Pov-Spec Perfection

[Cheggers]

We've seen your Beige beauties and your Blue bobby-dazzlers, so lets see those entry-level lovelies

 

 

I'll kick off with this spot from yesterday - the grey-bumper Rover 620i

 

[R9UKE]

God I hate base models with a passion.

 

[eddyramrod]

God I hate base models with a passion.

 

Me too Luke! Why buy the cheap shit when the luxury option costs no more (at the ages I buy)?

[R9UKE]

Exactly! Then there's the arsehole dealers who write "every conceivable extra" in the ad for a Mondeo LX. Aaaaaaarrrrrrggghhhh

[warren t claim]

The thing is when you look in the small ads or attend any show it's always the top of the range models on display when it's actually the 1300 two door that whisks you back to your childhood.

[Craig the Princess]

The thing is when you look in the small ads or attend any show it's always the top of the range models on display when it's actually the 1300 two door that whisks you back to your childhood.

 

Either because they get thrashed to dust, or if it's an Escort reshelled into something more exotic

[warren t claim]

The thing is when you look in the small ads or attend any show it's always the top of the range models on display when it's actually the 1300 two door that whisks you back to your childhood.

 

Either because they get thrashed to dust, or if it's an Escort reshelled into something more exotic

I have fond memories of my grandfather walking into a Ford dealer and buying a dozen 1300 base Cortinas for his reps.

[eddyramrod]

it's actually the 1300 two door that whisks you back to your childhood.

 

And if that sparks a memory you'd prefer to forget, like being cramped in the back between Granny and Little Sis, no better reason for buying the 2.0 GXL Auto Estate!

[simmo]

Sis had a Chevette E? Only had a sun visor for the driver

[warren t claim]

it's actually the 1300 two door that whisks you back to your childhood.

 

And if that sparks a memory you'd prefer to forget, like being cramped in the back between Granny and Little Sis, no better reason for buying the 2.0 GXL Auto Estate!

 

But by todays standards there was very little difference between a base and GXL.

[eddyramrod]

Maybe, but there's a whole world between the base 2-door with fixed rear windows, and the 5-door estate!

[warren t claim]

Nah, a moredoors is always going to be worth less in the long run.

[eddyramrod]

Not when you're 14 and growing out of your long pants!

 

And because of that, nor when you're 52 and restarting in a new country, with a fresh classic fleet.............

[R9UKE]

I think the biggest kick in the teeth on a pov spec is the big fat clock in place of the rev counter. A constant reminder that you're a tight shit. Or even worse, the mark 1 Mondeo Aspen had an instrument cluster from a Tranny stuck in instead. AND Peugeot went to the expense of designing an extra ugly instrument cluster for the base 206. Vile.

[Craig the Princess]

I think the biggest kick in the teeth on a pov spec is the big fat clock in place of the rev counter. A constant reminder that you're a tight shit. Or even worse, the mark 1 Mondeo Aspen had an instrument cluster from a Tranny stuck in instead. AND Peugeot went to the expense of designing an extra ugly instrument cluster for the base 206. Vile.

 

Posh enough to have a clock! I give you the Allegro's Gun-Sight

 

[Father Ted]

Poverty Spec Mk2 Fiesta got this dash:-

 

Whereas everything from the L upwards got this dash:-

[andrew e]

I like the Marina van set up - surely it must have cost more to tool up for another dash, with that single cowled speedo.

[andrew e]

Poverty Spec Mk2 Fiesta got this dash:-

 

Whereas everything from the L upwards got this dash:-

 

Similar to the 85 on Granada L/GL stumpy console and no armrest thing.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I like the Marina van set up - surely it must have cost more to tool up for another dash, with that single cowled speedo.

Oh yes, I like this. It's like the late 70s Fords where they all came with inertia reel belts except the very base Fiesta/Escort/Cortina, which they had to stock a bunch of static belts for.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I like the Marina van set up - surely it must have cost more to tool up for another dash, with that single cowled speedo.

 

I like Marina Vans. A nice seventies one with the 1300 saloon grille in something like Harvest Gold.

 

 

The Shital Van had the ostantatious Marina 2 swoopy dash which just doesn't work.

[Negative Creep]

Nissan Almera Equation was truly miserable by 1996 standard. You got electric mirrors but no central locking, PAS, rev counter, electric windows, rear speakers, 3rd brake light, 13 inch wheels and more.

