[Greg66]

First car, 17 years old, freshly through the driving test: Mark 1 Escort. Ropey. Held it for a year to get the NCB then had a mk I Scirocco. Loved that. It felt like a race car in comparison.

Then went to University, started work in London and neither needed nor could afford a car for a while. Eventually lined up a Mk II Golf GTi 16v. Oak green, leather and after market ac. Now that was fun.

Then late 20s, bit of cash, so went for a BMW 325i coupe on finance. First new car I bought. Swapped it at three years for a E46 328i saloon to accommodate newly arrived 66 major. Last new car I will ever buy. Found out fairly quickly that Mrs 66 doesn't do light packing and a 3 series was completely inadequate. Took a big bath selling that. Cast around and a mate suggested trying an A8 (he'd just been landed with a company 7 series but had been very tempted by an 8). Managed to find a dealer principal's car at 5m old coming up for sale. The smartest thing that salesman ever did was say "of course you ca. Have a test drive Sir. Keep it for the weekend".

Two days (one, in truth) and I was hooked. Made me realise there are cheap toy cars and there is the real thing.

Kept it for 14 years, with the kids literally growing up in it. Very sad family day when terminal gearbox failure arrived.

Now have a FFRR for Mrs 66 (which she isn't fantastically keen on, but which I like a lot and which makes an excellent family bus) and the D3 S8 for me (which she likes a lot but unfortunately doesn't get to use much BECAUSE SHE LOST HER ****ING KEY!!!)