My first car, after passing my test.

[Russ77]

I think this thread has reminded us just how bad cars used to be - we've become spoilt by cars that don't rust away as soon as we get them, cars that actually steer, stop and start.

The generation that could (because they had to) fix a car by the road side on the way there, and again on the way back, who knew about brake fading, who could drive in snow without ESP and ABS and who didn't worry about breaking the speed limits because their cars couldn't, is dying out

My Dad's often said this.... when I was a kid I can remember him going round to my Grandad's where they'd check the plugs/points etc which even 25 odd years ago was necessary to keep the thing running.

Now you can pretty much leave them to their own devices between servicing (not forgetting to check the oil, fluid levels and tyre pressures every week or so).

It's just more of a shock when they suddenly stop working for no apparent reason now

 

[Nod]

Came as a shock to me when I went to check the oil level on my current car - there's no dipstick (bar the one that sits behind the wheel...)! A few button presses with the "ignition" (oxymoron alert - it's a Diesel!) on shows a bar graph with the level. There IS a hole for the owner to add the slippery stuff if required (the graph suggests the amount needed).

I used to like tinkering with engines in cars but when you open the bonnet on mine, you can't see the bloody thing let alone tinker! The bike, however, is emminently tinkerable with so I can do my Uncle Ernie impression on that.

 

[gman]

Gold 1984 993cc Toyota Starlet nicknamed the Golden Chariot. Terrible performance, terrible brakes but very comfortable seats. Managed to run it for a whole year with no water in the radiator as I was filling some reserve tank instead. Eventually blew but I'm still amazed it went for so long.

This is identical to it:

 

[srichards]

I'm about the only person in my street that ever lifts the bonnet on their car to check the oil and coolant and washer fluid. I've mostly owned Italian cars so I'd never trust any electronic readout to give me an honest answer

 

[andya700]

I'm about the only person in my street that ever lifts the bonnet on their car to check the oil and coolant and washer fluid. I've mostly owned Italian cars so I'd never trust any electronic readout to give me an honest answer

I have a 97 GTV coupe in the garage (needs a new steering rack), so I know what you mean. My ideal Italian car would have no electronic "extras" at all - no central locking, electric windows, sunroof, and all the main electric components would be upgraded to Bosch - not Magneto Marelli:nono:
Working on car engines has become more difficult, but you can still do the basic service work including brakes and suspension - you just need to keep buying different sockets and spanners to keep pace with the engineer's whims.

 

[Nod]

I would rather have a dipstick (and wouldn't have an Italian car!) but my car doesn't have one! I do the graphic check regularly though and it hasn't gone bang yet.

 

[srichards]

I have a 97 GTV coupe in the garage (needs a new steering rack), so I know what you mean. My ideal Italian car would have no electronic "extras" at all - no central locking, electric windows, sunroof, and all the main electric components would be upgraded to Bosch - not Magneto Marelli:nono:
Working on car engines has become more difficult, but you can still do the basic service work including brakes and suspension - you just need to keep buying different sockets and spanners to keep pace with the engineer's whims.

I have an ph2 spider. More electronics that you can shake a stick at. The roof stops working due to a bit of plastic moving into the wrong place...the irony never ceases to amuse

 

[andya700]

I have an ph2 spider. More electronics that you can shake a stick at. The roof stops working due to a bit of plastic moving into the wrong place...the irony never ceases to amuse

On the GTV - the passenger window works fine, the driver's window works - when it wants to:shake:, the sunroof works in the rain, the central locking doesn't like sub zero temperatures, the fuel gauge only drops as far as half (then you wait for the light to come on), the radio sometimes comes on all by itself.
I still wouldn't get rid of it, because it makes me happy every time I drive it, and none of the four Alfas I have owned have ever broken down on me and left me stranded.

 

[hamster100]

Mine was a 1979 Ford Capri 2.0GL, oh the memories! Tail happy and great fun.

Loved that motor and the insurance was reasonable compared to today. My eldest son has just turned 17 and I'm dreading what the insurance will be on his first car.

 

[gman]

I'm about the only person in my street that ever lifts the bonnet on their car to check the oil and coolant and washer fluid. I've mostly owned Italian cars so I'd never trust any electronic readout to give me an honest answer

lol brilliant!


Aye, getting harder and harder to deal with modern cars. I just bought a code reader last week, good piece of kit and saved me a few hundred at the garage

 

[pepi1967]

Ah my old Vauxhall viva mk1 loved that car but not as much as my escort estate now that holds one or three good memories

 

[Mike-a]

1984 Vauxhall Nova 1.2L in China Blue. Lasted all of six months before speed overtook skill and I parked it in a hedge bottom.
It was followed by two Minis and a Rover 214si.
I miss the Minis as theywere a lot of fun but needed constant work to keep them on the road. My first one was so rotten come MOT time that after removing the running gear and interior me and my mate cut it up with a blunt wood axe and put it in the bin for the dustmen to take away.

