View Full Version : Are they as good as they were then?
I know this place is biased towards novas, but being honest would you say novas are as good fun now as they were back in the day. I had one for 9 months & absolutely adored it & really want another. However part of me says its just the memories why I want another. I had a breeze blue 1.4 sr mk2. Whats your thoughts on this.
Yep deffo! I'm 32 and have had novas on and off since i passed my test, i still have a 1.2 as a daily driver, and it still brings a grin to my face on the commute to work everyday!
Novasport
23-09-09, 09:16 PM
I love em, it just basic motoring. Its you driving the car, not 10 computers doing it all for you.
Southie
23-09-09, 09:17 PM
As above also 32 and had one as my first car. They still rust and always will.
It's an addiction lol
Novasport
23-09-09, 09:17 PM
Yep deffo! I'm 32 and have had novas on and off since i passed my test, i still have a 1.2 as a daily driver, and it still brings a grin to my face on the commute to work everyday!
I drove a friends Sport the other week and I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat all the way back. Mind you the sound of the carbs and the straight cut box made a difference:d
I've had well over ten of the buggers, With other such cars as a clio 172, williams, xsara vts, clio 16v, golf mk2 gti's scooby wrx newage blah blah
and yet when i get back into a stripped out caged up nova it gives me the most excitement of all... They are easy to work on, loads of second hands parts but the best bit is the amount of nutters who you can chat **** to to your hearts content :thumb: I dunno if its the car or the scene for me still not worked it out yet.
oh im 27 and i had a nova saloon as my first car pmsl
djshaggeh
23-09-09, 09:21 PM
Yup, Ive had them since I passed my test. I had a year driving a civic and just recently bought a GTE and there is no comparison. Buy a civic they start evertime! lol No, seriously the nova is such a blast to drive. Its especially nice when people say 'nice car mate' and such like. Or you pass another nova and they flash you. I've had too many fun times in my novas and I hope to continue to do so for another few years
I think in all fairness mr rex its a fifty/fifty split, cars/people on the scene that does it tbh, as im on other forums but i can never stay away from this one for very long, and the show season is the best time of year, looking forward to catching up with everyone again and chatting drunken crap its the way forward lol
auzzy2000
23-09-09, 09:24 PM
had my first nova in 1988.and have still got one.great fun easy to work on.get one now
well i hate the subaru nobbers lol, there al old pricks pmsl... hence the scoob got shoved on the nova stand for most the shows pmsl.
General Baxter
23-09-09, 09:26 PM
well i hate the subaru nobbers lol, there al old pricks pmsl... hence the scoob got shoved on the nova stand for most the shows pmsl.
no we just made our own stand lol
Novasport
23-09-09, 09:37 PM
Astra-Sport Club is good but prefer to come on here, I have taken the 888 to a couple of shows with the PNG.
peester
23-09-09, 10:27 PM
i like old skool 70's vauxhall, but can never quite afford to buy and modify one of those .. so a nova will do lol
Jon_nova1
23-09-09, 10:53 PM
I think they are as good as they were
but, if you got a moderm car, and stripped all the crap out of it so it had the same technology as the nova (basic) it would be losing, hence the everlasting fight to put a more modern, bigger engine into a nova
everyone always comes back to em
I cant stand new cars anyway, my daily is an 83 Audi 80 & I have a Mk1 Golf project car. When the golfs on the road the audi will be sold & another nova will be bought. Cant stand cars with power steering.
Burgo, I agree thats why Im here.
Hmm... it fulfills a criteria, thats for sure lol As to whether its better than they used to be - my first was a 1.2 J reg hatchback in 2000. Of course my current one is better, as a) its a saloon and b) it has 2.5 times the capacity :d I'm not as fanatical about them as some people, if circumstances were different I'd have a couple of other cars parked outside. Just so happens the Nova came up.
I'm with spud, I come on here because I like it. I never reaaally got into CCUK and going back on there after about a year of not really using it much, its just totally different to here.
ANDYRACER
24-09-09, 02:31 AM
Loved my novas then realised i could insure quick jap cars, went out in my mates nova xe the other weekend and got the buzz back.
Been looking out for a proper spec'd throttle bodied or let'd nova at the moment. :thumb:
Ive sold my Nova project and ALL my parts and i never want to mess with one again.Totally lost interest in them completely to be honest,driven every type bar a LET and there is better cars out there.I will never say never but i really arent that interested in owning another
craig green
24-09-09, 10:38 AM
They are more fun tbh. Most of the other cars out there are bigger, heavier & thus not as raw.
Novas arent great for daily commutes etc, but when it comes to blasting along some open B roads or country lanes, not much touches them vfm. Even a 1.2i can be as much fun as a modern/heavy Golf GTI.
vaughanmc
24-09-09, 12:49 PM
Even a 1.2i can be as much fun as a modern/heavy Golf GTI.
