My car history
Discussion
So I've been meaning to do this for ages, and finally got around to digging out pictures of (almost) all my past cars tonight.
First car was a 2005 Suzuki Swift 1.3. This is the one car I haven't found pictures of. Bought for me new by my dad, lucky boy! Loved it - nippy, handled well and was a little different from Fiestas/Clios etc.
After a year of owning it, sold it (gave the proceeds back to my dad) and collected a company car. Citroen C4 VTR+. Think it was a 1.6 hdi. Great motorway cruiser and really liked the interior and the toys it came with, but fell apart and spent weeks on end back at the dealer.
Then I changed jobs and got a nice little payrise...so went and bought myself a new toy. 2005 Mini Cooper S Checkmate. Looked great, lots of kit (half leather, xenons, LSD, cruise, iPod etc), quick and just brilliant to drive.
Unfortunately, after only 3 months I had a little incident that ended up with the Cooper S in a field. Not long after I got it back from the workshop, my insurance was up for renewal and the quotes I was getting were just obscene. Went back to the dealer where I bought it, and got the full purchase price back as a trade in. Did a straight swap for a BMW 120d SE. On paper it was almost as quick, but much cheaper to insure and cheaper to fuel. Nice handling little car, but terribly cramped and I was never really happy with having a diesel again...
After a little spending spree on a genuine AC Schnitzer bodykit and CSL reps, it looked like this...
Browsing the classifieds one afternoon (as you do) I came across something that really caught my eye. A 2001 330i Sport Touring, with an Individual spec interior. A phone call and deposit later and I set off to Lancaster to collect it. Straight swap for my 120d. Really loved this car. Fast, comfortable, spacious, and would get the tail out nicely when you wanted!
After 18 months of enjoyable motoring, she needed new pads and discs all round, 4 new tyres, and a bunch of suspension parts. I knew I was moving to Australia in 8 months and had a good offer from a trade buyer, so rather than sink a pile of cash into her I sold her on. Still miss this one!
So to run around in until I moved, I went Italian. 2007 Fiat Panda 100hp. What a hoot! So much fun around town and in the twisty bits, but hard work and noisy on the motorway. Also difficult to park - appalling turning circle. Very well specced for a wee car though, with climate, bluetooth handsfree and so on.
That brings us almost up to date. I've moved from Edinburgh to Sydney and wasn't going to buy a car while I'm here. After only a month the petrolhead inside me took over and I took to the ads in search of something cheap, different and interesting. Settled on a 1987 BMW 318i Cabriolet. Slow, showing it's age, but retro cool and just great for running about in the weekend sunshine! Really impressed with it so far as a bit of bargain fun.
Any comments or questions are very welcome.
First car was a 2005 Suzuki Swift 1.3. This is the one car I haven't found pictures of. Bought for me new by my dad, lucky boy! Loved it - nippy, handled well and was a little different from Fiestas/Clios etc.
After a year of owning it, sold it (gave the proceeds back to my dad) and collected a company car. Citroen C4 VTR+. Think it was a 1.6 hdi. Great motorway cruiser and really liked the interior and the toys it came with, but fell apart and spent weeks on end back at the dealer.
Then I changed jobs and got a nice little payrise...so went and bought myself a new toy. 2005 Mini Cooper S Checkmate. Looked great, lots of kit (half leather, xenons, LSD, cruise, iPod etc), quick and just brilliant to drive.
Unfortunately, after only 3 months I had a little incident that ended up with the Cooper S in a field. Not long after I got it back from the workshop, my insurance was up for renewal and the quotes I was getting were just obscene. Went back to the dealer where I bought it, and got the full purchase price back as a trade in. Did a straight swap for a BMW 120d SE. On paper it was almost as quick, but much cheaper to insure and cheaper to fuel. Nice handling little car, but terribly cramped and I was never really happy with having a diesel again...
After a little spending spree on a genuine AC Schnitzer bodykit and CSL reps, it looked like this...
Browsing the classifieds one afternoon (as you do) I came across something that really caught my eye. A 2001 330i Sport Touring, with an Individual spec interior. A phone call and deposit later and I set off to Lancaster to collect it. Straight swap for my 120d. Really loved this car. Fast, comfortable, spacious, and would get the tail out nicely when you wanted!
After 18 months of enjoyable motoring, she needed new pads and discs all round, 4 new tyres, and a bunch of suspension parts. I knew I was moving to Australia in 8 months and had a good offer from a trade buyer, so rather than sink a pile of cash into her I sold her on. Still miss this one!
So to run around in until I moved, I went Italian. 2007 Fiat Panda 100hp. What a hoot! So much fun around town and in the twisty bits, but hard work and noisy on the motorway. Also difficult to park - appalling turning circle. Very well specced for a wee car though, with climate, bluetooth handsfree and so on.
That brings us almost up to date. I've moved from Edinburgh to Sydney and wasn't going to buy a car while I'm here. After only a month the petrolhead inside me took over and I took to the ads in search of something cheap, different and interesting. Settled on a 1987 BMW 318i Cabriolet. Slow, showing it's age, but retro cool and just great for running about in the weekend sunshine! Really impressed with it so far as a bit of bargain fun.
Any comments or questions are very welcome.
Edited by astirling on Thursday 22 September 15:06
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