What was the car your mum/dad had when you were a kid?
Discussion
Vauxhall Belmont for the majority of my life, but this was just my Dad's hack so that he could run some incredible motorbikes.
He then went to the Vauxhall workers scheme and had a different car every few months, which was interesting even if they were Vauxhalls.
Now that the kids have flown the nest he's got a Boxster S and still in the bike world with an MV Augusta
He then went to the Vauxhall workers scheme and had a different car every few months, which was interesting even if they were Vauxhalls.
Now that the kids have flown the nest he's got a Boxster S and still in the bike world with an MV Augusta
Dad:
B reg Audi 200 Turbo (saloon, non-quattro). Blue velour. I remember it had climate control. Amazing. It packed up the day before a drive to Spain.
J reg Audi 100 2.8E (saloon, non-quattro). Grey velour.
V reg Audi A6 2.8 quattro (saloon). Vanilla leather.
06 reg Audi S4 (saloon). Carmine red leather.
Mum:
Suffix V reg Ford Fiesta
B reg VW Polo (Formel E - sort of saloon one, not the hatch)
J reg VW Golf CL which went back to the dealer and replaced by a
K reg VW Golf CL <- I picked the reg for this one from the dealer's book of allocations.
P reg VW Golf CL
56 reg VW Golf 1.6 FSI
Some variety eh!
B reg Audi 200 Turbo (saloon, non-quattro). Blue velour. I remember it had climate control. Amazing. It packed up the day before a drive to Spain.
J reg Audi 100 2.8E (saloon, non-quattro). Grey velour.
V reg Audi A6 2.8 quattro (saloon). Vanilla leather.
06 reg Audi S4 (saloon). Carmine red leather.
Mum:
Suffix V reg Ford Fiesta
B reg VW Polo (Formel E - sort of saloon one, not the hatch)
J reg VW Golf CL which went back to the dealer and replaced by a
K reg VW Golf CL <- I picked the reg for this one from the dealer's book of allocations.
P reg VW Golf CL
56 reg VW Golf 1.6 FSI
Some variety eh!
The most memorable, for various reasons -
Capri (Mk2 most likely, black, silver pin strip down the side with black vinyl roof, maroon interior, square-ish headlights), my father restored the car.
Maroon Dolomite (hated the the thing)
Original Fiat 500, powder blue
Blue Triumph Acclaim (my mother loved driving that car)
Dark blue Rover 213, 216, late eighties boxey numbers and 416, early 90's booted variety.
Capri (Mk2 most likely, black, silver pin strip down the side with black vinyl roof, maroon interior, square-ish headlights), my father restored the car.
Maroon Dolomite (hated the the thing)
Original Fiat 500, powder blue
Blue Triumph Acclaim (my mother loved driving that car)
Dark blue Rover 213, 216, late eighties boxey numbers and 416, early 90's booted variety.
Mostly pretty dull unfortunately.
Family car when I was a baby was a Renault 5
Then when we moved to the US we had a '75 Toyota Corolla
then we moved to the UK and rolled in an '82 (I think) Vauxhall Astra 1.6 GL in hearing aid beige
then 'upgraded' to a Cavalier 1.6L which was the s
ttiest most gutless car ever.
1990 saw us acquire a Cavalier SRi in Mexican Red (oooh!)
A few years later, a Vectra B Sri 130 in Anthracite
then I passed my test and made everyone drive BMWs instead.
Family car when I was a baby was a Renault 5
Then when we moved to the US we had a '75 Toyota Corolla
then we moved to the UK and rolled in an '82 (I think) Vauxhall Astra 1.6 GL in hearing aid beige
then 'upgraded' to a Cavalier 1.6L which was the s
ttiest most gutless car ever. 1990 saw us acquire a Cavalier SRi in Mexican Red (oooh!)
A few years later, a Vectra B Sri 130 in Anthracite
then I passed my test and made everyone drive BMWs instead.
Dullest of the dull,
Dad:
Rover 800 in Brown (dont really remember)
Mondeo Mk1 M reg? estate in Red (remember this one, played the latest Texas album a lot which zipping around the country side with our Red setter in the back - Stinky breath.)
