Fanboys of PH unite: your marque of choice & why you love it
Discussion
This is a thread celebrating the fanboy in you. 
Which is your marque of choice and why? What attracts you to the marque? When did it all begin?
How far have you taken your fanboism? Just cars, perhaps scale models, enthusiast meets, £££ spent?
Have your feelings to the marque changed over time?
Would you ever consider buying anything else?
PS Let's keep this a positive thread so please no attacks or criticisms, regardless of whatever odd things people are interested in!
EDIT to add my reply:
Suppose I'd better reply to my own topic and I must admit, it's a bit of an odd one.
It's quite easy to understand why one would have an allegiance to a certain football team based on where you grew up or where you live but a 'brand' the represents an inanimate object? It's a little odd isn't it!? I can't explain it, I'll put it down to indoctrination as a child.
I'll put my hands up and say I'm a BMW fanboy, been one for years and years. As a child I was exposed to two religions - Christianity and BMW. Only one has remained in my adult life.
I suppose it started at an early age, my father had a BMW 2002 when I was growing up and was a member of the BMW Car Club. All our family had BMWs, my uncle an E23 728 (the dashboard of which astonished me with its fancy lights, plus it was absolutely huge) and my aunt (in Cyprus) an E21 316. My dad then moved on to an E21 320 (polaris silver with M tech go faster stripes) and then a E28 525i.
I grew up with Haynes manuals for these models, doing the typical 'torch holding' for dad and generally trying to learn car maintenance and DIY.
I have spend countless hours on BMW specific forums: BMWCar, PBMW (of which I was a moderator), E36Coupe & E30Zone, attended BMW meets (including the BMW Festival at Gaydon) and have >20 1:18 scale models. I wouldn't like to add up the amount of cash spent on magazines, at one point I was buying BMWCar, PBMW and Total BMW magazine every month.
Apart from my first car (Mk 1 Fiesta Popular Plus), I've only ever had BMWs and more then likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future (hopefully an M3 next year). There's just something about them and the way they drive. In addition, they're very nice cars to work on.
I'll admit I prefer the BMW of old (rose tinted specs?) which seemed to put engineering first and marketing crap second. I loved the clever TV adverts as they were subtle and smart and the brilliant 'Ultimate Driving Machine' tag line. Not a fan of all this 'joy' malarkey and to be absolutely honest the new models don't have the same appeal as those of old.
I wonder if a brand that originally catered for the enthusiast is starting to lose its way by trying to cover every possible niche with a new model. But, one can't argue with the business plan as the company continues to be very profitable. I just hope they don't forget about the drivers who actually care about driving.
A couple of year ago, as part of our Euro banger rally we visited Munich for the Oktoberfest. While there, a necessary pilgrimage had to be made!
A happy bunny!
Which is your marque of choice and why? What attracts you to the marque? When did it all begin?
How far have you taken your fanboism? Just cars, perhaps scale models, enthusiast meets, £££ spent?
Have your feelings to the marque changed over time?
Would you ever consider buying anything else?
PS Let's keep this a positive thread so please no attacks or criticisms, regardless of whatever odd things people are interested in!
EDIT to add my reply:
Suppose I'd better reply to my own topic and I must admit, it's a bit of an odd one.
It's quite easy to understand why one would have an allegiance to a certain football team based on where you grew up or where you live but a 'brand' the represents an inanimate object? It's a little odd isn't it!? I can't explain it, I'll put it down to indoctrination as a child.
I'll put my hands up and say I'm a BMW fanboy, been one for years and years. As a child I was exposed to two religions - Christianity and BMW. Only one has remained in my adult life.
I suppose it started at an early age, my father had a BMW 2002 when I was growing up and was a member of the BMW Car Club. All our family had BMWs, my uncle an E23 728 (the dashboard of which astonished me with its fancy lights, plus it was absolutely huge) and my aunt (in Cyprus) an E21 316. My dad then moved on to an E21 320 (polaris silver with M tech go faster stripes) and then a E28 525i.
I grew up with Haynes manuals for these models, doing the typical 'torch holding' for dad and generally trying to learn car maintenance and DIY.
I have spend countless hours on BMW specific forums: BMWCar, PBMW (of which I was a moderator), E36Coupe & E30Zone, attended BMW meets (including the BMW Festival at Gaydon) and have >20 1:18 scale models. I wouldn't like to add up the amount of cash spent on magazines, at one point I was buying BMWCar, PBMW and Total BMW magazine every month.
Apart from my first car (Mk 1 Fiesta Popular Plus), I've only ever had BMWs and more then likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future (hopefully an M3 next year). There's just something about them and the way they drive. In addition, they're very nice cars to work on.
I'll admit I prefer the BMW of old (rose tinted specs?) which seemed to put engineering first and marketing crap second. I loved the clever TV adverts as they were subtle and smart and the brilliant 'Ultimate Driving Machine' tag line. Not a fan of all this 'joy' malarkey and to be absolutely honest the new models don't have the same appeal as those of old.
I wonder if a brand that originally catered for the enthusiast is starting to lose its way by trying to cover every possible niche with a new model. But, one can't argue with the business plan as the company continues to be very profitable. I just hope they don't forget about the drivers who actually care about driving.
