That is, how often do you change your car, not what you might have been thinking... ;)
Here's the thing, just about everyone who knows me thinks I'm nuts because I change my car so often, even the petrol-heads. I'm lucky if I can go 4-6 months before I really, must, honestly, have to change my car. The longest I've ever stayed with one car is 22 months, and that was only after Mrs OB practically threatened divorce the first 2-3 times I suggested I change it...
On average, over the last 14 years, I've changed my car every 9.6 months (yes exactly), which I know isn't "normal".
However, everyone gets the urge to change eventually, so what I'm wondering is, for those of you who can go 3 years or more without getting itchy feet, is it easy for you? Do you get pangs to change every few months or do you not even think about it?
For those that hang onto your cars for 10 years or more, do you not get bored with it? Financially sensible it might be, but do you have to fight the urge to change it sometimes?
For the record, I'm on car number 18 and I'm thinking about what to buy next... I'm guessing most people won't own as many as 18 cars in their entire lives, and I'm only mid-30s...
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My reputation preceeds me on car ownership ( last count was to be precise, 62 cars over nearly 14 years - sometimes 3 at a time ) but financially not so bad overall as the vast majority were old, cheap cars and ive often sold them for more than I paid for them.
When ive bought a car over £2k, in almost all cases ive gone past two years ownership, my record being two and a half years for two cars I bought brand new.
I think ideally, for a serial car buyer, having one constant car and one that you change on a whim is the best solution.
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You're buying the wrong cars! I've had mine for 7 years and wouldn't want anything else. You're buying boring and uninspiring cars and that is why you need to change them.
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LOL! Wilberstuforce31, it's good to know there's some worse than me! Mrs OB won't believe it mind.. ;) Sadly not all of mine were cheap, I know how much I've lost in depreciation, and it's quite a lot...
Teabelly, you could be right... here's what I've had so far (most recent first):
Toyota Avensis 1.8 T3-X
Citroën C5 3.0 V6 Exclusive
S80 D5 SE
Megane 2.0 VVT Privilege
Vectra 1.9 CDTI SRI NAV
V70 2.4 SE
Astra 2.0 DTI Elegance
Mondeo 2.0 Ghia A
Mondeo 1.8TD LX
Mondeo 2.0 Ghia X
Mondeo 1.8TD Verona
Mondeo 2.0 Zetec
Mondeo 2.0 Ghia A
Orion 1.6i Ghia
Fiesta 950 Popular
Orion 1.6 GL
Citroën BX 16 RE
Escort 1.6 Ghia
Only the C5 had any real soul, and that was still a bit of a barge but with a loud "go pedal".
Any suggestions where to go next? It has to hold a family of 4 in comfort...
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Not many oil burners in your list, Oil Burner.
The longest I've owned a car was for 5 years/100k (BX GTi). The shortest was only 3 months (the car - Grand Picasso - gave me chronic back-ache).
I should keep my cars longer, but tend to get bored after a year/20k or so. Buying carefully second-hand can minimise depreciation to justifiable levels (there's man-maths for you!), but you never buy a car as an investment, do you?
Mrs Boxster drives little (she works next door to our house) and views cars as mere transport, and so has no problems driving her 8 year old C8 (owned from new).
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>> Not many oil burners in your list, Oil Burner.
Well spotted! With hindsight, I might have chosen a more appropriate moniker. CompulsiveCarChanger doesn't have quite the same ring to it mind.
>> Buying carefully second-hand can minimise depreciation to justifiable levels (there's man-maths for you!),
Aha - Man-maths, where anything is not only possible, but is sure to save money in some roundabout, convoluted way. Where would we be without it? Unfortunately, I never buy carefully and always pick depreciation nightmares. After 1 year with the C5 V6 I very nearly couldn't find anyone to buy it at all, for any money, let alone at a price that seemed fair, until I found a C5 specialist dealer who wanted it. I doubt I could have picked a car harder to sell on! I should probably buy old Mercs or something, I guess.
