Your car and how you got it

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Your car and how you got it

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Okay. How did it all start when you got your car. What made you want a car?, what were you looking at?, how have you been able to afford the car you wanted?.

Here's my story.

My micra (which i had owned for a year), was getting a little bit to uncomfy for the mileage i was doing, and i was also being made fun off for owning it (18 year old, bright purple 05 micra = not good).

So i decided to start looking for a new car at the end of may. I decided to limit myself to about a 1.6 engine as i still needed somthing reasonable to insure. I found a few high mileage Astra's, Corolla's, Civic's etc, but these were either lower trim levels, or only the 1.4 engine. Which would have hardly any power at all.

It was only by luck that i found the Stilo which i now own (y) , 1.9JTD Dynamic, all the toys required plus a few more. It looks awesome on its abarth bodykit and 17 inch wheels (with skyroof as well).

I went to view it at 1pm on the Saturday, and decided that it was the car for me once sat inside (and after a test drive). Me and my mum went away thinking about it, and 1 hour later my deposit was put down. My car was then locked away ready to be valeted and prepared for collection the next week. That week i kept stum at work about the fact i was getting a new car just to surprise everyone, and when i turned up in it in the car park everyone was stunned :D .

It is an awesome car and i wouldnt want to change it for the world. Except maybe a remap in few months (y)
 
Started off driving a red 2001 seicento S, was good for the year and a half I had it but saw a Starlet GT that was on the boat from Japland so stuck a deposit down and picked it up and insurance was 1400 at 19 with 1 years ncb.

I wasn't allowed to test drive it, was 18 when I went to look at it so the bloke took me out for a 30/40min spin in it and I instantly fell in love with it. Picked it up a month later after Id turned 19 and it had been registered etc..

Still own the car a year and a half on and despite some ups and downs I can't imagine selling it any time soon. Runs brilliantly and has got 90000 miles on the clock and still going strong
 
Erm, which car do you want to know about? I've had dozens since I started driving in 1988 and currently have four on my driveway :eek:

My daily driver is my 1986 Uno. How did I get it? Well, I returned to the UK in 2003 and due to various reasons (like a turbulent relationship abroad that went pear shaped) I arrived back on British soil somewhat skint. I wanted a very cheap car and had very fond memories of my first mk1 Uno. So I looked on Ebay in April '03, found this 1986 Uno 45S, bid on it, and then won it for the grand total of £46!

It had 62K on the clock and some 4.5 years later it now it has 99K. I love it to bits so am taking it off the road in the next month or so to give it a makeover as it's getting a little tired. Well, you'd be getting a bit tired if you had four wheels, were 21 years old and got thrashed everywhere! If all goes to plan it will have double the horsepower when I've finished with it. :devil:

"Old Unos never die, they just get faster!" If they don't rust to bits first...

1986_Uno_Washed_05032006.JPG
 
my first cinq i got to learn to drive in for £150 from ebay with about 6months MOT. I knew it wouldnt pass the next MOT without work so one month before the MOT i sold it in the paper for £150 again to a guy who was gonna fix it up.

Got my punto MK1 60s a few years ago just before passing my test as a mechanic my mum knew recommended them for ease of repairs and relatively cheap parts. Paid £895 with full MOT and Tax with a lady owner from autotrader.

My first MK2 punto i got off a guy on here for £700 needing a new front subframe (gbox mount had rotted) had a diff leak and PAS problem. cost about £200 to put right all in all (y)

My second cinq i got of ebay for the GF to learn in.

My second MK2 punto i got last month off ebay for £470. PAS fault, wont idle correctly, door lock has been damaged and possible blown HG. Its a work in progress (y)
 
I bought my 1st car, a Red Cinquecento Sporting to learn to drive in around May 2005, cost £920. I passed my test in Nov 2005.

I never intended to go on and buy a bigger car, but my next door neighbour was selling a really nice MK1 Punto Sporting in Broom Yellow and wanted £1100 for it, so I sold the Cinq on in Nov 2006 for £920 and bought the Sporting.