Mondeo Mk2 S Reg - Dark green. Smelt like sick. My Fault.
VW Sharan 51 Reg - Silver (Loved this, so much space and came with two Gameboy advances with connoctor cables for Vs Mario Kart!!) bought this after it was done being dad's company car as it was so good at family lugging
Mondeo Mk3 53 Reg - Silver. Back to the dull.
Finally got a bit more exciting when they divorced and got a Volvo S40 D5 R-Design Sport 08 Reg with a spoiler and two exhausts this was very exciting.. At least it made an okay noise and as I'd passed my test I could drive it
Mum:
Various crap BMC cars that my Grandfather could get cheap -
I remember various Meastros, a rover 100 or two, definitely a Rover 200 in Blue and then an S Reg Rover 25 in blue. Awful car, SOO uncomfortable in the back and an embarrassment to be seen in. Apparently it was good to drive
Then she bought a Mini in 2005 and has has three more since, absolutely loves them
Dad:
Rover 800 in Brown (dont really remember)
Mondeo Mk1 M reg? estate in Red (remember this one, played the latest Texas album a lot which zipping around the country side with our Red setter in the back - Stinky breath.)
Mondeo Mk2 S Reg - Dark green. Smelt like sick. My Fault.
VW Sharan 51 Reg - Silver (Loved this, so much space and came with two Gameboy advances with connoctor cables for Vs Mario Kart!!) bought this after it was done being dad's company car as it was so good at family lugging
Mondeo Mk3 53 Reg - Silver. Back to the dull.
Finally got a bit more exciting when they divorced and got a Volvo S40 D5 R-Design Sport 08 Reg with a spoiler and two exhausts this was very exciting.. At least it made an okay noise and as I'd passed my test I could drive it
Mum:
Various crap BMC cars that my Grandfather could get cheap -
I remember various Meastros, a rover 100 or two, definitely a Rover 200 in Blue and then an S Reg Rover 25 in blue. Awful car, SOO uncomfortable in the back and an embarrassment to be seen in. Apparently it was good to drive
Then she bought a Mini in 2005 and has has three more since, absolutely loves them
Some random ones from when I was a kid growing up in the 80s and early 90s:
Dad
1987 Ford Sierra 1.6LX
1989 Toyota Camry Estate (I think)
1990 Audi Coupe 2.2e
1992 Honda Prelude (again not 100%, it had pop up lights I remember)
Mum
1984? Opel Rekord. I was never sure why it wasn't a Vauxhall-badged car.
1988 Ford Fiesta XR2
Dad
1987 Ford Sierra 1.6LX
1989 Toyota Camry Estate (I think)
1990 Audi Coupe 2.2e
1992 Honda Prelude (again not 100%, it had pop up lights I remember)
Mum
1984? Opel Rekord. I was never sure why it wasn't a Vauxhall-badged car.
1988 Ford Fiesta XR2
The cars i remember... combo of Mum and Dad's cars, who both kept cars a long time.
BMW 325 (e30)
Tickford Capri (had to be taken away on a low-loader as it was rotten)
2.8 Capri - white with red go-faster stripes
XR3i
XR4x4 Estate
BMW 535 - stolen from a petrol station in Gants Hill - Dad left keys in car to pay.
BMW 540 - both company cars
Vauxhall Frontera - bloody horrible, horrible thing... Dad kept it for 300k miles until it died.
Honda Civic Jordan
Suzuki Baleno GS (i inherited and subsequently wrote off 3weeks later)
BMW 325 (e30)
Tickford Capri (had to be taken away on a low-loader as it was rotten)
2.8 Capri - white with red go-faster stripes
XR3i
XR4x4 Estate
BMW 535 - stolen from a petrol station in Gants Hill - Dad left keys in car to pay.
BMW 540 - both company cars
Vauxhall Frontera - bloody horrible, horrible thing... Dad kept it for 300k miles until it died.
