Recent-ish cars that were once ubiquitous but which you don't see anymore

Kintarō Hattori

I realised the other that day that it's been ages since I saw a Volvo S40 Mark I on the roads. At one point there were loads of these doing the rounds but now they seem to have fizzled out and it's rare to see one. I also remember the E39 5 series was a very plentiful sight on the road but thinking about it I can't actually recall the last time I saw one on the road.

Any others that spring to mind?

For Forks Sake

During the height of the Celtic tiger years, you couldn't turn around in south Dublin without seeing one of these abominations (they were going for mad money for what is essentially a 15+ year old Micra with an arse welded onto it). Thankfully a decade of recession seems to have put paid to such idiocy.

Alanstrainor

Given the situation with insurance and 'older cars' these days it's not surprising to see them disappear. The e39 as great as it is, is an old beast now and takes effort to keep on the road. It's been an enthusiast only car for a good while now. Same with my e46. Expensive to tax/insure and run at any mileage.

I wonder if the diesels of the last ten years will go the same way in the next few. The shift of public opinion on them has been quick. I suppose cheap tax and good mileage for most will keep them on the road for now.

cml387

Dunno how far back you want o go.
Punto's were ubiquitous at the turn of the century, but now are gone like the snows of winter.

Henry Ford III

Don't see many Glanza's (non turbo on logbook) these days.

Thankfully.

blackwhite

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I realised the other that day that it's been ages since I saw a Volvo S40 Mark I on the roads. At one point there were loads of these doing the rounds but now they seem to have fizzled out and it's rare to see one. I also remember the E39 5 series was a very plentiful sight on the road but thinking about it I can't actually recall the last time I saw one on the road.

Any others that spring to mind?

Had an S40 up till 2 years ago - great car.
AFAIK there were quite a few of them as company cars/fleet cars - which might explain why there's not quite so many 2nd hand ones floating around.

Traded my old one in at a Dublin dealership - have kept eyes open for it on the roads since but have yet to see it anywhere :pac:

blackwhite

For Forks Sake wrote: »

During the height of the Celtic tiger years, you couldn't turn around in south Dublin without seeing one of these abominations (they were going for mad money for what is essentially a 15+ year old Micra with an arse welded onto it). Thankfully a decade of recession seems to have put paid to such idiocy.

I live close enough to UCD - you still see a few of them knocking around

For Forks Sake

blackwhite wrote: »

I live close enough to UCD - you still see a few of them knocking around

bazz26

It's not really that shocking, time and technology move on. How many CRT televisions or brick style mobile phones do you see in use these days?

artanevilla

I actually like the Figaro. Especially the interior. *ducks*

You never see Lagunas around anymore.

For Forks Sake

artanevilla wrote: »

I actually like the Figaro. Especially the interior. *ducks*

You never see Lagunas around anymore.

Would you have paid €15k for one in 2005?

Skylinehead

Mk1 Mondeos. Must have rusted to nothing, because they used to be everywhere! Compared to a fair few Corollas, Primeras, 406s and Carinas from the time, there's very few Mondeos left.

R.O.R

Nixonbot wrote: »

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Mk1 Mondeos. Must have rusted to nothing, because they used to be everywhere! Compared to a fair few Corollas, Primeras, 406s and Carinas from the time, there's very few Mondeos left.

Saw one of those on the M1 over the weekend, and commented to the missus how you never see any of those around any longer.

I had one in that colour!

Wishbone Ash

artanevilla wrote: »

...You never see Lagunas around anymore.

Two of the girls working in my office drive Lagunas. They seem to be money pits all the same going by the number of times they seem to be in for repair.

nim1bdeh38l2cw

You don't see many Morris Minors or Volkswagen Beetle Type 1s anymore.

morritty

India Millions Oasis wrote: »

You don't see many Morris Minors or Volkswagen Beetle Type 1s anymore.

I think were talking a bit more recent than those. :pac:

A lot less E46's going around these days.

rex-x

I have noticed a distinct lack of E60 BMW's locally. Two years ago they were everywhere, the A4 TDI rs4 of their time but now I wouldn't even know where to look for one, locally at least

Arthur Daley

Alfa 156 were a big success. Alfa 147 did well too. Alfa had a great decade from 1997 to 2007 with the gtv also. But at this stage there are not that many of them about.

Ten Pin

Two of the girls working in my office drive Lagunas. They seem to be money pits all the same going by the number of times they seem to be in for repair.

Are Laguna's a money pit too?

seanmaol

Opel Astra, Opel anything to be precise!

Harry Palmr

Renault Laguna's still around sure but not many.

nice_guy80

SsangYongs

Mech1

Mercedes ML range, thank god they are gone, broke my heart.

leonffrench

Nixonbot wrote:

Mk1 Mondeos. Must have rusted to nothing, because they used to be everywhere! Compared to a fair few Corollas, Primeras, 406s and Carinas from the time, there's very few Mondeos left.

