What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Mark (RLBS)
Following on from the resounding success of Vin's "Life outside the Backroom" thread in Discussion, it seems a good idea to have a similar idea about cars and other vehicles owned/driven by contributors.

So please, add a note here mentioning what cars you own/drive. No problem with mentioning cars you have owned, but its what people drive now that interests me.

Mark.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ian Cook
Citroen Xantia HDi (caravan tug and SWMBO's car) and Citroen C15 diesel van (mine for model aircraft and general use).


Ian Cook
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ian (Cape Town)
>>C15 diesel van (for model aircraft use).

Oh? Is the engine interchangable? :)

Mine is an Opel Astra (4 door), 1.8 Auto. (hatchbacks were called Kadetts here...)

Vehicles outside the Backroom - Toad, of Toad Hall.
Rover 414Si; 1990; 135k and climbing. Two tone grey - obscured by 3 years of crud. Been on it's last legs for at least a year. Will not die.

Yamaha Diversion 600s; 1994; 33k and climbing. Showroom nick best colour they did them in (metallic green/blue). Scotoiler. New Motad Nexus downpipes as discussed in detail here.
--
Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - smokie
Omega MV6, love it to bits. Fast, stylish, tows well, not to expensive to run/maintain (yet!).

Immediate past was a Rover Sterling (2.7) which looked lovely (showroom condition) but felt slow and wallowy, didn't like it from the day I bought it.

Before that - Senator 2.6, Rover Sterling, Ford Sapphire Ghia, Sierra 1.6, Escort 1.6, Escort 1.3, other Escorts back to the Hillman Avenger, MG 1100 and Austin 1100, where I started.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - teabelly
Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v, owned for just over a month. Love it when it works... Fiat Croma before that, owned for 6 years.




Triumph Vitesse mk1 2 litre convertible, owned for 3 years. Love it to bits.




Alfa 75 3 litre V6 project/stray cat house.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - doug_523i
Xantia 2.0 16v for shopping, Yamaha R1 for fun on sunny Sunday (low mileage due to British weather!), and Yamaha YZF750R for tootling to work, 100 miles a day.

I did have a 145,000 mile Citroen BX that was laugh, I drove it from Birmingham to Merseyside without changing gear, when the clutch cable snapped (again) on the A41. I cheated and took the motorway from Chester.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Chad.R
I currently own -
1990 Dolphin Grey/Silver hide 535i Sport (A limo one minute, a sports saloon then next and much cheaper to maintain than my neighbour's Omega!)
1996 Doom Blue/Nasty Grey Xantia 1.9TD estate (A reliable and extremely competent workhorse)
1995 Metallic Yellow/Grey check Punto 75SX (SWMBO's shopping and kid cart)

My previous cars -

First car was an '84 Black Nissan Cherry which I bought at Wembley auction (what a dreadful place) in 93 after I'd just finished repaying my "Student Loan". Then upgraded to an '88 Paprika Red VW Scirocco Scala in 94 - my first "sports" car. Then on to my first BMW - a '89 Sterling Silver 525iSE in 1996. I had a brief but rewarding affair with a '92 metallic grey Toyota Celica GT4 in 1998 but then the arrival of my Daughter(s) necessitated a return to 4(+)doors and I talked SWMBO into our current 535, luckily for her ehh?,


Chad.R

Not all BMW owners are bad drivers - just the majority.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ian (Cape Town)
the arrival of my Daughter(s) necessitated a return to 4(+)doors
and I talked SWMBO into our current 535, luckily for her
ehh?,


A friend of mine played football in Switzerland, and part of the deal was a (BMW sponsored) flash new Z3, just when they first came out.
He went to the Zurich showroom, picked out the colour, seat colour, optional extras etc.
Got home, told his missus, who said "Sorry, I just found out I'm pregnant, we need a 4 door!" and he had to go back and cancel - but got a 328 instead!
Vehicles outside the Backroom - BrianW
Peugeot 405 DT Estate, Peugeot 106 diesel, Honda CD250U (two), Honda FS125 Pantheon, Honda Bali 100.
By chance, all the above except the Bali are blue.
Mileage about 22,000 per year, two thirds on two wheelers.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Richard Hall
Not enough time to list the 50+ cars I have owned - current fleet is: 1990 Audi Coupe 2.3 20V, 145k, was immaculate until someone ran into it, 1983 VW Polo 1100 used for dog transport and general fetching and carrying, plus a 'Locost' two seater Lotus 7 replica which I have been building for five years now, and which may be on the road next summer if I don't run into any more serious engineering problems. I also have 'on loan' a 1967 Ford Mustang 289 fastback, 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible, 1967 Dodge Charger and an almost new Mini Cooper.

Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
Vehicles outside the Backroom - terryb
Started with a 1961 Ford 100E Pop
Graduated(?) to a 1959 105E Anlgia
Then 1965 MkII Cortina 1500 Super
1972 Mk I Capri 1500 XL
Cortina Mk III 2000E Estate
Mk I VW Golf (1600 CL)
Mk II VW Golfs x 2
Citroen BX x2 (1600 petrol & 1900 Diesel)
Citroen XM x2 (both 2.1 tD Autos)
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.1 TD

Also kept on road for SWMBO:
1965 Hillman Imp
1969 Triumph Herald
Citroen Visa
Citroen AX
Citroen BX 1700 tD
Berlingo multispace

Yes, I'm very old!

Terry
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Markymarkn
We have 5 cars in our 4 person family:

Me - 1989 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 CDi - love my car even though its getting on a bit now but still in excellent condition. Owned for 2 years now. Thinking of maybe changing it for a 3 series E36 BMW if I can afford it when I am 21 in a few months.

Bro - 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier 2litre ECOTEC CDX

Dad - 1998 BMW 523i

Mum - 1994 Peugeot 306 xtdt

Sunday/project car - 'L' reg (don't know year) Triumph GT6 2 litre straight six. The newest [and oldest!] addition to the family. Some part of most weekends involve dad, bro and/or myself taking the spanners to it in some form.

Mark.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Dynamic Dave
Owned:

"S" Reg Allegro, 1100. First car - pile of poo.
"Y" Reg Mk1 Astra, 1300 Ltd Edition EXP. Two tone Black/Gold. Owned 4 yrs. Great little car. Done 104,000 miles when I sold it, yet only used ½ pint of oil between services. I just got bored of it!! Owned 4 yrs.
"E" Reg Mk2 Cavalier 2.0i GLS. A wolf in sheeps clothing. Owned 3 yrs.
"B" Reg Mk2 Cavalier 1.8i CD (temp car as above Cav got smashed up)
Traded both Mk2 Cav's in for a "J" Reg Mk3 Cavalier 2.0 CDi. Another wolf in sheeps clothing. Owned 4 Yrs.
"L" Reg Mk3 Cavalier 2.0 Diplomat. Auto box. I fell in love with leather interior and air con. Owned 3 yrs.

Currently own an "X" Reg Vectra 2.2 CDi. Auto box. Yet again a wolf in sheeps clothes. Had her up to 135 mph so far and she was still pulling.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Miller
L reg Citroen ZX 1.4, basic, slower than the second coming of christ but has cost less than £200 in repairs in 2 years/20000 miles of ownership so can't complain, no rust either.

Previous cars include Citroen AX with I had no bother with, Austin Metro & Maestro which were both awful cars, litteraly rusted away from under me!
Vehicles outside the Backroom - robert
Omega MV6 for me, Renault Megane saloon for SWMBO.