Last edited by: oilburner on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 16:30
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>> >> Not many oil burners in your list, Oil Burner.
>>
>> Well spotted! With hindsight, I might have chosen a more appropriate moniker. CompulsiveCarChanger doesn't have
>> quite the same ring to it mind.
CCC has a nice feel to it.
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...CCC has a nice feel to it...
Almost as nice as CC3.
Last edited by: Iffy on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 17:38
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You're buying exceptionally boring cars there! If you want 4 in comfort and some fun then bmw 5 series particular M5 :-) The diesel ones are reasonably quick too.
No sign of any alfas. Again they might have some personality.
Audi RS6 avant would also be a good choice if you didn't mind band M VED and 20 mpg.
If you keep buying cars with your head when you're a heart person then you'll end up spending a fortune changing. Buy something you actually like... or let the Mrs have some boring car and you get something fun which won't hold 4!!
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Good ideas teabelly. I've always liked the look of the 5s, maybe I should take the plunge. A nice Alfa 159 with the 5 pot diesel might make everyone happy, maybe. Can't really afford sub 30mpg cars at the minute with fuel prices sky high and the nippers almost literally eating cash away...
We already have the Zafira for the Mrs (which she loves), but I still need something with some degree of practicality, otherwise I won't be able to justify having a car at all! That's the downsides of working from home.. :)
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>> Mondeo 2.0 Ghia A
>> Mondeo 1.8TD LX
>> Mondeo 2.0 Ghia X
>> Mondeo 1.8TD Verona
>> Mondeo 2.0 Zetec
>> Mondeo 2.0 Ghia A
I just wonder what you gained from moving from one Mondeo to another Mondeo so many times?
Cars seem so similar these days - unless you need a different type of car, why bother to change?
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It makes more (or some) sense when you see the ages and body styles:
1995 Mondeo 2.0 Ghia Auto - First Mondeo, loved it but then I started commuting further...
2000 Mondeo 2.0 Zetec - So I bought this manual one to save fuel, it was nearly new and low mileage too
1995 Mondeo 1.8TD Verona - Changing career, expensive time, so I cashed in the Zetec and bought this diesel for a song so I could pay the loan off
1998 Mondeo 2.0 Ghia X Estate - Bought a big dog, so I needed an estate to cart it about in, plus I wanted the luxuries back,
1996 Mondeo 1.8TD LX - Changed my mind and decided I didn't need an estate or toys, this one was high mileage so very cheap too
1994 Mondeo 2.0 Ghia Auto - Changed my mind again, and decided I really missed the toys and the auto box....
I change my mind a lot, much to the Mrs's intense annoyance..
At one point I had two silver Mondeos at the same time, causing a neighbour to comment that I must be breeding them!!
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All sounds perfectly sensible to me, oilburner.
I just don't understand why anyone would have a problem with it!
;-)
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I knew it all made sense! :0)
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>> Mondeo mania:
It's just you, I think! I had a company Mondeo in 1995, 2.0 GLX - it had optional a/c as Ford were keen to displace the Peugeot 405's we had, and they had a/c as standard.
Our routine was to change cars every 2 years but I quite liked the Mondeo so I kept it for a 3rd year and only changed it when my manager said they I was encouraging head office to move to 3yr change periods.
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I have had five cars my name:-
1) Jan 2007 (before I passed) First fiesta, lasted 7 months before the engine went.
2) October 2008 Second Fiesta, kept it for two months before I realised it I no longer felt safe in it, it was a rusting death trap.
3) March 2009 Vauxhall Corsa, lost a fortune on this car, well over £1k kept it for 11 months until the head gasket blew.
4) March 2010 My dads Fiesta, was in my name for a while for legal reasons and the fact I was waiting for my Panda.
5)May 2010 Fiat Panda, had since new, had it 9 months now :) and intend to keep it long term.
Idealy if the bangers didn't fail I would have kept them for about two-three years. I will keep the Panda for longer because it will cost too much to change early.
