Was Santa good to you..................

[Lawnmowerman]

As RAV4 owners are by nature very discerning (of course) what car would you have liked Santa leave you in years gone by? Practical, achievable - not exotica. As someone with a Motor Industry past I have had the opportunity to enjoy many disparate cars throughout my career but some I would have liked personally escaped the net.

Here goes...

Audi A2, very sophisticated small car which didn't last long due to losing out to the inferior Mercedes A-class. A bit like the superior Beta losing out to VHS - oh well.

 

And, a pillar-less Jaguar XJ Coupe. Had one within my grasp but didn't have anywhere suitable to restore it............b@gger.

Still, better to have loved and lost than never to have.......you know the rest.

So, what slipped through your fingers??????????

 

[Stopeter44]

One of my favourites, that I coulda, maybe shoulda, owned was the MR2, the first generation.

[Lawnmowerman]

3 minutes ago, Stopeter44 said:

One of my favourites, that I coulda, maybe shoulda, owned was the MR2, the first generation.

An absolute classic - in hindsight would have preferred that to my MX5...............

[Flatcoat]

I had an A2 for 10 years and almost 150,000 miles. It was a Tdi Sport with options and much modified in my hands. Simply one of the best cars I have owned. In my top 5 alongside 944T, MG ZTT Cdti, Astra 888cdti and Saab 900 cabrio. 

[Lawnmowerman]

57 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

I had an A2 for 10 years and almost 150,000 miles. It was a Tdi Sport with options and much modified in my hands. Simply one of the best cars I have owned. In my top 5 alongside 944T, MG ZTT Cdti, Astra 888cdti and Saab 900 cabrio. 

What slipped through your fingers though Adrian?????

[ColinB]

I always fancied a Triumph GT6, a poor man's E-type. I'd struggle to get in and out of it now though.... 

[Flatcoat]

Always wanted an American or Italian car, Buick Riviera, Chrysler 300 or Alfa 164. My ex sold Chrysler and once got her hands on a management 300 Hemi, that was a beast. I should have bought it, cheap as chips, dealers could hardly give them away. 

[Stopeter44]

I had a ‘72 Cadillac with 454 cu inch V8, it did something like 5 mpg to the US gallon, it was super comfortable and it could seat 6 with comfort, I think I paid $800 for it in 1980, and IRCC I received $550 as trade in for a new Mazda in 1981 (it was a small car comparable to the golf of that year).

[Roy124]

SAAB Sonnet. Drooled over it.  Only knew of it as it was LHD and a car my insurer would not insure.  You should see the prices today. 

Then a Lotus Elite, Elan, or Europa.  TVR too. 

For looks and practicality, Triumph 2000.

[ColinB]

14 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

SAAB Sonnet. Drooled over it.  Only knew of it as it was LHD and a car my insurer would not insure.  You should see the prices today. 

Then a Lotus Elite, Elan, or Europa.  TVR too. 

For looks and practicality, Triumph 2000.

My first in-laws had the Triumph 2000 and I even had a drive. Roomy, spacious and smooth but not quick. Overall a very nice car.

[Rhymes with Paris]

I had a mk 1 triumph 2000 many years ago , followed by a mk 2 2.5 pi ,in those days these were cheap banger end of the market so affordable.

Lovely straight six engines though.

What I really wanted though as a young man was the triumph stag , but out of my range at that time, and before they became notorious for overheating due to poor maintenance.