End of year Tat Accounts.

[1duck]

Opening balance:  Yaris, Scirocco, Morris minor, avensis.

In : 107, panda 1.1, smart fourfor.

Out...erm potentially Yaris? We'll see if we get rid before year end.

[wesacosa]

For the last couple of years my New Year's resolution has been to get two or even three of the fleet moved on and every year I fail miserably.  Well by jove I've only gone and done it.  Unfortunately two came in but hey, I never said I was perfect 

 

Out

Citroen XM

First out the door was the XM. I'd be half heartedly trying to shift it since the ULEZ expansion despite using it for a few shows in 2024.

I decided to have another half arsed attempt to shift it and this time @davehedgehog31 bit and @sdkrc came down to London and drove it though the night to Scotland which probably stressed me out more than it did them.  It then subsequently ended up with @RetroShite and a lucky raffle winner. I do rather miss it, and now the stress of it sat outside my house doing nothing has gone I can appreciate what a cool car it is

Fiat Panda 1000S

On a roll, the XM was closely followed out the door by the @spartacus Panda.  I'd spent a lot of time getting it running better and sorting out issues during 2024, without actually driving it much,

but after getting it MOTd I decided to poke a small rust bubble under the door seal and promptly wished I hadn't. I then found a collapsed brake flex and a stuck brake pipe union and decided it just had to go before it became unviable. @Tommyboy12 came to the rescue and used and improved it during the summer before moving it on to an avid Panda fan. Seeing it at FoTu really made my day

I thoroughly enjoyed my part in the history of this car but the stress of owning it because a bit much

Mercedes C180K

I'd enjoyed a couple of trouble free years crusing around in this thing but it was starting to get to the point where it was going to need a fair bit of money spending and the MOT man was getting a little concerned about corrosion and bushes.  The final straw was getting called back into the office 4 days a week and the Dartford crossing toll going up by £1.60 a day , so I needed to make a cost save and switching the almost £400 a year tax for a £30 a year seemed like a good one to make

@Amelia took it on but unfortunately her circumstances changed shortly after and she had to move it on again

In

Mazda Xedos 6

Despite always wanting one this was unplanned . I'd had a few weeks enjoying being a few cars down but then I read that the 1993 BTCC car was coming over to the UK for the first time since 93 for Super Touring Power so I decided it would be a great time to get one and try and get in on the action at Brands 

So in came this rather nice example , and the plan worked and a few weeks later former BTCC racer (and one of my racing heros at the time) Patrick Watts was hanging out the sunroof signing autographs 

I also got an article in Classic.Retro.Modern magazine which was an added bonus 

Fiat Panda

Looking for a £30/year tax car for as little money as possible left not too many options, despite a few good suggestions on here I'd always thought a Panda might be the best choice, so long as I could cope with it on my commute which is 25 miles each way and all on A roads and motorways 

So in came this little thing. High on the miles and a few dings, but new clutch and cambelt amongst other things. Its a 1.2 so a bit more umph (relatively speaking) and the unexpected surprise and delight of aircon.  It did have the grimmest interior I'd encountered though 

and do you know what, I like it. I really like it. I buzzes along nicely, sits well at 70mph, returns over 50mpg on my commute and is decent fun to fling around corners and over speed bumps without slowing down!

 

Non Movers 

Skoda Favorit 

Must surely be the shonkiest Favorit left on the road. I've done fck all with it this year. I should have done. I've no idea what on earth I'll do with it as I suspect it's only me protecting it from the scrap man. Still unsure if the HG survived the coolant loss in 2023 as haven't driven it enough since 

Skoda Estelle 

To my utter shame I've done nothing with it this year, despite it being its 35th anniversary year and promising myself I'd do something. I struggled to manage to realign the huge coolant hose I'd foolishly taken off without a second pair of hands so I've just ignored it and now I dare not go underneath it in case I find any holes 😂

I must must must must must do something with it in 2026

Westfield SEiW

See Skoda Estelle comments but make the dates since I last touched it even longer ago

Sinclair C5

Garage ornament still. Biggest issue is there's nowhere to ride it here without taking it in a car and I didn't have one it fitted in. If I can squeeze it in the Panda maybe I'll ride it this year 

Plans for 2026

Do something with the non movers (repair/use/sell, dunno but just something )

Probably keep the Xedos for the touring car event in the summer then look to move it on

Try not to buy anything silly (yeah, right)

[meshking]

Started the year strong by bringing this down for my eldest to learn to drive in.

