The car you loved....and hated.....and loved

[NotLawReview]

Two separate cars that were the same...

I had an '04 Corvette Z06 that had a few go-fast mods on it that was a wonderful, fast, reliable car. Unfortunately it got totaled in a flood here in Houston on Memorial Day 2015. 

I replaced it with another '04 Z06 that was the lemans edition and had a LOT more on it in terms of modifications... and that was probably the problem. This thing was a nightmare; constant issues with the electronics, had the wrong heads on it for the cam that was in it, etc. Though it was a great car to learn all of the ins and outs of in terms of automotive electronics, it was an absolute headache and money pit. Blew its transmission and then 2 months after I shelled out $$$ to rebuild it, it too met its watery demise in another flood the Friday before Memorial Day 2016.

Replaced it with a '10 Grand Sport that has very few modifications done to it. The new one is a much better daily driver than the C5z, but if given the option between the two, I'd take the C5z any day of the week. Just a much more "raw" driving feel to it. More analog.

[BrightonCorgi]

Had an '85 Maserati Biturbo E that was a beauty when she ran, but that was not so often.  Took a couple of years to find a good mechanic, but by then I was ready to throw in the towel.

An '85 Alfa Romeo GTV6 served me well.  Had Euro pipes and Ansa sport exhaust.  Would give any Harley a run for setting off alarms contest.  Fun to drive, picked up some girls.  Was a nice car at that time in my life.

An '82 Mercedes 300D in German cab Magnolia.  That car got me laid like no tomorrow.  I don't know what it was about that car, but girls were falling left and right for it.  Vacuum problems and rust got the better of her.  

Best car is difficult as it is relation to the era I owned it.  I am digging my current Aston and hope that one makes the list for my favorite ever.

[NotLawReview]

44 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Had an '85 Maserati Biturbo E that was a beauty when she ran, but that was not so often.  Took a couple of years to find a good mechanic, but by then I was ready to throw in the towel.

An '85 Alfa Romeo GTV6 served me well.  Had Euro pipes and Ansa sport exhaust.  Would give any Harley a run for setting off alarms contest.  Fun to drive, picked up some girls.  Was a nice car at that time in my life.

An '82 Mercedes 300D in German cab Magnolia.  That car got me laid like no tomorrow.  I don't know what it was about that car, but girls were falling left and right for it.  Vacuum problems and rust got the better of her.  

Best car is difficult as it is relation to the era I owned it.  I am digging my current Aston and hope that one makes the list for my favorite ever.

What kind of aston?

[BrightonCorgi]

6 hours ago, NotLawReview said:

What kind of aston?

Rapide

[gweilgi]

A 2001 Holden HSV GTS.  I bought #21 of a batch of grey imports into the UK.  It was loud.  It was primitive.  There were loose wires hanging around in the boot.  Trim started to come off a month after I bought it.  Half an hour into a drive, my feet would start to sweat because there was no insulation between the footwell and the V8 engine.  It was thirstier than a university Rugby player.  The gear knob vibrated so badly, it gave my girlfriend funny ideas.  There was a button to turn traction control on or off, but it was pointless because there was just too much power and the weight distribution was crap.  When I put my foot down, it would react by going sideways rather than ahead.  And I loved it to bits.  Lary as hell to drive it in rain, snow, ice or sunshine, on wet and dry roads -- but it was FUN.  

Got rid of it after I ended in the ditch while going round a bend at 20KPH and discovered the joys of lift-off oversteer.  I also discovered that while my car was in Europe, the nearest spare parts depot was in Melbourne, and absolutely every part would take several weeks to arrive....

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, gweilgi said:

A 2001 Holden HSV GTS.  I bought #21 of a batch of grey imports into the UK.  It was loud.  It was primitive.  There were loose wires hanging around in the boot.  Trim started to come off a month after I bought it.  Half an hour into a drive, my feet would start to sweat because there was no insulation between the footwell and the V8 engine.  It was thirstier than a university Rugby player.  The gear knob vibrated so badly, it gave my girlfriend funny ideas.  There was a button to turn traction control on or off, but it was pointless because there was just too much power and the weight distribution was crap.  When I put my foot down, it would react by going sideways rather than ahead.  And I loved it to bits.  Lary as hell to drive it in rain, snow, ice or sunshine, on wet and dry roads -- but it was FUN.  

Got rid of it after I ended in the ditch while going round a bend at 20KPH and discovered the joys of lift-off oversteer.  I also discovered that while my car was in Europe, the nearest spare parts depot was in Melbourne, and absolutely every part would take several weeks to arrive....

Well, now that you're here, you can buy an new one... oh wait, no you can't. HSV will be importing and rebranding the Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe.

[gweilgi]

48 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Well, now that you're here, you can buy an new one... oh wait, no you can't. HSV will be importing and rebranding the Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe.

Well now, when I arrived in God's Own, I told Her Who Must Be Consulted that I wanted a fire engine red HSV Maloo ute, preferably with roo bars and flood-lighting.  She said "NO".

So I said "OK, lets forget about the roo bars and extra lights.  How about it?"

She said "yeah but NO"

So I asked her if I could at least rent a normal ute to take her to the Deniliquin Ute Muster for three days of drinking VBs, wearing check shirts and listening to Aussie country music.

To that, she said "F*CK, NO".

At which point, I gave in, said "yes, darling.  How about a Jaguar?"....

[George-eed]

Mine has to be my 1974 Triumph Stag which I had in the early eighties, bright yellow with black interior. She was a stunner. I was 19 at the time and she was my pride and joy, got me more attention than any teenager should ever be allowed, but she also gave me more heartache than any lady I have ever known. It was a love hate relationship, I loved her and she hated me!

I remember one time planning a 2 week holiday driving through the south of France with a few friends in a 3 car convoy. I had her serviced and fully checked out before we set off only for her to blow a head gasket before we even reached the ferry crossing into France, so holiday abandoned for all of us! I had her for a couple of years but or relationship didn't end well. I lost control on a bend in the wet one day and wrapped her round a lamppost so that finally ended it all.

I am a true car nut and I have been lucky enough to own some pretty special cars over the years but that stag brings back memories from both ends of the spectrum.