Regards ....... Robert
Vehicles outside the Backroom - P.Mason {P}
Cars owned since '59 - Morris 10 Series E, Minivan, 'Frogeye'Sprite, Cortina Mk.2, Renault 4, Renault 12, Peugeot 305 Est., and currently driving another(younger!) 305 Est.
SWMBO's cars: Morris 1000 Traveller, Renault 6, Renault 5, Honda Civic.
P.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - blank
Currently own 2 pretty dull cars between me an't'wife- a 99T Mondeo 1.6LX which I rate very highly except it could do with a bit more power (no surprises there then!) and a 97R Polo 1.9CLD.

In recent reverse order a 93 Civic (great reliability and nice to drive 'till I bent the suspension), 90 Audi Coupe 2.2(awful example, not nice at all) and before that my company kindly ran a couple of cars for me:
97 Primera 1.6 (fantastic handling and nice revvy engine) and a 94 Laguna 1.8 that felt like the engine would let go any minute by the time it had reached 95k miles (poor thing, it had a hard life).

Before the company cars I owned a fantastic 85B Golf GTI that I should never have sold, an 86C Maestro 1.6HLS (superb example of horrible car) an 85B Metro 1.0 and a highly modified Mini.

Andy
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Edward
1998 Peugeot 306 1.9TD with 33000 miles and four complete conrods (last time I checked, although I'm getting nervous).
Wife to be has a 1995 Renault Clio 1.2 with a dent in every panel. I also have a scruffy looking but well maintained 1994 Suzuki GSX600F (at least until the wife to be becomes the wife).
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Harmattan
Quick check around the place reveals:
Citroen BX 4x4 estate (1992 reg but all were built in '89/90)
1988 Honda Legend Coupe (used in preference for long journeys 'cos it's auto and has climate control)
1986 Citroen Visa 1.0 Leaders (two apparently identical but one built in Spain and the other in France)
1988 Saab 900 2-door (being disposed of shortly)
1954 Ford Popular 103E (unused since 1977 and destined for a special one day!)
1932 Vale Special (Take a look at www.club.triumph.org.uk/anniversary/historic.htm if you don't know what it is)

All somewhat long in the tooth but as an old friend used to say when people scoffed at his 20-year-old Peugeot 504: "It's all paid for and has my name on the log book."
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Simon
My current range of motors are:
Ford Fiesta RS1800 1993/K (a nice hot hatch with a bit of poke to get one over on the nova boys)
Ford Anglia 105E 1964/B (standard apart from painted in cadburys purple and it gets you noticed!)
Rover Metro Gta 1995/M (the motor that gets me to and from work, clocking up the brunt of the mileage)
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Daedalus
Day to day use its the Honda Super Blackbird CBR1100XX to give it its full title, 35000 miles and never missed a beat yet. Harris Magnum II that I built in 1984 with a formula one tune Kawasaki 1000J3 motor with GPZ1100 barrels overbored to 1170cc, something for the weekend, but its been off the road for 2 years waiting for me to sort out the carbs. Fiat Panda 1000 Super (1992) with 35000 miles, the cheapest motoring we have ever had, thanks again to HJ. And the b***** Mondewoe 2.5 Ghia estate with 90000 miles which has been the most expensive motoring we have ever had. I checked it out last night before we go on hols on Friday morning to find both dip lamps out, they were OK when I used it last week. One bulb blown and suspect the relay for the other, which I cant get until tomorrow. Fit two new bulbs (Xenon) and new relay and I fork out another begrudged £30 odd pounds.

Bill
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Dizzy {P}
Far too many cars to list here but the first was BBC 919, a 1937 Morris 8 which was modified with the fitting of 'easy-clean' wheels (instead of spoked) and a Morris Minor side-valve engine which I was convinced gave it a power increase but was probably exactly the same as the original engine (both were the same size - 919cc I think).

Amongst the more interesting cars was a 1964 Sunbeam Tiger (as Alpine but fitted with a 4.2 US Ford engine). For those who know that this model wasn't in production until 1965 I should mention that it was a prototype that had been loaned as a road car to a racing driver for evaluation. I forget his name but I believe he died in a Dutch Grand Prix when his car caught fire. The Tiger's chassis number was a lot of 0's and a 9 (perhaps 00000009). I sold this car in about 1970 for £350 and last saw it in a mid-1980's car magazine valued at £12,000+ !!

I also had a 1967 Jaguar 3.8 S-type and, much later, a 1980 Vauxhall Royale Coupe automatic (ie. Vauxhall badged Opel Monza). I currently have a 1972 Triumph 2500 owned since 1975, and a 1992 BMW 525iSE Touring owned since May 2000.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ben79
I drive a Citroen Xsara 1.4 (with air con to make it slower in summer!)

It is good if you don't want huge mid range acceleration, although tops 100 with relative ease and is good at traffic light grand prix until you hit 30.

My Dad drives a 206 1.4, supposedly with the same engine. My car has 2000 miles fewer, but is 9 months older, but the engine is far smoother. I (and he) would not recommend a 206 over the Xsara especially when they are about the same price.

Ben
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Tim
I run a Seat Leon 1.6 16v as a company car, Mk3 Golf TDI as a car to teach SWMBO and brother and Mk2 Golf GTI when it moves!

Have owned 2x 1990 Rover 214 GSI's, Fiat Uno 70sx and a Uno 45 Fire. Uno Fire was the greatest car in terms of wiggling wires to fix problems, Rover 214 the worst car in terms of relibility and the GTI by far the best all round car for economy, reliability and performance on welsh back roads!

Tim
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Andrew T
99T 306 HDI Meridian, 20,000, for serious comfort driving over longish distances; 93K 205 GTx, 50,000 for enjoyment in between times. Love those lions!
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Vansboy
Still got the best van made-my Meastro,now at 304,000 miles!!
Should be 93K, but has THE plate VAN 580Y!! It even boasts power steering & turbo, this was courtesy of a trade in Montego, we adopted.
The last nice car we had as 'our own' was a 4.0 Jaguar Sovereign, nothing special, you may think, until you either put your foot down or pop the bonnet.
At 1800 miles it's original owner,a head honcho working for a recruitment firm, decided a Janspeed twin turbo conversion would go down well.It did only cost £9500 to do this minor? modification!!!
330bhp if I remember rightly - FIND ANOTHER ONE!!!
Mark
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Godfrey H {P}
Too many to mention the lot. First car: rusty nine year old Austin A30 van which I ran for 5 years. I learned how to fix bodywork on this car and also simple enough for DIY spanner work.
Only let me down once when a half-shaft broke about a mile from home. Definitely a bangernomics car.

Currently driving a 2001 model Honda Civic 1.6s 5dr.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Trisha TR
Currently the day-2-day motor is a 1977 FHC Triumph TR7. Had it 12 years restored 10 years ago, sat and rotted for 4 years. Now a rusty heap with uprated brakes, suspension, SS Sports Exhaust & Manifold, New clutch, re-con gearbox & engine. Great fun, if not that fast.

Also 1997 2.5 v6 Ford Probe - quite fast, fun, and a boot as capacious as an elephants scrotum. Oh and I picked it up for song :-) which makes it even better!

Recently: A 1998 Chrysler Neon 2.0LX - under-rated car, air-con didn't drik the juice or curtail performance. Handled like a pile of poo in the wet - so ran with tyres at a pressure below that given in the handbook.

SWMBO - Mitsubishi Colt 1.6GLX Auto - nice car but could do with a little more grunt...plenty of space under the bonnet to take a bigger lump.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ross D
Currently driving the trusty Corrado. Have come to the heart braking decision to sell.

