Car Talk

[ChrisB]

OK, I will put my hands up. Totally spoiled brat of an only son, of a rich father. 

All brand new before I was 21. The young lady was my late wife of 46 years.

Herald my seventeenth birthday present,  Spitfire Mk111 for doing very well in my A levels. The Sprite was a Downton Stage 3 but it had a full BMC warranty. Very fast for it's day. No year out then, but we were engaged.  Judith 18 me 20 and our parents let us spend two months on the Riviera before having to knuckle down.

And yes you will be pleased to hear reality was a shock when we had to pay our own bills.

[addicted]

I learned to drive firstly on a Vauxhall Cresta. (steering column gear shift) which I loved then on an A40.  In which I passed my test. This was in 1968 . After that we bought a Ford Zephyr 6 also with a steering column gear shift. Like Griff I also had the character building experience of having a gear stick come off in my hand but this was in a van  either a Bedford or a Vauxhall . all good fun like driving for a month with a badly slipping clutch because we couldn't afford to get it fixed straight away

 

 

Carole

[Maxwellian]

I learnt to drive in a Mk 2 Ford Escort in 1978. Think I am a youngster. First car (van) was an ex GPO Moggy Minor with a 1098 engine. I put an MG head on it, went very well. Travelling in my Rover 2000 TC up a side road to join the usually busy A2 at my usual teenage speed and applied the brakes. Foot hit the floor boards, nothing to do but fly out into the A2 and swerve left. Luckily nothing was coming so I slowed down using engine and hand brake. Stopped and calmed down and then proceeded to limp home using the hand brake. As I pulled up behind my mums car I pulled on the hand brake and it came off in my hand (very rusty). There I was holding the hand brake with two wires attached to the car still as in came to a stop in the boot off my mums car. 

I went an told my mum what had happened (omitted the bit about her car) she was so concerned and pleased that I was safe, she offered to get my car fixed. It was then that I informed her about the damage to hers.

[SANTED]

At 16 my first “car” was a Bond Minicar. A three-wheeler which I could drive on my motorcycle licence because it had no reverse, with a Villiers motor bike engine and a kick start lever under the bonnet to fire it up, Top speed 35mph on a good day, downhill with a following wind. I think it spent more time on two wheels than on three

At 17 passed my driving test in the good old Triumph Herald and got a 1932 MG J2 Midget, a genuine “abandoned in a barn” job. Looking back, we should have left it there, it was a bag of nails

Probably had about 35 cars since then, worst ever car I’ve ever owned has got to be a Hillman Imp and my favourite was a Honda Prelude with 4-wheel steering

 

[Timbo]

I learned to drive on a Ferguson TE20, passed my tractor test on an Into 5288. I learned to drive a car in my Granddad's Marina Van and Dad's Hilman Avenger. The first car I bought was a 1300 Marina Van...at least I thought it was a 1300. After the handbrake snapped and my van rolled backwards into a brand new Ford Transit and the Transit was written off, my Dad discovered my van had been heavily customised by the twonk I'd bought it from. This included a steed girder welded to the back of the van and both front and rear wings made of chicken wire and concrete to keep the van on the road. I bought the van for £180 and sold it for £500 when the garage had a look at the engine...I don't know what that was.

My cars after that were usually my Dad's cast offs. So A Cortina Estate, followed by a Renault 18 American, Renault 25 (Made you feel seasick it wallowed so much around corners). I then started buying my own cars again and had the Vauxhall Astra, Honda Prelude, VW Passat but my favourite was an original mint condition 1964 SAAB 99. Beautiful car!

These days cars have to be high of the floor, automatic and be able to carry a lot of erm....crap...I think is the best way to describe the payload!

[unclemike]

learned to drive in a morris minor, first car was an austin A35 van ,that rotten the sills were 4inch wide black sticky tape.to date i can recall 60+ vehicles i've owned,but probably forgotten a few

[Maxwellian]

1 hour ago, Timbo said:

....... be able to carry a lot of erm....crap...I think is the best way to describe the payload!

Got you to a t Timbo

[Guest]

My first car was a Fiat Uno  but it had a 999 FIRE engine, weird right? 

[Bluebell]

I started with a Ford Anglia 100E (1956?) in 1967. No heater, 3 gear change, wipers, but no washers. Soon changed for a Mini van😎.

Cars didn’t last long in the sixties, must have had about two a year!

Company cars followed, Vauxhall Viva, Vauxhall Victor (column change, bench seat and yes, the gear stick came out in London having to drive back to Canterbury in second). Vauxhall Cavalier was the last before setting up in self employment. A mk 3 Cortina was followed by a Peugeot 504, then a Volvo 240, a Volvo 740 and a Volvo 960 estate. Bringing us up to date in 2000 I bought an Audi A4 avant, big mistake. Soon changed for an Audi A6 avant and another and another. In 2012 changed to a Q7 and updated to another in 2015.

