Ever owned a "scene" car? How was it?

Which really goes to show how sad they are, some are even particular about the type of rivet......🙄

I've owned a few "scene" cars, namely VW and Ford stables and can honestly say they are the worst for cliques and looking down their noses at anything that isn't standard. Take the VW fanboys, they think anything that's not OEM isn't allowed as it's then modified, shock horror - you sticking anniversary, R32, ED30 bits all over your povvo spec GTi isn't OEM+ it's modified!

I think where there is a hierarchy in cars, you will always get more of a purist base within the lower echelons. Afer all, they want to try and prove their point, and keep the cars 'pure', as in the long term, it will represent the car for what they are when they are gone. Look at Metro Turbos for example. Quite a few were modified but only a handful of Turbos now actually exist.

The PCGB are a funny bunch. You had some keyboard warriers there but you also had some great guys in that club, at least in the 944 scene. But then again, a few things were different

-A variety of folk were present and accepted. You had your spanner monkeys and the dealer-only folk, and many saw the latter wasn't always the best
-The core responsiblity was about having the right resources for the owner. For example - Porsche sell parts cheaper than most people think. eBay and many specialists out there, especially a Halesowen outfit, like to charge quite a bit over! It's not the first time I've seen this (106 scene was the same)
-That latter part spilled onto a few folks becoming quite friendly away from the club, a couple of which are on here, and as it turns out, know people I know from other circles. I had free parts given to me for my 944 Turbo, and assistance given on mending it, just as I found one of the cheapest places to get a new roof in factory spec on my Stag. It was't all about being a parasite to the club. I naturally gave something back in return. After all, that's how things should work. It should be an equal standing .
-Modifications were accepted in the 944 world, but the scene catered very well to the 944. I owned a mildly mod Bear in mind also that things did go wrong from modifying and folks possibly with less knowledge available than now were possibly 'looking out for their fellow chap', but forums can't convey emotions like that.

I do recall seeing quite a few modded 924s in the OC, like Carrera RSR's car, and the odd V8 conversion

However, regarding RSR's car, I've seen a known specialist who is very well respected given out some questionable advice on that car (i.e it could get expensive/add wear in the long term over other ways to get to the same outcome)). I only know that as I personally know of that specialist's cars turning up at a local specialist with problems, and a friend being taken for £20k by them, where the specialist effectively had the owner become his pension scheme, by modifying the car as the specialist wanted.

TIPEC wasn't a bad place.

The M3Cutters forum. Now that is a strange place.

Maybe I've become older. Many will moan about spending £300 on a wing (including me!) and say it's a robbery. Given that MGB wings used to be £300 almost 20 years ago, where numbers were higher than an M3, and the value alot less, I don't really see the parts backup for an M3 is being as crazy as some folk think.

There is also a hierarchy in what makes a 'good' M3, in addition to some investor type folk in that, who won't maintain a car, but just keep it to go up in value, with them happily boasting about that.



This is one reason I don't moan too much about M3 spares.

The M3 crowd will moan like mental. But having had BL stuff catered well for spares, but not always on quality has changed that perspective. As has owning Ford and J-Tin stuff, where you just can't buy alot for them anymore

I own a Ford Escort and that has a following but I am not involved in the Ford scene or anything.
Up to around 10 years ago I would only own VWs and set up a local meet in the Preston area that was relatively successful. I had some great times and still have some of the friends I made through those times but there is a flipside too.
I found myself being rather elitist and thought all other makes were inferior. I got a sort of VW tunnel vision. I dropped out of that scene because of that and it got boring eventually and I found the fun and variation from VWs got lost somewhere on the way.
I got a Citroen ZX Volcane diesel after that and started spending loads of time on here!

With Brexit looming I heard a rumour British built cars are on the comeback .....great news for all our local garages plenty of work for them in the future👍😂

Been a fan and owner of air cooled VWs over the years but must say I'm not a fan of the accompanying scene. Too much snobbery for my liking. German built guys looking down in Brazilians. Splitty owners looking down on Wedges, barn doors better than later ones.... It was endless.

I gave up and started buying Fords years ago.

My experience of the Scene is that of the "Polishers" on one hand and the " Modifiers" on the other.

We have people with encyclopaedic knowledge about their particular Brand or passion who are always willing to assist lesser mortals with a love of cars.

The polishers frown upon the modifiers, yet many a polisher would not even look at a car that a modifier ( read Hot Rodder) would gladly embrace as a base regarding it as too far gone.

The scene for any make / model creates it's own mini supporting industry which provides employment, a good thing in this day and age.

People will be people, you will always have the good guys, the helpful neighbourly types, the keep up with the Jones type and unfortunately the odd quick buck merchants that always seem to latch on.

Having said this most car enthusiasts are just that, and appreciate the time, effort and resources that others have spent on their vehicles.

I have been in the series one Land Rover club for over 30 years, never really thought of it as a scene as such. For the most part the people I have encountered over the years have been good fun, knowledgable and enjoyed seeing other's vehicles and using their own. I have made some life long friends across the country. Things are changing now there is money in these old vehicles though. A new breed of person has entered the "scene", cliques are more common and private invite only events, that usually mean weekends at expensive hotels. Many of these people have done little or nothing to their own vehicles, or at the other end are in the trade providing vehicles and services to those who can't do for themselves. I am glad to say that there is still a grass root following, but they are beginning to be priced out. Apart from our local area group I have little to do with the national scene now. I much prefer just to go out with my vehicles and meet people along the way, although there are some quite good breakfast meets which welcome all vehicle enthusiasts in our area.

Scenes and scene cars, where do I start ?

I'll start with that I tend to agree with what has already been said about owning a "scene car" and going to shows and meets etc etc.
True there are a lot of very nice people out there with a good helping of ar**holes thrown in but that is more or less everyday life.
I guess pick your car, try a few shows / forums and see if it suits you but be your own person and do your own thing, like I used to do

Quickly moving on, I have been in and around cars, bikes, toys for 50 years, yes I'm a true old fart
most of that time was with VW's, Monkey Bikes, Micro cars and toy cars and I do like oddball cars

I was part of the "VWNW show" team at Tatton Park for over 30 years. ( now retired )

So I have met them all in my time around VW's and Monkey bikes, some amazing people and some ar**holes but I still have a group of great pals from those days that I would not have met if I hadn't been at the shows.
I guess I have been lucky and had most of my cars, vans before prices went crazy, I still can't believe some of the prices.

here's a few pics to give you a flavour of my past car / bike madness
let's start with a few VW's










a couple of monkey bikes







there you go apologies for the last few pics they were taken off actual old photos