Car for life

[Tenmil Socket]

15 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

My Daytona yellow 2dr GT MK3 cortina  had it 35 years this sept, will never sell it plan to have the keys for it with me when my body is finally dispatched .

Very rare I've parted with any personally owned vehicles ( probably in single figures over 40 years of driving) & is why I still own 7 1/2 cortinas (  20-35 years )  had the falcon Ute 10 years.

Any pics?

[Missy Charm]

Probably this old thing.  Hardly glamorous but it 'does' almost everything to an almost acceptable standard, so is good enough at being good enough not to prompt one to think about replacement.  It also possesses many of the qualities that morph into dealer puffery when it comes to forecourt sales - owned by the same family since almost-new, full service history, low mileage, never been smoked in or carried pets, we know where it's been and where it hasn't, etc. etc.  It's the sort of list that, if seen in a small-ad, would make one think 'I wish I had a car like that'; they aren't tangible qualities per se, but they somehow combine to offer a sense of reassurance - the sense that the car has actually been looked after, willingly if not perfectly, for much of the time.  

By accident, I own such a car and will probably keep it.  If I had the time and resources, it would be fab to take her off the road for six months and replace all the bits underneath - suspension and the like - that are on the tired side.  One day, perhaps.  

Additionally, I want to be 'in on the ground floor', to use business argot, and make a conscious effort to preserve a known good example of a car that enthusiasts, by and large, have not yet got round to preserving themselves.  The Mk1 is just about to have a moment in the sun as a 'future classic', now all the Escorts are gone.  Mk2s are waiting in the wings, but lots are going for scrap, too.  I'd rather that didn't happen to this one.  

[straightSix]

18 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I kept 2 of my cars simultaneously for over a decade and thought I'd never sell them. I've never looked back since I did and, even moreso this year after my dad died and then a cousin in Canada, I feel life is too short to keep the same car forever.  I got sentimental about one car, once, but never have again. I've had my 75 for over 4 years now but only because it continues to suit me. I like to keep moving on, like an automotive Littlest Hobo.

 

Same. Thought I'd have my xj40 forever but after it was off the road for a few years during COVID and I still didn't fix it I let it go and honestly not thought about it since. I've just taken on my late father's old X3 and whilst it's got sentimental value I can't see me keeping it forever either. Just too many cars I want to try and you can't keep them all

[sheffcortinacentre]

8 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Any pics?

Best I can do at minute as it's blocked in by 2 others at moment ( one is mates 4 Dr GT that's mid resto) my daily MK3 GT estate.

It has a restored interior  to std Inc working 8 track ( bout 10 years ago) has a replica RS front blade spoiler darent fit the the real one as never seen another, date/part number correct RS 4 spokes (5).

Ran a 3.2 Essex V6 & 5speed until early 00's then replaced with a recon  302  V8 Windsor & T5 5speed, XR6  turreted & 5 linked rear, 4 wheel discs,6 points cage. Dual fuel equivalent of low 30's on LPG  on a run ( even towing my 80's esteril folding caravan).

The poor trailer is very rough at moment.

Easily done over 50k in my ownership. Will find some more pics & copy them.

Now you see why I'm the "Sheffield cortina centre"😁

[HMC]

Think im posting in the wrong thread here 😂

[andrew e]

On 20/07/2024 at 21:56, Shite Ron said:

I don’t intend selling any of my cars, I bought them because I like them but if I had to choose one to keep then the manual Cortina 2.3 Ghia estate is the one, I have driven it many miles and had some great holidays in it, I bought it in  2002 as a daily driver and went to Le Mans for the first time in it, also to Italy and many other countries on my first Cortina’s to Cortina run plus Classic Ford runs and drove  it over 4,000 miles in two weeks to Gibraltar on holiday. It has done over a quarter of a million miles but is very solid for a Cortina. Also being an ‘82 model is extremely comfortable and practical. Not the best colour but a great car.

Chateau du Chanteloupe just outside Le Mans?

[Justwatching]

My DeLorean. It's been my dream car since I was a teenager. No chance at all I'd ever sell it. 

 

[scooobydont]

I only realise they were cars for life once they have already gone......

These. The classic, the top down and the quick daily, all of them fantastic, still kick myself:

 

Currently have a berlingo (cant fault it tbh) and a kit car (just too uncomfy) I need to MOT and sell. Would have any of the 3 above back in a heartbeat.

[N19]

I'm a stubborn sod and will only change a car if I had to.

I've had the Capri for 8 years now and have put far too much time/energy/effort/money into it over that period. So many memories (of good times and bad) and a car that brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.

On the other hand, I bought the Mondeo as "an car" - a stopgap whilst I was moving house and needed something big - but it's proved so useful and capable and comfortable, that despite the odds being against it (needing a few fairly major repairs and the imposition of the ULEZ) I'm still running it and have intentions to keep on doing so.

[mat_the_cat]

Where do I start?!

The obvious one is the Stellar, as I bought that after passing my test in 1997, and have many memories with it, and *many* hours of work gone into it. 130k miles together.

But then there's the LT. Again, a lot of work has gone into it, and many holidays in it since 2006. 99k miles together.

But what about the BX? The second car I bought, and what I originally wanted to buy as a first car before settling for a Hyundai. How can I resist this interior? After 150k miles together since 2004 (and never needing recovery), getting in feels like sinking into a favourite armchair, and it's still a pretty good jack of all trades. It's now morphed into my ultimate spec BX.

