Should I keep my Ibiza Cupra DSG?

[spence9855]

Hello, first post on the forum so hopefully i'm doing this right aha. I bought my 2014 Ibiza Cupra 1.4 Twincharger DSG in may last year and overall I have enjoyed driving it. However after I put around 4k on the car I started hearing these faint ticking and rattle noises coming from under the car. At first they were heard once in a blue moon, but slowly became more apparent and louder over time. I also notice it would rattle like mad when driving over a rough surface such a cobbled street or a road littered pot holes strangely.

After reading endless posts online I identified that it was the DSG box making these strange noises, more specifically the clutch pack/mechatronic unit. Me being paranoid I booked it into seat for a diagnostics to see what was wrong, to my surprise came back completely clear and they could not even replicate or hear any noises at all, but I was advised that the box isn't the quietest around so I shouldn't worry about it and some noises are normal.

After driving another 5k I decided enough was enough, not only had these noises became even more noticeable, the changes felt more jerky than usual and rough while going up and down the gears 2-3 3-4, but the longer I drove it the smoother they became and would be fine after 15 minutes of driving. In addition to this I noticed on hard accelerating sometimes the clutch would slip and the box would panic causing wheel spin during gear changes. Not good! Now I knew something just wasn't right and I wanted to prevent even more damage being caused, so booked it in again but at VW this time hoping for a better diagnostics.

Once VW had inspected the vehicle they too said that there was no major issue with the box, and it was functioning as intended. At this point I just felt like I was being lied to by the garages as my car is no longer under warranty and seemed they couldn't care less or be bothered to investigate it further. Even after showing video recordings of some of these noises.

I have changed my driving style dramatically since to put much less stress on the box, almost driving it like a granny and averaging so many mpgs which is a good thing, but I feel like I cant enjoy and actually drive the car properly anymore because i'm just afraid of breaking it aha.

Genuinely don't know what to do and after reading more and more into the DSG box specifically the DQ200 Dry 7 speed, the more i'm filled with doubt about the box holding up for the remainder of my finance agreement without it costing me over a thousand pounds in repairs.

Should I just save myself the troubles and paranoia of it all and part ex the car and put that towards a deposit for a replacement car. Or is there a way the Ibiza can be saved without rinsing my wallet to the point were I might as well have just got something better???

Any recommendations on what I should do or what to replace it with would be greatly appreciated! Again i'm 20 years old with 2 year ncd so i'm quite limited in terms of insurance nothing over insurance group 30 or anything over 2.0 litre engine. Been looking at the Leon FR 1.8, Polo GTI 1.8 and F56 Cooper S 2.0 all with manual boxes up to now.

 

[cheshire cat]

with 2 clean health checks why change, I'd bbe more worried about the engine which I understand is great 'till it goes wrong but if it's well looked after I would invest in a g/box lube change --whatever the stealers say, most gear lube these days is too thin and will benefit from a refresh

 

[spence9855]

with 2 clean health checks why change, I'd bbe more worried about the engine which I understand is great 'till it goes wrong but if it's well looked after I would invest in a g/box lube change --whatever the stealers say, most gear lube these days is too thin and will benefit from a refresh

Thanks for the reply! I love the car too much, and yes I have heard about the engine is like a ticking time bomb but tbh my engine has been great no problems at all so far after putting 18k on it. However saying that I have suspicion that my timing chain/belt/tensioner (not sure tbh) will need sorting as it's becoming more noisy and rattly. Where could I obtain this box lube and where could I get it done? I have asked about a dsg oil and filter change when I had it in for its major service a few months back, however they told me its not possible to change the oil as the 'DQ200' is sealed for life and does not require any maintenance. Is this lube a totally separate thing to this or did you mean a box oil change?

 

['& Son' managed]

Twincharger combined with DSG not the best combo as a bet for long-term joy, so I'd be inclined to get rid while it's still worth something.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

^^^ Afraid I have to agree, the DQ200 is the weakest of the DSG Boxes and had the most issues, Yes they have made changes to improve it but lets face it once its out of warranty the problem is yours not Seat/VW.

You are not coming across as loving this car and there are a lot of negatives so if it were me I would change now but there is not right or wrong answer here you have to figure out how much you like the car vs the worry and possible issues it may cause you down the line.

 

[spence9855]

Twincharger combined with DSG not the best combo as a bet for long-term joy, so I'd be inclined to get rid while it's still worth something.

