The Poverty Spec Enthusiasts' Thread

[ch108]

My first car was a 1980 Mk1 Fiesta popular. No radio, or space for one. Basic seats with no headrests. No carpet in the boot, just 2 wood panels, no nearside door mirror. It never had rear washwipe or reversing lights. Having no reversing lights was fun getting out of car park spaces. The windscreen washer was operated mechanically by pressing a button on the floor with your foot, then you had to switch wipers on separately. Also wipers never had an intermittent setting. Seems so basic now and probably was when I owned it, as I bought it after passing my test in 1990.

My second car, a hand me down 1986 Cavalier seemed like a executive saloon in comparison!

[paultownsend]

I loved my mk2 Golf GTI for being so basic. When stuff broke it just got more basic.
Broken electric windows and central locking. Replace with manual from the scrappy. Soggy underlay, rip it out. Kept the PAS when that broke mind.
A simple car that the only jobs I had to pay for was tyre fitting and pressing in the wheel bearings.

[NNH]

paultownsend said:

I loved my mk2 Golf GTI for being so basic. When stuff broke it just got more basic.
Broken electric windows and central locking. Replace with manual from the scrappy. Soggy underlay, rip it out. Kept the PAS when that broke mind.
A simple car that the only jobs I had to pay for was tyre fitting and pressing in the wheel bearings.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who downgraded a Golf to windup windows! It was a treat to work on - so easy to change suspension bushes and dampers.

[Petrolize]

Always thought my car out in NZ was a bit odd spec wise, Mitsubishi's flagship model of the time, fully loaded, all electrics, V6 engine, but still on steel wheels..

[furtive]

My first car was an Austin Metro City which was an ultra-poverty spec Metro. It was lacking the following features that a standard Metro had:

Rear window demister
Reversing light
Passenger side wing mirror
A radio!

It was properly awful.

[rejn]

furtive said:

My first car was an Austin Metro City which was an ultra-poverty spec Metro. It was lacking the following features that a standard Metro had:

Rear window demister
Reversing light
Passenger side wing mirror
A radio!

It was properly awful.

Ha - I was just reading this thread thinking exactly the same.

I, too, had a Metro City - as you say, it was as poverty speec as you can get - only one foglight (with a blanking plate on the other side of the bumper) - no parcel shelf or rear wiper, only one door mirror, no radio, etc etc - but I loved it. By the time I'd finished with it, it had a stereo and speakers, rear wiper (nasty cheap kit that didn't park but just stopped wherever the wiper was when you switched it off), a 2nd fog light, driving lights.. Wow, I thought I had the coolest car in the world back then!!!

[furtive]

Ha! I'd forgotten it didn't have a parcel shelf or rear wiper either. I had a "ghetto blaster" on the passenger seat which nearly caused my death. I looked down to turn the tape over and when I looked up the traffic in front of me had ground to a halt. Definite brown trouser moment that was!

It could cock a wheel is provoked though...

[Sir Fergie]

When the Mk 2 Golf and Jetta was new - in Ireland - you literally just got a stereo - and that was it as standard.

My Aunt bought a brand new 1.3 Jetta in 1989 - it didn't even have a 5 speed box - just a 4 speed

Regarding silly stuff like the round headlight in the square housing of the Mk 1 Astra - I don't think things like that were simply to save money.

But to make extra profit on the "extras" and "upgraded models"

in reality what a GL Sierra had - was probably what SHOULD HAVE been on the L model - but Ford get to charge you more for the GL when its not the base - knowing that many would upgrade for things like "tinted glass"

[LeapingDeere]

Best thread I've seen during my short tenure on this forum.

I had a good friend of mine who had a very early, very basic Peugeot 205 (83 or 84 I think) which had a hand choke to turn the engine off. Fabulously french!

[DoctorX]

Sir Fergie said:

When the Mk 2 Golf and Jetta was new - in Ireland - you literally just got a stereo - and that was it as standard.

My Aunt bought a brand new 1.3 Jetta in 1989 - it didn't even have a 5 speed box - just a 4 speed

Regarding silly stuff like the round headlight in the square housing of the Mk 1 Astra - I don't think things like that were simply to save money.

But to make extra profit on the "extras" and "upgraded models"

in reality what a GL Sierra had - was probably what SHOULD HAVE been on the L model - but Ford get to charge you more for the GL when its not the base - knowing that many would upgrade for things like "tinted glass"

Exactly - make the poverty spec unattractive and people might spend more, hence the round lights and the unpainted Sierra grille. I think that base Sierra also had mirrors which had a thin door mounting at the top and were unique to that model which seems a strange thing to do - why bother for one model?

ETA: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91728279@N06/9040045...

Edited by DoctorX on Monday 30th March 18:08

Edited by DoctorX on Monday 30th March 18:09

[arun1uk]

My 205 "style" from '92. Amazing car.
Manual windows, mirrors, tilt only sunroof, manual choke and only 4 gears, steel wheels.
Would hit an indicated 100 (more like 70 in real life) on a private road. Above 80 it got eerily quiet...after almost shaking itself to pieces at 80.

I absolutely loved it, it was my pride and joy! I miss it :-(

[Fast Bug]

DoctorX said:

Sir Fergie said:

When the Mk 2 Golf and Jetta was new - in Ireland - you literally just got a stereo - and that was it as standard.

