Thinking of replacing the Jimny with a Panda 4x4.

My hair was a better colour as well (no grey). Oh, and I had more of my own teeth. :laugh:

The problem with the good old cars with simple carbs that you could strip down and rebuild the engine yourself using basic tools was that to use them to get to work during the week you HAD to strip down and rebuild the engine every bloody weekend.

My Dad is always banging on about how his Ford Cortinas were better than any modern car, despite it being riddled with rust holes when it was five years old and requiring some kind of repair what seemed like every week.

I have a special hatred for the Cortina, mind you, thanks to numerous family holidays that involved an eight hour drive in fourteen hours, but the Volvos that he bought afterwards were massive piles of crap also. Give me a modern car any day!

ive found one that looks cool

distantcamera wrote: The problem with the good old cars with simple carbs that you could strip down and rebuild the engine yourself using basic tools was that to use them to get to work during the week you HAD to strip down and rebuild the engine every bloody weekend.

My Dad is always banging on about how his Ford Cortinas were better than any modern car, despite it being riddled with rust holes when it was five years old and requiring some kind of repair what seemed like every week.

I have a special hatred for the Cortina, mind you, thanks to numerous family holidays that involved an eight hour drive in fourteen hours, but the Volvos that he bought afterwards were massive piles of crap also. Give me a modern car any day!

That is known as character building. I probably couldn't be bothered now, but the challenge of an old banger meant always carrying a toolbox in the boot. Came in very handy when driving home off shift one morning when the Wolseley 1500 died for good in the Old Kent Road. Took off the number plates and jumped on a bus. Going back to work in the evening all that was left was the chassis. Everything else had been stripped. Recycling is not a modern idea. :laugh:

JivingDaddy wrote: That is known as character building.

And the reason I can blame my parents for my unpleasant character!

Recycling is not a modern idea.

Don't get me started on recycling!

distantcamera wrote:
My Dad is always banging on about how his Ford Cortinas were better than any modern car.

You know what, he's right and I agree with that. You could have a problem on Friday, fix it overnight (like head gaskets) and be on the road in the morning BUT Sunday opening was a real nightmare if you wanted parts but other than that there were Ford agents round the corner.

I have a special hatred for the Cortina,

I had a Mk1, Mk11, Lotus version and Mk 111 eastate. Until Japanese motors came along there was only Ford. Leyland, Austin whatever just didn't hack it.