Benmarina16v
Part of things
1974 2ltr 16 Valve Marina Coupe 200Bhp On The Way
Posts: 414
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Dec 13, 2004 12:18:47 GMT
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 '87 2.8 Ford Capri '74 2.0 16V Marina Coupe '72 1800TC Saloon '72 1800TC Coupe -------------------------------------------- www.morrismarina.net |
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Dec 13, 2004 12:25:45 GMT
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Andrew
Part of things
who needs track days when u live in wales
Posts: 289
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Dec 13, 2004 12:28:38 GMT
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oh come on, some retro cars are shockingly curse word
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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curse word Cars...?? What they on?Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Dec 13, 2004 12:43:21 GMT
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the cheaky Bas**rd I would do more than drop a block on his head
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
Column Shifting!
Posts: 3,444
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Dec 13, 2004 12:56:00 GMT
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before i found this forum i would have agreed that 95% of the cars in that book are curse word, but now i find my self lusting over them and serching ebay for such unloved vehicles  |
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Dec 13, 2004 12:56:57 GMT
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I shall tread very carefully here so as not to offend anyone.... Mr Porter's book is meant to be a light-hearted look at cars which have captured the public imagination, but not nescessarily for the right reasons.... Think back to when the Marina was new... The country was being held to ransome by strikes, etc. and build quality was not the number one priority on BL's agenda. Hence their products gained a reputation for curse word-poor quality. Now the Marina was probably least affected by this: Look at the devastation it had on the image of the SD1 and Allegro. On top of that, they were made in a variety of colours and trim options that became very naff, very quickly, and lets face it were light years behind comaparble Japanese and German cars in terms of refinement. In addition, where would the keener driver look for his / her thrills: An Escort of the same era has vastly superior handling (out of the show-room, at least), and was easier to modify etc (partly due to the back up and kudos of rally success).... Now with hindsight we can see that maybe they weren't quite so bad after all, just overlooked: As you have proved it is possible to make a Marina handle nicely and go (much) faster... Much of the sort of cars which are now retro-cool were once sniffed at or have had image problems... Hillman Imps had dire reputations for reliablity, but we know they can be good. For donkeys the Skoda Estelle was the but of pub-humour, but is now almost revered as a mini-porsche. Even "posher" stuff like BMW's and Mercs have suffered, first from yuppie image and then drug-pusher image.... I don't think the book is intended to really offend anyone, but in rising to the bait and not seeing it for the humerous literature that it clearly is, then it's almost confirming the "stereotyping" implied.... (I think it's a great book.....on my Chrimbo list ;D) |
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Dec 13, 2004 13:01:35 GMT
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What NickB said,... Richard Porter is a great bloke, and subscribes to Retro Rides news letter  This questions made me grin : How do you justify talking curse word to advertise (successfully it seems) a run of the mill book? I think you've answered your own question there. Talk rubbish, plug book, book sells, nice publishing people send big cheque. There's the justification for me. Well, that and provoking the impotent rage of humourless classic car fans.  |
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Rob
Posted a lot
You know, for kids!
Posts: 2,515
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Dec 13, 2004 13:14:06 GMT
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I agree 100% NickB... ;D IMO the standard marina is a shocker - mainly because its under powered and handles like a yacht in a steady breeze . . . but . . . (still not disagreeing with you) i think there are a lot of curse word cars that are good because of that very fact !  i know people will agree with me when i say that its a great project to take a 'curse word' car and make it a good one wile maintaining its redeeming features . . . anyone? |
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Benmarina16v
Part of things
1974 2ltr 16 Valve Marina Coupe 200Bhp On The Way
Posts: 414
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Dec 13, 2004 13:14:32 GMT
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A fair comment! I honestly did'nt think of it in that way.
I think I need to write a book: The Marina: 33 Years On
Retro Classics need a fight back!
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'87 2.8 Ford Capri '74 2.0 16V Marina Coupe '72 1800TC Saloon '72 1800TC Coupe -------------------------------------------- www.morrismarina.net |
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Dec 13, 2004 13:16:55 GMT
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Maybe we should find suitably modified versions of each of the curse word Cars ,... Then release (not)curse word Cars |
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Dec 13, 2004 13:16:58 GMT
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Porter is just doing what Clarkson has done for years. Poking fun at things and seeing who rises to the bait.
Here's the thing though: hopefully most of the people on this forum are not sad classic car buffs to whom originality is everything. If we find something we don't like about our cars we modify them. Often this involves fitting a new engine and transmission, replacing, or at least heavilly modifying, the suspension, tearing out the interior, etc. etc. etc. If we thought the car was so damned good in the first place why would we bother?
