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

Had one with the old golf 1.6 8v engine in it, more torque than rev's. Literally the cheapest 5 years of estate/doing useful things car I've ever had. Bought for £1600 with 40-50k on it, one owner serviced every year or 6000 miles whichever happened first. Needed nothing but tyres, oil and brake pads for 5 years and around 90k on it. Sold for £800, and the guy was so chuffed with it he gave me £850. Saw it pottering around for another 2 years before it got a front + rear traffic smash.
Not fast, not good at corners, not good at long distance comfort, ugliest car on the street, not good on fuel (40mpg was about it, usually less), but it did have electric windows and a boot big enough for 2 dogs.