Old cars that just depress you.
Discussion
B'stard Child said:
This thread depresses me and sumarises all that is wrong with PH
Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Those are good old cars though. I've always liked the Monza and the Lotus Carlton is a petrolhead's icon.Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Not all old cars are classics worth restoring and getting misty-eyed about though IMO.
The cars that have always made me feel a little depressed are those over bodied, narrow track 1950s saloon cars eg Hillman, Morris, Nash Metropolitan type things with their wheezing long stroke undersized engines. What purgatory it must have been to drive one of these austerity specials any distance. When I see one now it still makes me think "why". Anyone buying or restoring one of these hateful grey porridge abominations must be insane, I know it is all that was available at the time but nowadays surely they could spend their cash on something with a bit more style and ability. I'm usually pretty easy going but if any PHer posts defending these undefendable heaps I will be straight round to confiscate their PH badge.
rohrl said:
B'stard Child said:
This thread depresses me and sumarises all that is wrong with PH
Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Those are good old cars though. I've always liked the Monza and the Lotus Carlton is a petrolhead's icon.Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Not all old cars are classics worth restoring and getting misty-eyed about though IMO.
So NO "old cars don't depress me" I like to see them as they have a place in this world and I'm glad there are enthusiasts out there that fly the flag for all makes and models even if they aren't ones I'd like to own
And I did see a Mondeo MKI yesterday without any rape tape on the bumper which was a surprise
Ferg said:
kev b said:
....if any PHer posts defending these undefendable heaps I will be straight round to confiscate their PH badge.
Hurrah, at last.... someone has been made King of PH.I've already defended them all I don't need to do it individually by name
I'd be happy to see any of the cars mentioned so far - it would make me smile - they might not be great cars but they shouldn't be hated
Come and get my badge "King"
B'stard Child said:
Someone has made themselves "King" but I think that's a dictatorship.......
I've already defended them all I don't need to do it individually by name
I'd be happy to see any of the cars mentioned so far - it would make me smile - they might not be great cars but they shouldn't be hated
Come and get my badge "King"
I've already defended them all I don't need to do it individually by name
I'd be happy to see any of the cars mentioned so far - it would make me smile - they might not be great cars but they shouldn't be hated
Come and get my badge "King"
Triumph Man said:
It's a weird title I know, but the current attitude by many seems to be "oo it's old, it must be a classic", which is not always true.
I'm talking about older cars (not necessarily greater than 20 years old) that you look at and feel depressed. The Vauxhall Cavalier (1988-1995), specifically the hatchback.
I don't know what it is, but I look at those cars, and a sense of melancholy comes over me. Maybe it's the general shabby state of the cars, maybe it's the general shabby state of the owners. I don't know. Anyone got any others that just depress them?
My 20 year and 1 month old cavalier hatch is depressing me. Wife was complaining about the handbrake, and I took the drums off to find no wear on the rear shoes at all, but one handbrake mechanism seized up. I spent the best part of yesterday trying to get Shoes for it, then snapped a spring, spent another hour finding a spring kit, only to have a piston come out whilst changing the shoes, which meant I needed to bleed the bakes, only to find the access to the bleed nipple is poor, so spent 20 mins grinding my 7 mm bleed nipple snapper smaller, only to snap the bleed nipple. Can't get a rear cylinder until wednesday now. I'm talking about older cars (not necessarily greater than 20 years old) that you look at and feel depressed. The Vauxhall Cavalier (1988-1995), specifically the hatchback.
I don't know what it is, but I look at those cars, and a sense of melancholy comes over me. Maybe it's the general shabby state of the cars, maybe it's the general shabby state of the owners. I don't know. Anyone got any others that just depress them?
I have a new sill waiting to go on, but it's raining, and the car is on axle stands on the drive.
I have a new bonnet but it's in derby.
