Cars you wouldn't mind owning. BUT NEVER WILL..

[gtd2000]

I've always wanted an AE86 Corolla. Even 10 years ago when they were just cheap old heaps no one excpet the odd Paddy rallydriver really cared about.

 

That exactly the same as the one I had until I headed off to Hong Kong in 1995.

 

 

Mine ended up in the ROI, like many of them.

 

I'm not sure they were cheap old heaps 10 years ago - they were more likely to be over priced but more affordable rusted heaps by that time.

 

When I moved to HK, I had every intention of buying the supercharged variety - until I saw the money they we asking for them!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I honestly thought the build quality was on a par with a MKII Cavalier

 

High praise indeed!

[RoadworkUK]

When I was a nipper, I used to dream of Dad owning one of these.

 

 

I had every update of the Ford range brochure (still do actually) and was convinced that one day he'd swing up onto the driveway in a black Scorpio 24v, preferably a 5 Door in Polaris Grey with Raven leather. I even had a Ford internal training video (title 100% Ford New Car Delivery) where the end section featured a Scorpio on handover.

 

Alas, it never happened. He kept the Sierra (an admittedly awesome '83A 2.0 Ghia) until I was 17, then got a Mondeo 2.5 Ghia X (which was awesome as well)

 

But my love for the MK3 Granny never died.

 

But now I know I'll never have one. They're all too rusty or too tired. Plus, there's other stuff I'd rather have.

 

And I already own an 825Si, the Scorps chief rival....

[flat4alfa]

[ProgRocker]

I wish I had the opportunity to buy one of these when I was 19 and there were still quite a few on the roads:

 

According to that Top Gear 'Endangered Species' article there are only about 14 left on the roads in the UK, if that is accurate.

[messerschmitt owner]

 

Example 1)

 

Citroen XM. I have liked the look of these since I first saw one motoring around years ago. Its like something Captain Pickard would take him mum to the shops in- tons of electronics and hydraulics wrapped up in a very strange looking pointy shell- Extra shite points if its a supertanker/space shuttle like estate version. These are now pretty cheap with MOT'd examples available for £500 or so so there is no real reason why I can't one day have one of these fine barges. The wisdom of buying a very complex french car for this amount of money may be questionable however, and for this reason I WILL PROBABLY NEVER OWN ONE.

 

I think the XM is a far more sensible buy than it looks. The suspension is actually VERY SIMPLE- you just need to have the spheres reconditioned every once in a blue moon. The engines are all proven PSA units, so that leaves us with just the electronics which may have been super complex for 1994, but I bet they're far simpler than a 2002 Yaris (let alone anything produced in 2011). Parts availability is good, and the abysmal quality of the dealer network means there are decent Citroen specialists all around the UK...I guess a poorly maintained/buggered autobox would be the only serious thing to worry about.

My XM was MoT'd yesterday - the second in my ownership - I've done 15,000 miles in it since last year, what did it fail on - windscreen washers - blocked pump - and knackered tyre - sidewall damage on inside. Last year's MoT was a fly through!

 

I'd recommend an SX (the lowest spec model) diesel manual - everything electric works on mine - I mean everything! It is reliable, comfortable, well built, and good looking.

 

I wonder what my new BX will be like in comparison - it failed last MoT on a cv boot.

 

The car I want to own but never will is one of these. A gorgeous black one is currently on US eBay.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Ma ... sQ5fTrucks

 

[Cavcraft]

When I was a nipper, I used to dream of Dad owning one of these.

 

 

I had every update of the Ford range brochure (still do actually) and was convinced that one day he'd swing up onto the driveway in a black Scorpio 24v, preferably a 5 Door in Polaris Grey with Raven leather. I even had a Ford internal training video (title 100% Ford New Car Delivery) where the end section featured a Scorpio on handover.

 

Alas, it never happened. He kept the Sierra (an admittedly awesome '83A 2.0 Ghia) until I was 17, then got a Mondeo 2.5 Ghia X (which was awesome as well)

 

But my love for the MK3 Granny never died.

 

But now I know I'll never have one. They're all too rusty or too tired. Plus, there's other stuff I'd rather have.

 

And I already own an 825Si, the Scorps chief rival....

 

Is that the standard kit on that? I weighed one in a few years ago that looked like that but the bumpers were slightly more rounded looking.

[John F]

Quite a few, really... Opel Manta, Opel Monza, Mk 1 Cavalier GLS, Firenza (with or without a droop snoot), Mk 1 Fiesta Supersport, Lancia Beta Volumex, Mk 2 Granada 2.8 Ghia X estate, Sunbeam Stiletto, Matra Rancho, etc. etc.

 

I'd love to own any of the above, but probably never will...

[RoadworkUK]

 

Is that the standard kit on that? I weighed one in a few years ago that looked like that but the bumpers were slightly more rounded looking.

 

Looks like the RS dress up kit to me, with its gloopy front spoiler. I always loved those AMG rip-off alloys, too.

[PaykanHunter]

The Hillman Hunter GLS, also known as Paykan Javanan in Iran. There are rare as hen's teeth these days.

 

 

[overheadvalve]

Anything made by BL in the 70"s

Marina, Dolomite, TR7, Stag, Rover P6 2000 tc or really especially a V8

MGB Jaguar XKJ 6 and of course the Mini. Any Skoda Estelle (105s with hardboard door cards? lol)

and any Simca 1000

or 1300 for that matter,

That looks feckin beautiful.

What was that Renault, the Caravelle? MMmmmm

I suppose the smaller engined cars i could afford but things are a little tight at the moment and frankly will remain so for the forseable future so i'm dreaming.

Trouble with some of them is they are "classics" now.

[barefoot]

 

A Porsche 928.

 

There was one in at the local specialist yesterday - a 5.4 litre version

I've always had a bit of an eye for them and remember seeing one when they first came out back in '78.

Mechanicky specialist chap said that they are excellent cars BUT

a pig to work on - which means expensive

parts are difficult to get - which means expensive

and the owner claimed to get 12 miles to the gallon from it - which means expensive

 

so I'll not bother

[RobT]

Just a few of many for me:

 

Jensen Interceptor - despite me kidding myself, I'll never be rich enough to buy one, let alone run it.

 

Vauxhall Omega - to be like Pat 'n' Carl from Roadwars, but my want isn't really strong enough if that makes sense (there's other shite stuff higher up the list!).

 

Metro Turbo - these are coveted by others, and rightly so, but I much prefer lower spec versions (hence why I own a miniMetro L). Saying all that, I'd still like one.

 

NSU Ro80 - rarity and expense rules that one out.

 

Volvo 240 Coupe - as above

 

Hillman Imp - the not enough want factor again, but still wouldn't mind.

 

Cars that were previously in this category but I now make it a personal crusade to own are:

 

Rover 827, mk1 preferred

Jaguar XJ40 3.6 or 4.2

[chaseracer]

 

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, SM's on my list - doubt it'll happen as thankfully I'll never be wealthy enough.

 

An XM appeals though - especially a diesel auto. The thought of a big Citroen with even more electrics than my CX does scare me though. A lot.

[chaseracer]

An XM appeals though...

You should, Ian - if only for short-term shits'n'giggles

 

I've had two (both petrol auto). One was a very early (1989) series1, a rotten pile of G-reg crap which had been used as a pothead's tent at Glasto, but it was free; the second was much better, a 1993 series1.5 with leather, air and no rust at all. Both dead now - I broke the first one after the engine ate itself, and the tw@t who bought the K-reg managed to kill it within a year...

[eddyramrod]

Dollywobbler, you definitely should, and they're not out of reach... Allow me to refer you to the ebay thread, where I've just commented on an XM that flat4alfa picked out. You could do a lot worse...

[Pete-M]

Just a few of many for me:

 

Jensen Interceptor - despite me kidding myself, I'll never be rich enough to buy one, let alone run it.

 

I looked after an Interceptor Convertible for a few years. They are wallet vampires of the highest order. I have never known a vehicle that could get through money like that thing. I've not known many women who can get through money like an Interceptor, and I fixed it as economically as possible. Spent ages tracking down bits for the bloody thing and yet it still did money in like an absolute bastard.

 

In 2000 miles it had a full set of brake pads (Thank you, London Taxis International), a four barrel carb (Edelbrock, made by Weber) £300, a bonnet cable (Land Rover 90) £12, gearbox (that was an £800, trade, rebuild), starter motor (geared) £300, Battery £100 - it needed major amperage, water pump £40, hazard light switch £23, brake master cylinder rebuild kit £37, front bumper (secondhand) £650+vat, front wing @ £550 + vat, windscreen x2 @ crazy money each (insurance paid after it got damaged by someone who left their handbrake off), central locking motors x2 £40, and about four days with two of us working virtually full time just to get the thing to run right.

