Cars that stole your heart

[Rust Collector]

As I sit here, my mind a touch lubricated by beer, I’m browsing marketplace and idly looking at car listings I can’t afford.

Lo and behold, a black mk2 golf driver pops up, identical to one I used to own.

Despite the fact it was absolutely shit, and every VAG motor I’ve owned has also been objectively shit, my heart stops and I am in love all over again.

Has anyone else got any unremarkable cars that  make their stomach drop out when they see them?

[Zelandeth]

Early Metros for me.  This little bugger being responsible.

Sold in a fit of common sense, and then had it's power unit nicked for a Mini most likely as it vanished off the road almost as soon as I'd sold it despite being incredibly rust free.

Now they're such daft money the odds of ever getting another are slim to none.  Definitely not likely in such a good colour either.

The Trabant also qualifies.  It's about as basic transport as you can get beyond a push bike, yet brings such a smile to my face - and has had probably three or four times it's worth on a good day spent on it over the last couple of years.  Not making the same mistake with this as I did with my Metro.  This will be staying on fleet as close to forever as I feel I can guarantee.

[davehedgehog31]

mon amour

[hairnet]

high flying posh stuff sure

normal stuff.......

ascona/rekord pre 1985

most things gm between there and the olympia in 37 blitz diplomat commodore kadett

dont know why and apart from mk1/2 cavaliers and astras ive never driven the older stuff

but just would......... wouldnt have to be the sportier stuff either

people go nuts for ford stuff ive never seen the attraction - but ill always point that way

[eddyramrod]

These things...

The antiquated and wholly-derided FSO Polonez.  30 years ago I had one and my dad had one, see my avatar!  They were strong, capable, comfy and cheap in  a manner you just never see now.  RWD, simple, spacious; not very fast, granted, but in the real world, how much does that matter?  Much more important were the hatchback, opened by pulling a little lever beside the driver's seat, and those seats themselves: thick, cossetting, seriously not far off a Volvo for comfort.

I'd have another one tonight.  Unfortunately most of the RHD models were exported "back home" to be stripped for parts, but they do have quite the following on their own turf.  While that does ensure the survival of the breed, it also means I can barely afford even a toy one these days and I'll certainly never drive one again.

[rob88h]

S123 300D. Beige. ❤️

[Shite Ron]

No doubt for me, there are many cars that I like but the one I really love and could not be without is a Cortina. I have wanted a Cortina since I was a very small child. I bought my own when I was 16 to learn to drive in and passed my test in it when I was 17. I tried newer cars including Cavaliers, Sierras and Montegos but they were all a disappointment by comparison. Newer cars today are even more disappointing. If I could only have one car it would have to be a Cortina. I was lucky they were ridiculously cheap when I had no money and a mortgage to pay so have not been without one for over 40 years and never intend to be. I love them as much now as I always have.

[captain_cal]

Sold this at the right time, and saw it for sale again and purposely didn't buy it back, but gosh do I wish I had a sorted one.

Memories of sunset drives and long hauls with absolutely zero stress and massive driver engagement and satisfaction. Also memories of a leaky roof and creeping rust, but definitely my favourite daily driver I've ever had.

ETA: on the flipside, here's one I've fought tooth and nail to keep. Longest time I've ever owned a car (eight years) and it's not going anywhere.

[Imhotep]

For me, most of the following:

Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo/Citroen AX - First cars I ever really had, I had loads of them. I’d love another but it’d be pointless for me to buy one

Peugeot 306 - Had a few of these. Remind me of good times in my life. 

Saab 9-3 (2003 onwards) - Despite the fact the two I owned suffered catastrophic engine failure, they were charming. I’d have another tomorrow. 

BMW 1 series F20 - Realistically this is the best car I’ve ever owned. It did absolutely everything I wanted it to do, and honestly whenever I browse the internet for a new daily driver I end up looking at a 1 series first. I know these have a bit of a reputation as not being too good but I couldn’t fault mine at all. 

MG ZS - Got one now, wanted one since I was a teenager. Does not disappoint at all. Will be keeping the one I have a very long time.

[loserone]

When I had this (the first time) it was the perfect level of shonk.

[grogee]

Like @Shite Ron mine is a Cortina, Dad had one as a company car circa 81-84 and it took us everywhere. I'd have been aged 6-9 so very impressionable. I remember everything about it and helping Dad to wash it. Radio 4 on the crappy AM radio... 

It would have been like this one, photo credit @davocano. 