Used to see them with lumps tore off the bumpers and yellow foam showing through

James Bond Junior

206, clio's, puntos, mk2 polo's. There are still plenty of mk1 yaris on the road which just shows how much of a good car they were.

Philb76

Still see 206s regularly and a few clios knocking round like the Mondeo mk 1 don't see any mk4 fiestas these days still see puntos

LeBash

Fiat Punto. Must have been 50k of them around. I'd say 50% broke down beyond repair and the other 50% crashed by the numpties that bought them.

CrankyHaus

I see a lot less minis (the new BMW ones) around since their heyday in the Celtic Tiger. Do they still sell them?

In a similar vein X5s past 2008 regs seem as rare as hen's teeth.

Noveight

E11 Corolla's.

Am I right in saying these finished up around 2001/2002? Few enough on the roads now considering how bulletproof they were.

Next to uninsurable now, I suppose.

Hurrache

OSI wrote: »

Pretty much any French hatchback.

Throw a stone in the air and it'll likely land on one as it drives by.

Agricola

You'd rarely see an E36 on the road now. Uninsurable as daily drivers due to age and they aren't yet old / sought after enough to see them at classic shows.

blackbox

Renault Megane

rizzodun

P11 Nissan Primera

Loads around when they came out, haven't seen one in ages, always liked them since their days in British Touring Cars

You'll still see a few N15 Almeras of the same vintage on the roads though.

James Bond Junior

Agricola wrote: »

You'd rarely see an E36 on the road now. Uninsurable as daily drivers due to age and they aren't yet old / sought after enough to see them at classic shows.

There are quite a few tucked away in sheds and garages up and down the country. Prices are climbing slowly but surely too. I have one but it due to tax it is SORN most of the year.

downburst

Great question this. Mark 2 Mondeos, B 5 series Passats, so many back in the day up and down motorway. The Vectras too, but in general Less Opels, Fords, no Rovers anymore, the Koreans here, a good thing too. Has the Tucson replaced the Avensis for the middle of the road Avensis man? Have to mention FIAT of course, late 1990’s they sold a lot of Puntos and cinquecento thingy on a final ballon payment deal, common back then and looked good compared to fiestas and Cora’s, now non existent in comparison

Tzardine

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Alfa 156 were a big success. Alfa 147 did well too. Alfa had a great decade from 1997 to 2007 with the gtv also. But at this stage there are not that many of them about.

Plenty of them with snapped timing belts in breakers yards :pac:

colm_mcm

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Would you have paid €15k for one in 2005?

Not when they were going for around €7/8k. That place beside Fairyhoise pretty much had a monopoly on the market in Ireland.

elperello

Nixonbot wrote: »

Mk1 Mondeos. Must have rusted to nothing, because they used to be everywhere! Compared to a fair few Corollas, Primeras, 406s and Carinas from the time, there's very few Mondeos left.

Anyone getting the longing?
By coincidence there is one on DD tonight €250.
https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mondeo-mk-1/20392294

SCOOP 64

seanmaol wrote: »

Opel Astra, Opel anything to be precise!

Still see plenty Astra G on the road.

JoeA3

In fairness the MK1 Mondeo is 20+ years old now. I’d expect them to be rare! I remember it and the MK2 had chronically brittle bumpers. They seemed to be made of eggshells. A mondeo with gaffer taped bumpers and foam hanging out was a common sight.

Loads of stuff already mentioned in this thread from the early ‘00’s has almost vanished now. Insurance is probably a big reason, but cars are just a lot more disposable nowadays. Cheap and easy finance, gimmicky scrappage deals, etc.

The Koreans have completely hoovered up the customers who used to buy Opels, Fiats...

Wibbs

For Forks Sake wrote: »

During the height of the Celtic tiger years, you couldn't turn around in south Dublin without seeing one of these abominations (they were going for mad money for what is essentially a 15+ year old Micra with an arse welded onto it). Thankfully a decade of recession seems to have put paid to such idiocy.

I kinda like them... :o:o *runs*

Another type that has all but disappeared are the Jap imports of the late nineties to mid(even late) noughties. From the above 15+ year old Micra with a welded on arse through to the various fancier and more sporty models. I remember standing outside a Dublin city centre pub having a ciggie with a bunch of visiting Italians in 2006 and their eyes were out on stalks with the fairly regular parade of JDM iron driving by. Evo's, Mitzi's, Type R's, Levins and the like. They told me that they were vanishingly rare on Italian roads(for obvious reasons, like them insisting on having the steering wheel in front of the passenger).

Insurance really buggered that scene. And lads and lasses growing up. And tech changing. And the drift(actually... ) into getting into German RWD iron, that was both quick and comfortable and more socially acceptable with it. The manufacturers coming out of the 2008 crash with a large case of overstock and really pimping the finance/PCP deals also killed the general driving to the shops Japanese import market.

