ok, think I've got old

[300bhp/ton]

I'm sure to people a generation older than me this will come as no surprise at all. But on a round trip to town and back this morning to drop my partner off for work. I noticed just how the face of British roads has changed. I think this is the first time I've really thought about it.

What I consider not so many years ago, you couldn't help but see certain vehicles on the roads, mass produced everyday vehicles. The kind of vehicles that you'd describe should someone say, what type of cars would you find in Britain.

Today on my 30-35 min round trip I saw none of them, despite having seen several hundred vehicles. Indeed the oldest cars I observed where a 1996 P reg BMW 3 Series and an S plate Ford KA. But the mass produced cars of old I saw exactly none of, which when you consider how many where built and sold I find rather amazing.

For example, what I'd call common cars and something I'd expect to see on the roads not so long ago:


Vauxhall Caviller - none seen today
Vauxhall Carlton - none seen today
Vauxhall Senator - none seen today
Ford Escort MK3 or 4 - none seen today
Ford Sierra - none seen today
Ford Granada/Scorpio - none seen today
Vauxhall Nova - none seen today
Vauxhall Corsa B - none seen today
VW Golf MK1 or 2 - none seen today
VW Polo MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Rover 800 - none seen today
Rover/Austin Metro - none seen today
Rover 200 SD3 - none seen today
Rover 200 R8 - none seen today
Peugeot 205 - none seen today
Peugeot 106 - none seen today
Peugeot 306 - none seen today
Peugeot 405 - none seen today
Peugeot 309 - none seen today
Renault 19 - none seen today
Vauxhall Astra MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Ford Fiesta MK2, 3 or 4 - none seen today
Land Rover Range Rover (classic) - none seen today
Rover 600 - none seen today
BMW e30 - none seen today


And many more.

What amazes me, is you'd have thought after seeing hundreds of cars, you'd have seen at least a couple of the above! But no and it makes me feel old

[Liquid Knight]

300bhp/ton said:

Rover 200 SD3 - none seen today

Here's my Rover 213S (SD3) that I get to drive to work every day.



Hope this helps you feel better.

[mnkiboy]

I saw an F plate Peugeot 405 yesterday. Not seen one that old for years. Presumed they'd all rusted away by now.

[Jayho]

I saw a 106 today, that was a 2002 reg though.

I've got 1 main concern/word for you though which could help you see the light a bit...

"Scrappage Scheme" That probably killed off a lot of the cars which you would have seen previously.

[Liquid Knight]

I nearly bid on a 405 SRi on eBay for £200

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-PEUGEOT-405-SRI-BLU...

Tempting but my Rover isn't French.

[SWoll]

It's basically because the majority of cars you mentioned were nothing more than average everyday transport back in the day, so no need for anyone to love them and look after them, therefore they have all been scrapped.

Their modern equivalents are far superior vehicles in pretty much evey way, and when you can pick up an 03/04 plate Mondeo for a 'bag of sand' why the hell would you want to drive around in a 309/Cavalier/Rover 214?

Older really isn't always better. You can look back with rose tinted spectacles, but mass produced low/mid range cars have improved dramatically since the 80's-90's IMO.

[Deerfoot]

I see a mustard coloured Vauxhall Chevette on the M27 pretty much every day.

[Attym3]

There's loads of 205s about, usually diesel. Not 309s though, they rust badly. And I'm not sure about the 405s they don't rust I think it's a case of them becoming uneconomical to keep on the road. Peugeot parts prices are stupidly expensive for stupid things like hoses, bearings etc.

[Rawwr]

Liquid Knight said:

Here's my Rover 213S (SD3) that I get to drive to work every day.

You have a 213? You kept that quiet.

[SWoll]

[redacted]

[Liquid Knight]

Rawwr said:

Liquid Knight said:

Here's my Rover 213S (SD3) that I get to drive to work every day.

You have a 213? You kept that quiet.

All joking aside I can honnestly say she's been one of the best cars I have ever owned.

[bigandclever]

Go on 300, knock yourself out... http://howmanyleft.co.uk/

[s m]

300bhp/ton said:

I'm sure to people a generation older than me this will come as no surprise at all. But on a round trip to town and back this morning to drop my partner off for work. I noticed just how the face of British roads has changed. I think this is the first time I've really thought about it.