Honda Civic Jordan
Suzuki Baleno GS (i inherited and subsequently wrote off 3weeks later)
Ones that I can remember
Dad
Cortina estate, X reg
Astra estate, F reg
Astra estate, P reg
Astra estate, 02
Mum
Fiesta, A reg
Fiesta, E reg
306, M reg (I wrote this one off 3 days after my test)
306, M reg (awful replacement to a great car to compound the trouble I was in)
Dad loves his motorsport (semi-petrol head) but refuses to buy anything other than mid sized estates with boring engines, current is a diesel Focus. Suggested the Leon Cupra as his next one but that was instantly dismissed, Golf R/Focus ST not suitable as won't take a tow bar.
Dad
Cortina estate, X reg
Astra estate, F reg
Astra estate, P reg
Astra estate, 02
Mum
Fiesta, A reg
Fiesta, E reg
306, M reg (I wrote this one off 3 days after my test)
306, M reg (awful replacement to a great car to compound the trouble I was in)
Dad loves his motorsport (semi-petrol head) but refuses to buy anything other than mid sized estates with boring engines, current is a diesel Focus. Suggested the Leon Cupra as his next one but that was instantly dismissed, Golf R/Focus ST not suitable as won't take a tow bar.
'Dad' cars:
Hillman Avenger, green. Dad accidentally ran over the cat in it on the drive
Ford Cortina mk4 in dark blue. Weirdly I still remember the reg: RNK 217W
Vauxhall Carlton 2200 CD auto. Many trips around the country and to France towing a caravan
Jag XJ40 when I was a teenager, not kept for long probably due to ruinous bills
Alfa 156, until the cambelt went and lunched it's top end
'Mum' cars:
1980s Toyota Corolla in gold (JRG)
Ford Orion. Written off while my older brother was driving (not his fault, some idiot jumped a red light - fortunately an off-duty BiB witnessed otherwise I'm sure he would've got the blame).
L-reg ('92?) Rover Metro. Petrol tank rusted through!
Hillman Avenger, green. Dad accidentally ran over the cat in it on the drive
Ford Cortina mk4 in dark blue. Weirdly I still remember the reg: RNK 217W
Vauxhall Carlton 2200 CD auto. Many trips around the country and to France towing a caravan
Jag XJ40 when I was a teenager, not kept for long probably due to ruinous bills
Alfa 156, until the cambelt went and lunched it's top end
'Mum' cars:
1980s Toyota Corolla in gold (JRG)
Ford Orion. Written off while my older brother was driving (not his fault, some idiot jumped a red light - fortunately an off-duty BiB witnessed otherwise I'm sure he would've got the blame).
L-reg ('92?) Rover Metro. Petrol tank rusted through!
The Alfasud was the first car I remember; predictably it didn't cope too well living only 5 miles from the coast.
After that it was a series of Fords as company cars, Capris and Sierras mainly. I think Dad used to have a competition with his brother about how much he could fit in a Capri as I remember the car being filled with cousins and surf boards on the way to the beach with usually at least one person crammed in to the boot alongside all the junk required for a trip to the seaside
After that it was a series of Fords as company cars, Capris and Sierras mainly. I think Dad used to have a competition with his brother about how much he could fit in a Capri as I remember the car being filled with cousins and surf boards on the way to the beach with usually at least one person crammed in to the boot alongside all the junk required for a trip to the seaside
First one I remember was a navy Renault 11. Upgraded to a bronze Renault 19. I loved that car. Replaced by a Golf mk3 estate which was the first car I properly drove (at 14).
Dad has a series of cheap work cars as well. 405 van that had moss on the carpet and a glove box that sloshed with water. Then a daihatsu fourtrak and finally a Tata pickup which seemed pretty rare over here!
Dad has a series of cheap work cars as well. 405 van that had moss on the carpet and a glove box that sloshed with water. Then a daihatsu fourtrak and finally a Tata pickup which seemed pretty rare over here!
Dad:
1979 Lancia Beta - not a spot of rust when he sold it for about £3.50.
1984 MG Maestro 1600 - when you are 4 having red seatbelts and a voice in the dash asking you to fasten those seatbelts is possibly the greatest thing ever.