 

They weren't the only things. It got through £25 in fuel just while setting the carb, timing, etc up on it. Averaged around 12 mpg in town, 15 on a run, 8 if being enjoyed. Oh, and it was ten months off being tax exempt as well.

 

Wasn't superfast, but the torque never failed to raise a grin. Turned the tyres into dust rather easily.

 

Oh, and then there was the fun with the thing in traffic. Even with a huge uprated radiator, vented SP bonnet and three cooling fans running most of the time, (one pushing, two pulling), the coolant would stay reasonably cool but the carb would start to boil after a while which meant that keeping it ticking over in traffic wasn't much fun. It would idle fine for a while and then start to stutter, being an auto meant that the only way to deal with it in slow moving traffic was to try to increase the revs to clear it without actually punting the car in front a few hundred yards, which in turn meant selecting either 1 or 2 on the transmission and nursing the throttle pedal as gently as possible yet trying to clear its throat. When stationary it meant that occasionally it would need a blip just to keep it happy - which in turn made everyone in cars around think you were posing. A bright red Interceptor convertible with a fuel problem is not an easy place to hide.

 

Eventually, after months of fiddling I eventually sorted it properly. Then it got sold, sharpish.

[eddyramrod]

A bright red Interceptor convertible with a fuel problem is not an easy place to hide.

 

Well duh! If you want to hide, buy a black BMW or Merc, they're on every corner these days. If you choose a bright red Interceptor convertible (and who wouldn't!) then hiding was never going to be a priority! And yes, I would, but I know I never will...

[RobT]

 

They weren't the only things. It got through £25 in fuel just while setting the carb, timing, etc up on it.

 

That is totally mental Last year at the NEC Classic show I was chatting to the owner of an Interceptor Convertible and I asked her about running costs, she said (with a straight face) they were quite reasonable for such a big car. At the time I thought 'yeah, right...' If I can ever be arsed I'll rent one for the day, as atleast I could get the experience without the hideous costs.

[gtd2000]

Off the top of my head:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....For starters anyway

[flat4alfa]

 

 

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

...Cars that were previously in this category but I now make it a personal crusade to own are:

 

Rover 827, mk1 preferred

Jaguar XJ40 3.6 or 4.2

 

Definately get an XJ40 - a late 4 litre Sovereign or Daimler is best, maybe even a six litre V12 if you're quite recklessly brave. They're so cheap that even a really good 4 litre can be had for little money. I love mine!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

They're loads of them. I am lucky though since the Jaguar XJ40 is one of my favourite cars and so cheap I can actually have one - and I do.

 

[gtd2000]

I'd never buy a French car...but I do like these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gtd2000]

Jeeze. That's a GIANT Avantime. All I can see is a wheel!

 

I think it might be best to view it with a 40" monitor..

 

I'm on the 15" laptop right now and notice that the photos don't scale - not sure why it's such a big image..

[Cavcraft]

Series 1 XJ6 4.2 in nice useable condition. Can't see the day I could ever afford one that isn't a bodged up old knacker.

[ashmicro]

There's a giffer-owned Avantime in that colour round here, and it sounds GR32. I got chatting to the owner in the motor factors, and he told me he got it for buttons @ 3 years old. As regards the XJ40, the one that came after (X300?) non-aluminium ones can be had for very little. Mate's Dad got a 4.0 Sport (no s/c) for about a grand and it's pretty darn good.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

There's a giffer-owned Avantime in that colour round here, and it sounds GR32. I got chatting to the owner in the motor factors, and he told me he got it for buttons @ 3 years old. As regards the XJ40, the one that came after (X300?) non-aluminium ones can be had for very little. Mate's Dad got a 4.0 Sport (no s/c) for about a grand and it's pretty darn good.

 

The X308 is down to banger money too (almost as cheap as the the XJ40) which is surprising in some ways. I guess the ever present problem of the V8 engine grenading or gearbox eating itself might put people off.

The aluminium X350 is also a real bargain. They're good to drive, ride well and feel very modern - all in with a V8 they're quite a lot nicer than the equivalent 7 Series. They lack the charm of the XJ40 though but make up for it by being much more proficient. For me the X300/X308 are the half way house; neither as charming as the XJ40 nor as good as the X350 and I wouldn't get either because of that.

[Pete-M]

XJR, it's the only way