Sold the Sporting not long after for £1100, it was a great car, but I wanted MORE!!! So I then ended up buying a mint Silver Punto GT3 in Feb 2007 for £1800 which I loved, but it ended up costing me a absolute fortune in running costs and maintenance, so it had to go :( sold it on for £2100.

So now I own a Imola Blue Cinq Sporting, which was a good bargain for £620, has all Abarth kit on and bodywork is in mint cond. Only negative was that HG needed to be replaced shortly after, so I've fixed that.

I've got a New job now, so I'm planning on getting a New Fiat 500 next year. But for now, the Cinq will definitely suffice, its a Imola beauty!

Si
 
i bought my 156 because everyone else at work has a 3series or a4 and i cant bear the thought of joining them, i needed something better, only the 156 ticked that box :slayer:
 
after i crashed my beloved Clio (sharon) me and my flat mate decided we're gonna need to eat at some point.. but i was a student, i couldnt afford a new car. so my grandad gave me some money. i was originally looking for black sportings, but the hunger and sore feet made me make a quick decision and i ended up buying the first car i went to look at.

i gave him money, he gave me keys, its been a love hate relationship ever since... since march :D
 
wow well done finding that pic, thats actually the edinburgh bus!

must be an old pic, there's no way you'd get a day ticket for £2.30 these days.
 
Well it all started in college. All my friends were driving and I was the only real driver head amongst them. Except they had jobs or funding and I had neither.

I was due to start uni the following year so decided I needed an new computer.

I needed a job to buy the computer.

I got a Job at a cinema. I saved up for a computer and built it myself and its teh same one I'm using today. Made sure I built it top of the range to last.

With the Computer for Uni out the way I decided to start taking driving lessons. I passed 2nd time round and then obvioulsy I needed a car to drive.

I looked at several motors. I first looked at a £300 Vaux Nova. I was going to get it, drive it for a couple years build up some no claims discount, sell it and get something else. The Nova was making too many weird noises on the test drive. I made an offer or £50 for it. The dealer said no so I walked away.

I saw a Lovely modified Uno up near Watford somewhere for £400. It was advertised on AutoTrader. I called the owners mum. She told me that to only reason it was being sold is because her son had moved out for uni and only used it on the weekends so it was just sitting there costing money. She said she would call me back as someone else was interested. I bugged her every few hours and eventually I just went up there with my uncle. Too late some lads had just gone to withdraw some cash and they bought it. I was sad that day :(

The next day I saw an excellent condition stolen recovered Ford Fiesta 1.4 on Autotrader. Black with TInted Windows, Lowered 40mm on Gmax Springs with 16" Alloys. It was gone in like 30 minutes said the owner so I never even got to see it.

I continued going to see cars. I test drove a few old school Tipos and they were funkin terrible drives. Loud, Slow and mostly broken.

Then one day just before I was due to go to Uni I saw a Shiny Red 1.6 Fiat Tipo Brio on Auto Trader and it spoke to me. I knew that was my car!

I phoned the garage and he said no one had been around to look at it I didn't want to sound too excited incase he bumped the price up but I couldn't contain my random questions.

I went to Uni and spoke to my mate. He knew I was looking for a car and had been on a couple test drives with me. When I told him he said "**** the rest of the day lets go get your car" I said "Yeah!!!"

We went and I didn't even test drive it. He showed me around the car, I handed him the money and I drove it home!

I passed by my work place to show my mates and some of them had a go. They said they like it, its quick and it sounds nice and its comfortable but its a friggin Tipo blud.

I didn't mind. I bought it home parked it in my drive for a while then when all the paper work was sorted. Took to the streets. more then 4 years later I'm still with it and its still with me. I've never looked back. I love my car more then I love most people. Tipo one.six has gone from strength to not so strong, to badly damaged back to strength again!

I think it will be my one and only, even if I eventually get another motor, Tipo one.six will always be in my heart and in my memories... unless I have an accident with it and my memory is lost and my heart stopped.
 
I wrote off my civic, bought an escort ghia in haste, couldn't be arsed to spend £90 odd to tax it when the tax ran out, so sold it and bought Barney without knowing anything about Fiats.