 

that didn’t work out so well as she apparently hates red cars. I did the only natural thing and replaced it with a green car:

My wife’s Leaf left us after three years:

replaced with a two year old Megane:

non movers:

and 

buried at the back is my Lotus that hasn’t moved for quite a while now.

Edit: I forgot a car I own! Acadiane is tucked away in storage:

[LightBulbFun]

12 hours ago, wesacosa said:

Skoda Estelle 

To my utter shame I've done nothing with it this year, despite it being its 35th anniversary year and promising myself I'd do something. I struggled to manage to realign the huge coolant hose I'd foolishly taken off without a second pair of hands so I've just ignored it and now I dare not go underneath it in case I find any holes 😂

if you ever need a hand like that, dont forget im only a few miles away! always happy to help out a fellow shitter where I can  

[wesacosa]

Just now, LightBulbFun said:

if you ever need a hand like that, dont forget im only a few miles away! always happy to help out a fellow shitter where I can  

thanks, very kind offer 

[alcyonecorporation]

cars

[RetroShite]

In, out and shaken all about! Still have a handful of these kicking about at the moment but most went off to new homes in 2025...

 

[NigeT]

Started with CLK, Ypsilon & Mondial. Ending with CLK dead with apocalyptic rust and failed transmission & replaced by ropey 180000 mile £500 Beamer E87 118D that's now almost mint and has done 188000, more than paid for by scrap and ebaying the CLK bits I scavenged before Redcorn got it. Ypsilon crashed by wife & replaced by another way better Ypsilon for half the insurance payout. And Mondial going strong, best purchase I ever made (11 years now) . And acquired in-laws SLK that was roffled to @Fat_Pirate. 

[Jazoli]

In

 

that XK8, lovely but not for me and good examples are more than I’d like to spend so it went after 3 weeks ownership.

Out

The Ateca went to raise money for a house deposit.

In

bought as the Ateca’s cheaper replacement……

in

but then this came up for sale a few days later….so

out

it went, it was a really nice example and I’m sure it would have cost me less than the 5 series has to sort out as there was nothing wrong with it.

Stay

Still got this although we have a Puma Gen-E on order so it will be going in the new year.

Nothing really interesting from me apart from the very brief tenure of the Jag.

[Macscrooge]

Firstly: the usual apology that all of my cars work and nothing has fallen off any of them this year 😁

It’s been an expensive year, but was budgeted for and future proofs the fleet for a few years!

Out: my lovely Lexarse RX450h. I’d been thinking of changing it for a while and a diagnosis in January of impending pricey front suspension work helped make the decision. 
In: my 2023 Toyota RAV4 PHEV. It’s bloody brilliant and seriously quick. Oh, and 48mpg. 
Out: Management’s Toyota Vellfire. We both liked it (me particularly for the 3.5L V6…) but some other changes meant it needed to go. 
In: Management’s Dacia Jogger hybrid. Mentioned several times in the ‘moderns ‘ forum. At being ‘a car’ and a dog wagon it’s just brilliant. Rather less prone to a drink than the Vellfire too. 
In: a big fuckoff camper on a 6.3m Ducato body. It’s lovely. 
No change: the kids’ Kia Ceed and Toyota Estima.  

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 minutes ago, Macscrooge said:

In: a big fuckoff camper on a 6.3m Ducato body.

That looks rather sexy - beats the shit out of our aging black Boxer with a chemical portaloo slung in the back - niiiiiice

[barrett]

I was about to reply to this and say that, for the first time in my driving life, I've gone an entire year without buying or selling a single car. Then I remembered actually I bought a Citroen DS. An easy thing to forget.

Fleet unchanged in all other respects. In fact, it's been more than a year since I've so much as seen a few of them, but I assume they're still there.