1985 MG Maestro EFi - Moonraker Blue with the same voice in the dash.
1988 Vauxhall Belmont SRi - Made an array of interesting noises - clutch squeak when depressed, high pitched fuel injector whine - but far to keen to fall apart
1991 Rover 416 GTi - fully loaded for an early 90's saloon, had a screamer of a Honda engine
1992 BMW 325i E36 - his first BMW in Glacier Blue with matching blue interior, loved that car. Sounded mint (especially when the baffles in the exhaust failed), he used to take great pride in scaring the crap out of us going up a mountain dual carriageway when we lived in France.
Then a series of Company BMW's, culminating in the E91 325i he purchased a year or two before he died. Loved the Alacantra trim inside (he didn't pay the extra for leather) and the N52 up front, so wanted to keep it when he died but didn't have the 13k needed. So I waited an bought a 125i Coupe in the same colour, an popped his private plate on the front.
Mum:
1981 Vauxhall Astra EXP - a special edition they did in a glorious 70's Brown.
1984 Austin Maestro 1.3L - All I can remember about this is the horrible poo brown interior.
1987 Vauxhall Astra Antibes - another special edition, with blue seats and white wheels.
1992 BMW 325i E36 - same as above, my mum ran it when the old man got his company car
1996 BMW 328i E36 Touring - Boston Green with Caramel Leather, considering me mum doesn't drive fast, watching her gather up a dab of oppo was always an amusing sight.
1999 BMW 325i Sport E46 - Silver with Red Leather and the full Sport kit, loved that car
1979 Lancia Beta - not a spot of rust when he sold it for about £3.50.
1984 MG Maestro 1600 - when you are 4 having red seatbelts and a voice in the dash asking you to fasten those seatbelts is possibly the greatest thing ever.
1985 MG Maestro EFi - Moonraker Blue with the same voice in the dash.
1988 Vauxhall Belmont SRi - Made an array of interesting noises - clutch squeak when depressed, high pitched fuel injector whine - but far to keen to fall apart
1991 Rover 416 GTi - fully loaded for an early 90's saloon, had a screamer of a Honda engine
1992 BMW 325i E36 - his first BMW in Glacier Blue with matching blue interior, loved that car. Sounded mint (especially when the baffles in the exhaust failed), he used to take great pride in scaring the crap out of us going up a mountain dual carriageway when we lived in France.
Then a series of Company BMW's, culminating in the E91 325i he purchased a year or two before he died. Loved the Alacantra trim inside (he didn't pay the extra for leather) and the N52 up front, so wanted to keep it when he died but didn't have the 13k needed. So I waited an bought a 125i Coupe in the same colour, an popped his private plate on the front.
Mum:
1981 Vauxhall Astra EXP - a special edition they did in a glorious 70's Brown.
1984 Austin Maestro 1.3L - All I can remember about this is the horrible poo brown interior.
1987 Vauxhall Astra Antibes - another special edition, with blue seats and white wheels.
1992 BMW 325i E36 - same as above, my mum ran it when the old man got his company car
1996 BMW 328i E36 Touring - Boston Green with Caramel Leather, considering me mum doesn't drive fast, watching her gather up a dab of oppo was always an amusing sight.
1999 BMW 325i Sport E46 - Silver with Red Leather and the full Sport kit, loved that car
First one I remember was the yellow Austin Allegro, bought new on a T reg
Then the W reg Brown Vauxhall Chevette saloon (NCP 307W)
Rust coloured Astra (A958 ONK)
Burgundy Mk4 1.3 Escort Popular (D reg) - given to me on my 21st as my first car
J reg Rover 414
R Reg Saxo
56 plate Fiat Grande Punto (bought new, sold to my niece last year as first car with 21000 miles on it!)
Vauxhall Mokka (Dad needs it now due to limited mobility)
No idea where my love of cars and motorsport comes from!
Then the W reg Brown Vauxhall Chevette saloon (NCP 307W)
Rust coloured Astra (A958 ONK)
Burgundy Mk4 1.3 Escort Popular (D reg) - given to me on my 21st as my first car
J reg Rover 414
R Reg Saxo
56 plate Fiat Grande Punto (bought new, sold to my niece last year as first car with 21000 miles on it!)
Vauxhall Mokka (Dad needs it now due to limited mobility)
No idea where my love of cars and motorsport comes from!
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