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I love my car. I think one of the most important things about owning a car is that as soon as you sit down behind the wheel you feel "yeah", even before you turn the key there is a sense of excitment of the coolness which is about to transpire as you roll out in your sweet ride. As you drive, it should put a smile on your face. Thats the point in owning a car. Not 0-60, not MPG, not option lists, redidual values and depreciation curves... Its the smiles per mile ratio. So this morning as I wheeled my Sedan DeVille (already known as the "Soddin' Devil" by my chums) I set to thinking what it is about that old hulk which puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart... As lets face it, on the surface of things its just a cumbersome old banger beloved of little old ladies with blue rinse hair dos and retired bank middle managers with nasty plaid golf trousers when new and performance and general utility were never high on the spec for the designers... I love the ride. Its not the softest or most insulated ride I ever drove - that acollade must fall to the Citroen XM, its not the most "quality" car I ever owned, that laurel rests on the bonce of the Rover P5B, but theres just something about the way it rides, handles and moves which is "right". The way it goes from dead silent at high vacuum cruise to the gentle bobba-dobba-bobba-dob of the V8 engine coming off idle as you squeeze the big heavy throttle pedal... I love the way that as you pull away the car seems to rise up like a hydrofoil coming out of the water and the way that just driving round an NCP car park is a symphony of tyre screeches just like on Starsky & Hutch... Theres even something vaguely reassuring about the simplicity of the dash - "full instrumentation" old skool Cadillac style means speedo and fuel... Nothing else there to distract you (except on mine the instant MPG readout and temperature gauge - thats cabin temp/outside air temp not engine coolant temp - my God why would anyone want to know what the engine coolant temperature is? ) I also love its bigness. Other people seem afraid of its bigness. And its squareness. But I love it. It just says a big "dash-off" to the world in general, and as for aerodynamics? puuhhhlease. The air just better get the motherdashing way out of my motherdashing way. Thats how it is when you drive a big old Cadillac. "ooh, its very big" they say. "Yes, how observant you are" I respond. "I'm so glad you pointed that out to me because lets face it I feel like a right prat now having bought a 7 foot wide 20 foot long car and been under the misapprehension that it was about the same size as a Focus..." The other one I get is "I don't know how you can drive a car so big!!" Usually from somewhat feeble guys who drive little "economy" cars and I prefer to refer to as the Un-Manly. To which I have to reply "Because I am Akku. I am GOD. Your weak car-fu offends me and I shall crush you like the ant you are, Fiesta driving wuss! You are un-man and I am your master, fear my perimeter frame chassis! Temble in AWE at the majesty of my chrome bumpers which each have more metal in them than your pathetic monocoque does! Haha! Tremble at my single figure fuel economy and prostrate yourself in abject terror at my upright hood ornament which could disembowel a rhinocerous in a frontal impact!!!!" In fact, what I actually say, in actual spoken words is "Meh, its just a car, you drive it, you know". But the meaning is the same. And I have perfected a barely discernable sneer and shrug routine to go with. Just for the full effect of understatement. You dig. I think its vitally impotant to love your car. Lifes too short for boring rides. So lets hear it for your car. You don't have to tell it you love it,that would just be plain weird, but you should tell us why you love it. Thats just guy talk. So lets hear about it...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Pics of Akku rollin' deep in his 'lac?
*n
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Last Edit: May 2, 2008 9:38:51 GMT by penski
Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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I love my car. Well, the 2CV. I just like the Merc.
From the chirp of the starter motor to the clatter of the engine (must sort those heat exchangers out...) I still adore driving this car, even after our recent roadtrip madness! Thing is, the car drives even better now as it doesn't have my other half, various tools and masses of camping equipment in it anymore! No offence to my good lady but when you've only got 29bhp, it makes a difference if you wear a pair of heavy boots!
