that's the most tastefully modded nova, or rather supermini, ive ever seen in my life, no flashy colors or decals, no weird spoilers or bodykits, and no deafening stereo system
As a teen, I used to not enjoy the Tony Mason segments but we forget he was a rally co driver so was probably more on the race side than his image portrayed. Enjoyed this throw back!
It's a sign of good maintencance. It's not a sign of a well built car to begin with, but of course you already accepted that when you started looking at an Alfa Romeo.
I liked the Toyota Previa, because it was spacious for both people and things at the same time. With the others you needed to remove the bulky heavy rear third row seats and second row seats to carry anything big because with third row in place, there was only room for one or two bags of shopping or a couple of tall suitcases. With the Toyota Previa you just side folded the third row seats and folded down the second row seat backs to carry bigger loads making it a much more flexible MPV.
If only auctions were like that here in the US in 2023. You get to look at the car and that's it. You can't open the hood because they're afraid you'll sabotage something, thus getting the car for a lower price.
Sad thing is auctions sell crap cars that anyone is trying to get rid of, so when someone buys a car they don’t know how bad it is until after they get it home and it breaks down. Hodgepodge repairs and bondo to fill in the holes and broken frame. They don’t offer any sort of guarantee
There is that end of the market, but cars up to 4 or 5 years old are generally a safe-ish bet, being ex company/lease cars, that should, in theory, have been serviced properly. Auction houses also have to declare any write off history (which isn't foolproof, as so many cars, especially ex hire cars are rarely put through insurance when crashed, so are unrecorded).
@@MrPabsUk in Canada dealerships don’t have to declare any repair/service history when a car goes to auction. There have been more than a few “gently”used cars that turned out to be two different cars welded together or ones that were declared totaled and fixed up and sold at auction.
@@kevinW826 Yeah, theres always exceptions, and there`ll always be ways round any safeguards. Theres a Facebook group for cars being sold as decent, but showing "before" pictures of them crashed & written off.. And you have a look at copart, theres loads of nearly new, badly crashed cars that are "unrecorded" on the accident database. Theres nothing wrong with that as such, the problem is when certain types of people take them, repair them badly, cover them with expanding foam, chicken wire & bondo, then sell them as never damaged, mint, nearly new cars to unsuspecting victims, who could quite easily die in some of them if they have the misfortune to crash.... And it can be incredibly hard to spot, even when you know what your looking for, depending on the "skill" of the bodgers...
Good old Wimbledon auction full of criminals and dodgy traders . Great food and a few cars bought from there Traders used to swap plug leads on petrol cars so they wouldn't run right and there used to be a mileage correction car advertising at the gate .... Auctions haven't changed much really such as gamble
if only trade bid bottom book now synetiq start the right off bids at retail repaired . most auctions unless main dealer part ex etc are stuff traders have issues with so send them back to block as they like to say. He was happy with the alfa until he looked outside his window the day fater it rained and it was rottern
Unfortunately Dennis ceased to exist in its original form by 2007 but the name does exist today as bus builder Alexander Dennis and bin lorry maker Dennis Eagle
God those MPVs look dreary. The only one I would even consider tolerating is the Previa, but only if the other option was being made to spend a week with Steve Berry.
Much preferred these older Top Gear episodes. Interesting and informative. I never like the newer ones.
That Nova is still out there
Date tested
26 June 2024
PASS
Mileage
59,222 miles
I remember this episode the first time it was broadcast. Memories
that's the most tastefully modded nova, or rather supermini, ive ever seen in my life, no flashy colors or decals, no weird spoilers or bodykits, and no deafening stereo system
Yup, good old Quentin. He beat "the system" .. again !!!! .. xXx
As a teen, I used to not enjoy the Tony Mason segments but we forget he was a rally co driver so was probably more on the race side than his image portrayed. Enjoyed this throw back!
That Nova is still running around, taxed until April 2025. Says it has a 2ltr I'm guessing it didn't come with that engine size in 1987.
It’s wild how tastefully modified it is, especially for 1995.
Love to go back to the 90s
Thanks for taking the time to upload this.
2:52 The Dom Joly 😂
😂
That Nova was still around in 2022, last MOT in April.
