Seriously. I love 1980's / early 90's hatchbacks. They are often a hoot, even the slow ones. They are not reassuring and feel skinny to sit in. The trim rattles and flexes, stained and scuffed with a lifetime's worth of lost stories. Before a certain year the engines are exposed and easy to learn to work on, building up over time. Sure, I wouldn't be interested in anything of this ilk with less than 80 horses now, but would still take one over most modern cars from say, 1995 onwards. For me, 8 valves, as few components as possible - only the necessary ones, robust engines which don't feel like they're going to throw a rod when pasted, are all a part of this dwindling bygone era of motoring. I'm 29 now; the cars my mates and I were into back when I was 18 were often still like this - Peugeot 205/106, MK3 Escort, MK2/3 Fiesta, Clio, MK2 Astra, Nova, MK2 Golf, Renault 5. If I was 18 now, I'd be looking for any one of these over anything built after 1995. I haven't mentioned ongoing cost comparisons, but from what I can make out today, if you're OK with maintenance and are willing to make a few mistakes, owning a 'banger' (in today's eyes) works out much more fulfilling for many reasons. I'll take my rose-tinted specs off now.

I agree cars were more exciting and fun before 95ish. So much can be learned and I would never get handy with spanners had I started with a new car, I would be paying many hours of labour charges instead. New cars are also very numb I think...having a car with no electronic aids or PAS is the best way to feel and know how a car is coping in corners wet and dry.From experience a slip or slide in the wet in a new car comes as a bit of a surprise when all the aids have you on the road and once your gone your gone...almost binned a golf that way. Best car I drove was a mk1 mx5 and it could be ragged and tell you exactly what to do in a slide and how much throttle is needed. It's almost too easy to get the back end out. My 106 s1 was my first car and was much the same although FWD in the wet you could dab the throttle to get in and out of understeer/loss of traction just for fun

I could not agree more!

Old basic cars from the 80s/90s are way more fun than the stuff that is on offer today. I still maintain that I have more fun, more of the time, in my 1043cc mk2 breadvan than in my M3. Every time you drive an old car it is a bit of an adventure, the noise, the smells, the vibrations etc etc. Newer cars are getting more and more numb to drive to a point where there is next to no feedback from the car.

But I think they have just grown with the times, as technology has advanced and more and more things are made simpler, easier and more computerised. Cars have followed, for the average person this is obviously a good thing.

I also think over the last few years getting hold of a new car has been made a lot easier than buying and maintaining an old car. To the point where no one gets their hands dirty now, I never see anyone checking oil levels on my street. But because everyone knows I work on my own car I get asked to do tasks that 20 years ago most people would have done themselves. Changing bulbs, wheels, basic servicing etc.

To me part of the fun of owning an old car is the fact you do have to fix it from time to time, but you can do so with basic tools. There is also a good feeling putting new shiny bits on a car. Although over the years I have noticed a big rise in the price of parts especially outside of the trade, to the point where I think sometimes you might not be saving that much.

I always have a giggle when I see a naughty older car drive by; a couple months back I distinctly remember following a Maestro Turbo one evening for about 20 seconds before its tyres bit in by a roundabout and it shot off in a cloud of blue/black smoke. It stuck out like a sore thumb with the speed and tatty 80's look; black with red highlights, ratty and covered in dust and road film but it had that old skool badboy vibe and it didn't half shift. I thought, that driver knows.. bet he's having a hoot right now.

Back in the day someone local had a ratty black Renault 5 Turbo. First time I'd heard a dump valve at 18, I was sold. Always been drawn to Nova SRs too, but haven't seen one in years in this neck of the woods. My mate had a 1.4 MK2 Astra in faded red, used to drive it within an inch of its life everywhere and there was always a horrible clunk as the transmission took up the slack but it felt solid and wouldn't give up.

There's always something immensely satisfying in going out in an older car; not really because it's individualistic or badass or cool necessarily, but rather it's like flying a flag for this methodology - mend and make do if you will. I want to share the fun I'm having with others.

My 6n polo 95 plate never missed a beat the only reason i got rid of her was because of the "petrol" issue back in about 2008 that was mucking peoples cars up, mine suffered from that so i chopped it in before it died, and part ex'd it for my 6n2 valver 100bhp,i also own a 2006 passat tdi wagon, all i can say is blo*** warning lights, do my head in, on my polo I've had ABS light issues when there isnt even a problem ( had it scanned) just comes on and off for no reason, I've curently got the engine management light on it i believe 02 sensor is dead,the epc sometimes comes on??, on the passat i had engine warning light, glow plug light, which turned out to be a new throttle body, years ago you didnt have all this faf, I've been into and owned VW's since about 1999 but I'm getting cheesed off with them now, their build quality IMO is not as good now.

Before i owned my 1st VW, i had a civic before they got all chavved up baring in mind I'm 37 now so this is going back well over 15 years, best car I've ever owned, never needed a drop of water oil nothing the only reason i got rid of her was because i lost my licence in 99, then when i got my licence back i bought my 6n polo. i love everyting vw and could never own another make again it would be like cheating on you mrs but i just wish they woulds stop making them so bloody difficult!!! rant over!!!!

Simon

My dailys an old engine in a modern car, the engines great, it's the modern bollocks surrounding it that's the problem.

If I didn't do 30k a year at work and need to look halfway businesslike, I'd be using a Mk2 polo quite happily.

Couldn't agree more. I was chatting to a mate while we were on a longish drive yesterday about the same thing. There's a sort of thrill sitting in a car where the dash is minimal, modern cars feel like you're padded in and wrapped up. Something about not having much in front of you just makes you feel more alive and in the moment. People I work with don't understand why I own an 'old' car, and were genuinely bemused when I said I'd rather own my Mk2 Golf than a new Golf. There's just something about that peppy 80's hatchback feel. You don't get that with newer cars.

Of course, on the flipside, people who own newer cars probably don't drive along with the radio silenced trying to work out what that noise that wasn't there yesterday could be coming from.

Of course, on the flipside, people who own newer cars probably don't drive along with the radio silenced trying to work out what that noise that wasn't there yesterday could be coming from.

No, they just turn the radio up to make the noise go away!

Works in old cars too :)

Banger - it's better for the planet to keep an old small to moderate sized car going than to make a new car.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/sep/23/carbon-footprint-new-car

True, turning the radio up doesn't work if you're paranoid though! Or like in my case if you're trying to drown out bearing hum.

Banger - it's better for the planet to keep an old small to moderate sized car going than to make a new car.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/sep/23/carbon-footprint-new-car

Exactly. If anything the people punished with paying more tax should be the people buying new cars not the people trying there best to keep old cars going

We should get a grant If anything could be instead of the scrappage scheme...the keeping your banger alive scheme

But perhaps not better for the economy. It won't be true for a two stroke east european car (but the Trabant used a Polo engine).

a light banger with a good engine