What I consider not so many years ago, you couldn't help but see certain vehicles on the roads, mass produced everyday vehicles. The kind of vehicles that you'd describe should someone say, what type of cars would you find in Britain.

Today on my 30-35 min round trip I saw none of them, despite having seen several hundred vehicles. Indeed the oldest cars I observed where a 1996 P reg BMW 3 Series and an S plate Ford KA. But the mass produced cars of old I saw exactly none of, which when you consider how many where built and sold I find rather amazing.

For example, what I'd call common cars and something I'd expect to see on the roads not so long ago:


Vauxhall Caviller - none seen today
Vauxhall Carlton - none seen today
Vauxhall Senator - none seen today
Ford Escort MK3 or 4 - none seen today
Ford Sierra - none seen today
Ford Granada/Scorpio - none seen today
Vauxhall Nova - none seen today
Vauxhall Corsa B - none seen today
VW Golf MK1 or 2 - none seen today
VW Polo MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Rover 800 - none seen today
Rover/Austin Metro - none seen today
Rover 200 SD3 - none seen today
Rover 200 R8 - none seen today
Peugeot 205 - none seen today
Peugeot 106 - none seen today
Peugeot 306 - none seen today
Peugeot 405 - none seen today
Peugeot 309 - none seen today
Renault 19 - none seen today
Vauxhall Astra MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Ford Fiesta MK2, 3 or 4 - none seen today
Land Rover Range Rover (classic) - none seen today
Rover 600 - none seen today
BMW e30 - none seen today


And many more.

What amazes me, is you'd have thought after seeing hundreds of cars, you'd have seen at least a couple of the above! But no and it makes me feel old

Since last night and 40 miles of road covered

Vauxhall Cavalier - one L-plate seen today
Vauxhall Carlton - none seen today
Vauxhall Senator - none seen today
Ford Escort MK3 or 4 - none seen today
Ford Sierra - one H-reg seen today
Ford Granada/Scorpio - none seen today
Vauxhall Nova - none seen today
Vauxhall Corsa B - one parked in my road
VW Golf MK1 or 2 - none seen today
VW Polo MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Rover 800 - one V-reg seen today
Rover/Austin Metro - none seen today
Rover 200 SD3 - none seen today
Rover 200 R8 - none seen today
Peugeot 205 - one parked in my road
Peugeot 106 - at least one
Peugeot 306 - at least one
Peugeot 405 - one estate version ( diesel ) seen
Peugeot 309 - one Goodwood seen
Vauxhall Astra MK1 or 2 - none seen today
Ford Fiesta MK2, 3 or 4 - none seen today
Land Rover Range Rover (classic) - none seen today
Rover 600 - none seen today
BMW e30 - none seen today

[RemainAllHoof]

300bhp/ton said:

Vauxhall Nova - none seen today

I knew someone who had a Nova with 17" alloys. He didn't lower it so there was a massive gap under the car. Every time I see a 4x4 on huge wheels, it reminds me of his vehicle of awesomeness.

[Volvo360]

Reckon you should add the Volvo 300 to the list. It was one of the best selling cars in this country for over 10 years. Hardly any around now. Apart from mine.

[Dog Star]

mnkiboy said:

I saw an F plate Peugeot 405 yesterday. Not seen one that old for years. Presumed they'd all rusted away by now.

I've never actually seen a 405 with any appreciable rust. I know that PH is heaving with people who hate French cars but there's no way the 405 ever deserved a reputation for rust.

(In fact I reckon they're pretty old skool - go forever).

[Efbe]

Thing is, for the same price as you could get these cars for, you could also buy something newer and quite a lot better (in most cases).

Cars of this age are on the verge of starting to appreciate in value, but they are still rock bottom.

Wait a few more years and I reckon you may see more on the roads as the type of owner changes.

[matthias73]

Liquid Knight said:

I nearly bid on a 405 SRi on eBay for £200

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-PEUGEOT-405-SRI-BLU...

Tempting but my Rover isn't French.

Damn son, I might bid on that!

[Liquid Knight]

Liquid Knight said:

I nearly bid on a 405 SRi on eBay for £200

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-PEUGEOT-405-SRI-BLU...

£8 a year less to insure than the Rover (an extra £140 due to the towbar).

[Classic Grad 98]

I saw my first ever Vauxhall Nova GTE a couple of weekends ago...