[UltraWomble]

Non Movers:

Royal Alloy GT125

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDi

VW Polo 1.4 TDi

IN & OUT

Pug 107
Triumph Tiger 955i

 

[Burnside]

Started with the Stilo, ending the year with the Stilo. 

I've made a few minor improvements over 25 to it though. Hopefully I'll make some more in 26, when it's also reaching 20 yrs old. 

Where does the time go though! 

 

[Mudster]

Having had zero movement for the last few years I do have a couple of changes this year.

Out

Had this little PCX 125 since 2016 but didn’t need it for commuting any more as I’m generally at home these days. Rode through all weathers and never let me down.

My VStrom  1000 I’ve had since 2017 but did fancy something a little more sporty, so that also went.

Stayed 

Over 4 years and no plans on swapping.  Does every day car pretty well.

And the MX5 only really appears when the weather is half decent.

Incoming

I still fancied a scooter for general bobbing about so added a little to the sale of the PCX and got a Burgman. Just means I can use motorways and dual carriageways a bit easier. 
 

And lastly replacing the VStrom is a Tracer 9 GT. This thing is really quite fun  with decent mid range but still has power higher up.

Think I’m set for a little while now.

[juular]

No changes this year.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Started the year with eleven vehicles, no additions, sold the Master and Fiorino vans. Down to nine vehicles which is  the lowest amount I have owned for many years.

The plan for next year is to empty and vacate my workshop/yard and sell off all my other vehicles.

Provisionally buy a Mitsubishi 3.2 auto seven seater and a 70/80's Maxi, Ambassador or 1800.

Sold the Fiat to a member from here, pictured earlier this month when it passed a mot.

Edited December 24, 2025 by The Old Bloke Next Door
type error

[Asimo]

This is still here, 12+ years later. Completely reliable, overdue a cambelt  (next job) undoubtedly the best motor I have ever bought. Even the water ingress has fixed itself.

The grandmacar. Works perfectly, she still likes it. Economical around the lanes, well up for 450 miles (piss-stop only) to Oban from Hereford.

The unexpected rechargeable. (Red Jaguar I-pace) Acquired via a family bereavement.

I've put 3,000 miles on this now, almost all powered by granny-charger. It is weird: solid as a bank-vault, dead quiet, faster than anything else I have driven. Every possible toy.  Terrible ride. Terrible ergonomics. A really nice shape (for a MASSIVE hatchback). Relatively cheap to "fuel". Perfect aluminium body...

But it still doesn't feel like a car.

I dunno what to make of it at all. The drivetrain is perfect: silent, potent, infinitely flexible, effortless. But at motorway speeds we are done by 2 1/2 hours.  In a car that feels like it could whisk me to John-O-Groats by bedtime.

The only time I tried public charging, nothing useful happened: a few beeps and a message "initialising". Not confidence building.

Much of what I actively don't like is generic modern-car  complaints: terrible touch-screen ergonomics, poor visibility, driver aids...

I'll be surprised if it is still here next year.

Edit- 3 days later and it's broken.  

[Schaefft]

I think it's safe to write this post at this point (and it's Christmas so plenty of time to do so!) so here we gooo! Opens Excel sheet...

In:

2006 Audi S8:

Bought for super cheap on FB marketplace, no MOT since COVID Lockdown and has an oil pressure warning on the dash so hopefully it's just the pressure switch failing... House move and snapped bonnet cable slowed progress.

2006 Honda Legend SH-AWD:

Bereavement sale in the Legend owners group, low mileage but was standing for a year when I got it and really needs some more cosmetic love. Great solid car otherwise although somewhat obsolete in the fleet. Would need to replace the cracked leather front seats after the previous owner used god knows what to keep them clean.

2007 L322 Range Rover TDV8:

The acquisition of black high tax bracket vehicles continues with this Range Rover I bought for towing. It was cheap for a 108k mile example so naturally needed a lot incl. a reconditioned gearbox. Will hopefully tow my semi-abandoned Olds Aurora back to the UK soon.

