What new car from 1990 would you run as a DD?
Discussion
Some I remember fondly (friends dad's owned them). Thought they were awesome at the time but look a bit crap in the photos now (apart from the Astra).
Futuristic looks, very fast (that redtop engine - possibly one of the best engines ever put in a normal car?) but quite a wild, hard-riding ride (could have been the driver, he liked to make progress)! Would it stand up to scrutiny against the classic hot hatches (205/Golf GTi) of the time now? I'm not so sure.
It was actually one of the last mk4 Orions (a 1.6 GL on an H-plate I think) that he bought new and had for about 10 years. I was friends with his eldest son and we used to cruise around in it after he passed his test. Nice, comfortable car with a reasonable turn of speed from what I remember. It only expired due to son number two crashing it! I always preferred the hatchback Escort though and the perceived "luxury" of the Ghia model. I wouldn't mind a 1.6 in that light non-metallic blue (can't find a pic).
Rover 820e Auto. Nice big, comfy car and looked very classy as a grey saloon. Looks like a Montego in this pic though. It was much nicer than that really!
Futuristic looks, very fast (that redtop engine - possibly one of the best engines ever put in a normal car?) but quite a wild, hard-riding ride (could have been the driver, he liked to make progress)! Would it stand up to scrutiny against the classic hot hatches (205/Golf GTi) of the time now? I'm not so sure.
It was actually one of the last mk4 Orions (a 1.6 GL on an H-plate I think) that he bought new and had for about 10 years. I was friends with his eldest son and we used to cruise around in it after he passed his test. Nice, comfortable car with a reasonable turn of speed from what I remember. It only expired due to son number two crashing it! I always preferred the hatchback Escort though and the perceived "luxury" of the Ghia model. I wouldn't mind a 1.6 in that light non-metallic blue (can't find a pic).
Rover 820e Auto. Nice big, comfy car and looked very classy as a grey saloon. Looks like a Montego in this pic though. It was much nicer than that really!
StuntmanMike said:
Meldonte said:
|http://thumbsnap.com/cVVywevZ[/url]Can't believe it's not been posted yet! Saab 900 T16S and has been my daily for 3.5 years
~250,000 miles, still goes like a train, puts the boot of space of any euro box today to shame, with seats down bigger load space than some estate cars. Joy to work on and parts are cheap. Also comes with heated leather seats, electric mirrors, cruise control and mid to low 30s mpg on motorway to boot.
HTP99 said:
Me too, always loved SAAB's, particularly the 900 of that ilk however I have never been fortunate enough to own a SAAB of any description.
I was in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia this week. Which car caught my eye the most in the car park at the resort where I stayed? Okay, it was a supercharged Dodge Viper. But the second most inspiring vehicle was the Saab 900 Turbo covertible in dark blue. Three spoke wheels, raked upright windscreen, tombstone seats...fantastic!Hugo a Gogo said:
jesus, we've had VW estates, and now a Ford Escort
that's really your 'any car from 1990' choice?
Not "any car from 1990". Daily driver. I've already pitched in a 205 GTi 1.9 which is fun (but not comfortable on longer trips or cheap to run or that practical) and a Sierra XR4x4 or Cavalier GSi 2000. Sierra would be too expensive to run as a daily for me, Cavalier might be doable but still more expensive to run than the Escort and no heated front screen!that's really your 'any car from 1990' choice?
Something like an F40 would be awesome to drive but would you really want to drive it every day? You would ruin it and it would bankrupt you.
white_goodman said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
jesus, we've had VW estates, and now a Ford Escort
that's really your 'any car from 1990' choice?
Not "any car from 1990". Daily driver. I've already pitched in a 205 GTi 1.9 which is fun (but not comfortable on longer trips or cheap to run or that practical) and a Sierra XR4x4 or Cavalier GSi 2000. Sierra would be too expensive to run as a daily for me, Cavalier might be doable but still more expensive to run than the Escort and no heated front screen!that's really your 'any car from 1990' choice?
Something like an F40 would be awesome to drive but would you really want to drive it every day? You would ruin it and it would bankrupt you.
and theres a lot of middle ground before you get to an F40
white_goodman said:
Some I remember fondly (friends dad's owned them). Thought they were awesome at the time but look a bit crap in the photos now (apart from the Astra).
Futuristic looks, very fast (that redtop engine - possibly one of the best engines ever put in a normal car?) but quite a wild, hard-riding ride (could have been the driver, he liked to make progress)! Would it stand up to scrutiny against the classic hot hatches (205/Golf GTi) of the time now? I'm not so sure.
Yes, in fact they did 'stand up to scrutiny' at the time - I think at least 3 magazine reviews placed the 16v ahead of the Golf for driving fun - they're not for the inexperienced and the handling ( like the 205 ) can and did catch people out with a backwards trip to the hedge.Futuristic looks, very fast (that redtop engine - possibly one of the best engines ever put in a normal car?) but quite a wild, hard-riding ride (could have been the driver, he liked to make progress)! Would it stand up to scrutiny against the classic hot hatches (205/Golf GTi) of the time now? I'm not so sure.
They rust more than the Pugs/Golfs and most have bad their engines plundered for kitcars/Novas etc plus internet folklore has worsened the handling over the years
Get a good one on decent rubber and with the geo set up right and they're fantastic fun and the engine is a stormer too
Chances of finding a decent one now? Almost zero ......
Edited by s m on Tuesday 12th August 20:19
Whitean3 said:
Christ almighty! 10 pages in and I can't believe noone has suggested it yet. I'll take an F40 please. Don't care if it's not ideal as a daily driver either. Didn't Jamie Beeston on here drive an F40 everyday until recently?
Hmm, too much of an obvious and excitable choice (on the posters part)?I prefer to keep my work boots on, as most others in this thread seem to have done. I'm much, much fonder of cars that are within my budget, and I can relate to.
carlingofblack said:
Well, as I posted a few days ago a £250 banger rally challenge from Paris to Montecarlo has seen a glorious 1991 Rover 216 GSi arrive. I'm using it daily until we go later this month to see how she goes.
So far, very well indeed.
I'd have this US spec MI16, i'm a sucker for amber running lights on european cars.
Edited by KM666 on Tuesday 12th August 21:40
Edited by KM666 on Tuesday 12th August 21:45
Hugo a Gogo said:
you run a WRX Impreza, that's no less impractical than those sub-2 litre hatchbacks
and theres a lot of middle ground before you get to an F40
That's true but I don't have the WRX any more unfortunately.and theres a lot of middle ground before you get to an F40
Mortgage + Two kids + Single income + longer commute = Toyota Cotolla
An Escort Ghia would be more interesting!
KM666 said:
My grandad had one for years. First car I ever felt 'acceleration' in. 116bhp is still decent for a cooking 1.6 today.
I'd have this US spec MI16, i'm a sucker for amber running lights on european cars.
I never knew they sold these in the US. You learn something new every day!I'd have this US spec MI16, i'm a sucker for amber running lights on european cars.
Edited by KM666 on Tuesday 12th August 21:40
Edited by KM666 on Tuesday 12th August 21:45
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