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Rats, if I lost only £1k or so on a car, I would be very happy indeed! I daren't say how much I've lost on some of them, large numbers in small amounts of time. The local dealers love me.
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I dread to think about how much I have lost on the Corsa but it would be a fortune. I paid £1150, close to £1k on various repairs (springs, brakes, exhaust, MAF, service, tyres, shocks, cv boots etc) and sold it for £250, so I would have lost close to £2k on it.
To be fair I was a bit over the top in keeping the car beyond roadworthy because I was very worried about getting points (6 points = ban for new drivers) but it still hurts. I just put it down to an expensive learning curve but after that I knew the only way forward was to buy something brand new with a warranty.
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>> That is, how often do you change your car, not what you might have been
>> thinking... ;)
As an aside, I'm amazed nobody has had whatever it takes to start a thread on exactly that subject that we were all thinking.
Although I appreciate this isn't mumsnet.
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Not very often. Both Golfs will be in service until they become unreliable, or eldest daughter's applied-for school change becomes reality and one of them (the GTI) goes.
We are not in the financial position to throw loads of money at cars at the moment, although even when we are, I can see me keeping the TDI as a commuter. It does everything I need it to do, does >50 mpg in the real world, has enough grunt and toys to keep me entertained, and if the last two years are anything to go by, is depreciating at a glacial rate. Very cheap car to own.
As trudging up and down a congested M3 every day would be no less dull and boring in a new Golf as it would be in an 8yr old one, I would rather buy an additional car (something fun for weekends) than replace the old one. But I can't afford to do either right now, so it's academic. :-)
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1) Buy at around 2-3 years old (or new if there are good deals to be had).
2) Run it into the ground.
In last 18yrs I've had
91/H BX Diesel estate bought in April 1993. Ran until April 2005 covering approx 140k Scrapped as uneconomic to MoT
89/F 205 Diesel bought in July 1997. Needed second car for school/childminder run. Ran until October 2000 when sold through small ads folowing purchase of
2000/X Xantia 2.0 HDi Estate bought new. Run out offer and only £ more than s/h examples. Current, approaching 130k, station hack & backup but been as far afield as Isle of Lewis in last year. No plans to change.
2005/05 Berlingo 1.9D. Bought new to replace BX. Current, 90k, main family car. No plans to change.
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My Fiat Panda Cross is my ninth car in 33 years of car ownership, so a change roughly every three and a half years.
I find that I feel more comfortable with a car the longer I keep it. I've had the Cross for nearly two and a half years and have no urge to change it. In fact I've only had 3 winters out of it, which is the time of year it really comes into its own, and want at least that many again.
The Cross is also so rare as to be irreplaceable at present. Hardly any used ones and the Fiat factory is no longer building them. It looks a possibility that the new Panda coming soon may not be produced as a 4x4.
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On average Mrs F and self have changed our two cars every year for the past 36yrs. Sometimes it's a real need for a different aspect of life but often just to experience something else. I'm now 14mths into a 3yr lease and despite the car being spot on I'm wondering if my want/need will alter before the full time is up?
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I think the new Panda will be made in 4x4 form because it is going to be sold in the USA as a Jeep. However I am not sure if there will be any RHD ones.
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Is this so Americans can buy one for the kids to play with in the garden? ;)
Beats the old pedal car I used to have, that's for sure.
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Well, I think it's partly an age thing, I find I'm tending to keep my cars longer as I get older! The last three cars we've had were ours for 10 years, 8 years, and the current one just under 4. I think that perhaps one learns over the years that changing cars regularly doesn't necessarily make economic sense. To be fair, the last three cars have had virtually nothing spent on them except for routine maintenance so there has been no incentive to change them.
Yes, I do sometimes yearn for a change, but then I get in the Aero and remember why I love it!
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>> Well, I think it's partly an age thing, I find I'm tending to keep my
>> cars longer as I get older!
Same here. My current car I've had almost six years, before I would change around three years unless it was a cheapie to tide me by until I found something better.
