How rosey are the rose tinted glasses in reality?
Discussion
As somebody who regularly fantasises about reliving his youth (I'm 41 so think MK2 Golf GTi, Renault 5 GTTs, 205 GTIs etc), the rational part of my brain usually prevents me from pulling the trigger with the nagging doubt that they may not be quite as good as I remember.
Chris Harris has recently bought (or at least is posting about it a lot at the moment) a 205 XS. That's a prime example of the above for me, my friend had one and it was utter s
te. Huge amounts of body roll, slow, and just generally crap compared with the Clios, Fiestas, Micras etc that we were all driving.
So, for those that have decided to indulge their youthful fantasies, how was it in reality? Was it as good as you remember? Have you kept it?
(For context, I love an analogue car and enjoy racing something with no power steering, ABS etc but I do have a nagging feeling that 2000 onwards cars were probably far superior to any of the 80s/90s cars people are now lusting after)
Chris Harris has recently bought (or at least is posting about it a lot at the moment) a 205 XS. That's a prime example of the above for me, my friend had one and it was utter s
te. Huge amounts of body roll, slow, and just generally crap compared with the Clios, Fiestas, Micras etc that we were all driving. So, for those that have decided to indulge their youthful fantasies, how was it in reality? Was it as good as you remember? Have you kept it?
(For context, I love an analogue car and enjoy racing something with no power steering, ABS etc but I do have a nagging feeling that 2000 onwards cars were probably far superior to any of the 80s/90s cars people are now lusting after)
I’ve got a Mk1 MR2. I just taxed and MOTd it last week and am driving it as regularly as possible. I’m having a whale of a time in it. As long as the basis for what you want is something that was regarded aa excellent in its day, and is a good example of that model, it’s worth it. I’d have a 5 Turbo in a heartbeat.
LennyM1984 said:
Oh and does the safety aspect play on your mind when driving it? I really wouldn't fancy my chances in a crash between a 90s hot hatch and the latest BMW SUV
But on the other hand knowing you are likely to die if you are not concentrating in something old, does tend to stop you updating your "insta" whilst driving. Oh and you can avoid most idiots on the road by looking far enough ahead and anticipating their actions, before you tell me it's not you but the other idiots.I bought a 106 GTi and quite enjoy driving it when I take it out. It rattles and squeaks a bit and there's zero driver aids and minimal spec compared to newer cars, but you can't shake it's feeling of lightness and nimble handling.
I'm sure some of the hot hatches of early generations are pigs to drive but some will be gems.
I'm sure some of the hot hatches of early generations are pigs to drive but some will be gems.
You can have fun in anything old, even if it's a bit crap (and sometimes because it's a bit crap).
As a weekend fun car to enjoy, take to shows, or road trip I think it's worth it as long as you're not forking out huge amounts. A 205 Gti is good, but probably not thirty grand good.
I wouldn't want an old hatch as a daily to do any considerable mileage in though. They are often relatively poorly put together and have odd handling characteristics (lift of oversteer anyone?)
As a weekend fun car to enjoy, take to shows, or road trip I think it's worth it as long as you're not forking out huge amounts. A 205 Gti is good, but probably not thirty grand good.
I wouldn't want an old hatch as a daily to do any considerable mileage in though. They are often relatively poorly put together and have odd handling characteristics (lift of oversteer anyone?)
LennyM1984 said:
Oh and does the safety aspect play on your mind when driving it? I really wouldn't fancy my chances in a crash between a 90s hot hatch and the latest BMW SUV
Woose!I ride motorbikes.
Sad way to live a life as an old woman of a man rather than roll a dice now and again and hav some fun rather than spend a life trying to live forever or die trying.
LennyM1984 said:
Oh and does the safety aspect play on your mind when driving it? I really wouldn't fancy my chances in a crash between a 90s hot hatch and the latest BMW SUV
To a degree yes. I bombed about in a classic mini when I was 17, now I'm 34 I think I would struggle to feel safe doing that.It's pretty specific to certain cars though. I wouldn't worry too much in an NA MX5, nor TVR sans airbags.
The biggest issue for me in the current heat is the lack of air con. Everything else I own has it, and it's a big miss for me. I was out in the MR2 the other evening while it was still boiling outside, and it was uncomfortably hot in the car initially.
I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
Heaveho said:
The biggest issue for me in the current heat is the lack of air con. Everything else I own has it, and it's a big miss for me. I was out in the MR2 the other evening while it was still boiling outside, and it was uncomfortably hot in the car initially.
I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
Unless stuck in traffic, quaterlights are brilliant. I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
SD.
LennyM1984 said:
As somebody who regularly fantasises about reliving his youth (I'm 41 so think MK2 Golf GTi, Renault 5 GTTs, 205 GTIs etc), the rational part of my brain usually prevents me from pulling the trigger with the nagging doubt that they may not be quite as good as I remember.
