Yes the 80s were aturning point i think.

The mk 3 essies were much better and my mk 1 astra was very good.  Such a pity i rolled it.....but there you are.

We ran as a family car an old volvo 145 estate.  By the time it had to go (85) it looked like a collander.  It was a '71 (g plate way)....early days of monocoque  construction when the answer to no seperate chassis was just masses of metal.  So the volvo was built like a tank.

Nowadays of course fuel efficiecy is a major issue so weight is also.

My transit is made out of tin foil.