As a momentary diversion from dreary politics, terrorism or violent crime, I thought I might discuss with you, some of your more memorable 'rides' !

My first car which I purchased for 125 quid in 1958, was a 1946 Wolseley 6cyl, mod. 18/85, twin carburettor sedan. A typical English thoroughbred. It had a superstructure entirely of timber, with all leather seats, and a lousy electric fuel pump which necessitated a firm tap with a spanner or similar,during hot weather in order to keep it 'ticking over' thus keeping the engine running !

My current 'ride' is an unremarkable but totally reliable 2014 VW Golf. The forth such vehicle we've owned, because, for our needs at least, they're unbeatable.

My 'Dream Car' is a Maserati any model really. Preferably the 4 door sedan 'thingo', sorry I don't know the intricacies of all their specific models ? Alternatively the Porsche 911. I'd really enjoy taking either vehicle through a dozen laps or so, of the Mount Panorama track at Bathurst.

My ideal car would be some 1970's or 1980's model, but NEW. It would obviously be reliable because in those years they knew how to make cars that last. It would need to be manual, mechanical, no air-bags and most importantly - no electronics on board!

" and a lousy electric fuel pump which necessitated a firm tap with a spanner or similar"

Doubtless made by Mr Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, who contributed to the failings of many a British car but especially Leyland and LandRovers. Although as far as LandRovers are concerned, there are so many other issues that the electrics faded :) into the background.

Which reminds me, there must have been as many student engineers at university restoring Jaguars as there were working on Citroens. Did any of them ever get on the road except for on a car trailer?

An MGA was my youthful joy. Girls loved it. They all had long legs and a sense of adventure/fun those days. The early Mini was OK for taller owners. Even though mine was substantially worked over it was reliable. The fun 'pants' car of all times for me. Yay!

A number of other new cars in between. BMWs are for people who love driving. But you must be able to afford to turn them over regularly. Allowing an Oz 'mechanic' to service a BMW or Mercedes is fraught with danger, as in, "What's a torque spanner?", "Whaddaya mean, tighten in sequence?" and "Oil? Nine times out of ten we just bung in what we have available".

Dream car? If I can keep my auto LandCruiser GXL TD, which is only run-in @ a little over 100K kms and a delight to own and drive, I would dearly like to give a home to a double-cab diesel LandCruiser 70. Anyone who has even owned a Troopy would know the lifestyle and best friend. Got to stop, eyes misting over.

Hi o sung, My father actually had one of those Wolseleys which was his pride & joy, but cost a bit to keep working. The transmissions were not really up to my dads driving & the weight of the car.

My choice is my 1980 Triumph TR7. I bought 2 semi wrecks about 15 years ago for $1200 the pair, & built one from the pair. It cost me about $4000 & was my only car at times, & my main car for about 10 years. About 5 years ago I spent a year looking for something modern I could live with, even bought a couple, & got rid of them quickly before deciding the most sensible thing was to do up my Triumph properly.

About $14,000 later I have my ideal car, with a beautiful paint job, & modern air conditioning, but everything else mint condition 1980 vintage. It really is a joy to drive.

Only one problem, after a couple of dings in supermarket car parks, I had to buy a Ford Capri, [local 2+2 convertible] for shopping trolley duties. A 1994 model, it is a bit gutless, but still nicer to drive than the string of new hatches my lady has driven over the last few years, I just can't stand modern ultra light electric steering & fly by wire throttles.

Do you think I may be becoming a reactionary old git?

Oh I forgot to mention my first car. A 1934 Morris 8/40 tourer. It was really slow, particularly when I had my mates in it. It had nice holes in the floor, with a bit of ply wood over them. This was great in my surfing period. Just pull the ply out, & you could sweep the sand out the bottom.

I had it with me at Uranquinty doing my flying training. I was the only one of the 6 navy types on course with a car, so we would all pile in Saturday nights for the run into Romano's hotel in Wagga. You should have seen the poor overloaded little thing wallowing around the corners onto & off the railway bridge outside Kapooka army recruit base, you know the one.