@Spottedlaurel's 1992 Lexus LS400:

Probably all the car you'll ever need! As with all of them the alternator seemingly is on its last leg so that will need sorting first thing in the new year. It's the perfect spec LS400 for me tho!

Forum bike Jaguar X-Type diesel:

Bought on here as part ex for the Alfa 156. Needed a clean badly and has quite a few issues that ideally need sorting but shouldn't cost too much. It's a cheap winter beater so probably won't stay for long.

2002 Lexus SC430:

An SC430 was on my radar for a while so when this super rare spec one popped up in the Ebaytat thread I put a bid in and won the thing for £notmuch. Feels like a car someone loved for a long time and just needs some love again.

2025 Stema car transport trailer:

I really wanted to buy a used trailer in the UK but with prices as they are and generally a lot of neglected junk for sale I went for the expensive but safe bet and bought a new trailer in Germany. Probably the only sensible purchase this year, too. First job will be towing the above mentioned Olds back to the UK, wish me luck!

1998 (?) Jaguar XJ8:

This doesn't really count as I haven't seen it in person nor paid for it yet but I agreed to buy this Jag which Scaryoldcortina got in exchange for an abandoned LS400. It's running, has a long MOT and no backboxes. Most importantly it was cheap! Will pick it up in the new year...

In & Out:

1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible:

The XK8 of so, so many Shiters... In fact at this point it might be one of the highest owner count XK8s out there! Picked it up from HMC early this year, unfortunately it immediately blew it's oil cooler lines but survived without harm done. It's such a great looking car and hopefully will receive a little more TLC soon!

2002 MG ZTT 190+:

Bought this ZTT from the original owner after being tagged on here who just didn't have much use for it anymore. It needed a lot of deferred maintenance so I've done pretty much everything you could imagine to make sure it's dependable again, including a full timing belt service by a well respected MG mechanic! It then decided to shit the bed after @Crackers had it for not very long at all. Crossing my fingers it's just a tired coolant hose or similar.

Out:

2004 Alfa 156 20V JTDM Sportwagon:

Bought off HMC last year, what a fantastic car this is. Owned for almost 20 years by the previous owner which showed. The 20V 5-cylinder diesel is a fantastic engine worthy of an Alfa. Now in Scotland where I hope it won't dissolve like most of them, it deserves to live on.

The moon mileage 1997 Jaguar XJR6:

Bought last year after @320touring sent me a message about it (as you can tell I am now the go-to buyer of tired old barges on here, pls help). Needed a few things for an MOT but clearly got a lot of love not too long ago. Then the MAF died, very hard to find and the house move slowed things down further. Now owned by @Cluffy who will hopefully continue the TLC this glorious old thing deserves.

2002 Renault VelSatis:

Bought on here as I needed to scratch that early 2000s French exec quirkiness itch (which is probably the only reason anybody buys these things nowadays). Clearly loved by someone at some point but being a Velsatis it still had many little issues, albeit fewer than 99% of the remaining ones. It was a great car for a house move though! Sold to Kiltox who then moved it on a few months later. That seems to be the usual way of VelSatis ownership as Mr. Hubnut can confirm.

2007 Citroen C6:

Bought last year in Bradford of all places from a guy who certainly loved his old Audis but had to sell a bunch of shite very quickly (several cars on the day I was there, which was hilarious). It was probably the cheapest running and driving C6 with a test out there and absolutely worth the experience. It needed a hard to reach coolant outlet pipe and a suspension bush, plus a few other minor bits to get it into a decent enough shape. Now owned by @Talbot who would be happy to find a new home for it. Despite crossing the country multiple times people still seem to be scared of it though. Just do it!

Remaining:

Way too many to list. The Chevy Caprice taxi has finally returned on the road after many years, now on a UK reg. My black Lincoln Mark VIII and Alfa 166 Super have finally seen some more use again, the Maserati 4200 saw proper use in my ownership for the first time (on a rally stage no less, what a car!) and the Toyota Celsior needs some love again as it's now refusing to run. Many cars received TLC to improve in one way or another and I'm hoping to give a few cars which have been around for a while the time they need to finally get back on the road again, the SL500 and V10 S8 probably being the priority. Plus my 350 quid Riviera which hasn't ran for longer than a second and my Olds Aurora I'm taking back to the UK!