 

Then there's the Citroen AX Debut, my second car. As above but no 5th gear or side air vents

[RedSparrow]

I think the biggest kick in the teeth on a pov spec is the big fat clock in place of the rev counter. A constant reminder that you're a tight shit. Or even worse, the mark 1 Mondeo Aspen had an instrument cluster from a Tranny stuck in instead. AND Peugeot went to the expense of designing an extra ugly instrument cluster for the base 206. Vile.

 

Posh enough to have a clock! I give you the Allegro's Gun-Sight

 

 

Pah! Velour seats? Luxury!

My grandad had a proper base Allegro - Imagine that in Blue with vinyl seats and then we're talking.

[RoadworkUK]

I was always impressed by the Volvo 440Li, replete as it was with blanking plates where the rear speakers should be.

 

I once claimed that there was a batch of Mk 3 Cavaliers built at the end with electric rear windows only, due to a surplus of electric window kits at the end of production. The great thing is that I've since then had somebody actually repeat that myth back to me.

 

So if you hear that apocrypha in circulation, it was me wot started it.

[RedSparrow]

More family car history: I seem to remember my dads old Marina van had hardboard door cards with a vinyl covering. Is that right? Was a long time ago.

[HillmanImp]

I used to tell my friends that my Dads Horizon LS stood for Luxury Super.

 

Now, if any of my friends ever sat in the car it became evident I was lying, although my Dad did have one of those Halfrauds digital MPG readers fixed in the front which I could stare at for hours.

[Lord Sterling]

Nissan Almera Equation was truly miserable by 1996 standard. You got electric mirrors but no central locking, PAS, rev counter, electric windows, rear speakers, 3rd brake light, 13 inch wheels and more.

 

The Nissan Micra Equation was pretty miserable spec-wise. It had nothing, not even a spec-model badge, most though did come with wheels trims. My Micra 'Ally' had precious little more than the Equation, apart from the rear spoiler, different style side-stripes and an 'Ally' badge slapped on the back its not any different to the Equation. Mind, I have up-specced a bit more since then with OEM flor mats, parcel shelf with OEM speakers and the like. Strangely enough aswell, I've never seen an Micra 'Ally' on any other reg apart from the S-prefix.

 

The 820E I had a few months ago, like the Micra Ally was one or two steps up from the low spec 800s. It had front only electric windows, the window buttons were mounted on the centre console rather than the doors as per other models, no rear headrests, no leccy sunroof, no floor mats etc..... The lowest spec mk1 800 was the Rover 820 8v (No 'e' or 'i' badge distinction) same as the 820e spec wise, but with an 8v valve engine. I was told this was like driving the carb-fed 820 I had with the handbrake on. Doesnt put me off wanting to try one though.

 

All in all, I like base-spec crap, less to wrong, but then again, I also sometimes want to have the creature comforts the higher spec models have.

[M'coli]

More family car history: I seem to remember my dads old Marina van had hardboard door cards with a vinyl covering. Is that right? Was a long time ago.

Luxury!

This, my first Imp, had hardboard door cards - from the factory! Oh, and no heater fan - its model? The Deluxe!

[ProgRocker]

Both the '3 box' saloons I have owned in my car history have been base spec...

 

The police spec 1994 Escort L diesel I had in Spring/Summer 2010. Tweed seat trim, no rev counter or central locking BUT it had power steering and ABS. I found the seats in this to be quite comfortable.

 

 

The Fiat Tempra 1.4 base had a big clock in place of the rev counter and no power steering nor ABS. The seats had velour upholstery though but with the vinyl sides and backs whereas the Digital dash SX spec upwards had velour all over.

The 1.4 had 13 inch steelies too.

The 1.6 base added 14 inch wheels, rev counter and power steering iirc. FFS Fiat - why on Earth spend extra on R & D designing an instrument pod without the rev counter if it is only going into the 1.4 base model?

[gricer]

Some pov spec cars are sexier than their more up-market brethren

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Surely a Viva E coupe is only sexier than a Firenza/Magnum because there's less to strip out for OMG RWD OJC-powered drift action, yo? Given the choice (and having experience of a base Viva) I'd definitely be buying up-market.

Mother's, 1983-5.