The cars were cheap & simple, as was life back then. We didn't have much, but needed no more, it's a pity our kids can't have it so good.

Well my first was a 74 Toyota Corona, I wanted a Celica but my dad said it was too sporty for a learning driver.

Since then I've had more cars than I can remember, from a mini moke (awsume little ride) to F Trucks, even a few 911's and I now drive a very average ford ranger ute.I've also had a Fat Boy just for something different.

My dream car, which I'm waiting until next year, is a Holden Maloo with a supercharged 6.2 lt with a Wlkinshaw 570KW upgrade. I was going to buy this years model but I thought I'd wait for the last one made in Oz. It also gives me a chance to see what comes out if the states.

BTW, I not a lead foot, I just love the note only a worked V8 can deliver.

rehctub,

The F100 was a iconic light truck in the country. We were running out of parts/panels though.

Along with the other US makers, things seemed to change when they had to put all of that environmental gear on the new light utes and trucks. The auto electrical and mechanical workshops we have used for years have nothing good to say about the US imports.

One thing for sure with that Maloo, you will always have a police escort and police stoppages to make sure you are quite OK. Always carry a flask of coffee for the wait and cups to offer them a brew as well.

Hi there YUYUTSU...

I suspect you're a bit of a traditionalist my friend, with your love of cars of that era ? And by the sound of it, you like to drive your car too, without all the 'bits 'n bobs' that my recently purchased (2014) VW Golf has ! You know, every time I stop at traffic lights the @&%$# engine stops ! Why, ostensibly to conserve fuel I suppose ? Soon I'll need to replace the starter motor the way things are going, and I never use the reversing camera, and I switch off all the audible warning noises that tell me I'm too close to this or that ? In fact my wife prefers to drive it rather than I, we still have our older Golf (2004 mod) which I much prefer to drive YUYUTSU, thanks mate.

G'day there ONTHEBEACH...

Lucas 'the Prince of darkness' for sure ! Well I'll be buggered, speaking of MGA's and Mini's - it was you, who all the girls used to refer too as, 'passion pants' eh ? No wonder this poor junior constable never had a chance trying to latch on to any decent 'birds' with you and your fancy MGA 'hooning' around all the beaches with your hair, into the breeze !

Seriously though you're right when you remarked about the standard of many of the local mechanics not having very much understanding on correctly servicing or repairing European vehicles though ? Actually I don't think a lot has changed even in these modern times ? They tend to hook your cars engine up to some diagnostic machine that tells them precisely what's wrong and how to fix it ?

We had LandCruisers at work and they were marvellous to drive and could take a real beating too. As you can imagine with everyone and his dog driving them, they sure copped a hammering as I said, but they handled it very well indeed. Thank you my friend.

I hear you onthebeach, I used to be the one pulled over almost every time while driving a 911, it goes with the territory.

My F truck was an American 150 import, a great truck had it for 13 years. That's a record for me, lost in a fire.

Ohh, Didn't think Rechtub would be a dinosaur driver !

Hi there HASBEEN...

I forgot you have a pretty extensive racing background haven't you ? Hence the TR7, though your little '34 Morris 8/40 sidevalve tourer, would get you and your other five aviators from Uranquinty to your downtown pub in Wagga, in the day ? Nevertheless we had great times in those days, when our lives were so carefully regulated, yours by the Navy, and mine by the Army. I don't believe I was ever fitter, nor happier during my time at the Army Recruit Training Bn. Kapooka !

And there's nothing wrong with the old Capri's either, fully mfg'd. in England, weren't they HASBEEN ? Boy I've done a zillion miles in BUTCH'S F100 & F150's, which were used as our coppers Paddy wagons for years and years, and still are I believe ? The donk's were absolutely bullet proof, as was the many Departmental Falcons we used as well.