I was lucky enough to drive Ford's museum Cortina later in life, circa 2010. A real privilege and I'd definitely have a Mk5 if I could afford one. 

[Remspoor]

My Austin Westminster. Not a particularly dynamic car to drive. But it was different. Maybe one or tow others here in Spain. Was a Dutch registered car purchased when I lived there. Had a Dutch steel silding sun roof.

Tried to keep it going but the rust was fast than me. Trying to get spares was very hard.  So it was sent to the scrappy. Regret it ever since.

Poor quality photo of when I purchased it

Leaving me for the last time

[bunglebus]

I think because I wasn't expecting to like it at all, I just needed a cheap car that was more fuel efficient than my VW T3 for my commute to work. I really wasn't a French car fan, being in the motor trade almost everyone moaned about working on them too.

Bought cheaply but with a fairly knackered engine, cobbled back together despite a heavily damaged cylinder head and pressed into service. A year of unremarkable motoring later, it had got under my skin as it was reliable and fun, so it got a replacement low mileage engine that cost £5 more than the car, lowered, R19 16v wheels, decent sound system and various other mods, and then became a really fun little roller skate that stuck to the road like...well you know.

Did a lot of miles in this, think I added 100k to it but fitting a GT Turbo gearbox stopped the speedo working for a while, and it was crap and didn't fix the fault I had (was a noisy wheel bearing).  It got to a point where it needed some work and I was in the process of a rebuild when my wife and I parted company, and she got it removed despite knowing I was coming to collect it. Still makes me sad and every now and again I see another Campus and wonder if I should get it

 

[eddyramrod]

Cortinas are a very good shout actually.  First car I ever drove, in 1974, after it had been used for training Ginger McCain's racehorses on Southport beach, including Red Rum.  Last car my dad bought new, in 1967; and later, when they were scrap money, I had a mk3 and a 5, both with the 2.0 Pinto.

SD3 is another good shout, of course, not least for the Richard Bucket connection.  I was smitten when I drove a rental one in 1989 and delighted to own one a few years ago, until it turned out to be too rusty to survive.

Some cars have been revelatory.  In 1989 I had a Triumph Dolomite 1850 which was comfy and pretty fast, but was leaving me jaded, so I bought a 1981 Daihatsu Charade... er what?  Exactly.  Tiny Japanese hatchback, battered to hell, but that 993cc triple!  Oh boyoboyoboyoboy!  Going even further back there were my three air-cooled Fiat 500s.  No power to speak of, but about as heavy as my shoes so it didn't matter.  They were just such a laugh every time I drove them.

Triumph Heralds were actually a really good car in their day.  It's another brand I wouldn't turn away now, if I found one I could afford.  I'd want it to be the 12/50 model like my L-plate car.

[delux]

Will need to visit the folks to dig out a pic but my Green Mini was my heartbreak car.

It was the first car I had to borrow money to buy. It was the 1st car I had that didnt look like I was taking it to the scrapyard!

After years suffering being driven about by a showoff apprentice mechanic (me) it sat on my folks drive. Unloved and unMOT'd. 

After a few years I could afford to fix it. My first modified car! Spent so much on the mechanical bits I couldnt afford decent wheels. Set records at Crail on factory steelies! I was forever fixing it (90% of the time) or driving it on the limit!

It had torque steer, rust, leaks and spat out fire but it was my favourite mate everyone hated!

Eventually a neighbour (on the side customer) sold me his ex Police 3 litre Vauxhall Omega (pretty similar to a Mini 😄) While the Mini was being rebuilt again, some hillclimb guy made me a silly offer for the engine and my apprentices dad made me a similar offer for the bodyshell. I gave into pressure and it was gone. Engine won some sprint challenge and the body won the Scottish Ministock race. 

I still have to stop myself looking at Minis on ebay, reminding myself they are shite, unreliable money pits!

I'd have it back tomorrow! 

[Markeh]

I miss my Megane II and I am giving strong thought to a 225 or other sporting variety before they get too unobtainable.

[wesacosa]

nothing like your first car 

I'd never have imagined at the time I'd never have another mk2 Escort

 

[delux]

7 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

nothing like your first car 

I'd never have imagined at the time I'd never have another mk2 Escort

 

Bonus point for front wheel camber!

