Manky Motor Award

Funny how everybodys experience is different, I had three Mk5 sedans, one of which was my daily driver and did 90km on average every weekday for 3 years, and never gave any troubles except for a couple of dud condensers that burnt the points out and caused it to stop.Apart from that it was tyres and a couple of wheelbearings and the rest was just normal maintenance stuff, it would only hog gas if you thrashed it or let it get too far out of tune. Had done 280k when it was sold.Also had S pack and V6 Ghia versions and for their time they were nice cars, still got the Ghia.There were heaps of them sold in NZ and while you don't see one every day on the road anymore there are still a lot around.

Yep, theres an old guy getting around in Levin with a gold Mk5 Ghia, had it since new. Had the use of a Mk 3 2000E years earlier, that was a much nicer car altogether than my Mk5.maybe mine was a Friday afternoon built lemon. However it has put me off them forever.along with stinkin Mitsushitsis. Subarus I have to admit still are a beautiful car if bought new and well serviced.but I wouldn't consider a secondhand one. However if I won lotto a late model six cylinder wagon would find its way into the shed.lol. One of the nicest wee cars I evr drove was a Mk1 Escort sedan.with the powerhouse 1.1 litre rubber band under the hood.that went along quite nicely if you didnt want speed.and economy plus was a bonus. Still wouldn't mind one today actually.with the dogbone grille and the razor blade crossplies!

Ha ha, the old MK1 escort aye! Yep, remember fondly when you hooked either 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 4th too fast the gearstick would pop out in yer hand. They came out because the nylon thread got worn out. The "fix" was to flare out the metal lock tabs, drill through the tabs and into the top gearbox housing around the gearstick hole and use a self tapping screw to hold it in place. Also, on the MK1, I remember a story night and the window wipers flying off, lol.

Once owned a Hillman Avenger automatic, that used to change down a gear when cruising DOWN hills, a bit scarey if doing 110 k's along the Napier-Taupo road. My brother in law bought the SCavenger off me and slapped a manual box in it, and a had a good run with the car.

A Victor 101 which overheated in town and blew one of the hoses off the toy heater under the dashboard. Put my wife in hospital with second degree burns to her foot.