RE: PH Service History: Sparing the horses
Discussion
I had some memorable drives in my first car, despite it being a 1.2 Corsa C. It had huge profile tyres on small wheels, was noticeably slower when I had eaten a burger, but it just wouldn't die and had a bit of lift-off oversteer in certain situations, which could be exploited.
It's still going. Last MOT was in February, it had 181,000 miles on the clock, by the looks of things. I hope it gets to the 200.
It's still going. Last MOT was in February, it had 181,000 miles on the clock, by the looks of things. I hope it gets to the 200.
+2
Got two mk1 MX5 's, one turbocharged which keeps up with a TVR Griffith 500!
The other one a std 1.8 RS probably sweeter, puts a huge smile on my face every time! You can just use all its performance and seems to perfectly equated to A and B roads, cruises fine too.
Also have an A2 tdi(mapped) . With it's amazingly rigid chassis it's a totall hoot!
Will surprise and humble much more modern stuff, really.
Got two mk1 MX5 's, one turbocharged which keeps up with a TVR Griffith 500!
The other one a std 1.8 RS probably sweeter, puts a huge smile on my face every time! You can just use all its performance and seems to perfectly equated to A and B roads, cruises fine too.
Also have an A2 tdi(mapped) . With it's amazingly rigid chassis it's a totall hoot!
Will surprise and humble much more modern stuff, really.
I'd offer the Polo blue GT here. A late one with the 150bhp engine from the Golf. It's cheap to insure, will do a real world 50mpg+ and was really surprisingly quite potent
Also the chassis was in a different league to the lardy, understeering mk 6-7 golf options of it's time. I drove an edition 35 at the same time (2nd hand for same price as the polo new) and chose the polo over it for it's nimble handling and front end grip. Far more entertaining.
Also the chassis was in a different league to the lardy, understeering mk 6-7 golf options of it's time. I drove an edition 35 at the same time (2nd hand for same price as the polo new) and chose the polo over it for it's nimble handling and front end grip. Far more entertaining.
Edited by Niffty951 on Saturday 4th November 15:08
Plate spinner said:
I'd also nominate the early MINI variants. Modest power in One and Cooper flavours, but a really nice chassis set up. Huge fun.
Even the Cooper S models are cheap now - I loved mine on 15" winters!
Agreed. We've just taken on the mother-in-law's '06 Cooper as a stopgap car and I'm really quite enjoying it! It'd be more fun if it had a manual rather than the slow-witted CVT, but beggars can't be choosers!Even the Cooper S models are cheap now - I loved mine on 15" winters!
I'd love to try a Cooper S.
Buff Mchugelarge said:
I've got a Seicento Sporting Abarth. I know all about cheap smiles 
I loved my Seicento. I dropped £7k on a brand new one and loved every moment. My mate’s 136bhp Cavalier couldn’t get near it on a blast through the country twisties. One of those cars that made me feel alive and part of th car. I miss it.
mrpenks said:
I loved my Seicento. I dropped £7k on a brand new one and loved every moment. My mate’s 136bhp Cavalier couldn’t get near it on a blast through the country twisties. One of those cars that made me feel alive and part of th car. I miss it.
Me too, on a Schumacher. The ONLY car I ever truly regretted selling.My mint Seicento Sporting Abarth goes a long way to healing that wound.
Two of my favourite cars have been low bhp affairs.
1. Daihatsu Sirion Rally 2 - Around 110PS, and the 1.3 screamed to around 7500rpm, it was delightful to rev. It wasn't the greatest handling car ever but it was all about the engine.
2. Perodua Kelisa - Just 63hp or so but it weighed nothing, the 3 cylinder sounded great and the car was so basic it reminded me of a classic mini, even the indicators had no self cancellation! What made it better is when in the winter when I lived in a remote part of Scotland, we had unexpected snowfall, I had a spare of oversized studded tyres I inherited from a friend, I threw them on and went out in 20 inches or so of snow, and the car was f
king amazing in it, it's like it climbed over the top of the snow, I didn't care much for the cars safety so I went throw big 5ft snowdrifts. It's probably the most fun I've ever had driving.
1. Daihatsu Sirion Rally 2 - Around 110PS, and the 1.3 screamed to around 7500rpm, it was delightful to rev. It wasn't the greatest handling car ever but it was all about the engine.
