The best car you’ve owned (alternative take on coolest car)

[SiC]

I tend to keep cars for a long time or a very short time. The short time cars have often been very good cars but haven't clicked.

One of my long termers is my Civic mk8 2.2. Bought at 5 years old to replace my Saab 9-3 that got written off after being shunted from the rear on the M4 into a Vectra. That Saab actually ended up living much longer (last year the MOT expired by the looks of it) after it went to co-part.

5 years I owned it for and only replaced after I was rear ended at a set of traffic lights while stationary. Never put a foot wrong in that time apart from a clutch on the first 2 months. MGB being towed behind was nearly 7 years ownership - that was a much more tumultuous relationship. 

I ended up buying the Civic back, repaired the write off (replaced crash beam and bumper) and gave it to my in-laws. They went to France and back a few times in a few years. Then sold it to @purplebargeken when it must have decided it didn't like him as it shat it's dual mass flywheel a few months in. I believe (can't remember who) someone on here now owns it.

 

Next up is probably this - my 330i. A good 'A CAR'.

I'm not a BMW fanboi but I think it's kinda turned me into one. Does everything not amazingly well but really well. Handles very good, comfortable enough, 255bhp is more than enough performance, iDrive + Mr12Volt gives Carplay/auto/etc to make it feel modern enough, large enough to be useful but not too large to be a pain, reliable enough, everything works and it's been pretty reliable (at least as I write this...)

Paid £1600 for it as a partially broken car and then put £800 into it to fix it. Needed ABS sensor, iDrive unit, 4 tyres, aux belt+tensioner, front pads+discs and a few other bits and pieces like coils+plugs+filters. Then £300 for the Mr12Volt to give me the Android Auto/Carplay stuff.

Subsequently in nearly 2yrs it's needed a new top hose, battery and just recently I have had £700 spent on the rear end shocks+springs+mounts to freshen it up. (Rear top mounts are known to rust out and they needed doing). Also did a gearbox fluid + mechatronic seal service late last year (nearly 250 in parts) to help prolong that further.

Certainly not like the Hondas I've owned for reliability. But one I really like to drive and much more than I do on every Honda I've driven. So don't begrudge putting money in - still much cheaper than depreciation on brand new!

While I wish it was an estate, we already have one of them (Octavia mk3 VRS which is likely another long termer) and Saloons are at least stiffer. The coupés look nice but large front coupé doors getting old quickly in car parks and PIA to get rear passengers in/out. 

No intention to shift it on but always aware that 20yr old German cars may suddenly shit themselves in a big way. Especially when they're approaching 165k miles. However the N52 engine in them seems to get 300k easily in the US, so there is hope it has plenty of life left.

[New POD]

I think possibly a 1.6GL mk2 cavalier.  

[chadders]

1974 Chrome Bumper MGB roadster, owned from 18 months old and still here, albeit with a few body panels replaced.

The next best was a Mk2 GTi, a company car, which had to be swapped for a car allowance when our eldest was born.

[Tommyboy12]

Two cars stand out to me as good cars.

First is my old MK4 Mondeo which I had circa 2014. I only have one picture of it next to a car I still own! Very comfortable and spacious inside with nice chairs. It was capable of nearly 50mpg and I never spent a penny on anything other than basic servicing despite putting 80,000 miles on. I only sold it at 170,000 miles only because I wanted something a bit smaller as my commute had changed.

The other standout is my current Porsche Cayman. It's the 2.9L not the fancier 3.4 S but it's a very comfortable and capable cruiser. Reasonable on tax and insurance (less than £600 a year combined and £430 of that is tax). It's quick enough to have fun but not so quick as to be dangerous, plus it makes a great noise. It's done 150,000 miles now of which I've put on nearly 15,000 miles of that and again I've only ever done regular servicing (and tyres which weren't that cheap). The service book implies it's needed work in the past but I've had no issues with it.

[puddlethumper]

For me the best that immediatly come to mind would be the Vauxhall FD Ventora, Vauxhall 2.3 Mágnum or an Austin Champ that I' ve had.

[bunglebus]

Current one I suppose, although it makes me feel slightly guilty stating it when I've had things that were more fun. Like Ariston, it just goes on, and on, and on...

 

[UltraWomble]

1.1 Popular Plus Mk2 Fiesta 1987
Ex Grandfather Womble, I owned it from 1989 until 2002.
Went EVERYWHERE in that car. Never let me down.
I changed the oil every 6000 miles
Undersealed it every couple of years.

Bits did break, or drop off, but nothing that couldnt be fixed on the side of the road or driveway. I regret selling it really, but got to the point where I no longer needed it.

[Shandylegs]

Have to agree with the first post. Out of the many cars I've owned the one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest was a 2007 120d BMW.

Bought on 11k miles and sold 80k later. Punchy engine, great economy and driving experience (other than in snow 🤣)

Traded it in for a 5 cylinder V60, what a mistake that was!

[Spottedlaurel]

This could equally be in the Cool Cars thread, but it stands out as being one of my best as it was my first older Japanese car yet still did a remarkably good job of providing my everyday transport in the mid '90s:

Did something like 48,000 miles in two-and-a-bit years, including business use when I was self-employed for some of that time. Also did a great trip to Belgium, Holland and Germany.

