Pin Ups

Bangers we love and why we love them, any suggestions, then let us know james@bangernomics.com

The Bangernomics Car of the Decade

Volkswagen Golf Mark 1

Actually we prefer the tougher Mark 2 but here was proof that VW could replace the Beetle and make a state of the art hatch that was far more dependable and practical than anything else on the market at the time, 1974. They did rust a bit though.

Mini Which is celebrating its 50th this year so lets jump on the bandwagon and say happy birthday and just why its been such a brilliant banger. Pictured is my first car and Mini, a 1963 Super De Luxe with a matt black roof which about half a dozen cans and if you look at the top of the wing, loads of filler around the headlamp and the seams where it joins the windscreen and front scuttle. Basically that’s all I did, fight rust, but it was the mechanical strength of the Min which was so great. OK so the A Series engine left a puddle of oil where you parked it, but the motor kept on motoring. I remember the starter packing up but this was such a light car you could push start it and I did that for two weeks until I’d saved up enough for an exchange starter.

Apart from the rust and the odd top hose springing a leak I did many happy miles in MInis and there wasn’t anything I couldn’t fix, which is saying something.

BMW 3 SERIES Think BMW and you think 3 series, or more accurately E30. This was the model that turned it all around for the Bavarians. Almost overnight they progressed from being a small, technically clever car maker who made desirable sporty cars, to a company with a truly global product. They were still small fry by comparison to Mercedes, Volkswagen or Ford, but BMW managed to tap into what buyers actually wanted. The E30 was compact, exclusive, and yet affordable. It didn't matter than an entry level 316, was almost identical to a top of the range 323i. What mattered was the badge, the quality and the engineering. The ultimate niche product the E30 then went on to dominate any other niche it wanted from saloon, through to estate, super saloon and convertible. The E30 was and still is one of the most important cars ever to come out of Germany.

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SAAB 9000 with the demise of the company, how could we possibly note write about the granddaddy of all Bangernomic Barges indeed its our Banger of the Decade the truly wondrous Saab 9000? So farewell then Saab. It does seem as though the quirkier Scandanavian motoring maiden is no more. Personally I have been a brand ambassador for the last dozen years running a series of six figure mileage examples. Apart from sundries (tyres, the odd starter motor) and countless coil packs they ran rather brilliantly and were supremely comfortable cars with bags of space inside.

Around since 1985 you can find some excellent family owned examples with the sort of 2.0 Turbo engine that many might believe is uneconomic to run. The truth is that you can with the low-pressure turbo get a consistent 30mpg plus overall. It is a very comfortable car with truly excellent seating. A long journey will feel much shorter in a 9000, but you won’t be short changed for space. The boot is truly huge and is better than many estates. You can’t stop children moaning but it will take the biggest, leggiest, grumpiest teenagers with ease. RIP Saab and thanks for giving us the 9000.