I love punting it into bends at what feels like crazy speeds and I love the terrified expression on peoples' faces as I career around corners on the doorhandles. Rolling the roof back on sunny days just adds to the pleasure and then there's the added smugness of thinking "I own my car!" No finance, no depreciation, love is blind and I can therefore ignore restoration costs. Poor ol' girl does rather need a service though!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Pics of Akku rollin' deep in his 'lac? *n ? LOL Closer? erm no Erm really hell no
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I love my carBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Great thread! Yes, I love my car. I love it's ridiculously impractical ride-height. I love its obnoxious paint and anti-social exhaust note. I love it when I park it up somewhere, shoot a glance over my shoulder as I walk away and catch it at its best angle, looking mean, low and sinister. I love the open feeling of the interior - a light, airy place to be which is a claustrophobics dream. I love sitting in the seat and the controls just fitting around me.
I love pulling up to petrol stations and getting comments and smiles. I love driving down a busy road on a sunny day and turning people's heads.
I could go on. But yeah, you get the idea...
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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I'm in love with the thought of my car. I've never driven it, it's going to be a long time before I do drive it but I have many pictures in my mind's eye of what it'll look, feel and sound like. (I'll be bracing myself for disappointment though! )
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If I have to explain, you won't understand. Maximum signature image height = 80 pixels
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stuey
Posted a lot
ram thruster 4000
Posts: 1,010
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6'2 bloke fiat 126- all about having a laugh - i have my mundane daily and when i drive my fiat it just makes me laugh all the time I'm driving it and if i amuse a few others into the bargain then cool so yeah i love my car-nuff said;D
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1987 fiat 126-nearly actually done! 1972 beetle - lawn art 2003 z4 daily-new wheels a comin! 2008 R56 Mini cooper "mental Mickey"
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Can you love a project I wonder? one you have not driven yet. Dunno. A couple are close to banger fodder and the Sierra, yes I'm very fond of it, but don't know if I love it. Everything seems to have a price, the others sold far too easy without "looking back in anger" but for now I'm hanging onto em, mainly the aerodynamic old bruiser. Leaves me with the one we actually drive. Yes I think I do kind of love it, call me mad, it annoys me too at times, cost far more than its worth to keep going so theres a clue. I like my Yank tin, and quite like Classic big Brit VIP's, but for zipping around our mad little roads, small Fiesta (or equiv) is where its at. Having gone through my RWD snob phase, the return to chuckable FWD has been good specially based in the city, even with its very tired bushes and small 1.1 its great fun to drive, and it feels fun before the speedo gets into the danger zone. Being a tatty old van 19 year old infact it seems to provoke a reaction in people even those who you think wouldn't notice it. Of course not all good reactions, all part of the fun I suppose. So what else, its not too special to worry about it in a car park, builders and van drivers flash you out of junctions, people don't get it, its more fun than my old Sapph, I CAN usually fix it, parts are cheap, and it runs on red on the fuel guage for ages. Having said that, I'm looking forward to a change this year... till next pimpage...
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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I love it when I park it up somewhere, shoot a glance over my shoulder as I walk away and catch it at its best angle, looking mean, low and sinister. Yeah, I know what you mean. Anyone else like to drive past shop windows so they can admire themselves driving past?
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Last Edit: May 2, 2008 10:21:01 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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I love my carqwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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I never realised Just how much pleasure could be derived from driving an older car until this week.
As I jumped into the Drivers bench of the Minor a whole new set of sensations confronted me. There was the deep delicious smell of 40 yo Vinyl. The Steering wheel directly infront of my face or so it seems is huge and soooo thin, the knitting needle falls suprisingly easily to hand. Everything feels as if its been laid out very well for such an old car. I Select 1st gear and pull away with such a feeling of trepedation. IT kangaroo's away as I try to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to be doing with the clutch and accelerator.
Then as soon as I pull out onto the street and select 2nd gear the grinning begins. I cannot believe how cool the car makes me feel! I must look like an absolute pillock grinning away like a madman. But its a feeling thats so hard to explain. Its like a feeling or relief mixed with a bit of rebelliousness and ecstacy.
