All:
Here's my demented car bio:
In New Zealand:
1961 - 1980. 1961 Peugeot 404. Not owned by me, but by a relative.
It was a soft lemon color with red interior and it turned me on to
Peugeots. It only had 43,000 miles on it when by Aunt sold it in
1980. As a kid, I thought that it was the greatest car in the world
1975-1978. 1972 Peugeot 504. 1791cc. My mother's car, but I
consider it mine as I badgered her into buying it. Royal blue with a
brown interior. Broke down a lot. Despite that, the 504 remains one
of my favorite cars.
1979. 1956 Austin A30. My first car; I traded a 100cc Yamaha
motorcycle for it and hide it around the corner so my parents
wouldn't know that I had it. Continually broke down and the rust was
terminal.
1979-81. 1957 Wolseley 4/44. I brought it restored. Oyster gray
exterior with red leather seats and a wooden dashboard. Was
comfortable and handled well. Remains one of my favorite cars.
In the US:
1981. '69 Cadillac Calais Coupe. Parking it was like docking the
Queen Mary. Was fairly well built if I remember correctly. Cost me
$600 and had 140,000 miles on it.
1981. 1972 Fiat 124 Spider. Handled well but didn't like starting.
Back in New Zealand:
1982-1986. 1974 Fiat 128. A great little car, much maligned in my
opinion. Was reliable and the performance and handling were great.
However it rusted away before my eyes.
1986-1989 1966 VW Bettle. The 6 volt electrics were terrible. Had
to push start the car. The handling should have got the car banned.
Rust was a problem as well.
Back in the USA:
1990 - 1992. 1986 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel. Unreliable and poorly
bulit. Trim pieces broke off. New turbo, clutch, alternator CV
joints and gearbox before 90,000 miles.
1994. 1977 Fiat 124 Spider. Has to be the worst car I ever owned.
Overheated (unable to solve), rear shock mounts broke off the axle,
and it was breaking clutch cables $130 each) every three days
(unable to solve).
1994 - 1997. 1981 Chevy Citation. Got it for $300 when I was a broke
student. Drove it from Massachusetts to Arizona. Replaced every
damn thing on it apart from the engine.
1997 and currently. 1987 505 STX. Cost me $1,500 to buy and $7,000 +
to fix. Mostly electrical problems. I guess that everyone has their
cross to bear.
2000 and currently. 2000 Honda Civic, a.k.a. "the Appliance." Bland
and boring, but I can rely on it to get me to work.
Hugo Steincamp
'87 505 STX
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