Interestingly, the floor in the front passenger side of my Wolseley, was completely buggered, similar to your old Morris as well. Worse though, it permitted the fumes from the engine 'breather' outlet to circulate through the entire passenger cabin, which was pretty horrible I can tell you as well as being quite risky into the bargain. Besides whenever you took a bird out, she was nearly gassed by the damn fumes, so something needed to be done and quickly ?

The problem being, the rings and bearings were completely shot, and I was only on Army recruit pay at the time, I simply couldn't afford to have them done, even though I could've removed and refitted the engine afterwards with a bit of help. Thus reducing the labour costs significantly. Ah they were the days I reckon. I should've issued each 'bird' I took out, with an approved respirator and made up some exotic story of training for special forces duty or something. Trouble is, they all knew I was only 17 years of age, and would've thought me a bigger 'wacker and pretender' then I was ! See you later mate!

'evening to you REHCTUB...

Your choice of the Ford F100's and 150's was pretty sound I believe ? They were capable of doing 500,000 clicks without ever doing a thing to them, and dependable with a capital D too I reckon ? Your Ford Ranger Ute would give you pretty good service too, notwithstanding it's pretty much a pedestrian style of vehicle.

Your Porsche 911 is a car I've always had a hankering for, but unfortunately I've not yet driven one ? A Doctor friend I know has had a couple of new 911's in recent times, and has offered me a drive ? No, it's too risky to drive such a M/V particular when it's the property of a friend. Murphy's law and all that ?

I must admit BUTCH, I don't know much about the 'Maloo' other than it has a somewhat robust 6.2 lt power plant aboard ? It'll probably do nought to a Hundred in about 5 seconds or something ? My old Wolseley would do nought to a hundred, in about 45 minutes if the wind was favorable ? Such a contrast eh BUTCH ?

ONTHEBEACH reckons you would need to be very hospitable to the coppers, whenever you chose to drive your Maloo or 911 ? I'd respectfully suggest they never be able to catch you in either vehicle, if you chose to 'floor it' eh BUTCH ? Thanks for your contribution, I certainly appreciate it.

Dear o sung wu,

My first car was a canary yellow Vauxhall Velox and I was rather fond of it despite developing a leg like a horse from the savage pumping of the brakes it required to stop it. My favourite was probably a lime green Town and Country Valiant ute which could sit on 100MPH for hours on end with great aplomb.

My current is a 1994 Series 1 Discovery which took me 6 months to find. Finally latched on to it in Deniliquin. No airbags or complicated electrics so no Three Amigo problems. It had just on 200,000 on the clock and a fresh engine with less than 30,000 and I couldn't be happier. Put it on the road for under $3,500 and it has already been places that are reserved for the lucky few who can leave 99% of drivers behind.

It puts a smile on my face every time I get in the thing. Land Rovers, you either love them or hate them but when they get under your skin they are hard to shake. One of my favorite reads in Len Beadell's Too Long in the Bush. The time he spent in his trusty Landy while surveying the Gun Barrel Highway makes for a great yarn. If you ever get a chance to grab it do so.

SteeleRedux,

I don't know if it is always 'like them or loathe them' where LRs are concerned, not most folks anyhow.

We sometimes travel in mixed groups of vehicles. Excluding the known lemons and makes and models that are unsuitable for off-road, the prime determinants of vehicle durability come down to the driver conserving the vehicle and good, regular servicing. Keeping the cooling system A1 for instance.

I liked a couple of the Valiants, one sedan and a ute (triple carb and needed a petrol tanker), that I owned. Sold that exciting but lethal rocket fast to stay alive. They had real character for their time and the maker was innovative in some respects.

The most bullet-proof of the passenger sedans I owned back then were the Falcons, all 6cyl autos. Saved me heaps of money with low running and maintenance requirements - reliable engine and drive train.

o sung wu, if you ever get a chance to drive that 911, try to make it a pre 78 2.7 lt model as they are as pure as they come. The best of these is the 77 model but hard to find now. . Motoring writers describe them as like having a chain saw in the boot.

As for the worked maloo, 0-100 3.6 seconds which is mind blowing.

