Passed test first time, in 1969 in father's Morris 1100, having learnt the basics in his preceding Morris Minor (same 1100 engine) on Ainsdale beach in 1968 prior to 17th birthday. Passed IAM test (at second attempt) in 1984 after a couple of prangs and wanted to improve my driving. Which it did.
First bought a BSA Bantam 175cc (12.5 bhp!), then:
1971: 1964 Vauxhall Viva HA 1057cc. Only three cylinders working, as I found out when the engine seized and I took the head off. Huge difference in performance with all four contributing.
1973: 1967 Morris Mini Minor 848cc, with Oselli stage 1 head, manifold, and carb mods. The kit cost £30, over a week's wages! Outran a neighbour's 998 Mini Cooper.
1974: 1971 Vauxhall Viva HC, 1256cc. Bonnet like the Ark Royal after the Mini.
1978: 1976 Vauxhall Chevette, 1256cc. Lovely paint. A deep bronze metallic, best part of the car.
1979: Suzuki SC100 "Whizzkid", 970cc, new. Great fun.
1981: Suzuki Alto, 998cc, new. Grim.
1983: Citroen Visa GT, 1360cc, 80 bhp, new. That's better.
1985: Citroen Visa GTi, 1580cc, 105bhp, new. In so many ways a worse car than the GT. Built in Spain.
1987: 1985 Vauxhall Nova GT, 1300cc, 80bhp. (SWMBO was learning to drive in a Nova and wanted us to have the same model for her to practice in.)
1988: Vauxhall Nova GTE, 1598cc, 100 bhp, new. As with the Visas, not as good as the preceding car.
1990: Peugeot 309 GTI, 1905cc, 128bhp, new. The 205 GTI engine in a bigger body. Handled better than the 205 with the same engine.
1994: Peugeot 306 XR, 1360cc, 75bhp, new (rear doors more baby-seat friendly than the 3-door 309
). Redeeming feature - superb ride.
1996: 1994 Citroen Xantia VSX, 1998cc, 120bhp, auto. Just so comfortable.
2001: 1998 Mitsubishi Galant V6-24, 2500cc, 163bhp, auto. Beautiful engine sound in a beautiful body.
2005: 2004 SAAB 9-3ss Arc, 1998cc, 175bhp, auto. So many problems, bought in March when a year old, exchanged it in the November for:-
2005: 2005 SAAB 9-5 Vector, 2290cc, 185bhp, auto. Later Hirsched to 220bhp, and also Hirsch suspension. Bought at 10 months old, 13k miles, now done 108k. Spent thousands on it, but still love driving it. SWMBO doesn't like it, she says.
Cars owned by SWMBO since passing her test in 1990 (first time, but a late starter): Citroen AX 11TRE (much better around town than the Peugeot 309 I had at the same time, but not as fast), then a Citroen ZX Avantage, and, since 2002, Peugeot 206LX. Same 1360 engine in the ZX and 206. But the ZX didn't have power steering and was a bar-steward to park.
Next chapter - Cars I have driven.
