Lancia Fulvia or MX5 (or 911)
Discussion
Am in a bit of a quandary... have been looking for something more fun to drive, my search for another car is ongoing and mainly centered on a Porsche 911, however right now I still have my Merc 380Sl to sell (before I can afford the Porsche) and that may take a while as mine is at the upper end for price and there are lots of them around.
During my search there are another two cars I am tempted to get:
Option 1: Buy an MX5 mK1 for £2k, so I have something fun to drive while I look for a buyer for the Merc and as a run a round to go and view Porches if I sell the Merc.
Option 2: Have also had classic cars in the past and I have always liked the look of Lancia Fulvias, there is a good car out there (1971) that I could still afford to get without Immediately selling the Merc but it would be around £6k so it would essentially scupper any chance of gettting the 911 (a 3.2 or 964 for around £14K)
Has anyone driven a Fulvia? I know it is a much older car but how does it compare to MK1 MX5 in terms of driving fun? Getting the MX5 does appeal, as it is cheap enough to satisfy my need for a bit of a change and something fun to drive and does not stop me then looking for the Porsche once the Merc is sold.
On the other hand the Fulvia will be super cheap to run (no road tax, 30+mpg, no depreciation), should still be fun to drive but will stop me looking for a 911 (however getting a 911 worries me a bit in terms of maintenance, insurance and petrol costs.. I can afford it but it would be in another league financially).
Comments?
During my search there are another two cars I am tempted to get:
Option 1: Buy an MX5 mK1 for £2k, so I have something fun to drive while I look for a buyer for the Merc and as a run a round to go and view Porches if I sell the Merc.
Option 2: Have also had classic cars in the past and I have always liked the look of Lancia Fulvias, there is a good car out there (1971) that I could still afford to get without Immediately selling the Merc but it would be around £6k so it would essentially scupper any chance of gettting the 911 (a 3.2 or 964 for around £14K)
Has anyone driven a Fulvia? I know it is a much older car but how does it compare to MK1 MX5 in terms of driving fun? Getting the MX5 does appeal, as it is cheap enough to satisfy my need for a bit of a change and something fun to drive and does not stop me then looking for the Porsche once the Merc is sold.
On the other hand the Fulvia will be super cheap to run (no road tax, 30+mpg, no depreciation), should still be fun to drive but will stop me looking for a 911 (however getting a 911 worries me a bit in terms of maintenance, insurance and petrol costs.. I can afford it but it would be in another league financially).
Comments?
Bought a Fulvia last summer via ebay - 1972, s2, 1.3 and LHD. Bought it on a whim intending to tinker with it a bit and move it on. It's in pretty good nick, there's some filler that will need getting rid of in a year or two and I prob spent a grand or so sorting mechanical bits and bobs out and what have you.
Always liked the shape, mines sort of dark maroon colour and has the magnesium wheels from the HF, it's a great looking car, gets lots of positive comments even from people who were born years after it went out of production.
It's not especially quick by modern standards, though if you thrash it (which it relishes) it will buzz along at a decent lick. Handles brilliantly, great fun to launch into roundabouts and generally chuck around. Good brakes as well, discs all round with 4 pots at the front.
Major benefit though is it's cheap to run for a classic. Tax exempt and costs 35 quid to fill up! Will do about 200 miles on that, so circa 30mpg. Parts supply is good to, Omicron do pretty much most things and bits aren't too expensive.
I've driven mx5s, though they are fun, they lack the classic cache of the Lancia.
Always liked the shape, mines sort of dark maroon colour and has the magnesium wheels from the HF, it's a great looking car, gets lots of positive comments even from people who were born years after it went out of production.
It's not especially quick by modern standards, though if you thrash it (which it relishes) it will buzz along at a decent lick. Handles brilliantly, great fun to launch into roundabouts and generally chuck around. Good brakes as well, discs all round with 4 pots at the front.
Major benefit though is it's cheap to run for a classic. Tax exempt and costs 35 quid to fill up! Will do about 200 miles on that, so circa 30mpg. Parts supply is good to, Omicron do pretty much most things and bits aren't too expensive.
I've driven mx5s, though they are fun, they lack the classic cache of the Lancia.
