Having the PH knocked out of you?

[Kentish]

I have always liked a fairly sporty car, I had a couple of Capris including a 2.0s back in the late 80's at the age of 18, BMW's and a TVR in my 20's.

Insurance at 18 on the 2.0s Capri was cheap at less than £260, road tax was about £100 IIRC. Petrol cost me about £10-15 a week for a 30 mile a day commute.

It feels that slowly with the passage of time and soaring costs and taxation that the PH in me has slowly been eroded away - with respect to my everyday aspirations. Don't get me worng, I still love and hanker after a nice V8 monster but I would not dream of having one as a daily commuter car now.

Anyone else feel like this?

[Baffled Spoon]

My main fear is that given the way things are going now that by the time I finish university and get a decent job all the cars I hanker after now will be unobtainable due to soaring costs and eu regulations. I am such an optimist

[hesnotthemessiah]

Get into 'track days' with some/several friends, share the cost, have loads of fun and keep your PH meter high.

It's an idea.........if you think the future is going to be that bleak.

[Baffled Spoon]

^^^

I've got my eye on the 750MC SaxMax cup as soon as funds allow. Seems like it would be great fun and not too expensive either

[tomtom]

I think like this every time I go for a drive and get stuck in traffic, stuck behind someone slow, the roads are being re-surfaced etc...

Then you get that wonderful stretch of B-road with the sun shining and that engine behind you and it's bliss again.

[FreeLitres]

Having 8 litres of engine capacity split between my 2 cars, I would have to say, no.

forever.

[jbi]

I'll gently voice my opinions on the matter as appropriately as I can....

ahem..

F*ck the EU and all associated green wash bullsh!t.

V8's for life

[Twincam16]

I've become more 'practical', I suppose, having got used to the notion of rear seats and a boot and in no rush to get rid of them, but this merely means I've switched from sports cars to sports saloons and GTs.

Never though I'd hear myself say this but for my next car I'm seriously considering a whopping great big Mercedes pillarless coupe with an auto 'box. If I pair it with a motorbike I'll have a neat combination of comfort and rawness.

[FreeLitres]

I was thinking about a similar thing the other day... The 4 ages of a Petrolhead when it comes to choosing a daily driver:

When you are 17/18 you want a fast car but (normally) can not afford to buy or insure one.
Result = 1.2 Nova/Saxo/Clio/stbox

When you reach 25-35 you want a fast car and CAN afford one!
Result = TVR/Supra/EVO/Elise (or what ever you fancy)

Then when you reach 35+ you like fast cars and could afford one, but you have been there and done that. You also like to have back seats and space in the boot for the shopping. Furthermore, these new Diesels can achieve 50+ mpg and you remember the pain of filling up twice a week at £60 a tank.
Result = Sensible diesel hatchback or saloon
Weekend = Westfield/TVR/Bike

Then after 60, the money starts to dry up as you go into retirement.
Result = Eco-box
Weekend = Vintage car to tinker about with

(Disclaimer: Yes, I know this is a sweeping generalisation and that not everyone will follow this path. blah blah)

[Fartgalen]

FreeLitres said:

Having 8 litres of engine capacity split between my 2 cars, I would have to say, no.

forever.

Having 8 litres of engine capacity in one car, I would have to say, no.

[Twincam16]

FreeLitres said:

I was thinking about a similar thing the other day... The 4 ages of a Petrolhead when it comes to choosing a daily driver:

When you are 17/18 you want a fast car but (normally) can not afford to buy or insure one.
Result = 1.2 Nova/Saxo/Clio/stbox

When you reach 25-35 you want a fast car and CAN afford one!
Result = TVR/Supra/EVO/Elise (or what ever you fancy)

Then when you reach 35+ you like fast cars and could afford one, but you have been there and done that. You also like to have back seats and space in the boot for the shopping. Furthermore, these new Diesels can achieve 50+ mpg and you remember the pain of filling up twice a week at £60 a tank.
Result = Sensible diesel hatchback or saloon
Weekend = Westfield/TVR/Bike

Then after 60, the money starts to dry up as you go into retirement.
Result = Eco-box
Weekend = Vintage car to tinker about with

(Disclaimer: Yes, I know this is a sweeping generalisation and that not everyone will follow this path. blah blah)

I think it's changed a bit. Thanks to all the flagging up of 'chav' culture I think the whole Lax Power 'croooozin' scene is beginning to die out. I don't know whether it's a combination of high insurance premiums pricing many 18-21 year olds out of the idea of modifying their cars altogether, or newer designs being resistant to modification, but it's been a while since I saw a genuine ttmobile.