My F truck was a 97 model and the best I've ever driven. 12 hours to the Whitsundays and not even tired. It loved a drink though although if driven carefully woukd get about 18MPG.

Loved it.

rehctub,

Cars don't come much prettier than the Porsche 911 series.

Jerry Seinfeld has a large Porsche collection. His attitude to cars might be interesting to you,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5JbEVaoNgQ

Jerry is 5'11" (180). I am not sure how he fits into all of the Seventies models. He is slim though which would help.

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

The iconic Vauxhall Velox with it's parallel chrome fluting straight down the bonnet was a great little ride, so much so my poor old Dad purchased the Mod. after the Velox ! It too did 'naught to fifty' in about half an hour ? And pumping the brakes was a regular feature of English cars of that era too, as I recall. Also one needed to contend with the damned electric fuel pump that interminably played up in summer months ! Still and all, every young bloke learnt to be a bit of a mechanic in those days simply to keep their car running.

Much of derision Land Rovers copped, because of their electrics, was a little unfair in most cases. I drove a few of them in the Army and they performed admirably in my opinion. True the Mechanical Corps kept them going, nevertheless they were driven extremely hard, particularly in Vietnam and Malaya. I've never owned one, but those folk who have, swore by them as you do !

And 'Off Road' they were bullet proof I believe ? Years later, I was required to undertake a 4x4 Course when I was in the coppers, and on my first attempt I was duly 'failed' ! It was felt I lacked confidence when required to tackle really steep gradients in the Departmental, Toyota 4x4's. I was definitely not cut-out to be a member of the 'Stock Squad' who invariably always used 4x4's ! Give me a smooth tarmac, like a freeway, and a 5.8lt 1976 Falcon V8, and I was a pretty happy little Vegemite in those days.

Hi there REHCTUB...

To be very honest with you Butch, I'd like the opportunity to drive 'ANY' mod. Porsche irrespective of the year or capacity ! I've heard the earlier 911's were for the real purist. And to think a relatively small 2.7lt had some much pure grunt and torque, is positively amazing ! I've done a zillion miles on your F100 & F150 with the coppers and I agree totally, they're an absolute winner !

O sung, a small correction, the 77 model was the first of the 3 lt models.

I've been fortunate enough to have owned three, a 78 3lt targa, a revamped 74 with a 3.2lt and a 83 3.2 lt. I've driven a 74 2.7 lt and it was mind blowing.

As for torque range, the older ones go from 0-100 in mid fives, yet, you can be doing 35 km/h in fifth then accelerate without any hint of a struggle, which makes them far more traffic friendly. Not sure how the modern ones drive but I would suspect a bit japish.

Do yourself a favor and drive one. You can even hire them, some older as well.

My first car was an AP5 Valiant, current car a Mazda B2600, dream car, an AP5 Valiant, I stupidly sold the first one for $700 in 1995 to pay off some fines.

G'day there JAY of MELBOURNE...

There was nothing wrong with the Valiant in my opinion, though I never owned one, I have driven many of the earlier models with their magnificent 6cyl motors. Wasn't it Valiant, who developed the 'Hemi' 6cyl engines 'canted off' at an angle ? A Doctor I know had one of the earliest models (circa 1962-64 I think) and he kept it in pristine condition and the only reason he disposed of it, he was not mechanically inclined. Therefore he had to outsource just about everything the vehicle needed doing, even rudimentary tasks like changing plugs, points, and air and oil filters. The cosmetic upkeep he did himself with relish I'm led to understand.

Mazda make pretty good cars too I reckon particularly the very popular Mazda 121, a very stylized even cute little car according to many younger women ? You sold your Valiant to pay fines ? Mate, you sure must've had, very colourful traffic antecedents, to amass so many traffic fines, that you needed to sell your beloved Valiant ?

Perhaps you should've cut em' out in Gaol, like the truckies do ? I know the government in NSW absolutely hate the fact these truckies cut out thousands of dollars of fines for, being overweight, failing to maintain a log book, inadequate rest stops, giving 'the bird' to a HWP Police Officer, etc etc. I was with the old STP (the precursor to the Highway Patrol) and appreciate the many tricks the truckies pull to confound the coppers ? Anyway it was all a lark at the end of the day ! Thanks Jay or Melbourne.

