My history. 80's/90's hatches, RSs, 911s and a few bikes
Discussion
I have read this thread in bits and pieces before finally committing to digesting the entire timeline in one go! There are some great stories behind these cars and boy you have owned a fair few motors.
Saying a bit about your situation at the times is also a great touch, it certainly aids in associating one's self with purchases over the years!
I cannot say that my purchases have been quite as exotic as some of yours but it does seem like you have enjoyed all of your cars in a relatively equal measure
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Saying a bit about your situation at the times is also a great touch, it certainly aids in associating one's self with purchases over the years!
I cannot say that my purchases have been quite as exotic as some of yours but it does seem like you have enjoyed all of your cars in a relatively equal measure
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Ok, apologies to the posters above for not replying. I think you should always reply if someone has taken the time to post. Not sure if you are even still about but thanks. Indeed I'm not sure anyone is still following but I'm nearly done anyway. 
So it's summer 2013 and I have the Civic and the GT3, now there isn't a twist as such, simply normal life and priorities taking over. We had been looking to move house on and off but with only a few villages we wanted to live in and prices in them being very high, we hadn't found anything... until now. All revealed in this thread below. -
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So always intending to keep the GT3, I did at the same time realise time and money would be out the window for trackdays for the foreseeable, so I sold the Civic and bought a a 4x4, as the village we moved to doesn't even get gritted sometimes and although it's only 5 miles from the nearest town, it feels a lot more remote than that during winter.
Enter the big, green, heavy drinking machine -
Now I quite liked this Pajero. Big, wafty and torquey but by god it could get through some diesel! It was a double whammy too as I'd gone to this a heavier on fuel car and we'd also moved out into the sticks a bit, so had tripled our mileage to work etc. I was putting £90 to £100 of diesel in per week. That may not be much to some but that's mortgage money where I come from. It had to go.
I sold it straight away on Ebay.
It went on a Thursday night and I needed a car for Monday for work. It's never good buying a car in a hurry. I put in a 30 mile radius search in all the usual places and ended up with this. -
Alfa 156 2.4 JTD Veloce.
This is the most love/hate relationship I've had with a car! I liked the styling and the Italians know how to do interiors. It was unreal on diesel averaging in the low 50's mpg. It sounded great for a diesel with it being a 5 cylinder, it was great for tip runs and it drove really nicely, even on the twisties. However it kept giving me hassle in the form of aux belts squealing despite being replaced along with all pulleys, the alternator went, the thermostat jammed, then so did the new on within a year, the clutch was biting high, etc.
I ran it for just over a year, mainly due to being busy with house, or it would have gone sooner.
More to follow, although we are into 2015 now, so nearly there.
So it's summer 2013 and I have the Civic and the GT3, now there isn't a twist as such, simply normal life and priorities taking over. We had been looking to move house on and off but with only a few villages we wanted to live in and prices in them being very high, we hadn't found anything... until now. All revealed in this thread below. -
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So always intending to keep the GT3, I did at the same time realise time and money would be out the window for trackdays for the foreseeable, so I sold the Civic and bought a a 4x4, as the village we moved to doesn't even get gritted sometimes and although it's only 5 miles from the nearest town, it feels a lot more remote than that during winter.
Enter the big, green, heavy drinking machine -
Now I quite liked this Pajero. Big, wafty and torquey but by god it could get through some diesel! It was a double whammy too as I'd gone to this a heavier on fuel car and we'd also moved out into the sticks a bit, so had tripled our mileage to work etc. I was putting £90 to £100 of diesel in per week. That may not be much to some but that's mortgage money where I come from. It had to go.
I sold it straight away on Ebay.
It went on a Thursday night and I needed a car for Monday for work. It's never good buying a car in a hurry. I put in a 30 mile radius search in all the usual places and ended up with this. -
Alfa 156 2.4 JTD Veloce.
This is the most love/hate relationship I've had with a car! I liked the styling and the Italians know how to do interiors. It was unreal on diesel averaging in the low 50's mpg. It sounded great for a diesel with it being a 5 cylinder, it was great for tip runs and it drove really nicely, even on the twisties. However it kept giving me hassle in the form of aux belts squealing despite being replaced along with all pulleys, the alternator went, the thermostat jammed, then so did the new on within a year, the clutch was biting high, etc.
I ran it for just over a year, mainly due to being busy with house, or it would have gone sooner.