[wesacosa]

36 minutes ago, delux said:

Bonus point for front wheel camber!

ha yeah I'm not sure whats going on there. I think there must be a trick of the light or something as I don't remember it being like that when I had it

[RayMK]

Skoda 105.  It was cheap, low powered and had playful* swing axle handling, but was comfortable, pleasant to drive and dependable until it swallowed a nut which I dropped into the carb.  I thought it had gone on the ground under the car - until I tried to restart the car after its carb clean.  Engine was damaged by the ingested nut. I had no spare cash. After many months on the front lawn I had a sensible moment, so it was scrapped. A non- running basic 105 was pretty much worthless back then.  I have few regrets but letting that one go that was one of them.  I had had several rear engined skodas.  The lowest spec one was the only one which truly captured my heart. 

 

[Bear]

First:  X1/9 - 1994. I had always wanted one and I got a Gran Finale when I was 19 - 1989 G-plate on 70K miles, four years old. Stupidly sold it when I was offered a Manta and couldn't insure two sports cars, so traded the Fiat in for a SEAT Terra. The next owner crashed it. I tried to buy it back from the scrappy. It got repaired and the  the owner after that crashed it.

I'll never have another, I don't think I could operate the pedals anymore 😕

Next: Citroen CXs. Enough said.

Car that defined me for a while: Toyota Seras.

Then: Mercedes SLKs. After the yellow one I realised that for my sense of open-roof cars and quality engineering (which they are, shabby paint and bad wiring moments aside) the SLK was always the right car.

Honourable mentions:

Volvo 700-900 series
Golf Mk1 and Mk2
Mercedes W168 A-Class

If I could have a perfect CX 25TRi Safari Auto again, knowing it would always have parts and be perfectly rust protected, I would go back there.

[155V6]

This

I'd liked them ever since the 1994 BTCC.

In 2000 I was driving a BMW E28 528i,thought an Alfa 155 2.0 would be a bit more economical.Problem was,the 1st one I saw was a 2.5 V6 and that was that.

I loved that car,spent far too much on performance wheels,brakes,exhaust & other stuff.

I kept it for four years,only selling it as I thought I needed something faster(Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo).Thought of buying another one about ten years ago,but they were scarce even then.Now you hardly ever see them 🙁

Also a mention for Mk3 Cortinas.I just felt at home driving them.I had 5 or 6 in the late eighties,all were GT/GXL/2000E versions,followed by a MK4 2.0S which was pretty good too 😎

[Jazoli]

A Saab 900 T16, I had a go in one when I was an impressionable teenager with a Volvo 340gl, three years of purgatory driving it allowed me finally to buy a red one at 21 years old, it was awesome but a company Escort meant it had to go as I had nowhere to park it :(.

[Kringle]

The only car I ever regret getting rid of was an Alfa 166 2.0. I stuck it up for roffle very quickly thinking my wife then wouldn't be too annoyed at my impulsive purchase.

It sold and passed through @andyberg, @Cookiesouwest and @Jalopyant before disappearing.

God knows what happened to it, the MOT expired in 2022 with only 71k on the clock!

I was terrified of impending doom, something I've had with lots of cars. RX8s, Vel Satis, Xantias spring to mind. But it was the only car I've had that made me feel special.

If it's still out there I wouldn't mind a second pop at it but I presume the tin worm has eaten it if it's been parked up for three years.

W78YRV

 

[bobdisk]

This only had to go because it started to get expensive, impending repairs and road tax. But I wish I had kept it, I had it for about 20 years.

[LightBulbFun]

19 hours ago, Rust Collector said:

Has anyone else got any unremarkable cars that  make their stomach drop out when they see them?

need I say more?  

obviously its the Invacar in particular, see the 500+ page thread I have on the buggers! goes without saying how I have very much been captivated by their story and history, how these vehicles designed and manufactured with the noble cause of mobilising/giving freedom to the disabled and yet where so unfairly derided and shunned by a loud minority in the 1970's, and are they are so miss-understood today, just look at how even the BBC and the Science museum have articles falsely stating they where *banned* from the road/illegal to use! 

and then more recently with REV, my own personal Invacar and my own personal means of independence at long last, been on the road since Late October last year, covered over 1600 miles in that time, and for everyone that so loudly said it would not work etc, she has worked brilliantly, both with her features for the disabled working very well with my own disabilities, and  in a general daily driver as well, I have wound it up to 70Mph on A Roads and Motorways, pushed right through Central London , in the sunshine, in the rain, in the summer, in the winter, in the dark, all dispatched without any fuss  

 

 

 

other vehicles I very much have a soft spot for, is as above the Routemaster (as well as older London buses in general I also have a soft spot for the Dennis Trident ALX400 in particular) as well as the London Black cab (the FX4 in particular)

