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[Vamps]

I liked these, never took off like the Cortina..............

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/hillman/postcode/dl179bb/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/sort/locasc/transmission/automatic

[Andy B]

..... never took off like the Cortina..............
 ......

Thank Christ for small mercies!  They were crap!

[SIR Philbutt]

Lot of money that, just to drop a piano on it

 

[Andy B]

Lot of money that, just to drop a piano on it

 

Wrong car Phil ......... 

Top Gear drop pianos on Marinas 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Lot of money that, just to drop a piano on it

 

Wrong car Phil ......... 

Top Gear drop pianos on Marinas

The Marina and the All-aggro. Great cars from Great Britain.

Little wonder that the French, Italian and German car industry trembled when we produced world beaters like these.

 All sing along now..........Land of hope and glory....

[Andy B]

....
The Marina and ..... Great cars from Great Britain.
......
 All sing along now..........Land of hope and glory....

Only improved on when the Ital replaced it! 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

....
The Marina and ..... Great cars from Great Britain.
......
 All sing along now..........Land of hope and glory....

Only improved on when the Ital replaced it! 

Is it possible to improve on perfection?.....

[Andy B]

.....
Is it possible to improve on perfection?.....

Years back I had problems with my Carlton and it was off the road for a week or so. A neighbour kindly lent me his clapped out Ital to get to & from work. It was only marginally better than walking. 

[YZ250]

The Avenger was the only car that my Dad owned that I never liked. He had Cortina GT's MK1 and 2 and then bought that thing. How embarrassing for me.   

[Kevin Wood]

....
The Marina and ..... Great cars from Great Britain.
......
 All sing along now..........Land of hope and glory....

Only improved on when the Ital replaced it! 

Is it possible to improve on perfection?.....

Can't be, because they improved nothing on the Ital. I owned one.

.. for a certain value of perfection recognised only by the BL bean counters.

[kevinp58]

The with the tiger engine didn't hang around.

[Vamps]

The with the tiger engine didn't hang around.

Indeed.........

[78bex]

yer that`s a blast from my past ............I had a Avenger GT for a short time complete with twin strombergs & multi-branch exhaust manifold. She was quick but the fuel consumption was apalling.  The Tiger had the GT gearbox & rear axle, but the strombergs were replaced with a Weber setup, better cam & cylinder head.   

[Martin_1962]

..... never took off like the Cortina..............
 ......

Thank Christ for small mercies!  They were crap!

They were bloody good cars

[Martin_1962]

The Avenger was the only car that my Dad owned that I never liked. He had Cortina GT's MK1 and 2 and then bought that thing. How embarrassing for me.   

My mum had the estate and the engine went so dropped in a decent 1600, went like stink

[Martin_1962]

I really like late Rootes Group cars, I used to have the Avenger based hatch

[SIR Philbutt]

Lot of money that, just to drop a piano on it

 

Wrong car Phil ......... 

Top Gear drop pianos on Marinas 

I know mate  - was a parody joke  a metaphor for HOW MUCH 

[SIR Philbutt]

....
The Marina and ..... Great cars from Great Britain.
......
 All sing along now..........Land of hope and glory....

Only improved on when the Ital replaced it! 

Is it possible to improve on perfection?.....

The Princess, always wanted to have one of them 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

yer that`s a blast from my past ............I had a Avenger GT for a short time complete with twin strombergs & multi-branch exhaust manifold. She was quick but the fuel consumption was apalling.  The Tiger had the GT gearbox & rear axle, but the strombergs were replaced with a Weber setup, better cam & cylinder head.   

Back in the day I would nurse a semi for the Rapier H120.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Back in the 'mists of time' I actually owned a Princess 1700 HL.

Not a bad car in some respects.

Roomy enough for all the family and very comfortable.


It was 'given' to me by my FIL......so cost me SFA.

[Kevin Wood]

The with the tiger engine didn't hang around.