I actually like retro cars because of their faults, call it character if you will, but I wouldn't choose one over a modern car to drive a 2000 mile week.
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Dec 13, 2004 13:40:11 GMT
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Maybe we should find suitably modified versions of each of the curse word Cars ,... Then release (not)curse word Cars Top idea! There'll be a queue for entries I bet. A book full of well modified classics against the original car. I'd buy it. |
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
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Dec 13, 2004 13:42:55 GMT
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surely we're missing the point here, surely its all a matter of taste what car you like and cars you don't like, so, how can you actualy desicevly call a certain car officialy curse word? You cant, its just what you like and what you don't like? |
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Dec 13, 2004 14:59:04 GMT
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I bought the book...it's very funny.
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Rob
Posted a lot
You know, for kids!
Posts: 2,515
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Dec 13, 2004 15:28:32 GMT
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I'm pretty sure that everything on this board should have the prefix "in my opinion" so yeah i agree GJM... some cars look curse word and have good innards (sorry mk4 cortina lovers but its true) and some look good and don't have the handling / power to match - step forward marina coupe (in my opinion ) ... (does the karman ghia come in at this point ?)  |
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Dec 13, 2004 16:04:24 GMT
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surely we're missing the point here, surely its all a matter of taste what car you like and cars you don't like, so, how can you actualy desicevly call a certain car officialy curse word? You cant, its just what you like and what you don't like? Well - I think the Derby is a pretty curse word car, but that doesn't mean I don't like mine, i'm just aware and honest about its shortcomings Yep - I'm agreeing with NickB's post |
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Dec 13, 2004 16:19:57 GMT
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Theres no such thing as a curse word car when you compare them to walking or using a bus.
I quite like the thought that the majority of the population think my cars curse word. It means i know something they don't. (not to mention shock value)
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2004 16:20:39 GMT by Ministrone
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Rob
Posted a lot
You know, for kids!
Posts: 2,515
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Dec 13, 2004 17:20:05 GMT
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I quite like the thought that the majority of the population think my cars curse word. It means i know something they don't. (not to mention shock value) WHAT A FANTASTIC QUOTE !! SUMS IT UP !! ;D ;D |
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Dec 13, 2004 17:33:48 GMT
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I'm geting the book for Christmas too!
I'm not sure if the Imps init but it should be ;D I don't look at the Imp with rose tinted glasses and ignore its problems. I know alot of the cars in the book are going to cause offence to some but just look at the funny side. ;D ;D
Its only one persons opinion.
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BS Nymph
Singer Chamois Coupe
Series 3 Landy
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Dec 13, 2004 18:06:41 GMT
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The book was done in a tongue in cheek style, like 'the worst cars in world' book - same sort of thing treally.
The choices are hardly original, but I feel the VW beetle shouldn't really be number one. I had a lot of fun my 1302S and GT's. Sure it handled like a bag of ferrets and had dubious origins but everyone who's owned a type 1 will testify the livestyle and respect you get from fellow owners outweigh the drawbacks.
Its too easy to pick on the allegro, marina and maestro, but we know what can be done to these cars to make them shift (especially the MG Maestro Turbo - the ultimate cheap track day car) The marina despite its poor development is quite a handsome car, and the Allegro had strong engines, had quite advanced features for the time too. It was ruined by the fact that the car was made by people who really didn't care.
I am split about the 120Y Datsun, in its basic form it was dreadful, but I know these cars can be made to go and handle well. The point is wht the car stands for I guess.
It does difine the question what makes a car curse word?
I would add:
1. Fiat Argenta for missing the point completely - fiat maked excellent small and sports cars, not prestige saloons and the public knew this. The fact that it was released during the falklands conflict and sounded like 'Argentina' didn't help.
2. The Daewoo/Sang yong musso is very nasty to look at, let alone drive.
3. The city Rover is an easy target but we all know why....
4. A lot of recent German cars, such as the M class and BMW X3 are also truly awful cars. The don't carry the traditional strengths they're famed for - elegance, style and reliability...as for the American build quality.
5. Quite a few of the smaller Japanese car manufaturers have marketed nasty little cars. Until recently Suzuki made some very spiteful little cars. And wasn't the Subaru Justy made in Hungary?
6. The Volvo 400 (440/460) series is pretty dire too. Harsh to drive and look at, but I personally would buy a 480 Turbo despite this!
I know none of these cars are retro, but at least manufatcurers in the past had reasons for producing curse word cars. There are no excuses today!
Any other contenders for the curse word cars?
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