Which car(s) lowered your social standing in period?

[Mark1Stu]

Just been reminiscing on some of the cars I've owned....often bought cheaply at the bottom of the depreciation curve as a low mileage 2nd car to ferry the kids around. Here's two of ours:

The Renault 8 (I used to think of it as my cheap Porsche, with my eyes shut of course, as it had a free revving rear mounted 1108cc engine and handled well if kept within its limits). Had Bendix disc brakes all round which used to boom when coming to a stop. Guaranteeing everyone would turn round to look at it/me

The second, a cheap Volvo 66 estate. Which you quickly learnt to ease off on the accelerator pedal if you wanted to hear anything / save petrol. Due to the variomatic belt driven gearbox. Probably faster than a Porsche in reverse though..

[Mark1Stu]

Not forgetting the MG Metro MK2 I restored (which was going to be broken up for a Mini engine transplant). Picture of actual car following restoration.

Luckily, there are no pictures of me extricating myself from it. Just embarrassing memories

[Richie]

How about this beauty?
Now, I bought it as a student run around and £ for £, this remains the best car I've ever owned. Despite 'student' maintenance, never did it let me down.
I had someone run into the back of it but, despite being written off (hardly a surprise!!) I kept the car and went on a lads holiday to Tenerife with the payout.

[Kevin Birch]

Had an Austin Maxi once, needed a car quickly, after wrapping my MK1 Cortina GT around a tree. Not the most glamorous of cars for an 18YO, but it had one fantastic secret. The front seats pulled forward and folded back flat with the rear seats, and the back seat folded backwards as well as forwards, to leave what was basically a double bed
I sold it 8 months later and bought my MK2 Lotus Cortina, better street cred, but useless passion wagon

[Dion]

Lowered social standing?
I am / always have been proud of my car, whatever the state it was in or whatever its "standing". I still drive around happily in my lowly Sunbeam Chamois, or in my sons Lancia Ypsilon of 17 years old.
Only time I wished I would not be recognized behind the wheel of a car was when I had to wait two months for my new lease car to be delivered. In the mean time I had to drive a two year old Escort diesel. God I hated that, could a car be more boring than that?

[Tim SP]

I thought I started this in Guilty pleasure- Oh well, thats likley my popularity it seems at present-

[AH1951]

I thought I started this in Guilty pleasure- Oh well, thats likley my popularity it seems at present-

I still love you, Tim.
XOXOXO

[Richie]

I thought I started this in Guilty pleasure- Oh well, thats likley my popularity it seems at present-

There was very little pleasure in that Fiesta Tim

[kenny38]

When I was 15-16 or so a mate and I were walking in the country near our sink pit estate when we saw a farmer(?) putting up a sign For Sale on an old 1930's Jag. "Emitch"? says I. "15 quid" says he. My and mate and I, even though neither had a licence, discussed the matter. Eventually we promised to pay in a week (which we did and please don't ask). The car started and drove OK but very little in braking power.
The Jag was according to a badge an SS. It ran rough as guts, made a huge noise and generally showed us up to everyone. We went for a ride down the old Southend Road to Romford but on the way back the exhaust caught fire and so did the whole car. We abandoned the SS by the road side in the bike lane and walked home. It may still be there. I know that an SS can command good money nowadays but back in the day early 50's anything over 5 years was considored as "had it". The SS was not seen as a car to be seen in due to it's name. Kenny38

[AndrewP]

Im ashamed to admit

[Michael Richardson]

MK1Stu. I think you are being unfair re the Renault 8 I had one too,same colour as yours. Bought in the trade,having been a rebuilt write-off. Good car,I fitted mine with a concrete block in the front,and a twin choke Weber in the back. Was a little worried about the dubious history and called in at a Fiat dealer one day and offered it in p/x for a new Fiat 850. He took the Renault up the road and came back happy. "I didnt know they went that well" he said,so we did a deal !

[Mark1Stu]

Hi Michael,

No, I loved that R8. However, ours was a weathered dark blue one with a battered driver's door and rust just starting to take hold. When we owned it, they were rare, almost forgotten, and the general consensus in the UK at the time was they looked odd. As, no doubt I did (all 6 foot 8 inches), getting out of it.

Great flat floor, nice and simple to work on. Comfy seats. Very reliable too. Ours didn't even have an oil filter (there was a blank on the engine where you could attach one). I assumed it was an extra at the time!

Btw Tim. Sorry, I didn't mean to undermine your Guilty pleasure post. I assumed,wrongly, yours was about cars one would secretly like to own - rather than had owned.

Stu