Your Euro history?

[Troike]

Kinda bored, but thought it'd be cool to learn a bit more about everyone here, since I'm pretty new and don't know most of you much :tup:

So, what got you interested in Euro cars? When did you get your first one? What cars have you owned (euro/domestic/asian), which have you loved/hated, what do you want in the future, etc?

I'll start it off :smokem:

[bugzy]

1993 - 1986 Volvo 760 Turbo
1998 - 1976 Chevy Nova 305
1999 - 1979 VW Rabbit
2000 - 2000 VW Jetta
2002 - 2002 Audi A4 Avant


Volvo is my favorite ... i dont know why ... but it was ... had ipd springs, bilstein sport shocks 3 core radiator, 1" swaybars front and rear. Handled awesome for a volvo.

The Nova was probably my most ghetto car ... it was a small V8 305. I put a home speaker in the back and lil akai speakers on the floor.

The Rabbit was the most fun time period, met ton of good friends in it. Some that are still some of my best friends and they still liked me driving in my hoopty rabbit.

Jetta was the start of my true love for VW's. Then the Avant came :)

I'd lilke to get me a new RS3 down the line. Or if i can afford it, Le Mans Quattro ;)

[Troike]

When I was a kid, my parents just had a Nissan, then a couple Hondas ... my dad's first mid-life crisis car was a 1965 Mustang, but then he sold that and got a 1989 Mercedes 300E used. I thought that car was awesome - seemed super-nice compared to our 1980s Hondas at least. He later traded it for a used 1996 C220.

I've always been a car fan since I was a little kid .. embarrasingly enough though, I have to say I was first interested in VWs when I saw the mk3 Jetta in Fast and the Furious .. I was still a dumb high school kid who thought that sort of thing was awesome. I decided I wanted a white mk2 jetta ASAP, luckily I'd been saving up my $ ... but my Dad, who can out-Jew the best of them, wouldn't let me spend my own $, so I was resigned to driving my mom's 01 civic to work / around town in high school (with the rare treat of getting the benzo).

A good friend of mine got a 1998 Jetta VR6 from his mom, that thing was fast ... I was a 240sx fan by this point though. My friend ended up wrecking his car right before I bought mine.

Finally last summer I had a ton of $ saved (my dad has taught me well) and pestered my dad enough to finally let me buy a car. I really wanted an S14 or an Impreza 2.5 rs, but those were out of my price range. I test drove an Integra but it seemed sketchy; the very next car I test drove I liked a ton and bought the next day, my Golf - the handling/steering seemed very nice, and the car looked really clean and solid with low miles.

Since its my first car, I love it to death, and its awesome to finally have some wheels on it and be proud of my car. Now I love 1980's VWs more than anything else, and can't picture myself driving any Japanese or American cars, but gotta be happy with what I have for now and until I get a real job and a garage some day.

I don't care so much about speed, as I love gas mileage and am happy with 4-cylinders (my golf is at least faster than my mom's civic); plus, hitting the twisty roads is more fun than driving in a straight line anyway :smokem: And so far my record is clean ... couldn't afford higher insurance anyway :p
Not sure what I plan to do next, I'm caught between buying some minor suspension parts or just saving up. When my warranty expires next summer, I might go for a K&N and Neuspeed intake/chip for a bit more power, but that's a ways off.

sorry for the long post, but its one of those lazy sundays - and I have it off for once. I might try to trade shifts at work and make the Julian run next week, sounds like a ton of fun.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

My first Euro was my first car, a 1973 VW Squareback with fuel injection.

I bought a F150 after that. I borrowed a friends Jetta for a weekend and was so impressed that I wanted one. A friend told me I could get a 2 year old A4 for the same money I was willing to drop on a new Jetta. So I got the A4.

What's next? Who knows?

[mario]

uh...
corrado, corrado, a4.

[creanium]

Well, my parents grew up in the midwest and lived in Detroit for a number of years before moving out here to CA. So they were both inherently loyal to american car companies (mostly Ford). My dad was never too impressed with the Euro or Japanese cars, so he never even considered looking at them. Neither had I for that matter until one of my friends got a GTI and my boss got a Passat wagon (both 1.8T).

My first car really was the 97 Ranger that my sister had been driving for three years before I got it. The truck was a great first car for me to have and I'm grateful for having it; but it is in no way a refined vehicle. After I had been driving the truck for 3 years, I was growing tired of it and needed something new and much more refined.

Like I said, I never would have even considered looking at VW's if it weren't for my boss and friend buying theres. So when I was looking at different cars, I asked my friend if I could drive his GTI for a little bit to see how it drove. I tell you what, that drive was some of the most fun I've had driving. I got out of the car and just KNEW I had to have a VW. So I did my research and what not, and ended up with my Jetta and have never looked back. I'm particularly proud of my Jetta because it's the first car I bought myself, no financial support from my parents. The only thing they did was co-sign the loan so I could get the 1.9% interest rate.

Well, ever since I got my Jetta, I've been able to convince 2 friends to buy VAG products: 1 got a 98 A4, the other an 01 Bug. And now, after seeing my car, my sister is seriously considering a Passat, and now my mom wants her next car to be an S4 Cabby.

So it looks like me being the first person in my family to buy a Euro has started a trend and is opening the eyes of my friends and family.

[Al_a2gti]

1975 VW Rabbit bright Yellow
1979 BMW 320i white
1978 BMW 320i with S package black
1991 V Jetta black
1997 honda civic black
1975 BMW 2002 malaga (burgundy)
1973 BMW 3.0cs Fjord (light blue metalic)
1992 VW GTI 8v black

awaiting Delivery of 1974 911 carrera with 3 liter converion. Gemini blue (light blue metalic on black interior :tup:

[mike]

oh jesus.... to many to list, but I will try
1968 vw bus
1957 vw bus double door panel
1963 bug rag top
1964 bug
1976 rabbit
1970 bug future bracket racer (current inventory)
1986 Jaguar XJS (RIP)
1943 willys small block chevy
1965 ford pickup
1958 bug rag top
1966 vw Camper
1985 60 series land cruiser
1995 nissan hard body
2001 frontier (rip)
1996 GTI
1981 40 series landcruiser
1984 911 Carrera
I currently own four of these, the last three and a bug in there somewhere. There are probably a few I left out.

My dad had a european Independant when I was a kid, so I naturally have just been working on forien cars and owning forien cars, I belive firmly that there hasn't been a good american car built since the early 70's. detroit has fallen asleep at the switch untill recently.

[veedubber7]

I have grown up with vw's. My parents had a old fastback followed by a bus, rabbit, jetta and now a 2001 passat v6. I am now working on my 4th vw of my own. I have had a fox, rabbit, mk3 jetta and am now driving my favorite vw (so far) mk3 gti vr6 :smokem:

[Eurotuned]

Im a euro car !!!

[Bierbau]

All I have ever owned is volkswagens.

1994-1998: 87 VW Golf GL, 2dr, 5spd, dark blue, 85hp, CIS injection. Sold it for $1100 with 155000 miles.

1998-2001: 96 VW GTI 2.0, 5spd, red, new dimensions exhasut, neuspeed chip and a k&n air filter with a swiss cheesed air box. Traded it in with 77000 miles.

2001-present day: 97 GTI VR6 Drivers edition, Jazz blue.

2004-present day: 04 GLI 1.8T, Black magic pearl.

[madajb]

My first and only European car, and I'm buying a damn Honda after this!
-ajb

[mario]

My first and only European car, and I'm buying a damn Honda after this!
-ajb
werd....have you looked at a toyota? :hitit:

[ReNNeN.CaRL]

01 Volvo V40
02 BMW 325 Ci
04 BMW M3

thats just the Euro Cars...

[madajb]

werd....have you looked at a toyota? :hitit:
Yeah, depends on if I decide on a car or a truck.
-ajb

[ncttrnl]

I wanted a BMW and was originally looking at the 3 series since I was just starting in consulting and needed something a little more impressive than my truck for things like meeting clients for lunch.

I eventually decided I wanted an M3 roadster and called up a local dealership to ask about one. Well they called me during a meeting and I told them I would call back. I called them back twice and and they never returned my calls. I was kinda pissed and went back to browsing the internet to find a different make of car to buy.

My parents had bought a TT a few months before and I would take it out to the clubs once in awhile and I kinda liked the way it would turn heads rolling down the street.

I found that I could get a deal on the car through costco and metro imports so I went ahead and orderd a 180 FWD coupe with Quattro with the intention of ordering the then new APR Stage III kit as soon as it came in. I had scheduled delivery for the week of my birthday.

Well, I started to hear alot of complaints about the Haldex system and how it may not be able to handle the power of a modded car and everything so I figured I'd better not get the Quattro. I called metro and they traded for a FWD car from another dealer.

Needless to say, things got fairly rocky for web programmers when the dot bombs started blowing up so I had to hold off on the APR. As long as I was waiting, I went ahead and waited to start modding until I my warranty ran out. That should kinda explain the sudden mod fest when the warranty was just about to expire. That was my stage 3 money but after 2 years, I realized I needed things like suspension and such first.

And thats how I wound up with NCTTRNL

[H2ovwdrvr]

hmm car history fun fun

When I was in high school I got to drive my moms 82 datsun 310 aka the brown bomber all 76hp of it we beat the hell out of it rallied the car in hellhole canyon every single day record height off ground was around 3 feet.

The day after I turned 18 I bought my first car a emerald green with cashmere leather 96 pontiac trans am ws6 1le I test drove every american and japanese car out there and a M3 it was the best car made at the time. 15856 miles later I drove it off a cliff lost it in the rain which it was only being driven in the rain becuase my mothers car was broken and I had to take her to an apointment.

Second car was a 98 bug had not owned a car for a while just drove my moms. I went to the La auto show and only saw bits and pieces of the car thought it was hideous. went to San diego auto show saw whole car ordered one the next day had the 10th car delivered in California and one of the first 100 delivered worldwide. After driving a euro and the feeling of a euro even a 2 point slow if you are normal you can't go back other cars just feel like crap.

Bug was worn out loved the look of the jetta wanted a 1.8t so I walked in and bought a 02 jetta 1.8t

Decide I needed a second car when I broke the Jetta and something to track so I went out looking for a mk1 rocco bought my 80 s

I then saw a guy in colorado list a 81 s as come pic up and it is yours so I pmed and realized it had a 3a that was near new etc went and picked up for when I have the 8o torn apart to get closer to where I want it and broke the jetta

The future I am looking at a 78 Rabbit begging for a engine swap at the right price that I do not have room for and just about to get on a very long waiting list for a car I wanted even before I bought my T A but we were not allowed to get in the US I will be on the waiting list within 2 weeks and then stuck there waiting for over a year

[SoCalDriver]

Here is a list of cars my parents have had since i was born.

moms
early/mid 70s volvo wagon (sold for the BMW)
'76 BMW sedan (sold the money pot, purchased honda)
'85 honda civic wagon 4wd (was givin to me when 16 and drove into the ground)
'93 dodge intrepid (sold for the pontiac)
'01 pontiac bonniville -still have

dads
'52 MG TD (sold and purchased the 924)
'69 & '68 MG B ('69 totaled, '68 parted out)
'60 something GMC truck (purchased as a work truck while re-modeling house in the late 80's)
'79 Porsche 924 (traded in for the intrepid)
'76 Porsche 914 (traded in for 911)
'73 Porsche 911 (sold when i turned 16, drove it 2x w/permit)
'88 dodge ram van (dad took van and cash for 911)
'71 914 (restored and sold online to a guy in SLC, UT)
2 '72 914 (purchased as parts cars)
'72 914 - restored, still have
'95 saturn sl2 -still have
'92 dodge spirit for my younger bro. -still have

mine:
'85 honda, -listed above (totaled front end then repaired, then snapped the crank)
'95 hyundai SCoupe LS (traded in for VW)
'98 VW GTI VR6

when the honda was dead and i was looking to purchase my first car my dad gave me the '71 914 to drive. That was a fun 2 months at college :)

