Why a nova? [Archive] - Performance Nova Group

Barn

01-02-04, 01:17 PM

Hi,

Just wondering....why have you guys decided to pick the Nova as your car of choice?

Obviously I own one and I'm at the front line of everyones pi$s takes... because of the car I own. "Boy Racer"...blah blah blah.... "you might get 20p for it when you sell it, if your lucky"....that type-o sh!t.

Don't get me wrong its always in good humour but no doubt you must have had similiar comments about your car's.

My reasoning has to be because parts are cheap (ish...nothings cheap for a student, lol) , the performance (my K&N'd 1.4SR creams my mates cars atm) , and the standard look is better than most 'standard looks' if you know what I mean...for cars of the same spec/age.

Obviously, the last one is personal choice but in my totally biased opinion my SR looks a lot better than say a Clio RT :D .

What are your reasons?

p.s Sh!t I nearly forgot...I also own a nova because my standard SR can pi$s all over saxo vtr's and vts's and peugeot 106 gti's.

:lol: lol

Adam

01-02-04, 01:33 PM

That is why people have Novas, the SR's can beat probably any other first time car any of your mates might have, and they are cheap to buy/tax/insure and quite cheap to mod as people buy a standard Nova for a couple of hundred and then have the rest of their money modding it to give it a totally unique look. People that take the piss out of Novas don't know what they are on about, the Nova was the first modified hot hatch that set the standard for all todays Clio/Corsa/Saxo. Its the original and best,best performance and can be best looks.

locky

01-02-04, 01:38 PM

Been into vauxhalls all my life, cos my dad works for them! not really that biased to other cars tho. they are cheap and cheerful cars. inexpensive for parts, and to run, also,. i get parts cheaper than most! :wink:

Mark

01-02-04, 01:42 PM

I rally one, so I drive one and I break them to feed my rally habit. :D

Stuart

01-02-04, 01:47 PM

your just a nova junkie, like ben and will f lol

i got one because it was cheap and ive now got nearly free insurance after 5 years lol

latest quote for it, 150 tpft and 190FC lmao

Mark

01-02-04, 01:50 PM

your just a nova junkie, like ben and will f lol

8) 8)

red_devil

01-02-04, 01:54 PM

I actually hate Nova's that are standard and thats been the inspiration to get my car the way i have... gotta admit there aint many cars of that era that i did like and i've just gonna love the flexibility of engine and styling mods u can use on a nova and still make it look wicked

Ben3042

01-02-04, 02:00 PM

p.s Sh!t I nearly forgot...I also own a nova because my standard SR can pi$s all over saxo vtr's and vts's and peugeot 106 gti's.

:lol: lol

Hmmm standard 1.4sr piss over vts and 106 gti's I DONT THINK SO MATE!

Fester

01-02-04, 02:02 PM

:lol: :lol:

novashed

01-02-04, 02:25 PM

what other motors can you stick a 150bhp motor in for under ?600!! and be reliable for everyday driving :D :D

Ste_Nova

01-02-04, 02:29 PM

i had my first one before the corsa/saxo/106 even existed... i've never seen a reason to change

Barn

01-02-04, 02:42 PM

Hmmm standard 1.4sr p**s over vts and 106 gti's I DONT THINK SO MATE!
i was taking the pi$s Ben :wink:

djp_y2k

01-02-04, 02:42 PM

Nova look cool to me when done up.

Its an even better advantage that they are cheap and there are a lot of bits available for them.

XZiBiT

01-02-04, 02:48 PM

i was'nt a fan of novas my first car was a cav its only the last kinda 8 months ive really taken to them i get so much s@*t at work because of it they say there slow as fuck and look naff i think the opersite my car will beat most of a similer spec engine even beats standared rs turbos and thats why i love nova's coz mr 3 grand series 2 rs turbo gets beat by my b reg nova gte :wink:

scott.parker

01-02-04, 02:50 PM

there just bullet proof,i use to owen a fiesta xr2i,this was fast as,but i allso needed a big wallet to keep it runiing on the road!!so could say it was sh1t :D ..got a vauxhall,never looked back....

oh but when i did all i saw was a vtr! :D :lol: :lol:

but seriously i found them to just best car of there age for your money...

Rach

01-02-04, 04:34 PM

Why a nova?

coz it's a nova :!:

enough said!

:P

beatin u

01-02-04, 05:08 PM

I used to hate novas till my mate got one with a valver engine in it, I was converted and bought one. Bang for buck you just cant beat it.

