I thought it was about time I added a new list to my Blog, and thus demonstrate my willingness to conform to the rest of blog-manity...
After much consideration I decided that I'd make a list of all the cars I've ever owned in historical order, with a few details and colours, more as an exercise in testing my memory as anything else 
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1) Mini Clubman 1000 - L reg, in that orange colour that BL did so well - cost Ł100.
2) Mazda 323, 1300 - S reg - given to me by my sister, I painted it black and orange stripes with hammerite.
3) Saab 99, 2000 - P reg, blue - lasted 3 months before the floor fell out. Cashed in the tax for more than I paid for the car 
4) Triumph Toledo 2 door - N reg, red - was stolen once, but found round the corner the following day undamaged
5) Saab 99, 2000 - S reg, red - exploded core plugs after Jane drove it with no water - used for spares for:
6) Saab 99 turbo, 2000 - T reg, red - immense fun - took cylinder head from car 5) after overboost japes broke it
7) VW Golf 1600 - D reg, blue - solid, reliable, back doors leaked, dull
8) Saab 9000 turbo - Y reg, gold - enormous car that really shifted - massive mileage but became too expensive to fix
9) Peugeot 205 1800d - H reg (new H), blue - always suspected this was a 'cut & shut' but cheap to run, back door leaked
10) Fiat Coupe Turbo 2000 - N reg, green - in many ways both the best and worst car I've ever owned...
11) Rover 416 1600 - M reg, green - bought for us by my father in law to replace 9). Never wanted it. Way way duller than the Golf. 12) Mini Cooper 1600 - 51 reg, black & white - first ever new car - still got it and still great
13) Audi A4 Cabriolet 3000 - 05 reg, red - proper cruise monster, great to drive, fabulous stereo & quick enough too, still got it.
So, what does all this information tell me?
All blue cars let rain in, so never sit in the back or you'll have a wet arse. I like turbos. A lot. Honestly if you've never driven one, have a go - you'll grin like a loon everytime you drop a couple of gears and give it the loud pedal. Out of all of them, the Fiat was the most outrageous one I owned. Stooopidly fast (0-60 in just over 6 secs) and a chassis to match.
Everyone should own at least one Mini in their lifetime.
I have bought more red cars than anything else. Not exactly sure why, but generally red cars have been good to me.. Taken in conjunction with the blue car theory, maybe this is why my kids support Man Utd and not Chelsea? 
Saabs are hugely expensive to fix - often better to cut your losses and send it to the heap. An alternative strategy is to buy two - one as a donor car to keep the other going - cars 5&6). Prices of spares are so high that I sold number 8) as a non-runner with no tax or MOT for Ł400.
All green cars are trouble. The Rover was trouble I never wanted - I was given it and then asked for the money. Dodgy electricals, awful drive. The Fiat was unbelievable trouble, and expensive trouble at that, made worse by unbelievably useless dealers who gave me nothing but trouble (and bills).
Never buy an Italian car. Ok, buy one once to find out why everyone says never buy one, and then never buy another one. My Fiat was gorgeous to look at, fabulous to drive, but it spent more time in the garage than on the road. I think I spent as much on repairs in the 3 years I owned it as I spent on buying it...never again.
And finally - never buy a green Italian car. You're just asking for trouble
