Cars and bikes we have owned and loved or hated

[richard]

Prompted by another thread I thought I'd open this new thread

Bikes

First bike was a James 125 called Charlie. Loved her and took her to bits but screwed up rebuilding the gearbox so it went in reverse
Second bike was a Ducati 200cc Daytona called Duke but it seized over 80mph. Wrote it off
Third bike was a BSA Taylor Dow Gold Star called Goldie but it nearly killed me Wrote it off

Fourth bike was a Norvin called Vinnie but was a plumbers nightmare and a pig to handle

Then I got sensible

Cars

Too many to mention really but here goes

1st clapped out Mini called Minnie
2nd, 3rd, 4th Beetles all called Adolf. Blew 2 up and wrote off the third so converted it into a beach buggie
5th Rover 2000 called Hissing Sid limped along everywhere
6th Triumph 2000 pi called Bessie shit off a shovel but the pi was temperamental
7th Austin ambassador no name cos it was a pig
8th another Rover but a pig
9th and 10th Audi coupes called Sarah shit off a shovel but wrote them off
11th BMW 325i called Bertie major shit off the shovel jobbie wrote it off
12th Landrover no name but ideal for the dirt roads in Zimbabwe
13th Range Rover called Suzie exquisite but thirsty. Wrote it off
14th Cherokee Jeep called Jasper thirsty so had to go

Note my cars became bigger due to living in Africa and the need to have something akin to a tank to survive

Based on the number of write offs you can see why I do not drive here in Thailand

[Big Boy]

Note my cars became bigger due to living in Africa and the need to have something akin to a tank to survive

OMG that's an incredible amount of write offs If you needed a tank, what did everybody else need to survive you driving on the same road?

Are you one of the older generation who did not actually need to take a test

[lomuamart]

Started out at 17 with an 850 mini. By brother eventually put a 1,000 cc engine in and basically took it over as it was all his work - with a qualified mechanic. We wanted a 1,250 cc in there but were advised that the brakes wouldn't be good enough and the chassis would need to be altered.
Then further education for 4 years and a job afterwards. Eventually I got a company 1,300 Escort and I loved it. Freedom.
Next job, another 1,300 Escort which was pile of rubble and I drove it into the ground before it probably went to the knacker's yard after I left.
Next job an Astra CS which I thought was the bee's knees even though it wasn't the CSi or GTE and only 1,600 cc. After three months at that job, I got my Renault 5 turbo and it was s*** off a shovel. A great fun car around London and country roads but it didn't handle too well.
Then a Renault Clio 16v which I thought would be a step down in acceleration, but it wasn't really and it handled brilliantly.
Then, my last car, a Renault Clio Williams (mark 3). 2,000 cc, 16v, fuel injected and electronically tweaked. That was simply the best car I've ever driven. 0-60 mph in a little over 6 seconds, it stuck to the road and accelerated through all gears to the fifth. Gold alloy wheels etc etc. A class act for the budget I was allowed. A shame the Williams team disassociated themselves from Renault as that version might still be in production although I believe Renault only exported about 300 each year to the UK - for three years.
That's that and I suppose the most important thing is that I've never actually owned a car other than the hand-me-down mini at the start. They've always been company cars and I eventually learnt to respect them - especially the Williams. There was a tear in my eye as I handed over the keys and I'd only been driving it for about 9 months.
I walk everywhere now or cadge a lift.

[richard]

Note my cars became bigger due to living in Africa and the need to have something akin to a tank to survive

OMG that's an incredible amount of write offs If you needed a tank, what did everybody else need to survive you driving on the same road?

Are you one of the older generation who did not actually need to take a test

Took both tests BB and passed first time on both

I was actually a good driver but a tearaway and hell raiser in my youth.

Most of the write offs were not my fault (IMO)

[Big Boy]

I was actually a good driver but a tearaway and hell raiser in my youth

With the amount of vehicles you've written off, you must have been middle aged by the end

The local cemetaries are full of such unfortunate drivers. It's such fantastic driving that makes my son's minimum insurance premium for an old banger start at £1.5K per year.

Anyway, my rant has taken this off topic. please.

[STEVE G]

I haven't owned a vehicle in Europe since the mid nineties, I use public transport or a bicycle all the time now.
When I was younger I had a MkII Escort, a 1973 MG Midget which was a lot of fun on country lanes, a 2300 Rover and a V8 Land Rover which was the most ridiculously thirsty vehicle imaginable.
I never had a major crash with any of them.

[Super Joe]

Mk2 1600 Mexico - apparently in good nick they sell for 20k GBP still
Renault 5GT turbo - frighteningly quick

Both as a youngster mind

SJ

[Brit Jim]

Cars

1. Vauxhall Viva
2. Triumph Spitfire
3. Ford Capri
4. Ford Cortina
5. Mini
6. Ford Capri
7. VW Beetle
8. Astra GTE MK 1
9. VW Beetle
10. Peugeot 309
11. Toyota MR2
12. Toyota Carina
13. VW Beetle
14. Honda City
15. Skoda Octavia

Toyoto and Skoda bullit proof. Love the Beetles!!