Philsutton

01-02-04, 05:10 PM

I dont think ive actaully heard of a fast 106/saxo all you can do them is out an induction kit on an exhaust. When ever im at santa pod it is nearly always a nova that sets the fastest time of the day apart from the bike of course :lol: Plus a nova holds the record at trax for its 0-60 time. I love them manly because people take the piss, an then seeing a nova beat supposedly faster an more expensive cars is very satisfing.

nova_rally

01-02-04, 05:29 PM

philsutton - you really should look into Kia Prides / Mazda 121a then - In standard state they are faster than a Nova SR in standard State.

If the guy down the road ever sells his Saxo I'm going to mkae sure I'm first in the queue!

I don't really like Novas at all. The only reason I bought it is that it was all I could afford and had a decent enough spec considering it's price.

Parts for upgrading it are pretty cheap I suppose compared to my last car, but then that didnt need half as much upgrading in the first place....

Alan

Philsutton

01-02-04, 05:53 PM

yeah in standard form their not that amazing but the ones im on about are far from standard.
I just loves cars that people hate, but in a stupidly big engine an then watch them cry. :D

NovaNeil

01-02-04, 06:10 PM

I like them so much because they have charactor! Take yours Saxo's Frez's, R5, 205's Etc and all of the sporty ones have got stuck on wheel arches to make them into "sporty" models. Where as the Nova has Audi Quattro Styley Box arches...... Nuff said! For me thats what does it!

But also if you go deeper, little touches like the Bonnet that has the raised bit in the middle. Only the 205 has something similar, but its not as apparant..... Where as the others have flat bonnets.

Then theres the Engines!!! The choice of engines that virtually just bolt striaght in and are tuneable is amazing!!!! Take the R5, theres only one real engine choice! Then the Saxo......1.6 16v thats it! 205 = Mi16 1.6 and 1.9 GTi6. Clio..... 1.8 16v. Frez RST lump or Zetec. (are the big ones) Where as the Nova has 5, 6, 7 Good engine choices that are well tunable.

As you can tell I like my Nova's! They have there bad points as with any car. But for me they are a good fun, easy to tune car and not bad looking.

krobinson

01-02-04, 06:38 PM

I've loved Nova's ever since my dad bought one in 1989. In 1994 we moved out of town to a small village that had a loads of fella's with mk1 SR Nova's and lookalikes, i always watched them fly past and wanted one.

When it was time to get a car, dad wanted me to get a New Corsa B, i wanted a Nova. Finally got one, owned 5 in total now and still Love them.

When modifyed right, they stand out and look fantastic. I've never had a bad comment from anyone when they see my Nova, it always gets a good reaction.

Keith

srs1

01-02-04, 07:12 PM

i keep buying nova's as when the last shell bites the dust, they are easy to swap again. i've spent some money on the car that i will keep buying another nova and swap the bit each time. i want a astra mk2 next, but there in the same league as nova. (rotten shell etc) so as i have money invested in the moddest nova, i will keep getting one. i will undoubtly reach a point, but thats atleast another 5 years. told the mrs i'm going to get another regardless of buying a house. lol

dave.gsi

01-02-04, 07:43 PM

allways been a vauxhall man. my dad also worked there for most of my childhood.

gonna get a mk2 astra gte aswell one day 8)

Jim

01-02-04, 08:29 PM

My uncle bought a brand new 1.4SR back in 1991. I really liked it when I first saw it and said to him if he ever wanted to sell it, to let me know as I'd buy it off him. In 1999 my uncle sold the car to me. I'm open minded about cars, had he bought an RS Turbo fiesta, or 205 Gti I would have bought that off him. It just so happened to be a Nova and it's gone from there.

epo

01-02-04, 08:38 PM

am actually a ford man like me dad

i had split up from r lass and me mk 1 fester was on its last legs so i decided am gettin a new car was lookin at turbos especially a fester or escort so went out got a load
me old man was determend not 2 let me have 1 as id have probably killed my self
so he took me round evey garage in north linconshire
we came 2 the very last one and there was a black gte lowered 40mm on 15's
and i said
"that gte looks alright"
he said " it looks a bit scabby"
"i said "ok will go put me deposite down on me turbo"

next thing i knew we were test drivin it and i loved it it was cheaper than a turbo, the insurance wudnt kill me and i wasnt as likly 2 kill me self in it

elgan

01-02-04, 08:45 PM

always been a big nova fan

gone through 3-4 projects, current one ive taken most seriously, (taking near a year and a half now).

im really enjoying them, and what makes it even better now is that everyones so used to seeing bad examples, crusty and rusty etc etc, that when you build a nice suttle cleanj example, people really appreciate your work! well thats what ive found so far anyway. :lol:

Mel

01-02-04, 09:40 PM

i love the nova because they are cheap, insurance friendly, economical, and look fantastic.