So i'll be hitting the streets at comparatively pedestrian speeds, in my new punto from next week!

Have previously owned an UNO Fire and a Micra GSx which I loved to bits. The UNO once snapped a timing belt mid roundabout, thought the worst but after a quick trip to halfords, and a little help from my uni housemate. The car started with nothing more than a new belt and a haynes manual. Is it usual for Fiats to survive timing belt breakages, or was I just lucky?

Ross
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Phil G
Me - Bargain Barge: 92J Carlton Diplomat Auto. All the toys (mostly working). The clock says 101,000 but that ain't the story the interior tells - I think it could be on its second engine. Bargain at £750.

Carlton replaced my 1987 D Golf CL which was bought new my Mum and Dad. Still going running a young familty to and from campus.

Ongoing project - 1972 Porsche 911E Sportomatic. Needs brake work and a respray. Still stunning though.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Steve S
Previous cars: -

VW Scirocco GTX - great car, fond memories.
VW GTI 8v - "THE" GTI. Then VW toned them down to accommodate the disappointing 16v.
Cavalier 2 Litre GL (Co Car) - simply dreadful. I handed it in to the nearest police station as soon as I could.
Saab 900 Turbo (the pre GM real one) - quirky, very fast in a straight line but world record understeer in the wet. Supremely comfortable on long runs - what is it about Swedes & seat design?
VW Corrado - the best handling front wheeler ever?
BMW 525 - had to see what all the fuss was about. Great driver's car but not particularly comfortable and other drivers suddenly hate you.
Porsche 911 3.2 Carerra ('86 targa for a w/e toy) - superb. But change of job meant I hardly got a chance to use it so I let it go to a good home.
Range Rover 4 Litre SE - the worst made, uneconomic pile of trouble ever! The trouble is there is something about it when it works. It may have put me on first name terms with half of solihull but I'll keep until it dies.
Volvo S40 T4 (Co car) - very comfortable & great fun, much underrated.

Current cars: -

Volvo C70 T5 Coupe - surely one of motorings best kept secrets, stylish, very fast and well put together. Terrific for the motorway and handles well for it's size on the twisty bits.
Mercedes SLK 320 - sheer quality, and as HJ mentions in c by c, the 320 elevates turns it into a proper sports car.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - lezebre
>>
VW Corrado - the best handling front wheeler ever?



Responding to your question mark, Steve, try a "minicab" mk2 Primera like mine (1998 1.6). Comfortable on a run, too.

However, although I'm very happy with it day to day - and for holidays - after an evening out I'd rather drive home in one of your cars.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Flat in Fifth
I do hope all these "Vehicles outside the Backroom" are not going to lead to some joker painting yellow lines and coming round with the Denver Boot! ;-)

Anyway 99 on a V Vectra Est 2.0 DTi soon to be replaced by Mondeo TDCi Estate (hopefully not in plod-u-like colours like the Veccy)

SWMBO 02 on an O2 Fabia

Started with an 105E Anglebox. (rusty)
Car in which most fun had fully clothed, ex R Clark Escort BDG





Vehicles outside the Backroom - Emerson Fittipaldi
Mine is an 'R' Plate Renault Launga 1.8 RT Sport in gleaming black, looks real nice, but have a few problems. Everything listed in the 'car-by-car' breakdown about my car has happened, but had everything replaced under it's warranty. It drives superbly, very smooth, excellent on motorways, good handling, but the air con is very noisy. Appart from all that I love the car!
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Stargazer {P}
Currently driving a Volvo V40 1.8XS, we find it a comfortable and very practical car for a small family but a shame the CD player always seems to be playing the nursery rhyme CD for our 2.5 year old daughter (the other SWMBO!)

Previous cars in reverse order:

Subaru Outback 1998 2.5L (in Oz, best car ever, great handling either on road or off)

Holden Barina 1996(in Oz, identical to a Vauxhall Corsa)

Ford Fiesta Mk3 1991J (stolen just before leaving for Oz)

Ford Fiesta Mk2 1.1 Ghia 1986C, great car, 90k miles with no
problems

Ford Escort Mk1 1.3L Auto 1973M, bought from family member at 16
years old with 20k miles, sold after body restoration in 1995 with 38k miles, engine never touched, always started first time, no oil leaks or burning and even managed 38mpg on a long run.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - spikeyhead {p}
Currently Cavalier 1.7TD, a bit sluggish, but ideal economy and comfort for 40,000 miles a year

Just sold my weekend toy, a Caterham 7

Still deciding what to replace it with

Previous cars:-

mini city
fiesta
corsa
Citreon Xantia
Citreon ZX 1.9TD, a great car, but its air intake pointed downwards.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
First car 1961 Ford Popular 100E , wonderful oversteer on wet roundabouts on dodgy remoulds.Vacuum wipers that stopped when overtaking!
1963 Mini 850 with twin Peco exhaust , wide alloys and painted Vauxhall Sienna Starmist. Sounded like a Cooper S , went like an 850.Burnt out exhaust valves on long motorway runs.
Almost new 1974 Mini 1000, a graduation present. Citron green apparently on to bare metal. Sills and boot floor rotted out in 18 months , touching up paint became my major weekend hobby.
Maxi 1750 , very comfortable car but crankshaft endfloat runed oil seals.
1979 Marina 1300 Mk II . Lived up to it's name with a boot full of water. What didn't go wrong or wear out or rust?
1979 Renault 18 TL .Great car but expensive on suspension and driveshaft components.
Then a succession of nine VWs until the present day.Various Polos/Golfs.
1991 Corrado G60 was the highlight. Went like a rocket , no bother at all. Sold it after a year with worn out tyres, due for a service and an insurance renewal quote for £1400.
Now have a 2001 Passat PDI Estate. Surprisingly, I rate it only second to the Corrado for handling , which may explain the front tyres wearing out at 10,000 miles.
SWMBO has a 1995 Toyota Corolla. Just put petrol in it occasionally. No problems at all.

Vehicles outside the Backroom - Pugugly {P}
Mine is a BMW 330d, having owned various threes since "Stones" were chippings, this example was amongst the first to be sold in the UK when I had it (leased vehilce). My first Diesel but by far the best BM I have owned/used by far. Has the optional fit indicators. Milage is creeping up now and will be replaced in the fullness of time, no doubt about its replacement - another 330d.

SWMBO transport is a Mini One which she bought after BM loaned us one a few months ago when the 330 was in for a service. Excellent motor.

Also have a Y reg Disco which is for sale and in all likleyhood go to a local 4WD dealer who has made me an offer. Fully loaded ex demo vehicle which was SWMBO's car before the Min made an appearance.Has proved an useful tool and quite reliable

Have just bought a 1990 Defender which I bought second hand and imported from Spain this week, which will fill the family's 4WD requirement, hopefully for the rest of time. It was a real bargain - left hooker, but not a problem for its planned use.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Cyd
My current car is a '97 Rover 820 Vitesse Sport. This is the 200bhp version launched in '95. I love the car - it goes like stink, handles well, is quiet (a little raucous when extended hard) and comfortable (despite the stiff suspension & 45 series tyres). It also makes a great family barge - it'll take 5 adults in comfort (all with a proper belt) and has a huge boot. Security is excellent with double locking doors, rolling code remote and passive immobilization. Running costs are reasonable - 32mpg when driven moderately. I've had it 2 years now and we've just done our third family holiday in it - last Saturday we got back to Leics from Torquay (220 miles) in 3hrs exactly at 29.7mpg. It's just turned 115k and is in fine fettle - of
course it's pampered. My only complaint isn't really with the car but Rovers development and cheapskate purchasing teams of the 90s - the PG1 gearbox isn't up to the 200bhp of this motor, I had a £350 rebuild at around 90k but I've known of others who've ignored the whining and ended up needing completely new 'boxes (£ouch).