A couple of year ago, as part of our Euro banger rally we visited Munich for the Oktoberfest. While there, a necessary pilgrimage had to be made!
A happy bunny!
Edited by g3org3y on Monday 25th March 08:51
I was never particularly interested in cars, that was until my best mate bought a bright red Alfa 33 1.5 TI , it was heap of s
t but he loved it and so did I after I drove it for the first time and I was hooked. It went like st off a stick and the sound of that boxer engine was awesome.
Around the same time Alfa were doing particularly well in BTCC with the Alfa 155 Silverstone and so for the last 20 odd years I've been fascinated with Alfa, the history the wonderful cars that have been produced, in particular the cars of the 60's and 70's.
I've driven them, owned them, sold them for a living , been a director of the owners club, organised Alfa events and even appeared in an episode of Top Gear featuring Alfa.
I've got it bad!
t but he loved it and so did I after I drove it for the first time and I was hooked. It went like st off a stick and the sound of that boxer engine was awesome.Around the same time Alfa were doing particularly well in BTCC with the Alfa 155 Silverstone and so for the last 20 odd years I've been fascinated with Alfa, the history the wonderful cars that have been produced, in particular the cars of the 60's and 70's.
I've driven them, owned them, sold them for a living , been a director of the owners club, organised Alfa events and even appeared in an episode of Top Gear featuring Alfa.
I've got it bad!
Might as well get in there with this one- BMW.
So many classics over the years including the 8 series, the 635 and the e30 M3.
BMWs are built with quality in mind, and are just fantastic to drive.
The straight six engines make an amazing noise. The V8s of the latest M3s sound even better!
There's bound to be more people that disagree than agree with me, but these are all in my opinions. Much like many like the older Mercs, I love the older BMWs.
So many classics over the years including the 8 series, the 635 and the e30 M3.
BMWs are built with quality in mind, and are just fantastic to drive.
The straight six engines make an amazing noise. The V8s of the latest M3s sound even better!
There's bound to be more people that disagree than agree with me, but these are all in my opinions. Much like many like the older Mercs, I love the older BMWs.
STW2010 said:
Might as well get in there with this one- BMW.
So many classics over the years including the 8 series, the 635 and the e30 M3.
BMWs are built with quality in mind, and are just fantastic to drive.
The straight six engines make an amazing noise. The V8s of the latest M3s sound even better!
There's bound to be more people that disagree than agree with me, but these are all in my opinions. Much like many like the older Mercs, I love the older BMWs.
+ 1So many classics over the years including the 8 series, the 635 and the e30 M3.
BMWs are built with quality in mind, and are just fantastic to drive.
The straight six engines make an amazing noise. The V8s of the latest M3s sound even better!
There's bound to be more people that disagree than agree with me, but these are all in my opinions. Much like many like the older Mercs, I love the older BMWs.
I am also quite fond of Rover. But that is a case of rose tinted glasses I think.
Anything performance Honda. Especially imports! I just love it when someone has the look of disappointment of their face when you tell them your car is only a 1.8-NA Honda. They then have a little bit of poo come out of their backside when you show them what a DC2 can do. (In a safe area, obviously)
Honda are known for making granny-mobile rubbish by some people, but then they can come out with an absoutly crazy performance car (even if they don't sell their best cars over here *Cough FD2 cough*.
The reliability has never let me down either, even hitting the silly high redline every now and then wont harm it.
I still have a DC5, EK9, EP3 import, FD2 and NSX to cross of my list of cars I want to own at some point. NSX may be a little bit harder to get hold of though.
I have a lot of respect for Nissan too, my parents both has 180sx's when I was in my early teens and I loved them to bits. Nissan is also one for making borning cars for the general public, and then comming up with some mental performance car for the enthusiast. Hope to own a 180sx soon, maybe after the DC2, but im finding it hard to find any good ones for sale that have not been ruined by some moron with JDM sticker all over it with some stupid bodykit.
Honda are known for making granny-mobile rubbish by some people, but then they can come out with an absoutly crazy performance car (even if they don't sell their best cars over here *Cough FD2 cough*.
The reliability has never let me down either, even hitting the silly high redline every now and then wont harm it.
I still have a DC5, EK9, EP3 import, FD2 and NSX to cross of my list of cars I want to own at some point. NSX may be a little bit harder to get hold of though.
I have a lot of respect for Nissan too, my parents both has 180sx's when I was in my early teens and I loved them to bits. Nissan is also one for making borning cars for the general public, and then comming up with some mental performance car for the enthusiast. Hope to own a 180sx soon, maybe after the DC2, but im finding it hard to find any good ones for sale that have not been ruined by some moron with JDM sticker all over it with some stupid bodykit.
