My Car History spanning 10 years or so...
Discussion
Was reminiscing about all my former cars today...quite a lengthy post. Enjoy!
I started my driving career at the tender age of 18. Bought a 1.2 litre Vauxhall Corsa 'Trip' Edition in red from Blackbushe auctions for £3k. I don't have any photographs of it, but it looked just like this:
Very basic spec, didn't even have alloy wheels but it served a purpose. To wear L plates and help me pass my driving test.
Passed first time with 5 minors and it was time for the pinkish/reddish boggo standard Corsa to go...
Sold for £4k via the autotrader a few weeks later
Now onto the 'big daddy' SXI spec Vaux Corsa. This time with a 16v 1.2 litre engine. (Not the 8v engine in my red one) Yes thats right a whole 8v more POWER!
As you can imagine, at 18 onto my first 'proper car' with 14" alloys, GSi spoiler and factory bucket seats I was over moon. Another auction buy, I wasn't confident enough to mess around with the styling so fitted a massive stereo system with 2 x 15" subs in the boot. Used to vibrate the interior mirror off.
No photos but it looked just like this:
In awesome Arden Blue
I quickly realised those extra 8v' were just too powerful for me and promptly stuffed it taking a corner too fast in the wet. No one hurt, just my pride and my poor Arden Blue Corsa. Off to the scrap yard in the sky it went.
Insurance payout was 'market value', a little more than I had paid at auction that wasn't too bad.
As sad as it sounds, I think a good accident is in order to get your 'young' brain straight about the physics of driving. You quickly realise how mortal you are and I am lucky in that no one was hurt in my first big crash. Still, sorts you out for the rest of your driving days.
Head screwed on properly now:
After a few weeks without a car I decided to go Jap.
About 6/8 months before the first Fast & the Furious movie was launched I bought myself a boggo standard 1995 Honda Civic LSi Coupe (EG Shape) with a 1.5 Litre 16v engine. It was white and running on imitation alloy wheel Honda hub caps, had Honda headlight protectors and a pretty uncared for body. The elderly owner didn't use it anymore and it was growing algae on the paint work.
I remember when I first set eyes on it, a low mileage minter, underneath all the growth I could imagine the Honda Frost White paintwork gleaming in the sun. Snapped it up with my insurance pay out and began doing what any 19 year old lad does...then I began modifying it !
I imported the bodykit from the States, purchased some 17" alloys, got it lowered, purchased some TVs and honed my sparky skills doing up the ICE.
Sorry no before photos but:
Looking back I question my taste in modifying but back then it just felt oh so right. Wasted a pretty penny sticking things on that Honda but I felt as if though I needed to do it. I am glad I did, glad that I got the modding bug out of my system.
The car was all show and no go, well apart from the 3" Jap back box which made it sound like an angry Impreza. I was quite content with it sounding all shouty with only the slightest prod of the loud pedal. After writing off my Corsa I realised I wasn't a formula one driver and began driving much more sensibly.
Absolutely loved that car but around the age of 22 I started to mature.
I didn't feel 'cool' stepping out of it anymore and decided it had to go. I had had my fun with modifying cars and the Jap scene just got silly after the Fast & Furious films landed on UK shores.
So I sold it to some lad up in the midlands. Anyone know its whereabouts now? Does it still live?
Its like an old flame to me...
I then did the 'mature' thing and went German.
Another underpowered car, not that I cared, it was plenty fast enough for me. A 2000 BMW 318Ci Coupe with the uber rare Mark 1 BMW 'Sports kit'. Perhaps my most fav colour, even to this day, Metallic Orient Blue with Beige Leather. I absolutely loved it.
Thankfully the modding bug had well and truly gone by now, I didn't want to spoil this car so fitted some later model LED rear lights and clear indicators all around. That's it. Perfect. Drove it around for 2 years without any hassle.
Well it was until some young lad in a Fiesta wiped out on a completely dead straight road and took me with him. I still, to this day, cannot work out how he managed to crash in such spectacular fashion on a dead straight road. Anyhow, he did and my beautiful BMW took the brunt of it down the entire offside front front wing to rear bumper. I was honestly shocked to hear that the engineer had written it off ! The damage didn't look too bad but apparently the A pillar was knackered behind the panels and so off it went to the scrap yard in the sky.
Now, I began working in Central London and found that I didn't really use the car that much. Accordingly, I thought I would get something a bit more fun, a bit more quirky. But I didn't have the balls to go all out and buy a TVR (also I couldn't afford one) so I played it safe with another German car. Enter my Z3:
My first ever convertible and it wasn't a bad car, it wasn't great either. Just very 'so so' throughout its life. Probably doesn't help that it had a 1.9 litre engine. I think I had grown out of underpowered cars by now, but it served its purpose. Weekend use only really as I commuted in every day on the train and tube.
Used it less and less and in the end decided to sell it 2 years on. By now my career in the city was taking off and I really didn't need to have a car anymore.
So true to Pistonheads mentality I bought myself (another car!) in the form of a weekend track car/road going rocket. Enter the Road Runner Sprint R:
This was it in full racing spec at Road Runners Factory. I liked it but knew I wanted a road legal version. So I bought it and had RRR SVA/IVA it for me.
My need for speed was back. I was craving to go faster and faster. This single seater was powered by a Yamaha R1 2007 1000cc engine pushing circa 180bhp. It weighed around 300Kgs and was simply MENTAL.
Not safe on the road, did I car? Did I "^($
It was the most fun I had ever had in a car. Pulling over 70mph in first gear, I quickly got used to knocking through the paddle shift gear changers to play with the engine.
Simply stunning. The looks you got driving it around were probably something TVR owners are used to. I always wore a full face helmet as I didn't fancy eating stones when out and about in it.
I remember driving home at 11pm down the M4 motorway from my in-laws house. The roads were deserted, the air was cool, the engine was revving away happy to suck in the cold night air, the gear changer was flashing at me to change up as I got off the Motorway and tackled the backrounds at full throttle. Thank God a dear didn't jump out in front of me.
Epic.
Then it happened, the other half told me she was pregnant. I was so happy to become a Dad, but so sad because I knew what it meant. The Sprint R went up for sale and was gone a month later. I cried myself to sleep.
The other half, being the sweetheart she is knew I missed my Sprint R. She booked me a surprise track day and took me to drive my DREAM car:
A Lambo Gallardo Spyder.
Quite simply, this is my goal in life. To one day own my own Gallardo drop top. To me there is nothing more beautiful on the road. I am in awe of this machine. Driving one was brilliant. I was so frightened in case I span it, no need. It holds the road like no other sports car I have ever driven. I may be slightly biased towards Lambos though... I just love them, always have done since I was a young boy.
Oh and this Yellow Ferrari wasn't too shabby either:
Becoming a Dad is a confusing time. I realised I didn't much fancy the commute into London everyday. Especially getting caught in delays and signal failures etc.. I was lucky enough to be able to move out of London get a job closer to home. This of course meant that I needed another car. All my 'sensible' everyday cars had long since been sold and so had my beloved Sprint R (tbh I would have commuted in it too )
So we went out and bought a car which was fun but also commutable in - The BMW Z4:
Lovely car. Much improved over my old Z3 in every way except ride comfort. Those run flat tyres are horrible. Completely ruined the ride. I would have quite happily ripped them off and burnt them.
Ran this car for a little while. We already had a large enough family car to take care of our new arrival. This Z4 got weekly commuting duties and very little weekend work. Enjoyable in the summer months. Not so much in the winter. Excellent heater though!
Then it happened, my wife told me we were expecting our second bundle of joy.
Not so confused this time. Realised pretty quick that the Z4 simply won't do with two of our little darlings running around.
If you've seen my other posts you would have seen that we traded the Z4 in for an X5.
This should see us through nicely with our little kids. Also, the Mrs GallardoSpyder is due on 25 December so I am especially pleased to learn that our X5 has the newer X Drive system, should the snow attempt to trap us this winter.
Which leaves me driving the sensible C Class Saloon:
I foresee the X5 staying for a few more years to come. The Mercedes will probably too as it a nice reliable, comfy commuter...
I am still longing for a weekend toy. I have been told in no uncertain terms that a motorbike is out of the question. So I find myself looking at the TVR classifieds...hmmmm.....
I started my driving career at the tender age of 18. Bought a 1.2 litre Vauxhall Corsa 'Trip' Edition in red from Blackbushe auctions for £3k. I don't have any photographs of it, but it looked just like this:
Very basic spec, didn't even have alloy wheels but it served a purpose. To wear L plates and help me pass my driving test.