However, thankfully what seems to have taken it's place is something I'm tentatively calling the 'retro' scene. Distinctly different from the 'classic' scene (although there are some 'crossover' cars such as the Beetle, Mini and 2CV), it starts with the idea of owning something offering the cheapest motoring possible (as a result of mechanical simplicity and classic insurance), and proceding with personalisation.

The VW scene is massive in this respect - note how the Giugiaro-styled FWD cars have become almost as trendy as Beetles, with aftermarket wheels - and there's a surge in interest in Japanese kit from the '80s with their interiors like Space Invader arcade games that appeal to retro-gamer twentysomethings and also maintain their everyday reliability.

Most amazing has been the transformation of the Morris Minor. When I was a kid, the Minor was a byword for frumpy wheels driven by fuddy-duddies still using hand signals. Nowadays, I can't remember the last time I saw one being driven by someone over the age of 35.

[KenBlocksPants]

For me its my job that holds me back (although i suppose its the price of petrol actually).

The number of miles I do (30k+ a year) there is no way I could justify the VXR8 I so hanker after. So a 60+mpg diseasel is what I can afford to run.



So currently in the process of saving for a weekend toy. Although of course being a toy, its unlikely to be a 4 door saloon car!

I think i need a job that doesnt require the mileage really.

[FreeLitres]

Fartgalen said:

Having 8 litres of engine capacity in one car, I would have to say, no.

Now, that’s just plain greedy! You should think of those poor souls that only have 1 or 2 litres to survive on.

[deadtom]

i face this problem every day =/

i had a nice reliable, cheap to run, but boring as fk 106 which always served me well and i knew would start every morning.
i now have a big, old, slightly rusty (i believe they call it rat look?), V8 powered range rover classic that sounds beasty, goes anywhere, and is generally awesome. however im also a student, so i'll be trying to feed my cars 16mpg drinking habit on a 2 day per week slave wage job, all the while never being quite sure it'll start when i turn the key.

sometimes it's difficult to justify my choice of vehicle when i get home from giving Mr Shell/Esso/Jet another £50 and park next to my little 106 which would go twice as far for half the cost.

oh well, such are the joys of owning a V8 range rover

[Fartgalen]

FreeLitres said:

Fartgalen said:

Having 8 litres of engine capacity in one car, I would have to say, no.

Now, that’s just plain greedy! You should think of those poor souls that only have 1 or 2 litres to survive on.

I survive on 2 litres. My daily driver
I live for the weekends.

[300bhp/ton]

Kentish said:

I have always liked a fairly sporty car, I had a couple of Capris including a 2.0s back in the late 80's at the age of 18, BMW's and a TVR in my 20's.

Insurance at 18 on the 2.0s Capri was cheap at less than £260, road tax was about £100 IIRC. Petrol cost me about £10-15 a week for a 30 mile a day commute.

It feels that slowly with the passage of time and soaring costs and taxation that the PH in me has slowly been eroded away - with respect to my everyday aspirations. Don't get me worng, I still love and hanker after a nice V8 monster but I would not dream of having one as a daily commuter car now.

Anyone else feel like this?

No.

[Ninjaboy]

[quote=300bhp/ton][quote=Kentish]I have always liked a fairly sporty car, I had a couple of Capris including a 2.0s back in the late 80's at the age of 18, BMW's and a TVR in my 20's.

Insurance at 18 on the 2.0s Capri was cheap at less than £260, road tax was about £100 IIRC. Petrol cost me about £10-15 a week for a 30 mile a day commute.

It feels that slowly with the passage of time and soaring costs and taxation that the PH in me has slowly been eroded away - with respect to my everyday aspirations. Don't get me worng, I still love and hanker after a nice V8 monster but I would not dream of having one as a daily commuter car now.

Anyone else feel like this?