Date tested
26 June 2024
PASS
Mileage
59,222 miles
New exhaust on a 3 year old car isn't a good sign to me! Good old Quentin 👍
It's a sign of good maintencance. It's not a sign of a well built car to begin with, but of course you already accepted that when you started looking at an Alfa Romeo.
Back then it was dude, we're spoilt now with are stainless or steel/aluminium mix durables. Goffer
*Alfa
It could be as simple as the previous owner put a new one on before he sold. I have known usually older ppl to do that
That car has been untaxed since October 2000.
I liked the Toyota Previa, because it was spacious for both people and things at the same time.
With the others you needed to remove the bulky heavy rear third row seats and second row seats to carry anything big because with third row in place, there was only room for one or two bags of shopping or a couple of tall suitcases.
With the Toyota Previa you just side folded the third row seats and folded down the second row seat backs to carry bigger loads making it a much more flexible MPV.
Great you get a warranty,
A 1 hour warranty?
wtf you ment to do with that.
And that Wee Nova is lovely
Damn I miss the 90's
If only auctions were like that here in the US in 2023. You get to look at the car and that's it. You can't open the hood because they're afraid you'll sabotage something, thus getting the car for a lower price.
I passed my driving test in a Nova (1987), god im old😂
Sad thing is auctions sell crap cars that anyone is trying to get rid of, so when someone buys a car they don’t know how bad it is until after they get it home and it breaks down. Hodgepodge repairs and bondo to fill in the holes and broken frame. They don’t offer any sort of guarantee
There is that end of the market, but cars up to 4 or 5 years old are generally a safe-ish bet, being ex company/lease cars, that should, in theory, have been serviced properly. Auction houses also have to declare any write off history (which isn't foolproof, as so many cars, especially ex hire cars are rarely put through insurance when crashed, so are unrecorded).
@@MrPabsUk in Canada dealerships don’t have to declare any repair/service history when a car goes to auction.
There have been more than a few “gently”used cars that turned out to be two different cars welded together or ones that were declared totaled and fixed up and sold at auction.
@@kevinW826 Yeah, theres always exceptions, and there`ll always be ways round any safeguards. Theres a Facebook group for cars being sold as decent, but showing "before" pictures of them crashed & written off.. And you have a look at copart, theres loads of nearly new, badly crashed cars that are "unrecorded" on the accident database. Theres nothing wrong with that as such, the problem is when certain types of people take them, repair them badly, cover them with expanding foam, chicken wire & bondo, then sell them as never damaged, mint, nearly new cars to unsuspecting victims, who could quite easily die in some of them if they have the misfortune to crash.... And it can be incredibly hard to spot, even when you know what your looking for, depending on the "skill" of the bodgers...
The 38 year old Quentin, a good guy.
Good old Wimbledon auction full of criminals and dodgy traders . Great food and a few cars bought from there
Traders used to swap plug leads on petrol cars so they wouldn't run right and there used to be a mileage correction car advertising at the gate .... Auctions haven't changed much really such as gamble
if only trade bid bottom book now synetiq start the right off bids at retail repaired . most auctions unless main dealer part ex etc are stuff traders have issues with so send them back to block as they like to say. He was happy with the alfa until he looked outside his window the day fater it rained and it was rottern
i never knew jack Nicholson was on top gear
The bloke reviewing MPV's, is the quintessential whinging pom.
Unfortunately Dennis ceased to exist in its original form by 2007 but the name does exist today as bus builder Alexander Dennis and bin lorry maker Dennis Eagle
What’s the white Renault that Wilson calls a ruin? Renault 11? I would prefer than to the bmw before it.
Its a Renault 9, but weirdly it looks to be a LHD, & with those bumpers, an American spec one..
God those MPVs look dreary. The only one I would even consider tolerating is the Previa, but only if the other option was being made to spend a week with Steve Berry.
I'd take every single one of them over any SUV or Crossover.
News flash all mpv's are dreary
💯 agree
Like the mobile phone the size of a brick.
It’s not effects .,, the 90s although great we’re dreary as hell
Steve Berry! 🤢
Big mouth strikes again