The longer you keep your car the better off you are financially, unless you're loaded (like most of the old gits on here :). If you've bought a car that's a reasonably good all rounder it's going to be easier to keep it. If a car is uncomfortable I reckon that's one of the biggest reasons to get rid, a bad unsupportive seat will just eat away at you day after day. Even a car that's terminally dull to drive will be kept if it's comfortable and reasonable to run.
Of course petrol heads will want to change more quickly, just to experience the thrill of driving a different speed machine. Either that or they will modify their existing car, treating it as a project.
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I appreciate it certainly makes financial sense to hold onto cars for longer, but for you guys that do this, how do you resist the urge to change?
Last edited by: oilburner on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 13:18
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>> Money.
>>
I don't think that's really a factor, if you're prepared to buy and sell old cars privately, you can actually make money on some cars, as has been pointed out above. Although I've lost silly amounts in total, 2 of my cars I made a profit on, and I sold 3 of them to buy cheaper cars so I could pay off loans.
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>> >> Money.
>> >>
>>
>> I don't think that's really a factor, if you're prepared to buy and sell old
>> cars privately, you can actually make money on some cars,
Money is certainly the factor for me in that it prevents an impulse change. I'm not a salesman and am more reluctant to try and sell cars privately the older I get.
The car is a tool to get me and my clobber from A-B, it doesn't say much about me or my status. Any drive to change will come with either serious unreliability or, like the BX, multiple issues at MoT time.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 14:20
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>> I appreciate it certainly makes financial sense to hold onto cars for longer, but for
>> you guys that do this, how do you resist the urge to change?
>>
Simple, I read what people have to say on here about virtually every car under the sun, the problems that they have with even new cars, and the money they lost on having to change because the newish car they have isn't to their liking in some way.
My current car has everything I need, being top of the range in it's time, it's quick, it's comfortable, it's relatively economical for it's performance, and it's safe. The only downside for me is that it's relatively environmentally unsound (240gm/km). But I'm afraid I'm not that much of an eco-warrior that that single fact alone would make me change it. And, in environmental terms, it's better to keep an older car running than cause another to be born ;)
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"how do you resist the urge to change?"
I now find the process of buying a car a complete pain. Over the years I have come to realise that the excitement of owning a new car wanes in a few days. In a week or two that new vehicle you have been lusting after becomes just "the car". The hole in your bank balance doesn't disappear quite so quickly
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First car Renault 19, bought in December 1996. Sold in January 2001.
Then VW Polo. Bought September 2001. Sold in March 2009.
Since then Toyota Verso.
I found that the Renault was a great car in many ways, but the repair bills were getting huge (8 years old, 80k miles). Wistful, as it was my first car, but ultimately glad that it was someone else's problem. Didn't really miss not having a car between Jan and Sept 2001 - just hired one when I needed to. But I was living in London at the time.
The Polo was utterly brilliant, and I was sad in some ways to part with it. If you treated it well, it would never let you down. I'd like to think that if it is still on the road it is being looked after. My dad bought it new and I bought from him.
However, the Verso is a revelation. Going from 60hp petrol to 134hp with all of the torque that a diesel can offer is great. Also, with two kids, the Polo was not a sensible option. We'll aim to keep the Verso till it conks in a major way.
Last edited by: boolean on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 13:23
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My last three cars have served me well for over 32 years, and I expect to get another 18 months out of the current one.
Don't like keeping them too long, though.
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Last Focus seven years, current CC3 approaching two years, no plans to change.
I would be inclined to change sooner if it was to be a significant upgrade.
But I am unlikely to be able to afford anything much better than what I have.
Another point is a well looked after modern car doesn't age nearly as quickly as cars did 20 or 30 years ago.
My Focus drove as well at 80,000miles as it did at 20,000miles.
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My first three cars lasted (with me) less than nine years between them, thanks to a combination of itchy feet and (modest) upward mobility that eventually led to a company car. Number four lasted its full four-year lease term, then I bought number five two years in when I left the job it went with.