This one has to be here:

Favourite of the five Camrys I owned (at one point all at the same time). Just the 2.2 but had a really high quality feel to it, also very capable and roomy.

Hopefully not a case of pride before a fall, but I should also say my current, longstanding Lexus RX450h daily driver:

Closest I can get to a modern interpretation of the Camry estate. Had it for seven years, done almost 90k miles with me. Although it's not the best in any one area (LS400 had a better ride, Camry had a bigger loadbay, various others were more economical) it has a good overall blend of abilities that suits me well. Despite the clever hybrid running gear the driver interface is quite low-tech (still has a mechanical handbrake for example, and no touch screen). It doesn't have the water leak issues of the previous-gen RX and it avoids the Canbus wiring theft problems of subsequent models. Not too big as a V6-powered SUV and still smart and capable enough for business use, and it has also proved itself to be an excellent thing for French holidays, sometimes 5-up with luggage for a fortnight away. At present it's seeing regular use as a builder's truck in connection with Miss SL's house project.

Now has over 110,000miles on the clock. No immediate plans to move it on - servicing and parts aren't cheap, but while it doesn't cost me more than one to two thousand a year over and above normal maintenance and consumables then it's worth keeping. It will probably see out the majority of my working life, then with different needs I'll have a better idea as to what is best to replace it. 

[GeordieInExile]

My 850 T5 estate or my 9-5 Aero estate. Fast enough, comfy, great for tip runs, well enough specced. I miss both and would have both back tomorrow if offered to me. Although I think the 9-5 might be dead. 

[ProgRocker]

The 1999 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 S that I owned between 2002 and 2010. Sadly written off. Just a fantastic reliable car.

 

[GMcD]

Probably my Laguna 2. 1.9 diesel. 

Had it 5 years and put 80k on top of the 45k my Dad put on it. Was comfy and dependable. Just an easy car to live with. Still miss it. First car I did any sort of mechanics with.

[AxWomble]

I've owned more vans and campervans than cars, but the best car we've owned was a Peugeot 106 1.5D. Purchased for £495 from a small secondhand dealer in Waterlooville - a part ex that he wanted gone. Body was 6/10 and they'd clearly neglected the servicing, but there was absolutely no rust. 

I did cambelt, clutch, four new tyres, brakes all round and a full service for under £500 and then did 25,000 miles in it over the next 9 months. No mishaps, 60mpg minimum across every tank, 72mpg best ever. It carried furniture, washing machines, 500kg of coal, and did so with applomb and a whiff of Gallic exhaust fumes. Scotland and back in two days? Zero issues. 

Sold it when we bought our first camper - to a very new member on here. He's not been on since 2023. I regret selling it because it was so clean and mechanically fit - but I'm realistic that it would be too small for us now (Sprog #2 due in May) and it isn't compliant with any of the clean air zones. 

 

 

[Crackers]

Right, since my track record over the last few cars has been horrendous, we need to go back a couple of years.

1) The Saab. 

Bought this on the forum for £1000. Sold it on the forum for £1000. Put about £800 into it over 2 years, and it wasn't faultless, but it was bloody brilliant and I didn't begrudge a single penny I spent on it. It was also shockingly economical on a long run, it once got around 45mpg from Chichester to Glasgow. 

This car took me to every corner of the country on more road trips than I can remember and never really missed a beat, except that one time a coolant hose burst and it had to get dragged back from Derbyshire, but whatever. I have so many happy memories with that car and it's the only mechanical object I've ever grown attached to. It passed through a few owners on the forum soon after I sold it, and lasted about a year before expiring in France somewhere. 

I genuinely should never have sold it, and if it'd died on me, I'd have put another engine in and carried on. RIP, FL55BYH. 

 

2) The Focus

My first car, the one I learned to drive and passed my test in. At the time, I never really liked it, but again it didn't put a foot wrong in 3 1/2 years. The only non-service item it ever needed was all 4 coil springs replacing, which I put down to my house at the time being down a horrible unpaved track. These days I wish I could drive it again as it was a real pleasure to drive and so simple. Sold it on the forum in 2021, it's still clocking up decent mileage every year according to the MOT history and has just had a fresh ticket put on it. Didn't have a single speck of rust on it, it was like a brand new 15 year old car. Long live the Focus!

3) The BMW

I know I whinge and moan about it but looking back on the last 12 months, this has been a fairly metronomic car that's taken everything I've thrown at it including a 3000 mile Nurburgring trip. It's also a car I can park anywhere and it doesn't look out of place or get unwanted attention - it's got enough class to be taken seriously, but I can also leave it in a station car park for a week without a single worry.

The only things I've spent money on was a new pair or rear tyres, a gearbox flush and a general service. It's not worth anything like what I paid for it, but that's the game we play. 

I find it quite dull and I wish it was a 330d because I rarely see much more than 27mpg, but it's comfortable enough, quiet, and doesn't make a fuss. It is, by most measures, a good car, so it makes the list. 

[Kiltox]

I didn’t own it, just paid quite a lot to rent it for a bit

Massively comfortable with a great interior and air suspension. Performance in spades. 150kW charging from low%-80% (very few cars can claim this despite higher peak rates) 

not very AS, I know. 

This was probably the best shite adjacent car I’ve owned 

when the front bumper was attached anyway.