[JoeVeeDubber]

Hah! I have driven euro's since before I even got my license at 16. When I was 14 I used to take our 1981 VW VANAGON WESTFALIA up and down the block in my neighboorhood, it was an automatic.

At 16 for my driver's test I did it in our 1966 VW Beetle 1300, 4 spd manual. I even remember my score, I got a 93, not bad eh! Anyways, that car became my car in high school and I did a bit of modifying to it. First off I made sure the brakes and suspension were in tip top shape, put some Gabriel shocks on it, replaced the ball joints, new wheel bearings, resurfaced drums, new brake shoes, etc. We had the motor serviced and decided to bore it out to a 1600 for a little more power. I drove it like that for a while, but eventually after reading VW TRENDS and HOT VWS I was like I want some more power so the modding began. First order of modding, exhaust. Now just to let you know I went thru 4 muffler systems in the course of driving the car. First setup was from BUGPACK, a dual, dual tip exhaust system that pretty much just bolted onto stock heads and heater box headers. I liked that but then one of the resonated tips blew out and it sounded like crap, so I moved on. Next setup I got was a TRIMIL SINGLE PACK exhaust, now this is an actual header with semi equal length tubing, this exhaust was excellent, it sounded great, I got good gains out of it. Only problem was that they didnt design it with a support bracket for the muffler, so eventually it fell off at one of the welds and that was that. Next I invested in another BUGPACK muffler, a single QUIET PACK. This muffler was ok, didn't sound nearly as good, and seemed to not have as good performace either, so I switched again. Lastly, I bought a BUGPACK TURBO HIDEAWAY muffler. This muffler was probably the best flowing muffler I got. Now I know my car wasn't turbo, but hey who cares, it flows well and that's all I cared about. It sounded decent with just the pipe out the muffler, but I decided to add a ANSA dual resonated tip to it, to give it more of a hum. I also worked on the engine a little bit, put in some heavy duty rhino feet valve adjusters, checked the valves of course many times, tuned up the tiny SOLEX 30-PICT1 carburetor, added an intake with a free flow filter, basically just made sure it was in tip top condition. For what it was, it was ok, I was able to peg the speedo at 90mph one time, haha. Didn't do much with the stereo since the car was 6 volt, so the factory AM radio had to do. Anyways, that was my first car, on to my second.