More to follow, although we are into 2015 now, so nearly there.
yellowstreak said:
Marky911 we're so glad you're back! I like the Alfa but feel that there must be something a bit more AWD coming if that had replaced a Pajero!? Keep it coming please.
Thanks yellowstreak, I wish I could say an RS4 Avant or something but alas I'm a man of meagre means now. 
cat with a hat said:
awesome thread 
Thank you, it's maybe fizzled out a bit. That's the unfortunate difference of being chilled out with a bit of spare time over Xmas when I started, to now being back in the daily grind working long hours and STILL renovating our house. 
Leins said:
Only just seen this thread now, excellent reading!
Thanks, I'm glad it still kills a bit of time for some readers. Biker's Nemesis said:
You're from the North so I bet you're well dodgy.
I also bet you went to the same High School as I did.
Eh up Jon, I hope you're enjoying the summer. Yeah you know me, I'm as dodgy as they come. I'm wanted in every county for crimes against automotive fashion. I also bet you went to the same High School as I did.
I went to Cramlington High mate. I thought you were a Bedlington lad?
PS Didn't get down to Croft that day or I'd have said hello. I had a free day but the house had other ideas.
Right I should get this wrapped up next update. Cheers.
marky911 said:
Eh up Jon, I hope you're enjoying the summer. Yeah you know me, I'm as dodgy as they come. I'm wanted in every county for crimes against automotive fashion.
I went to Cramlington High mate. I thought you were a Bedlington lad?
PS Didn't get down to Croft that day or I'd have said hello. I had a free day but the house had other ideas.
Right I should get this wrapped up next update. Cheers.
I too went to Crammy High, Parkside Middle before that.I went to Cramlington High mate. I thought you were a Bedlington lad?
PS Didn't get down to Croft that day or I'd have said hello. I had a free day but the house had other ideas.
Right I should get this wrapped up next update. Cheers.
It was Red hot at Croft.
Right, get the rest of your stuff posted I am enjoying this mate.
Well I never. Didn't know that. I went to Parkside Middle too. It's houses now.
Just starting a nightshift then I'm free from 7.45am til 10pm on Monday. Yippee. Aim to finish thread soon.
Yeah was a nice day for that croft day. I miss the track days and even spectating. Hoping to get some sort of normal life back next year. I've forgotten what it's like to tinker with cars and bikes. Off to Silverstone for moto gp next month.
You still in Bedlington then? I know you were on about moving.
Just starting a nightshift then I'm free from 7.45am til 10pm on Monday. Yippee. Aim to finish thread soon.
Yeah was a nice day for that croft day. I miss the track days and even spectating. Hoping to get some sort of normal life back next year. I've forgotten what it's like to tinker with cars and bikes. Off to Silverstone for moto gp next month.
You still in Bedlington then? I know you were on about moving.
awesome thread mark can only echo what most have said already
brings back fond memories for most of us I think gutted I've only last 2 cars started taking pics and getting involved in forums
and would love to know how many "I told you so's!" your dad has said to you over the years lol
loving the gt3 buddy and shame you got rid of the 964t I bet they have sky rocketed in value now
brings back fond memories for most of us I think gutted I've only last 2 cars started taking pics and getting involved in forums
and would love to know how many "I told you so's!" your dad has said to you over the years lol
loving the gt3 buddy and shame you got rid of the 964t I bet they have sky rocketed in value now
Thanks lads.
Yes Lee, the 964T rocketed just after I sold it for £25k. As is always the way. I sold my 964 C2 manual coupe for £12k back in the day.
Still it's not about the money, although it's a nice bonus. It takes the shine of the ownership if all you end up doing is watching the odometer and the classifieds.
Scho, I seen your thread the other day but didn't get time to post. I'll head over there now.
PS Forgot to say Lee, regarding the number of "I told you so", It could have been dozens, but luckily for me my old man doesn't rub salt in my wounds when I'm beaten. He could have though, lots.
Yes Lee, the 964T rocketed just after I sold it for £25k. As is always the way. I sold my 964 C2 manual coupe for £12k back in the day.
Still it's not about the money, although it's a nice bonus. It takes the shine of the ownership if all you end up doing is watching the odometer and the classifieds. Scho, I seen your thread the other day but didn't get time to post. I'll head over there now.
PS Forgot to say Lee, regarding the number of "I told you so", It could have been dozens, but luckily for me my old man doesn't rub salt in my wounds when I'm beaten. He could have though, lots.
Edited by marky911 on Sunday 12th July 21:30
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