Its the sights and sounds inside the cab which make it for me. The fact I feel like I'm sitting low down. The big cowl stretches out from the absolutely flat dash. Anyone else noticed how Huge cars dashes are now a days!! I love the way the gearstick feels like a bent knitting needle with a button on top of it........I love the whine of the gearbox, the smell of vinyl, the pedals rising out of the floor. The huge bus like steering wheel, the looks from other motorists and pedestrians.
I think the one word that sums up why I love driving the Minor is Character!! In a world where most consumers have become accustomed to drving a car devoid of this essential feture it is a blissful relief to be able to drive something that has it!
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One of the best comments I ever had was I'd just parked up to go shopping & lady walking last was heard saying' I hate that car, it's so old & ugly' Yes, thank you missus, got it in one! Every now & again I'll pull up at home, in my pug 306 daily, look at my Starlet & think 'if I sell all my cars I could get one newer, faster, more comfortable car'. Then I'll get back in the Starlet & think to myself, YEAH RIGHT! I just drive for the pure fun of being in that car.
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i love my project..........
purely because i drove it for 2 years before it become a project, although its been off the road longer than that.
it effectively won't be the same car when i get it back on the road so i dunno if i'll see it in the same light.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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I love my carqwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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Every now & again I'll pull up at home, in my pug 306 daily, look at my Starlet & think 'if I sell all my cars I could get one newer, faster, more comfortable car'. Then I'll get back in the Starlet & think to myself Ditto. I often get dispondant about my cars. I haven't had the Minor Long enough to do it with that yet. But with the Cinq I kept thinking "eurgh I'll just get shot and buy a newish Polo" But then I drive the little blighter and its absolutely awesome to drive and I remember why I bought one!!
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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I think the one word that sums up why I love driving the Minor is Character!! In a world where most consumers have become accustomed to drving a car devoid of this essential feture it is a blissful relief to be able to drive something that has it! Spot on! I love my car so much I just had to go out in it last night. I'd spent some of the day dodging rain and sorting out is new shoes so once the small person was on her way to bed I said to Katie "I'm just popping out - won't be long" About an hour and a half later I roll back home having cruised round much of central London, tackling speed bumps diagonally (and still scraping), getting nods of approval from cabbies, thumbs up fro pedestrians etc. I love this new ride 'cos I reckon its the lowest Rootes arrow in the west and its just too damn cool!! ;D
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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I never realised Just how much pleasure could be derived from driving an older car until this week. As I jumped into the Drivers bench of the Minor a whole new set of sensations confronted me. There was the deep delicious smell of 40 yo Vinyl. The Steering wheel directly infront of my face or so it seems is huge and soooo thin, the knitting needle falls suprisingly easily to hand. Everything feels as if its been laid out very well for such an old car. I Select 1st gear and pull away with such a feeling of trepedation. IT kangaroo's away as I try to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to be doing with the clutch and accelerator. Then as soon as I pull out onto the street and select 2nd gear the grinning begins. I cannot believe how cool the car makes me feel! I must look like an absolute pillock grinning away like a madman. But its a feeling thats so hard to explain. Its like a feeling or relief mixed with a bit of rebelliousness and ecstacy. Its the sights and sounds inside the cab which make it for me. The fact I feel like I'm sitting low down. The big cowl stretches out from the absolutely flat dash. Anyone else noticed how Huge cars dashes are now a days!! I love the way the gearstick feels like a bent knitting needle with a button on top of it........I love the whine of the gearbox, the smell of vinyl, the pedals rising out of the floor. The huge bus like steering wheel, the looks from other motorists and pedestrians. I think the one word that sums up why I love driving the Minor is Character!! In a world where most consumers have become accustomed to drving a car devoid of this essential feture it is a blissful relief to be able to drive something that has it! Couldn't agree more. Minors are great little cars! Fantastic to drive despite having no brakes, and little power or grip, as they are so well balanced, coupled with lovely, precise steering and gearchange. Kind of like a saloon version of a Spridget One day I'll get another one!!!! ;D
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Last Edit: May 2, 2008 11:16:47 GMT by Paul H
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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I love my pickup (affectionately known as 'The Rig'), not only for it's obscene power and noise, but also for the fact that it's a full convertible or hardtop, can carry 3 across the front, is incredibly useful AND drinks far too much petrol.
