Well, all your long lists of fun cars makes me jealous. I have a short, boring
list.
I keep cars as long as possible, until something happens to them and I am
forces to
get another one. Unless I leased the car.....
I hope this is not boring for the list, so I included a little story
with each entry.
If you don't want to read it, feel free to delete.
1970 Austin America. Owned late 1976 through 1982 or so. Was fairly
reliable, but woefully underpowered. Acted like something was wrong.
Never
found any actual problem except the worst case of rust on a 30,000
mile car you ever
saw. Eventually rusted APART! Actually I loved the car despite all
this.
1972 VW 311 "Fastback" Owned 1982-1986. Actually a great car. Under
powered; the
trunks made all my stuff smell like gasoline. Very reliable.
Eventual demise came from a burned
valve. The dealer wanted more than the car was worth to fix it. So
I did it. replaced all the valves,
lapped them myself, replaced the heaters, a bunch of other stull.
All on a long weekend. I was
in a rush at the end and was not happy with the wire on the oil
pressure warning sender. It stuck straight
up and rode against the engine compartment cover. Well, the wire was
indeed broken. Guess how
I found out? One of the valve cover gaskets did not seal. they
NEED to seal on a horiz. opp. 4 cyl.
NO OIL, engine seized. Unloaded it for $200.
1987 Honda Accord. Best car I ever drove. traded-in 1990
1991 Saturn SL2. Overall not as good a car as the Honda. Not "bad". Engine
idled with a terrible
vibration. The accord was so smooth you sould not tell if the engine
was running (almost).
Loved the plastic body panels! Sold 1994
1995 Olds Aurora A very nice, smooth solid car. Almost as good as the Honda.
Safer, for sure.
Interior fit and finish not perfect. Lease up 1997.
1998 Olds Aurora. Just the same as the last. Nice car. Needs AWD for the 250
hp. It will spin the 235 tires
in a moment even with "traction control". Lease is up late 2000.
What to get next?
October 2000: Currently infatuated with the Audi S4. Too expensive, but nice.
Smaller than the Aurora, but
that is OK, but just barely.
1966 TR4A. Great condition except that part damaged when a woman made me run
into her. Now missing entire right front corner. Awaiting parts. I
am
having withdrawl symptoms!
1966 TR4A Was my father's now belongs to my brother and me. Currently in parts
awaiting paint on the tub, then slow reassembly.
Wife's cars, which are mine too....
1968 VW Bug. Nice car. Abused engine. Needed a new one. Took the cheaper
route of a
rebuild. Regretted that one within 6 months. Sold 1984?
1982 Plymouth Champ, bought 1984. Overall a nice car. Wish I knew that there
was a 1300 engine
in it. Didn't know there was anything but the 1500. Had carburetor
problems. I rebuilt the carb myself.
The fuel line to the carb was a little deteriorated. I just cut off
an inch and attached it. Should have
replaced it! It leaked. Car stalled due to gas starvation. I
eventually got the car running and limped it
back to the shop. Never made it. Discovered the problem was a fuel
leak when the dripping
got on the cat. Poof! Burned up 1987.
1987 Dodge Colt. OK car. Manual tranny went in 1992. Rearended 1993. Not
bad, but totalled anyway.
The darn car was paid off too!!! I was MAD.
1993 Dodge Intrepid. Good car. Too little power. Unbelievable highway gas
mileage. Traded-in
1995
1995 Ford Explorer. Great car. With Blizzaks will go ANYWHERE in the snow.
Totalled 1997 in a
Big chain-reaction accident. We were hit in the rear at the tire.
Spun the car, and blew the tire.
We ended up upside-down going down the highway at 60 mph. That
grinding seems to go on forever....
1997 Ford Explorer. Another great car. Right now it appears to have a stuck
open thermostat.
As for LBCs, she wants a Hillman Super Minx (convertible). Go figure.
14 cars. Not too bad, I guess. Some interesting stories.
-Tony
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