Like keen fishermen, Autocar's writers are often spinning yarns about "the ones that got away", but they're not talking about elusive carp.
If you’ve been lucky enough to own one of your dream cars, you might be familiar with longing for a machine you once owned. Whether through financial necessity, profit-hunting or just poor decision-making, these are the much-missed motors we let go.
Subaru Impreza WRX
My dark blue ‘bug-eye’ 2001 WRX stayed only a year, and that pains me. I bought it for three grand in 2011 and sold it for half that. You’d pay a bit more today, but finding a car like mine would be tricky: it was as discreet as a WRX could be and mechanically just as Fuji Heavy Industries had intended. Aside from its over-light steering, it did much of what a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo could do – accelerate, grip, turn and soak up B-roads with ease – with the significant advantages of feeling rock solid and costing buttons. Proof that beauty is skin deep.
Richard Webber
Triumph TR2 Special
Ideally I’d have kept every car and bike I’ve owned, but selling them on has let me afford the next one, so I’ve no real regrets. Well, maybe one. Two. Three at a push. I do miss a Triumph TR2 Special (pictured), which was beautifully crafted, looked like a 1930s racing car, drove quite endearingly and was a one-off, so I won’t find another. It now lives in Germany. But if I’d kept everything I wouldn’t now have a Honda Africa Twin, which, in a ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ way, I’m bonding with immensely. I’ll never sell it
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Lagondas and Many More
I had a 1984, a 1985, and a pristine 1988 Lagonda - shoud have kept all three. two chevy powered 928's one was a 1982 stock except Ferrari Yellow paint, and a 600HP Chevy Blower Motor with a 6-71 supercharger and the other a full tasteful custom with electic doors, cameras for mirrors in 'gills' (eliminated outer edges), and a completely redone interior with electonics as if the car had been modernized for the mid 2000's. Also a B1996 uell S1 with a 1425cc Mountain Motor, and a 1984 Malibu (Piper, not Chevy).
In 2003 I bought a....
... 1972 Maserati Bora so the (idiot) previous owner could clear his £17,000 mortgage arrears, his now ex-wife kept the house!!
Fast forward to 2006, 1,500 miles later, I accepted a German collectors offer of £90,000 for it. I cleared my mortgage, gave the idiot's ex-wife 50% of the profit and neither she nor I have the slightest regret of selling it.
If I had to choose on
Of all the cars I've had, the only one that would make sense was a 1988 Mk1 AX GT. Had it from 50k to 150k, nothing went wrong, was fun to drive and could still keep up with modern traffic. Getting rare now, I wonder if it's still alive
Audi A2
Sold an A2 after 10 years and 150k miles, fully loaded sport spec with various upgrades. That and the mk2 Scirroco GTXi which i should have bought back from the insurance company after a prang and the mk1 pte facelift Golf Driver with various German market only extras.....
adrian888 wrote:
I just bought an A2 as a “toy”. Had one 8 years ago, and missed it. Bought a 2003 1.6 Sport with 120k, and after alloy refurbs and fixing little bits it’ll cost about £1100 to be pretty much perfect. I spent a day polishing out scratches, repairing worn buttons with Matt paint, and polishing the headlight lens haze out. Had great fun renovating all the easy stuff. It’s great fun to drive, and I think still looks amazing even at 16 years old. In classic silver. Can’t decide on whether to just go for standard silver wheel colour, or go a bit more shiny silver/chrome?
My 7 year old son thinks it’s awesome too, and wants me to keep it for him when he’s 17 and can drive.