 

[kelack]

1984 Vauxhall Nova 1.2L in China Blue. Lasted all of six months before speed overtook skill and I parked it in a hedge bottom.
It was followed by two Minis and a Rover 214si.
I miss the Minis as theywere a lot of fun but needed constant work to keep them on the road. My first one was so rotten come MOT time that after removing the running gear and interior me and my mate cut it up with a blunt wood axe and put it in the bin for the dustmen to take away.

My first car was a B reg Nova, red. Followed by two Metros and then a Rover 214

Ok, there may have been a Fiat Uno in there and a Citroen AX GT too.

 

[onomatopoeia]

My ideal Italian car would have no electronic "extras" at all - no central locking, electric windows, sunroof

An original Alfa Guilietta Sprint Speciale or Sprint Zagato would fit the bill. A pair of Weber 40DCO carbs attached to the twincam engine, no electronics to worry about. Of course, the newest ones are 47 years old now.

When I win the lottery one will be on my shopping list.

 

[Bernie174]

A white (apparently) G reg (In the days when the G was at the end!) ford Cortina Mk2.
Top speed, well, the speedo said 95, although any connection between it and the truth was a coincidence.
The front off side wing was pure rust, with a hole in it, covered by a black bin liner held on with gaffer tape.
The brake lights were superb, visible from no more than 3 feet away in daylight.
Turn the stereo up (Harry Moss Special from Halford) and the fuses all blew.
Sounded like a bag of spanners.
But only broke down 3 times in 6 months, the last time being terminal.

 

[nilagin]

'73 Mk3 Cortina 1.6L with GLX front seats that reclined down flush with the rear seat.

 

[stupar]

My first car was a B reg Nova, red. Followed by two Metros and then a Rover 214

Ah rovers, I used to have a 94 plate Rover 214 SLI. It was immaculate with not a single bit of rust on it and no grime in the engine bay.
Only failed me twice with a failed starter motor and a failed crankshaft pick up sensor, the latter of which was covered under warranty.

Here she is below next to the old boys Cavalier 2.0 Diplomat

 

[Mike-a]

Our neighbour has a Cavalier the same age and colour as that. It was his dads and he keeps it garaged all the time. It only comes out for a quick drive in good weather and to be taken for it's MOT.

 

[dejongj]

Mu first car was a Saab 900 turbo convertible. Loved that car, had three more since two of which brand new.

 

[chuck]

Passed in about 5 years ago (I'm 22)
First car was a 1972 GT Beetle in Orange.
Then to a 1994 Mini (The one in my avatar)

To sadly, more recently, a Bini.

 

[Throttle]

My first car was a van a Vauxhall Astramax which even had a sink with heated water fitting in the back my first actual car after the van was a Toyota Carina E Exec

 

[Mikechappers]

A dark blue Zephyr ERL297D,cost me 60 quid, lots of cars since, that is the only reg that I can remember, column change with a bench seat, had it a week before the clutch started slipping, remember putting the nearside wheels onto the pavement so I could get beneath it to fit a secondhand clutch from the local scrapyard, tried to jack it up, but the top of the jack kept disappearing into the chassis , it died in my local town square about six months later on a Saturday afternoon, think an inlet valve had burnt out, was trying to start it with the bonnet up, leaning over the engine pressing the solenoid, when it backfired with a huge bang and flames through the inlet manifold, bits of carburetor whistled past my ears, could hear bits tinkling as they landed on the tarmac, much to my surprise an that of the local shoppers.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Mike's Zephyr reminds me of my Cortina XL200, which used to blow oil fumes into the engine compartment.
Anyway, 1 day the engine lost power and stopped (there was an underbonnet fire that had melted the air filter holder and choked the engine). Pregnant wife was in the front seat, 2 year old was strapped in the back, so I had a valuable cargo.

When I realised that the car was on fire I opened her door, said "We're on fire, get yourself and Mark out NOW", grabbed the fire extinguisher, popped the bonnet and put the fire out. When I looked for my family, nothing had changed - NOW means different things to different people...

 

[stupar]

Our neighbour has a Cavalier the same age and colour as that. It was his dads and he keeps it garaged all the time. It only comes out for a quick drive in good weather and to be taken for it's MOT.

It was a nice cat to drive especially being automatic - relaxed driving!

Mad to think the 1.4 rover next to it had 10 horses less as standard than the 2.0 cavvy but performed quicker, that's double the calves and cams for you though

 

[Asha]

A 1979 gold coloured 3 door Honda Civic.

It was 7 years old when I acquired it from one previous owner.

It had 11,000 miles on the clock and the plastic covering was still on the rear seats and the interns of all the doors.

Only kept it for 3 years but served me well......clocking up 74,000 when I let it go.

 

[dejongj]

A 1979 gold coloured 3 door Honda Civic.

It was 7 years old when I acquired it from one previous owner.

It had 11,000 miles on the clock and the plastic covering was still on the rear seats and the interns of all the doors.

Only kept it for 3 years but served me well......clocking up 74,000 when I let it go.

I used to love that shape