Prior to this I had an 827SLi. This had all the bells & whistles and that lovely Honda V6 engine. It was brisk, quiet and comfortable. Although competent it wasn't too rewarding on the B roads round our way, but it was a superb motorway stormer and a good tow car.

I bought the 827 because after a mountain biking accident I could no longer maintain my heavily modified Rover SD1 3500 V8. I originally bought this to tow a stage rally car I co-ran with a friend (an Escort mk II). I converted it from auto to manual, rebuilt the engine to near 200bhp road spec, gave it significantly uprated suspension and beefed up brakes (all with my own fair hands). It went a storm and being rear drive handled superbly (needed great 'spect in the wet!!). It was also cavernous and could tow a house. Had this 8 years - cried when it went.

Before that I had a Chrysler Avenger which was seriously modified. It was my road rally car and I was trying to uprate it to use on stages. It had too many mods to list, but suffice to say it was fast, handled like a kart and could stop on a twopence. Tin worm got it eventually and a friend bought it
to reshell as a Sunbeam rally car.

Previous to that, a Hillman Avenger 1600. This was only lightly modified for use on road rallys. Had great success with this car and my regular co-driver Andy (on my course at uni). It died on the motorway coming back from a road rally by holing a piston. I had no money and had just lost my garage facilities (when my mentor & Grandfather died - I think the car went out with a broken heart). It was towed off for scrap - what a waste.

I bought my first car just a few weeks before going to uni and joining the motor club there. It was a 1300 Marina. Most people laughed till it hurt when me and Andy started doing 12 cars and scatters, but that stopped quick enough when we started walking off with awards. This car died an honourable death in the heat of competition after passing through a dry stone wall and down a ditch. These were c*** cars really, but I had 2 years unadulterated FUN in mine and so remember it very fondly.

Before that, when I still lived at 'home', I learnt to drive in my mums 1100 Escort mk1. I also did most of the maintenance on this car from about age 13.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - THe Growler
Perhaps of limited interest due my geographic location but let's join in:

*2001 Ford F-150 Lariat V-8. Superb luxury pickup/SUV
*2001 Ford Lynx 1.6 Gsi. American Mondeo - great little car.
*1994 Mazda 323 Astina (used on days when either of the above is banned because it's bad number day, can't use nos ending in 1/2 Monday, 2/3 Tuesday etc). Wonderful little car that still looks great shape against modern jelly-moulds
2 1966 Mustang V-8's for my money one of the most lovely looking cars ever to come out of detroit, one rag-top (useless in a hot climate but lovely), one hard-top for high days and holidays.

Several bikes: a Harley Fat Boy custom 1998, a Honda dirt bike 1998, a Yamaha Dragstar and a Honda Shadow. Plus a little Daihatsu mini-cab van cum pickup thing that I detest but have to admit it's great for carting c*** around.

Over the last 42 years far too many to mention.. My favorites:

1953 Mercury Monterey V-8 in gorgeous black, (looks like this - home.swipnet.se/~w-15369/ )with rocket ship nacelles on the front bumper and a Star Trek interior. Best part was the front bench seat in shiny vinyl -- corner the right way and you get your date sliding deliciously close.

1958 Vauxhall Victor: a mini Chevrolet copy and a rust bucket but very nice to drive and infuriated my neighbour because it would easily outcorner his Triumph Spitfire.

1953 Austin A30. In the family for years, It was the one car that refused to die despite criminal neglect and abuse it always started and went. You get lift the engine out single-handed and do a decoke on a Sunday before the pubs opened.

1955 Holden FJ 6-cyl. So rusted that you had to keep the back doors shut otherwise the body bowed. Paid A$150 for this, drove it round Australia 27000 miles on remould tires, one puncture only, and sold it for $100.

1959 Bedford CA Van. Drove it Brighton to Kathmandu in 1965.

The worst:

A 1953 Ford Prefect with cable brakes and a wheezy side-valve engine. 6 volt electrics and all but impossible to start on a damp morning.

1982 Mitsubishi Galant Auto. Such a feeble engine that when you turned the aircon on, the car slowed at once by about 10 kph

1975 Honda Civic. Rusted in the salt air of the Arabian Gulf almost as quickly as the Victor above. Terribly heavy steering and it always smelt bad inside.

1978 Paykan Sport 1725 cc. This was the Iranian-assembled version of the Hillman Hunter, It was available only in grey and it took a week to buy it after gettting all the Shah's gov't permissions to own a vehicle. The second night out the l.h. rear wheel and half-shaft pulled out on a Tehran boulevard. Left the car where it was and taxi-ed home. In the morning it had gone and I never saw it again!

(my shame) 1954 Bond Mark C. Villiers 2 stroke engine. You started it by lifting the bonnet and kick starting. It was such a disgusting thing visually and mechanically that I (you could do this sort of thing in '62) drove it somewhere out in the country, took the plates off and left it.

That's more than enough.






Vehicles outside the Backroom - Monaro
I have a 2000 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi in the UK which handles well enough - is dirt cheap to run and hasn't gone wrong yet.

Here in New Zealand where I have found insurance to be cheaper I have jointly bought an early nineties 4 cyl Skyline which is in perfect nick and has no real thrills but and cost me a little over 1k Sterling, and I can say I own a Skyline.

Back in the UK my family have amongst them a '00W 318i SE (lovely car), a 91J Escort (owned since new and has been reliable) and a 96N Rover 216Si (awfully unreliable - nice engine though). Before that it was mainly a a succession of company Carltons Senators and Omegas.
Paul C
Vehicles outside the Backroom - DIRM
Current transport is '95 Citroen Xantia TD, with a mere 165,600 on the clock. Excellent workhorse/caravan lugger & I intend to keep it until it falls to pieces.
Of my previous motors, favourite was '80 Mini Clubman. Fun to throw around the lanes where I lived but eventually sold due to a dodgy rear subframe.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Peter
My first pride and joy was an NSU 1200c a lovely well made car, did all the right things at the right time but vanity got in the way and I replaced it with a Humber Sceptre, the only good thing about this car was the comfortable driving position. Mechanicaly a dog. After two years I bought a v6 Mk4 Cortina, very reliable car but the body work rotted out under me. Next was an Austin Ambassador another comfortable car but it went through ball joints and track rod ends like nobodies business. The best of them all has been a Volvo 240 2.3. Sad to see it go very reliable, I only had to replace the power steering rack and a head gasket. Lost another 240 in a road crash thankfully it lived up to its reputation for toughness and we walked out of the wreck. Our two current cars are a Volvo 740 just like the other 240s but showing its age but very reliable and a Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6. A bland car but it does the job day in day out and so far it has been very cheap to run. Can be recommended. I forgot my Volvo 340, 250k in seven years despite the abuse, it kept going. I still got £400.00 for it.

Next on the list, who knows. So long as it starts and runs on a daily basis that's all I ask.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Brill {P}
Mini (left hand drive, took my test in it)
Cortina 1600E
Golf Mk II
MGB
Rover P5B V8
TWR XJS V12
V6 Audi Quattro Avant (current, most solid, and most dull!)