Hi Rehctub, I've never been much interested in acceleration times. Hard standing starts are usually a bit too hard on the machinery for a poor man. I did once win the Australian sprint championships, before we had things like dragsters in Oz. It was in the F1 Brabham Repco, straight from Bathurst, with it's highest gearing. I was only just getting into 4Th at the finish. Of course, that was not my car.

It is a vague memory, but I think the time was something like 12 seconds, about HSV sedan traffic light times today.

My daily driver is an S2000 Honda. Probably similar to your Porsches in many ways. Not all that quick by todays standard, good handling with lots of grip in the dry. Both I believe would be just as happy killing you in the wet, as get you home safely.

I think that is pretty much down to todays tyres. They are a bit too optimised towards dry grip, & become far from good in the wet.

Hi there HASBEEN...

Though your last thread was directed to REHCTUB (Butch), have you even driven a 911 in racetrack or competitive conditions ? I've yet to experience my first ever drive, and as I mentioned at the outset, it was one of my nominated 'dream' cars as was the iconic Maserati, if I had the wherewithal ?

Boring to you perhaps, but I did enjoy driving our pursuit '76 5.8 V8 Falcon at work. It could move along, and 'drag back' most idiots attempting to evade us by failing to yield. Still that was the mid to late 1970's, and much has changed in vehicular engine design since then I guess ?

No o sung wu, I've only driven a couple of early Porsche, back when they were just a VW with a flash body. You could say I'm prejudiced against from that experienced, & they don't interest me.

Actually I have come very close, a couple of times, to buying a Bathurst 327 Monaro, but even using that special "man math" could not justify a car with such lousy fuel economy. Now doing much less mileage today, that would not be a problem, but the purchase price is now way beyond my spending.

I am not too impressed with the badge on the car. My Triumph TR7 was not well thought of in the day, & is still a cheap car, but quite the best car I know for a thrash through the boarder ranges. On the other hand, quite the worst car I ever drove was the Ferrari GT B I drove in the Surfers Paradise 6 hour endurance race in 1968. I tested a stock standard 327 Monaro around the track the next day & was 6 seconds quicker than the Ferrari, & much nicer to drive.

Would you believe some clown, who is impressed by the name/badge on the front, just paid $1.6 million for one, probably that one, just because of that prancing horse on the front.

G'day there HASBEEN...

Somehow I never thought you were an individual who was particularly daunted nor dismayed by the marque from which the car originated ? Rather more how it performed, or the potential for it to be modified and reworked sufficiently, to fulfil those expectations consistent with what you believed ? And I was right eh HASBEEN !

Anyway was it, what the 327 had under the bonnet ? Surely it would not be better handling and manners than the Ferrari ? The 327 Monaro had plenty of grunt though. Having not driven either I wouldn't have a clue ?

My first 'new' car was a 1965 BMC Mini Deluxe with 'hydrolastic' suspension. Bigger engine than the original 850cc Mini, and smaller at 998cc than the original Cooper with a 1278cc, if I recall correctly ?

Thoroughly unsatisfied with purchasing the Mini Deluxe, and lamenting the fact that I should've purchased the original Cooper and be done with it, I took it to Laurie OXENFORD at Pymble in Sydney, and had a Stage 1 - 'Port and Polish' with double valve springs, and an 'extractor' fitted.

The performance lifted markedly, but not enough to assuage my desire for the Cooper and later the iconic Cooper S. Anyway by then I'd exhausted all my available funds and couldn't afford it. But as things turned out, a couple of years later I managed to run-up a zillion miles in the departmental Cooper S's chasing errant speeders up and down the Pacific and Hume Hwys ! And were those poor little cars totally thrashed ! With these big fat coppers absolutely punishing them - they didn't care, it wasn't their cars ? I'd really hate to buy one from government auctions when their mileage rate had been met for disposal ?

o sung those 327 Monaros, [the 1400 Bathurst Monaros built] were the sweetest handling cars on the road. This was remarkable, as race tuned suspensions are usually quite terrible, even deadly on the road. I actually had a couple of sessions at Lang Lang, doing suspension tuning of the cars, before they were released to the market. I then drove one of the Holden Dealers Team cars into second.

