Where have all the Mk2's gone?

[Gander]

Is it just me or are the few mk2's I see around today £50 bangers.
I know of two modified ones in my local area (one owned by a MIG member) and 1 further tidy standard one, the rest that I rarely see will be in scrapyards soon but horror of horrors straight in the crusher :eek:
There are hardly any in my local scrapyards now and even GTE's arn't being put down with the others they're straight in the crusher too :(
Are we facing the sunset of the Mk2?
IMHO I hope not, the trusty Mk2 has more character than many of the clonemobiles going around today, even the Mk5 which shares our beloved's namesake appears to be the bastard child of a Vauxall Vectra C and A Renault (fat-assed) Meganne :eek:
Is it time to allow the Mk2 to R.I.P (rust in pieces)?

[_Steven_]

It's getting hard to even find any mk2 in a scrappers here.. they've gone all up market with mk3s..

I think they are just getting to the age where the 'shitters' will disappear and the people with them will really look after them and make some nice ones. .

I know it's Ford, but read the restorations & rebuilds section on www.passionford.com to see what some of them guys are doing with similar age Escorts.. It's impressive.

[NeilD]

I've got one here! And my mate has one too ;)

[_Steven_]

Get him registered.. the more mk2 owners registered, the more we can make happen..

[GRAK]

The other day i cleared my garage of car bits that i had collected for ages. Just as i was driving out of my local scrappy, in drove a low loader with a white 16v GTE astra. So i when back first thing the next day and spoke to the bloke there. We agreed to £150 for any thing of the car, so i had the engine(114000 miles)gearbox, drive shafts, front struts, wiring loom, ecu, dig-dash, head lamps, indicators, some interior trim plus other bits and bobs.
As soon as i had all the bits off he crushed the car right in front of me.
Apart from the usual rust(rear arches) it was in ok condition. I asked the scappy if he knew why it had been scrapped, he said the owner had lost interest!!!!!!!
:( :eek: :(

[DarrenH]

good and bad. it becomes more of an enthusiasts car, slight exclusivity. doubt it would become a classic just through lack of numbers though, theres just not enough wrong with the design for it to be a classic lol

[Gander]

theres just not enough wrong with the design for it to be a classic lol
I suppose rattley gloveboxes and rusty rear arches do little to endear the Mk2 to owners hearts :rolleyes:

The Mk2 was mass produced so there are still going to be a fair few around for now but I often wonder if they will hang around and be loved, cherished and talked about fondly for hours upon end like todays classics the Mk1&2 Escort, the Jag E type, MG's etc etc?

Will I or even my children (not that I'm planning any yet:eek: ) look back in years to come and fondly remember that old Opel Kadett E that I tuned up and spent thousands on and hours polishing, will I still have my Kadett if/when I settle down?
I still remember my Mums blue Viva with its funny sounding indicator relay, the horizontal speedo and the feel of the cold vinyl seats on a autumn day. Will I remember my Kadett in the same fond way or will the car be a source of regret, that too much time and money was spent on it?
It has crossed my mind that I may never be able to face selling my Kadett for fear of it being misstreated by future owners then one dark rainy day being scrapped!
Well who knows, here's to the future of the Mk2 and the Astra name its self, its level with the Escort in generations (5), can it go that extra mile ;)
Good night, and God Speed :D

[jcs]

There's 2 mk2 gte's round my area stoke on trent not mig members but they are tidy.I see a few knockin about standard wiv old people driving them.remember when my bro 1st had one i just wanted one they look the part for a old car and the style of them is mint even standard.

[Mace]

I'm on my 8th mk2 astra GTE now, so i can honestly say i'm a fan (in fact tonight i'm looking at one with only 1 previous owner fron new and 65,000 miles on it :) which i'm gonna have i think ) personally i think theyve actually got quite a big following, ive got 1 and i should have gave them up ages ago (lol) my other cars a supra mk4, people think i'm mad.. i know a mate by me with two, an 8v and a 16v and he loves them to bits. its true about the scrappys i was told theyre too old by the one i went to :( , but calibras etc are just as worthless, i got one for the engine (16v) for 300 quid taxed and motd.. its just the way vauxhalls go...

[Pete_R]

Got one here Ive had now for over 5 years - cant bear to let it go, been through thick and thin with it , toyed with getting another car but it would have to stay too , far too attached

[Davey J]

2 here for me at present. Had 6 now. These two are good ones, let a VERY good shell go to a friend of mine. That will have a decent valver lump and management going on it.

[johnH]

Seen a mint mkii gte today must be a competition car

[_Steven_]

If it's up north, tell us more.... :)

[_SBD16v]

where have all the mk2's gone
have you seen the amount of nova's and corsa's with 16v's in well thats where they have all gone

[Allen Mead]

Yeah, the dirty bastids

[_SBD16v]

soon ppl will be breaking nova's to put the eninges in astra gte 16v's

[DarrenH]

the undertaker comes tommorow (insurance inspector), we'll see if mine becomes another statistic.

[_Steven_]

Is it 'that' bad?

[_SBD16v]

what have i missed oddball

[DarrenH]

http://members.aol.com/oddball123/astrasmash05.jpg

easily repairable, but cheaper than its market price, not likely. write off.

[_Steven_]

are you going to 'let it go' ?

[_SBD16v]

buy it back off them and repair it wing

[DarrenH]

well its a bit more than a new wing, but yeh i'll try and keep it.