That's the car I still have, eight years old now and beginning to show signs of age. I'd change it this year if I could but, like DP, all I do in it is trundle a congested south-eastern motorway twice a day, so there's no excitement to be gained.
I think there are three types here: the Butterfly, like Stu and OB, who is constantly flitting from car to car, in search not of perfection but merely change; the Calendar Watcher, whose schedule is determined either by a fixed-term lease or PCP, or by the conviction that they must change every n years; and the Maker Do, who's found a car that suits and is content - or possibly required - to keep it until it no longer does.
I've been a CW but I'm a happyish MD these days. I'd far rather swap our three-year-old Verso, which is competent but frustratingly hard to love, than the much older and rather baggier S60 - but it would probably just be for a second Volvo.
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x
Last edited by: Crocked Monsieur on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 14:42
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Interesting comments re. the Verso. Which aspects irk you?
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I'm no stickler for thread hygiene, Boolean, but I've scattered quite a few comments on it across this forum, so I suggest you search under my name. It's perfectly adequate, but it doesn't sparkle.
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I think you and I, oilburner, are kindred spirits.
I've jsut turned 41, had my licence since 17, and have just hit the 30 mark when it somes to number of cars owned. Over a car a year then.
I am on top of my urge at the moment, but all three of our current fleet have been with us under one year (just).
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>and have just hit the 30 mark <
Lightweight!
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I think you're the only person I'd be prepared to take that comment from!
:-)
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Thinking of selling it, but the car in my garage was bought in 1983...
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I'm 29 and have had 30 cars so far (all Citroens except for a BMW bought to sell on and a Rover bought as an emergency stop gap). I bought a Picasso last May and have decided to stop such frequent changes and keep it until it becomes uneconomical to maintain. In order to do this, I've stopped logging onto eBay classic cars and the various Citroen forums I used to visit on a daily basis in the same was as an alcoholic might avoid pubs. I've owned the Picasso for 9 months now and haven't had a overwhelming urge to change it yet. I've hardly looked at any cars for sale and except for a brief but intense infatuation with a campervan, I haven't looked at buying a second vehicle. I'd love to be the sort of person who buys a car new and runs it for as long as it lasts. I used to kid myself that my frequent changes cost no more than running a car for years but now am not so sure!
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Good luck Rob, I tried avoiding all adverts and forums for a while and did kind of work for a while...
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I have owned seven cars in 40+ years.
1600E -rust got it
Triumph 2000 Rear ended & a write off
Cortina Crusader nicked and a write off
Cortina crusader - rust got it
Sierra - rust got it
UNO run at the same time to "share" with my offspring - rust got it
98 Mondeo II - rust getting it but now @130K
I hope it will last one or two years more. Mechanically it is good.
To date I have bought cars at few years old and run them til I took them to a scrap yard as I did not want them to be on the road again.
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I like WdB's categorisation, it makes sense...and probably means I'm doomed to be this fickle!
Alanović, Wilberstuforce31, how does your Mrs take this constant change? Mrs OB is more of a fixed term type of changer and doesn't get my need to change cars at all. For years I've tried various strategies to persuade her that it's a good time to change a car, from the practical (need more space) to the reasonable (car is facing expensive repairs) to the oblique (I'm too worried about where I park it to use it.. :). After a few years I ran out of excuses!!
In the end I just admitted that there is no good reason to change, I just want to. Mrs OB can't get her head round that at all... Especially since I don't lust after fancy cars, just any old car, often the kind of cars that most people don't like or find very dull. I always felt the need to own an Omega or a Saab 9-5, which I haven't done yet. Can't explain why!
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She's still trying to fight it. But I have become immune to the whining. After all, I was well under way when we met.
I have two pleasures in my life which some women habitually object to - my interest in cars, and my football team. My wife is not an expection, however I refuse to let them go entirely and leave myself with very little to enjoy in life.
I am, however, fully intending to leave the current fleet unmolested for at least 3 years.
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That's what I always say... until the time comes... Luckily for Mrs OB, I have little time or interest in sport, so really, she should be quite pleased... LOL!