I think you may be right there! I have been debating it for a long time and I can't face how much ill loose on it either, but I suppose if I means me getting something that's reliable long term then I must do it soon while its still worth something yes! Just cant believe I didn't come across this when I was buying the car, only looked at the overall reliability of the Ibiza as I had been suggested by many people VAG is the way to go. Do you have any suggestions on what to look out for as a replacement? Thanks

 

[spence9855]

^^^ Afraid I have to agree, the DQ200 is the weakest of the DSG Boxes and had the most issues, Yes they have made changes to improve it but lets face it once its out of warranty the problem is yours not Seat/VW.

You are not coming across as loving this car and there are a lot of negatives so if it were me I would change now but there is not right or wrong answer here you have to figure out how much you like the car vs the worry and possible issues it may cause you down the line.

Its such a shame because I absolutely love the car and was so happy with my choice, not being a common ST boy. However your right its out of warranty, so its all on me if it did go wrong, and feel like I wouldn't be able to love the car again after putting me in debt. I think it needs to be done, but i'm in a difficult time financially atm which isn't helping the situation, if it went wrong now I would be totally screwed. Just hoping I can keep it going for another month then ill get rid. Do you have any ideas of a good replacement? See you have a 280 which I literally would die for but they seem to come and go very quick, which isn't surprising such a good car for the money.

Was going to wait till I had 3 years ncd in January to help me get straight and let me premiums go down, as my insurance would drop significantly, from 2.8k to 1.6k which I something I can just about afford being a student. But looks like im just going to have to make do with something I can afford to insure now or pay monthly for now and requote for a year when the price is right. Thanks again guys appreciate the input!

 

[Maypack]

See you have a 280 which I literally would die for but they seem to come and go very quick, which isn't surprising such a good car for the money.

My local dealer has a 280 and a 290 in at the moment. One has bucket seats which I really like but I’ll keep the Leather in my 300

 

['& Son' managed]

Most of us have been in the position during the early years of driving of desiring a tidy, reliable and
street cool car but being thwarted by limited funds and crippling insurance costs for anything with a
sporty badge/image, so can certainly sympathize.

Your Ibiza's current mileage, condition and how carefully driven/serviced it's been by previous owners
will largely determine how much of a gamble it is to hold on to it - and more to the point how long you
need it to last for from a financial point of view. A 6-month wait of gentle use is much less of a risk
than 2 years of full-on enjoying it.
Changing cars is rarely a cheap option and TBH even 'iffy' cars with a poorer reliability rep can last ok
for many years and over 100K miles - likewise those with a solid rep are just a better prospect, not a
cast-iron guarantee of no serious issues.

A route I took in my early Twenties, (1990) was to 'downgrade' from a slightly sporty, (modded) seven
year/50K old saloon to a smaller, slower but brand new hatch that was cheaper to insure, fuel and had
a nice, full 2-year warranty, which unsurprisingly it didn't need as nothing significant went wrong until 6
years/80K miles of it being well ragged, (but also well maintained.)

Another bonus was that a lot more people I knew were impressed with the modest 'new' car compared
to the 'cooler' old one and it was very nice driving something that felt tight and refined for a long time.
After about 4 years it had worked-out as more cheap/efficient to run compared to the typical 4 Y-O warm
hatches my mates drove and very cheap when I eventually sold it for peanuts to my then sis-in-law, a bit
untidy but still going well at 11 years and 114k miles...

Can't say this would be the right option for you, but something to consider, as TBH most cars now are more
than quick/grippy enough for most drivers on today's crowded roads, even if image dictates 'Gotta 'ave 150 HP min Bro' or whatever.

 

[spence9855]

Most of us have been in the position during the early years of driving of desiring a tidy, reliable and
street cool car but being thwarted by limited funds and crippling insurance costs for anything with a
sporty badge/image, so can certainly sympathize.

Your Ibiza's current mileage, condition and how carefully driven/serviced it's been by previous owners
will largely determine how much of a gamble it is to hold on to it - and more to the point how long you
need it to last for from a financial point of view. A 6-month wait of gentle use is much less of a risk
than 2 years of full-on enjoying it.
Changing cars is rarely a cheap option and TBH even 'iffy' cars with a poorer reliability rep can last ok
for many years and over 100K miles - likewise those with a solid rep are just a better prospect, not a
cast-iron guarantee of no serious issues.

