One car to replace my current fleet?

One car to replace my current fleet?

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Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
quotequote all
I was thinking about how to introduce this thread and my most recent addition to the world.

I currently own three cars...

My Punto Sporting...



...1.6 eight valve for reliable fun around the country lanes and "B" road battles cleverly disguised as my commute. The MkI Punto is easily one of the best handling cars Fiat ever made and replacing the rear wishbone set up for the beamed MkII was a travesty. The 1.6 engine that dates back to the 128 makes a solid 90bhp and enough torque (compared to the 1242cc 16V Sporting) to keep up and humiliate some modern traffic if needs be. A few modifications to enhance the ability of the already agile platform.

My MX5...



...pure sports car with pop up lights and the option of running with the roof down. UK 1.8 model with no power steering and very little else to go wrong. Slower than my Punto but still a nice drivers car.

...and of course my mighty Panda...



...proper classic rather than the Mazda pretender. Cheap insurance, fanatical following and the Mexican wave of...

"I haven't seen one of those in ages"

...whenever I drive past anyone.

Having three cars is stupid, selfish and I really need to do something about it. With a modest £1,500 budget it's time to get a shopping list together.

So I need something that is as quick, fun reliable, tunable, economical and as good on track as my Punto.
As much of an antidepressant on wheels as my MX5; preferably with pop up lights, rear wheel drive and topless.
Also a proper classic, with a cult following and plenty of internet back up and support from owners clubs like my Panda would be ideal.

Wanting everything in one car is a bit of a tall order and I have considered several options.

Chrome bumper MGB? For my budget it would either be crap or a rubber bumper ringer.
Midget? Rust bucket.
Spitfire? Great car but the same problems as the Midget and B.
Lancia? Last time I bought a Lancia it came with a free divorce.
Build a kit car? Whatever the budget add £400 for an IVA/SVA that it will fail.
Buy a kit car? Drive something someone else has put together in their shed? No offence I'm too much of a control freak.
Porsche 924? Good shout but a bit "red braces" for me.
Porsche 944? Insurance issues.
Porsche 928? V8 running costs and the most expensive parts bin of the proper Porsche's.
Stag? V8 running costs and for the budget the car would be a complete shed.
Jag'? Try finding one with a proper gearbox that isn't a Mondeo in a frock for the money.
80's Hot hatch? Silly money or sheds.
90's hot hatch? As above and add needing a laptop to fix the bloody thing if you drive through a deep puddle (Clio Williams rolleyes ).
Alfa GTV? Twinspark is too heavy for the engine and a V6 would be either beyond budget or thrashed half to death. Also not classic insurance yet.
Fiat Coupe'? "Council estate chic" has wrecked the reputation of these fantastic cars. I'd love another one but not this time around. Premium price for a well looked after one, try finding it within budget from all the ones that have been neglected, thrashed and run over with a polishing mop.


So what have I bought?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1979-FIAT-X1-9-RED-60k-T...













I was looking forward to a road trip to collect her but life is getting in the way so delivery will be tomorrow.

So pop up headlights, topless, virtually the same engine as my Punto (as reliable, tunable and economical), classic insurance, cult following, rear wheel drive sports car with a practical sized boot, 13 inch wheels for cheaper tyres and a the...

"I haven't seen one of those in ages"

...chorus.

Pretty ideal eh? smile

velocemitch

3,790 posts

219 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
quotequote all
Great choice and certainly works when you compare it it the others mentioned.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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Whenever I have a daft idea I remember this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAn-mdS-otE

...and know there have been worse ones. wink



Getting annoyed waiting for the car to b delivered. She should have been collected this morning but I haven't heard anything yet. When I get a call or text saying she's on her way it'll be a seven hour wait at least. Looks like I'll be up all night at this rate. rolleyes

gforceg

3,523 posts

178 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
"Lancia? Last time I bought a Lancia it came with a free divorce."

Best line I've heard on here for a long time.

Great choice of car using your criteria btw. Possibly the only choice? Or am I being just a little cynical?

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
Delivery tomorrow. rolleyes

I know there are a lot of Italians in Glasgow but I thought "Manana" was Spanish.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
Forty minutes late or a day depending on the clock you use. wink

Basically I had time to open the boot, engine cover, take the roof off and park before a pre-arranged driving lesson for my sister.

I forgot to add the word "project" to my wish list as an X-1/9 under £2,500 would be by default. She needs a little more work than I was expecting but I enjoy working on my cars as much as driving them so what I've noticed so far I'm relieving in. smile

So here she is...