They are seriously fun to drive, easy to mod, parts are cheap (ish), and the perfomance that you can get out of them is amasing.

Plus, (forgot who said it lol) they were the first sporty hatch, and IMO, they look way better standard than vtr's ect..

?Marty?

01-02-04, 09:44 PM

I prefer angles than curves (not talking about females tho lol). Which is why from the new cars, i realy like the fiat Stilo or Celica for example, rather than most other cars that are more rounder.

The Nova's lines are clean and sharp and it looks fantastic when smoothed/debadged and etc. I hate too many litlle details on new cars. Less is more, and simplicity is the highest form of sophistication.

And the fact that it IS old now, is actually a good reason to have one if you're an enthusiast/into modifying, because it means there is less and less tidy examples, so anything in very good condition (whether modified a lot, or just completely restored - albeit with a bit of smoothing/de-locking/de-badging) is going to stand out, especially amongs all the new corsas and saxos and etc. That are ALL on finance.

All the new hot hatches that are about, are either 'mum's shopping runs', or otherwise on finance. And therefore harldy any are individual.

I would have a R5 or a peugeot 205 just as easily as a nova, BUT the nova's arches make it more appealing to me that the other two. But i guess the only reason i've ended up with a nova and not one of the other two, is only 'just because it happened'. And once i got a car, i thought i may as well modify it, as it was something to do. Allowed me to learn general car maintenance/mechanics, and i've ended up with something that was 'built' for me by me, gets used everyday but still stands out from all the other cars around, and can't be bought on the road as is on finance.

I wont be having another one after this one, not because i dont like them, but only beacuse i intend on getting something that's 'better'.

Ben3042

01-02-04, 11:07 PM

ade

01-02-04, 11:50 PM

1st car I had after passing my test and I still own that car - although its garaged waiting for a major rebuild (again)

A girl I went out with at Uni got me into Novas - she bought a little brown 1.2 3 door hatch - A reg for ?2K second hand back in 1991 and I loved it...used to mess with it fixing stone chips and rust spots!

So the 1st car I bought was my 1.2 MK2 merit - changed a fair bit since then.

I'm driving a V reg Seat Ibza at the mo whilst mines off the road - nice enuff car - hatchback - sportyish - nice interior but theres no "fun factor".

I find myself dawdling along at 50 in a 60 zone and "taking my time" everywhere I go. Seem to have lost the spark - not that I was a fast driver in the Nova but I always felt I was going faster than I actually probably was (maybe its something to do with it being slammed)

Cant wait till the rebuilds finished and I can drive her again...

Ade

Jules

02-02-04, 01:41 AM

I saw Gary Hopes old one (Now belongs to _Ben_ on here) in a old Max Power magazine (Which I still have) and just fell in love with it so bought my first SR, then sold it and bought another SR on twin 40's after a brief affair with a lovely '67 VW Beetle, when I saw it (_Ben_'s Nova) at Trax years back I was stunned by the quality of it "in the metal" as it were.
So that car has been a insperation for me and it's still me favorite Nova.

RJM25R

02-02-04, 09:39 AM

I am in a similar vein (??!?!?!) to jules. I saw a Calypso Red GTE in 1988 when they were new off the production line. A guy near my house owned it, and it just looked so much classier than a xr2 or whatever. The lad took me out in it (i was only 15 in 1988) and i fell in love with the car. I had a metro for 6 months when i passed my test, then bought an SXI nova. Then a GSI, then a 205 gti, then a r5 turbo (for 3 weeks-it was a cut and shut!) then a golf cab, citroen axgt, nova GTE, then RJM25R, during which time i also had calibra, escort estate, 5 door nova, corsa-c sxi, and now a Pulsar GTI-R. the nova's were NOT the best cars, but the most fun, involving, with character and a reasonable amount of reliability.

That's why I owned Nova's

PS Jules, i have some pics of Gary Hope's old car... If you wanna host 'em?

ken

02-02-04, 10:05 AM

i have had 11 novas 6 of which i have had on the road 3 of which i have modded, they are fun, handling is ok and do get attention from both lads and girls but they are not to everyones liking as they are often taken the piss out of, and called a little boys cars, i remember i was to chatting to a bird in a club she was stunning, got on to the subject what do you drive i said a nova she asked if im a boyracer? this is how others see nova drivers.. There are many nobs that do drive around wheelspinning and driving like a twat to often and yes there in a fcuking crap nova coz it is all they can afford..it was the bad attention that drove me away from th nova scene i.e car getting broken in 2, vandelised, and the reputation, i have two 205 gti's and i do think they are better to drive but they do have pas, but ive always wanted a valver for the fun factor to chase coupes and fat men in their bmw's and mercs who look at you like a piece of shite, until your on their back bumper ha ha ha oh and yes the problem of rust?

but gsi/gte sr on speedlines lowered and clean look good.