[JanetAnne]

2 hours ago, Jayfire said:

My first car was a Fiat Uno  but it had a 999 FIRE engine, weird right? 

I worked in parts when they were common. When asked whether it was the fire engine the customers would give a condescending look and say 'no, it's a car' 

 

[Meg]

Well I did start a hare running with first cars, I have thoroughly enjoyed the posts thank you everyone.  I had a look through old photo albums to double check she was WNK 650 and have now dug out about 20 photos of cars I have owned. I discovered/remembered my first vehicle with more than 2 wheels was a Heinkel bubble car, two at the front one at the back. My dad said it was a Heinkel plane rear gunner bubble turned up with wheels fitted. I used to drive this along the A604 (now the infamous A14) between Godmanchester and Cambridge. The lorries although small by todays standards used to tow me in their slipstream, happy days

[TostockTimonier]

I passed my test in 1975 in the instructors Ford Escort, seven hours of lessons in two weeks. I had taken my first lesson, part of Mum and Dads 17th birthday present and due to a cancellation I only had two weeks to master the skills required for the test, so I had to cram the lessons in. I duly passed and my first car was a Hilman Imp, bought for £45 and sold a year later for £45, after then it scares me to think of how much I have wasted on the many cars I have owned.

[grendel]

my second car was a bitsa escort, it had bits of a 1100, a 1600 and a 1300, the engine was cobbled together from 2 and got working, the rad was from the 1600, so it always ran a bit cool, but it ran and got me around. has anyone noticed how much more reliable cars are nowadays than they ever were back then, I am sure a week didnt go by when something needed tweaking or fixing, oil adding or water.

[ranworthbreeze]

Back in the day we always had to stop for a comfort break but more importantly for the engine to cool down. I can remember seeing loads od cars with their bonnets up and the radiators steaming.

These days we think nothing of traveling long distances because of the reliability of today's cars. sadly we all know the problems of stiff backs from sitting hours on end at the wheel.

Regards

Alan

[StillCruising]

What a trip down memory lane this thread has developed into.

First ‘car’ at 16 Bond Mk C modified to coil ignition, unlike Santed’s car mine had a  hinged lever inside connected by a cable to the engine kick start which you quickly pulled towards you at the same time as pushing down on the floor mounted decompressed pedal. I changed the points once which required taking the flywheel off and reset the timing by the well tried method of using a pencil through the sparking plug hole. All seemed good till I stared up engaged first gear and promptly reversed into the back of the garage because I had got my before and after TDC mixed up. After 10 lessons I passed my test in an Austin A40 Farina and bought a 2ltr Triumph Roadster complete with ‘dickey seat’. This was followed by a Wolsey 4/44, the test drive was great and both the body and interior was immaculate, it was only after using it regularly that I kept smelling hot oil and discovered lots of oil fumes coming out of the engine breather. To overcome the smell I attached a length of garden hose to the breather, wired it under the car and tucked it under the back bumper. This stopped the smell but started a succession of other motorists stopping me to tell me that the boot was on fire. I did 15000 miles in that car and sold it for more than I paid for it which I was pretty chuffed about. Then followed a succession of cars of all makes and types up to the present 2004 Rover 75 Connie SE that I mentioned in a previous post (Robin – mine has sepia coloured dials and illumination). Most unreliable car (apart from the Bond) Ford Escort Mk 2 estate  that spluttered to a stop ever time it rained. Most fun car MG Midget Mk2. Most favourite car more tricky Bentley S2, Jag XK 140 or Rover 3ltr Coupe – it must be the Rover cause I still have it.

 

[stumpy]

My first 'car' was a Reliant Regal Mk6, 750cc sidevalve, thermo-syphon cooling and everything above the chassis was timber or thick fibreglass. It was used to collect parts for various motorcycles because I was going to be on two wheels until I was old enough to put a chair on it. That didn't quite work out so after re-arranging my right leg I had a number of Reliants and a Bond Bug. After taking automatic test a cracking 2l Capri then a succession of Rover SD1s ending up with a much more sensible Honda CRV.

[ChrisB]

19 hours ago, Bluebell said:

I started with a Ford Anglia 100E (1956?) in 1967. No heater, 3 gear change, wipers, but no washers. Soon changed for a Mini van😎.

Cars didn’t last long in the sixties, must have had about two a year!