Mot is due in July, and I'll cost an extra 400 quid to insure (adding as a named driver) my 19 year old son over the summer, against 350 for the MX5.
otolith said:
150bhp/1087kg - it was quick for its time, but things have moved on:
http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...
The last generation of hot hatches (Civic Type-R, Focus ST, mk-5 Golf GTi) would hit 60 in about the same time and 100 a couple of seconds quicker. The new generation of 250+ bhp cars would be much quicker.
These are cars that are 20 years newer, you made my point exactly, people always bang on about how shttp://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...
The last generation of hot hatches (Civic Type-R, Focus ST, mk-5 Golf GTi) would hit 60 in about the same time and 100 a couple of seconds quicker. The new generation of 250+ bhp cars would be much quicker.
t montego's and maestro's are yet they can still run modern equiverlent cars close performance wise. Ferg said:
A tool that obviously does what it's supposed to.
The nipple appears to be Rusted into place. It sits in a recess, between the brake pipe and the shaped back plate. the spanner in my tool box had about 10 mm extra metal that it didn't need. I spayed the nipple with WD40, had a coffee, ground the spanner, put the spanner on the nipple, rotated nipple 90 degrees, nipple snapped. New POD said:
The nipple appears to be Rusted into place. It sits in a recess, between the brake pipe and the shaped back plate. the spanner in my tool box had about 10 mm extra metal that it didn't need. I spayed the nipple with WD40, had a coffee, ground the spanner, put the spanner on the nipple, rotated nipple 90 degrees, nipple snapped.
Sorry. I was just amused by the name of the tool in the bit of your post that I quoted....B'stard Child said:
This thread depresses me and sumarises all that is wrong with PH
Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Very nice cars however I take genuine offence at "summarises all that is wrong with PH".Nowt wrong with old cars (even Vauxhalls and I'm not just defending them although I've quoted a post I disagree strongly with)
My 21 year old Vauxhall
My 26 year old Opel
Just because I don't like a marque you appear to, I'm dragging down PH? Get over yourself.
I replied to a straight question with a straight answer, I don't like Vauxhalls.
FWIW, I love old cars, I'm much more drawn to old than new.
Many people don't like the cars I like, do I belittle them because of this? No, I just acknowledge that not everyone has the same tastes as me. Add in the fact that this isn't an increasing occurrence at all on PH, I've been loitering around here since from what I can gather was the beginning, and twas ever thus.
Like I said, nice cars and perhaps I should/could have been more accurate in that the Vauxhall range over the course of my lifetime has been the one that I find least inspiring.
I'm not going to apologise for having an opinion on cars and voicing that opinion on a car forum.
Just because I like cars in general does not mean I have to like all cars, that's a ridiculous notion.
What's wrong with PH is the ever increasing tendency to belittle others whose opinion you don't like by pulling the (misplaced) superiority card.
ETA Sorry BC, your post has annoyed me but my retort isn't intended as a personal attack/whatever....obviously I'm addressing you but it's not intended to insult.
Edited by DrTre on Sunday 3rd June 09:54
DrTre said:
Very nice cars however I take genuine offence at "summarises all that is wrong with PH".
Just because I don't like a marque you appear to, I'm dragging down PH? Get over yourself.
I replied to a straight question with a straight answer, I don't like Vauxhalls.
FWIW, I love old cars, I'm much more drawn to old than new.
Many people don't like the cars I like, do I belittle them because of this? No, I just acknowledge that not everyone has the same tastes as me. Add in the fact that this isn't an increasing tendency at all on PH, I've been loitering around here since from what I can gather was the beginning, and twas ever thus.
Like I said, nice cars and perhaps I should/could have been more accurate in that the Vauxhall range over the course of my lifetime has been the one that I find least inspiring.
I'm not going to apologise for having an opinion on cars and voicing that opinion on a car forum.
What's wrong with PH is the ever increasing tendency to pull others up whose opinion you don't like by pulling the (misplaced) superiority card.
