Anyone here actually a FAN of Nova's?
11 July 2003, 12:58 AM
#1
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I learnt the art of driving in my Mum's unmodified Mexico Red 1.2 Merit. Lovely balance when pushed to the edge. Front tyres would start to squeal just a gnat's before the back and then just perfect sideways on the roundabout as all 4 gently released traction in harmony. Had to buy about 3 more cars after that just to understand what undeersteer and oversteer were that I kept reading about in the magazines - I just assumed all cars were so sweetly set up. Finally about 10 years later I have found something similar in the new beemer mini cooper of this bird I am humping.
[Edited by Scoobydick - 11/7/2003 1:02:48 AM]
[Edited by Scoobydick - 11/7/2003 1:02:48 AM]
05 November 2003, 11:13 PM
#2
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Noticed that the venerable old Nova has been getting some serious stick in these parts recently.
Personally I have very fond memories of the old Nova. People seem to forget about the motorsport pedigree (something that the Golf GTi cannot be proud about). Memories of the likes of Tony Shields in a Nova SR, complete with 1300 screamer motor, welded diff and glowing discs kicking Escort *** on cold Motoring News night rallies. Or the sheer *****-out commitment of the late Dave Metcalfe destroying Cosworths on BRC rounds in the late 80's in a Group A 1600 GTE.
In the early 80's (centuries before Max Power), a mate rebuilt a damaged early SR and slotted in a Cavalier SRi motor in at the same time, long before the 16v was available. It went like stink, but most memorable was the torque: it would pull away from a standing start in 4th. No-one had done one at the time.
I've had 5. First was a 1.0 Saloon. You can laugh, but compared to the 4 Mini's I had cut my teeth on, the civility was heaven. No.2 was an SR, my first "hot" hatch.
No.3 was a diamond, a Group N GSi rally car. This car got thrashed through every known forest in the UK 12 times a year for 2 years by an enthusiastic teenager (me). It won a BRC junior championship, BTRDA class wins and eight years later it is STILL rallying, still on the same shell, still the cylinder head has never been off. It has been yumped, crashed, bounced on its roof, jigged 3 times, yet refuses to die. Amazing.
No.4 (a GSi road car) went like stink for some strange reason, and then blew up. I rebuilt it and sold it. No.5 was another peach, a Group A 1300 rally car. This was a pukka car, once again as tough as Tyson and, given a slippy day, could embarrass FAR more powerful cars.
Not going to talk bollox about how Nova's are Scooby beaters, and I don't really fancy another one or anything, things have moved on since then. Got a 205 1.9 and an 8v Golf to keep the hot hatch memories alive anyway, both better on the road than a GTE/GSi in any case. Just got fond memories, thats all.
Any other defenders?
Personally I have very fond memories of the old Nova. People seem to forget about the motorsport pedigree (something that the Golf GTi cannot be proud about). Memories of the likes of Tony Shields in a Nova SR, complete with 1300 screamer motor, welded diff and glowing discs kicking Escort *** on cold Motoring News night rallies. Or the sheer *****-out commitment of the late Dave Metcalfe destroying Cosworths on BRC rounds in the late 80's in a Group A 1600 GTE.
In the early 80's (centuries before Max Power), a mate rebuilt a damaged early SR and slotted in a Cavalier SRi motor in at the same time, long before the 16v was available. It went like stink, but most memorable was the torque: it would pull away from a standing start in 4th. No-one had done one at the time.
I've had 5. First was a 1.0 Saloon. You can laugh, but compared to the 4 Mini's I had cut my teeth on, the civility was heaven. No.2 was an SR, my first "hot" hatch.
No.3 was a diamond, a Group N GSi rally car. This car got thrashed through every known forest in the UK 12 times a year for 2 years by an enthusiastic teenager (me). It won a BRC junior championship, BTRDA class wins and eight years later it is STILL rallying, still on the same shell, still the cylinder head has never been off. It has been yumped, crashed, bounced on its roof, jigged 3 times, yet refuses to die. Amazing.
No.4 (a GSi road car) went like stink for some strange reason, and then blew up. I rebuilt it and sold it. No.5 was another peach, a Group A 1300 rally car. This was a pukka car, once again as tough as Tyson and, given a slippy day, could embarrass FAR more powerful cars.
Not going to talk bollox about how Nova's are Scooby beaters, and I don't really fancy another one or anything, things have moved on since then. Got a 205 1.9 and an 8v Golf to keep the hot hatch memories alive anyway, both better on the road than a GTE/GSi in any case. Just got fond memories, thats all.
Any other defenders?
06 November 2003, 07:19 AM
#7
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Great cheap little car in it;s day (**** I was driving my girlfriends 1.0GS Micra at the time 
). Sadly the current stereotypical owner is the bane of the current stereotypical scooby owner. At the end of the day, however, they are both perceived as rice-boy cars, owned by people with different budgets...at least they are by the german car owners clique 
.
Rgds
Chuck
). Sadly the current stereotypical owner is the bane of the current stereotypical scooby owner. At the end of the day, however, they are both perceived as rice-boy cars, owned by people with different budgets...at least they are by the german car owners clique .Rgds
Chuck
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06 November 2003, 09:27 AM
#10
I have to admit that my sister had a GTE until earlier this year (made way for her scoob) and when I drove it it was great fun 
We were going to track day it but didn't in the end An old colleague had a GTE with hub caps (standard) and when we used to blat to work in the mornings (me in 2.9 xr4x4) he could melt the hub caps! 
