Is it Retro.... the definitive answer!

In my opinion, retro & old are definately not mutually exclusive..
10 years ago, mk3 escorts were still 10-a-penny over here, now there's probably no more than 10 left in total.. hardly a brilliant car, ok it did everything it was meant to, but there was always something better out there for the money.. Now though, I wish me & me mates hadn't scrapped half a dozen of the buggers, could've had a mint collection by now if we'd cared enough! lol
Now, to use your example, a 10 year old Mongdeo.. Dull as dull gets, millions of the buggers everywhere... But in 10 years time, we'll be sat here thinking "where have they all gone? why didn't I save one?", just like we do now with the likes of old Sierras, Cortinas, etc etc
This dude with the E36 - personally I agree with twinspark (!) in that the last decent looking cars BMW made were E30 & E34 (5series) vintage, but thats my personal opinion - E36's are still good cars, and in not too many years from now will be as hard to find as a decent E21, so fair play to him (as long as it doesn't get chavved up lol)

Retro means different things to different people, and one of the things I love most about this forum is the diversity it has - a bit of everything for everyone (although "another generic modded car forum" - hmm, when tackyplastic bodykits, 19" spinnarZ and drainpipe exhausts with no power increase become accepted here, is the day I'll leave!)

Basically twinspark, you started a 'discussion', you got one - except it seems it's not going your way & you're getting your knickers in a twist about it!
Better stick a cushion down your pants dude, wouldn't want a splinter in your ass from the door on your way out eh

Oh FFS, this is the sort of question I considered when offered after first coming on these forums, mainly the other! which is ok btw the sad smiley was for the predictable demise of this thread and self destruction of our man twinspark.

I try and pretend 1997 was not 10 years ago, I also pretend that 1993 was not 14 years ago when I left school, but it was and Sierras had only just stopped being sold new. Its fugging wierd that theres a bunch of stuff thats old and well preserved out there. yeah granted, IMO E36 Bimmers are not retro, they are quite modernish, thats cos they last their time and the design was nice at the time. so why have them on here? cos the chap who came on today is interested in older interesting cars, and his car is not some crappy rep mobile with leather seats, colour coded bumpers, and aftermarket blingy rims. good on the chap, he asked before posting, put some thought to his modest cloth seated, grey bumpered BMW then asked our opinion. yes it opens the flood gates but wheres the water? when was the last time you saw an e36 indicate let alone ask for involvement, and advice? as I said an asset to the RR RR, I can't imagine any reps knocking on our doors.

Good on RR, a load of other forums/sites may not welcome me with my cars that range from 1983-1991, due to petty rules. if people don't like they ignore my thread. that is why RR is so special as members generally understand each other. I feel a bit like penski now but although interest in old cars is important its the attitude that counts most round here.

Its sad TS has ditched off because he/you, had some good points just often badly packaged or with muffled ears or tunnel vision. we enjoy an interesting debate so why spoil it?!

I think that is a very salient point, J.

I have always maintained that Retro is an Attitude...Not an age.

Would I be happy to see a mk1 Mondeo in Reader's Rides? Sure...If the owner was doing something interesting with it. If they weren't, it'd disappear into the ether pretty rapidly.

Phatford's Scorpio...Most DEFINITELY 'Retro' in my eyes.

The reason I signed up to this forum...And the reason that I am still here is because of the friendly nature of the forum, the open-mindedness, the fact that anyone is welcomed with open arms as long as they contribute positively to the forums and, most importantly, the fact that we give EVERYTHING a chance.

Satin-black driftu 4-door E36? Retro.

MkIII Golf with Design 90s, Audi Nimbus Grey paint, TT dash and Porsche lights in the front bumper? Retro, Emiel.

Fiat Cheeky-Chento with a hot FIRE lump, no interior, blister arches and 13x7s? Retro.

As for a definitive answer regarding what is and what isn't 'Retro'? There isn't one.

*n

I kind of understand the point that TwinSpark was trying to make.

I have my own rule of thumb on this one....
If any of the skankier residents of my 'hood own one, it's not retro. A fairly crude 'rule' I know, but does give some kind of indication. Once they chop it in for something a bit newer, or get suckered by oshitcarcredit, then retro-ness beckons.

There are bazillions of Mk1 Mondeo's, Mk3 fiesta's and E36 BMW's round here, mostly being mullered into the ground by shoe-string motorists. There's bo diddly Sierra's, Mk2 Fiesta's and E30 BMWs as these have been killed off by budget motorists, most of whom would rather have newer anyway.

Does that make sense?

That does but it's all relative. Your skanks are way posher than ours. I'm afraid ours are still driving E30's and Sierras

I'd say Retro Rides is 10% the car and 90% what is being done with it.

This car ran until 1999, is this one retro? I think so:

i fel a little responsible myself for some of this unfortunate ill feeling, as i got similar comments on my 91 passat. Ive posted before what i think retro means to me - and thats the thing - its down to what it means to you. I would hate to have rules imposed - if a car runs from 1992 to 2001 surely its a credit to the design of the car, the engineering and if someone has an early one it should be considered as an early example of a very popular and fantastically designed car.
If a car cannot be retro because of its popularity and the amount that are still on the roads what happens to retro-rides in 10 years time now that cars are being built with fully galvanized bodies/alumium/composites and engines that will see 200k miles in 5 years?!?!?