I'm still rocking the 90's JDM thang as a daily driver, but that was pretty much by mistake. Though it has been daftly cheap to maintain and run and reliable as granite(90's Jap car so...). Insurance being the only downside and the grubby highwaymen in cheap suits keep upping it.

M7roadrunner

Probably before the time frame your referring to,
But does anyone remember the Isuzu Gemini on our roads?
For a few years in the early nineties they were everywhere, every farmers wife had one, and the rattle from the Diesel engine was instantly recognisable (a bit like the transit).
Then, all of a sudden, there was none, it’s as if they all melted into the ground.

Wibbs

M7roadrunner wrote: »

it’s as if they all melted into the ground.

I seem to recall they did. They succumbed to corrosion similar to the way a sugar cube in a hot shower would melt. The Japanese Lancia. Actually rust protection on Japanese cars was poor in general and quite late in coming. Like post 2000 late in coming.

Eric Cartman

the 200u7 Hyundai Santa Fe , every middle class estate had hundreds of them for the school run , replaced by smaller crossovers.

The mk1 insignia - hyped as irelands next avensis killer, then the problems started and many have disappeared into oblivion

The Avensis T250, now this one will be controversial but hear me out. in about 2005 they were the main staple family car all over Ireland, wherever you went there was sure to be one on a driveway or supermarket carpark. Now rurally they are still very present, but Dublin people - whens the last time you saw one without a taxi sticker on it ? for private owners they seemed to just melt away.

James Bond Junior

Wibbs wrote: »

I seem to recall they did. They succumbed to corrosion similar to the way a sugar cube in a hot shower would melt. The Japanese Lancia. Actually rust protection on Japanese cars was poor in general and quite late in coming. Like post 2000 late in coming.

My first car back in 07 was a 97 Almera and it was literally rusting from the inside out. The sills were like crepe paper. Hard to imagine 10 year old cars today even rusting in the same way.

Duke O Smiley

M7roadrunner wrote: »

Probably before the time frame your referring to,
But does anyone remember the Isuzu Gemini on our roads?
For a few years in the early nineties they were everywhere, every farmers wife had one, and the rattle from the Diesel engine was instantly recognisable (a bit like the transit).
Then, all of a sudden, there was none, it’s as if they all melted into the ground.

Yes!! We were the only country in Europe to get them. Pino Harris imported and sold them first in Dublin, then he started distributing them to his agents around the country in Cork, Athlone etc so they were common wherever there was a Hino Harris franchise. There was also the Isuzu Aska at the same time. They were basically an Opel Ascona. For a time when you bought a Hino truck you got an Aska free too.

There is still a blue 89 Gemini hatchback in use in north Dublin. I posted a picture of it on. the Oldest Car thread ages ago but I will have to go and find it.

tuxy

Wibbs wrote: »

I kinda like them... :o:o *runs*

Another type that has all but disappeared are the Jap imports of the late nineties to mid(even late) noughties. From the above 15+ year old Micra with a welded on arse through to the various fancier and more sporty models. I remember standing outside a Dublin city centre pub having a ciggie with a bunch of visiting Italians in 2006 and their eyes were out on stalks with the fairly regular parade of JDM iron driving by. Evo's, Mitzi's, Type R's, Levins and the like. They told me that they were vanishingly rare on Italian roads(for obvious reasons, like them insisting on having the steering wheel in front of the passenger).
.

The Corolla AE111 was by far the most popular out of the lot and many days around my town it seemed like it was the most common car for people to have. Do you think they were scrapped as soon as the super-strut suspension when or were they exported? Their engines were fairly desirable and could be modified to fit in a variety of different cars.

Wibbs

I'd reckon the vast majority were scrapped and ended up as manhole covers.

CorkMan_

It is amazing how quick not that old of a car becomes scarce in Ireland and the UK. But definitely Ireland. I spent a couple of weeks in rural France in August and it is absolutely amazing the amount of 205s, Renault 5s, Mk 1 Meganes, Lagunas, Saxos, Xantias, 405s etc still on the road there.

I have a 1997 Mk 1 Laguna since 2004 and I know no one else that has one (cause they are probably more sane than I am!!)

EPAndlee

I haven't seen a Nissan Sunny in years

elperello

CorkMan_ wrote: »

It is amazing how quick not that old of a car becomes scarce in Ireland and the UK. But definitely Ireland. I spent a couple of weeks in rural France in August and it is absolutely amazing the amount of 205s, Renault 5s, Mk 1 Meganes, Lagunas, Saxos, Xantias, 405s etc still on the road there.

I have a 1997 Mk 1 Laguna since 2004 and I know no one else that has one (cause they are probably more sane than I am!!)

And lot's of little local garages keeping them going.
Interesting that the insurance companies are not putting them off the road like here.
Ireland with no car building industry has no interest in helping people to keep older cars on the road.