Mind you he was a fecking nutter!
We were going to track day it but didn't in the end An old colleague had a GTE with hub caps (standard) and when we used to blat to work in the mornings (me in 2.9 xr4x4) he could melt the hub caps! Mind you he was a fecking nutter!
06 November 2003, 09:51 AM
#12
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All well and good, but stick 17's, a dodgy body kit and some neon washer jets on it and I'll still laugh at you
Having said that, I'm not into the cruise scene but was recently at a meet with loads of modded cars and the car that impressed me most was a Nova. 2.0L 16V conversion, but the cleanest, tidyiest install you have ever seen, the car was subtle, but perfectly executed.
Having said that, I'm not into the cruise scene but was recently at a meet with loads of modded cars and the car that impressed me most was a Nova. 2.0L 16V conversion, but the cleanest, tidyiest install you have ever seen, the car was subtle, but perfectly executed.
06 November 2003, 08:15 PM
#14
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A great wee car that served it's purpose in the late eighties/nineties. Most of us probably started our driving careers with something similar which is really annoying when folk slag them off. How many folk started off with a GTI/GTE/GSI/XR/SR/RS under the bonnet?? So overall, I count myself as a fan of Novas.
My first car was the 1.2 Diamond, which when I look back now it reminds me of that thing Fred Flintstone runs about in but I loved it at the time and it had street cred as well.
However, the basic ones were fairly cr4p
. It wasn't till u moved to the Sr/GTE/GSI etc that things moved on with power and handling IMHO. Mind u, I haven't owned another Vauxhall since....
Happy motoring everyone whatever we currently or did drive cos opinions always differ.
[Edited by Techno - 11/6/2003 8:18:48 PM]
[Edited by Techno - 11/6/2003 8:21:11 PM]
My first car was the 1.2 Diamond, which when I look back now it reminds me of that thing Fred Flintstone runs about in
but I loved it at the time and it had street cred as well.However, the basic ones were fairly cr4p
. It wasn't till u moved to the Sr/GTE/GSI etc that things moved on with power and handling IMHO. Mind u, I haven't owned another Vauxhall since....Happy motoring everyone whatever we currently or did drive cos opinions always differ.
[Edited by Techno - 11/6/2003 8:18:48 PM]
[Edited by Techno - 11/6/2003 8:21:11 PM]
06 November 2003, 08:18 PM
#15
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Listen to you all praising the nova gods.
this thread will have a mension in all the mags next month kevline,maxkev,kevs,fast kev lol
there slow over done and stupid looking but in there day they did some motersport yawn.
this thread will have a mension in all the mags next month kevline,maxkev,kevs,fast kev lol
there slow over done and stupid looking but in there day they did some motersport yawn.
06 November 2003, 10:50 PM
#17
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Had a GSI on a h plate, amazing car, great handling and took a right beating for 2 years of ownership and only had problems with the breaks!!! also lost £400 in value over 2 years!!
07 November 2003, 10:32 AM
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C'mon let's face it, the REAL reason so many kids buy Nova's is because they are CHEAP, dirt CHEAP - has little to do with 'racing pedigree' or how good the car is.
On top of that, there are loads of them and I believe they are relatively easy to modify, have LOADS of people supplying CHEAP bodykits and CHEAP mods etc.
Let's face it, if there were as many golfs around as there are nova's and if they were as cheap as novas then I'd bet there'd much more popular choice.
On top of that, there are loads of them and I believe they are relatively easy to modify, have LOADS of people supplying CHEAP bodykits and CHEAP mods etc.
Let's face it, if there were as many golfs around as there are nova's and if they were as cheap as novas then I'd bet there'd much more popular choice.
07 November 2003, 06:37 PM
#22
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I've had a 1.3 SR and a 1.4 SRi in my time, the first one (SR)I got was about 10 years ago now and back the they didn't have the dogy rep they have now...
Both were great cars!
Both were great cars!
07 November 2003, 06:50 PM
#23
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scoobs are not far fron having the same image now anyway
novas are so cheap now anyway- as well as saxos etc...the only reason to have one is if you want one...therefore you must kinda like it
novas are so cheap now anyway- as well as saxos etc...the only reason to have one is if you want one...therefore you must kinda like it
08 November 2003, 11:22 AM
#30
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Oh and BTW.... yes I am a fan of Nova's.
I'm not going to claim that they are the pinnacle of automotive excellence.... but in about 1990 nothing could touch them for their combination of cheap running costs v. performance especially if you were under 21. There were also plenty of bolt on goodies from bigger Vauxhalls to improve looks, brakes etc.
Yes, I had one. a 1990 G plate 1.4 SR.
I'm not going to claim that they are the pinnacle of automotive excellence.... but in about 1990 nothing could touch them for their combination of cheap running costs v. performance especially if you were under 21. There were also plenty of bolt on goodies from bigger Vauxhalls to improve looks, brakes etc.
Yes, I had one. a 1990 G plate 1.4 SR.