Cars: Car profile

I have always been a keen driver, especially when someone else was paying for it ! So what cars have I owned over the years ? (in some form or another)

• Mini Clubman 1000cc (1980)
  Company Car. Engine kept having problems, rebuilt a couple of times. (don't know why, I never revved it more than maximum revs....)
  
• Austin Allegro
  Company Car. Surprising how many people you can get in an Allegro
  A different Austin Allegro
  Company Car. First experience of lift-off oversteer. Luckily Tree wasn't damaged..... car written off. Oops.....
• Citroen Athena
  Bosses car, used fairly regularly whilst I was "rested" from company car ownership..... first experience of 3 figure speeds (it was socially acceptable in those days) however was unable to think of suitable reasons to explain to boss why his fuel consumption halved whenever I drive his car..... so fun was seriously curtailed after various "discussions" on driving technique.
  
• Talbot Solara
  Company Car. Rubbish car, but permanently on the road again! Learnt about weight transfer when swerving to avoid truck pulling out in front of me. Luckily the barrier on the A3 Hook underpass wasn't damaged.... car written off....... probably did car loving humanity a favour though....
  
• Talbot Solara Series II
  Company Car. Very exciting as the first car I had from brand new. Also first one I had with 5 speed gearbox ! (it is some new fanged gadget, will never catch on..)
  
• BMW 316
  Company Car. Only had it for a month.... didn't want to give it back, as in those days it was cool to have a Beema
  
• Ford XR3i
  Company Car. Ended up with engine on fire when starting it one day, probably petrol leak in engine bay... write off of course (but not my fault this time !!)
  
• Ford Capri 1.6L Laser
  Company Car. First real experience of rear wheel drive. Also first experience of a big tank slapper.... luckily didn't hit anything, and my passenger ended up marrying me, so couldn't have been that bad :-)
  
• Cant remember what I had next (1990)
  Company car of some sort.
  
• Saab 900i auto (1990)
  Company Car. Working in London now. Daily commute, yuk.
  
• Saab 900s manual (1991)
  Company Car.
  
• Cannot remember (1992-94)
  Company Car. Some repmobile or other probably
  
• Rover 216 (1994)
  Changed company, this was obviously a company car !
  
• Rover SDI 3.5 V8 (1994)
  First car I owned myself. Changed company and decided to get car allowance. Only lasted about 7 weeks before it collapsed in a heap of rust and mangled bits (£50 for a car wasn't much even in those days)
  
• Renault 19 1.3 (1994)
  My car. Great car actually.
  
• Cannot remember (1996 )
  Company car. Doing high mileage so went back to company car.
  
• Renault Laguna 2.0 Sport (1997)
  Company car. Sport meant you got the "firm" seats (i.e. - your head doesn't touch the side windows when you turn the steering wheel)
• Saab 900 Turbo (1997)
  My car again. Changed company just as Tony Blair got into power... bound to hammer company car drivers, so I went for a car allowance. Very quick car (once Turbo has spun up that is, none of this namby-pamby low-pressure turbo rubbish)
  
• Lotus Elise (1997)
  "Our" weekend car. until wife wanted to sell her half..... Hmmmm, OK. Absolutely wonderful car though, would love to race one. (we all need to dream)
  
• Subaru Impreza Turbo (1999)
  My Car. mine, mine, mine.... one of the most reliable cars in the business, so why did it throw a rod through one of the cylinders then ? Complete engine rebuilt under warranty (luckily) Great car, but refused to be driven sensibly. I must be getting old as started worrying about my Driving License.
  
• Jaguar XK8 Convertible (2002)
  My car. Fantastic car, not just for posing in either. Only sold it to provide my racing budget (and some stuff for the house, but hey....) Might own another one again (or maybe an Exige would be better..)
  
• Land Rover Discovery Td5 (2003)
  Company Car. To tow my race car of course. Tax liability is a bit of a bugger, but you can't beat it for towing.
  
• Range Rover (2004)
  Company Car. Temporary arrangement from May-Sept. Unbelievably, you cannot buy a new Discovery at the moment !
  
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (2004)
  Company Car. Temporary arrangement from Sept 04- Apr 05 Auto gearbox, but fantastic V8 petrol engine. Great for towing and not bad in a straight line :-)
  
• Subaru Forester 2.5 XT (Mar 2005)
  Own car Can tow 2 tonnes and goes like stink as well