2. Perodua Kelisa - Just 63hp or so but it weighed nothing, the 3 cylinder sounded great and the car was so basic it reminded me of a classic mini, even the indicators had no self cancellation! What made it better is when in the winter when I lived in a remote part of Scotland, we had unexpected snowfall, I had a spare of oversized studded tyres I inherited from a friend, I threw them on and went out in 20 inches or so of snow, and the car was f
king amazing in it, it's like it climbed over the top of the snow, I didn't care much for the cars safety so I went throw big 5ft snowdrifts. It's probably the most fun I've ever had driving.Cris Guest said:
Ford Puma 1.7. 125 Bhp and about 1100 kg with a passenger and a full tank. Good ones are still below £1500 and point to point on a B road, there's very little this side of and Elise that can keep up. Best front drive chassis ever.
Forgot about the Puma. Think Tiff Needell had a Racing Puma and a standard one, fantastic cars. Cris Guest said:
Ford Puma 1.7. 125 Bhp and about 1100 kg with a passenger and a full tank. Good ones are still below £1500 and point to point on a B road, there's very little this side of and Elise that can keep up. Best front drive chassis ever.
From the same era, the 2 French cousins would be in the mix for me as well, 106GtI and Saxo VtsNiffty951 said:
I'd offer the Polo blue GT here. A late one with the 150bhp engine from the Golf. It's cheap to insure, will do a real world 50mpg+ and was really surprisingly quite potent
Also the chassis was in a different league to the lardy, understeering mk 6-7 golf options of it's time. I drove an edition 35 at the same time (2nd hand for same price as the polo new) and chose the polo over it for it's nimble handling and front end grip. Far more entertaining.
Yes, these are surprisingly quick with the ACT engine as are the A1sAlso the chassis was in a different league to the lardy, understeering mk 6-7 golf options of it's time. I drove an edition 35 at the same time (2nd hand for same price as the polo new) and chose the polo over it for it's nimble handling and front end grip. Far more entertaining.
Edited by Niffty951 on Saturday 4th November 15:08
My first car was an 88 Civic sedan. Great manual gearbox paired to a 1.5l carbie (amazing given Honda’s tech reputation of the time) engine putting out 100hp. Double wishbones all-round. Great fun to thrash around although I wouldn’t have complained about having the 130hp CRX (and car) instead.
However, fun comes in many forms. I think the most rewarding road cars are those which combine the control weights and engagement of cars in this topic with the satisfying ability to shove the driver into the seat when requested.
However, fun comes in many forms. I think the most rewarding road cars are those which combine the control weights and engagement of cars in this topic with the satisfying ability to shove the driver into the seat when requested.
Edited by Cheapskate on Monday 6th November 03:51
This exactly. I recently bought a mk7 Golf GTI which kind of replaced a Lupo GTI as a daily and to be honest there isn't a lot of fun to be had at slow speeds or say less that 5/10ths driving. The Lupo GTI was fun from about 2/10th's! The golf is a great car but on a short commute it feels too capable to be fun.
HotPepperpots said:
Also have an A2 tdi(mapped) . With it's amazingly rigid chassis it's a totall hoot!
Will surprise and humble much more modern stuff, really.
This engine is great when it's remapped and in something small. So much character. Was yours done by Stealth Racing? They did our Lupo TDI and 10 years on I still love driving it when I get the chance!Will surprise and humble much more modern stuff, really.
TooMany2cvs said:
I seem to recall a superb Bulgin column from CAR, back in the glory days of the 90s, saying exactly this.
The main thing that's changed is that many prosaic cars are now as fast as performance models were then.
And back in the 90s, rather than the latest hot hatch you could buy a small 950kg rwd saloon for £1k or less with maybe 110 horses at most that would be great fun just like these small hatches nowThe main thing that's changed is that many prosaic cars are now as fast as performance models were then.
Cheap/easy to fix, fun to steer but wouldn't see you constantly watching the speedo
Cars have changed but the ethos remains
jon_273 said:
This engine is great when it's remapped and in something small. So much character. Was yours done by Stealth Racing? They did our Lupo TDI and 10 years on I still love driving it when I get the chance!
Yes, you guessed it! Felt a bit ott getting it live remapped but it's been brilliant, night and day transformation.
Going to a sad day when the low emission charge extends to greater London in 2019, it's been a great all round car to commute in.
Reckon it's capable of inter galactic mileage.
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