eat more curry · Post by **eat more curry** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:32 am

A few years ago I was thinking that the 'wedge' was about to disappear, just like the Sierra, the Montego, the Renault 25 etc. One day street furniture, the next day something that made you nostalgic, but this hasn't happened.
I used to play a rather nerdy spotting game, (still do in fact) where I would count the 'wedges' on the same journey; to see how they diminished over the course of months or even a year. But I've gotten bored with doing this because the numbers haven't gone down.
I don't want to see the 200/400 of the streets but I am wondering if it's ever going become an unusual car.

Any thoughts?
Paul

Post by **Smithy** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:10 pm

There are dissapearing at a fairly rapid rate. Look at the registrations of te ones you see most will be L, M or N reg.

I dare you to see if you can spot a G reg one

Its up to our enthusiasts to try and save though.

Only yesterday a chap came up to us at our local classic car show and asked how he could get his 200 through the emmissions test. Apparently the local garage had told him to scrap it because it didn't pass even though it is apparently mint.

eat more curry · Post by **eat more curry** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:27 pm

Yes I guess that the G and H plates are getting quite unusual, still; you've got to admit they are clinging-on to life like a cat up a lamppost. The question is: is it that the cars are better than their Ford and Vauxhall equivalents (I think so), or is it the owners who happen to look after their cars better, (I think so on this too)

Thanks for the reply Skatiechik
Great site by the way
Paul

whiskeyonesix · Post by **whiskeyonesix** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:08 pm

Maybe alot of the more common models were bought by older buyers, who looked after them, kept up with the servicing and whatnot, whereas the GTi/Gsi/coupe`/turbo models were gradually thrashed into the ground.

The 220 turbo used to be the car of choice by the local boyracer fraternity round here, but for one reason or another, you just dont see them now. There was one just up the road from me. It was a mint white L-reg 220 when the lad got it. Three months later, with 18" alloys, HIDEOUS flared Jap bodykit, Bright green paint job, and a thoroughly knackered engine, it was stripped for spares.

Makes you weep sometimes ( Of course if you want to paint your 220 green thats up to you

)

eat more curry · Post by **eat more curry** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:51 pm

Thanks whiskeyonesix, I hadn't considered that, but the 220s suffer from head-gasket problems, and be too expensive to fix.
My girlfriend's 220GSi suffered from a failed head only a few weeks ago, when I took off the head to fix it the thing was encrusted with calcium, by the time I'd scraped the stuff off it was so badly eroded that it would have needed a skim - even though it hadn't overheated.
I would have got the job done but this car (unusually) hadn't been looked after at all; the body-work is the worst I've seen on a 200, and, well all of the other common problems were present too.
I feel a bit guilty about robbing the car of the bits of any worth but they may as well go to some use.
It is a shame that the turbo models are in decline, but what better reason to maintain the one that still exist.
Anyway, I don't go on too much, but there are still a considerable amount of 200/400s about, which is good. At least I think it is

Thanks
Paul

Gibbo214 · Post by **Gibbo214** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:55 pm

i have to admit.. i am to blame for the loss of 1 absolutely mint 3 door tahiti blue sei, and after that a second fairly mint one... first one getting written off on my gatepost as i was evading the police somewhat gone in 60 seconds style..only i wrote my car off unlike in the movies. the second due to a black cab driver hitting me head on. but ye.. the first i am pig sick about writing off

zeem · Post by **zeem** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:31 pm

Dr Skatiechik wrote: I dare you to see if you can spot a G reg one

I'll take you up on that dare! (See my avatar)

I also have a friend with a white G-reg one that he bought for £110 in mid-2003, and it's still going. Now that's value for money!

chugger · Post by **chugger** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:27 am

he he this post made me chuckle. The first 418 TD I drove was given the affectionate name 'chugger' by a mate. Since that time all my 400s have been called chugger

The missus and I have a game (careful...), it's 'find the chugger in the street'. That's because there always seems to be another wedge around every corner.

Trouble is I've got three of the bugg*rs now, just been handed a 216 to join the fleet.

chugger · Post by **chugger** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:10 am

I wonder what happened to this F-plater?

DVLA doesn't list it

andburg · Post by **andburg** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:48 am

I've had an L and a J, both now in the scrapyard

Still street furniture

Still street furniture

whoops