Passed first time with 5 minors and it was time for the pinkish/reddish boggo standard Corsa to go...
Sold for £4k via the autotrader a few weeks later
Now onto the 'big daddy' SXI spec Vaux Corsa. This time with a 16v 1.2 litre engine. (Not the 8v engine in my red one) Yes thats right a whole 8v more POWER!
As you can imagine, at 18 onto my first 'proper car' with 14" alloys, GSi spoiler and factory bucket seats I was over moon. Another auction buy, I wasn't confident enough to mess around with the styling so fitted a massive stereo system with 2 x 15" subs in the boot. Used to vibrate the interior mirror off.
No photos but it looked just like this:
In awesome Arden Blue
I quickly realised those extra 8v' were just too powerful for me and promptly stuffed it taking a corner too fast in the wet. No one hurt, just my pride and my poor Arden Blue Corsa. Off to the scrap yard in the sky it went.
Insurance payout was 'market value', a little more than I had paid at auction that wasn't too bad.
As sad as it sounds, I think a good accident is in order to get your 'young' brain straight about the physics of driving. You quickly realise how mortal you are and I am lucky in that no one was hurt in my first big crash. Still, sorts you out for the rest of your driving days.
Head screwed on properly now:
After a few weeks without a car I decided to go Jap.
About 6/8 months before the first Fast & the Furious movie was launched I bought myself a boggo standard 1995 Honda Civic LSi Coupe (EG Shape) with a 1.5 Litre 16v engine. It was white and running on imitation alloy wheel Honda hub caps, had Honda headlight protectors and a pretty uncared for body. The elderly owner didn't use it anymore and it was growing algae on the paint work.
I remember when I first set eyes on it, a low mileage minter, underneath all the growth I could imagine the Honda Frost White paintwork gleaming in the sun. Snapped it up with my insurance pay out and began doing what any 19 year old lad does...then I began modifying it !
I imported the bodykit from the States, purchased some 17" alloys, got it lowered, purchased some TVs and honed my sparky skills doing up the ICE.
Sorry no before photos but:
Looking back I question my taste in modifying but back then it just felt oh so right. Wasted a pretty penny sticking things on that Honda but I felt as if though I needed to do it. I am glad I did, glad that I got the modding bug out of my system.
The car was all show and no go, well apart from the 3" Jap back box which made it sound like an angry Impreza. I was quite content with it sounding all shouty with only the slightest prod of the loud pedal. After writing off my Corsa I realised I wasn't a formula one driver and began driving much more sensibly.
Absolutely loved that car but around the age of 22 I started to mature.
I didn't feel 'cool' stepping out of it anymore and decided it had to go. I had had my fun with modifying cars and the Jap scene just got silly after the Fast & Furious films landed on UK shores.
So I sold it to some lad up in the midlands. Anyone know its whereabouts now? Does it still live?
Its like an old flame to me...
I then did the 'mature' thing and went German.
Another underpowered car, not that I cared, it was plenty fast enough for me. A 2000 BMW 318Ci Coupe with the uber rare Mark 1 BMW 'Sports kit'. Perhaps my most fav colour, even to this day, Metallic Orient Blue with Beige Leather. I absolutely loved it.
Thankfully the modding bug had well and truly gone by now, I didn't want to spoil this car so fitted some later model LED rear lights and clear indicators all around. That's it. Perfect. Drove it around for 2 years without any hassle.
Well it was until some young lad in a Fiesta wiped out on a completely dead straight road and took me with him. I still, to this day, cannot work out how he managed to crash in such spectacular fashion on a dead straight road. Anyhow, he did and my beautiful BMW took the brunt of it down the entire offside front front wing to rear bumper. I was honestly shocked to hear that the engineer had written it off ! The damage didn't look too bad but apparently the A pillar was knackered behind the panels and so off it went to the scrap yard in the sky.
Now, I began working in Central London and found that I didn't really use the car that much. Accordingly, I thought I would get something a bit more fun, a bit more quirky. But I didn't have the balls to go all out and buy a TVR (also I couldn't afford one) so I played it safe with another German car. Enter my Z3:
My first ever convertible and it wasn't a bad car, it wasn't great either. Just very 'so so' throughout its life. Probably doesn't help that it had a 1.9 litre engine. I think I had grown out of underpowered cars by now, but it served its purpose. Weekend use only really as I commuted in every day on the train and tube.