Hmmm, unless Im missing something the suggestion that buying a 40 year old Lancia makes for cheap motoring is the same as marrying Jordan because you like the natural look.
THe MX5, as much as I hate them and think they are s
t, are excellent little cars and extremely reliable. For a hassle free runaround it is by far your best bet.
THe MX5, as much as I hate them and think they are s
t, are excellent little cars and extremely reliable. For a hassle free runaround it is by far your best bet.I’ve owned my fulvia for nearly twenty five years having bought it as a poor student back in the late eighties. In the early days it was used as everyday transport, then it was subject to a ground up restoration, and more recently driven to Turin and back.
The fulvia is a great little car to drive. It’s not the most powerful of cars, but this is made up for by great point to point ability. You can tell it was a WRC winner back in the day. Gearing is a little low for modern motorway speeds, but that’s true of most small seventies cars. The fulvia has a real 60’s fell about it, with a nice quality interior and fittings.
I guess the big difference with the MX5, is that the fulvia’s a Coupe and you won’t get the topless experience. Saying that you won’t get the whole ‘classic’ experience that you get with the fulvia.
The big issue with any fulvia is to get a good one. Even by today’s standards the body is an advanced design with a complex monocoque design and sub-frame. This gives great body stiffness, but a poor or bodged one will be very difficult and uneconomic to restore.
Parts availably is good with a number of excellent specialists around and (sadly) a good number of cars still being scrapped.
Hope this helps
Julian
The fulvia is a great little car to drive. It’s not the most powerful of cars, but this is made up for by great point to point ability. You can tell it was a WRC winner back in the day. Gearing is a little low for modern motorway speeds, but that’s true of most small seventies cars. The fulvia has a real 60’s fell about it, with a nice quality interior and fittings.
I guess the big difference with the MX5, is that the fulvia’s a Coupe and you won’t get the topless experience. Saying that you won’t get the whole ‘classic’ experience that you get with the fulvia.
The big issue with any fulvia is to get a good one. Even by today’s standards the body is an advanced design with a complex monocoque design and sub-frame. This gives great body stiffness, but a poor or bodged one will be very difficult and uneconomic to restore.
Parts availably is good with a number of excellent specialists around and (sadly) a good number of cars still being scrapped.
Hope this helps
Julian
blindswelledrat said:
Hmmm, unless Im missing something the suggestion that buying a 40 year old Lancia makes for cheap motoring is the same as marrying Jordan because you like the natural look.
THe MX5, as much as I hate them and think they are st, are excellent little cars and extremely reliable. For a hassle free runaround it is by far your best bet.
They are exceptionally well engineered, as Lancias where in those days. Ok, if you buy a rusty and neglected one it will eat your bank account dry in no time but buy one that's up together and you should be ok.THe MX5, as much as I hate them and think they are s
t, are excellent little cars and extremely reliable. For a hassle free runaround it is by far your best bet.
Bought a K reg Fulvia back in the 80's cost £190, it was dark blue, painted it red in plant enamel, thrashed it until I burnt a valve out, replaced it and eventually sold the car on.
It was a beautifully built, clever V4 engine, but if you look at one there are a lot of rust traps. The front subframe mounts can go and water in the boot area will rot through the rear panel.
The interior is very light and the narrow a and b pillars give excellent visibility.
It was a beautifully built, clever V4 engine, but if you look at one there are a lot of rust traps. The front subframe mounts can go and water in the boot area will rot through the rear panel.
The interior is very light and the narrow a and b pillars give excellent visibility.
As much as I love my Fulvia ( a 75 model ) i would go for the MX5 . And get that 32 Careera.
At the moment ime running a low miles, 2 owner 98 model 1.6 L , it's a great little car, the Only thing I can fault it on is the Angle and position of the throttle pedal, 20 miles and my leg is really uncomfortable. Suprised Mazda didn't get this right .
Re the 32 Careera, I have had 2, they are near faultless cars, the first was an 86 model with the 905 box and the second was a Late G50 model. Earlier one is better balanced as the box is lighter and that's the one I would go for. But tread Very very carefully, buy a dog and you will really be up the kyber Big Time.
I did try a 964 and liked it a lot. It was much quicker with A Lot more Low Down grunt, to get a 32 moving you really have to rev it hard.