One of the reasons they took the first three places was they were so easy to drive they didn't cause too much fatigue. I did 121 laps in the 68 race, 464 miles, after a dropped exhaust cost us 3 minutes. My co driver was a bit slow, so I had to make up for the lost time.

Just in passing, the co drivers at Bathurst this year were being paid up to $400,000 for the weekend. In 68 I got $50 for taking second. How the world has changed.

That Ferrari was absolutely dreadful at high cornering speeds. All it wanted to do was swap ends. I have never raced a car that was worse. At the time it destroyed all my illusions. Holdens are quick, Ferraris don't go round corners, I was shocked.

We're probably lucky you're still around. Those minis were pretty flimsy. It did not take much of a prang to destroy one, & anyone inside as well. You have been on bonus time ever since I'd say.

Hey there HASBEEN, do you realise you've completly destroyed all my illusions associated with the legendary Ferrari's, probably for all time ! Isn't it funny the belief systems one grows up with, the Ferrari vs the Monaros, who would've thought eh ?

The reason the NSW coppers went for the Coopers, they were (generally) thought to be a safer bet than blokes on bikes. Moreover they were much easier to maneuver through Sydney traffic, so it was decided to trial them for a period of 24 months which turned into about seven or eight years. Hopeless for conveying someone in custody, similarly a couple of large coppers in the front seats ? In fact it looked quite comical to see a pair of large fat coppers trying to access and egress out of the thing ! Still and all, they did have a bit of get-up and go nevertheless.

To be very honest with you I never saw any of them involved in a serious prang, but I've little doubt, save for a Motorbike, you didn't have much more protection. For that reason you wouldn't wish to be in one, during a high speed collision for sure. Still I miss those days, cruising up and down the Hume, from Ingleburn to Mittagong & return, especially during summer months.

Yes mate, I miss them too, but for the other reason. When it was quite legal to do any speed you deemed safe on the open road, long distance drives were quite relaxing. Today you have to spend so much time checking you aren't over our ridiculous speed limits, it can actually get quite dangerous, as well as stressful.

I had the same response. I checked out this beautiful, & it was beautiful, V12 exotic Ferrari, with its inboard disc brakes, all independent suspension that looked great, & all the rest, & expected something special. Of course we forget that cars are built to sell to make money. Ferrari's market in the 60s was very rich yanks, & the poser yanks in particular. They wanted an impressive looking thing, with a name, that was a nice easy drive, cruising California boulevards. High performance suspension not suitable, & would probably kill them. A car built for that market was never going to handle.

Porsche was the other way, all performance, & not the least bit forgiving. They killed quite a few of their high profile customers, whose ambition far exceeded their ability. Either group would have been better off with a Monaro, but that would not fit the image.

That only went for the Monaros. The Ford GT HOs were equally as viscous as the Porsche, the reason so many ended life wrapped around a tree.

O Sung, Yes the AP5 had the "Slant Six", it was an engine even I could work on and I'm no mechanic, I only had a basic set of tools but I remember doing most of my own servicing and changing over the starter motor and the radiator and so forth.
Nah the fines were all for stupid stuff like parking in a clearway or parking on the wrong side of the road when it was street sweeper day. I got my first ever driving infringement just this last July, failure to obey a traffic signal, it was 5:30 in the morning, still half asleep, the guy ahead of me took off against the red arrow and I followed him without thinking.
These days they won't let you do jail to pay off fines, maybe in 95 I could have done it but my wife tried it a couple of years ago after hers got out of control and they told her that they don't jail people for fines anymore.

Hi there JAY of Melbourne...