Stu.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - CM
BMW 530d estate
Golf mk3 1.6 (for SWMBO)

Previous:
BMW325tds
Renault 5 Campus
Pug 306 dt
Volvo 340
Landrover (series 3)

Vehicles outside the Backroom - Citroënian {P}
Hardly the most exciting list ever but....

Citroen AX 14D (2)
Citroen BX 17RD
Austin Maestro 1.3 Special
Austin Montego 1.6L
Citroen BX 19TGD
Citroen ZX 1.9D Avantage 3Dr
Citroen ZX 1.9TD Volcane 3Dr (**Best car by miles)
Citroen Xantia 1.6i LX

And although my name wasn't on the V5, I've covered an _awful_ lot of miles in these cars:
Peugeot 405 Quasar 1.9TD Estate
Peugeot 309 GLX SE 1.6
Peugeot 205 XR 1.1(?)
Peugeot 406 2.1TD LX
Peugeot 306 1.8 XT
Volkswagen Golf Cabrio 1.6 SE
Renault Clio 1.4RT Auto

So you can perhaps see why I'm so excited by the 3.0 V6 24v Avantime! Funny when you list these things - I'm an oasis of Citroen in a desert of family Peugeots!

Lee.

Vehicles outside the Backroom - Chas{P}
Current cars:
1997 1.7 Puma
1997 1.6 16V Astra Arctic
1987 1.0 Mini Advantage (being restored)
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Vin {P}
Omega 2.5CDX, 99T, 60,350 miles. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Wife drives Mazda 626 2.0exec, 49,000miles, and she's lovely too.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - phil oliver
1952 BSA Bantam
1955 Matchless G80S
1960 Royal Enfield Constellation (Changed into 500cc Bullet after big end seized!)
1965 Bedford CA van (Perkins diesel)
1962 Mini Cooper 997
1973 Morris Marina (cut up lawnmower grass box to stop feet hitting road)
1979 Mazda 323
1981 Mazda 626
1984 Peugeot 505 Family Estate (176,000m still going stong but family too tall for back seats)
2000 Hyundai Trajet (not as tragic as you my think) My first new car

The Peugeot was the start of the leave it alone revolution: electronic ignition. I've had clean hands since.

Phil.

Vehicles outside the Backroom - martint123
Somewhat tatty 1990 Mazda mx5 101k (recent purchase)
1998 Yamaha R1 from new 40k
1999 Honda SLR650 from a couple of years ago - 15k
Renault 5 1.4 1993 since 1997 106k - of which I've done 17k in the 5 years I've had it. and can't get rid of the thing.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - dave18
Learned in Gran's Clio (great handling) and Mum's Hyundai Accent.
Drove the Accent, a 1.3 auto, for 6 months. Reasonable handling, but oh so slow and awful fuel consumption (25mpg), also very noisy.
Then got first car: £250 Polo 1.3. Great in terms of 'first car' novelty appeal. Probably could have bought a £2000 car due to maintenance costs. Very unreliable. I killed it in the end. Smoke started to come from the bonnet, regularly.

Now: Pug 309 1.4i GLX. Very nice for the money (£700). Both driveshafts have been replaced... hoping this isn't some sort of omen but from reading, they are a weak point. Goes, stops and handles well. Just been to South Wales, 43mpg over 780 miles... this includes thrashing it on Welsh roads and squeezing 123 out of it on a downhill stretch of the M4. Comfy, with central locking and electric windows. Hope to keep it a while.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Highland Idler
Currently ex-Police Omega MV6 with 205,800 miles under it?s belt: Now nicely run in. Still goes v. quick, too quick if you are not careful, and everything still works. Bought it with 100k on clock from the bloke (no comment in a public forum) near Guildford who seems the only person to specialise in them. Lovely car for long motorway journeys, ?orrible in snow & ice in the Highlands of Scotland (where I live). Plus two push-bikes, me feet, an ice-axe & crampons.

Previously (not sure of the order..), all Company Cars except where noted.
4 x Omegas: 2.0 & 2.5, manual & auto.
1 x BMW 518Se: Best car ever for road-holding but extreme gutless: Got broken into 5 times in 18 months: It must have been because it was a Beemer as my habits did not change but the break-in rate shot up over 2,000%. I agree with the comments elsewhere about most BMW drivers (even more so the attitude of most BMW garages)
2 x Carltons.
Granada 2.0 Saloon. This I had fitted with a number-plate with ?****** wanted a Volvo Estate? in place of ?Blogg?s Garage?. SWMBO took 6 months to notice, notwithstanding many people commenting on the unique and amusing number plate.
Opel Omega Station wagon, Private
Cortina Estate in lime green I drove (fairly gently) into a wall within 1 week of getting it.
Fiat 131 Miarifiori (?) Nice car, red. Eventually it smelt a lot after I left venison sausages in the (furry lined) glove-box one sunny weekend?
Triumph Toledo (ugghh..). We drove a colleague and his wife to a works ?do?: Driving back strange gurgling noises started from the back. We drop off colleague & wife & find she?s thrown up all over the (cloth) seats and carpets. But narry a comment from them at the time or afterwards.. Then driven with most of the windows open till I got shot of it.
Triumph Vitesse 2.0, Private, who?s back axle I stripped on Streatham Hill.
A Ford Zephyr which I remember disposing of at the local dump, driving across it & taking off on various protrusions.

Oh, what about, SWMBO?s car? dunno & don?t care, divorced both of them. (Does this them make SWWNO?s?:) One was lovely, the other worse than a smoky Trabant. HJ ? Should we have a topic on what various SWMBO?s are most like in the car world???

First car? Taught to drive by then girlfriend in a Mini whilst still at boarding school @ 17. Explored most uses for the Mini, but fear I could not achieve most uses any more, particularly between the driver?s seat & the steering wheel. Happy days.

Yours aye

Vehicles outside the Backroom - vercin
Hi

Currently Citroen C5 HDI estate exc SE. Currently off road with Citroen dealer (ECU failure, out of action approx 3 weeks so far)currently using Mondeo 1.8 estate zetec, (V good and works)and

A Honda Accord 2.0 iLS 4 door, Very reliable expensive to service with generally poor quality franchised dealers.

regards

Vercin
Vehicles outside the Backroom - matt35 {P}
Worked 24 years for German bosses who insisted I drive German cars - so had FIVE Citroen CX and TWO Citroen XM Turbo Diesel Autos - loved every one of them.
In retirement I have a Jag X Type 2.5 SE Auto and my wife has her second Matiz - a great little car for the money.
The X is giving about 25mpg town and up to 32mpg on a good run - the XMs were in the high 40s and the XM auto box superb, I still miss it.
Very impressed by service from Jag dealer and by follow up from Jag direct after purchase....have considered divorcing wife and marrying X Type.
Regards,

Matt
Vehicles outside the Backroom - twinturbo
Currently Maserati Twin turbo 350 bhp on lpg, previous car a Chasseur Jaguar which is a 4.0 Twin Turbo special also Lpg,Mercedes 420, Bmw Csi 3.5, Mercedes 380, Renault 21 Turbo, Rover Vitesse, Jaguar XjS, Jaguar Vandam Plas Double six, Fiat Supermiafiori 2.0,Daimler Xj6, Triumph Dolomite Sprint, Triumph Dolomite Sprint 2, Bmw 2002Ti, Audi 100, Rover V8 (2000 shape), Rover P6 V8 Coupe, Vauxhall Cavalier Auto ,Chrsler Alpine, Vauxhall Viva Mk1 which i passed my test in ,i loved that car , went to Ireland on Holiday and a Pig ran through a bush and into the road and end of lovely first car!