My mate had a Tiger. I seem to remember frequently being called upon to drag him out of a hedge into which he'd disappeared - normally backwards.

[ronnyd]

Mate of mine has a Marina coupe, spends a small fortune on it, God knows why?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Mate of mine has a Marina coupe, spends a small fortune on it, God knows why?

I had one of those in the late 80's, in mustard with a black go faster stripe up the bonnet! 

With an 1800 TC lump and RWD it was great fun to drive for this irresponsible 19 year old!!   

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Mate of mine has a Marina coupe, spends a small fortune on it, God knows why?

I had one of those in the late 80's, in mustard with a black go faster stripe up the bonnet! 

With an 1800 TC lump and RWD it was great fun to drive for this irresponsible 19 year old!!   

Same lump as the MGB, I think......which means it had good low down pull but became 'breathy' after about 4500 RPM.

[Entwood]

Mate of mine has a Marina coupe, spends a small fortune on it, God knows why?

I had one of those in the late 80's, in mustard with a black go faster stripe up the bonnet! 

With an 1800 TC lump and RWD it was great fun to drive for this irresponsible 19 year old!!   

Same lump as the MGB, I think......which means it had good low down pull but became 'breathy' after about 4500 RPM.

yup .. and so many of the "tuning aids" for the MGB transplanted straight over.. my 1800 Marina coupe TC was "slightly" modified in that way ......

[Marks DTM Calib]

It was 'given' to me by my FIL......so cost me SFA.

So he got full book price for it then 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Mate of mine has a Marina coupe, spends a small fortune on it, God knows why?

I had one of those in the late 80's, in mustard with a black go faster stripe up the bonnet! 

With an 1800 TC lump and RWD it was great fun to drive for this irresponsible 19 year old!!   

Same lump as the MGB, I think......which means it had good low down pull but became 'breathy' after about 4500 RPM.

yup .. and so many of the "tuning aids" for the MGB transplanted straight over.. my 1800 Marina coupe TC was "slightly" modified in that way ......

It cost me £50 with 10 months MOT and I had a lot of fun sliding it around the lanes at ridiculous speeds! 

Only at night though so you knew if someone was coming the other way!    I did have a close shave once with a deer who didn't have it's lights on!!     

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Speaking of MGB's.....did/does anyone own an MGC. It came with a 3 litre straight six if I'm not mistaken. 

It should have been quite a nippy little car.

[henryd]

Speaking of MGB's.....did/does anyone own an MGC. It came with a 3 litre straight six if I'm not mistaken. 

It should have been quite a nippy little car.

I know a gent who has a fully restored MGC,doesn't go bad but engine is very heavy and doesn't do the handling any favours

[Kevin Wood]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital?

I can't say I have, in a list that includes a Leyland Atlantean double decker bus, a Bedford MK, Volvo 340, a Maxi, a Ford 5000 tractor, a Land rover with about 4 inches of play at the steering wheel (a good one, then!), various dire minibuses from the likes of LDV and a load of other stuff too terrible to mention.

I don't think any other vehicle hits that exquisite combination of nauseating body roll, lack of synergy between front and rear axles, utter unpredictability and absence of any feedback whatsoever.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital?

I can't say I have, in a list that includes a Leyland Atlantean double decker bus, a Bedford MK, Volvo 340, a Maxi, a Ford 5000 tractor, a Land rover with about 4 inches of play at the steering wheel (a good one, then!), various dire minibuses from the likes of LDV and a load of other stuff too terrible to mention.

I don't think any other vehicle hits that exquisite combination of nauseating body roll, lack of synergy between front and rear axles, utter unpredictability and absence of any feedback whatsoever.

The original 1972 road test of the Morris Marina described the handling as 'terrible'


42 years on I expect it would seem even worse.

[Andy B]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital? .....

Yes ...... an Austin AllAgro with fubar'd hydrolastic suspension     

[henryd]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital? .....

Yes ...... an Austin AllAgro with fubar'd hydrolastic suspension     

Hydragas

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital? .....