Company cars followed, Vauxhall Viva, Vauxhall Victor (column change, bench seat and yes, the gear stick came out in London having to drive back to Canterbury in second). Vauxhall Cavalier was the last before setting up in self employment. A mk 3 Cortina was followed by a Peugeot 504, then a Volvo 240, a Volvo 740 and a Volvo 960 estate. Bringing us up to date in 2000 I bought an Audi A4 avant, big mistake. Soon changed for an Audi A6 avant and another and another. In 2012 changed to a Q7 and updated to another in 2015.

I also learnt to drive on the farm, at about 12 on a 100E Prefect that had been the Yard Runabout at my father's company. We would go rabbiting on the stubble at night with it. Looking back, with it's 3 speed gearbox and no syncro on first, we did some incredible off roading in it.

[coolcat]

I passed my test first time at 17 in 1987.

The driving school I took my lessons with had a fleet (of two) Mk1 Nissan Micras

I bought my first car a month after passing my test. A 1973 Mk1 Escort 1300. It was in a bronze brown colour which hid the rust pretty well. It lasted me just about a year before the Tin worm took hold.

My next car was a Vauxhall Chevanne (don't ask) soon followed by a Mk1 VW Scirocco which I blew up after a few months of, how shall I put it........Vigorous driving!

I then inheriited a Datsun Sunny in 1989 which I had for three years before getting my first of two Renualt 21's which saw me through to 1999.  Ros and I then bought an ex demonstrator Vauxhall Astravan which served me well for work and also an ex demonstrator Rover 45 Saloon for when we needed more than two seats.

In 2007 we bought a three year old Mk1 MG ZT which we ran alongside the Astravan.

2010 saw us retire the Astravan to pastures new and we purchased a MK2 MG ZT-T and also an Audi A3 S-Line which we kept both of for the next seven years. 

In 2017 I left the company I had worked at for the last twenty years and went self employed. My miles I travel for work has shot up and it was decided to retire the petrol MG and Audi and go back to the fuel of the devil!

So......We are now down to one car and driving an Audi Q3 S-Line TDI and doing about 25,000 miles a year so far

Hoping to run her for a few years more yet and then will look at an EV for our next motor. 

Been great reading up on here all of the varied motors peeps have had over the years.

 

 

[Bluebell]

33 minutes ago, ChrisB said:

I also learnt to drive on the farm, at about 12 on a 100E Prefect that had been the Yard Runabout at my father's company. We would go rabbiting on the stubble at night with it. Looking back, with it's 3 speed gearbox and no syncro on first, we did some incredible off roading in it.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the no synchro, on first. Probably been driving autos too long ha ha!

[FairTmiddlin]

I was a late starter being a lowly apprentice, money was not in good supply. I was 21 when I started to learn, 22 by the time I passed my test.

My first car was a moggy minor bought for £25 the body was poor but the mechanics were impeccable as it was from a friend who worked for a morris garage.

Not long after I had passed I went to a darts match down in my brothers village. On the way back I got stopped by a traffic copper, he gave the car a good looking over and because the body was poor, expected the mechanics to be the same.

"Can I drive it up the road" he said be my guest but be careful of the brakes i said. Ha Ha no minor has good brakes, he said. off he drove up the road and swung it round on a junction, came hairing back down the road and hit the brakes hard, thinking it would take a long time to stop and nearly gouged a load of tarmac up with the front bumper as it nearly stood on end. He got out of the car wide eyed and said what have you done to that opened the bonnet to reveal a servo assisted master cylinder. he handed me the keys and just said have a safe journey and left.

The car became a coat of many colours as I replaced panels with second hand bits. I finally rubbed it down and hand painted it with coach laquer Old English White and it looked a stunner. I finally after 3 years sold it for £50.

I then bought a mk2 Cortina 1500GT serviced the twin downdraught Weber and it went like a rocket.

After that went to the tin worm had a succession of Escorts and Orions. An old Riley 1.5 for fun for a while. Then bought a Vauxhall Belmont debadged 1800 GTE engined which was fun sitting at light next to an XR3 revving his engine. Hit the go pedal and lose him in a cloud of dust.

Latest car is a Mazda 2 possibly the best car I have ever had.

[ranworthbreeze]

Mazda & Honda are great cars, I used to love my Xedos 9.

Regards

Alan

[addicted]

While my favourite of all the many cars I've ever had was an early 80s Merdedes estate undoubtedly the worst was a Lotus Elite which had too many problems to list. Suffice to say I successfully sued the dealer winning the sum I had asked for plus costs in full. It probably helped somewhat that the judge owned a similar car. After the case the dealer did a disappearing act. Fortunately I was right in my guess that he would open up elsewhere in the same business and as he had a west midlands accent it occurred to me he would possibly return to that area. It took me 2 years to locate him but I had the satisfaction of getting a call from my solicitor telling me the baiiliffs had removed a Porsche from the dealer's front pending full settlement.