After high school, of course went to college, and initially I took the Beetle with me when I first was in need of a car my 3rd year, having to move off campus. That worked for a little while, but then little quirks came up in the car, and it just didn't prove to be reliable anymore, it needed some engine work after being driven by not just me in high school, but also my sister when she went to high school. We had purchased a 1990 VW VANAGON to assist in moving me and my sister to and from college, so that became my new vehicle. This was just your basic VANAGON, it had steel wheels with hubcaps, no power windows, rubber floormats, cloth seats, but it did have a REAR WIPER! HA! It was Pastel White with black bumpers. It was a 4 speed manual and had a 2.1L water cooled boxer engine good for a whoppping 90hp stock, but it made good torque, I think about 130ft lbs. Drove it for a while like it was, but eventually, the modding had to begin. I'm just going to list what I did to it. Suspension wise, changed out the OEM shocks for MONROE GAS-MAGNUMS. Brakes, PBR Metal master brake pads front, Raybestos brakes shoes in the rear. Wheels: RONAL 16x7.5 7 spoke wheels with 225/50/16 tires ( I forget if they were R28 or R29, one of those two ). Transmisssion: upgraded to stronger 1984 tranny with stronger ring and pinion gears, SACHS power clutch. Engine: Custom 3 inch cold air intake with K&N Cone filter, 2.25 inch high flow cat to a 2.25 inch catback MAGNAFLOW muffler, CB Performance 1.25 ratio rockers with rhino feet valve adjusters, NOLOGY Hotwires custom made, NOLOGY Coil booster, BERU Silverstone plugs, Setrab 10row air/oil cooler with thermostatic sandwhich plate. Stereo: 8 speakers system with a single 12, all Polk Audio products, driven by MTX amps, all being fed by a top of the line JVC headunit running into a preamp. So as you can see, I put quite a bit of money into the VANAGON, more than I did into the Beetle, that's for sure. I drove this thing everywhere. Went on a few road trips with my friends in it, to Carsbad Caverns in New Mexico, up to BANFF (just north of MONTANA in Canada) and a few trips in state to Yosemite. I absolutely love this vehicle and that's why we still have it today! It needs some paint and minor body work, but it's still all there. I drive it every now and then to give it some exercise and it has been to a gtg in the past.

Oh I forgot to mention I also drove my parents MBZ 1980 300SD TURBO DIESEL for a little white in college when I was back in the summer for work my freshman and sophomore years. That thing got 30mpg and it was decently fast! It was the perfect highway cruiser.

Lastly I have my 337, which is the only brand new car I've ever owned. Mod's are listed in the link in my sig. Okay, enough of my story. Let's hear some more!

[illusion]

My first car was my 1964 Ford falcon Futura which is currently having a 5.0 motor put in it at my house along with a paxton blower, i got it on my 17th birthday from my parents, and then a week later i bought my jetta for a daily driver back in 2000 for $7500.(almost paid off). my moms only owned VWs and my dad only buys ford, so i have alittle of both.

[vtecwho]

My first Euro was my first car, a 1973 VW Squareback with fuel injection.



hey thats bad ass my first car was a 68 squareback fuel injected.

1. 68 squareback off white, still have it
2. 90 corrado G60 black
3. 98 GTI VR6 red, current car

[PruveIt]

From high school till now...
88 SAAB 900 SPG (Special Performance Group), keep it on the East Coast
98 SAAB 900 SE (gone-flooded by a hurricane)
2000 BMW 323Ci

[wikedgolf]

i was concived in a 63 VW Bug!

My dad was the owner, he was heavly into racing it and showing at the bugins before i was born

We have had way to my old Dubs for me to remember

My first one was a 74 super beetle
2nd: 62 giha
3rd: My golf, 2000

[EDM]

I first got into VW before I could even drive. My friends brother had a 69 Bug with an 1835CC. He used to drive us to Jr High in it. Man we thought we were the shit. Then from there most of my other friends had aircooled Vw's. Here is my list.


1991 Chevy S10
1994 Acura Integra
1997 Honda Accord
1999 VW GTI VR6
1983 VW Scirocco
2003 VW Turbo S Beetle
1980 VW Caddy
1988 VW 2.0L 16V GTI
2004 Honda Civic SI
2004 Toyota Tacoma

On occasion I had 2 cars at a time.

[OCbuiltGTI]

1999 - Isuzu Rodeo 4x4
1999 - Ford F150 XL
2000 - VW GTI 1.8T

[jmgQuattro]

79' BMW 320i
VW GTI MKII

now= 2000 A4 1.8T Q.

I also had a Civic and a Mitubishi Galant and there was very little joy in driving those.

[allizard]

Nice Thread....

Let's see...

