Interesting posts above.
I started in around 1968 with a Morris Minor second hand, and soon after passing my test went after a Vauxhall Cresta, just loved big cars, had a few Zephyr's then a succession of Mini's one a Cooper which I did a swap for a Triumph TR2, then swapped for another Mini.
After that had all kinds of cars including a Dodge Custom Royal with push button auto select gears. It wasn't until many years later when I bought my first new vehicle a Metro van.
Then over the years had a 4.2 Jag, two new Renault Espace and a VW Transporter van costing circa 17K with VAT, rear wipers split back doors etc.Had a collection of Alpha's.
Again years later a whole range of second hand cars some good some bad but mainly good, especially the Saab's none rusty one bit.The KIA was the rustiest car I've bought for long time.
Now I don't value any used car past £400, due to cost of parts, after the 75 Tourer came my current driver a VW Passat 2.0 s 20 valve petrol only 83K miles, just had to replace the passenger window regulator and a back door has deadlocked parts on ebay quite cheap, leaks water in to both foot wells German engineering my bum
A strange thing, the VW had a rust hole about 2" in the middle of the front wheel arch, when I dug it out there was a sponge/foam strip right were the rust hole was, I've noticed a few more like it on the road. The KIA rotten sills pic above also had a foam/sponge strip right were it rotted out, obviously collects and holds water. Is it a design fault or what?
As my garage is up to the roof in junk I usually work outside, I'm waiting until next spring to buy another 75 or MG