But the one that clinches it the most, is that every time I take it out in summer with the top off (car's, not mine), I hear at least one person shouting to his mates that it's awesome.
Oh, and people still tailgate it, but if they get close enough, I can't see them under the tailgate, so that's pretty special too.
Of all the cars I've owned, it's the least practical, but deffo my favourite....!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Thats just guy talk. So lets hear about it... may ladies post too? well I'm gonna anyway lol. TBH much as I love my current car, having actually done so much with it myself, and whenever I get in it it feels so right, I still love the feeling of putting my foot down and actully getting OOMPH (my last two 1.4 astra's and my $hitroen diesel work van just don't) but at the same time she's just not *AS* lovable as my other two favourites. My dad's saab ( retrorides.proboards86.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=readersrides&thread=39472&page=1 ) I have known since I was about 5 years old, I grew up with that car sharing my life, and the day came when my first astra was off the road being sick (as it was fond of doing) and I was stuck on how to get to work. Dad just said "you can borrow the old girl" I was shocked, and slightly scared. I had just turned 25, and that is the reason I suppose he thought that my time had come to try her out, as I was insured to drive any vehicle with owner's permission by that point, but the very thought of getting behind the wheel of my dad's pride and joy made me very nervous indeed! He took me out in it and showed me how to drive her, her quirks and how you had to handle the turbo (no boost until temp guage in the green etc) then told me to take over, guided me about a bit, made me get my foot down so that he knew I was confident with the power, then let me loose. The first few das I was $hitting bricks that I'd do something wrong, but got used to her (LHD as well lol) Whem I came back to driving her after a few years gap at the end of last year the instant I got in the driver's seat it just felt *right* somehow. She was mine, and everything about her is just so intuitive, 25 year old but at the same time so many mod cons, but still raw driveability, you feel every inch of the road and the steering is so responsive, so she just goes exactly where you want her, she hugs the curves and the kick you get when the turbo goes into boost puts a grin on your face every time. I can best describe it that she dances with the road, the epitome of sporty elegance, she's thrilling yet relaxing to drive and it all feels so natural like she's just a (considerably more athletic) extension of your own body - her moves mirror my moves, and I feel the whole road back through her. You can flick her about and she'll respond without hesitation, it's like riding a dressage horse (but without the temper tantrums!) No matter how many times I drive her, every time I sit behind that wheel I relax and a smile comes over my face, every time the turbo kicks in the easy smile turns into a grin as I see the surprised BMW/audi driver dissappear in the rear view, taken unawares by the innocent looking old saab. I doubt we'd get far in a flat out race but they certainly never expect to be overtaken or kept up with. When I handed the keys over to my dad after the long months of restoration and driving her from the north east of england to the depths of france, it felt like a real wrench, it was so difficult to let go, but I had to keep reminding myself - he loves her as much as I do and he's had her for 25 years, she's his lady and I know he's perfectly capable of looking after her (although I hope I didn't insult him by the £100 worth of meguiars cleaning products and 2 pages of typed instructions on how to care for her freshly painted bodywork) It was really difficult to let go, but someday, eventually, she'll come back to me. I miss being able to open the garage and see her sitting there looking so damn sexy, shining, gleaming, poised for action. Every time I parked up and as someone else said, turn to see her glinting in the sun from a different angle, I'd just have to stand and stare in awe. People must have thought me very odd as I kept getting out of my car then walk away, stop, then turn and gaze at it again lol Before the saab the only car I truly loved so much was Erica my '69 SIIA land rover, she certainly didn't do fast, she was heavyweight, no power steering, no synchromesh on 1st and 2nd, you needed bodybuilder