It's always interesting to see what other people think of certain cars, so here's my rants and raves about previous motors I've had a spin in.
55 Vauxhall Vectra SXi 1.9 CDTI
The investment. My current and only car. Funny when we decided that we were going to buy a new car rather than get something second hand, we had plumped for an Astra Estate. However the new shape Astras are extremely good looking cars, but inside they are quite small as we found on testing driving an SRi. We found the Vectra parked next to it quite interesting and took that for a spin.
The new Vectra is great - it's very smooth, lots of power, very spacious, 50 MPG, 6-speed, loads of toys (including my beloved cruise control) and 30K service intervals. We have just racked up our first 10K in the car and nothing to complain about. However I did ding it in an accident with a corsa. The shame.
Good
points: Perfect for us, lots of toys, powerful yet economical. 30,000 mile service intervals.
Bad points: The SXi has sporty suspension, which I find a bit harsh especially on motorways. Wish I'd gone for the SRi :)
R-reg Citreon Xantia 1.9 TD
I loved my Xantia. I bought it second hand in 2000 with 100,000 miles on the clock at added another 50,000 in 18 months of ownership. The main reason I bought it was to tow a caravan (a friend has one and recommended it as such). The Turbo Diesel engine was fantastic and the car itself had enough toys and spec (air con and adjustable suspension especially) to keep me happy. I got rid to part ex for a Citroen Berlingo and my lovely lovely Senator.
Good
points: Great
engine, interesting car, great mile muncher.
Bad points: Cost!! Diesels need servicing every
6,000 miles and it is never cheap (even at an independent) - which
sort of negates buying a diesel in the first place. They fixed this
with the C5.
H-reg 2.0 Ford Sierra GSi
My first proper car in 1999. Everyone knows what a Sierra is and does. Bought as a tow car (which it is crap at!). Loved it to bits as it was so roomy and nippy. Part-ex'd it for the Xantia.
Good
points: Cheap
to service and to get parts for. Excellent all round car.
Bad points: None. Was a bit thirsty that's all.
Handbrake went in Wilmslow, but I fixed that myself - it was a doddle.
E-reg 1.3
Vauxhall Astra LX
E-reg 1.3
Vauxhall Astra
The fact you still see so many Mark II's on the road just goes to show what a good solid car these were. My first car was a blue one, which I learnt to drive in. That got pinched so I bought another one in grey which was an LX (5 gears instead of 4). Once again I can't think of anything that went wrong with these that was major. The ignition fell to bits on one of them (easy to fix) and i'm sure there was one or two niggles, but lush cars for the first-time drive like me. The second one went walkies too, and was replaced by the Sierra.
Good
points: Cheap,
cheap and did I mention cheap?
Bad points: Security. You can break into a Mark
II with a screwdriver (seriously).
Other cars kept:
S-reg Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 16v DL
A great mile muncher - for when I was doing 50 miles a day wor lass decided to sell her Astra and get this tank. It's great at doing its job - which is gobbling up the A189 every day with a minimum of fuss.
T-reg Daewoo Matiz SE+
Wife's car - I did oddles of miles in it though. Cute, but sooo under powered.
I do believe I've had the pleasure (and will share my experiences!):
02-reg Skoda Fabia 1.9 Sdi Classic
Ex work's pool car. I've got a soft spot for this car & I'm the only one at work who liked it. But If i'm honest it is a bare-bones engine-and-steering-wheel-nowt-else job which doesn't get very fast and isn't very comfy. When used to a Senny (or even an Astra IV) there's no comparision. But it's a game car and before I got my new senny, it was all I had to drive. I was unfortunate to have one of these again when my car was recently in for repairs.
Y-reg Citroen Picasso 2.0 Hdi Sx
In-law mobile. Oh I love the way Citroen try to be a little more adventurous then their boring rivals and this is another example. If you've got kids, this is perfect. Cheap to run too, although I think they've had a few niggles with it.
Y-reg Ford Focus 1.8 16v
Is it me, or is the Focus looking really dated? Anyway this was a work's pool car which did its job well. Nothing spectacular, just all round good.
W-reg BMW 3 1.8 M-pack compact
Wor lass loved this - it didn't half shift and was a really nice drive. I'm embarassed to say but a little bit too much for me. Was a pool car at work.
T-reg Audi A4 1.9 TD Estate
A guest car at work - suprisingly boring when you consider it was an Audi. Did it's job - had a nice red dash, but that was about it.
T-reg Astra 1.6 16v Mk IV
Wor lasses ex-car. It's the sporty edition, which means it only has 3 doors and is a pain to get in and out of. Having said that, lovely car and great engine. It's was at that mileage though (50-60K) where things start going wrong and I do worry about Vauxhall legendary build quailty (or lack of it). Last trip to the garage cost £500... She's got the Vectra in a part-ex deal. Not fancy a Senny darling?
W-reg Nissan 200SX
Oh the batmobile. Had the twitchiest arse of any car in history. Go round a roundabout, foot on accelerator, steer one way, go another. Really really good fun, but an impractical car for anything other than the odd spin(!). Flashy salesman's car at work.
W-reg Saab 93
Boss' old car. I'm not sure why this never grabbed me, but it was well built, convertible, turbo, all the toys etc. A nice drive too - just a little lacking in personality for me.
02-reg Berlingo Multispace 1.4
Wife's car - excellent idea. Basically a van in car format - brilliant idea and another Citreon masterpiece. Even Clarkson likes these.
R-reg BMW
3 series
R-reg BMW
5 series
I can't really remember much about these - they were pool cars early on at my work. BMW's are BMW's.
S-reg Volvo S60 1.8i
Former pool car at work. Leather trim, walnut dash, cruise control, trip computer, toys toys toys but NO ENGINE! The Matiz went faster than this.
X-reg Renault Laguna 2.0
Hire car. Noteable only for the fact that for an entire day, no-one could work out how to get the fans to work.
T-reg Daewoo Lanos 1.3
Hire car. Boring. Bland. Cheap. Nasty.