Oh how we learn :p
 
My first car was a D reg 1987 1.0L Austin Metro which I bought with help from parents for £1200 - it was 5 years old at the time. We bought it from one of my dads work colleagues and fitted the 1st car bill nicely. I once had an indicated 105mph on the clock not going downhill and only needed to put £10 a week fuel in to get 2 and from college - cheaper fuel in those days. Was written off by a mini driver.

Roll forward a few years and I have a few cars, my main one is an alfa 156 JTD Veloce - looks sporty, has 4 doors and possibly the most comfortable driving position of any modern saloon, does 50mpg and is reliable.
 
Bravo Sport 150 Multijet.

Walked into showroom and said "one of them please".

Done. :D

My most boring purchase to date.

Diesel tipo: Needed a car after having my Ibiza written off. Saw a Tipo down the street and knocked on the door and asked if they wanted to sell their car. Sorted :)

Milkbottle: Drove 100 miles (about 20 with no exhaust) to view the Sedici. Drove back (with exhaust still blowing), put bid on ebay, won car and was back down the week after to collect. Yes I'd fixed the exhaust by then.

Green Marea: Drove 320 miles in the Sedici to view... Yes to view. :eek: I'd had the car checked over first kindly by H2daE on here. Bought it, drove it home the next day. Bunny drove the Sedici back a week after having passed her test :D 38mpg (y)

Bronze Marea: Drove 140 miles to deliver green one at Warrington, then 160 miles cross country by my dad in his volvo to pickup the Bronze JTD130. 170 miles to get it home.
 
I was given my first mk1 punto...it was a couple of years old Turquoise S-reg 60sx with 17k on the clock....some div smashed into the side of it 10 thousand miles later :shakehead... grrr lol

And with the insurance money I bought my ELX (cos it was also turquoise...:eek: good reason lol) and then spotted my sporting on ebay and couldn't pass it by, so bought that too :eek: :D
 
The Lotus, eBay bidding after visiting the Glen of Tranquility for an hour or two.

The Punto, Sue spent 45 mins picking a pair of shoes.
We then went to a car showroom and I showed how you can buy a car in 25min.



I've still got the car, she broke the heal on the shoes.......
 
wrote of my uno and needed a car quick - went to go look at a nova, walked away and on the way back home spotted a yellow thing (seicento) on a garage forecourt. 30 mins later I paid for it and picked it up week later

Sei started giving me grief and at the time I didnt want to spend anymore money on it. Went to the seaside saw fiat garage, spotted the punto and 30 mins later I signed on the dotted line

Got bored of the punto and fancied a change. Went to car supermarket for a day out. Seen a shed of a mk2b punto hgt. Saw a stilo, noticed it was a 2.4 didnt engage brain and 30 mins later put deposit down :bang:

In between the punto and stilo I had a few 2nd cars an imola cinq, red cinq and currently panda
 
at least you've still got a bus to somewhere near your house! in rural cumbria almost all the bus's have been cut (n) progress eh!


cars cars cars. um, I'll keep it italian/ones I've used for more than a few week as I've owned too many now.

picked up a polo coupe 1.3 mot failure for £65 from a local garage to learn to drive in (in our field).

then I passed 17, and needed on the road, so got a roadworthy polo coupe, this time just a 1.0l but solid as anything. eventually blew the headgasket, replaced it and swiftly moved it on.

then I picked up a rover 100 (fancier metro) 1.4 and loved that to bits, but it was so tiny I couldn't fit half my gear in it. moved that on.

then i was in a dilema, do I buy another car of not much value (~500GBP) or do I buy a more modern, safer, less likly to blow up following some erm abuse.
well I did, and I'm still glad, the punto (mk1 60s, now erm, still a mk1, but thats about it :eek: everything else is different) is still going fine 3years on! and about 45kmiles.


I've also owned volvos, a bimmer, a reliant scimittar, a citroen bx & a cx, a mk2 golf (non gti), two classic saab 900's. amoungst a pile of other cars.


and continueing the italien theme, just picked up an uno turbo, if its any good I'll keep it and it will replace the punto (y)
 
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