Looking at the numbers the goal to shrink the fleet size or at least keep it consistent has once again been missed! A change in jobs might change that (hopefully?). A small selection plus a rogue Triumph below:

We were however fortunate enough to finally find a place to move to where this didn't matter too much. We even had the space to host the Northern Twixfest twice now (smaller one in March) which I'm hoping to repeat again in the new year as I think everyone had a blast! All in all a quite successful year then, with plenty of shite yet to come!

Shout-out to @loserone for the awesome drone shots!

I'm trying to avoid advertising it too much but if you feel like you missed a lot of what was mentioned above throughout the year and are curious, I've started an Instagram account to consolidate all the constant ongoings within the fleet on here. It helps me keeping a bit of an overview as well and seems like a good way of training my social media savviness (it's a lot of work).

Thanks everyone for being such a bad influence and onwards into the new year!

[DavidB]

Start of the year:

Toyota IQ, one of the best cars I’ve owned, it has been no trouble in 14 months:

Suzuki SJ410 - attempted break in in March, it’s too much of a liability now and is too good to off road, so I’m going to sell this in the new year:

Bought a BMW 325Ti in September - lost the key a week later, has been in work car park since as I keep breaking it trying to fix it!

 

Vauxhall VX220 - bought in April, seller was a knob who didn’t disclose a load of blatant problems which I only just fixed as I sold it (at a big loss) in October.

 

BMW 525d - bought on here, has been fantastic, a lovely car with no big problems

 

Mitsubish Lancer Evolution IV - bought for lots, broke down 15 miles home. Transfer box disintegrated because PO didn’t put any fluid in. It passed the MOT the week prior allegedly - headlights, brake lights don’t work, every bolt loose on suspension, etc. To put the icing on the cake PO has fibre glassed over the number of rust holes. Of course it was from Birmingham. Five months later I’m still finding bodges this prick did as it sits stripped in my garage. Everything is broken still pissed off.

A crappy year for cars!!

[beko1987]

It's now the time between Xmas and new year... Who's going to be the last movement of 2025? 

My money is on @RetroShite for business as usual but someone must come 1st place in the 'normal an car collection' close to new years? 😂

[Skcat]

I've bought a few cars this year and sold almost everything. 

I bought a 1992 mercadies 250D and sold it to @Lacquer Peel

Then a saab 9000 CSE turbo that was fairly naff that I sold pretty quick. 

I then got a celica mk7 which was a brilliant car! 

I got rid of that and bought a Mazda 323 sport from the forum for next to nothing. Maybe it was not fair as it was right after the celica but it did not do much for me so I moved it on quick 

I then took delivery of my Toyota comfort taxi from japan. But still needed to get it registered. 

Whole waiting I bought a musso td but it turned out to be far too rotten and sold it too a guy to fit the engine in a sprinter. 

Thankfully in the meantime I got the Toyota register and on the road, with some new lights and wheels to boot! 

I've got a lot of long term plans for that car but I don't want it rot away all winter so bought a rover tomcat to float about in over winter. It's a bit of a miss match but I'm getting on top of issues with it. 

I've also covinced my partner to get a 1988 300D Manual with a big old turbo added too it. Always love a w124

And got the seat corodba back on the road for the first time in 8 years. 

Still lots of plans for that in time! I'm sure I will buy more next year. Time will tell. 

[roy8846]

1 hour ago, DavidB said:

Start of the year:

Toyota IQ, one of the best cars I’ve owned, it has been no trouble in 14 months:

Suzuki SJ410 - attempted break in in March, it’s too much of a liability now and is too good to off road, so I’m going to sell this in the new year:

Bought a BMW 325Ti in September - lost the key a week later, has been in work car park since as I keep breaking it trying to fix it!

 

Vauxhall VX220 - bought in April, seller was a knob who didn’t disclose a load of blatant problems which I only just fixed as I sold it (at a big loss) in October.