Oh yes, a lot of folk I know say they like a passenger run in the Nova compared to there modern cars lol
It even put's a smile on my face driving it as well :thumb:
Rickardo
24-09-09, 05:14 PM
I'm 38. (Old i know) but mentally i'm really immature.
I love my Nova most of the time,
Pro's..
Fun
Cheap
Rare nowaday's. Unless your at PV
Loads of part's etc etc.
Like minded weirdos on PNG
Con's..
Unreliable
Built from biscuit tins
Everyone in the "Real" world thinks your weird for spending too much time & money on a Nova.
Con's..
Unreliable
I think thats unfair on Nova's TBH. Pick up a standard one and they go on for ever and ever. The trouble lies with the fact we cant stop messing with them lol
When i first started driving, I was a VeeDub nut, and was quite heavily involved in the scene. I happened upon a Nova at one point, discovered the people in the vauxhall scene were completely different ie, weren't stuck up each others asses, got involved in the PVG completely by accident, and then ended up here after merging what was left of PVG with Novaload.
I look back when I was 17 and wondcer what I would say to myself if I went back and told me I was going to be involved in a Nova owners club. I would probably have laughed in my own face. Goes without saying I was naive, as are most people who don't know what the cars are truely about.
And as mentioned, i don't think I could ever leave the scene because of the people :)
awww how cute. i got into em by choice. drive a fooked 106 diesel that was dying fast, or buy £50 worth of 4 dr 1.2i. i did the latter and never looked back. ive had 10 now, and still itch for another. the best one i had was a mk1 1.2 carb merit in mustard yellow. fully stripped out, on jamex 60mms and cav slabs. scaff pipe exhaust and the driving mentality of a 16 year old boy on speed. it never bust, cost me £200 with a years mot, and got hammered senseless. i never serviced it, it carried engines etc around, and just got abused by me and my mates. its now a rally car with a 1600 gsi lump and is still going. and still mustard! long live the mustard macine rofl!!!!
rob
Rickardo
24-09-09, 05:43 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rickardo
Con's..
Unreliable
Ok, i should of said mine is sometimes.. :thumb:
I like driving mine but thats because I don't have to drive it everyday, I'm a white van man and its free motoring but the Nova really makes lol and like going for a country lane blast in it, I would hate it if I had to drive to the same place everyday in it, What is getting a little tedious though is every time I go anywhere in the Nova is people having a tale to tell you about a nova encounter when they were younger or a friends first car etc,
craig green
24-09-09, 05:56 PM
I think thats unfair on Nova's TBH. Pick up a standard one and they go on for ever and ever. The trouble lies with the fact we cant stop messing with them lol
Tatoally agree. The main thing they have going for them is the simplicity & durability of Vauxhall mechanicals.
Surely any poor rep as far as reliability is concerened can only come from opinions based on 100k thrashed out examples? Rot aside (which is a 10yr(ish) thing) they have everything going for them as far as 'superminis' goes.
Got to say I love my SR!
I'm 39 (old) - and my 1st car was a mk2 1.2 Nova Merit - I still have it (well whats left of it - Puntova project)
I had a Seat Ibiza for a while - was a nice car but boring...
The SR's been as reliable as I can expect for a 20+ yr old car and tbh I wouldnt swap it for anything else in a similar class.
One of the funniest cars ive ever drove TBH.
Not biased but the 3 best cars ive owned & driven were Nova's, R5 GTT & 205 GTi's.
All similiar era, all similiar basic specs (to an extent) all light weight hot hatchs of there day.
i don't think I could ever leave the scene because of the people :)
That comment rigth there sum's it up for me really. Some of the best times ive had in recent years all boil down to being connected with the GM scene & Nova's :)
Good times man, plenty more afoot no doubt with the numerous sheds i appear at shows in lol lol
Cons:
They're sh!t.
Pros:
They're sh!t :d
If you have the time and love playing with cars. Then you will find out that they better than you remember. Just a big toy IMO.
novaload1992
24-09-09, 07:46 PM
yes, even tho i was born in 1992:roll:
marshman
24-09-09, 08:50 PM
Well hear go,s this is my first post, im 49 bought my first nova 1.2 swing B736 GRX in silver brand new had it for a year then traded it in for a Sport brand new, now how many of you can say that on hear, wot a car best fun iv had with a car for years, 4 branch mainifold high lift cam, performance ex pipe god did she go. The reg was C859 RDP had to sell her was getting maried that was 23 years ago, anyway now got a 1.2 starfire 60 on the clock its an 89 mod and still good fun to drive and yes it makes me feel 25 again,so the answer to the first question yes they are as good to drive now as they were back in 1984-85.:)
Well hear go,s this is my first post, im 49 bought my first nova 1.2 swing B736 GRX in silver brand new had it for a year then traded it in for a Sport brand new, now how many of you can say that on hear, wot a car best fun iv had with a car for years, 4 branch mainifold high lift cam, performance ex pipe god did she go. The reg was C859 RDP had to sell her was getting maried that was 23 years ago, anyway now got a 1.2 starfire 60 on the clock its an 89 mod and still good fun to drive and yes it makes me feel 25 again,so the answer to the first question yes they are as good to drive now as they were back in 1984-85.:)
Nearly 50 years old and you spell like a 13 year old :wtf: :cry:
Starfire! My mates was one of those lol. We thought it was a mistake/p!ss taking dealer! What a daft name.
