If you could turn back the clock....
Discussion
...would you do anything differently in your car career.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and thinking about it this morning, I realise now that with the benefit of hindsight, I would have done things quite differently to how I have ended up doing things.
Right here is mine:-
1. First car was bought for me by my dad. Choices were, Vauxhall Nova 1.0 Saloon, or Fiat Panda 1000 FIRE. What did this numpty choose? The Nova. Looking back, I thought the Panda was too much of a noddy car. Shows what I know - I bet the Panda would have been WAY more fun.
2. Second car, 1998 Micra 1.0 with 3 years free insurance (needed this after a fault claim at age 18!), servicing and warranty. Saved me a fortune I can tell you. Decent enough cars despite their reputation on here. Not THAT slow when driven properly
3. Third car, 2000 Micra 1.4 Sport+. Did the deal because it was very cheap, and I could use my remaining insurance, monthly payments were actually less than before. Problem is, faster, had more grip and more toys and looked "better" though it did, it was still just another Micra. Should have gone for a Fiesta Zetec S instead.
4. 2004 Fabia vRS. Wanted a hot hatch, but the sensible side of me was seduced by talk of "wasting Civic Type-Rs in top whilst doing 60 MPG". Decent cars, but not a drivers car - at least, not a drivers ONLY car. Although nippy they were heavy beasts and certainly not CTR killers. Didnt lose much when I sold it though.
5. 1991 Golf GTI Mk2. Needed a cheap, sub £1k car. Choice of car was fine, they are good fun. The choice of actual car was poor - I was sold a pup, despite taking a mate who claimed to know about cars. I think he panicked because after a whole weekend of looking, I didnt look any closer to buying, and I think he thought I'd be pissed off with him if I didnt get a car. If only he realised that this was fine, things may have been alright. Spend half of what I paid trying to put problems right, realising I'd only scratched the surface, and flogged it for a loss. Should have just stuck a "What shed" thread on here, and I'd have got something better I'm sure.
6. 2004 Clio 182. Heard lots about these, test drove this and some rivals, and this was better. Unfortunately, not as good as I hoped, I was quite bored with it quite quickly. I had originally wanted a DC2 ITR, but ruled out due to age and higher insurance. Unfortunately in selling this to get the ITR, I lost £3k in depreciation, not to mention the £300 I forked out to replace the crap stock exhaust which was rotting away, which is far worse than the £200 difference in insurance.
7. 1998 Integra Type-R: Finally the car I should have got instead. Lost a shed load in the process. Had I bought one of these in the first place, I also would not have spent £10+K on the car either. I definitely dont regret getting this, and every FWD aficionado should own one of these in their life, but looking back, I probably by then should have been driving an early Elise / VX220 or entry level TVR, and probably would still own it now, and have far less debt...
8. 1994 Eunos MX5) RS-Ltd: Had I wanted an MX-5, a standard one, then I should have just gone straight for a sorted Mk1 for £2k or less, rather than buy someones bodged project (it was supercharged) and then spend a net £500 putting it right and £300 on a couple of mods. If I had not done this, I would have saved £3K
Ironically though, the Eunos has brought me back to earth, and made me realise that actually, cheap, reliable and fun cars need not cost the earth, and is possibly the reason why I am writing this.
It's amazing just how differently I would have done it. I feel like I have made quite a few poor choices.
If I could thus revise my choices of car, it would be thus:-
1. Fiat Panda 1000 FIRE (instead of Nova 1.0 Saloon)
2. Micra 1.0
3. Fiesta Zetec S (instead of Micra 1.4 "Sport")
4. Clio 182 or 172 Cup (instead of Fabia vRS)
5. A RELIABLE MK2 Golf GTI or 205 GTI (instead of a knackered Golf!)
6. Honda Integra Type-R (instead of Clio 182)
And then either:-
7. Elise S1 / VX220 NA
Or
7. Good standard Mk1 MX5 and pocket the change
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and thinking about it this morning, I realise now that with the benefit of hindsight, I would have done things quite differently to how I have ended up doing things.
Right here is mine:-
1. First car was bought for me by my dad. Choices were, Vauxhall Nova 1.0 Saloon, or Fiat Panda 1000 FIRE. What did this numpty choose? The Nova. Looking back, I thought the Panda was too much of a noddy car. Shows what I know - I bet the Panda would have been WAY more fun.
