Cars that stole your heart

[Spiny Norman]

Probably this. 
I owned this when I was 20, I never fancied a hot hatch even when I was a kiddo and this went as fast as an XR3 anyway but with a nice straight 6 roar. Had it for about 4 years, the longest I've ever owned a car and when I saw a shiny black one on eBay a good few years ago decided to relive my youth and bought it. 

It was a late night beer fuelled purchase and I stuck a low bid on it thinking no way would I win it for such a paltry amount but... 

[stuboy]

19 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Probably this. 
I owned this when I was 20, I never fancied a hot hatch even when I was a kiddo and this went as fast as an XR3 anyway but with a nice straight 6 roar. Had it for about 4 years, the longest I've ever owned a car and when I saw a shiny black one on eBay a good few years ago decided to relive my youth and bought it. 

It was a late night beer fuelled purchase and I stuck a low bid on it thinking no way would I win it for such a paltry amount but... 

looks good

[ETCHY]

19 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Probably this. 
I owned this when I was 20, I never fancied a hot hatch even when I was a kiddo and this went as fast as an XR3 anyway but with a nice straight 6 roar. Had it for about 4 years, the longest I've ever owned a car and when I saw a shiny black one on eBay a good few years ago decided to relive my youth and bought it. 

It was a late night beer fuelled purchase and I stuck a low bid on it thinking no way would I win it for such a paltry amount but... 

Go on, show us the velour...

[Spiny Norman]

On 29/12/2025 at 21:01, ETCHY said:

Go on, show us the velour...

I've owned Volvos, Saabs, Mercedes and a Jag XJ6 and I still think these are some of the comfiest chairs I've ever had in a car. 

 

[Split_Pin]

I've only got upset about letting one car go which was my old Vectra B V167 ELD, my second ever car purchase. Bought from a slightly dodgy dealer in Orbiston near Motherwell on a frosty morning on 27th December 2008 for £800 (you'd never see a sub 10 year old car with a year's MOT for that price now) it was intended to be a beater but turned into a car I really gelled with and kept until September 2013. It was a bit needy at first but became reliable until September 2012 when a string of niggles and ultimate major steering rack failure (and my then-mechanical inexperience, lack of funds and a baby on the way) meant that I stored it in my wife's lock up. Come September 2013 and a fuck-up from EDF energy resulted in a huge bill and selling 2/3 of my model car collection and breaking up the old Vectra. I was genuinely sad at this, but vowed to never again get emotionally attached to a car (and I never have).

 

As above, it didn't  steal my heart but the Saab 9-5 Aero HOT was all the car I needed. Very fast with sensible mods, great spec, space, great looks. Sadly I needed to liberate some funds so it had to go. Im not sure I'd have another as most I've seen for sale since then are rotten with scores of minor and major mechanical issues. They were fine up to about 15 years old but since then time has been most unkind to the majority. I'd still love another though.

The 75 caught my imagination many years before I owned my first one in 2018. After a couple of duffers, I bought this one during Covid in May 2020, the owner's pal was a Key Worker (remember that term!) so he delivered it to me. I did consider selling it a few times, especially when serious corrosion was discovered but in terms of the latter, it was always identified right after I'd spent money on a different aspect of the car so kept going! Unlikely to ever sell it now, its much loved by all the family and still gives good service (summer only now though!)

[Cavcraft]

One of them, 1.8 in gold. My favourite car I ever had, amazing thing.

[grogee]

On 28/12/2025 at 16:22, loserone said:

I figure since the ones in the UK are all fucked, I will just have to import one from France.  I have no issues with LHD  as a daily..

I am LHD curious now. 

Driven quite a few for work and it doesn't really phase me. Turning at a T-junction can be a bit tricky sometimes but it's not that bad. 

The main reason for wanting LHD is that I am deaf in my left ear. If I were to drive LHD I'd be able to hear my passengers talking... 🙄

[Lord Sterling]

Might be a bit unsurprising for me.

Mk1 Rover 800s, in particular, Sterlings or high-spec 827s:

I've loved them since my Dad had one. They've grown on me which probably explains why I'm at such pains to keep them.

All Jaguar XJs, in particular, Series 3s and Daimlers:

Admittedly, I've only ever driven my X308. Never tried a 300, XJ40 or S3, 2 or 1. But I still love them all the same.

E34/E32 BMW 5 and 7 Series:

They've such a handsome "serious business" no nonesense look to them. I've always wanted one. Never had one. I did briefly drive a 520i about 12 years ago, it sounded amazing. They're thin on the ground now, particularly the lovely petrol straight sixes.

W140 Merc:

There were an abundance of these in Brussels when I was growing up. Never driven one but have driven its smaller stable mate, the E280 when I had one some years ago. They've got such an imposing yet handsome look.