 

 

Carole

[TheQ]

Hmm I don;t know whether I've done the list before but..IIRC.

Learnt to drive in a Hillman avanger 5 speed,

Failed my first test because the car they gave me for the test was 4 speed and I went for 5th..

Passed the second test OK but had to wait 6 months for it, the waiting list for tests was that long in Weston super mare at the time.

First car Austin 1300 had it a year.. too much welding needed doing.

Second Car, ford anglia van  many miles in that, But I think it used as much oil as petrol,

3rd Ford Zodiac, good car but it went the way of many V4 engined ones, warped heads.

4th, Wolsely 1885, loved that car, again did many miles until a drunk driver pulled out in front of me at Lanark race course.

5th Mini Van I needed another car in a hurry, still, like all old type minis it handled well.

6th car, Triumph 1500 FWD many more miles,  clutch went the  Christmas eve, which left me with no food for christmas day as I was supposed to be driving home to Scotland that day. fixed the car OK.

7th Car Chrysler alpine 1300 fwd, took me all over the country, towed a Lysander 17ft sailing cruiser over a lot of it too..(outer hebridies to Norfolk!!!)

8th and 9th  Cars triumph 2000s good cars but the towing of boats snapped the body shell between the back axles.

10th Bedford ambulance.. half converted to a motor home..

11th  yugo,, remember them? not very good  had the same time as the bedford.

12th KIA Pride. very reliable

13th Landrover 110 still got that.

14th Kia Rio still got that, also very reliable.

Just begining to think of a replacement for the Rio as it's now heading for 120,000miles from new..

[VetChugger]

4 hours ago, FairTmiddlin said:

Then bought a Vauxhall Belmont debadged 1800 GTE engined which was fun sitting at light next to an XR3 revving his engine. Hit the go pedal and lose him in a cloud of dust. 

I had a Belmont SXi and it was very rapid, also became the most stolen car in the UK for a while. Not quite as rapid as the Skoda VRS I had following that!

[LondonRascal]

Well, it has been quite the day..

Firstly it was off to Kwik-Fit to get the brakes on the SLK looked at. I know people often say bad things about Kwik-Fit and online it tends to be all about people going there and complaining they were 'up sold' things that they did not actually need. What makes me chuckle is how everyone becomes an expert when they enter a Kwik-Fit branch and know what is needed to be done and after they feel extra work is being done will have a 'mechanic friend' who said it did not need doing. One wonders why they did not pay the mechanic friend a bit in the first place..

Anyway, the Prince of Wales Road place in Norwich is very well run, and I have used them a few times now.  They had the car up on the ramp and wheels off and the result an hour later was I had badly worn rear pads, passenger side uneven - slake hand brake cable and over 50% wear on the front pads. Things like the worn rear pads and slake hand brake cable perhaps should be advisors in the MOT the car had a couple of days earlier, but since the dealer I bought the car off also did the MOT is that too much of a surprise it sailed though?

Suffice to say I asked them to change all the pads and also change the brake fluid. I was then annoyed upon collection Kwik-Fit use Pagid pads (not because they are bad) but because these are the same manufacture who produce the OEM BMW pads, and which I paid a fortune for to be fitted on the BMW X5 at an BMW Independent. Oh well, the bill came to £273.45 which included two new wear sensors and the brake fluid flush and re-fill. I now have a super firm brake pedal, a nice weighted hand brake lever and though I need to go careful for the next couple hundred miles, I can tell the new brakes are wonderful compared to what I had before.

I then popped to Halfords and got another Air-Con 'bomb' to rid the last of the musty smell in the system (they really do work) and then got some power steering fluid to top up to the reservoir and while there noticed some LED side light bulbs, why not get these I thought so duly did and also thought why not get them to fit them, since they are pretty easy to get at behind the light cluster. Ops they can't fit them, they are not road legal.  Urm why sell non-road legal parts? Big hassle to get a refund not only for the fitting cost but also the actual lights. I'd not mind it says that the blue coated halogen bulbs are not road legal but not anywhere could I see does it say LED's are not legal to fit. Of course the chance you being caught is small, but you never know at MOT time that it is seen/fails etc.

Anyway, the car is now looking great, going and stopping great, smelling great and all round good. I therefore made a video to share with you:

I also got the BMW X5 back from BA Wheels in Norwich, who did a great job. I am so impressed with the look and the fact they are 'as new' but also the Aston Martin grey colour I had chosen for the powder coating looks great - not too bold, light or dark - just right and makes my wheels now unique. I then spent a couple of hours bringing the paintwork up to a lovely mirror finish, but the next step is going to be having this professionally done with a Ceramic coating.