My life in cars

Is it possible to have more than one favourite car you’ve owned? Yes, most definitely as I’ve had three, including one in my time as Red Marlin’s office manager.

Each car had unique qualities, or simply encapsulated a moment in time, that rekindles fond memories.

However, I’m not going to tell you what they are yet, as you’ll need to read ‘My life in cars’ to find out.

Capital calling

1982 stands out for many reasons – broad power shoulders were the must have fashion design, the compact disc (CD) was launched, and a cute, little extra-terrestrial was taking cinemas by storm.

However, this all pales in significance as it was also the year when I passed my driving test (first time, naturally) when living in Clapham, south London.

It was two years later when I gained my motoring independence when my mum gave me her old 1970 Saab 96 – my first car and, also, the first favourite car on my list. I loved it.

What stands out was the distinctive styling, very futuristic for its time, and I nicknamed it my ‘Joe 90’ and ‘Thunderbird’ car.

I was living in Tooting at the time and while Citizen Smith might have been shouting “Power to the People” on the smash hit comedy series of the time which was filmed in the area a few years earlier, I was driving a car without power steering, plus the gear change stick was mounted to the steering wheel.

But this just added to the fun and I owned the Saab for a couple of years. It was a very unusual car and one that I have great affection for, more than 40 years later.

Returning to the Midlands

If you’ve lived in London then you’ll know that it’s probably more practical to rely on public transport, such as the tube and buses, to get around. This is what I did before moving back to the West Midlands in the late 1990s.

It then wasn’t long before I got back behind the wheel in a Renault 19, my first French car.

The Renault had been destined for the scrap heap, but my dad loved doing up cars, which is what he did, and in fairness the car did its job.

A new millennium heralded my next car, which was a Rover 200 that I bought from a colleague.

It was bright purple, so I nicknamed it my ‘Purple Peril’. It was nippy and I owned it for four or five years. I really liked it, but not quite enough that it makes my favourite list!

The next few years saw a spate of cars on my driveway, starting with a return to the Swedish manufacturer in the form of a Saab 9000, which was my first automatic car, plus it had an all-leather interior.

Next up was a Ford Escort MKIII, then a Peugeot 205, one of the all-time classic hatchbacks.

It was my second French car, which was then shortly followed by my third French car, a Citroen Picasso, which stands out for me as it was the first car I owned that was less than 10 years old.

Job requirements at the time meant I then needed a car with bigger boot space, so a Ford Mondeo Estate provided the answer.

Cars to enjoy – luxury, practicality and character

The next chapter in my life in cars is one of enjoyment from a range of very different cars.

2019 was the year when a Jaguar X-Type entered my world. It oozed luxury and was a great drive. I loved it and it rightly claims its place as another favourite car on my list.

Practicality then came in the shape of a Land Rover Freelander 2. I lived at the top of a hill at the time, so having a 4×4 was very useful in the winter.

I kept the 4×4 theme alive with my next car, a Skoda Octavia Scout. It was a great workhorse that never broke down, would always pass its MOT first time and would just keep going. I loved it, but not quite enough for it to join my exclusive list.

Now we’re up to the present day and my last favourite car, a bright yellow Renault Clio.

It’s nicknamed ‘Buttercup’, not just because of its colour, but in fond reference to the character of the same name in a famous fantasy adventure film, a real ray of sunshine.

I bought ‘Buttercup’ because I didn’t need a big car, and it turned out to be a great decision.

It’s nippy, easy to park and you can never lose it in a car park with its bright paintwork. I would definitely have another Clio, if needed, to continue my life in cars, which play a big role in my life working at a renowned automotive digital marketing agency.