Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Cars what ones did you like best

Posted by Allan Campbell on April 21, 2022, 22:54:27

I started off with an 1936 Morris 8 and taught Ann to drive it while she was at the driving school.

Then a Morris Minor 1000 a rust bucket followed by a Vauxhall Viva HB bought new in 1968.

This was followed by 3 Vauxhall Astra’s and a Escort 1100 which I converted to a 1600 Mexico engine.

After Mum and Dad died I bought a Vauxhall Cavalier 1.8 and then moved on to Vauxhall Vectra’s 2.0, 2.2 & 2.5 engines.

Was going to buy a 2.6 but that I felt could have killed me just too powerful. The engines were almost the same but by increasing the capacity from 2.5 to 2.6 and modifying the power output and torque band it became WOW.

Myl last Vectra “C” was a 3.0 diesel Estate Sri. That was a fantastic car with plenty of shear grunt. What a load carrier that was. Swallow 2 bikes and kit plus caravanning gear.

I change that for my current Kia Sorento 4x4 as the Vectra 3.0 had such wide tyres that I would have required a special set of winter wheels and tyres to cope with the snow that fell in early 2013 as we had moved to the West of Harrogate and could be snowbound thus needing 4x4.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Allan Campbell on April 21, 2022, 23:07:03, in reply to "Cars what ones did you like best"

Other than the first year I have never needed to use the 4x4 ability other than on a muddy caravan site.

The biggest advances in cars to me was front wheel drive on the Astra’s almost no bother with snow. The ability to put your foot down and pull round a corner, almost oversteer instead of understeer was a bonus.

The Vectra’s were superb cars with the 3.0 Sri being the best car that I have ever had. Still miss it but not the price of buying a set of front tyres every 14,000 miles expensive Big boots.

Drove a Rover 2.7 in the early 90’s the engine being built by Honda. That was a magnificent car with that engine, almost a dream car because of that engine.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Allan Campbell on April 21, 2022, 23:34:05, in reply to "Cars what ones did you like best"

Other than the first year I have never needed to use the 4x4 ability other than on a muddy caravan site.

The biggest advances in cars to me was front wheel drive on the Astra’s almost no bother with snow. The ability to put your foot down and pull round a corner, almost oversteer instead of understeer was a bonus.

The Vectra’s were superb cars with the 3.0 Sri being the best car that I have ever had. Still miss it but not the price of buying a set of front tyres every 14,000 miles expensive Big boots.

Drove a Rover 2.7 in the early 90’s the engine being built by Honda. That was a magnificent car with that engine, almost a dream car because of that engine.

I have had modified engines in my early Viva’s and they were great to drive back then.

There is nothing quite like having a good petrol engine that has power and able to Rev quite high. I think they call it “On Song”

Not had an automatic gearbox as they would not pull my caravan, a load limit. That has now changed.

Never had the chance to buy or drive a proper performance car. No point as they tend not to be suitable for towing Caravans or trailers or boats.

In the 70’s I hitched a ride in a lads mark 1 Lotus Cortina on a diving trip to the Lake District. That was a very fast car with superb handling.

A few weeks later I went on the same trip in the same lads work Transit van. I don’t think it had been modified but it could have been. The trip took the same time and the only reason I think that happened was that on the winding roads he could see over the hedge and wall tops thus keeping up a higher average speed.

Looking at modern cars they now have far to-many gadgets etc. That distract the driver. In a 2 year old Audi a while back far far to many switches and gizmos.

Love to go on one of these performance car drives at Croft or other racetracks but have to bow to my age, not up to scratch now.

Allan C.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Stuart Telford on April 22, 2022, 9:32:05, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

Where do I start,I think I have had more cars than Tom Cowie I wish I had them all now. But over the last 20 odd years I've had more 4x4 because of towing caravans, at the moment I'm on my third Kia sorento kx3 great tow cars, we also have a 1970 Rover p6 3500 with the V8 engine which we use for summer runs out, the car is not mint but it is in very good condition for a 52 year old car,whenever you take the Rover out someone alway talks to you in car parks or garages and they utter the most famous phrase in classic cars, my dad had one of these, yes it's a joy to drive and I would use it more if I was in better health, but I won't go into that, roll on summer Stu

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by John Shearer on April 22, 2022, 9:40:08, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

Stuart I had a Rover P6 2.2 TC but had to sell it when I went out to Singapore to work in 1970. Great Car.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Norman Dunn on April 22, 2022, 17:00:02, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

It's lovely to see you on the message board Cousin Stuart. I hope you are well after your medical problems.Here you are before you moved onto cars.

B-W-Gordon-Stuart-Telford-1953

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Sheila on April 22, 2022, 18:58:32, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

I remember I had a three wheel bike like that, memories!.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by Davy on April 23, 2022, 10:29:37, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

So did I, got it from mathews on lyon street.

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by geordieboy NS on April 30, 2022, 2:54:44, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

Was there a car make " Jowet " ? ? Curious .

Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble

Posted by geordieboy NS on May 9, 2022, 3:03:10, in reply to "Re: Cars what ones did you like best to continue finger trouble"

No takers on Jowet ? How about a Tatra T87 ?

hi

Posted by hi on May 31, 2022, 4:06:34, in reply to "Cars what ones did you like best"

Keep this going please, great job!|

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.