I've never owned a Valiant but I've heard only good things about them and their mechanics under the bonnet. They were quite well finished too I heard, far better than the comparable Falcons and Holdens ? I was quite impressed by the P76 with it's Barn sized boot and it's snappy V8. ?

Interestingly, I was caught disobeying traffic lights 'twice' in the same spot about eighteen months apart ! Seems the amber didn't allow sufficient time before the auto-traffic camera 'functioned' as a legitimate traffic citation. On the first occasion I was somewhat surprised as I'm notoriously careful when approaching traffic control signals ?

Consequently I wrote a polite letter to the Traffic Citation Centre in order to plead my case, mentioning by previous work as a traffic cop and my thorough understanding of my obligations to drive safely etc., but apparently it was all to no avail, and I was directed to pay the penalty, and that was that.

The second time it happened (about 18 months later), at the same lights, roughly the same time of day, at about the same speed and similar traffic conditions, I was naturally absolutely 'filthy' when the penalty notice arrived in the mail !

Mindful that my previous pleas for leniency, were ignored, I just paid up, and 'fumed'. I now approach the same set of traffic signals inordinately more cautiously, much to the understandable chagrin of other motorist behind me ?

Moreover, I honestly believe I'm possibly contributing to a 'road rage' incident, all because the drivers following me, probably think I'm deliberating obstructing their right of way, by my slow, careful approach to the lights ?

A serious traffic incident just waiting to happen I would've thought. So much for properly regulated traffic lights by our erudite traffic engineers ? It's probably good that one can no longer cut out your fines in gaol, I'd be very sorely tempted I reckon ? Thanks Jay o M.

Maserati is the finest car according to me.. i really love this car...Wish i could purchase it ever. There is one more car that i like that was 1980 Triumph TR7 .. Now a days there are lot of cars available in market but it is true that vintage cars were legends.

o sung wu,

My one and only traffic infringement was for doing a little under 50 kph in a zone that recently been re-zoned as 40 kph in lieu of the 60 kph it had always been.

The Senior Constable was laughing uproariously as he handed me the ticket, commenting that the re-zoning had only caught fishermen, but it had been to deter some local hoons who used the lonely few kms of road into a fishing spot as a place to meet up.

Hi there Mr HARRIS...

Of course I agree with you unquestionably, my first choice for a 'dream' car, is the iconic Maserati (any model), closely followed by the Porsche 911 ! Another highly credible contributor herein, HASBEEN would irrefutably agree with your choice of the Triumph TR7, his was a 1980 Mod. I think. Unfortunately I really don't know a great deal about them, other than they can sure move along ! Many thanks for your contribution MR HARRIS.

'evening to you ONTHEBEACH...

Nothing worse than a smart arse S/C bored out of his severely limited mind, writing up a no account TIN ('Traffic Infringement Notice') and finding the whole episode thoroughly amusing - all at your expense !

Yet State governments, irrespective of their political proclivities, claim it's not a 'revenue raising' exercise ? Try convincing a bored copper, then Mr & Mrs driving public, and finally the lower Courts who are often choked with hearing minor traffic matters - it's just a nonsense when you think of it, little wonder the average motorist has no real respect for our convoluted traffic regulatory laws ?

It is said that sports cars and taller drivers are oil and vinegar. Some of those British/European sports cars are painful for taller drivers, who have to slouch to see through the windscreen.

Long legs are a problem. However a marginally longer back presents an insolvable problem that no contortions, slouched shoulders and bent neck, can make up for. A genetic predisposition for a shorter back is necessary. The Brits were not always so worried about driver ergonomics.

Although it is surprising what makes/models suit taller than average drivers. An expanding waist might exclude from most makes though, particularly those made before (say) the 70's (excluding German and US makes).

I should have mentioned that out of modern passenger cars it is hard to beat the sleeper in the field, a Lexus, for driver and passenger support and comfort and realistic servicing costs. Many are fleet serviced (leased) and secondhand represent good value through the original robustness+quality assembly, servicing was kept up to date and because company managers drove them.