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Nov 29, 2014 22:12:11 GMT
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You are not alone! There's some familiar stuff already on this thread, for me the ones I get most are... Q: "What car would I pick if you could have any car in this carpark?" A: None of 'em, I prefer my Retro daily Q: "Why not get rid of that old banger and get something sensible" A: Why get rid of something I like for something that I don't? Keep the faith!
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Nov 29, 2014 23:05:21 GMT
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The motoring press made a huge thing about 'bangernomics' a few years back and bang for buck fell squarely in the cheap used car camp.
£500 or less has bought me a 1 owner 230e W124, an early mk II Scirocco GTi, an enthusiast owned Alfa 155 2.0 TS widebody, a Nissan Bluebird ZX Turbo, an E36 320i SE.. the list goes on. All have been solid cars with T&T but most importantly all have been an absolute hoot and jumped out from the bland modern rubbish around you. At this money if you have big problems move it on and go find your next bargain. I sold most of mine to friends (mainly without major problems!), some made healthy profits. You don't have to be 'sensible' to be sensible.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,514
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Back on topic - I honestly think a sensible car is one that will do the job you ask of it. Uncle Bryn, bang on the money (as usual). For me its a smallish, comfortable family estate car that I can drive anywhere & anytime, fill with junk when necessary and can tow the trailer tent away on holiday.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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slomoshun
Part of things
Going forward one nut and bolt at a time
Posts: 319
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Nov 30, 2014 10:14:21 GMT
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everyones take on < sensible > is very interesting and thought provoking to the point its your life live it
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Traction and horsepower is nearing perfection
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steve900
Part of things
Idle & Shiftless
Posts: 85
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I couldn't give a rats if anyone thinks my car is not to their liking - I've had quite a few people strike up conversation with me purely because of the car. Never got that when I had a Mazda 2. What really made me glad of my retro daily was recently at a family do, someone was moaning on about how some tyres or a service (I forget which) on his BMW / Lexus had cost him £700. My car cost that. And I'm sure I get way more pleasure out of my car. And if it goes BANG tomorrow, no daft bills to fix it, I can just get another one for less than a grand. *Edit - and I can fit all sorts of junk in the boot and not be precious about knackering the car up! picked up a large furniture unit off of ebay, fit in the saab easy
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Last Edit: Dec 1, 2014 20:42:53 GMT by steve900
Saab 900 Saab 9000
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camper damper
Part of things
Another car bites the dust
Posts: 606
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I was sitting in traffic in the capital of Ireland a few week back and I was looking at all the new cars going nope nope nope then I seen a car beside me and went yep I'd have that only to realise it was my cars reflection in a window. What made that day better was when I was sitting in a car park someone walks up to me and goes nice I'd love one like that.
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slomoshun
Part of things
Going forward one nut and bolt at a time
Posts: 319
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well ive gone what i call < retro sensible > and acquired a Rover 820i with the cast iron bits opposed to the alloy ones up front in engine bay bit of a barge full of bits to give some sort of luxury / fairly quick enough for me once its had the < grandad quiet > backbox changed it will be on its way to feeling like its mine and slowly retroised to my liking all at pocket money prices
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Traction and horsepower is nearing perfection
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The test for me is much the same, though when it comes down to mine or theirs, it goes down to what one turns more heads when it drives by. I'll pick up the attention and conversation starter over the mother-in-law pleaser. Though my other halves mum loves my car. I tried the second car route (a pretty boring 2.5t Volvo s70) and as clement says it not only made life more complicated as to which car to use and what one to put petrol in, but in the long term it costs more. Totally agree with using the classic as being more sensible. My car is tiny overall but has a bigger boot than my friends 2007 corsa.
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spacekadett
Part of things
F*cking take that Hans Brrix!!
Posts: 818
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I went to two cars when the retro got to be a liability and I couldn't source the parts to sort it Then I used to run them for six months each; one for summer, one dumped under a tree 'til winter As my amount of tat / projects has increased and health has got a bit dicey I've found it handy to have a 'one car that must work at all times' laying around. I Never spend a lot to buy any car, project or not and the sensible ones have included a slightly modded sapphire Ghia, a V6 mk2 Mondeo ( that sounded glorious with a janspeed exhaust ) and a tweaked 75 turbo that was cheap as it was cat C and needed a couple of doors. The current Focus is the dullest, but it's comfortable and again was cheap cos it was broken. Now it's sorted and only owes me about half what it's worth, which is nice but means I keep looking S and X types thinking mmm, I could chop the Focus for that!
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Mechanic's rule #1... If the car works, anything left on the floor after you finished wasn't needed in the first place
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I've read through this thread and have to agree with the comments made. My everyday car is 25 years old and over the last 10 years with the exception of an MGF all my cars have been 20 odd years old. Thankfully my wife doesn't mind what she drives as long as it starts each time. A couple of years ago friends of ours bought a new Golf which at the time had road tax of £30/year. Wife mentioned same and asked how much we were paying in road tax. Nearly had a fit when I said £220 for each car, had a spare Eunos at the time, but soon changed her mind when I said that two of their monthly payments would have paid for my Volvo and another three months payments would pay for the Mazda. Said friends have since got a newer Golf with free road tax. Needless to say wife hasn't mentioned buying a modern again. Mind you we have just spent the price of a new car on a kitchen! Keep with decent interesting second hand/retro machine. You know it makes sense.