Ste_Nova

02-02-04, 10:12 AM

June 1995... A 16v TB was on the cover of max

July 1995... 2 year old 10k mile nova sat on my drive

June 2005?... i might have done what i set out to do :twisted:

Jules

02-02-04, 12:52 PM

PS Jules, i have some pics of Gary Hope's old car... If you wanna host 'em?

Send them to me so I can look at them m8, I might already have them though, but I'll stick some pics up soon.
:D

Barn

02-02-04, 08:22 PM

Very interesting points lads/ladies!

Went through a little thing a couple of months back when I was thinkin of getting rid of my Nova (failed MOT on welding)...but then u see the likes of Karl Rowntree's, Chris Tunnicliffe, Rick Draper's etc cars' (and the ones you here about that are being built from scratch...Ste, SlimJim etc) and it made me think nahhh...if I can get my car to that quality or near as I can it'll be worth it. No doubt.

I'd have to agree with most if not all of the points people have brought up as to why they have a Nova. e.g. usually people who slag Nova's (including people I work with and people in college) no absolutley fcuk all about car's! lol.

It makes me laugh i...one of the blokes in college who has the odd joking dig at my car owns a Sh!tron AX (same year as mine) 'kin hell the car is a joke. To put it lightly it's ugly, slow (that is an understatement) and has absolutley no potential to modify whatsoever! You know what I mean...nuff said, lol.
Obviously it must boil down to this 'boy racer' stereotype thing.

Also, a reason why I like them so much is that they do have character. The box arches are fcukin awesome. Take a Nova and then take a New-shape fiesta for instance. How fcuking boring is the new-shape fiesta ffs...its terrible.

Anyway...like I said some really cool comments.....:+:

epo

02-02-04, 08:41 PM

mk 4 is a mint fiesta tho me dads got the z-tec s
well quick

krobinson

02-02-04, 09:05 PM

Get them pic's up jules :D

mark_GSi

02-02-04, 09:16 PM

i love um to bits

good fun to drive and great laugh when u sit on ur m8s 2.0 cav all day long lol

had mine for 5 years now

no indention of selling her, gona permently garage her soon and only take out for santa pod of a blast in the country side

Jules

03-02-04, 08:04 AM

mk 4 is a mint fiesta tho me dads got the z-tec s
well quick

Not as fast as a 1.6 on twin 40's with 2 people in it and the Fiesta Zetec S only had the driver............

Not that I know of course.......I'm just making assumptions.........
:wink:

Oh and Keith:

Get them pic's up jules :)

If / When Rick emails me the pics he has I'll get some put up.
I think it's high time I saw some new pics of the beast tbh, _Ben_ if you're reading this then expect a PM soon!!! ;)

RJM25R

03-02-04, 09:12 AM

Pics posted (with two pics aof A16V TB for good measure!) to jules-the ball is in your court!

:twisted:

epo

03-02-04, 07:36 PM

Jules

04-02-04, 09:04 AM

_Ben_ Nova (Ex Gary Hope)

As it was:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Car/Gary%20Hope%204.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Car/Gary%20Hope%203.jpg

As it is (Last pics I've seen):
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Car/Ben%20Rear.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Car/Ben%20Engine.jpg

*Droooollll!!!!*
:D

dan_mk1

04-02-04, 10:46 AM

i hated them and thought they were all heaps until i got given one by a neighbour when i crashed my first car.

i think they are ok when modded properly but there are too many sheds out there!

~~joycey~~

04-02-04, 05:53 PM

when i was younger my sisters mates had sr's and then a gsi i love nova's :lol:

stevorally

05-02-04, 11:55 AM

I also rally a Nova. I'm 33 years old and bought my first nova in 1989. Although i've had allsorts of cars over the years, Ren 5 turbo, 306 gti-6, Scooby, Evo6, etc, i've always had a Nova of one sort or another as well. They're cheap and an awful lot of fun to drive. Plus they're easy to fix when you get read the wrong pace notes and enter a corner far too fast, loose control and end up rolling into some trees, anyway i digress............

essexrudeboy

05-02-04, 12:19 PM

I'm a ford man 2 b honest!
had a mk3 which i loved but fcukd it bigtime and sold it for a pint of carlsberg and some cheesy chips!
i really hated nova's until i drove my mates, really like it.. well impressed with the speed - and the same car now sits on my drive!
its really growing on me, but ive still got my heart on a zetec-s and then a Focus RS!

still.. i'm lovin evry moment of the nova!