A route I took in my early Twenties, (1990) was to 'downgrade' from a slightly sporty, (modded) seven
year/50K old saloon to a smaller, slower but brand new hatch that was cheaper to insure, fuel and had
a nice, full 2-year warranty, which unsurprisingly it didn't need as nothing significant went wrong until 6
years/80K miles of it being well ragged, (but also well maintained.)

Another bonus was that a lot more people I knew were impressed with the modest 'new' car compared
to the 'cooler' old one and it was very nice driving something that felt tight and refined for a long time.
After about 4 years it had worked-out as more cheap/efficient to run compared to the typical 4 Y-O warm
hatches my mates drove and very cheap when I eventually sold it for peanuts to my then sis-in-law, a bit
untidy but still going well at 11 years and 114k miles...

Can't say this would be the right option for you, but something to consider, as TBH most cars now are more
than quick/grippy enough for most drivers on today's crowded roads, even if image dictates 'Gotta 'ave 150 HP min Bro' or whatever.

Thanks for the input, and sorry for the late reply! Not driven it in weeks due to illness but hopefully in about 4 weeks time I can make the change. Still a little indecisive about my replacement though. I have considered buying something at same value as mine at the moment being around 8-9k, however after many hours of searching, I end up seeing the same cars I saw a year ago when I bought my Cupra, which still don't interest me despite testing driving the majority of them. Since my first post I have been looking primarily at the F56 Cooper S, which led onto great interest in the John Cooper Works which has now raised my budget to its absolute peak, being £16-17k. After struggling to get a reasonable insurance quote for it, cheapest being £2.6k I started looking at similarly priced cars, hoping to find newer and more reliable power option to replace my Cupra.

The options I have on the table at the moment which are the 125i/228i M sport w/ ZF 8 Speed, both surprisingly the cheapest to insure around £1.3k-£1.5k, probably as its the most sensible and less demanded performance models of BMW. For another £300 on the insurance I could get a Cupra 280 which would be a very nice direct upgrade, however the Cupra's that are within my budget tend to have a little too much mileage for my liking, but tbh it doesn't surprise me as they are rarer and the good ones sell so rapidly. Another surprise is that I can get a M135i within my budget just about and insure it for only another £100 on top of the Cupra WTF. I know doesn't make sense but now I cant get my mind of that car and really want one now, but is it too much commitment to? I plan to modify my car next year as I have always wanted to do it(remaps, downpipes, coilovers the lot..) but just thinking would the M135i be more reliable and cheaper option in the long run as these modifications wouldn't be necessary for a car like this?

Anyone is welcome to come at me with opinions on this and addition information, would appreciate anything to help my final decision!

 

[Deleted member 103408]

My thoughts, not on your choice but the reality of modding a car.

No matter what car you choose if you plan on modding here are (in my view) the things you need to think about.

1st Your insurance will go up with the more power / modifications you do to your car.
2nd You will never get back the money you put into the car (Its well worth it but not from a financial perspective)
3rd The more you tune your car, the more your service cost's will go up to keep the car on the road
(More stuff breaks because of the power, You need to change oil more frequently to keep the car in good condition
Tires will wear out quicker and if you lower etc then suspension will need replacing more often etc etc.

All of the above from a guy who has spent a lot of money on his car (because i want a specific car I cant buy off the peg).

But you will have no warranty because you have modded the car and you have to accept this.
As somebody said on the a thread recently you are the warranty (or more importantly your bank account is)

So to summarize if you are looking to mod any car, whats it going to cost you to do the mods, pay for the insurance and extra cost to run the car.
Can you afford it now --- we all have to wait for good stuff so dont rush into it.

For what its worth I would go for a more sedate / low cost car for now and save your money so in a couple years you can go out and do the big build. Spending an extra 8k on top of a nice car that in a few years I suspect you will want to change does not seem a sensible (financial) option.

But as always there is your head and your heart, just start a balance sheet for each car and decide if it makes sense to both.

last comment from me you say "would the M135i be more reliable and cheaper option in the long run as these modifications wouldn't be necessary for a car like this" all I can tell you every car i have ever owned needs to be modified, they are built to suit lots of customers you will find after a short while you want to change it

 

['& Son' managed]

Quite a nice problem you have there given the potential budget at your disposal, gives you the
option of literally thousands of different cars, including a few new ones.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Bini for many reasons, but the major ones would be the feeling of
other roaduseres assuming I'm an estate agent, or were just laughing at me because of the car,
(well, I laugh at many a Bini I see, but also at other automotive horrors to be fair.)