TT.
Errrr, Watkins... - Ian (Cape Town)
What's up?
You waiting for the thread to reach 100 before you tell us what you are driving? ;)
Errrr, Watkins... - Mark (RLBS)
On order is a Mercedes E Class Estate, currently driving a rental Omega V6 until the MB arrives. Just bought the boss an Omega 2.0 Estate, which I am pretty impressed with.

Oh, and a Ferrari 308 GTS qv.

I still have a Dodge Ram and a Toyota 4-Runner in Chile, a Pontiac Firehawk in SF, California and the remains of an A8 in Rio, Brazil.
Errrr, Watkins... - Ian (Cape Town)
Hehe - knew I'd get a response!
Still planning on taking the Ram to UK?
Errrr, Watkins... - Mark (RLBS)
Its absolutely the plan, but no time to action at the moment.
Errrr, Watkins... - RichardW
Seems I'm a bit out of place here then....

My current transport is a 91J BX TZD Turbo - cheap (apart from the cost of a new heater hose last week - ouch!) but a but rough round the edges. This was replacement for an 88 BX DTR Turbo that was OUTSTANDING - was up to 136k when I sold it, just after I replaced the head gasket (ugh, NASTY job). Which was a replacement for an 89 BX 14E which was a HORRIBLE car - but then I should never have bought it, so it served me right!

I also have a 1984 Citroen Visa 11RE Convertible - off the road for some TLC, and a 1929 Velocette Model U, the restoration of which I have just begun.

Trouble is the BX TDs are so damn good (and cheap) that I want another one, but there are no decent ones left. Xantia then I suppose....

Richard "I bleed green" W
Vehicles outside the backroom. - M.M
Richard,

>>Trouble is the BX TDs are so damn good (and cheap) that I want another one, but there are no decent ones left. Xantia then I suppose....

There are loads of folks finding themselves in that position, as we did a couple of years back. If you find a decent Xantia TD you\'ll be well pleased.

And as I haven\'t contributed so far....

Xantia SX TD - Best value s/h family car around under £2k.

VW Polo 1.3 Ranger (old \"breadvan\" shape) - Most reliable \"pocket money\" car I\'ve known.

SWB Diesel Series Land Rover - Smoother and faster than a tractor (just).

SWB Petrol Series Land Rover - Driveable rolling chassis without body...like something out of Mad Max!

International Tractor - 30yrs old and still capable of running at max revs/load for 10hr days in 30 degrees without complaint.


David W
Vehicles outside the Backroom - borasport20
Currently - VW Bora 2.0 Sport - but you'ld never have guessed that, would you

Best previous - Saab 96 V4, twin webers, fast cam, roll cage ....


when you've got tired of driving ...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
Vehicles outside the Backroom - borasport20
worst car ever

Yugo 45

a major fault every 6 months ! Should have realised something was wrong when the salesman said we'll give you £1000 against any car in part exchange, and if you haven't got a car to part-ex, we'll sell you one for £25 !!!

the exhaust fell off half way down the east lancs road
a rocker arm broke belting up the m6
the electrics packed up completely on a wet weekend in yorkshire
the clutch plate fell into three peices at a set of lights
a hinge snapped and the hatch fell off
back from the dealers after somebody hit it, I was halfway to north wales before discovering they'd only used 2 nuts to put the wheel back on !

life was interesting then !



when you've got tired of driving ...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
Vehicles outside the Backroom - peterb
Lexus IS200 SE.

Wonderful car: great handling, all the toys you'll ever want, not too many on the roads and the best gearbox in the known universe.

Previous cars (all company):

Avensis 2.0. Better than the mags make out. Whisper quiet, very comfortable, great revvy engine. B road handling could be better.
Megane - bottom of range. Hopeless 1.4 8v engine (I've since driven the 16v and it's much livelier). No equipment. Strange ergonomics (e.g. main beam warning light hidden by steering wheel). Mind you, I hardly ever hed to put petrol in it, unlike the....
Primera GT. Pimp-mobile with bodykit. Lovely engine, fabulous handling, very comfy seats(!) Possibly not the best car for someone who passed their driving test the week before....

Worst car I've driven is close between Citreon C5 (driving position), Vectra (handling) and Renault as above (engine).
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Simon Templar
Trojan1936
Morris 8 Series E
All versions Morris Minor(Except V6-8)
Cortina V6 (190BHP Weslake heads)
Reliant Scimitars
Modern Mercedes
Austin A70,A90,A105.
300SL Gullwing.
Ford Pilot
The most pleasurable car was a Scimitar
Simon T.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Mike M
99 Peugeot 406 LX HDi - Latest acquisition, ex-fleet - lovely car
92 Montego DLX - 160K miles of cheap and reliable motoring.
86 Rover 216S - Disappointing. Sounded like a diesel until they fitted the right-sized pistons.
78 Marina 1300 - Reliable, but a rust heap
65 Mk 1 Cortina 1500 Auto - Black, grey roof and bench front seat. Great looker. Did over 100K and only let me down once (broken timing chain).
62 Austin A40 Countryman - My first car. It put up with everything I did to it!

Vehicles outside the Backroom - lezebre
Best previous - Saab 96 V4, twin webers, fast cam, roll
cage ....


Hi borasport20,

Lovely cars, but mine was standard.
You should have got a 1700cc engine out of a German Taunus ;-)
Strange that a sporting minded mnfr like Saab only bought the 1500 from Ford for the 96.
Don't need a roll bar! they were designed to be capable of going downhill "on the roof" :-)
Vehicles outside the Backroom - borasport20
>>
>> Best previous - Saab 96 V4, twin webers, fast cam,
roll
>> cage ....
>>
Hi borasport20,
Lovely cars, but mine was standard.
You should have got a 1700cc engine out of a German
Taunus ;-)
Strange that a sporting minded mnfr like Saab only bought the
1500 from Ford for the 96.
Don't need a roll bar! they were designed to be capable
of going downhill "on the roof" :-)


i also had a bog standard 96 V4 and the one thing that soundly improved both of them was a Jetex sports exhaust
burble burble burrble..........
when you've got tired of driving ...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
Interesting observation ... - Ian (Cape Town)
Strange ... Only 70-odd folk have told us about their cars, while over 100 replies have gone into the "Life outside the Backroom" thread.
Are there some Lada, Reliant Robin or Mini Metro drivers here, who are too shamed to admit it?
I think we should be told ...
Interesting observation ... - dan
Volvo 480 turbo and proud of it.
Highly specified for its time don't you know...
OK as long as you don't get an 80's one then you'll avoid the electrical lemon monsters.
Quick, agile and different. Stick that in yer VAG and smoke it.

Ian you know what happens if you repeat the word 'lada' in the mirror thirteen times don't you!?
dan
Interesting observation ... - Ian (Cape Town)
No, I don't.
However, what happens if you repeat the word "Mirror" 13 times in the larder?
Interesting observation ... - matt35 {P}
Dan,

I checked into a hotel last week - they asked if I had a good memory for faces.
I said I thought so - but why???
They said that the bathroom mirror was broken.
Regards,
Matt35
Interesting observation ... - Flat in Fifth
"Strange ... Only 70-odd folk have told us about their cars, while over 100 replies have gone into the "Life outside the Backroom" thread."

