Seeing double

[VauxhallGirl]

I had a Twilight Zone moment in Tescos car park this morning....

There we were, me and my friend, wheeling a trolley load of food towards my car. We stopped and were chatting at the rear of my Cav.....I thought to myself "blimey, must get a new number plate, that one's looking ropey". Still talking, and looking through my pockets for the car keys....idly thinking that I had never noticed my exhaust stuck out that far....when suddenly the penny dropped....this car, exact colour as mine, same year, not far off the same reg number, was parked next door to my Cav!
It's a small world.

[planetc]

Years ago, in the days before cars had any form of security, my Dad collected a car, serviced it and then got a call from the customer to ask why it hadn't moved. The keys actually fitted an identical car parked in the same street.

[VauxhallGirl]

I had a 1964 Vauxhall Victor, and her keys fitted the door and started a similar vintage Rover Coupe that lived near me.

[Cavalier342]

No wonder there was such a thing as vehicle theft lol. Everyone's keys started everyone else's cars
I've never come across a moment like that however. Luckily.... Still, if i ever do, i won't be embarrassed, or surprised, I'd just chuckle.
Andrei.

[piercedrab]

lol when i used to do deliveried 2 of teh drivers had nissan bluebirds lol and ones keys would open the doors but not start teh engine but teh other would open and start the engine low and behold we were dead and decided to take the bosses car around the corner when he finished we sat and watched him come out to no car and he reported it stolen lol for the police to turn up and they parked round the corner and then tell him his cars round there his face was one of thoose poleroid moments lol he got charged for wasting police time lol

[droofer]

i had it once with a mk2 jetta, identical car, keys got me in but wouldnt start the thing.after 5 mins of waggling, trying different keys, i got out and looked at the reg,noly to find a couple staring at me, cos they thought i was taking it.
i sheepishly had to explain that i had the wrong car.

[jambo_sri130]

here's a good one. when I was working for coca cola in the summer there, I went to work one day and like a fool, locked my keys in the car! spent most of the day tryin to decide whether or not to break a window. anyway, later that day, my boss handed me my keys and said thats you car open. "huh"?! he had gone out to try with the keys for the Isuzu 7.5 tonner, and unbelievably, they worked!

[carlos_canter]

Forgive me for the vagueness.

This may be a little off topic(or cheating), but i have a few sets of lock picks (for work purposes!) and one of the more awkward to master is the ford pick. Well on the newer ford fusion/fiesta fusion, you dont have to adjust anything, place in lock and she is open!

More than likely a major design fault.

Got stopped one morning on way home and i always shove my lock picks in my car because the fairies will have them away, copper asked to look in the boot, seen my tools, noticed my rod and bag set and then opened the wallet containing the picks. Cuffs went on and was shoved into police car despite telling him who i work for and we do work on behalf of them. Suspicion of going equiped to steal!

Managed to get hold of a manager and it was all brushed under the carpet.

[VauxhallGirl]

No wonder there was such a thing as vehicle theft lol. Everyone's keys started everyone else's cars
I've never come across a moment like that however. Luckily.... Still, if i ever do, i won't be embarrassed, or surprised, I'd just chuckle.
Andrei.

I had more than a chuckle... I laughed out loud!

Carlos.... have I seen you on Road Wars???

[carlos_canter]

Carlos.... have I seen you on Road Wars???

YES!, sort of, despite asking not to be filmed i did appear on a tv show similar to road wars when i had to remove a vehicle, but dont worry, i need the picks for my job. Actually got a bollocking because i didnt have high vis on and my "laid back atitude"

[marcia]

During the 70s when I had Ford Cortinas/Escorts and could turn the key in the ignition then remove the key while engine was running,good in the winter if you wanted to defrost car before setting off......them were the days.
William

[VauxhallGirl]

I had an elderly Mitsubishi Shogun like that, Marcia.

[Cavalier342]

In both my Cavaliers, whatever position the key is in the ignition barrel, i can easily slip it out. I thought it was just a fault with the key or barrell but it looks like it's a designed feature on the cars. Very handy, if for instance i have started the engine, only to realise that the glove compartment is still locked. Couldn't do it on any of my other cars however.
Andrei.

[VauxhallGirl]

My Cav seems to be the opposite... never wants to let go of the key!

Have figured out how to block the number plates on photos, so can now put up the pick of the two cars in my local Tescos car park.

[Cavalier342]

Well i can tell you now, one has a towbar, one hasn't Still, that is pretty rare to see nowadays. Excellent pic, definitely a unique experience.
Andrei.

[VauxhallGirl]

I know, I know... I can't multi-task... was busy talking. And who expects another Cav the same colour to be right next to your own? I should have been thinking "who's nicked me towbar?"

[Cavalier342]

"who's nicked me towbar?"

ME!!!

[humbucker]

the nearest i got to that was in my local tesco when an 'updated' version of my cavalier parked next to it!

[Cavalier342]

Always at tesco I say that because i work for the company. Returning to the original post, i was cruising around the countryside and guess what came the other way on the single carriageway??? Green M-reg Cavalier Roofrack AND towbar I saw it and immediately thought of this topic

Humbucker:
I know which one i'd rather return to, load the shopping in the trunk and drive home in. The REAL Cavalier Nowt wrong with vectras but i'm sure you understand.
Andrei.

[planetc]

Nowt wrong with vectras

not strictly true, pmsl

[Cavalier342]

I know, fatter, heavier, haven't got that same character and less reliable, but come on, they're not the worst.

[carlos_canter]

Dont forget, a cavalier IS a vectra, more so on the continent, and badged under opel.

[planetc]

Dont forget, a cavalier IS a vectra, more so on the continent, and badged under opel.

Yes maybe, but you know what we are talking about. To us it is a Cavalier, otherwise we'd be posting this on the 'Vectra 'A' Owners Club Forum wouldn't we.

[TurboSteven77]

that happend to me years ago on my mums astra hers was e313 awf in light green othere astra was e314 awf same couler car lookt ideitcal in every way bar stufft toys on dash and back window lol 1 day i wasnet paying much attion came up 2 car unlockt it went 2 turn on tape deck would not turn on was baffeld for few mins till i lookt at dash board and rear shelf and then thought wtf where are all the stuff toys lookt 2 my left there was mums astra , thought shit whos car am in swiftly got out lookt at reg had wee laught and got in mums car and left rather fast lol

btw years ago in my missspent youth we usedt to go out late at night and open random cars with diff keys best key was mark2 cavalier car fitted most car locks ie polo/astra/panda/cavalier saved smashing windows and causeing damage to cars

i am luck as there hardly any dark green saloon cavaliers kicking about killmarnock the now and 1 of my mates cavalier hatchbaclks got killied last night
and that was after me and him fixing it on road 2hours then daft bint in freanch hit hit him head on
and my key opend his door as well

[VauxhallGirl]

Humbucker, that is like Father and Son sat next to one another. good one.

Carlos, when the Vectra came out in the uk I really wanted one... in that lovely jade green...but people have told me they arn't especially reliable, so have left alone. Must have been the turning point for build quality and reliability for Vauxhall.

Steven, sounds like you had a colourful childhood.
that was a weird experience with your Mum's Astra though. lol.