If you'd like a quick recent Leon, (as an upgrade over an Ibiza) then probably the smartest thing
for your wallet and peace of mind would be to track-down a high-trim 1.8/2.0 litre 'ordinary' Leon
rather than a cooler image one badged as a Cupra.
The logic in this is because by definition many Cupras are bought to be driven hard, whereas less
overtly sporting versions rarely will be and it will still offer a lot of performance, (and can be modded
just as well) and will likely be cheaper to buy for the same year/mileage. It will also have good levels
of equipment/luxury/tech, (especially with an Xcellence) and will be cheaper to insure.

To bore you with a story, an old example of such smart thinking was a workmate of mine in the
mid-Eighties who lusted after an Escort XR3 with the whaletail and 4-hole alloys, (as so many
young blades did back then) which although was a rubbish car in many ways was very sought-after
and so expensive to buy second-hand.

After months of saving-up and having insurance brokers laugh when he enquired how much, he
settled on a low mileage, immaculate black 3-Door 1.6 Ghia Escort bought from an old boy who'd
had it from new and had cleaned it every week.
This car had the same bodyshell and engine as an XR3, but with slightly plusher trim/equipment
and cost him around £800 less to buy and £130 less a year to insure, (quite a lot of money then.)

It didn't take him long to remove the Ghia stripes, paint the bumpers, fit some genuine RS alloys
with grippy tyres, a K&N filter and a whaletail spoiler from a trashed XR3 he found in the local scrappie.
He could well afford to with the money he'd saved and he had a very nice car, (for an Escort) that
was easily a match for any XR3 it met...

 

[Maypack]

My thoughts, not on your choice but the reality of modding a car.

No matter what car you choose if you plan on modding here are (in my view) the things you need to think about.

1st Your insurance will go up with the more power / modifications you do to your car.
2nd You will never get back the money you put into the car (Its well worth it but not from a financial perspective)
3rd The more you tune your car, the more your service cost's will go up to keep the car on the road
(More stuff breaks because of the power, You need to change oil more frequently to keep the car in good condition
Tires will wear out quicker and if you lower etc then suspension will need replacing more often etc etc.

All of the above from a guy who has spent a lot of money on his car (because i want a specific car I cant buy off the peg).

But you will have no warranty because you have modded the car and you have to accept this.
As somebody said on the a thread recently you are the warranty (or more importantly your bank account is)

So to summarize if you are looking to mod any car, whats it going to cost you to do the mods, pay for the insurance and extra cost to run the car.
Can you afford it now --- we all have to wait for good stuff so dont rush into it.

For what its worth I would go for a more sedate / low cost car for now and save your money so in a couple years you can go out and do the big build. Spending an extra 8k on top of a nice car that in a few years I suspect you will want to change does not seem a sensible (financial) option.

But as always there is your head and your heart, just start a balance sheet for each car and decide if it makes sense to both.

last comment from me you say "would the M135i be more reliable and cheaper option in the long run as these modifications wouldn't be necessary for a car like this" all I can tell you every car i have ever owned needs to be modified, they are built to suit lots of customers you will find after a short while you want to change it

Sound advice from an experienced and respected modder.

Modifications are not to everyone’s taste or cost and reading this post gives a good account on really how it should all be handled, should anyone be looking to go down that route.

 

[Maypack]

Quite a nice problem you have there given the potential budget at your disposal, gives you the
option of literally thousands of different cars, including a few new ones.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Bini for many reasons, but the major ones would be the feeling of
other roaduseres assuming I'm an estate agent, or were just laughing at me because of the car,
(well, I laugh at many a Bini I see, but also at other automotive horrors to be fair.)

If you'd like a quick recent Leon, (as an upgrade over an Ibiza) then probably the smartest thing
for your wallet and peace of mind would be to track-down a high-trim 1.8/2.0 litre 'ordinary' Leon
rather than a cooler image one badged as a Cupra.
The logic in this is because by definition many Cupras are bought to be driven hard, whereas less
overtly sporting versions rarely will be and it will still offer a lot of performance, (and can be modded
just as well) and will likely be cheaper to buy for the same year/mileage. It will also have good levels
of equipment/luxury/tech, (especially with an Xcellence) and will be cheaper to insure.