 

and along similar lines I have soft spots for the the Checker Taxi/Marathon/Aerobus, Ford Crown Victoria  and Grummin LLV Mail van in particular

(I am still quite upset that no insurance company would give cover for the Crown Victoria Limousine that @RetroShite had, such a golden opportunity and yet scuppered by insurance)

I am also quite fond of Autoshite stuff in general, just seeing the unloved get love, take @dollywobbler and his Ford Fairmont AU, a vehicle that in Australia is the butt of jokes, just not really loved, seen as an old banger, and yet Mr Wobbler, loved his AU and went out of his way to bring it back as the worlds biggest holiday souvenir and I love stuff like that  

suppose also because in general I have soft spot for bit Land barges  like Big Australian and American Saloon cars and Wagons in particular, just because we never really got those sorts of vehicles here! and similarly they are often quite looked down upon, where as I think they look a lovely thing to waft about in!

 

I also really feel for coach built vehicles/special vehicles, stuff like hearses and things like that, they get so little love here in the UK, often just seen as something for someone to smash around a banger track, and that always makes me so sad

the amount of times i have seen a somewhat special vehicle, but Autoshite type vehicle in need of just a bit of TLC and most of the comments have been "the banger boys will be all over that" has made me quite sad,

its probably because I myself, having done lots of research into Lightbulbs and Invacars, knows just how much thought and effort someone will have put into an item, making it work solving weird issues and things like that, so its always sad to see an item like that just thrown away without any thought to preservation, and its especially sad with coach built stuff, because so little of it exists in the first place and it seems particularly unloved for some reason...

so I always get the warm and Fuzzies when I see @Sunny Jim persevering with his hearse for example  

 

[ProgRocker]

Mark 2 SEAT Ibiza 1.4. The first non shite car I bought at age 24 at 3 years old. Fitted the bill perfectly as a commuter and shopping car. Very reliable, no huge repair bills. Owned it for nearly 7 and a half years before I crashed it. Even managed to get a good price for it after it was written off by the insurers.

Mark 5b Ford Escort 1.8 L diesel saloon. I have dedicated a thread to this very car on this forum. After the Ibiza was written off I went without a car for a few months. My dad's drinking buddy sold it me after he was given a Vauxhall Astra G by one of his daughter's. The Escort far exceeded my expectations for such a dreary looking car.

 

[Rightnider]

2 hours ago, RayMK said:

until it swallowed a nut which I dropped into the carb.  I thought it had gone on the ground under the car - until I tried to restart the car after its carb clean.  Engine was damaged by the ingested nut.

The same thing happened to me, with the first (running)  car I had, and also the car I’d most like to have again. Not most likely to find though. 

It was a rather well worn Granada 3-litre estate but it ran like a dream. I dropped a washer into the carburettor and realised it when starting it again. I’d just had it for a week or two, so I was devastated. On the other hand I had to bite the bullet and replace the engine. I’m from a not mechanically minded home, so I learned a lot, and it gave me the confidence to tackle a lot of other issues with cars, so in the end it was a good thing. 

 

[danthecapriman]

7 minutes ago, Rightnider said:

The same thing happened to me, with the first (running)  car I had, and also the car I’d most like to have again. Not most likely to find though. 

It was a rather well worn Granada 3-litre estate but it ran like a dream. I dropped a washer into the carburettor and realised it when starting it again. I’d just had it for a week or two, so I was devastated. On the other hand I had to bite the bullet and replace the engine. I’m from a not mechanically minded home, so I learned a lot, and it gave me the confidence to tackle a lot of other issues with cars, so in the end it was a good thing. 

 

Cars used to be sooo cool!! Even when a bit rough they still looked the absolute business.

[155V6]

2 hours ago, Rightnider said:

The same thing happened to me, with the first (running)  car I had, and also the car I’d most like to have again. Not most likely to find though. 

It was a rather well worn Granada 3-litre estate but it ran like a dream. I dropped a washer into the carburettor and realised it when starting it again. I’d just had it for a week or two, so I was devastated. On the other hand I had to bite the bullet and replace the engine. I’m from a not mechanically minded home, so I learned a lot, and it gave me the confidence to tackle a lot of other issues with cars, so in the end it was a good thing. 

 

A similar thing happened with this

We were changing the blown engine to go to the Hearse show at Beaulieu the next day.A nut went missing & it had got dropped into the carb.Luckily,we  realised what had happened & we were able to get it out without any damage.