Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

Over the years I've owned vehicles ranging in size from a 1969 Mini Clubman to three contemporary double cab pick ups. Big and clumsy I didn't like any of them.
In terms of power the range has been from a Mark 1 Ford escort Van with the low compression 1100cc engine to a Skip Brown Roadspeed modified 1.9 litre Peugeot 205 Gti and a Sierra Cosworth yet the one vehicle I liked the most and had the most satisfaction from was one of these :

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Mine was the same colour as this one, Marine Blue and I bought it new on the 8th August 1989 after waiting three months for delivery. G327 FCC was a 1.6 diesel VW Caddy Pick up and it proved to be the best vehicle I have owned before or since.
I owned it for 10 years and 157,000 miles and even at the end it was sought after by people asking to buy it.
I pumped the best part of two gallons of Waxoyl under pressure with an air applicator into every crevice, box section, sill and even into the apertures inside the cab. It was totally rust free.
It "developed" over the years gaining a 5 speed gearbox from a VW Scirroco, alloy wheels and seats from a Mark 1 Golf GTi, a Truckman Top and towbar.

I used it day in, day out up and down the country carrying loads often in excess of it's rated half ton capacity and towing heavy trailers. It had it's faults - heavy steering, awful brakes and hopeless ability in snow despite front wheel drive and winter tyres.

Why did I sell it? One evening in July 1999 an elderly lady reversed her Vauxhall Cavalier from a parking space at some velocity straight into the front of the Caddy.
To avoid it being declared "beyond economic repair" in the no fault insurance claim I agreed to have it repaired with second hand parts at less than half the lowest £600 quotation by a friend who years later sold me the Series 2 Land Rover.
The damage caused by the impact was largely cosmetic but the jolt was considerable and the Caddy did not feel the same afterwards.

A van trader bought if from me with a new MOT and on the express understanding that it was damaged repaired and road tested to his satisfaction. He resold it within hours.

Nothing has compared to it for reliability, build quality or the enjoyment of driving it and you cannot buy anything comparable except perhaps this as the Caddy's spiritual successor :

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This is a VW Saveiro built in Brazil and sold only in South America.

What a shame - I want one!

Ellis
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[47Jag]

Ellis,

A couple of weeks ago I followed a new VW pickup down the motorway. It was quite large. I would guess about the size of a Ford F150. Didn't see any model name.

Art

[Ellis]

[colwyn500]

I didn't own it, technically; it was my partner at the time. And don't tell her because I made such a fuss about how horrible it was, even down to the colour...bright yellow ( I really like that now). But I really enjoyed driving a Renault 15. Sad or what?

[Churchill Johnson]

My last estate, a Citroen 1994 zx estate 1.9l d no turbo and no dam electronic's, a 151k, secondhand eng fitted in 1999 used it till march this year taking the eng over 300k but rust had beaten the inner wing's and no other problem's, replaced with a 2004 cit xsara estate 2l hdi turbo and electronic's with 66k on clock and problem's, less mpg but of course sir it will do over a 100mph and has a lot more power, i know which one was the better.

[Scotty]

2009 VW Golf Tdi GT 3-door - fabulous performance from a car that never failed to return 45mpg in town.

[roverdriver]

The Model A Ford. Bought in 1966 and put back on the road within weeks. Full restoration 1971/72. Used for the International rally N.Z. 1972, then brought back to Australia. Used for daily driving, then some extended trips of about 5,000 miles (twice) plus lots of other trips. Number of times suffering an unplanned stop- possibly a dozen or so. Number of times needed roadside assistance- nil. Total mileage while in my possession, approx 200,000. Regretfully sold in 1990 as I thought that I would no longer continue my interest in historic motor vehicles.

The Model A was quite capable of motoring in busy city traffic provided one is alert to what other motorists are doing and very capable of long distances with perfect reliability.


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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[peter scott]

Maybe I set my sights on the low side but I must say I become more and more impressed by modern cars as the years progress.

I thought my previous Diesel Mondeo (1993) was good but having now had its replacement for 18 months, a 2004 TDCi 130 Mondy,
I am even more impressed.

Apart from being capacious and comfortable for 500 miles / day its road performance really impresses me. With 245 lb-ft of torque it's a real wolf in sheep's clothing for good overtaking and I would rate its handling as excellent too, but to cap it all, if you drive carefully it also gives better fuel economy than anything I've ever owned. On a 900 mile trip last year it returned a true 65 mpg measured on a brim to brim tank calculation.

Fly by wire is a little scarey on the maintenance side but with the aid of some really good diagnostic software and a bit of web research I think I'm getting on top of the potentially expensive maintenance costs.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[ukdave2002]

I had a lift from a colleague a couple of weeks ago , we did a 400 mile round trip in his 2011 Mondeo, I have to say that I'd have thought I was in a BMW or Merc, very quiet, no rattles great build quality, I was impressed.

My modern is a BMW 6 series, I love it and can't really fault it, its now 5 years old, 70k miles and in that time its had 2 rear tyres (expensive) 2 oil changes, 2 brake fluid changes and a couple of pollen filters, I can't argue with the maintenance costs. Last year the "Logic 7" hifi amplifier failed, BMW wanted £1500 to replace it I dusted down my electronics background and after and hour and 27p spent at Maplin replaced a de-coupling capacitor normal service was resumed!

I should really replace it as my work contract states I can't have a car older than 5 years old! but am struggling to identify a replacement as it drives like new (I have never had 2 consecutive cars that are the same) did think of getting something bizarre like a Vauxhall Ampere

Anyway about 2 hours ago I dropped my key into a slurry pit on a farm...I bet that will cost me!

Dave

[Mog]

At least $300 if it is a remote one.

[Churchill Johnson]

Have you not got long arm's, bet the piky's would soon drive it away key or no key.

[BSV205F]

For me it was a Silver Fox Cortina 1600E reg BSV205F closely followed by an Amber Gold 1600E reg VVA450H and a Mimosa Yellow Triumph Dolomite Sprint reg RVD509M. More newer runabouts in the 90's were a Raven Black Orion 1600E reg F720UJS and for speed a White Montego MG Turbo reg F821KKS. From DVLA they all seem to have gone but I have heard the Sprint may be being restored and heres hoping to maybe see it again one day.......

[Geoffp]

Another vote for a modern I'm afraid, but is at least an Alfa 2001 156 Sportwagon, a delight to drive and beatifully designed. A modern classic perhaps? I had it for 7 years and would still have it but I needed something bigger so it reluctantly had to go a couple of years ago


Alfa Romeo 156 Mid-Wales by geoffp5, on Flickr

Geoff

[Ashley]

I wouldn't dispute that modern cars are exceptionally good, far better than anything from the past, but there are some very special old cars out there that stand out.

I agree on the Model A Ford, they are cheap and simple to repair inexpensive to run and great fun.

At the other end of the scale and probably Rolls-Royce's best car is the MKVI Bentley. Provided they are in sound condition (most aren't and it costs a fortune to put them right) they ride as well as moderns, they are quiet at 70-80mph, which they can do all day, the seats are superb and they are lovely to drive. People prefer more sporting cars, so they're not particularly valuable, but in my opinion they are one of the best cars of all time.

I had a Silver Dawn in the seventies, always regretted selling so I bought a MKVI in '98 and still have it. I've owned an awful lot of cars, but nothing diminishes the pleasure of driving it.

[emmerson]

Depends on the job the car is put to, surely?
The best FUN car was my 1968 MGB, but the best OVERALL car would be my current or previous Range Rover LSE, on LPG. All of my RRs have been great for purpose, ie, luxury towcars, but the LSE is the best of all.