Frankie McCafferty actor & film-maker has fond memories of his Mazda 'Magoo'
What was your first car and why did you choose it?
A Mazda 323, a 1.3 litre hatchback, lovely shade of cream, which we called Magoo. I didn't really choose it, I like to think it chose me.
How old were you at the time?
29.
Was it new or second-hand?
It rolled off the production line in 1984, and became mine 11 years later.
Did you know the person you were buying it from?
Yes, I knew him, his family and their dog Magoo, after whom my girlfriend named the car. His son was sharing a flat with me in Galway at the time.
How much did it cost?
£800. A snip. The insurance was twice that though.
Did you know much about cars when you bought it?
About as much as I do now, but slightly less.
What difference did it make to your life - and your pocket?
I loved that car. Being from Donegal, living in Galway and freelancing all over the country I'd felt the need for one for a long time. I was really busy, so I didn't mind the expense. My insurance broker spread the payments so it took the sting out of it.
Any run-ins with the law while you were driving it?
On the maiden voyage - from Drogheda to Galway - I almost drove into a guard who was stewarding a parade in the middle of Drogheda. I hadn't driven in five years and the cop in question had no idea how close he was to being involved in my first accident, five minutes into the trip. My girlfriend was very calm too. Ignorance is bliss.
What's the longest trip you ever took in your first car?
That car covered every inch of this island. I don't know which was the longest single trip, but over one weekend we travelled from my parent's house in Donegal, to Dublin, to the Cork Film Festival, and up to Galway.
Your best memory of the car?
The maiden voyage. After the incident with the marching band we got as far as Slane, when I rolled down the window to adjust the wing mirror. It fell into the door and wouldn't roll back up. We went back to my friends in Drogheda and ended up staying for most of the week. The second maiden voyage, window sorted, was a success. We went for a pint in Galway to celebrate, feeling like Apollo astronauts.
. . . and your worst memory?
The maiden voyage(s).
How long did you keep the car?
Three years - then I gave it to my girlfriend whose Da knew how to give an old car the care it needed. She drove it for two years until it died in Tyrrellspass in Co Westmeath one afternoon.
What was your next car?
A Ford Fiesta. I never had any luck with it. It eventually got stolen and written off.
What do you drive now?
A six-year-old Toyota Corolla Saloon. It's lovely, very reliable and comfortable, but it'll never match up to my old Mazda Magoo. I've got a nice memento of the Mazda, though - it's immortalised in Brood. It was the first film I directed, which was written by The Irish Times' own Ian Kilroy.