Obviously the missing cars have been Toad down to the compound ;-)
Vehicles outside the Backroom - svpworld
Currently driving a 99T Vauxhall Omega 2.0 16V GLS automatic in diamond black, 89000 miles and drives like new. Absolutely love it to bits, comfortable, surprisingly quick for its size, quiet, relaxed and reasonably economic (~32 mpg with air con most of the time and mostly urban driving). Looks nice too in metallic black with black tinted solex glass and twin spoke alloys, though I need to wash it almost on a daily basis! Added a few extras including rear courtesy lamps, reversing sensors, cd player, stainless sills. Might put bigger alloys on it soon though worried about upsetting the handling of the car.
Previous and 1st car was an L reg Cavalier 1993, bought it 6 yrs ago at 80K and sold it with 158K still on its original clutch! Added lots of gadgets and extras to that one too, including electric conversion to sunroof, reversing sensors, interior/outside temperature computer, intelligent interior lighting control (would dim up interior lights when turning engine off as in Beemers and delay fade in and out when entering or leaving car), remote single touch closure and opening of sun roof from steering wheel, thermoelectric fridge in boot, a top notch surround effect audio system, 2 alarms and immobilisers with total closure,,,... ok this is getting boring! ;-)

Simon
SVPworld
www.svpworld.com
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Phil P
99V Ford Focus 2.0 Ghia 5-dr hatch with 26k on the clock in Panther Black, does half show up the dirt!

Just got back from fortnight in Denmark with five aboard, boot stuffed with heavy suitcases and a roofbox fitted, car didn't skip a beat!
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Slice
SWB Shogun Turbo Diesel (stop sniggering, I enjoy it).

1973 Reliant Scimitar - for when I need reminding what acceleration feels like.
Remember, you're only young once but you can always be immature.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - James Bolton
Current fleet:

1990 Peugeot 205GTi 1.6 (light metallic blue - lovely until someone keyed seven panels recently)
1981 Land Rover Series 3 88" station wagon for horsebox towing
1986 Citroen 2cv x2 - one was my first car, I'm restoring the other...
1986 VW Scirocco GT - rescued from friend's driveway - great distance muncher

That's my way of keeping myself happy and mobile along with my girlfriend and horse (!) on a very limited budget. Rented farm workshop helps me keep things going!

James
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ben {P}
I've got an '88F VW Jetta 16v, which i have spent a fotune on, everything goes wrong with it. Replaced all suspension components, including all the bushes. Bodywork was in good condition untill an a***hole in a Freelander with massive aftermarket bullbars decided to ram me repeatedly. Bit of a shame really, not worth repairing. It wears some Corrado G60 BBS wheels, and i stuck some early VR6 280mm brakes on as soon as i could afford it. How could VW release this car with the 239mm brakes? The engine makes good power for the state of tune, but the small end rattles on cylinder three.
My mum drives a '94L 850 T5 auto which i borrow ocassionaly. I have stuck some Bilstein Sport dmapers on it, but i still dont like the handling. I dont like the steering much either. Also it uses a fair bit of petrol if you like to press on on the motorway- i got 22.3mpg on a recent drive to Newcastle from SE London and thier wasnt any traffic. The Jetta returns 35mpg at the same speed.

Ben
Vehicles outside the Backroom - svpworld
Curious to know why you got rammed repeatingly!!!

Simon

Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ben {P}
So am i! I was on a dual carrige way (A20) near Sidcup travelling down the overtaking lane. There were cones placed in the outside lane due to road works ahead- the trafic also slows at this point due to a speed camera. I hadnt seen any signs for the cones. There were a number of cars in the inside lane. Between two there was a gap of about four cars. so i went past the car at the back of the gap with my left indicator on and positioned myself about half a car length behind the car at the front of the gap and looked in my mirror to see if the following vehicle was going to let me in. The guy accelerated to block me off, so i eased the brakes on and hoped to pull in behind him in the gap he had left. then the guy slammed his brakes on and tried to put me in the rapidly approaching traffic cones. I just slowed down proportionately looking straight on. The guy started waving his fist. We got down to about 15-20mph before he drove on. we both took the next exit, he went in the left lane of the slip road, i took the right lane. As i went past he stuck his hand out the window mimicking pulling a trigger on a gun. i ignored it. Then he switched lanes and pulled up behind me on the roundabout. he got real close. i continued to ignor his jesturing. As i pulled out he smacked into the back of my car. I circled the roundabout, as i didnt want to take the same turning as this guy. he followed me round and round. i didnt fancy getting hit at 30mph+ so i drove quickly to avoid him. unfortunately i nearly caught up with him, then an old lady pulled out in front of me. i couldnt be bothered mucking about and didnt wat to endanger myself or others (there was a fair amount of traffic) so turned off towards to police station. A lorry saw what was happening and let me cut him up. the nutter overtook on the pavement then started smashing into me again when the traffic stopped. the traffic moved on again, then we stopped right near the police station. he rammed me a few more times then got out and tried to smash the window in for a while. i couldnt believe it didnt break. I sat their with my hands in the air saying im sorry. the guy said his daughter was in the car, as if a reason for is behaviour. now how many of you ram people with your daughter in the car? By the end of it i just sat there and stared at him. Cars hooted to move on& he got back in his car.
Maybe i agrevated the situation by driving quickly around the roundabout in my old f reg Jetta, but i didnt fancy a high-speed colission. Went back to the bus stop opposite the final incident, but most people had taken the last bus. One woman remained but wasnt interested in being a witness.Although the car isnt worth anything im rather p***ed off because i have spent a lot of time and a fair amount of money on it, and in my own way quite like the car, its perfect for me.

Ben
Vehicles outside the Backroom - dan
Me too...repeatedly?
Was your brake conversion a simple bolt on (i.e. no compatibility problems) to get the VR6 disk and calipers? (or was it just the disks?
dan
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Ben {P}
Basically yes. 256mm late 16v brakes up to 280mm is easy, 239mmbrakes to 280mm is rather more involved. The big differnce between the two types of brakes fitted to the 16v cars is the hubs. I had the earlier 239mm brakes on my car for some unknown reason (it even had the brake ducts for the 256mm set-up), so i had to get hold of a pair of late 16v type hubs from a breakers yard. The latter hubs also have slightly larger ball-joints. I changed the wheel bearings and fitted new ball joints to the hubs i bought. I used calipers from an early VR6 as i wanted as new calipers as possible. G60 calipers fit, as do those from early mk.3 16v golfs. Do not get the 96 on calipers from cars with the plus running gear, these have 288mm brakes, different discs ofset,and worse pedal feel, and they just dont fit.

If you have the 256mm set-up all you need is the bigger discs and some g60/early vr6 caliper carriers. The late 16v calipers are slightly smaller than the "g60" type calipers but use the same type of carriers. If u use these calipers with the 280mm discs you need to keep using the late 16v pads otherwise the pads will rub.

Fitting these brakes to 239 equiped cars really necessitates fitting a larger master cylinder. Euro parts sell original 22.2mm master cylinders which just bolt straight on. However, the best set-up envolves using a corrado vr6 mastercylinder (23.8mm) and servo. I presently just have a 22.2mm cylinder as i just dont have the cash for a corrado set-up at the moment- pedal feel isnt great. I also recommend changing all the hoses for some goodridge stainles steel ones. All these cars are getting ancient and could do with having hoses changed anyway.

Hope that helps.

Ben
Vehicles outside the Backroom - El Dingo
A4 2.6 Avant (manual!)
El Dingo (Martin).
Vehicles outside the Backroom - drbe
Right then:
First car 1959 Ford Popular 1172cc, E93A (I think) bought new with a loan from Daddy.............................. through a 1938 BMW 328 sold to a mate for £15, it had a leaking fuel tank! Lots of other cars, a bit of time in the trade helped.