Yes ...... an Austin AllAgro with fubar'd hydrolastic suspension     

Yes...but the All-aggro had that futuristic steering wheel that made it handle better than an Alfasud.

[henryd]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital? .....

Yes ...... an Austin AllAgro with fubar'd hydrolastic suspension     

Yes...but the All-aggro had that futuristic steering wheel that made it handle better than an Alfasud.

I have to confess to once owning a Quartic steering wheel equipped aggro

[Andy B]

.....
Hydragas

yes ..... that too   

[TheBoy]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital?

I can't say I have, in a list that includes a Leyland Atlantean double decker bus, a Bedford MK, Volvo 340, a Maxi, a Ford 5000 tractor, a Land rover with about 4 inches of play at the steering wheel (a good one, then!), various dire minibuses from the likes of LDV and a load of other stuff too terrible to mention.

I don't think any other vehicle hits that exquisite combination of nauseating body roll, lack of synergy between front and rear axles, utter unpredictability and absence of any feedback whatsoever.

The Escort van that replaced my Ital van (actually, there may have been a Maestro or 2 in between, can't remember) I'd say handled worse.

By worse, I mean shear unpredicatability. At least with the Ital, if you went slow, you knew you'd get around a corner, if you went fast you knew you wouldn't. With the Escort, every corner was in the lap of the Gods, usually ending up with having to crawl out of ditches, or disentangle bushes from the bumpers.

[TheBoy]

Mind you, and Omega in the damp with Autogrip tyres handles far worse than anything I've ever driven. Yet incredibly predictable, you know every corner is going to end in tears, no matter how slow you go.

[TheBoy]

But what a hoot. But it does become tiresome. Sometimes you look through the windscreen instead of side windows.

[Kevin Wood]

But what a hoot. But it does become tiresome. Sometimes you look through the windscreen instead of side windows.

Disqualified, then.  Doesn't matter what the ultimate grip level is like. There are cars with very little grip that can be a hoot to drive, and others that stick like the proverbial that are no fun at all.

I'm talking about vehicles that bring on the desire, whenever behind the wheel, to simply drive the damn thing off the nearest cliff and end it all, such is the pure tedium of the driving experience.

But yes, presumably Mk 3 Escrot? It's certainly up there somewhere.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Mini with a goosed subframe was an interesting experience as was a 1300 Mk2 escort with its cart springs.

Mk1 Polo was bloody awful, I also had some very scary moments in a 2.0 Monte-no-go Estate, not least because it turned out very little structual steel was left in place (company pool car to!).

[Martin_1962]

I'm interested, actually... Has anyone ever driven a vehicle with more appalling handling characteristics than a Marina / Ital?

I can't say I have, in a list that includes a Leyland Atlantean double decker bus, a Bedford MK, Volvo 340, a Maxi, a Ford 5000 tractor, a Land rover with about 4 inches of play at the steering wheel (a good one, then!), various dire minibuses from the likes of LDV and a load of other stuff too terrible to mention.

I don't think any other vehicle hits that exquisite combination of nauseating body roll, lack of synergy between front and rear axles, utter unpredictability and absence of any feedback whatsoever.

The last model Ford Escort, terrible things, had a pool van at a previous job for moving computers around, it was terrible. The Rover Ballade 1600 was OK as was the Maestro, best was an Astra van,

[Martin_1962]

My best handling ever was a Sunbeam

[Nick W]

My best handling ever was a Sunbeam

My first car was a Sunbeam Ti, which was a little ambitious. I'd had it less than 48hours before I managed to bend the back axle exiting a roundabout. I think the Avenger's extra foot of wheelbase makes for a much better handling car. Before we pulled the original 1500cc engine and auto-box, my slightly lowered Avenger on 175/70 13s had little need to slow down for anything.

The last Escorts were excellent to drive(my mother had two), better than the Focus that replaced it as they were a more suitable compromise for a family hatchback between handling and ride. Not to mention looks, space and usefulness.