My Aunt bought a brand new 1.3 Jetta in 1989 - it didn't even have a 5 speed box - just a 4 speed

Regarding silly stuff like the round headlight in the square housing of the Mk 1 Astra - I don't think things like that were simply to save money.

But to make extra profit on the "extras" and "upgraded models"

in reality what a GL Sierra had - was probably what SHOULD HAVE been on the L model - but Ford get to charge you more for the GL when its not the base - knowing that many would upgrade for things like "tinted glass"

Exactly - make the poverty spec unattractive and people might spend more, hence the round lights and the unpainted Sierra grille. I think that base Sierra also had mirrors which had a thin door mounting at the top and were unique to that model which seems a strange thing to do - why bother for one model?

ETA: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91728279@N06/9040045...

Edited by DoctorX on Monday 30th March 18:08

Edited by DoctorX on Monday 30th March 18:09

It's because manufacturers often lose money on base models as they're loss leaders. You can buy one, but they really don't want you to. And often they'll be factory order as they hope you'll order the next one up the range as they make money on that one.

As for the Sierra door mirrors, I think that's from the very early production models rather than just an entry level thing. I remember my Grandparents friend having an early Sierra with the same mirrors and that wasn't a base model

[andy43]

Christ it's hot in here. These seats are soo uncomfortable. And this steering is far too heavy. Rubbish thread.
I'd get my coat, but there was nothing to hang it on when I came in.

[rallycross]

The best 205 Gti I had (and I had loads over the years) was a 1600 Gti in base spec, black, wind up windows, no PAS, not even central locking or alarm, factory fit cassette, as basic as it could be, (also as light as it could be) and it was an absolute hoot to drive.

It was a one mature owner low mileage car when I bought it (bargain at £750) if I had just tucked it away safe in the garage it would be worth a fair whack today, and being base spec = less dodgy French electrics to go wrong! win win.

[UK345]

My first car was a Rover 25 and it had next to no spec. It didn't have central locking, air con, electric windows etc. it was as basic as could be except from a set of alloy wheels. Was a great wee car and done me well for 2.5 years.

[DoctorX]

Fast Bug said:

It's because manufacturers often lose money on base models as they're loss leaders. You can buy one, but they really don't want you to. And often they'll be factory order as they hope you'll order the next one up the range as they make money on that one.

As for the Sierra door mirrors, I think that's from the very early production models rather than just an entry level thing. I remember my Grandparents friend having an early Sierra with the same mirrors and that wasn't a base model

You're right, the L got them too.

http://autoste.com/topic/15614-1982-ford-sierra-...

[chrisb92]

Put my well specced Golf in for its first MOT today and have been given an Up! as a courtesy car. My God, it's tragic. It's a 15 plate and has the definition of a poverty spec auto gearbox! Other features it lacks are there isn't a single button on the steering wheel, can't even change the sound of the radio on it! Cloth interior, can only adjust the window of the drivers side, I have to lean over to press the button for the passenger. No arm rest. NO auto lights. NO auto windscreen wipers. I won't even go into how slow the thing is.

The only possible box I can imagine that may have been ticked was the one for alloys, although they are about 13", so nothing special!!!

[anonymous-user]

chrisb92 said:

Put my well specced Golf in for its first MOT today and have been given an Up! as a courtesy car. My God, it's tragic. It's a 15 plate and has the definition of a poverty spec auto gearbox! Other features it lacks are there isn't a single button on the steering wheel, can't even change the sound of the radio on it! Cloth interior, can only adjust the window of the drivers side, I have to lean over to press the button for the passenger. No arm rest. NO auto lights. NO auto windscreen wipers. I won't even go into how slow the thing is.

The only possible box I can imagine that may have been ticked was the one for alloys, although they are about 13", so nothing special!!!

So basically you're lazy?

[James P]

paultownsend said:

I loved my mk2 Golf GTI for being so basic. When stuff broke it just got more basic.
Broken electric windows and central locking. Replace with manual from the scrappy. Soggy underlay, rip it out. Kept the PAS when that broke mind.
A simple car that the only jobs I had to pay for was tyre fitting and pressing in the wheel bearings.

That wasn't basic then. Mine - G883FJK and BRU3Y before I owned it - had manual windows/locks and unassisted steering. All considered less desirable by the first owner than 15" BBS's and fog lights in the 'big' bumpers.

[Mr2Mike]

chrisb92 said:

Put my well specced Golf in for its first MOT today and have been given an Up! as a courtesy car. My God, it's tragic. It's a 15 plate and has the definition of a poverty spec auto gearbox! Other features it lacks are there isn't a single button on the steering wheel, can't even change the sound of the radio on it! Cloth interior, can only adjust the window of the drivers side, I have to lean over to press the button for the passenger. No arm rest. NO auto lights. NO auto windscreen wipers. I won't even go into how slow the thing is.

The only possible box I can imagine that may have been ticked was the one for alloys, although they are about 13", so nothing special!!!

Is this an ironic post? The car has a radio (presumably a CD/MP3 player) and electric windows, so I'd hardly say it was tragic. As for steering wheel controls, does it really cause you problems to reach 12" across to push the button on the head unit?

What is the "definition of a poverty spec gearbox"? Does the automatic box in the Up! come in a range of differing luxury values?