Now it's a 2001 MB 320CDI estate, which I like very much, plus a new Toyota Yaris 1.3 CDX auto, which I also enjoy driving
Vehicles outside the Backroom - A11DNL
Jaguar X-Type 3-litre Sport (manual) and my wife's Citroen Saxo 1100 SX.

Previously: Citroen XM 3-litre 24V, BX 2-litre 16V, CX 2.4-litre GTI and my wife's AX 1-litre and Visa Club.

So I'm a deserter from the Citroen cause since they abandoned the sporting executive sector and will probably switch the Saxo for a Honda Jazz when the time comes because they no longer compete in that sector either.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - lezebre

Thought I'd treat you to a full list of one-time runabouts.

side valves
Regal Reliant
Morris Oxford MO

no valves
Wartburg 1000

overhead valves
Triumph Herald
Vx Victor FB
Consul mkII Convertible power hood!
Hillman Minx - Best handling car so far.
VW Beetle oval window!
Simca Aronde
Riley 1.5 - a Morris Minor for those who could afford a walnut dash and twin SU carbs. 90mph! Woo!

Ford Zodiac mkII
Austin A55 - I wish all cars were such "good starters" as these; it didn't even want to stop when you turned it off, but ran on for about 30 secs.

Ford Zephyr 6
Austin Westminster - overdrive, and my first with pas
Vx Cresta PC
Citroen DS Special - which is French car speak for lowest spec. Really good column gear shift.

Saab 96 - If it wasn't so noisy, I'd still be content to do all my mileage in one today. 1st, or was it 2nd, in the 1969 RAC Rally.

overhead cam
Lancia Fulvia - jewel-like engine, to borrow a phrase from this website. 1st, or was it 2nd, in the 1969 RAC Rally.

VW Golf mk1 - Only the 1100cc; never felt slow. The brake pedals and clutch cables suffered from VWs hurried conversion to rhd.

Citroën CX - As radical in styling as the Ford Sierra was on launch, and a whole decade earlier.

Primera mk2 - The green met one outside the Backroom.

Vehicles outside the Backroom - r_welfare
From the top - 1996, when I were nubbut a lad of 19 years old...

1984 Volvo 340DL 1.4 - beige, but only 36k on the clock, died when wrapped round a pole but then resurrected by my local mechanic.

1989 Nissan Bluebird 1.8GS - comfortable, toy-laden, yet cheap to insure. Did 20k in 8 months without a hitch.

1984 Honda Prelude - underrated. Liked the pop-up headlights, red paint very prone to fading.

1990 Volvo 440GL 1.7 - a slug, but very comfortable seats.

1992 Rover 214Si - cambelt snapped after just 20 miles, my own fault for buying from a friend.

1998 Honda Civic 1.4i - bought after the Rover sham to get away from bangers, worthy but dull.

1984 Audi 80 quattro 2.1 - a genuine 1 owner, low mileage (51k) minter. Unbeatable on a wet road.

1985 BMW 528i - rare manual box, M-Tec suspension and LSD added up to a fast, manageable barge.

1978 Ford Fiesta 1.1L - bought for £100 with long tax & MOT, not much metal left in the front wings but a willing companion.

Current car now I've moved to Guernsey - 1987 VW Jetta 1.6TX. GTI looks with a slug motor, still after 15 years on such a small island the lack of rust is impressive. With only 51k on the clock it should hopefully be good for a couple of years yet.
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Dave_TD
Skoda Octavia 1.9SDi estate, silver, Y reg (May 2001), currently 112,500miles.
I've treated the good lady to a Peugeot 405 Style D Turbo estate, P reg, 102,000miles... but I know it's covered many many more!

Previously: (with ownership highlights!)

81V Allegro 1.1, £550 coming, £15 going
83Y Cavalier 1.6L, 36,000m, scrapped at 109,000
82X Strada 85 Super, with added rust, swapped it for...
77R Cortina 2.0GL Auto, 9mpg
81W Cortina 1.6L, no speedo or fuel gauge, made it all the way to lake district
82Y Cavalier 1.6GL, velour seats, mmmmm
85C Sierra 1.6L, damaged repaired
83A Renault 11 1.4, first car sold at a profit! of £25.
81W Escort XR3, stage 3 engine, raaaaaaa
84B Sierra 1.6L, lasted 9 days before engine seized
85C Fiat Panda 1000S, sold the tyres for more than the car
83Y Mini 1000, grazed knuckles
85C Sierra 1.6L estate, donated to fire service for cutting-up practice
85C Metro 1.0 City, hearing aid beige
89G Bluebird (My First Taxi!), reliable, still going out there, 400,000m+
93K Cavalier LS TD, six different shades of Flame Red
95M Mondeo GLX TD estate, 328,000m
96P Peugeot 405 Style D Turbo estate, slightly rattly(!)
01Y Skoda Octavia, as you know...
Vehicles outside the Backroom - John R @ Work {P}
If this had been in DISCUSSION I would have seen it sooner...

Owned =

Daewoo Matiz SE Plus
Fiat Chinquecento
Rover 214 SE
Honda 750 VF SC
Honda 250 Dream
Yamaha TownMate 90cc
Honda CX 500
Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Morris Marina 1300 Coupe (Auto)
Honda XL 250
Honda CB 175
Bond Bug 700 ES
Suzuik GT 250
Velocett LE 200 (was a heap, bought for £5 sold for £10)
Suzuki ACC 100

Driven for work =

RAF Morris Traveller
RAF Long & Short WB Landrovers
Company Leyland FG (Arrrgh!!!)
Company Leyland Terrier (7 Tonne Luton)
Company Transit(s)
Company Astra(S)
Company Cavalier 2 litre Auto
Company Citroen Xantia Deisel
John R
Vehicles outside the Backroom - steveholden
Ok from old to new:

First car:

MkII Mini Cooper 997 - Ah bless, should never have got rid boo hoo. And a sinch to fix. All you needed was water, oil, a screwdriver and a large hammer ;-)

MkII Golf - I must have got a bad one, it was rubbish

'02 BMW - I fantastic motor. A bit of style, shame bmw they dont make cars like this anymore!

MkII XR2 - White, Ford, good runner.
MkII Fiesta - Red, see above

Montego MG Turbo - Very fast GLS model ( Good Little Shopper! )

Alfa 75 Twin Spark - Good when it worked.

Montego 1.6 - Slow GLS!

Honda Civic shuttle - Fit two fridges in this one. and will run forever.

Nissan Sunny 1.4 lx - Good for short trips but a bit of a b*gger on the mways.

Lastest:

Pug 406 1.9TD GLX - Lots of toys ( when they work, see thread "diesel 406 playing up" ) and that's that.

//Steve
Vehicles outside the Backroom - Clear Spot
2000 X Omega Elite 3.0 Estate - brilliant caravan towcar and surprisingly economical.

Also have a Triumph TR7 convertable - currently laid up - much underrated car.

Previous cars

2000 Ford Explorer North Face - the worst towcar and worst motorway cruiser I have ever owned or driven. Very comfortable when stationary.

1997 Nissan Terrano diesel - good towcar otherwise hopeless

1996 Mondeo 24valve Ghia X estate - not too bad

1992 Audi 100 Avant Turbo - great cruiser.

1990 Sierra Ghia - better than might be expected

1988 Carlton

1986 Escort

and back to my first car which was a 1962 Ford 100E bought in 1967.