I know exactly what you mean, I've got a TF weekend car but am now starting to resent the tax,fuel and other VAT costs that go with it. I've had it 5 years but i don't think i will have it much longer. I will always have a PH car thought but something that gives the finger to the tax man too.

Edited by Ninjaboy on Monday 13th September 19:09

[magpies]

This is the list of cars I have owned

a goodly variety and I intend to carry this on as long as I can drive

My Cars

no. Make Model Colour Rally car Comment

1 Austin A35 Van Green
2 Ford Anglia Maroon
3 Austin Mini Cooper 998 Red/Black Yes used on road rallies
4 Austin Mini 1100 Blue/White Yes Stage prepared - built from '59 racing shell and registered new with 649 cam/sc cr box/ 45 webber
5 BL Mini Van Blue Ex Police
6 BL Mini 1293 'S' Yellow/Black White Yes Stage prepared - MG1300 with 649 / sc cr / 45 webber
7 Ford Escort Mexico mk1 Blue/White Yes Stage prepared - bubble arched and roll cage
8 Lotus Lotus Elan +2S Blue
9 Opel Ascona 1.9SR Gold used on road rallies - 2nd o/a Washington event
10 Ford Escort 1.6 Sport Orange Yes Ex Ford one make series racing car
11 Morris Marina 1.8 Coupe Brown
12 BL Mini 1000 Blue run a round from a scrap yard!
13 Ford Escort RS2000 mk1 Blue Yes Stage prepared to gr2 - used an may stage/road events 1st o/a St Winfrids Rally
14 Ford Escort 1.3 Blue Ex Police
15 Ford Escort 1.6 Sport Yellow
16 Ford Escort RS2000 mk2 Black Left Hand Drive
17 Ford Escort 1.6 GL mk3 Red Used on several road rallies 5th on Yorkshire Moors event and used on Motoring News Road Rally - setting top 10 times
18 Piper GT White Yes Not a particularly good example of this rare sportscar - modified for rallying
19 Ford Cortina 2.0GL mk4 Blue
20 Vauxhall Cavalier mk1 Green Built from a write-off
21 BL Mini Clubman Est Red Baught for Gail to learn to drive
22 Opel Manta 2.0 SR White Yes Stage prepared
23 Opel Kadette 1.9 GTE White/Yellow Yes Stage prepared
24 Ford Escort XR3 Silver
25 Ford Escort RS2000 mk2 White Yes most successful car - lots of top 10's some top 5's and a 3rd on Otterburn 1986
26 Ford Escort RS2000 mk2 Black
27 Vauxhall Astra GTE mk1 White
28 Vauxhall Chevette 2.3 White Yes The 'Kettle' not the best buy - managed a couple of top 10's and even took it to Germany
29 BL Mini Clubman Est Orange Gails (in my name)
30 Ford Escort RS1600i White
31 Fiat Uno 45 Blue Gails (in my name)
32 Vauxhall Astra GTE mk1 White
33 MG Metro Blue
34 Fiat Uno Turbo ie Black Great little rollerscate could do 128mph
35 Peugeot 205 XR Blue Gail didn't like it
36 Fiat Uno 55S Black
37 Fiat Uno 45 Blue
38 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cos 4x4 Yellow Yes Some reasonable results including 12 o/a at Manby 2004
39 Freight Rover Van Red Service van
40 Toyota Celica GT version 162 White
41 Rover 216GTI Black
42 Fiat Uno Turbo ie Black Taken back as part ex for the Toyota
43 Seat Ibiza Green Gails (in my name)
44 VW Golf 1.6 White Gails (in my name)
45 VW Golf 1.8 GTI Burgundy Gails (in my name)
46 Subaru Impreza Turbo Est Red
47 BMW 320i Silver taken in part ex for the Subaru
48 Subaru Impreza Turbo Est Green
49 Peugeot 206 Roland Garros Green Gails (my name then in hers)
50 Audi A4 Avante 2.5 Tdi Blue
51 Toyota Celica GT4 version 185 Black bought to turn into a RS200 look-a-like
52 Banham RSR200 White / Black Yes built from Celica H901 JVM
53 TVR S1 probably Rebuild write off with 24v cossy

[Killer2005]

I'm again pondering having a caterfield as a daily runner

[bazking69]

Yes. And i've only been driving 10 years!