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I am on my 16th car in total, since 1973.
Four Capri's, One Fiat, 1 BL, 1 Sierra, 2 cavaliers, One Peugeot, Two Renaults, One Volkswagen, One Seat, One Mitsubishi.
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On the 7th car in 20 years of driving.
Cost and been a tight wad is why i keep them, Do i get bored yes i do but it's a tool so i use till it's worn then replace it with another one.
If money was no object id still not be any different but the cars would be better quality but id keep them the same or have a few of them to play with.
This Vectra is staying for at least 7 years as cars are the biggest waste of money, The Astra before lasted 3.5 years from new before i needed a bigger car due to family, There more reliable now and rust ate away my other older cars or id still have them.
Last edited by: Webmaster on Thu 17 Feb 11 at 02:39
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very rarely these days
cant be bothered ,so long as it drives ok and gets me home suits me
just like working in a chocolate factory and hating the stuff after 20 years i assume
i dont like dirty vehicles though
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>> I am on my 16th car in total, since 1973.
>>
>> Four Capri's, One Fiat, 1 BL, 1 Sierra, 2 cavaliers, One Peugeot, Two Renaults, One
>> Volkswagen, One Seat, One Mitsubishi.
That's your 15th car according to the list. I don't think you should omit that Reliant Robin, you can admit it, no one will laugh.
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I generally change my car when it has done 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
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I take the view that changing cars is a waste of money, unless you have a really good reason. I generally buy new, then keep the car until something serious needs doing and it is beyond economic repair. I had a Nissan for 8 years, then another Nissan for 10, and my current car for 4.5 years.
I don't get bored with them - in fact I've felt affection for all my cars except my current one. I took a strong dislike it while driving it home brand-new from the dealers, and I have never been able to shift that feeling. (Perhaps I should not say this, but I have even taken professional help for this stupid feeling).
Posting my criticisms on this forum (and the other place) has been therapeutic, but I can see myself bending the rules on "beyond economic repair" on this car! Hopefully my next car will overlap with my retirement, and I will be able to keep it a very long time. (Maybe a Skoda, or something Far Eastern)
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>> I generally change my car when it has done 80,000 to 100,000 miles
I generally buy my car when it has done 80,000 to 100,000 miles* :)
21 years of driving has seen me own somewhere over 30 cars - one a year from ages 17 to 23, then a spell on the fringes of bellboy's line of work when I was 24 saw me buy and sell a car a month. Owned roughly a car a year again after then, up until I got the Escort in 2008.
To oilburner - the reasons for changing cars annually were usually that I was trying to work towards newer and better cars, I only hung on to the good ones. I've never made a huge profit by selling any of my cars, but I've never made a catastrophic loss either (I don't include the 2001 Octavia's depreciation from new as it was written down as a business expense). The most I can lose on my current car is £130, and it's almost worth that much as mixed metals.
*The highest mileage car I ever bought showed 350,490 miles. I have photos.
Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 21:08
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But surely if the cat fails tomorrow or you need a couple of new tyres that is £130 instantly gone?
We paid £850 for the Fiesta three and a half years ago, it would be worth £500 with a full MOT but we have spent over £1k in repairs. Still a very cheap car though when you look at it like that.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 21:09
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>> But surely if the cat fails tomorrow or you need a couple of new tyres
>> that is £130 instantly gone?
>>
ALL cars need consumables such as tyres, brakes, and to a lesser extent cat's.
I don't think its fair to highlight such items when talking about cheap cars..
... except, when a lot of such items all need replacing at once.... then it is often better to cut ones losses, and buy another cheap car - with decent tyres, brakes etc..... ;-)
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Well that was the main reason I bought brand new, because I do very low milleage (4k a year) it will be at least three years (hopefully) before any of that needs replacing. If I had bought a used 30k Fiesta then a lot of that stuff would need doing soon.
