dedja wrote:Considering I’ve been in hibernation for 8 years, have been going through some old threads, and thought it would be good to give an update.
dedja wrote:
dedja wrote:First car driven: 1952 Morris Minor Current car: 2004 Mazda SP23 Best car driven: 1973 LJ Torana Worst car driven: 1975 Datsun 120Y
2014 Update
Current car: 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI Best car driven: 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI
One word ... awesome
2023 Update
Current car: 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI, stage 1 tune Best car driven: 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI, stage 1 tune
The MK8 GTIs are ugly as faark, it’s basically the same engine as my MK7, but the interior cheap and nasty, lots of cost cutting, with a $15K premium on what I paid for a top of the range spec.
The greatest crime though is that all MK8 GTIs sold here are DSGs, so no manuals.
Booney wrote:First car driven - Dad's ZC Fairlane when Mum and Dad were away for the weekend, only about 12 at the time. Current Car - 08 FG XR6 Falcon ( work ) 1968 XT Falcon ( my weekend cruiser ) Best Car driven - 2007 VW Passat All Wheel Drive. Luxury and performance. Worst Car driven - Mitsubishi Triton Dual cab 2.2lt Auto.....my old work car, what a lump that thing was.
Current - 2023 Subaru Outback Premium Best Car driven - 2018 VW Golf R ( fastest ) 2021 Mercedes Benz AMG S63 ( nicest ). Worst Car driven - Close call between the PT Cruiser and the dual cab Triton
I nearly had to update my worst car driven. Hired a base model MG last year when we were in Darwin for a trip to Litchfield. I thought the Chinese made piece of junk was going to shake itself to pieces on the 130km section of the Stuart Highway.
So the 120Y still wins, but it was close.
That said, then got an MG HS in FNQ the week after and it was surprisingly good. Still had one of the worst auto gearboxes, but drove well as part from that.
I didn’t specifically hire either MG, just got assigned them by the car hire lottery.
First car - 73 LJ Torana Current car - 08 Mazda 6 wagon & 64 Chev BelAir (cruiser) Best car - 03 Monaro/95 Mazda MX5/10 VE Sv6 wagon Worst car - HQ Holden/HZ Premier
Covid tax has nearly disappeared now, but there are still some surprising cars that have either kept their value or appreciated before and after the Covid madness.
Made the last minute call to swing down to the Auto Expo Saturday. Decent enough amount to look out, although just seeing the pure amount of cars there for the Zippel cruise is interesting enough. Good to run into Tipper too.
Still driving my 2014 model Renault Megane RS 265 6 speed manual. Only 74K on the clock so far and still behaving well. Overall a better car than the three previous Porsche models and way better than the Alfa GTV6 and Maserati 222E. The Audi S2 I had at one time is the closest match.
My wife's 2015 Hyundai i30 reached its used by date though recently and I bought her a Kia Seltos AWD model.
Wedgie wrote:Not a fan of the Jags or Austin Martin's mate? How about your martinis? Shaken or stirred?
I started out with a second hand FJ - does that sound better! I had an HR for a short time but quickly dumped it for a 327 Bathurst Monaro - given current value I wish I still had it but it went with my first wife when we split up...
I did test drive an E-type Jag and a later Jag model but they didn't handle well. Thats why I moved to European products. The second Porsche was a 930 Turbo but its back end had a tendency to try to pass its front on sharp corners like he old Devils Elbow - rear engine and drive and 300bhp required being careful. The Renault is 265bhp and 6 speed manual but front wheel drive and front limited slip drive.
Good to see that you finally got there, the roads are much, much better than they used to be.
When I first went there most of it was dirt roads, or rather small stones so many were like an ice skating rink. On one trip with my yet to be wife, I was going as fast as I could in my ‘82 KB Laser, when a large lizard appeared on the road in front of us.
I wasn’t particularly concerned, so was going to just drive through, but my missus started screaming and waving her arms about, which caused me to slam on the brakes. I ended up doing a 180 and came to a stop facing the wrong way. Yep, there was the lizard, unperturbed, continuing on their way as if nothing had happened.
I turned to face my missus and said “Dear, next time I’m running over the bastard”.
My favourite roads over there are the so called 2-way roads but only with bitumen on the middle part, enough for one car. So you drive in the middle of the road, and swing out when someone is coming the other way.
Hope you enjoyed it, there are some nice spots if you make the time to find them.
First car - 73 LJ Torana Current car - 08 Mazda 6 wagon & 64 Chev BelAir (cruiser) Best car - 03 Monaro/95 Mazda MX5/10 VE Sv6 wagon Worst car - HQ Holden/HZ Premier
Little pocket rockets. My brother had one with 3 on the tree, went like the clappers.
First Car: 1981 TE Gemini Current Car: 2020 Mercedes C200; 4 Pack AMG Best Car: As above Worst Car: 1990's Subaru Wagon in a close tie with my first Company Car - 2000 - Mitsubishi Magna.
About to help Miss C with her first car purchase. Think she is looking at a little Fiat, or similar.
1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015.... And don't you forget it!
dedja wrote:I nearly had to update my worst car driven. Hired a base model MG last year when we were in Darwin for a trip to Litchfield. I thought the Chinese made piece of junk was going to shake itself to pieces on the 130km section of the Stuart Highway.
So the 120Y still wins, but it was close.
That said, then got an MG HS in FNQ the week after and it was surprisingly good. Still had one of the worst auto gearboxes, but drove well as part from that.
I didn’t specifically hire either MG, just got assigned them by the car hire lottery.
I travel a lot for work now and have Avis Preferred. Normally I get the best available car, so Renault Kolios or BMW X3, etc.
A couple of times I've been given an MG and can agree, they are the biggest pieces of crap on the market.
To the point that I will cancel my car and walk to Hertz if Avis try to give me an MG.
This week I had a Sorento in Melbourne which is actually very nice. Mrs HH3 has been looking at them so this was a good test run.
I still enjoy doing as much maintenance as I can, especially with the oldest car, a 2003 Mk4 Golf, which has some challenging electrical and canbus gremlins (par for the course with his model). I've managed to conquer most of them, but there's still one or 2 that have so far eluded me.
This has been the kid's hand-me-down first car for a few years now, and despite their best efforts to kill it, I've managed to resurrect it when insurance wanted to write it off. Pays to know a good repairer who is willing to be creative.