 

BMW 525d - bought on here, has been fantastic, a lovely car with no big problems

 

Mitsubish Lancer Evolution IV - bought for lots, broke down 15 miles home. Transfer box disintegrated because PO didn’t put any fluid in. MOT the week prior - headlights, brake lights don’t work, every bolt loose on suspension, etc. To put the icing on the cake PO has fibre glasses over the number rust holes. Of course it was from Birmingham. Five months later I’m still finding bodges as it sits stripped in my garage. Everything is broken.

A crappy year for cars!!

Damn that Lancer is a beauty, hopefully you get it to where you can enjoy it!

[Lord Sterling]

2025:

On 30/11/2024 at 11:19, Lord Sterling said:

Non-movers:

In: (but currently on loan to fellow shiter)

Out:

NONE 😊

[RetroShite]

21 hours ago, beko1987 said:

It's now the time between Xmas and new year... Who's going to be the last movement of 2025? 

My money is on @RetroShite for business as usual but someone must come 1st place in the 'normal an car collection' close to new years? 😂

I've got one more arriving tomorrow but think that's it for the year!

 

 

[Six-cylinder]

2025 Round Up

Most of my car stuff has been on the back burner this year due to my health and lack of mobility. I love buying cars but I need to sell some before I buy any more and I have just not been up to it this year.

Out 2025

1971 Triumph Toledo 4 door – a friend badgered me to buy it so I let him have it.

In 2025

1989 Mazda 323 GLX 1.5 – Mrs6C bought this to save it and early in the year the necessary work was done to put it back on the road. The plan was to then sell it, however it went into storage and just sat there. I am now using it with the plan to sell it next year after it gets another MOT.

2001 Berlingo Muiltispace, Mrs6C family car we now have needing recommissioning.

2003 Berlingo Muiltispace, Mrs6C family car we now have needing recommissioning.

 

Disappointing

I never got to use the Renault 4GTL I got nearly a year ago. The problem is the wipers don’t work and it needs the dashboard taking apart to access the motor.

Discovery is on hold turns out it needs a lot more welding than first thought in the bulkhead and floors. I need to sell some cars to complete the project.

On the positive side

The 1933 Rolls Royce 20/25 has been the great success of 2025 and I have driven it 1109 miles. Last year it needed a new clutch to stop it dragging as the non-friction material driven plate had been over heated and warped before I bought it.

The other big difference this year is I have learnt to drive it better. It has synchromesh only on 3^rd and 4^th gears and I have struggled to brake for a roundabout and get into second gear because I did not start braking early enough. Turns out Third gear is fine down to walking pace on the level so I now take roundabouts in third, if I do not have to come to a dead stop. Starting off is now taken in second gear unless it is up hill. The 3.6 Ltr straight six engine has bags of torque and the car is quite low geared.

[Popsicle]

Out - 3
In - 3
Non movers - 3

Out is the family bus, gas guzzling, cramped to fuck, Elgrand.

Out no.2 is the Dog dick red Beetle

Out no.3 is the hateful Qashqai.

In this year, no.1 the new family bus, XC90.

No.2 in is the pointless, not sure why I purchased it, must get round to selling it Pisshat.

No.3 in is another Beetle.

Leaving non movers of the thing that keeps a roof over our head and food on the table, the couriering Caddy.

The forum bike SLK.

And lastly, the ever reliable little Swift.

[egg]

I have this.

I no longer own the ex-PBK and Kiltox i10 - that asset has been transferred to the mother of my child due to change in domestic circumstances. To be fair it's worth same as Mondy so was an easy share. Still on the insurance though, so drive it about a fair bit.

[rob88h]

2025 is ending in a bit of a state in my car life. It hopefully inspires me into a better maintained 2026…

In 

I abstained from car purchases for a good number of months, but in July fate intervened and my life was graced with a roffle win XM. 

£13 well spent, but it’s currently broken down with an electrical fault… I do have the parts around me to have a go at getting it back on the road. It has also had a new radiator and some new front tyres with me in 2025. I’ve managed about 6000 miles of floating about. 

Also In

60’s(?) Velosolex. Non-runner. Bought as a “future project”, I rolled it into my garage and I haven’t looked at it again for the rest of the year!