Bikes

1. Yamaha DT 125
2. Suzuki X5
3. Suzuki GT 380
4. Kawasaki KH 400
5. Suzuki GT 750
6. Honda Wave
7. Tiger Boxer RS250

Two strokes great fun to ride but UNRELIABLE..

[fach3003]

Hi all,

Cars
Astra MK2 1300L Later modded heavily with a 1600 Nova GTE Motor and twin 40 webbers!...16v brakes and bilstein suspension...quickish!
Mini built by Allspeed engineering in 1995 with a vauxhall 2.0 16V Motor and box , full cage! 45 webbers the build is a story itself
A rocket hard to keep on the road...complete monster...
Settled down to a yawn Cavalier 2.0SRI
then a Astra MK4 1.4...
Then 2 Citreon AX GTs fun little shoe boxes both new
then a new Cooper S Black / Black Leather / lovely supercharge wine
great car...
my last new UK Car...
An Audi A6 2.0TDi....loved it...sold it when coming here...
Now a 1996 Nissan Big M for my sins
Its like a sherpa van but makes be smile...

Bikes
Itajet 50 aged 4
Yamaha TY80
Suzuki RM125 for MX racing
Yamaha YZ125
Yamaha 350LC YPVS wish i never sold it
Yamaha FZR600R first race bike 1995 season
Yamaha FZR400RRSP Longterm race bike there just top
Yamaha R1 1999 Race bike..monster...at the time
Suzuki GSXR600K4 road bike
Yamaha Fazer 600 first model great road bike
Several more FZR400RR SP raced and sold
Suzuki GSXR1000K5 Race bike...huge laff
2 Suzuki SV650 Race bikes...just great fun...
loads more i forgot....Proper 1992 TZ250 racer...wonderful...
now have a bicycle...hahahaha

miss the bikes not the cars!!!!

Regards to all

Fach

[Jimbob]

On reflection the various cars I owned plots my wealth or debt at various times.
I served an apprenticeship on fixing most them: from engine rebuilds to suspension rebuilds. Soon found out modifying cars was a waste of time.
My late wife didn't believe in public transport so I always ran two cars in the family: a bit of a luxury except when I had to get underneath them.

1948 Ford Pilot V8 bush basher
1956 FC Holden
64 Humber Vogue
64 Sunbeam Alpine Series 4
63 Sunbeam Alpine series 3
1970 Datsun Fairlady 2000
56 beetle 1100
54 Kombi
62 Kombi
67 Holden
63 Morris 1100 with cooper S motor
70 Escort GT
70 Cortina (2)
1979 Mazda pickup for 12 years while my wife ran the good cars for her business
(these were Volvo 440, Datson 180B, Mazda 626, Toyota Camry Honda CRV)
84 Toyota Celica
90 Ford Capri sports roadster (Aussie)
2005 Mazda 3
2008 Golf 2.0 TDI
I keep my hands clean now

[lomuamart]

SJ,
You were a 5 turbo man as well? Brilliant car. I used to drive it in rush hour from Southwark Street to Ealing through Hyde Park Corner, up Park Lane and then left at Marble Arch to the A40.
The lag got me at the start because I'd never driven a turbo before but it all worked out and I never had an accident.
What a car.

[lindosfan1]

Bikes
BSA bantam
Triumph tiger cub
Triton That was fast!!!

Cars in no particular order
Ford popular, a buggar going up steep hills in the rain the wipers slowed down or stopped
Ford anglia
Ford cortina
ford cortina estate
Peugeot forgot the model in Germany
Mercedes forgot the model in Germany
Austin westminster
Humber snipe
Hillman avenger cost me 125 pound lasted 2 years with no money spent on it
Volvo 240
Morris minor
Ford sierra
Citroen forgot model
Ford escort
Renault 4 most economical car i ever had
Ford capri
MGB gt the only car I regretted getting rid of
Mitsubishi pajero 4x4 big buggar with all the bull bars most comfortable car I ever had loved it
Peugot 307 estate the only new car i ever had
Mitsubishi pick up in Thailand
Astra
And a few others I cannot remember. I used to buy cheap cars from the auctions and drive them till they gave up the ghost. Never had an accident.

[buksida]

I remember the old R5 GT Turbo, used to wipe the floor with them in my Pug 205 1.9 GTi.

The Mk I Golf GTi 1800 was also a great car.

[migrant]

I bought my first car from my Father, a 1968(?) Ford Custom and paid him $2,000

When I got to college people told me I paid twice what the old car was worth. When I told my Father he said "Yep, you did, always be careful when you buy something".

And I never got any refund

[caller]

Oh well, if we're doing lists, my unspectacular purchases have been...

Austin 1100 - I was 10 when it was made and 19 when I bought it!
Triumph 1300
Triumph 1500
Austin Allegro 1300
Ford Cortina Mk2 Ghia 2000
Vauxhall Astra
Rover 216SLi
Alfa 145
Hyundai Coupe
Honda Accord 2OOO SE

i've had the Honda for 10 years now and planned on it being my last car in the UK, didn't plan on it taking so long! I hope it keeps going!

I've driven loads of others from work - some quite tasty!

I don't do bikes and won't if ever in LOS. Love driving there though.