Good points well made - unfortunately I wrote a lot more than what was actually posted as an edit but I think I previewed rather than posted - ooops too much red stuff last night :-(Just because I don't like a marque you appear to, I'm dragging down PH? Get over yourself.
I replied to a straight question with a straight answer, I don't like Vauxhalls.
FWIW, I love old cars, I'm much more drawn to old than new.
Many people don't like the cars I like, do I belittle them because of this? No, I just acknowledge that not everyone has the same tastes as me. Add in the fact that this isn't an increasing tendency at all on PH, I've been loitering around here since from what I can gather was the beginning, and twas ever thus.
Like I said, nice cars and perhaps I should/could have been more accurate in that the Vauxhall range over the course of my lifetime has been the one that I find least inspiring.
I'm not going to apologise for having an opinion on cars and voicing that opinion on a car forum.
What's wrong with PH is the ever increasing tendency to pull others up whose opinion you don't like by pulling the (misplaced) superiority card.
I'm not going to reply to all the points you made line by line as that would be argumentative and I don't like to go there and we do agree on some things it appears.
To me PH has always been about the cars but my impression is more recently tolerance of anything that is older, slower or from anywhere before 2000 has been very reduced and that's a bit sad
I'm also not keen on most modern cars - as a result of needing to reach safety stds they have got heavier with more driver assistance devices and visibility from the drivers seat has definately reduced and they aren't so involving to drive
Older cars represent the path cars have taken in the evolution of what we are enthusiastic about and the world is a better place if some survive even if they aren't fault free....
One car that would make me smile is a Lancia Beta (not seen one for a long time but that may be down to Lancia's buy back and crush solution) bit if a shame if none survive for anyone to look at an appreciate in the future
B'stard Child said:
Good points well made ...
To me PH has always been about the cars but my impression is more recently tolerance of anything that is older, slower or from anywhere before 2000 has been very reduced and that's a bit sad
I'm also not keen on most modern cars - as a result of needing to reach safety stds they have got heavier with more driver assistance devices and visibility from the drivers seat has definately reduced and they aren't so involving to drive
Older cars represent the path cars have taken in the evolution of what we are enthusiastic about and the world is a better place if some survive even if they aren't fault free....
One car that would make me smile is a Lancia Beta ...
I saw a coupe the other day. Instantly stood out. Lovely thing.To me PH has always been about the cars but my impression is more recently tolerance of anything that is older, slower or from anywhere before 2000 has been very reduced and that's a bit sad
I'm also not keen on most modern cars - as a result of needing to reach safety stds they have got heavier with more driver assistance devices and visibility from the drivers seat has definately reduced and they aren't so involving to drive
Older cars represent the path cars have taken in the evolution of what we are enthusiastic about and the world is a better place if some survive even if they aren't fault free....
One car that would make me smile is a Lancia Beta ...
I'd agree with the feeling of intolerance towards many cars...I personally blame this on the idea of 'Cars' as a hobby being hijacked by a well-known celebrity (who actually is interested in status symbols rather than 'cars'...)
My parents had a Morris 1800 for a while. A car I'm sure would be derided by many, but get this...
It handled brilliantly (it rode rather worse..), 6 of us slept in it in Ireland when we missed a ferry, it NEVER let us down anywhere, never returned home on a recovery truck and when they gave it to us kids it took us to the Reading Festival and I slept in it...and maybe even cooked in it.
Oh..and versions of it were quite a successful rally car.
Comments on this thread tell you loads more about the poster than the car they mention!
but seeing his always cheers me up.I stuck in an edit there while you were writing I think, but even without having read that you've replied to me in the nicest possible way, thank you.
It appears we pretty much agree on an awful lot, things are moving on in the car world and here on PH but, to be fair, the flip side might be it's just because we're getting old!
Having had a Nova to zip about in in my teenage years, I can't say I'll get misty eyed over them any time soon.