muscled-legs to keep the clutch down for any length of time (stop-go tailbacks were agony at first!), the seats don't adjust (but luckily for me appeared to be designed specifically around someone 5'8" tall) but every time I drove her not only did *I* smile, but other people smiled back at you - not even the saab got that reaction. Everywhere you went (slowly) people, particuarly ANYONE in a defender or series landy, smiled and waved, and it just made you feel good. She stood out in a car park - at college the student car park was full of corsas, saxos, fiestas, novas (before novas became cool and retro and were still just slightly naff lol) and then there was this hulking great big antiquated beast looming over all of them as if she'd crush them undertyre if she could. So I'd walk towards the car park and see my beloved car - ALL MINE, all paid for myself with my own savings, not bought by my parents, sitting there standing out like a sore thumb, being different! (in fact my parents got my elder sister 3 cars - a renault 9, which her ex took off her and sold when he gave her a mercedes, then dumped her and kept the merc, so when she came back to live at home they bought her a renault 5, soon she complained it was too small and slow, so they gave her their old H reg V8i discovery LHD, then she complained that that cost too much in petrol so she part-exed it for a polo) I bought my landy with my own savings (as they wouldn't get me one), then I took out a small bank loan to buy my first astra, was forced to sell my beloved landy, then sold the astra at a loss, worked hard and bought my 2nd astra, again sold at a loss, then worked hard and bought my current astra. The only vehicle my parents have got me so far is a 3rd hand Y reg citroen C15 van for my business, which I need to pay them back for. The only reason I had to sell her is that I couldn't afford to commute to work in a thirsty 2 1/4 litre petrol getting about 15 to 20mpg (on a good day, downhill with a tailwind lol) so I got the astra as a commuter runabout, but then money got very tight and one car had to go, unfortunately logically that had to be Erica. I now wonder how wise that move was - she cost next to nothing to insure, nothing at all to tax, was dead simple to repair, spare parts are EVERYWHERE and dirt cheap or free, surely that might have offset the petrol? I don't know, but I do regret it. I cried my eyes out when I said goodbye to her and ever since I have wanted her back. Bloody astras are not tax exempt, not *as* cheap to insure and although cheaper on fuel, cost more to repair and aren't as basic in design due to all that bloody modern electrical stuff Every time I see a landy I just want to close my eyes and remember all the fun I had with Erica, taking her to horse shows and sitting on the roof for a good view, picking up my orphaned baby horse in the back, all the students we used to pack in there (record for a SWB I reckon - 11 plus a wheelchair!) I'll get another one one day, but I really really want it to be HER. Kirsty
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I have determined that my sole purpose in life is to serve as a bad example...
CURRENT vehicles - '84 Saab 900 turbo classic, '93 Nissan 200SX S13, 2021 Volvo V90 Inscription.
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Thats just guy talk. So lets hear about it... may ladies post too? Obviously I mean "guy" in the non-gender specific fashion which has become colloquially common since the popularity of hit US sit com Friends
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I don't get that feeling from any of my cars... I just don't get excited anymore.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Yeah I struggle too! I love the subject of 'cars' and I hate scrapping stuff but I just seem to rate individual ones lower in my priority list than I used to.
I have no really strong bond or attachment to any of my fleet, I am very interested in them all and happy to own em, but if someone came along who I thought would be a better owner than me, i'd be happy enough to let any of em go - hence selling my Fiat 130 saloon to mirafioriman last weekend. i've had that car a very long time and sweated a lot of hours over it when i used to run it, so I ought to be attached to it, but i was happy to pass it on to a new custodian.
I'm glad everyones not like that though, its great to see folk who love their cars.
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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