Nova addiction?

[Matt GTE]

What is it about Novas that's so addictive? I wanted one for my first car way back in early 1998 when I'd just passed my test but they seemed to be few and far between at the time and too expensive so I ended up with a 1.3 Peugeot 309. I've since had 2 Novas, a J reg 1.2 Merit which was used (and abused) as a daily hack so my Cavalier GSi Turbo didn't and then a G reg 1.3SR which I fitted with a Mk2 dash, blue and grey Mk2 SR interior and electric windows and sold July last year when I bought my Vectra GSi.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Stuff/DSCF0046.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Stuff/SR-2.jpg

Now the Vectra is brilliant, it's no rocket ship but I absolutely love it, and I also have a Mk3 Astra GSi into which I recently transplanted the engine and gearbox from the previously mentionned (and now dead) Cavalier which is a lot of fun BUT I still miss both of my Novas and still want another one :wtf:!!

So what is it, why are they so addictive?

[rednova]

its a nova thing cant explain it even worse trying to explain to someone who a - thinks theyre chava cars and b - rusty old cars

makes me happy therefore i dont care!

(theyre just fun to drive)

[Novasport]

You ought to try having a Nova Sport then selling it, regretted it from the day it went. Gotta be the best ever Nova in standard form.
I regretted it that much I have spent the last 2-3 years gathering bits to build another, hopefully one of the best out there.

[c'2.0lrt]

ive always loved them mate its a nova thing was my first car in 97 and im now on ma third and maybe fourth? but wish they didn't carry the boyracer/chav tag that most people call you when you say what you drive? people jus dont understand?

[Novasport]

Thing is Mk1 & Mk2 Escorts prob had a similar image back in the 80's(In an 80's Chav kinda way) when they were cheap to buy and young lads were drivin em. Look at them now. Maybe Novas wont get to the same status as they are now but I think they will become a classic, especially standard ones

[Matt GTE]

but wish they didn't carry the boyracer/chav tag that most people call you when you say what you drive? people jus dont understand?
Very true but I just look on it as it being their loss, they don't know what they're missing out on.

[Stoo]

I suffer from the same thing at work, narrow minded people slating the cars just because of its image!!

A guy at work has a Boxster S and when i had my XE i gave him a pasting and he soon shut up lol!!

I dont know what the addiction to novas is, or the appeal, but its strong as im going from a DC5 back into a Nova!!!

[Chris]

I like mine as it is fairly quick on track, cheap(ist) to run and if I roll it or smash it into a barrier I dont care as I'll just use the bits for something better!!

[c'2.0lrt]

thats what i say? if you drive like a t**t then fair enough? i love mine and always will?

[Chris]

thats what i say? if you drive like a t**t then fair enough? i love mine and always will?

I dont drive mine like a **** but when it lives on track within an inch of its life then it is probably going to happen at some point lol

[c'2.0lrt]

yeah but track is good?

[Stoo]

Chris ring me ya ****!

[Lee]

Its an easy question to answer.

Easy mechanicals, simply put together, and reliable.
Adaptibility throughout the vauxhall range of the same era
An unending supply of different mods so rarely do you see two the same

And theyre fun lol

[c'2.0lrt]

BT you've hit the nail on the head? easy all round no matter what you want?

[Nova-Flair]

They are like an old, scruffy dog. (dont laugh, you all know the type!)

Bless it; its old, faithful and always likes to play but everyone still looks down at him, thinking hes just a scruff and once hes dead you always want him back!

[Chris]

they are like old birds, great fun, awsome rides but you just dont like to admit that you ride one!!

[draper]

can remember when i first got into modified cars 14-15 at school reading max power, fast car etc etc, there was a guy who used to have 1 but he was proper chav so i used to take the micheal out of him all the time - then i started looking into them and realised there loads of fun, easy to modify etc etc

people still take the mickey in the pub and ask me when im gonna grow up and buy a proper car lol

my mate drives a kia picanto after having a calibra and getting into debt, however were going to look at a nova for him this afternoon !!

[dannyb]

Its an easy question to answer.

Easy mechanicals, simply put together, and reliable.
Adaptibility throughout the vauxhall range of the same era
An unending supply of different mods so rarely do you see two the same

And theyre fun lol

You got it.
I originally bought mine as a cheap way of getting no claims bonus (and the 'drive any other car with owners permission' tag on my own insurance docs for my 7 series that dad insures). I sold the 7 and dont really miss it, the Nova has awesome fuel economy, its quicker through the bends and I'm saving hundreds of pounds a month. Its earnt its keep many times over as a chinese delivery car and has outlived the kebab shop next doors Saxo delivery car. I can also practise spraying on it and if it all went tits up, its not the end of the world as its a ?400 car.

[Martin]

lol they are adictive arnt they lol.. i was gettin rid of my project.. but icant lol..

all my mates take the piss sayin "its never gna see the road" "why do you spend all your time and money on it is only a nova" but i'l prove them rong..

they also offerd to go on a track day as they'll wipe the floor with my rusty bucket... lmao..

as soon as the cars done i'l organise a TD anybody fany showing them how its done?...lol

[Ash]

i think its because you can abuse them all day long and they love it, and if something breaks, its cheap, and easy to fit. There also one of the last mass production cars fitted with carbs, which can be played with for not alot of money instead of chips or standalone management, etc (excluding GTE/GSi) I dont know why but i like that thought of mechanicals moving to make my car go - not electronics.

A

[Riggy]

i cant believe no one has mentioned the arch's

i remember seeing a nova sr when i was bout 14 (11 years ago lol)and i thought , wow i want one , im on number 17 now i think haha

but it was the shape that attracted me to them , then the drive of them and over the last few years the ability to maintain convert them into little monsters lol

[dannyb]

i cant believe no one has mentioned the arch's

A good point, if you squint a little, the Nova's box arches make it look a bit like a mini Lancia Delta - a car which I want bad.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/100-greatest/03-large/58-lancia-delta-integrale.jpg

[draper]

the main reason is notority (sp) everyone loves to hate/slate novas and cant accept that for less than 1k you can build/buy a 150bhp monster thats more than enough to challenge modern day hot-hatches