82 Nissan Maxima Station Weagon DIESEL (Hand me down from Parent)
85 Toyota Truck - Long bed extra cab (lowered, chrome rim, nick name "The Boat")
86 Toyota Van (Pretty cool for long road trip, nick name "The shuttle craft" from StarTrek)
92 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS (chick magnet but really it's a piece of crap and expensive to fix)
96 Nissan Pathfinder SE (another piece of crap)
92 Toyota Cressida (One of my better car but wife crashed it)
00 Toyota Solara SLE (I want to Mod this but wife want me to leave it alone. DAMN!)
00 VW Jetta T1.8 (This is where I became a EURO convert!)
03 Audi A4 T1.8 (my current ride)
03 Honda Odyssey (Where is the MicroBus?! but still a nice ride!)

I want to get a used Mini or a next gen Passat. But that's a couple new years down the road. The Solara is a pretty solid car so I'm going to keep it till it die. I'm pretty happy with what I got now. The A4 and the Van.

[paultakeda]

1989: 1969 VW Beetle 1600cc
2000: 2001 VW New Beetle 1.8T
2007: If the S4 continues to push the envelope for its price point

[twistedangel]

family is in the auto business.

both parents were street racers...

mom -> '69 mustang
dad -> '70 firebird 400

i was conceived in one of the two :D ...
both mechanics...but father used to work for Porsche and now owns and runs an autoshop...

my aunt gave me a '56 chevy bel air as a high school gift, and the '60 mercedes as a college gift. otherwise, too many cars have come in and out of my life to list (like men, too) :o

i've pretty much been addicted to collector and performance autos from day one...

[SoCalglxVR6]

2003 - Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
2003 - Nissan 350Z
.............parents stop paying for cars.............
1997 - VW Jetta GLX

[lostntainted]

1970 el camino ss
1995 gmc suburban
1995 jetta gl
1984 lancia delta hf integrale (hot little italian awd hatch) :tup:
1980 lancia prisma
1994 chevy cavalier (hey it was given to me!)
2001 isuzu amigo (don't ask)
2001 jetta 1.8t

i always loved europe, the cars , the people... i grew up in germany for 6 years and once i moved back to italy in 2001 i fell in love all over again... in highschool my best friend had a 1995 honda civic and that's where my hatred for hondas began... first just a little rivalry and then the whole "import tuner crowd" arose and that just added fuel to the fire... i have to confess i did buy a big ol' coffee can apexi muffler for my first jetta but when i saw it on a car like mine i sold it on ebay.....

the end ;)

[SoCal_GLI]

'71 super beetle
'65 bug
'67 squareback
'68 squareback
'64 bug
'67 bug
'71 fastback
'66 bug
'65 bug
'65 bug (yes two in a row)
'90 Jetta GLI (still have)
'86 Cabriolet (sold to Joe "Phalcon" and he killed it)

there are alot im forgetting as far as Dubs, but alot of the were just parts/projects that never made it on the road.
that list is the ones i actually drove

along with those here is the rest of my cars:
'76 Datsun B210
'76 Datsun P/U
'78 Toyota Celica
'78 Datsun P/U
'76 Chevy Luv (minitruckin stylz)
'79 Toyota Celica
'87 Nissan Hardbody (first show truck/mini truckin stylz)
'92 Toyota P/U (show winning truck/hydraulics)
'82 Nissan/Datsun kingcab (720)
'90 Celica GT
'85 Nissan kingcab (720)
'86 Nissan (full custom, shaved everything, airbagged)

[20THANNTURBO]

1969 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER FJ40
1988 CHEVY CAPRICE CLASSIC
1975 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER FJ40
1986 BMW 745i 3.5l TURBO
1991 HONDA PRELUDE si
1995 VW JETTA VR6
2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T
1985 TOYOTA 4X PICKUP
2003 20th ANNIVERSARY GTI 1.8T (current)

[20THANNTURBO]

The BMW i had got me into euros. i was 16 and that was the fastest car i had EVER been in. Buffalo leather and all german writing on the dash and radio and inst. cluster. not great for canyon racing as i got better though.

[20THANNTURBO]

almost forgot one

1972 DODGE CHARGER SE that i put a 440 6PACK into.


:D :D :D :D