Used it less and less and in the end decided to sell it 2 years on. By now my career in the city was taking off and I really didn't need to have a car anymore.
So true to Pistonheads mentality I bought myself (another car!) in the form of a weekend track car/road going rocket. Enter the Road Runner Sprint R:
This was it in full racing spec at Road Runners Factory. I liked it but knew I wanted a road legal version. So I bought it and had RRR SVA/IVA it for me.
My need for speed was back. I was craving to go faster and faster. This single seater was powered by a Yamaha R1 2007 1000cc engine pushing circa 180bhp. It weighed around 300Kgs and was simply MENTAL.
Not safe on the road, did I car? Did I "^($
It was the most fun I had ever had in a car. Pulling over 70mph in first gear, I quickly got used to knocking through the paddle shift gear changers to play with the engine.
Simply stunning. The looks you got driving it around were probably something TVR owners are used to. I always wore a full face helmet as I didn't fancy eating stones when out and about in it.
I remember driving home at 11pm down the M4 motorway from my in-laws house. The roads were deserted, the air was cool, the engine was revving away happy to suck in the cold night air, the gear changer was flashing at me to change up as I got off the Motorway and tackled the backrounds at full throttle. Thank God a dear didn't jump out in front of me.
Epic.
Then it happened, the other half told me she was pregnant. I was so happy to become a Dad, but so sad because I knew what it meant. The Sprint R went up for sale and was gone a month later. I cried myself to sleep.
The other half, being the sweetheart she is knew I missed my Sprint R. She booked me a surprise track day and took me to drive my DREAM car:
A Lambo Gallardo Spyder.
Quite simply, this is my goal in life. To one day own my own Gallardo drop top. To me there is nothing more beautiful on the road. I am in awe of this machine. Driving one was brilliant. I was so frightened in case I span it, no need. It holds the road like no other sports car I have ever driven. I may be slightly biased towards Lambos though... I just love them, always have done since I was a young boy.
Oh and this Yellow Ferrari wasn't too shabby either:
Becoming a Dad is a confusing time. I realised I didn't much fancy the commute into London everyday. Especially getting caught in delays and signal failures etc.. I was lucky enough to be able to move out of London get a job closer to home. This of course meant that I needed another car. All my 'sensible' everyday cars had long since been sold and so had my beloved Sprint R (tbh I would have commuted in it too
)So we went out and bought a car which was fun but also commutable in - The BMW Z4:
Lovely car. Much improved over my old Z3 in every way except ride comfort. Those run flat tyres are horrible. Completely ruined the ride. I would have quite happily ripped them off and burnt them.
Ran this car for a little while. We already had a large enough family car to take care of our new arrival. This Z4 got weekly commuting duties and very little weekend work. Enjoyable in the summer months. Not so much in the winter. Excellent heater though!
Then it happened, my wife told me we were expecting our second bundle of joy.
Not so confused this time. Realised pretty quick that the Z4 simply won't do with two of our little darlings running around.
If you've seen my other posts you would have seen that we traded the Z4 in for an X5.
This should see us through nicely with our little kids. Also, the Mrs GallardoSpyder is due on 25 December so I am especially pleased to learn that our X5 has the newer X Drive system, should the snow attempt to trap us this winter.
Which leaves me driving the sensible C Class Saloon:
I foresee the X5 staying for a few more years to come. The Mercedes will probably too as it a nice reliable, comfy commuter...
I am still longing for a weekend toy. I have been told in no uncertain terms that a motorbike is out of the question. So I find myself looking at the TVR classifieds...hmmmm.....
Edited by GallardoSpyder on Tuesday 2nd August 00:05
Edited by GallardoSpyder on Tuesday 2nd August 00:08
It was way past my bedtime!!! 
Another Fluffer said:
Ahh cool, how close are you to getting a Gallardo Spyder then?
Two kids away.Only kidding mate. That was a great read. Shame (although I'm sure you won't see it that way) the kids halted what was looking at a fairly tasty progression.
Hope you one day fulfill your Gallardo dream
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