Or the Land-Rover Series 3. As a child I'd wanted one, before realising the practicalities of actually owning and running one as a young driver but that idea to bed until I thought prices had risen out of reach. Plus, out of all my vehicles this would be the one which will be easiest to keep going indefinitely. The most recent addition, in 2020 but can't see me selling it any time soon.

And finally the iLoad. My first nearly new vehicle, and incredibly practical. 32k miles together since 2017, so probably the one I drive the least. But when I do it's probably the worst weather, or needling something I can just chuck bikes or furniture in. I guess if I had to get rid of one, it would be this - but choosing just one to keep? Tricky!

[derskine]

 

My 190D is a keeper, I've been driving it daily (most of the time) for 5 years and never had a problem with it. It's a bit more rusty now than in this pic though so will need to get into it with the welder soon.
 

My Cortina is also a keeper, I've had this since I was 16 (now 15 years), it's been with me through a lot of changes in my life now, and has way too much sentimental value. Admittedly it's not seen the light of day for a few years, but hoping to change that very soon.

[Verysleepyboy]

Had my T4 Westfalia for 7 years now - still going strong at over 370k km, only been on the Big Yellow Truck of Shame once so far but generally I have spent out on it far more than I should have done!!

Never owned any other vehicle as long as this and I haven't seen anything else that I would rather have as a replacement.

The biggest issue will be with the continued expansion of LEZ zones into more suburban and rural areas this could well be the catalyst for change, otherwise I'm getting buried in this lying on the nice comfy bed, looking out to the sea with a beer in my hand!!!

[Bazfr69]

11 hours ago, scooobydont said:

I only realise they were cars for life once they have already gone......

These. The classic, the top down and the quick daily, all of them fantastic, still kick myself:

 

Currently have a berlingo (cant fault it tbh) and a kit car (just too uncomfy) I need to MOT and sell. Would have any of the 3 above back in a heartbeat.

That Beetle is stunning. 😎😵‍💫

[Shite Ron]

13 hours ago, andrew e said:

Chateau du Chanteloupe just outside Le Mans?

Yes, we found it in 2005 after the race finished so went back several years following that, I did have a book with other Chateaux camp sites and stayed at others also, not been camping for a few years now but it was great.

[EyesWeldedShut]

11 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

It's now morphed into my ultimate spec BX.

What are the seats there? Makes my old BX look utter poverty spec

[Urko]

On 20/07/2024 at 22:26, vulgalour said:

12 years and counting.  Survived several relationships, several house moves, life falling apart and getting put back together again, and is constantly in a state of never quite being properly sorted and never quite being broken enough to give up on.  We're beyond the point of Stockholm Syndrome and Sunk Cost Fallacy with this one, I reckon we're stuck with each other.

@vulgalour May I ask where you got the lights from and whether they are any good?  I have an application for some 5.75" lights of that type, but the prices are all over the place.

[Stinkwheel]

11 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

What are the seats there? Makes my old BX look utter poverty spec

Dont want to speak for @mat_the_cat, but im pretty sure they are just factory BX leather seats

[mat_the_cat]

2 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Dont want to speak for @mat_the_cat, but im pretty sure they are just factory BX leather seats

Exactly right. Unfortunately not that common nowadays.

[Urko]

3 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Dont want to speak for @mat_the_cat, but im pretty sure they are just factory BX leather seats

Yeah I had the cloth version in my BXs - a 19 GTI and 19 GTI 4x4

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 minute ago, Stinkwheel said:

Dont want to speak for @mat_the_cat, but im pretty sure they are just factory BX leather seats

I had fuzzy velour ones - I think it was a TGD on the trim level - those look much, much nicer (you could have told me they were XM kit and I'd have believed you  ).
My BX could have been a car for life but it was not that great at towing horse trailers up hills - would have been fine in Holland.

[HMC]

21/7/24 

I remember that day well, i can clearly recall the drive home really well which cemented a bond with the vw.

22/7/24

still got it 👍

[mat_the_cat]

14 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

My BX could have been a car for life but it was not that great at towing horse trailers up hills - would have been fine in Holland.

You needed a 1.9TD for that!

[dave j]

55 minutes ago, HMC said:

21/7/24 

I remember that day well, i can clearly recall the drive home really well which cemented a bond with the vw.

22/7/24

still got it 👍

🤣 What is the longest you have owned a car for? 

[MorrisItalSLX]

5 minutes ago, dave j said:

🤣 What is the longest you have owned a car for? 

I remember him having one for a whole week once.

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

I remember him having one for a whole week once.

Only because no-one would buy it! 🤣

[reb]

I'll probably keep my 205 for the rest of my life. It was the first car I bought (from @320touring) with my own money, and despite my best efforts it seems to be unburstable.

It has been languishing in my workshop for the last few years, but really doesn't need much. Life has just got in the way.

[HMC]

18 minutes ago, dave j said:

🤣 What is the longest you have owned a car for? 

I had a morris minor for 2 years and a 60s jag s type for a similar amount of time IIRC

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, mat_the_cat said:

You needed a 1.9TD for that!

On ours I found that the suspension height adjuster needed to be up one notch - once that was set it would tow very nicely 

[2flags]

I have had my Landrover for years. I will never sell it. Whenever the wife starts talking about it, I start looking at motorbikes. She soon decides we will keep the Landy. 😂 

[95 quid Peugeot]

I've had many cars over my 50 years of motoring, ended up with a 911 a few years ago, starting a bit of a thin out for downsizing house as retirement looms,  guess what stayed and what went .... German out French stays