounds like fucking good reason for doing just that (not the colouring in).Anglebox looks fantastic, +11 for more pictures and details.Seth: PC50 rings a bell, are they the pedal and pop things, probably forerunner to the Honda Express?

Bit like a cub:http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0050/moped/moped.htm

[Father Ted]

Vespa PK50 had a weird set up where if the rear tail light blew the engine stopped.

[jonny69]

Jonny that is one nice Anglia, do you have any more pictures ?

Only one more for now, which is when I broke down on the way to RRG09. The wait of shame while the AA turned up:

 

 

I haven't fixed it yet, this is the only reason Seth's Herald is currently faster

[michiel]

Picture:

 

 

No real progress, waiting for prospective buyer to get some cash together, in the meantime I drive it once every two weeks or so, it is a great car and I don't really mind waiting a bit more, just too big and the work to get it really nice goes above my capacities... anyone got something nice and old for a swap?

[seth]

I haven't fixed it yet, this is the only reason Seth's Herald is currently faster

[capsuleboy]

New years resolution was not to buy any more cars, and in so doing avoid all the stress and sort out the raged bunch I've already got.Jan 3rd. Meet up with friends, talk cars and just maybe might end up forgetting the new year nonsense…Not less cars just better ones.Jan 11th Moskvich sold at last but for stupid low price, but at least I’m sticking to the plan.Jan 17th Bought Avantime V6 auto. I like to think still on plan as better quality. Still waiting until for the inevitable when it goes wrong big time.March 22nd DS Safari swapped to pay for repairs to DS saloon, good work as progress still being made.April8th Got carried away and bought early mark 1 Reno Espace on ebay, looks fantastic, just ignore the cooked head gasket.May 1st Going to Holland to the biggest Citroen selling event held each year, must sit on my hands…