How many cars have you owned?

2008 - 2013 - Nissan Almera 2004 - Wanted a Mk3 Mondeo as per the forum rules at the time, saw 4 at various dealers, all sold before I got a chance to go back to test drive. Job starting meant grabbing the first reasonable car available in budget. Japanese design, French components, built in the UK. Perfect first car material.
2013 - Current - Toyota GT86 - Now supercharged, BBK and honestly can't think of anything I'd want to replace it with still. Will replace once it's wrapped around a tree.
 
For those with massive lists of cars, has it been a money pit for you, or do you know some secret to avoid breaking the bank?

Trying to tease out the most bang for buck way of doing car ownership.

For me it's a few cars bought outright and keeping for ages.

Classics appreciate. Or those who fix em up.
But since losing the s2000 I haven't really had much interest in cars.
 
4. once you have found the one

cavalier mk2 1.6 Weber 91-95
opel vectra B 2.0L lhd 95-99
e36 320i tourer lhd 99-24 ( @@IC3 - see you had hook-ups too )
B9 A4 estate

... still in mourning.
Hook-ups?

For those with massive lists of cars, has it been a money pit for you, or do you know some secret to avoid breaking the bank?

Trying to tease out the most bang for buck way of doing car ownership.
For me (not sure, if I qualify?) it's a mix of...

- Cheap temp runaround
- Deal I couldn't walk away from
- I got bored

Best way to save money on car ownership is to buy older reliable car and service/fix it yourself. You should also dedicate time to read about cars you're looking to buy and try to avoid buying a lemon in the first place.
 
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For those with massive lists of cars, has it been a money pit for you, or do you know some secret to avoid breaking the bank?

Trying to tease out the most bang for buck way of doing car ownership.
There’s no secret, some buy sensibly, some don’t, remember most here are car enthusiasts that’ve probably held their licences for many years.
 
Six in about 21 years:

2003 - 2005: Pug 106 1.0 (50bhp)
2005 - 2007: Corsa B 1.6 Sport (105bhp)
2007 - 2012: Corsa VXR (220bhp - remapped)
2012 - 2015: Subaru WRX STi Hatch (300bhp)
2015 - 2024: A45 AMG (378bhp)
2024 on: Ioniq 5N (641bhp)

I notice a pattern here. :p
 
2008 - 2013: 2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXi
2013-2016: 2007 Mazda3 Sport
2016 - current: 2014 SEAT Leon FR

The Leon has been an excellent car but I'm looking to change it in the new year. My heart is saying Renault 5, my head is saying a facelift Leon.
 
2001-2005: 1998 Peugeot 306 1.6
2005-2006: 2002 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI
2006-2007: 2002 Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTI
2007-2010: 2003 Seat Leon Cupra R
2010-2012: 2007 Ford Focus 1.8
2012-2018: 2008 Mazda 6 2.0
2018-current: 2015 Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

My favourite must have been the Celia. Nowhere near the fastest on the list but the most entertaining to drive due to the driving position.
 
Inherited my great grandma's 1968 Austin Mini Cooper S 1275 Mk2 in 1995. It has just under 4,000 miles.

Was going to sell it in 2000 to fund my first round the world yacht race, but my Dad wanted to keep it in the family (he learned to drive in it - the reason for most of the mileage!), so he paid for my race fees (I still "owe" him, 24 years on) and I covered the rest from my savings.

It's now in Dad's garage, next to his first motorbike (1979 Ducati 900SS) , bought when he got his first Royal Navy officer's paycheck in 1980.

I had a catastrophic car crash in 2005, so I've only had Motability vehicles since then.
 
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16 cars over the period of 7 years, rookie numbers, right?

I've had 7 cars since 1975.
I run them into the ground, basically when we've finished with them and they aren't worth getting through an MOT I'd get them to a Breakers Yard and start again.
All of them have lasted 8 years or more with the longest being a Ford Orion at 16 years.
This new car is the first I've/we've had where we part exchanged.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: IC3
I admire that tbh.