It's an odd one with Vauxhall, they do slightly depress me (different to hating/wanting them off the road). It's a melancholy thing I can't quite put my finger on. Each marque evokes a different emotion really, any BL one will always be fuddy-duddy to me, Ford are a rough around the edges/younger crowd that anyone could buy into, Renault: French farmer quirky, Citroen: French quirky chic etc etc.
These are all personal stereotypes/thoughts and they're probably so ingrained/entwined with childhood memories that I'll never change; and of course there are exceptions to each of them (your two for a start).
I sincerely apologise for getting narked with your post.
ETA there's a slight/subtle/maybe not so subtle difference between seeing old cars in the flesh and the memory of cars and the feelings they evoke. I can't imagine I'll look back with any emotion on many modern cars in twenty years time..it's just an age thing.
It appears we pretty much agree on an awful lot, things are moving on in the car world and here on PH but, to be fair, the flip side might be it's just because we're getting old!
Having had a Nova to zip about in in my teenage years, I can't say I'll get misty eyed over them any time soon.
It's an odd one with Vauxhall, they do slightly depress me (different to hating/wanting them off the road). It's a melancholy thing I can't quite put my finger on. Each marque evokes a different emotion really, any BL one will always be fuddy-duddy to me, Ford are a rough around the edges/younger crowd that anyone could buy into, Renault: French farmer quirky, Citroen: French quirky chic etc etc.
These are all personal stereotypes/thoughts and they're probably so ingrained/entwined with childhood memories that I'll never change; and of course there are exceptions to each of them (your two for a start).
I sincerely apologise for getting narked with your post.
ETA there's a slight/subtle/maybe not so subtle difference between seeing old cars in the flesh and the memory of cars and the feelings they evoke. I can't imagine I'll look back with any emotion on many modern cars in twenty years time..it's just an age thing.
Edited by DrTre on Sunday 3rd June 10:25
Ferg said:
B'stard Child said:
Good points well made ...
To me PH has always been about the cars but my impression is more recently tolerance of anything that is older, slower or from anywhere before 2000 has been very reduced and that's a bit sad
I'm also not keen on most modern cars - as a result of needing to reach safety stds they have got heavier with more driver assistance devices and visibility from the drivers seat has definately reduced and they aren't so involving to drive
Older cars represent the path cars have taken in the evolution of what we are enthusiastic about and the world is a better place if some survive even if they aren't fault free....
One car that would make me smile is a Lancia Beta ...
I saw a coupe the other day. Instantly stood out. Lovely thing.To me PH has always been about the cars but my impression is more recently tolerance of anything that is older, slower or from anywhere before 2000 has been very reduced and that's a bit sad
I'm also not keen on most modern cars - as a result of needing to reach safety stds they have got heavier with more driver assistance devices and visibility from the drivers seat has definately reduced and they aren't so involving to drive
Older cars represent the path cars have taken in the evolution of what we are enthusiastic about and the world is a better place if some survive even if they aren't fault free....
One car that would make me smile is a Lancia Beta ...
I'd agree with the feeling of intolerance towards many cars...I personally blame this on the idea of 'Cars' as a hobby being hijacked by a well-known celebrity (who actually is interested in status symbols rather than 'cars'...)
My parents had a Morris 1800 for a while. A car I'm sure would be derided by many, but get this...
It handled brilliantly (it rode rather worse..), 6 of us slept in it in Ireland when we missed a ferry, it NEVER let us down anywhere, never returned home on a recovery truck and when they gave it to us kids it took us to the Reading Festival and I slept in it...and maybe even cooked in it.
Oh..and versions of it were quite a successful rally car.
Comments on this thread tell you loads more about the poster than the car they mention!
I remember a friend had a Morris Marina 1.3 Coupe - great little car, light and RWD so a hoot to drive
Earlier in the thread bellmonts and Nova saloons were mentioned - I'd agree they weren't the best lookers even back in the day but to me they even have an appeal in a fugly way
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff