My Next Car

[tyred]

We moan today that cars are bland euroboxes and all look the same, so I quite like it when someone sticks their head over the top of the trench. They perhaps dont date well and were generally heaps of rust with a very poor engine but in the days of Morris Itals they looked great. Back window hatch was a fantastic design.

I agree really. I love older French cars but have always preferred Peugeot or Citroens. Renaults have never been as durable in my experience.

 

[defy-one]

You don't buy french cars for reliability. They as others have said,are cheap and sometimes quirky.
If you want reliability in any product it will cost you more. With cars it is generaly German,however the Japanese have changed the landscape with Honda and Toyota/Lexus

 

[Fnaar]

I haven't got much of a clue about how cars work, but I love how they look... well, not all of them, but especially big old 1950s American cars, or French jobbies like this beauty:

 

[tyred]

You don't buy french cars for reliability. They as others have said,are cheap and sometimes quirky.
If you want reliability in any product it will cost you more. With cars it is generaly German,however the Japanese have changed the landscape with Honda and Toyota/Lexus

I have never found any of my Peugeots to be unreliable. I cuurently drive a 1995 205 which I've had for 5 years now, used in all weathers, often on terribly surfaced roads in rural Ireland, close to 200,000 miles, 80,000 of them added by me, the only mechanical parts I've had to replace are the clutch and a few suspension bushings. I paid €350 for it, which would barely buy a replacement front suspension arm for an Audi A4. Interior fixtures and fittings can be a bit fragile and the outer body panels have the strength of a biscuit tin but the overall product quality in the places that matter are very good in general. German isn't necessarily better, I know people with late 1990s Mercs that had self destructing paintwork and rust everywhere. 1990s Golfs and Polos are little better. Find me a seriously rusty Peugeot or Citroen from the early 1980s onwards?

 

[defy-one]

And by the same token my dad has a mercedes 190e with over 200,000 miles on the clock,which required a new battery a couple of years ago and a regular service. Never misses a beat,and he won't sell it!

 

[tyred]

And by the same token my dad has a mercedes 190e with over 200,000 miles on the clock,which required a new battery a couple of years ago and a regular service. Never misses a beat,and he won't sell it!

Quite right.

I'll probably be shot down in flames for saying this but I consider the cars of the late 1980s - mid 1990s far superior to anything on the market today. Any repair bill for modern cars seems to skyrocket, negating any potential savings in fuel costs. Then depreciation has to be factored in on top of it.

 

[defy-one]

we agree!!

the older cars and for that matter older household appliances lasted longer back then. Modern cars,fridges,TV's and dare i say even bikes will not last 20-30 years

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Quite right.

I'll probably be shot down in flames for saying this but I consider the cars of the late 1980s - mid 1990s far superior to anything on the market today. Any repair bill for modern cars seems to skyrocket, negating any potential savings in fuel costs. Then depreciation has to be factored in on top of it.

Nissan made fantastic cars in the 90's. Wish I never sold mine (Primera eGT P10) as not a thing went wrong it and it handled brilliantly, was way better than any Ford's or Vauxhaul's I had previously owned and way better than the Ford I own now.

My 1999 Civic VTI-S (MB6) was a cracking car too, never an issue with it. Did 40 mpg when kept out of VTEC due to it's long gearing. Great car even if it was a Rover 400/45 in drag, with a great engine. Then some turd swapped lanes on a dual carriageway and destroyed it.

Love 90's Jap cars. Wish I could find a really good UK Honda Integra Type R DC2, they were a cracking motor.

 

[Over The Hill]

I haven't got much of a clue about how cars work, but I love how they look... well, not all of them, but especially big old 1950s American cars, or French jobbies like this beauty:

Lovely car!
My interesting fact re the Citroen DS -
In French the word Goddess is de'esse which is what you say if you say DS

This sadly is the ugly pile of **** that they now call the DS3

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Yes that DS3 looks shite. At least some Italian cars still have flare, if I had a bit more cash I would love a 159 diesel. Classy/stylish without being OTT like a BMW.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I haven't got much of a clue about how cars work, but I love how they look... well, not all of them, but especially big old 1950s American cars, or French jobbies like this beauty:

Built by Chapron,I think.Probably worth over £70k

 

[asterix]

Built by Chapron,I think.Probably worth over £70k

If the OP is tempted by this, I'd advise him to check the sills as it is an expensive to repair rust spot on these.

Best film scene with Citroen DS : Day of the Jackal, 1st attempted assassination of de Gaulle.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

If the OP is tempted by this, I'd advise him to check the sills as it is an expensive to repair rust spot on these.

Best film scene with Citroen DS : Day of the Jackal, 1st attempted assassination of de Gaulle.

Not just the cills,the whole things were rot boxes.Shame,nice looker,& beautifully built.
Particularly the Chapron,& not the Citroen.I know not why.

 

[gbb]

We moan today that cars are bland euroboxes and all look the same, so I quite like it when someone sticks their head over the top of the trench. They perhaps dont date well and were generally heaps of rust with a very poor engine but in the days of Morris Itals they looked great. Back window hatch was a fantastic design.

The Fuego was a funny one, yes it was very striking in its day, but i actually saw one earlier this year and thought..'uggh, fugly'
Were there really only 32 in the UK ? Late 70s. early 80s a guy at work brought one, second hand. I don't think it was very old, but i can still see the horror on his face ONE WEEK after buying it to find the engine was cream crackered. It was going to be nearly £1000 for a new engine...the price he'd paid for the car IIRC.

 

[Piemaster]

Yes that DS3 looks s***e. At least some Italian cars still have flare, if I had a bit more cash I would love a 159 diesel. Classy/stylish without being OTT like a BMW.

I've got a 156 Sportwagon. BMW just leave me cold - I've invariable always had something a bit different and there's not many of them about. Apart from a brief dalliance with a Nissan Bluebird, but I'd rather not talk about that.
I love the confusion on peoples faces when they try to find the rear door handles the first time.

Interesting fact - Alfa were the first to sell common rail diesel engines to the masses.