Let’s see how many posts Gibbo’s list takes up :D

I only got rid of the Yaris at that time because

1 - The exhaust has decided to rust like chalk....even though there was a patch job with a pipe the year before, another part rusted through in the mid section and the car sounded like it had a straight pipe. The cost was either import spare part from Japan or get custom exhaust made in the UK.
2 - MOT was due

So I part-ex it with a dealer for the C30, I got £2100 for the Yaris (paid £6,500), C30 was £10,500.
 
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For those with massive lists of cars, has it been a money pit for you, or do you know some secret to avoid breaking the bank?

Trying to tease out the most bang for buck way of doing car ownership.

Only one has been a money pit for me. I didn't keep it long because of it.

I usually just avoid cars/brands likely to be an issue.
 
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I've had 7 cars since 1975.
I run them into the ground, basically when we've finished with them and they aren't worth getting through an MOT I'd get them to a Breakers Yard and start again.
All of them have lasted 8 years or more with the longest being a Ford Orion at 16 years.
This new car is the first I've/we've had where we part exchanged.
"Bangernomics" my Dad calls it.
Other than their current 2018 Touareg (the v6 diesel), my folks have never spent more than £5k on a car. The Touareg was an "Effit" purchase when Mum's MS got bad and she needed a few luxuries to make driving easier.

Dad's just replaced his 2008 Focus (£450, bought to drive into Portsmouth Dockyard twice a week if the weather's bad) with a 2006 E55 AMG - his neighbour died and the kids were only going to scrap it (needed a bit of work to get through the MOT). Dad offered them £3k and they accepted. It's cost him the same again to get it sorted, which he was fully prepared to pay.

He's retiring this year, so he wanted something fun but comfortable and this ticked all the boxes. He'll likely drive it until either he or it karks it first.
 
Passed my test in December 2008 (I think). In order of when I bought them:

Ford Fiesta 1.25
Nissan 350z
Nissan GTR
BMW E46 M3
BMW X5 4.4 V8
Renault Clio 200
Westfield CBR1000RR
BMW E46 M3
Range Rover Sport SDV8
McLaren 600LT
Mini Clubman JCW (Current)
Ford Mustang Mach-E (Current, business lease so not technically owned)
Mercedes AMG GT R (Current)
 
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Hard to remember!

Citroen AX 1.0 Dimension, my first car in 96
Peugeot 106 1.1 Zest!
Citroen Xsara 1.4
Peugeot 206 2.0HDi
Seat Ibiza 1.9 Tdi Sport
Peugeot 106 Rallye S2
Alfa 146ti
Toyota Carina GTi
Peugeot 405 Mi16 Lemans
Mitsubishi Galant Vr4 saloon
Mitsubishi Legnum Vr4
Mitsubishi Galant Vr4 1988
Honda Integra Type R DC2
Ford Focus 1.8TDCi Estate
Vauxhall Insignia 2.0d
Volvo S60r
Renault 21 Turbo
BMW 530d
BMW 335i
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2d SWB
Audi A8 4.0tdi
Lexus GS300
Ford Transit (converted)
VW Transporter T5.1 LWB
Volvo s80 2.5t
Suzuki Alto Works Manual
Mercedes 300E Saloon
Jaguar XF 4.2 V8
Seat Leon 2.0Tdi estate
Seat Leon Cupra 300 Estate
VW Passat Alltrack 190
Lexus ISF
Lexus GS460
Subaru Forester Cross Sport Turbo
VW Beetle Marathon 1973
Austin Mini 1982
Honda Z50J Monkey
Toyota Crown Athlete V Estate
Nissan Cedric 3.0 Turbo
Subaru BRZ
Subaru Impreza STi A-Line
Audi S6 4.0t
Mercedes Vito Tourer

Currently:
BMW i8
Nissan Skyline R32 GTR
Suzuki Carry Turbo
Renault Trafic Crew Cab
MG4 EV

Its hard to remember to be honest
 
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