...warts and all.














So first drive to see my mate Kev' and the speedometer and horn don't work as informed but there was an annoying rattle from the front. It was too high pitched to be suspension bushes, the steering felt solid so it wasn't track rod ends or wheel bearings, the hood was closed and cable taught, it didn't matter if the lights were up or down so it wasn't broken linkage.

Hmmmmmmm....




...that'd explain it. hehe

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Not the most glamorous location...



...but the most fun I've had driving to work in ages. wink

gforceg

3,523 posts

178 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Great stuff!

There are so many "young'uns" who won't have a clue what it is.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Twenty three hours and six minutes into ownership and I've taken the really rather grey roof off...



...painted and refitted it...



...not great but a damn sight better.

Also while I was out and about one of the Aluminium center caps flew off and disappeared. rolleyes

Just as well there wasn't anyone heading the other way.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
First break down today. rolleyes

On my way home from work I thought I'd take some fun back roads. Just over a quarter of a tank so I thought I'd be okay.

After a long sweeping right hand bend...

"Chug, chug, spit, pop, bang, chug chug"

...I'd sucked air into the fuel line and had to stop, let the car settle for a moment and nearly run the battery flat restarting the old girl.

Hmmmmmm. I weren't planning any modifications but a swirl pot may be in order.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
First modification today. Before...



...After...



Knackered engine mount...





...well knackered cam' cover.

More worryingly is the broken gearbox mount...



...but I can extend it to the next hole in the gearbox.

The mystery of the nonfunctional speedometer is solved...



...but not resolved due to the replacement one is about a foot too short.

ivanhoew

974 posts

240 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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subbed ,good positive attitude ...nice job .

Prawnboy

1,326 posts

146 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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loving it, and your panda.....i'm itchy for a cheap classic at the moment too.

markoc

1,084 posts

195 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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I love these to bits - a very rare sight now. One day I will have one. I'll just leave this as food for thought:


Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
Prawnboy said:
loving it, and your panda.....i'm itchy for a cheap classic at the moment too.
Cheap classic? Get yourself a Panda before the prices skyrocket. My Fantasia (paid £350 for three years ago) is insured for £3,418

yikes

If you fancy a modern classic, my Punto (MkI 1.6 Sporting) is very rare and the MX5 are both surplus to requirements now. Both for sale with £100 from each going to Arthritis Research UK (the charity I've been associated with since before Guff I).

Food for thought? Those wheels look hideous. hurl

The charm of the X1/9 is the fact she sits 112cm from the ground. Put 15's on there and she looks a Range Rover-esque 120cm at least. hehe

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
quotequote all
P.S I'm joking about the wheels. My Renault 5 and 11 turbo's had Image split-rims.

I must get a set of MkI corner bumpers as the Aluminum box section American Spec' ones must weight a fair bit. wink

On the topic of weight...

http://www.smithanddeakin.co.uk/F-K.htm

...a grp nose cone, rear valance and wings would shave a few more Kg's.

Edited by Liquid Knight on Thursday 24th July 15:13

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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Awesome little car.
Relative of mine recently passed away. Proper car enthusiast.
Saw a picture book this weekend with him posing in front of his mint and flashy green x1/9 in his young years.
Park it next to a Porsche and everyone will take pictures of the Fiat.

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
According to the experts I've spoken to the fuel starvation issue could be one of two things. A knackered coil (rule one if you have a fuel issue with a Fiat it's probably electrical) or a common issue the fuel pump isn't man enough to cope with more than 4,500rpm.

The latter is more likely but the coil is the cheaper option. So a nice Lucas Gold is on it's way ready to prove me wrong. If it does it's something I won't need to worry about later. wink

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Now the MX5 is on eBay I cleaned and polished the car and decided to polish the X1/9 to see just how bad the paint job is.

I've often used humor to describe bodywork on other cars. "More filler than the complete works of Marshall Mathers III" for example but my X1/9 has filler on every single panel, including some structural places that should have failed the MOT. The car is all one colour but painted a various angles so the paint has settled flat and doesn't reflect the light properly. I have no idea what the clear coat is. It is not lacquer. Feels like an epoxy resin gel coat but lays like a brushed on marine varnish.

So I have two options. Strip the car to a bare shell, get her sand blasted to discover there's nothing left or get the mechanical side of things perfect and find a donor shell. frown

turbonutter

496 posts

207 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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One only slightly used X19 in the same colours here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-X19-part-available-...