2. Second car, 1998 Micra 1.0 with 3 years free insurance (needed this after a fault claim at age 18!), servicing and warranty. Saved me a fortune I can tell you. Decent enough cars despite their reputation on here. Not THAT slow when driven properly
3. Third car, 2000 Micra 1.4 Sport+. Did the deal because it was very cheap, and I could use my remaining insurance, monthly payments were actually less than before. Problem is, faster, had more grip and more toys and looked "better" though it did, it was still just another Micra. Should have gone for a Fiesta Zetec S instead.
4. 2004 Fabia vRS. Wanted a hot hatch, but the sensible side of me was seduced by talk of "wasting Civic Type-Rs in top whilst doing 60 MPG". Decent cars, but not a drivers car - at least, not a drivers ONLY car. Although nippy they were heavy beasts and certainly not CTR killers. Didnt lose much when I sold it though.
5. 1991 Golf GTI Mk2. Needed a cheap, sub £1k car. Choice of car was fine, they are good fun. The choice of actual car was poor - I was sold a pup, despite taking a mate who claimed to know about cars. I think he panicked because after a whole weekend of looking, I didnt look any closer to buying, and I think he thought I'd be pissed off with him if I didnt get a car. If only he realised that this was fine, things may have been alright. Spend half of what I paid trying to put problems right, realising I'd only scratched the surface, and flogged it for a loss. Should have just stuck a "What shed" thread on here, and I'd have got something better I'm sure.
6. 2004 Clio 182. Heard lots about these, test drove this and some rivals, and this was better. Unfortunately, not as good as I hoped, I was quite bored with it quite quickly. I had originally wanted a DC2 ITR, but ruled out due to age and higher insurance. Unfortunately in selling this to get the ITR, I lost £3k in depreciation, not to mention the £300 I forked out to replace the crap stock exhaust which was rotting away, which is far worse than the £200 difference in insurance.
7. 1998 Integra Type-R: Finally the car I should have got instead. Lost a shed load in the process. Had I bought one of these in the first place, I also would not have spent £10+K on the car either. I definitely dont regret getting this, and every FWD aficionado should own one of these in their life, but looking back, I probably by then should have been driving an early Elise / VX220 or entry level TVR, and probably would still own it now, and have far less debt...
8. 1994 Eunos MX5) RS-Ltd: Had I wanted an MX-5, a standard one, then I should have just gone straight for a sorted Mk1 for £2k or less, rather than buy someones bodged project (it was supercharged) and then spend a net £500 putting it right and £300 on a couple of mods. If I had not done this, I would have saved £3K
Ironically though, the Eunos has brought me back to earth, and made me realise that actually, cheap, reliable and fun cars need not cost the earth, and is possibly the reason why I am writing this.
It's amazing just how differently I would have done it. I feel like I have made quite a few poor choices.
If I could thus revise my choices of car, it would be thus:-
1. Fiat Panda 1000 FIRE (instead of Nova 1.0 Saloon)
2. Micra 1.0
3. Fiesta Zetec S (instead of Micra 1.4 "Sport")
4. Clio 182 or 172 Cup (instead of Fabia vRS)
5. A RELIABLE MK2 Golf GTI or 205 GTI (instead of a knackered Golf!)
6. Honda Integra Type-R (instead of Clio 182)
And then either:-
7. Elise S1 / VX220 NA
Or
7. Good standard Mk1 MX5 and pocket the change
I probably wouldn't have bought the mk4 Golf GTi (too wooden), Elise S2 111S (too many niggly faults), 996 Turbo (should have bought a GT3). The E46 M3 is the only car out of the lot that I look back with fondness and would buy again (albeit in CSL form).
Also regret not taking up motorbikes sooner - much more fun and would have saved me a fortune of depreciation and running costs of all the above cars!
Also regret not taking up motorbikes sooner - much more fun and would have saved me a fortune of depreciation and running costs of all the above cars!
Pretty well everything.
I worked out I've bought over £500,000 worth of cars in the last 10 years and recouped a fraction of that every time I sell them.
In the same time I got into bikes and have spent £50,000 on them in the same amount of time recouping £40,000 on them.
I loved driving when I first started, but it's a chore now as traffic is so high and slow, whereas on a bike it matters little.
PS - I've not learned having spent a combined £100,000 this year on vehicles.
I worked out I've bought over £500,000 worth of cars in the last 10 years and recouped a fraction of that every time I sell them.
In the same time I got into bikes and have spent £50,000 on them in the same amount of time recouping £40,000 on them.
I loved driving when I first started, but it's a chore now as traffic is so high and slow, whereas on a bike it matters little.
PS - I've not learned having spent a combined £100,000 this year on vehicles.