To bore you with a story, an old example of such smart thinking was a workmate of mine in the
mid-Eighties who lusted after an Escort XR3 with the whaletail and 4-hole alloys, (as so many
young blades did back then) which although was a rubbish car in many ways was very sought-after
and so expensive to buy second-hand.

After months of saving-up and having insurance brokers laugh when he enquired how much, he
settled on a low mileage, immaculate black 3-Door 1.6 Ghia Escort bought from an old boy who'd
had it from new and had cleaned it every week.
This car had the same bodyshell and engine as an XR3, but with slightly plusher trim/equipment
and cost him around £800 less to buy and £130 less a year to insure, (quite a lot of money then.)

It didn't take him long to remove the Ghia stripes, paint the bumpers, fit some genuine RS alloys
with grippy tyres, a K&N filter and a whaletail spoiler from a trashed XR3 he found in the local scrappie.
He could well afford to with the money he'd saved and he had a very nice car, (for an Escort) that
was easily a match for any XR3 it met...

Another post that should be read by anyone wanting to have the top model. Sensible options highlighted.

I have a Cupra 300 but it’s taken me over 30 years to achieve that after starting out with a 10 year old Ford Fiesta 1.3 Ghia.

Each time I changed my car I looked at all costs and even though I maybe didn’t get fully what I wanted,I made sure that the prices (cost of car, insurance, servicing etc) was suitable for my cash availability at the time.

I’m now 53 and am lucky enough to own the car I’ve been after for about 10 years. I got there eventually and owned some great cars on the way.

 

[spence9855]

My thoughts, not on your choice but the reality of modding a car.

No matter what car you choose if you plan on modding here are (in my view) the things you need to think about.

1st Your insurance will go up with the more power / modifications you do to your car.
2nd You will never get back the money you put into the car (Its well worth it but not from a financial perspective)
3rd The more you tune your car, the more your service cost's will go up to keep the car on the road
(More stuff breaks because of the power, You need to change oil more frequently to keep the car in good condition
Tires will wear out quicker and if you lower etc then suspension will need replacing more often etc etc.

All of the above from a guy who has spent a lot of money on his car (because i want a specific car I cant buy off the peg).

But you will have no warranty because you have modded the car and you have to accept this.
As somebody said on the a thread recently you are the warranty (or more importantly your bank account is)

So to summarize if you are looking to mod any car, whats it going to cost you to do the mods, pay for the insurance and extra cost to run the car.
Can you afford it now --- we all have to wait for good stuff so dont rush into it.

For what its worth I would go for a more sedate / low cost car for now and save your money so in a couple years you can go out and do the big build. Spending an extra 8k on top of a nice car that in a few years I suspect you will want to change does not seem a sensible (financial) option.

But as always there is your head and your heart, just start a balance sheet for each car and decide if it makes sense to both.

last comment from me you say "would the M135i be more reliable and cheaper option in the long run as these modifications wouldn't be necessary for a car like this" all I can tell you every car i have ever owned needs to be modified, they are built to suit lots of customers you will find after a short while you want to change it

Thanks for the reply, found this very informative and has actually made me realized there is actually more to it. At the moment the insurance is the killer because of my age, which has made my decision quite difficult. I feel this is a good time to make the change as I adore my cars to much and would like much more but also more long term. I know a Ibiza Cupra isn't exactly slow but I just want something more refined and beefier, modifying this car would have been great but I no longer trust my box will be up for that, with my existing issues. Modifying the car depends on what I end up with and what is needed to support the level of mods it has, but I wouldn't see myself going past stage 2 on any car due to reliability and maintenance cost of a daily car. However I do take maintenance seriously and I would have it serviced and checked probably every 5k tops to ensure, possibly even sooner if need be.

I will create a table as you suggested to compare the costs of each car I have in mind at the moment.

At this moment in time I would keep the mods to a minimal for insurance reasons, only remapped with exhaust or intake depending on which is most appropriate and most cost effective. Later fitting additional mods for more gains and better handling as it becomes more affordable ideally under £1.5k for each year until I have all the mods I need/want.

Thanks again oldboy!

 

[spence9855]

Quite a nice problem you have there given the potential budget at your disposal, gives you the
option of literally thousands of different cars, including a few new ones.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Bini for many reasons, but the major ones would be the feeling of
other roaduseres assuming I'm an estate agent, or were just laughing at me because of the car,
(well, I laugh at many a Bini I see, but also at other automotive horrors to be fair.)

