I'm probably not he right person to talk to though cos I really like Italian cars
Me and the missus have just bought a little car for the commute - a Toyota iQ, ok you can stop laughing now. We got it as I was spending £180 a month
in the Alfa getting about 22mpg plus we were having bother with it (surprise surprise) and seeing as there's only the two of us and no plans for
more it semed to make sense.
Anyway, I digress. The car's really for the missus so I now have an Alfa 147 and a Fiat Cinquecento to dispose of and the funds from that go
towards buying something for myself. Doesn't need to be particularly practical although something with a roof would be nice. I'd like
something a bit retro with carbs and as little computer aided nonsense as possible. I've been looking at stuff like XR2's, Fiat Strada
Abarth etc. Any thought's or recommendations.
I'm really fancying the Strada but I just know it's going to be one big headache?
XR2s are prone to overheating. Go for a fiesta 1.1 or something. I got 50mpg out of my old Mk2.
I think the Strada sounds really cool - if you can find one then go for it. How bad can it be?
I'm probably not he right person to talk to though cos I really like Italian cars
MK2 golf gti, not to many electrics and not much rust and good fun
XR2 = Ford = Fix Or Repair Daily = Rust = Big bill
quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
XR2s are prone to overheating. Go for a fiesta 1.1 or something. I got 50mpg out of my old Mk2.
Abarth 500 if you can afford it, although im not sure whether it gets mpg like the normal 500, i doubt it :p
I'm afraid a 130tc would be a big project (rust, fiat electrics, worn out suspension, and no parts availability) but loads of fun if you get past
that.
I had a strada 105tc in the mid 80's and I absolutely loved it. (I wanted the 130 twink but i couldn't afford it. Mine handled well enough
but the 130 handling was legendary)
my car's good points
the free revving engine
handling
practicality
faults:
prone to carb icing
also, at the limit it would lift and spin the inside front wheel on hard cornering.
If you can find a nice one, a Series 1 Pug 106 Rallye is a lot of fun. Modern enough not to dissolve into a pile of brown dust, but has carbs and a
lovely little 1.3 engine pushing out 100bhp and very sharp handling.
If not then maybe a Pug 205 GTi? Still enough around that picking up a nice one isn't impossible. One of the best hot hatches of the era
IMO.
I personalty found the XR2 and the XR3 very dull and uninspiring cars, and unlike the French competition they can rust really badly.
[Edited on 7/6/09 by MikeRJ]
I'll jump on the 205GTi bandwagon - hand one, loved it. Except for the french habit of colouring all wires in the loom the same colour......
Old and french? 205gti, Renault 5 turbo?
Old and crap? Nova?
Old and good? Mk1 golf cabrio gti or mk2 gti?
Depends how much money you can spend, as far as classics go I think Lotus esprits are still awesome looking and driving cars - but a decent example
might cost quite a bit.
Are there any Stradas left in the world? Haven't see any for best part of 20 years 
quote:
Originally posted by tomprescott
as far as classics go I think Lotus esprits are still awesome looking and driving cars - but a decent example might cost quite a bit.
Citoen Saxo VTR, cracking little car, just make sure you get one that hasen't had the arse thrashed of it. Cheap, quick, nimble, economical, and best of all the spares are real cheap. HTH Ray
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
If you can find a nice one, a Series 1 Pug 106 Rallye is a lot of fun. Modern enough not to dissolve into a pile of brown dust, but has carbs and a lovely little 1.3 engine pushing out 100bhp and very sharp handling.
If not then maybe a Pug 205 GTi? Still enough around that picking up a nice one isn't impossible. One of the best hot hatches of the era IMO.
I personalty found the XR2 and the XR3 very dull and uninspiring cars, and unlike the French competition they can rust really badly.
[Edited on 7/6/09 by MikeRJ]
quote:
Originally posted by Chippy
Citoen Saxo VTR, cracking little car, just make sure you get one that hasen't had the arse thrashed of it. Cheap, quick, nimble, economical, and best of all the spares are real cheap. HTH Ray
There's an R reg Rover 220 SD 3 doors along from me for sale.
Easy 40+mpg and no rust.. £275 T&T inc.
quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
Dont know about the Pug 106 but the SAXO which is the same car- rebadged suffers from really bad breaks.
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
There's an R reg Rover 220 SD 3 doors along from me for sale.
Easy 40+mpg and no rust.. £275 T&T inc.
I had a Corolla GTi for my first car and was significantly better made than the usual XR2, Nova etc of that era. They were always softly sprung from
the factory though.
Now though I would look at a Honda CRX if you could find a decent one for reasonable money. Alternatively the early 90s Civics (Si,SiR,VTi I think)
with the B16A1/2 engines giving around 150BHP and the reputation of reliablity would be a big draw to me.
Actually even the Civics with the little 1.4 carbed engine are fun enough on the road.
Porsche 924S would make a nice classic runabout if you can ignore the 'not a real porsche' weenies.
quote:
Make them go faster ! - WHat about stopping - SAXO brakes are notorious!
Mk1 MR2 
quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
I think the Strada sounds really cool - if you can find one then go for it. How bad can it be?
I'm probably not he right person to talk to though cos I really like Italian cars