Was there another car manufacturer you were really into before Maserati?

[BennyD]

.......aahhhhaaaa..........don't they make electrical appliances, bulbs or anything to make a pound Ian..........white good makers the lot of them.....

They also used to make very good fighters. The only other plane maker that builds cars that I can think of off the top of my head is Bristol.

 

[Andyk]

One thing that is clear about most (all?) members on this forum is a passion, not just for their car, but for the brand and all its history.

But I was wondering whether there is/was another car manufacturer that you have/had a similar passion for before you go into Maserati?

Clearly, there is a great deal of passion for Alfa Romeo in some quarters - another brand with great history that has produced some iconic cars.

For me it is Lotus. I have had quite a few, from a 1960s Elan to a Lotus Evora S. For me, the best of the lot was a V8 Esprit that I owned twice. However, I have somewhat fallen out of love with the current iteration of the brand due to some very poor experiences with the Evora, and a real lack of support from the company and the dealer network.

I would be interested to hear about brands others are passionate about, and if anybody has had a similar interest in Lotus.

Robert

For me there are two other makes as well as Maserati....

Like you Lotus.....I've had a few over the years....










Then there is BMW M cars - WHich I also have been lucky enough to have a few...

E30 M3 Evo 11
M3 CSL E46
M5 E39
M3 E46

 

[allandwf]

Almost forgot, my first "proper" car a 1969 Europa.

 

[Rwc13]

You certainly have. Nice collection of Elises/Exiges you have had. Just fantastic drivers cars........

And an Esprit SE? Very nice

Had a couple of M3s - E46 and E92. Enjoyed them both

 

[Rwc13]

In my early 20s a good mate of mine had two Alfasuds, the second a Green Cloverleaf. I totally envied him despite the trouble they gave him occasionally. So much cooler than the cars I was driving. There just don't seem to be any around any more. Rusted away?

 

[dem maser]

Alfa for me.....had 2 of them and love my M cars

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Really into?... Well it is Maserati and MG. 4200 and TF 160. Missing the MG. It was the best way to learn how to control a rdw car. Great style, good power. And i don't care about what people say about their reliability etc etc etc. Would love to buy another one. As long as a 2cv for restoration.

 

[Parisien]

Mate had a 'Sud and another a FIAT 2000 Miafiori..........epic days

P

 

[Almichie]

It was all minis for me, I've had about 15 all in all along the way. But the three that bring it home were the honda powered roadster;



The 1966 mk1 cooper, powered by a 1330cc supercharged lump;

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And the '76 1293 turbo (163bhp at the wheels);





Al

 

[Parisien]

The guy who is restoring my Lancia Aurelia regularly does a variety of classic Mini rallys including Monte Carlo......he can strip and put back together any and all parts in a hour......


P

 

[Almichie]

They are amazing, especially when you consider that a 1930's engine design can be engineered to out put some very decent figures. I turbo'd a 998cc and it ran 112bhp with very few modifications, the supercharged one manage 135bhp and the last was designed to give over 200bhp but got sold before I ran it to its full potential.

And they are like Lego, bolt on bolt off bits. I have no doubt I'll own another at some point!

 

[Felonious Crud]

My first car was a Mini. Loved it to bits.

Echo the 'Sud comments. Character in spades. Would have loved one.

 

[zagatoes30]

The Alfasud was what got me into Alfas. Mate was a mechanic and looked after a 1.5Ti it was so much better than my Mk2 Mexico that I just had to have one - have never looked back, apart from 3 months when I got married, there has always been at least one Alfa in the fleet.

Never had an Alfasud Sprint, a gap that will need to be plugged at sometime

 

[EnzoMC]

andy loving the lotus cars...

for me it was in the early days Opel (Manta) then the under stated Audi RS's

 

[Andyk]

andy loving the lotus cars...

for me it was in the early days Opel (Manta) then the under stated Audi RS's

Thanks EnzoMC.......They are great cars and for a while there I went from one Lotus to another over 7 years or so.......but that was before I had the boys...

 

[EnzoMC]

andy what was the Esprit like, always wanted one of these. the 2014 model looks great bit of kit

 

[Catalan3200]

Alfa for me too. Had a Sud, 166, GTV 3.0

Also had a couple of Honda S2000's. Stunning machines. Up to 5k revs they were like Civics to drive, but from 5k to the 9k red line .... My god ...

Otherwise it was 20+ years of company rep-mobiles and bikes.

Best of the bikes? VFR400RR, a jewel, Bought a T595 Daytona while living in the States and my last one an Aprilia RSV Mille.

 

[CatmanV2]

Speed Triple was my favourite bike. The Monster was good, but water soluble. The Sprint ST 1050 was amazingly competent, just not really me.

C

 

[Andyk]

andy what was the Esprit like, always wanted one of these. the 2014 model looks great bit of kit

I loved it...It was a car I always wanted and treated myself on my 29th birthday....My first Lotus and one of the cars that was a poster on the wall when I was a boy.......It had 90k on the clock when I bought it but the chap who had it before me had it rebuilt...Had it for two years and used it everyday and in snow..!!!...it never missed a beat.

 

[mjheathcote]

Also a Lotus lover.
My dad had a new Excel in '84 and I learnt to drive in it with L plates!
It was only last year that my dad sold his Esprit S4s
I sold my Elise S1 111s of 8 years for the Maserati.