Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

The beige Toyota Corolla, like all my dad's cars was absolutely mint when he sold it. When I went to sixth form college it was in the car park, absolutely wrecked. It was like the 'after' version of the Father Ted prize Rover 213. It was owned by one of the teachers, who said 'a few people have crashed into me'. Apparently he'd been in 6 accidents, none of which, of course, were his fault.

Reminds me of the Dutton Sierra kit car.

At least it wasn't the Mk III version. A quite staggeringly ugly car, especially for a Ginetta.

My dad drove the same Volvo 144 for twentyseven years. Daily driver. Swapped the engine after 500k km’s himself. Then a drunken twat in an Opel Kadet rear ended him at trafic lights, Volvo was economicly totalled. So he bought a twentyfive year old 145 as a replacement ‘cause he always wanted an estate... 😎

They've had some stinkers but they've more than made up for it with some of their products, particularly the G4.

Absolutely. The G4 is a gem, I have a soft spot for the G15, and Cycliste owns a G20.

I had a G32 which was great fun.
Love the G12 - although I’d never fit in one.
The only time I ever saw a G12 on the road was whilst I was staying with my in laws in rural Japan. Still not sure it wasn’t a dream as I never saw it again but they are popular over there.

your dad is doing it right.

145 is on the list.

My dad had a VW Corrado when I was a baby. He then almost immediately got a driving ban so had to squeeze all 6'2" of himself into the tiny back seat whilst my mum drove with the baby seat on the passenger seat.

Notable dad car, think he paid about £70 for this when he was 17. He chopped up the original rusted body, shortened the chassis and hand built the main tub out of timber before wrapping it in vinyl (not that kind). Pretty sure all the Bentley bits came with the car and all have the original Patina. Most the other bits were handmade by him with a little help from some local machine shops and fabricators. Total budget men in a sheds build.

Parents want a tow bar fitted to their 2019 X3, is there anything I should advise them on?

I seem to remember people talking about getting an independent firm to do it. I imagine getting it done at BMW would be expenny. They want it so they can mount a bike rack - is this a reasonable way to go about it, can you get good bike racks for an X3 that won't need a tow bar?

In other VERY EXCITING NEWS a lovely man and his wife came to look at the Astra for their granddaughter and he seemed very pleased. He said it's the first car that's not a pile of shite that they've been to see. I am very relieved to have avoided tyre-kickers so far. Got some worryingly hectic messages off people wanting to buy it.

"LET ME KNOW YOUR ADDRESS SO I CAN BOOK A TRAIN OR BUS I AM QUITE CERTAIN I WILL TAKE IT"

The first car I remember my dad having was an early 80's Opel Manta GTE, which I've never thought about till now, but looking at now looks like it would have been pretty cool.

My Grandad had some which would be pretty desirable now - highlights I know about include a high spec Escort Mk2 (don't know exactly which one) and a from-new Lancia Fulvia. Is that Top Gear 'fact' about them costing more than an E-Type correct? If so, it makes them just the most ludicrous car to have owned...

imagine that with some mahoosive hotrod drag tyres on the back...

Is this page 3 of dad car chat?

Marina, viva x 2 (2!),mini estate, golf (for two weeks), ford company cars.

On the Dad car front - was a Maxi as shit as I remember it as being?

Yes, the Pre joining the EU price with import duty was more than an E type.

Great colour that

compared to other stuff at the time it was very practical, hatchback, loads of room inside.

Just very ugly the doors didn’t match the rest of the car.
The initial concept included straight six engines with this and the Hydrolastic suspension it could have been a lot nicer

I can remember not liking it when I was about 6 years old! Dads mate had one too - his was an awful yellow colour.

Love a Manta, been a long time since I've seen one on the road.

I remember trying to convince him to fit widened steels and Firestone slicks on the back. The term prat or Berk was definitely used. They're freecycle Landrover tyres on there that actually roll really nicely.

He is taking supercharging under consideration though.

Coincidentally I mentioned that to a mate last week. One Manta had cut outs in the bonnet. Mate had one ages ago.

manta 400 had bonnet cut outs and a vent normally

Always wanted a MK1 manta as the rear lights were so cool.