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If the cat fails tomorrow, I keep driving it until the MoT test I suppose :)
Tyres are £25 a go from the part-worn place, although I did pick up one on a matching alloy for £8 off ebay last year. I don't think I've spent more than £100 a year on repairs and servicing for any of my last three cars.
Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 22:01
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eBay can bring up gems.
Bought two spanking new Goodyear NCT5s for the Mondeo, on spanking new steel rims (looked like unused spares), for £35 a couple of years ago. Had to drive 50 miles each way to pick them up, but still quids in.
Just swapped the complete wheels over, and took my old rims and tyres to the dump. The "new" ones were even balanced perfectly.
Also got an indicator stalk for my S60 for £12, and a blower motor for the Golf for £30. Both worked fine.
I've definitely done more than £100 a year, but the Golfs are cheap to maintain thanks to a VW tech mate (£60 for a standard service, £100 for a major, cambelt and tensioners changed on the 1.8T GTI for £150 inc parts), and the fact I still don't mind getting my hands dirty. Also both cars are old enough that a lack of a stamp in the service book won't make much difference to the value.
I actually partly chose the make of car based on being able to get them serviced and repaired cheaply.
Last edited by: DP on Mon 14 Feb 11 at 22:52
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>> I actually partly chose the make of car based on being able to get them
>> serviced and repaired cheaply.
>>
I wish more people would think about that, instead of moaning about it afterwards.
I always post on the MB forums to people who come on thinking of buying, say, an 8 year old E Class; make sure you've got a trusty indie lined up first to take care of it.
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OK, here's my list:
Morris Minor 1000
Hillman Hunter 1725
Peugeot 104
Peugeot 305
Renault 18 TD Estate
VW Golk Mk1 D
Peugeot 205 XS (18 months - company car)
Citroen BX GTi (5 years)
Citroen ZX D (4 years)
Citroen BX TZD Estate (2 years)
VW Sharan D (3 years)
Citroen Synergie
Citroen Xsara Picasso (18 months)
Merc C270 Estate (2.5 years)
Merc E320 Estate (2 years)
Smart Brabus (6 months)
Citroen C4 (1 year)
Merc E320 Estate (18 months)
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso (3 months)
Merc E280 Estate (1 year)
Ford S-Max
Plus a few vans along the way.
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And yet not one Boxster? ;)
Ahh, you have a weakness for French metal, you have my deepest sympathies. Without a doubt the cars I have loved and hated the most in equal measure were the Citroëns. The Renault I just hated...
See you had the BX GTi, I always lusted after one of them when I had my lowly BX 16. I don't think today's C5 comes close to having the magic the BXs had, IMO.
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>>>don't think today's C5 comes close to having the magic the BXs had..
As so often the magic is a little rose tinted. The BX was an amazing car in its day (we owned at least 4 and used many more) but in truth I can't think of one thing that was better about a BX than my current C5.... but I welcome ideas from anyone that can think of something.
I alwats prefered the turbo-diesel BX to the GTi.
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Easy - brakes. Back when the brakes were properly integrated into the Hydropneumatics the feel and power was amazing. Not so with the C5 and it's conventional set-up. Although the benefit of traction control and ESP is no bad thing.
But I take your point, time has moved on... :)
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Sorry I can't allow brakes.... good that the BX were for their day. The C5 has massively powerful brakes with huge discs which, combined with ABS (rarely seen on a BX) and stability control, mean I'd rather be in the C5 any day stopping hard wet or dry, straight or curved road.
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>> And yet not one Boxster? ;)
>>
Sorry, how could I forget?!
I also had a 986 Boxster S (3 years) and a 911 Carrera for 1 year!
>> See you had the BX GTi, I always lusted after one of them when I
>> had my lowly BX 16. I don't think today's C5 comes close to having the
>> magic the BXs had, IMO.
>>
Yes, I loved the GTi (8v, not 16). In fact as a family we had half a dozen or so BXs of various types over the years. The worst by far was a dreadfully underpowered 1.9 D auto. The best, I think, was my GTi. I always found the turbos too 'on or off' on the TDs as you accelerated away, although they were of course far more economical and great once there were up and runnning.