Chris Harris has recently bought (or at least is posting about it a lot at the moment) a 205 XS. That's a prime example of the above for me, my friend had one and it was utter ste. Huge amounts of body roll, slow, and just generally crap compared with the Clios, Fiestas, Micras etc that we were all driving.
So, for those that have decided to indulge their youthful fantasies, how was it in reality? Was it as good as you remember? Have you kept it?
(For context, I love an analogue car and enjoy racing something with no power steering, ABS etc but I do have a nagging feeling that 2000 onwards cars were probably far superior to any of the 80s/90s cars people are now lusting after)
For me I loved Sega Rally as a kid in the 90's both in the arcade and on the Saturn. The Toyota Celica GT-Four was my dream car. I ended up buying one in 2012 and have had it since. Chris Harris has recently bought (or at least is posting about it a lot at the moment) a 205 XS. That's a prime example of the above for me, my friend had one and it was utter s
te. Huge amounts of body roll, slow, and just generally crap compared with the Clios, Fiestas, Micras etc that we were all driving. So, for those that have decided to indulge their youthful fantasies, how was it in reality? Was it as good as you remember? Have you kept it?
(For context, I love an analogue car and enjoy racing something with no power steering, ABS etc but I do have a nagging feeling that 2000 onwards cars were probably far superior to any of the 80s/90s cars people are now lusting after)
Zero airbags, no ABS, mechanical 4wd system and whilst advanced for the time it did start to show its age. With these cars the best thing you can do is pick something you like with the intent to restomod the car for the future.
Modern ball bearing turbo's, modern brakes, modern ECU's, converted to coil on plug, converted to top feed fuel injection, converted to fly by wire throttle for antilag, launch control etc. Forged engine rebuild. 450+ BHP. Trick diffs etc etc. Also being an import I do not have to run cats so the sound is biblical.
I initially put money down for the then new GR-Yaris but it felt so tame and slow compared to my GT-Four that i cancelled my order. Not that the Yaris was a bad car. Far from it but it was too similar.
For me Japanese cars were so advanced in the 90's that they are better than most cars even from the 2010's before weight and emissions guff really took hold.
My next project is most likely going to be a Phase 3 Peugeot 306 GTi-6. Modern enough to have all the creature comforts but analogue enough to be fun. Engine fettled with throttle bodies and cams.
As mentioned with regards to safety. Drive them like you would a motorbike and leave the ego at home and you will be fine.
I loved my MK2 Golf GTi's back in the day, I had two new ones in 1988 and 1990 (big bumper) I though they were the best thing going, today would I have one...no because time has moved on and I know for a fact my current hot hatch would out perform and out handle the Golf.
And truthfully I don't ever want to drive one again as the memory of them being great would be tarnished.
I don't do the Rose Tinted Glasses thing for that reason.
And truthfully I don't ever want to drive one again as the memory of them being great would be tarnished.
I don't do the Rose Tinted Glasses thing for that reason.
shed driver said:
Heaveho said:
The biggest issue for me in the current heat is the lack of air con. Everything else I own has it, and it's a big miss for me. I was out in the MR2 the other evening while it was still boiling outside, and it was uncomfortably hot in the car initially.
I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
Unless stuck in traffic, quaterlights are brilliant. I couldn't care less about the safety aspect, I'm having too much fun to think about it. I had bikes though, and as said, they're worse.
SD.
Edited by LightweightLouisDanvers on Saturday 11th July 11:15
the last "classic" car I had was a MK2 Golf GTi but that was a couple of decades ago. yeah it was fun. dont know what it would feel like today.
over here there's a dealer who sells, amongst others, some classics. There's a MK1 Gti on there (I raced one back in the day) but nice looking as this is there price is a ridiculous EUR 27500. I might have been tempted as a fun car.. but even at half that price id have avoided
https://rigorprestige.pt/viaturas/449/Volkswagen+G...
Tannedbaldhead said:
Woose!
I ride motorbikes.
Sad way to live a life as an old woman of a man rather than roll a dice now and again and hav some fun rather than spend a life trying to live forever or die trying.
It's more that I prefer to take my risks calculated! I don't think my wife, children or friends would really care about how brave and macho I was if I was dead. I ride motorbikes.
Sad way to live a life as an old woman of a man rather than roll a dice now and again and hav some fun rather than spend a life trying to live forever or die trying.
I'm happy to get my kicks from going racing but I wouldn't do it my car didn't have a rollcage.
I still find it ironic about that billy big b
ks (one of the NASCAR racers) who banged on about how unnecessary HANs devices were... Before promptly dying of an injury that a HANs would have preventedGassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff