Do you like your car?

Ray Bell · 7 Jun 2001, 11:19 (Ref:102179)

WSe all know that our tastes change, and with cars there's a more important factor that leads to us turning in one car and getting another.

That is that it's become unreliable, superseded or worn out its welcome with some flaw that wasn't obvious when we first drove it>

Who's reached the point where they are seriously disinterested in their road car and looking at making a change?

Truckosaurus · 7 Jun 2001, 13:43 (Ref:102242)

My previous car was a 1993 Honda Civic VTi, which I owned for 10 weeks before I chopped it in for my current Saab. I bought the car because I needed a set of wheels a.s.a.p. and it was cheap.

Its rev happy nature which was fun initially soon turned to frustration at its poor cruising ability (90mph@5000rpm) and the fact that it went like a bomb above 6000rpm but was rubbish below that, it was just like driving a car with very bad turbo lag, the power band in 1st gear started around 25mph. It also wasn't that economical, I averaged around 35mpg, not that much more than my current Saab (2.3litre turbo).

Of the cars I've owned the reasons for changing are:

1) 1986 Peugeot 205 1.1l, owned for the year I was on industrial placement whilst at university (1993), couldn't afford to run a car (and didn't need to) whilst a student so sold it.
2) 1990 Mini Cooper, first car when leaving uni, ran as daily driver for 18months (1995-6), decided to buy a proper car as I could afford to, still half own, now modded for hillclimbs etc.
3) 1993 Saab 900LPT, (1996), ran for 18mnths, perfectly reliable, upgraded when I could afford a...
4) 1995 Subaru Impreza Turbo, ran for 6mnths until it got written off (not my fault)

5) Honda Civic (see above)

Perhaps when I'm in a position (both financially and logistically) to own more than one car, I'll be able to have cars ideally suited for various 'tasks' eg. one for commuting to work, one for towing, one for early morning blasts, one that you can leave parked in the roughest part of town without caring if it is there when you return etc.

Sharky · 7 Jun 2001, 14:54 (Ref:102258)

I currently own a Peugeot 205 Gri (1.1L i). I like the car a lot. It's very very cheap to run. Very little fuel or maintenance needed which suits my student budget perfectly. The car is very easy to drive and it's ideal for urban use.

However, I'd love to have some performance. I mean, sure, the car can take you anywhere without problems but certainly not in an "exciting" way. I'd like to own something like a Peugeot 306 XSi or 106 Rally or pehaps a first generation BMW M3. But that'¿s unlikely to happen in a very long time.

SL · 8 Jun 2001, 23:33 (Ref:102713)

I think the world of my car, fast, looks good and starts every morning.

Problem is the service, just had a 60K one done. Spark plugs were £16 EACH, thats right £64 for four ! These were those super douper platinium jobbies that last 60K miles. Thats when I dislike my car. Still I have another 60K to go until replacement required (I hope)

Simon

Wolf · 9 Jun 2001, 00:33 (Ref:102723)

SL- just the other day I was picking my brother from an airport when a Hardy joint broke... I had to buy the new one in (reasonably) nearby shop for 10 EUR (incidentally I bought adjacent part as well for 5 EUR) and felt robbed. Back home I could have gotten them for 9 EUR together! And You buy spakplugs for £16 each?!?

OK, I must admit that replacing them in a rain wasn't exactly my idea of having a super time, but...

And- yes, I still like her.

Ray Bell · 9 Jun 2001, 09:16 (Ref:102827)

These joints don't have to carry much power, do they Wolf?

I mean, even with both cylinders beating furiously, they hardly have to work up a sweat?

But I'll bet it was fun when you got it going again in that rain!

By the way, Wolf, we're waiting for you to turn up at Crash's party in the Gravel Trap...

Bluebottle · 9 Jun 2001, 21:36 (Ref:103103)

About three years ago, the Hurricane suffered a gearbox failure for the third time and cost us a fair sum to fix. This time, however, it was discovered that the propshaft was slightly bent causing the vibration which, presumably, damaged the gearbox. I arranged for a new propshaft to be made in Luton, which was where I worked at the time, and the gearbox was being sorted by a Triumph specialist near Radlett. We'd been nursing the duff gearbox for a few months and it had become quite tedious to drive so I was not too happy with shelling out even more money on it.
When I went to collect the car, after a couple of weeks (not the fastest workers!) I was all grumpy and moody, especially after handing over vast wadds of cash- but as I drove away I discovered the Hurricane Grin Factor had come back in double measure! Thats how you know when you really like a car!

**bella** · 9 Jun 2001, 22:52 (Ref:103128)

well, my car's falling apart (this week, the brake lights got stuck, and when that was fixed, the indicator started flicking really quickly). and i'm getting bored of the 1.6 litre engine.

but i still love it to bits, because it takes me to my racing (did 1050 km this week. a thousand kilometres!! that'll learn me for being pants at mapreading and ending up in dunstable on the way to silverstone..), and basically does the job well.

Ray Bell · 9 Jun 2001, 23:17 (Ref:103135)

Indicator going too rapidly usually means a blown globe somewhere in the circuit... easy fix.

Easy to run up those miles on the wrong road...