Non-movers

From left to right, Granada, Mini, Volvo 440, Mx5. They did all physically move this year thankfully as I moved house!

The Volvo has managed about 9000 miles and has only had new front tyres and a wheel alignment. It’s currently off the road while I wrestle lower control arm ball joints and track rod ends onto it. In 2026 it will require some welding to keep the Volvo volvoing. 

Out

The Focus drove its last mile at the end of 2025. Sad times. After 230,000 miles, the engine finally died with zero compression on one cylinder. 

It was the perfect car. We bought it as a cheap secondhand car in 2017 and proceeded to drive it pretty much everyday, giving it some love every now and then but nothing excessive and it never once failed to get us to our destination. Even on its last day and only on three cylinders it drove us home. I did contemplate fixing it, but it wasn’t the right time in my life to be prioritising that.

In

To replace the Focus we bought a Mondeo (growing family).

It was the same price as the Focus (I guess cheaper considering inflation) and it’s the same age the Focus was when we bought it, in relative terms if that makes sense? It has big shoes to fill… So far so good. I’ve attended to its various recalls and it got a free Ford health check where nothing dramatic was thrown up. It has been pressed straight into service and it’s covered 1500 miles this month already. 
 

So at the end of 2025, we have six cars and only one is usable… We need two cars the way we’re organised, so I’ve got to get some back on the road pronto! Here’s to 2026!

[brownnova]

A fairly quiet year on the brownnova fleet this year. 2 in and 2 out… 

OUT: 

Both departures fairly late in the year first out was the wife’s MG ZS EV as the PCP finished and we handed it back being just 20 miles under the agreed mileage! It managed its entire 4 year stint without bursting into flames, leaving us abandoned in a snow storm without heating or running out of charge every 5 minutes. Don’t believe the hype. 

Then in December the Volvo which had been on staff for 3 years departed. Originally in from @Minimad5. Really the epitome of a great family car. Sold to a @cms206 who I think has now told his wife…. 

 

IN

Knowing the MG was going we preemptively replaced it with a Renault Scenic for family duties. This may be the actual dullest car on the planet… it’s also far from reliable having had issues with the brakes, electric handbrake, and now kangarooing at 40 and 60mph…. This will likely be one of the first out in ‘26. 

 

After selling the Red TransSport I always told myself that if I could find another I would have it…. And… 

Had been dry stored for a number of years. Currently under used due to a battery drain… did do Rustival, was supposed to do the NEC, but I got the flu.

REMAINERS: 
(Arranged by length of time on the fleet)

The most dependable member of the fleet, now on 225k and over 8 years on staff. Longest I’ve ever owned a car. Starting to deteriorate quite a bit though. So I should spend some money on it soon. 

2CVs… 

The Yellow one started the year well at events and even the journey to Cannock and the Bus museum… 

Unfortunately on the way home from said Cannock meet… 

And it’s been broken since. I’ve tried various methods that I can do myself and failed. Now likely going to entrust to a specialist. Either way, priority #1 is to get this back on the road as I really really miss it. 

Yugo: No news. Literally done nothing other than sit in it making brumming noises. 

 

2CV Dolly: 

Wheeled out when the Yellow 2CV failed only to discover the brakes had failed… put away again. 

2x project 2CVs. 
The one in the foreground now runs and drives after being sold to me as a car which hadn’t run in over 15 years. Needs money spending on perishable items…. But the looming doom of the original chassis still presents itself. Other one is under the cover in the background… where it has been all year. It’s very rotten. Strongly considering moving these on this year. 


SAAB 9-3 ‘vert

Been my daily most of the year, creaky suspension notwithstanding has been fairly dependable, including a few trips to Newcastle and one to London. Will go once the new modern daily arrives. 

 

Fleet thinning needs to occur, as I just can’t keep on top of all the needs of the cars and/or make any progress with projects. As noted in the modernz section daily duties will be fulfilled by newly acquired moderns as of next month and hopefully I can thin the herd and focus on 2CV, Yugo and TransSport progress rather than bodging the dailies along.