I did seriously consider buying one, but there are just so few around compared to the 32 and the 993 and I just couldnt find one in the Spec I wanted, ie 2 wheel drive a Black Paint.
At the moment ime running a low miles, 2 owner 98 model 1.6 L , it's a great little car, the Only thing I can fault it on is the Angle and position of the throttle pedal, 20 miles and my leg is really uncomfortable. Suprised Mazda didn't get this right .
Re the 32 Careera, I have had 2, they are near faultless cars, the first was an 86 model with the 905 box and the second was a Late G50 model. Earlier one is better balanced as the box is lighter and that's the one I would go for. But tread Very very carefully, buy a dog and you will really be up the kyber Big Time.
I did try a 964 and liked it a lot. It was much quicker with A Lot more Low Down grunt, to get a 32 moving you really have to rev it hard.
I did seriously consider buying one, but there are just so few around compared to the 32 and the 993 and I just couldnt find one in the Spec I wanted, ie 2 wheel drive a Black Paint.
Guys,
Thanks for all the replies.. I think you might be right about the 911 being what I am really after... I would love a Fulvia but want the 11 more. Plus last time I was looking for an 11 but gave up and ended up with my 380Sl..this is a great car for the right person but not for me..
So am holding off on getting the Fulvia and viewing a couple of 11's this weekend. Have liberated some more cash from savings and if find the right car will just buy it now. The 380 can sell when it finds the right buyer..
Thanks for all the replies.. I think you might be right about the 911 being what I am really after... I would love a Fulvia but want the 11 more. Plus last time I was looking for an 11 but gave up and ended up with my 380Sl..this is a great car for the right person but not for me..
So am holding off on getting the Fulvia and viewing a couple of 11's this weekend. Have liberated some more cash from savings and if find the right car will just buy it now. The 380 can sell when it finds the right buyer..
jackpe said:
Guys,
Thanks for all the replies.. I think you might be right about the 911 being what I am really after... I would love a Fulvia but want the 11 more. Plus last time I was looking for an 11 but gave up and ended up with my 380Sl..this is a great car for the right person but not for me..
So am holding off on getting the Fulvia and viewing a couple of 11's this weekend. Have liberated some more cash from savings and if find the right car will just buy it now. The 380 can sell when it finds the right buyer..
Jack,Thanks for all the replies.. I think you might be right about the 911 being what I am really after... I would love a Fulvia but want the 11 more. Plus last time I was looking for an 11 but gave up and ended up with my 380Sl..this is a great car for the right person but not for me..
So am holding off on getting the Fulvia and viewing a couple of 11's this weekend. Have liberated some more cash from savings and if find the right car will just buy it now. The 380 can sell when it finds the right buyer..
The 911 and the Fulvia are worlds apart. Totally different in design and performance.
I used to do a lot with Fulvias. They arguably had the best engineered suspension I have ever seen on a road car. Utterly tremendous handling, and fantastic to drive. They are the classic example of how you don't need a lot of power to go quickly from A to B.
The biggest problem was rust. If you get a good, solid example you will love it. It's a far more comfortable car than the 911, particularly if you are tall. Great glass area and vision, beautifully and cleverly designed V4 engine with common cylinder head and twin 40s, although some of the smaller engines ran 38s.
The Lancia will be far cheaper to run than the Porsche, no question. And how many others are you likely to pull up beside?
J
I think the MX5 would start to feel a bit boring quit quickly? I've got a Fulvia HF and a Cayman in the garage. Chalk and cheese, but both great fun. The Fulvia comes out on dry days (for obvious reasons :-)), you can
thrash it hard and being made of bacofoil it doesn't feel particularly slow and sounds great (although a friend has doubted the accuracy of my speedo....)
Let us know what you decide to do!
thrash it hard and being made of bacofoil it doesn't feel particularly slow and sounds great (although a friend has doubted the accuracy of my speedo....)
Let us know what you decide to do!
Have found a 1992 C4 Carrera! it is a repaired write off but had it PPI'd by a Porsche specialist and it is a good car!! Got it for £10K, if it was not a repaired car it would have been more like £15K.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826735.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826735.htm
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