Wouldn't really call myself a fanboy but have had a great affinity for Saabs since my dad had a couple of 900s in the late 80s. Solid as hell, and so characterful - far better than the old BL ste he had before and the Sierras my mates' dads had. Far cooler than his old Volvo 244 too! Looked at a couple of 9-3s in the early 00s and they did nothing for me. Then took the plunge and bought a 15 year old 900T16S as a 15k a year daily driver and fell in love with it. Such anfabulous car to dri:-) :-) ve, full of character and quirks. Just love it. Even get a bit misty eyed watching contemporary ads or reviews and thinking about my brand new black turbo with the whole options list ticked tooling around E1 in the early 90s 
When I retired it from daily duties I bought a cheap 9000 as my old wheels with winter tyres fitted, but it has wormed its way into my affections. It's a bit rusty, but it's bloody quick, well appointed, comfortable, anonymous, and I can leave it anywhere without a care. All for a couple of monthly payments for a new Focus.
Was gutted when the factory closed, very sad.
te he had before and the Sierras my mates' dads had. Far cooler than his old Volvo 244 too! Looked at a couple of 9-3s in the early 00s and they did nothing for me. Then took the plunge and bought a 15 year old 900T16S as a 15k a year daily driver and fell in love with it. Such anfabulous car to dri:-) :-) ve, full of character and quirks. Just love it. Even get a bit misty eyed watching contemporary ads or reviews and thinking about my brand new black turbo with the whole options list ticked tooling around E1 in the early 90s When I retired it from daily duties I bought a cheap 9000 as my old wheels with winter tyres fitted, but it has wormed its way into my affections. It's a bit rusty, but it's bloody quick, well appointed, comfortable, anonymous, and I can leave it anywhere without a care. All for a couple of monthly payments for a new Focus.
Was gutted when the factory closed, very sad.
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Saturday 23 March 22:11
I'm a Porsche and BMW fanboy, I love them (not all but most) I have had passing fancies towards other brands but always choose one of the above (well Porsche once as they are quite dear!)
Why do I love them?
Firstly RWD (I prefer to be pushed not pulled) + an organ pedal accelerator (I will not buy a car without one)
The History of Porsche and the 911 (superb car)
The classic cars from BMW (3.0CSL etc...) and of course the M division.
Why do I love them?
Firstly RWD (I prefer to be pushed not pulled) + an organ pedal accelerator (I will not buy a car without one)
The History of Porsche and the 911 (superb car)
The classic cars from BMW (3.0CSL etc...) and of course the M division.
I'm a bit of a Toyota fanatic. Was feeling very disillusioned with them (the Prius has me cutting my wrists so i don't think about it) until fairly recently with the arrival of the GT86. Glad to see they're back on the right track.
My passion for Toyotas started, as it surely did for many people, with 'Gran Turismo', and the discovery of 90's Japanese cars. I really started to develop a love for their cars when I started diving in to their history. I've really developed an admiration for them.
Trying to find a plastic kit MR2
My passion for Toyotas started, as it surely did for many people, with 'Gran Turismo', and the discovery of 90's Japanese cars. I really started to develop a love for their cars when I started diving in to their history. I've really developed an admiration for them.
Trying to find a plastic kit MR2
NiceCupOfTea said:
Wouldn't really call myself a fanboy but have had a great affinity for Saabs since my dad had a couple of 900s in the late 80s. Solid as hell, and so characterful - far better than the old BL ste he had before and the Sierras my mates' dads had. Far cooler than his old Volvo 244 too! Looked at a couple of 9-3s in the early 00s and they did nothing for me. Then took the plunge and bought a 15 year old 900T16S as a 15k a year daily driver and fell in love with it. Such anfabulous car to dri:-) :-) ve, full of character and quirks. Just love it. Even get a bit misty eyed watching contemporary ads or reviews and thinking about my brand new black turbo with the whole options list ticked tooling around E1 in the early 90s
When I retired it from daily duties I bought a cheap 9000 as my old wheels with winter tyres fitted, but it has wormed its way into my affections. It's a bit rusty, but it's bloody quick, well appointed, comfortable, anonymous, and I can leave it anywhere without a care. All for a couple of monthly payments for a new Focus.
Was gutted when the factory closed, very sad.
te he had before and the Sierras my mates' dads had. Far cooler than his old Volvo 244 too! Looked at a couple of 9-3s in the early 00s and they did nothing for me. Then took the plunge and bought a 15 year old 900T16S as a 15k a year daily driver and fell in love with it. Such anfabulous car to dri:-) :-) ve, full of character and quirks. Just love it. Even get a bit misty eyed watching contemporary ads or reviews and thinking about my brand new black turbo with the whole options list ticked tooling around E1 in the early 90s When I retired it from daily duties I bought a cheap 9000 as my old wheels with winter tyres fitted, but it has wormed its way into my affections. It's a bit rusty, but it's bloody quick, well appointed, comfortable, anonymous, and I can leave it anywhere without a care. All for a couple of monthly payments for a new Focus.
Was gutted when the factory closed, very sad.
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Saturday 23 March 22:11
I liked Saab too ,pictured at Devils Dyke near Brighton with Jason the Alsatian aboard. Revolution wheels, Konis , etc.
Subarus suit me down the ground - have never found anything else in the same price range which gives the same blend of practicality, comfort, on-road performance + fun (on any surface, in any weather) and some off-road ability as well. And then throws in fantastic reliability and decent fuel economy for the performance as well.
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