Pub talk: my cars

You know when you’re up the pub of a night and the conversation inevitably turns to the subject of cars. It might be the latest car that’s been introduced (although I have to say modern cars seem to be much less interesting these days); perhaps a discussion on the types of cars certain people drive (car vs owner type). But possibly the most common car conversation starts when someone says, “so hows the motor then?”. You then launch into the latest happenings of your current car and of course comparisons with your previous cars will crop up from time to time.

Thinking about this I thought I’d list all the cars I’ve had the privilege of owning thus far, along with a little description. So here goes:

1. 1983/A Austin Maestro 1.3 – Blue

First car at 17. Great engine and a reasonable drive with good practicality. Dreadful construction quality (nice bit of industrial unrest at BL…)

2. 1989/F Peugeot 405 GLX Saloon – Metallic Grey

Bought with student loan at university. Great to drive and good quality too with plenty of toys (to go wrong…).

3. 1990/G Audi Coupe 2.0 – Metallic Blue

Hewn from granite. More of a tourer though. But surprisingly good if driven hard.

4. 1990/G BMW 325i Touring – Silver

Lovely silky-smooth engine and gearbox. Great build quality and sounded like a racing car. A bit wayward in the wet; nightmare in the snow.

5. 1997/R Peugeot 306 1.8 GLX – Metallic Blue

Great handling car (Lotus developed suspension/chassis) and surprisingly rapid. Nicely put together and a classic and practical design that hasn’t dated.

6. 1985/C Audi quattro – Red

Amazing handing and performance, apart from turbo-lag. Superbly built and comfortable.

7. 1995/M BMW 318iS Coupe – Red

Great to drive.

8. 1997/R Fiat Barchetta – Metallic Blue

Handled like a go-kart. Great whizzy engine and throaty exhaust. Soft-top a doddle to put down and up.

9. 2000/W Audi TT 225 – Silver

Amazing performance and surprisingly good handling when pushed. Fantastic quality construction, apart from the dash (repaired under warrantee by Audi).

10. 2005/55 BMW 320d Touring – Black

Very comfortable drive. Great handing. Quite poky. Amazing fuel economy. Practical. Great quality. Best all-round car? Debate…

11. 1989/F Audi quattro – Lago Blue

Very fast and smooth (no turbo lag now!); fantastic handling.

Other cars I’ve driven (but not owned):

Porsche Boxster 2.7 – not as fast as I thought it would be but very nice drive.

Maserati 222E – mad turbo lag and violently quick – I so very nearly bought one!

Maserati Karif – as 222E, but even madder – 0-60 in 4.8s!

Ford/Vauxhall/Peugeot/Nissan hire cars – some good, some anodyne. Best: Ford Focus; worst: Nissan Primera.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Audi ur quattro joins the family

I’m now the proud owner of a 1989 MB series Audi ur quattro. Bought from Prestige Vehicle Sales and Consulting in Barrow, Sussex, they were selling on behalf of a client. It certainly looked a bit forlorn parked out the back on a patch of grass when I first saw it. However I’ve had one of these before (a 1985 version) so knew pretty much what to look out for.

There are so many nasty quattros out there, mainly a result of accident damage. I remember seeing one around 6 years ago that seemed OK on the outside but something just wasn’t right and upon interior inspection I found a good amount of filler behind the rear seats – turned out it had been a total loss write-off. Twice!

So naturally I tried to find something wrong with this one so I couldn’t possibly want to buy it. Unfortunately for me (and my wallet) I couldn’t find anything serious and in fact it seemed decidedly original, even down to the original supplying dealer number plates. So after the usual bargaining I shook hands on a car that had only done 2k miles in the last 12 years! Not always a good sign.

The journey back was fortunately without event, despite high outside temperatures and rush-hour queues on the M25. I took the precaution of winding the windows down and keeping the hot airs on though.

I then took it Dialynx Perfomance. Based in Lydiard Millicent, they are one of the the country’s foremost specialists for the Audi quattro. After a full service plus much needed 4-wheel alginment, proprietor Keith Murray took the quattro out and pronounced it, ‘a bloody good example’. This I was chuffed to hear, especially it being only my second ur quattro. Looked like I’d bought well, which certainly bode well for my ‘investment’ purchase justification to my wife!

So far I’ve fixed passenger side door lock, electric window switches on both sides, and new rear view mirror (thanks to those eBay sellers!). Future aim (in the not to distant) is the treatment of rust around the wheel arches. I want to get this done before winter, for obvious reasons.