Welcom to Performancespellcheckclub BTW.
I have been driving them for 24 years now (on & off), and i still love driving them.
pro's
they are fun/rusty/sheds/chav wagons etc.
stuart dislikes them
boy racers actually let me out of side roads.
Cons
everybody is expecting a race with me.....
attracts the wrong sort of attention.
Yep im 31, had a nova of somesorts pretty much since i was 17. Grew up on them and just cant tear myself away from them :roll:
Had plenty other motors and love my mk4 astras but the nova just has that little spark you look for when driving :p
I would say its not as much fun on the road nowadays as it used to be when i grew up with them as you cant get away with as much due to all the new restrictions, laws, speed bumps/cameras and peoples changing attitudes towards driving etc. etc.
But hey ho we try our best :thumb: With all the new high powered motors out there, the owners see you in your nova and ask is it fast. Reply: fast enough to give you a fright!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marshman
24-09-09, 09:08 PM
Thanks wwmnw for pointing out my spelling mistakes i did not know this site has one but you must be the one all sites have one. Thanks 4 making me feel so welcome:d
Thanks wwmnw for pointing out my spelling mistakes i did not know this site has one but you must be the one all sites have one. Thanks 4 making me feel so welcome:d
oh yes, as our mission statement says.. we are here to entertain, & educate as well as royally take the p1ss at every opportunity
Thanks 4 making me feel so welcome:d
Bin the text type or you'll not be here long! :mad: etc. lol
oh yes, as our mission statement says.. we are here to entertain, & educate as well as royally take the p1ss at every opportunity
Lol and this site is still tame compared to bttos lol
bttos is gash. I got banned for being a d!ck. Can't even recall why I joined, but I didn't favour someone at the time :/
Lol and this site is still tame compared to bttos lol
someone on bttos was calling you names because you mentioned someone down south......
the article mentioned a man in a corvette in TIVERTON, devon. but was posted by someone in CHESHIRE.. you were correct.... please mr bathfart, go & sort them out... tiverton is 213 miles south from cheshire......
ps. I have only just tried btTOSS the once & will not be doing so again.
lol i love mine to bits still today , but im lucky enough not to drive it everyday , i have a m4 astra sri (soon to make way for mk4 golf) as my daily and this keeps me sane for when i need so ne quiet/comfy/have room/people in the car etc etc
couldnt put up wth a nova for every day driving , but couldnt be without one at all lol
p.s just too add though , along with what some people have said about the scene , it has priovided me with lots of laughs loads of new friends and top time's , and if im being honest have only come across a handfull of knobs since i have been on here ,compared to at least 100 top guys and girls
Cheers for the replies, Im considering a GTE in white. So a quick question, did they make them without a sunroof?
Im only 21, but ive had about 14 novas? All different varients, drove all different powered nova's and i love them. I have driven other cars obviously (i wont list them) but i always end up back in a nova and loving every minute of it :)
i've had 28 Nova's now and everytime i sell/scrap one i say never again yet i find myself constantly looking on Pistonheads/Ebay/Here for more!
Who knows why because they really are terrible cars but there's something about them that makes you want another.
brainsnova
25-09-09, 02:11 AM
i ll never get another as to get it the way i want it would cost plenty ££££££ and certain parts are hard to find.
i loved my first one Brown sr any my callypso red ones but none of them come close to what i have now.
Hummmmm throttle boddies hummmm.
novarally
25-09-09, 07:57 AM
Well hear go,s this is my first post, im 49 bought my first nova 1.2 swing B736 GRX in silver brand new had it for a year then traded it in for a Sport brand new, now how many of you can say that on hear, wot a car best fun iv had with a car for years, 4 branch mainifold high lift cam, performance ex pipe god did she go. The reg was C859 RDP had to sell her was getting maried that was 23 years ago, anyway now got a 1.2 starfire 60 on the clock its an 89 mod and still good fun to drive and yes it makes me feel 25 again,so the answer to the first question yes they are as good to drive now as they were back in 1984-85.:)
Excellent, someone on PNG who's older than me.
Awesome thread!
I love my Nova to bits but have to admit that there were times when I was doing my 8 week rebuild that I wondered what the hell I was doing.
I remember a boiling hot day and being inside the car tangled up in the cage grinding off random pieces of metal. I was wearing a beanie, ear protection, dust mask and full overalls - not very comfy lol
I'm also one of the ones that gets very tempted when something nice looking (like a "mint" standard mk1 SR) comes up on eBay even though realistically I can't have another one.
sparkie1401
25-09-09, 09:54 AM
well i love my nova and cant wait to drive it, i think ill have ample fun in it even though i have an Evo 6 on the drive
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