Since passing my test in April 2005 my MAIN cars (note, not all the cars I've owned) have been:
1. 1989 VW Golf 1.6 Driver
2. 2004 Vauxhall Corsa
3. 1996 Rover 420 GSI Tourer
4. 1995 Volvo 850 2.0S Auto
5. 1996 Volvo 850 2.3 T5 GLT
6. 1994 Volvo 850 2.0S Auto
7. 1993 VW Scirocco 1.8 GTII
8. 1988 BMW E30 318i Auto
9. 1994 Jaguar XJ40 4.0 Sovereign Auto
10. 1996 VW Vento 1.9 TDI CL
11. 1986 Vauxhall Nova 1.2L 2dr
If I could go back and change things it'd be:
1. 1989 VW Golf 1.6 Driver
2. 1996 Rover 420 GSI Tourer
3. 1996 Volvo 850 2.3 T5 GLT
4. 1996 VW Vento 1.9 TDI CL with a Jaguar as a pleasure car and my current Nova as a project/toy
1. 1989 VW Golf 1.6 Driver
2. 2004 Vauxhall Corsa
3. 1996 Rover 420 GSI Tourer
4. 1995 Volvo 850 2.0S Auto
5. 1996 Volvo 850 2.3 T5 GLT
6. 1994 Volvo 850 2.0S Auto
7. 1993 VW Scirocco 1.8 GTII
8. 1988 BMW E30 318i Auto
9. 1994 Jaguar XJ40 4.0 Sovereign Auto
10. 1996 VW Vento 1.9 TDI CL
11. 1986 Vauxhall Nova 1.2L 2dr
If I could go back and change things it'd be:
1. 1989 VW Golf 1.6 Driver
2. 1996 Rover 420 GSI Tourer
3. 1996 Volvo 850 2.3 T5 GLT
4. 1996 VW Vento 1.9 TDI CL with a Jaguar as a pleasure car and my current Nova as a project/toy
Wouldn't have bought my Pug 405 SRi. I got into lots of trouble in that car (only had it for 6 months and all the points I have ever had, in nearly 15 years of driving, were 'won' in that car). It was also unreliable, and ended up backwards in a ditch. Having said that it did finally slow me down and stop me driving like a total idiot everywhere so maybe it was for the best.
Apart from that, no. I might have bought different examples of the cars I did buy but I regret nothing. The only thing you could say is that if I had just kept my Cavalier/Vectra daily drivers as my only cars I could have saved all the money I spent on second/third and even (sometimes) forth cars and I would by now easily have enough money to buy my 'dream' car; a series 1 E-type.
Apart from that, no. I might have bought different examples of the cars I did buy but I regret nothing. The only thing you could say is that if I had just kept my Cavalier/Vectra daily drivers as my only cars I could have saved all the money I spent on second/third and even (sometimes) forth cars and I would by now easily have enough money to buy my 'dream' car; a series 1 E-type.
Regrets: I've had a few, but then again....
I should not have sold my '79 Midget for a shiny new XR2 back in 1983. Regretted that within 24 hours. The Midget was not fast but still a car you could enjoy driving even at 40 MPH.
Selling the Healy 3000 (after 10 years restoring it) to pay off the ex-missus in the divorce. Should have found the money some other way (like robbing a bank); I foolishly thought "I will be able to get another one" - but circumstance has dictated otherwise. I also passed on the opportunity to go through old photos too - so I have few records of past cars.
Cars I should have regretted buying, but somehow didn't: a 1977 Pontiac Firebird (6.6 Litre with full black & gold livery)- 12 MPG, needed two parking bays, and went like sh*t off a shovel but didn't handle; a Jaguar XJ12. Best Q car ever, everyone though at was an XJ6 until it left them standing - 150 mph (on the Autobahns - honest), good handling and a slightly better 15 MPG average.
I should not have sold my '79 Midget for a shiny new XR2 back in 1983. Regretted that within 24 hours. The Midget was not fast but still a car you could enjoy driving even at 40 MPH.
Selling the Healy 3000 (after 10 years restoring it) to pay off the ex-missus in the divorce. Should have found the money some other way (like robbing a bank); I foolishly thought "I will be able to get another one" - but circumstance has dictated otherwise. I also passed on the opportunity to go through old photos too - so I have few records of past cars.
Cars I should have regretted buying, but somehow didn't: a 1977 Pontiac Firebird (6.6 Litre with full black & gold livery)- 12 MPG, needed two parking bays, and went like sh*t off a shovel but didn't handle; a Jaguar XJ12. Best Q car ever, everyone though at was an XJ6 until it left them standing - 150 mph (on the Autobahns - honest), good handling and a slightly better 15 MPG average.
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