[_SBD16v]

i can prob get all the bits

[_Steven_]

Shame your not nearer.. i got a mint door you could have. (Billing is the next time i'm down south)

[DarrenH]

those with eagle eyes will have spotted a replacement get16v front bumper and door inside the car in that pic ;)

[_Steven_]

have to try and flog it to meady now... hehe..

[Kris]

Thats a nasty one 0dders how did that happen ?

Astras rot ,thats were they all go .It either becomes to pricey to keep at bay or the owner just cant be arsed !:(
Im on to my 11th Mk2 love them to bits and the one i have now is a minter ,Bog standard Merit but mint none the less .With a small patch of rust on rear arch and a genuine 9k on the clock and for a G plate ,its all good :D

1.3 GTE wana be x1
1.3 5dr Merit x2
1.6 5dr x1
1.8 SRi x3
1.8 SXi x2
2.0 GTE 8v x1
2.0 GTE 16v x1 (Non Runner :mad: )

[_SBD16v]

surly you ment 90k miles not 9

[DarrenH]

the assessor has just been. no real surprises, offered me a fixed cash settlement for me to fix the car myself, or write it off and get the market value. option A methinks !

well that’s the theory anyway. the assessor stated he came to look at the car "without prejudice" which basically means the other guy is either contesting, or is being a slowass and not returned any accident report forms. so the assesor has to view the car without any bias towards me the victim, or the other guy the victim, because he doesnt know yet.

to be honest, its not like i can drive sideways at 10mph into teh front of someone elses car, how can anyone contest driving into the side of me !!

[_Steven_]

Its good to know it's not getting taken away.. :)

[Allen Mead]

It's a right bitch sorting insurance claims and stuff, it seems that will never change. However, not too bad a result letting you keep the car so to speak. What does this do to you insurance? As in is the car now listed as a 'full payout' ?

[Kris]

surly you ment 90k miles not 9

Nope 9k ,got it from an old guy down the road he hardly eva used it ,only to go places with his wife .But when his wife passed on it just sat in the garage gathering dust ,so along came me and £50 later i am the second owner from new :D

[_SBD16v]

wow 9k

[Kris]

wow 9k
Fair enough its a poo coloured 5 Dr Merit (despite my name :o)but i cant argue with the miles ;)

[_SBD16v]

you going to keep it as it is would be a shame to spoil it by puting a 16v in there

[Kris]

Well ive already got my 1.8 8v in it so its to late for that and pretty much all of the SXi/SRi running gear with my 18". But its still poo coloured lol .Swaping the interior for the black instead of cream :( .
The hoses on the engine were all coroded and fooked so thats what made me put the 18 in .
VBut other than that i will change the colour ,maybe silver nothing major :eek: .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/K8CEE/Photo001.bmp
Was well chuffed ,all it needed for an MOT was 2 rear brake pipes and 2 CV boots :D

[chee_dee]

Hi from South Africa. I also hav a Mk2 but it's the shape of u're Belmont, I think.
The sedan GTE :). It's Called the Monza here in SA. I hav a 1992 model 2.0 16v CD.
Has the 20xe motor in it. 115kW/155bhp...standard that is :).
Also luv it 2 bits and the only way it's gonna leave me is on it's way 2 da Scrapyard.

l8er

[pmc_3]

I've just bought a GTE 16v off ebay for £490. It needs a new drivers door, front wing and the rear wheel arches doing. But its ideal for my track car project, watch this space :D Already has Koni adjustables, Sebring exhaust system, strut brace and k&n panel filter

http://www.benhen.com/pmcit/photos/gte 16v/dscf0001.jpg

http://www.benhen.com/pmcit/photos/gte 16v/dscf0002.jpg

http://www.benhen.com/pmcit/photos/gte 16v/dscf0003.jpg

http://www.benhen.com/pmcit/photos/gte 16v/dscf0004.jpg

http://www.benhen.com/pmcit/photos/gte 16v/dscf0006.jpg

[Allen Mead]

I've just bought a GTE 16v off ebay for £490. It needs a new drivers door, front wing and the rear wheel arches doing. But its ideal for my track car project, watch this space :D Already has Koni adjustables, Sebring exhaust system, strut brace and k&n panel filter


Looking good dude :cool: :cool:

[Davey J]

Just bought an 8v SRi MK2 as runaround. 90K miles, 3 door. NICE. My Burgundy GTE 16v is off the road for the next few months being re-built completely from bare shell. I am still toying with idea of rebuilding one I bent a while back, but not sure if it is worth it.

[_SBD16v]

But its ideal for my track car project, watch this space :D

dont worrie we will keep us posted btw stick it in show us yours ;)

[DarrenH]

today i fitted the new front bumper, new front wing, and new passenger door. everything is astra shaped again :)

looks kinda "hard" with a red bumper, black wing, red door, and grey car. track day chic'

goes into the body shop just after trax :cool:

[Gander]

looks kinda "hard" with a red bumper, black wing, red door, and grey car.
Keep it as it is for that authentic "VW Harlequin" effect :p
Good to see its all coming together, You car was one of the first Modded Mk2's I saw and It's been an inspiration:)

[DarrenH]

It's been an inspiration:)

http://smile.smilies.nl/1806.gif

or did you mean that like, "christ i could do better than that" :p

[Gander]

lol No more like, I like how clean you've kept the car, only modifying things that add to the overall subtlty if that makes sense?

I've decided to go down the route of large bumpers/wings etc, had I gone any other way it would of been to modify in the same vein as yours:)