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THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
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My lass always says I should put my car costs in with the household bills that we split down the middle, and I refuse for this reason. Whenever she says something (which is rare, to be fair to her, she's a star), I just say "Not your money, not your problem love"
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slomoshun
Part of things
Going forward one nut and bolt at a time
Posts: 319
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sensible must be a word in retro land that is undifine able but we all have that one thing in common and that is new tin aint our game if we can get an old tinkerer we are happy
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Traction and horsepower is nearing perfection
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sensible must be a word in retro land that is undifine able but we all have that one thing in common and that is new tin aint our game if we can get an old tinkerer we are happy Got to agree. However 'sensible' cars do have their place ......... I got one of those ' you need to get down here now,its not good news' type phone calls, i am 200 miles away, its 09:30 on a friday, my only transport was a fifteen year old Discovery, with four inch lift,the handling characteristics of a drunk pushing a three wheeled shopping trolley,and the acceleration and speed of stalagtite formation. And thats If it started ........ Oh boy did i want a Mondeo/Vectra/whatever right then!
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sensible must be a word in retro land that is undifine able but we all have that one thing in common and that is new tin aint our game if we can get an old tinkerer we are happy Got to agree. However 'sensible' cars do have their place ......... I got one of those ' you need to get down here now,its not good news' type phone calls, i am 200 miles away, its 09:30 on a friday, my only transport was a fifteen year old Discovery, with four inch lift,the handling characteristics of a drunk pushing a three wheeled shopping trolley,and the acceleration and speed of stalagtite formation. And thats If it started ........ Oh boy did i want a Mondeo/Vectra/whatever right then! I've felt your pain on the land rover front, I had to do that kind of trip in an auto v8 with a straight through exhaust. Didn't want to push the envelope of speed due to cost but also because it would feel like it was going to explode, I could feel the heat of the gearbox through the shifter.
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mexicansteve
South West
Posts: 683
Club RR Member Number: 31
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well thanks everyone, I have this argument with myself at least twice a year when both vehicles are crapping out on me, then realise (when they work again) they are just too cool to give up, IMO anyway. Now, about the chill factor of the faux leather seas in the Capri as winter is dawning...
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BeQuietandDrive
1989 Bedford Astra Van
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Got to agree. However 'sensible' cars do have their place ......... I got one of those ' you need to get down here now,its not good news' type phone calls, i am 200 miles away, its 09:30 on a friday, my only transport was a fifteen year old Discovery, with four inch lift,the handling characteristics of a drunk pushing a three wheeled shopping trolley,and the acceleration and speed of stalagtite formation. And thats If it started ........ Oh boy did i want a Mondeo/Vectra/whatever right then! I've felt your pain on the land rover front, I had to do that kind of trip in an auto v8 with a straight through exhaust. Didn't want to push the envelope of speed due to cost but also because it would feel like it was going to explode, I could feel the heat of the gearbox through the shifter. Mine was 200tdi .......the big tyres had upset the gearing,anything with the hint of a long incline, forget it ....... Even to this day, i still have to take into consideration journeys like this, and only being able to own one vehicle limits my choices. I drive an eleven yr old modern pug 406 estate now. Sometimes the other half does need a say in matters.
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Depends what sensible is. To me it's anything stock and not tickling the road with the floorpan.
I have a 62 plate mazda 3, it's a work tool and a daily. I have grown to really bloody love it. I opted for the stiffer suspension and stuff when I ordered it and NO stop/start rubbish and being a mazda it retains some sort of drive ability. It's the only car of its class that I think can do that. However, as much as I love it I can only describe it as nice.
Thankfully I aslo have my 26 year old stupid Honda Accord.
In my opinion, yes, sensible/new cars are awesome, as long as you have a stupid daft car parked next to it
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I have 3 sensible cars but..
When i had my hilux and wanted to go away for the weekend i decided to hire a brand new insignia, it arrived with 600 miles (1 month old) on the clock, got me from Sheffield to Whitby with a nice turn of pace, Whitby to just outside Scarbrough - then it broke, stuck in limp mode no power and wouldnt go over 40mph. Pretty sure my rusty ex farm truck hilux would have got there and back no problem however our lugauge would have got wet and we would have been deaf.
What point am I making? Just because its new and dull doesnt mean its any better than your fun retro.
Reason for having 3 moderns? 6 month old son, ISOfix makes life much easier & the fact there are morons everywhere - highlighted yesterday when someone purposfully swerved at me and nearly had me up the kurb when I had my family in the car.
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Last Edit: Dec 3, 2014 0:00:59 GMT by joem83
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slomoshun
Part of things
Going forward one nut and bolt at a time
Posts: 319
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ive decided sensible on the outside to joe public and subtle mods to make it retro different / well that is the plan this morning
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Traction and horsepower is nearing perfection
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Reason for having 3 moderns? 6 month old son, ISOfix makes life much easier & the fact there are morons everywhere - highlighted yesterday when someone purposfully swerved at me and nearly had me up the kurb when I had my family in the car. I agree. I like to drive my 20-30 year old cars BUT when we go on a road trip with the SWMBO and kids, I prefer to take the modern daily mostly because of the security (and mpg). And it usually is more reliable than my old cars. When you have a 500 mile trip in -30C, it's not fun to get stuck somewhere with the family and the luggage. When going shopping or picking up the kids, then I like the old cars. I already taught my 4-year old daughter that it's normal for dad to push the car for it to start Driving old cars is and has to be fun! I try to teach my kids that things like car not starting can be part of the fun, and not akward / humiliating. I have push started the car many times when picking up the kids, always with a smile.
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Link to build thread
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