wheels

[trabitom99]

I can't remember the last person who signed up who wasn't either looking for someone to sell them a 3door 1700 or for someone to lower/16valve/weld their 3door 1700 so that they can fit minilites and "go sideways"

Well, if its any consolation d3k4y0 I only joined up about 2 months ago and I'm the kind of boring old fart who prefers an original Volvo tape player in his car to all that silver-coloured modern-day CD nonsense. I'd never dream of fitting daft 15" alloys to a 1980's car (Haas excepted perhaps?), and if I had the money my 360 daily driver would be scratch and dent-free and as near to its original condition as I could get.

HOWEVER ...

For me, the drifters doing several good things:
1) they're doing the car's grandaddy image the world of good
2) they may well one day, when they're older, wiser, richer, and baseball caps have been turned round the right way, be the ones rescuing a tired old 300 series from the scrapyard and restore it because it reminds them of fun times before things like morgage and family started getting in the way.

I respect them for their ingenuity and anyone who's found their way onto this forum is a potential 300maniac worth converting

For every mint condition car sold to a drifter, you've probably got another ten which go to someone who doesn't care about RWD, quirkyness, Volvo strength etc. and just wants a cheap runaround until the next MOT, when the thing will be cubed and replaced with an Escort, Golf or Astra. IMHO, they are the real baddies.

Over here, I've noticed a considerable price rise in used 300's over the past few months. Perhaps there's light at the end of the tunnel yet?

[d3k4y0]

For me, the drifters doing several good things:
1) they're doing the car's grandaddy image the world of good

I'm sorry, but being roughly the same age as most of the drifters I don't want to have my car given a "cool" image if it's down to dangerous driving on public roads.
Should the image of it become that of a car associated with young drivers trying to dick around on roundabouts and carparks then we are no different to the Nova boys and that is an image that I would much rather steer well clear of (if you'll pardon the pun)

I liked the fact that our cars where seen as uncool, dull and boring. I think it added something to the character and perhaps more importantly, I think it's what gave this place it's atmosphere.
I have to say this again though, I have NO issue with people doing different things with their cars, I was delighted when I first saw nev's 340, but I had my reservations almost immediately when I read the fart cars article because you could tell that exposure on that kind of level would lead us down the road of clones and poor immitations.
I think variety is healthy for the community as a whole, it's certainly never harmed the VeeDub clubs (I mean more like the beetles and the campers, not the chavs in thier gti replicas ) so I'm happy that the drifters are here in a way, atleast it gives us something to talk about, but I just hate to see great cars go to people who will tear them to pieces for a few cheap kicks.

Also, I meant no offence by the fact that I didn't remember the last person to join that wasn't a drifter, I know that there have been a few in the past few months, but they are all far outweighed by the number of drifters who come, post a wanted ad then aren't heard of again.

[MJ]

Yeah, I tend to agree with Dekay.

If they get too popular they'll start becoming a theft target like sierras. Yeah, I know they'll never be that popular, but you get the idea.

atm they're grandad cars joyriders avoid, but with too much popularity these joyriders may think that a 340 would be good fun to nick, drive, and burn

[trabitom99]

Also, I meant no offence by the fact that I didn't remember the last person to join that wasn't a drifter ...

Absolutely none taken, and I hope I wasn't sounding patronising ...

Maybe I'm speaking a little too much from the view of the German market - over here the cars' image isn't even boring, its practically non-existent. No scene, no clubs, no forum and the "real" Volvo owners look down on it because it's Dutch.

Recently a classic car magazine over here said "the best thing about it, is that it crashes well, which is probably the best solution for the car."

This means the 300 series is only bought if it has any MOT left on it, no money is spent on maintenance and the cars are scrapped when the belt drive goes as no one knows what to do with it.

It's not my kind of thing (being Tape Deck man), but if I saw a drifter pounding around the Nurburgring in a lowered 300 (you're more likely to see a double-decker bus) I'd actually be pleased because at least someone's taking an interest in the thing. Chances are, when the MOT date is due, he'll be welding sills and changing head gaskets not chucking it away.

I totally agree on the chavvy roundabout & public road thing, and I'm a bit concerned about a certain Spanish member of this forum with his rare 3-door GLT ... There'll be some dents there soon ...

[sven360]

I just hate to see great cars go to people who will tear them to pieces for a few cheap kicks.

Get your wallet out then and start buying some to save.
Let's face it they will never become a true classic like MK1 and 2 RS'-no competition pedigree and a pi$$ poor image(especially the big bumper models-WTF was that all about?)

If people wanna drift.rally.banger race or generally abuse that is they're choice if they bought it.

As for gettin stolen it's only the drifters cars who'll get knicked due to normally having decent seats and alloys that don't look like a wheel trim.
Can anyone remember a 3 series gettin' knicked on a dry night 'cos I can't.

I'll leave the doors open on my low mileage MK2 3 dr if you want so you can save it from the hammering it'll be gettin' next weekend on the Weardale

Live and let live-if people want to save cars stop moaning on here and start salting 'em away for the future generations if not deal with it.

Oh and by the way minilites rock and if Redline doesn't send me spigot rings soon I'm goin' to explode