If you'd like a quick recent Leon, (as an upgrade over an Ibiza) then probably the smartest thing
for your wallet and peace of mind would be to track-down a high-trim 1.8/2.0 litre 'ordinary' Leon
rather than a cooler image one badged as a Cupra.
The logic in this is because by definition many Cupras are bought to be driven hard, whereas less
overtly sporting versions rarely will be and it will still offer a lot of performance, (and can be modded
just as well) and will likely be cheaper to buy for the same year/mileage. It will also have good levels
of equipment/luxury/tech, (especially with an Xcellence) and will be cheaper to insure.

To bore you with a story, an old example of such smart thinking was a workmate of mine in the
mid-Eighties who lusted after an Escort XR3 with the whaletail and 4-hole alloys, (as so many
young blades did back then) which although was a rubbish car in many ways was very sought-after
and so expensive to buy second-hand.

After months of saving-up and having insurance brokers laugh when he enquired how much, he
settled on a low mileage, immaculate black 3-Door 1.6 Ghia Escort bought from an old boy who'd
had it from new and had cleaned it every week.
This car had the same bodyshell and engine as an XR3, but with slightly plusher trim/equipment
and cost him around £800 less to buy and £130 less a year to insure, (quite a lot of money then.)

It didn't take him long to remove the Ghia stripes, paint the bumpers, fit some genuine RS alloys
with grippy tyres, a K&N filter and a whaletail spoiler from a trashed XR3 he found in the local scrappie.
He could well afford to with the money he'd saved and he had a very nice car, (for an Escort) that
was easily a match for any XR3 it met...

Thank you again for your input! I have scrapped the Mini now as I have released they are way to much to insure for what they are worth, and everyday discovering more and more cars around the same price which I prefer. Your suggestion and story has actually reminded me of my original plan once I knew my Ibiza started playing up. Referring to the Leon I was looking for a 4 year old car max, so it would have to be a Mk3 with 1.8T for me, as the 1.4TSI seems pointless as it would be a step back on paper. However I would want it to be DSG auto but unfortunately it uses the dreaded DQ200 which I don't want to stay with after my experiences. For this reason I have been forced to look at the 2.0TSI with the DQ250 being the Cupra and GTI. Have you had experience with the manual boxes on the Leon's, how would it deal with a remap later down the line? So far I see that the DSG is the better platform when remapping in most cases. Are Clutch upgrades affordable for these cars or make any real difference?

Thanks again for the advice and great story! He really knew how to get the most car for his money, reminds me of what my older brother did to his Golf Back in the day.

 

[spence9855]

Another post that should be read by anyone wanting to have the top model. Sensible options highlighted.

I have a Cupra 300 but it’s taken me over 30 years to achieve that after starting out with a 10 year old Ford Fiesta 1.3 Ghia.

Each time I changed my car I looked at all costs and even though I maybe didn’t get fully what I wanted,I made sure that the prices (cost of car, insurance, servicing etc) was suitable for my cash availability at the time.

I’m now 53 and am lucky enough to own the car I’ve been after for about 10 years. I got there eventually and owned some great cars on the way.

Thanks for contribution! Glad you have had a good car past and happy that you finally have something you have wanted for a long time (very good choice as well). I have a feeling I will own something special when i'm your age but just cant see it yet too young haha.

 

[Maypack]

Thanks for contribution! Glad you have had a good car past and happy that you finally have something you have wanted for a long time (very good choice as well). I have a feeling I will own something special when i'm your age but just cant see it yet too young haha.

No problems. I’m sure at your young age you will have many special cars in your future. The future Cupra maybe!! Who knows.

 

['& Son' managed]

The good cars do come along if you are determined enough. Got my first 'poster' car at
the age of 20, (a Midas Coupe) and first 'hero worship' car at 29, (a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus.)

Currently have a Porsche 968 Coupe cluttering the garage, which is exactly the sort of
serious, slightly sinister and quick but not OTT car I would drive every day if I was single.

Unfortunately, I'm constantly reminded by a wife and two kids that hang around the place
that I'm really not that carefree bloke anymore...

 

[Maypack]

..and first 'hero worship' car at 29, (a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus.)

Always wanted one myself. Got to drive a Standard Talbot Sunbeam but never the Lotus variant...

Unfortunately, I'm constantly reminded by a wife and two kids that hang around the place
that I'm really not that carefree bloke anymore...

Sounds familiar [/QUOTE]