I have so many miles in 2.0l Capris that a well setup one is still damn good fun on a country road, if not particularly quick in a straight line. Even a good Capri doesn't like sudden changes mid-bend, which teaches you to get it properly settled into a bend, and accelerate hard through and out of it. That turns out to be such a good technique for any road vehicle, that I constantly find myself gaining on what should be much faster vehicles in corners and roundabouts.

[TheBoy]

But yes, presumably Mk 3 Escrot? It's certainly up there somewhere.

I think it was the Mk4 (it was H reg). But fear not, I stuffed my dads Mk3 into a signpost, tree and ploughed field. In fact, I think any FWD Escort I drove ended up with jousting marks. They were all horrible.

Can I throw in the original Focus. Never have I had to endure such a dull, uninspiring, flat (made the Astra 1.6 look eager), unfeeling, unpredictable shitbox as the one we leased for a couple of years. Except the one her brother had (1.8, still flat) or the hire ones I've been forced to drive since. Every one of them ended up with a jousting mark as well. Mind you, that's unfair on the Focus, it was miles better than the Escort. Still utter shite mind.

[78bex]

Liked this article written to celebrate 40 years of the Morris marina 
Quote "the "carpeted boot" of the 1.8 Special had all of the opulence of a badly fitted lavatory mat" 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/8454075/40-years-of-the-Morris-Marina.html

[Martin_1962]

Avengers

I was once followed by a plonker puller claiming to be a copper, he followed me for 5 miles down twisty lanes.

I played with him, he struggled to keep up with a gently driven Avenger estate, that thing even on standard wheels and suspension handled so well it was silly.

What I should have done was floor it hard and leave him.

I was taking the back route from my dads work (where some repairs were carried out to home)

So called copper (I did not believe him) moaned at me going up the inside off a stalled learner and turning right.

That old banger was such a good car, only cost £175 I think and £40 for a new 1600 engine when I broke the 1300.

That is why I said gentle, 1600 on the 1300 gearing was 2.0l car fast.

My Sunbeam had forest springs, 185/60 tyres, uprated struts HD front bushes, twin carbs, AVFR3, and a twin box rally exhaust.

[Jusme]

It was a bl**dy Sunbeam that shook me in a drag race with my RS500.. At the time I was sponsoring Ray Stringer, he needed a new steering damper and if his Lotus Sunbeam could beat me over half a mile I would have to stump up.  Darned Sunbeam sat beside me until I grabbed 3rd... 'Phew'!!!!

[Sir Tigger KC]

Liked this article written to celebrate 40 years of the Morris marina 
Quote "the "carpeted boot" of the 1.8 Special had all of the opulence of a badly fitted lavatory mat" 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/8454075/40-years-of-the-Morris-Marina.html

Never knew they did a Marina Diesel and the Aussies got the Marina 6 (2.6 straight 6) the lucky buggers!   

When Uncle STEMO gets fed up of his Chevoo, and he feels the need to move up in the motoring world, this might be a suitable replacement.   

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Marina-1-3-SUPER-1977-MOT-AUG-2014-NO-ADVISERIES-/141109648100?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20daca5ae4

[78bex]

Liked this article written to celebrate 40 years of the Morris marina 
Quote "the "carpeted boot" of the 1.8 Special had all of the opulence of a badly fitted lavatory mat" 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/8454075/40-years-of-the-Morris-Marina.html

Never knew they did a Marina Diesel and the Aussies got the Marina 6 (2.6 straight 6) the lucky buggers!   

When Uncle STEMO gets fed up of his Chevoo, and he feels the need to move up in the motoring world, this might be a suitable replacement.   

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Marina-1-3-SUPER-1977-MOT-AUG-2014-NO-ADVISERIES-/141109648100?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20daca5ae4

I can remember from years ago getting a foto from my Aussie cousin leaning on his brand new BL Morris 1500.