They are underated cars (too many think of them as cheap French rubbish). Much of their success stemmed I think from their light weight, which could never be replicated in the C5 or any other modern car. The A-pillar hinge point of mine was rusting towards the end (one of their few weaknesses when it comes to rust - unlike many a Mercedes!).
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I too had several BX's, most recently a 1.9D estate and a 1.8TD hatch in 2010. I love the character of the BX, the economy of most models, the seats on the higher spec models and of course the hydropneumatic suspension/brakes. I got rid of my final two last year as rust was starting to become an issue for most BXs, despite impressive resistance to corrosion when compared to other cars of it's era. As a possible advantage of the Bx over the new C5, I'd guess there are very few. However, how does the load space of a C5 Tourer compare to a BX estate?
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Yeah, they were certainly light weight, I remember half the body being made of plastic, which became more obvious over time as the metal panels rusted! I do miss mine, I should have bought a couple more of them at the time before they became too ancient. Probably the nearest thing you can get to equal that experience now is a late model Xantia. Now that with the V6 and Activa system could be fun...
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I had an Activa too (the 2.0 8v Turbo - none of the other engines available in europe were available here). It was brilliant fun and amazingly surefooted but obtaining parts was a nightmare! Also, the engine was a bit of a disappointment (although the same engine in my XM felt much nicer).
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Shame you couldn't get the V6 Activa here... LHD might be OK mind, bound to be loads left in France.
>> (although the same engine in my XM felt much nicer).
Oh no! That's another crazy big barge I feel a desperate urge to go and buy right now... I don't know what it is about these cars, I just love them. Bored silly once I've got them, of course.
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And there's another one I forgot to put on the list!
A Xantia Activa. Not once, but twice! Well Mrs BB bought it first (with just a little bit of encouragement from me!). It was a ridiculously low mileage ex-Citroen car that I think had been forgotten about. We sold it after about 5 years. Then a few years later in an idle moment when looking round eBay, I thought the car was such fun, I might try and find another. Then, blow me down if our old car wasn't for sale at a giveaway price (though still low mileage). Well, I couldn't resist, could I, seeing as I knew so much of its history!
It was a real Q-car, especially when it came to the bends and you siply didn't need to slow down! I will never forget chasing a Delta Integrale one day through the woods near us. I suspect he was a bit peeved that a 'mere Xantia' was right on his tail (outright speed not being the issue). Had my fun (again) and sold it on to an enthusiast who had a French friend who wanted it for his Activa collection in France!
I've still got a 2CV, too, that I've had for 10 years, and is definitely my longest owner (and lowest mileage) car.
And that really is that!
(I think ...)
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Excellent, I doubt I will ever own the same car twice, so you definitely have that one over me! :)
I read somewhere that the Activa could out-corner almost every super-car in it's day, quite some achievement. My C5 with H3+ was pretty impressive I thought, but fell a little short of that!
Just how many cars do you have at the minute BB?
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There are a few DIY converted RHD V6 Activas about....
My XM was beautiful and fantastic to drive but was a purchase nearly as unwise as that of my my CX; I'm a community nurse and driving round all day in old, large engined, automatic cars is pretty silly! The XM was the most comfortable car I have ever been in though.
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Road tests of the time suggested that an Activa could generate 0.94g (I think) while cornering. Mine certianly felt very very frilly and made large empty roundabouts great fun. It also rode far better than my non-hydractive 2 Xantias, nearly as well as the XM and did a funny little sideways shuffle when idling in traffic!
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Yes, they do drive very well. In fact I have/had a copy of the Car Magazine test when it first came out. They rated it better than a BMW320 and Audi A4 1.8T.
The only thing is, for the anti-roll to work properly all the valves (and the LHM) has to be absolutely spotlessly clean. Which isn't all that easy in time.
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And 9 spheres can be tricky. Also, the Activa rams are hugely expensive and hard to find. I'd love another as a second car though.
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How often do you do it? - Stuu
