RE: Shed of the Week: Fiat Seicento Sporting
Discussion
Filibuster said:
Pericoloso said:
Don't think you bought a Seicento in 1980...^^^^.
According to Wiki ,this had a Euro Ncap of 1.5 which is better than the Rover 100 and the contemporary Chrysler Voyager ,
a considerably bigger vehicle.....
According to Wiki ,this had a Euro Ncap of 1.5 which is better than the Rover 100 and the contemporary Chrysler Voyager ,
a considerably bigger vehicle.....
The Rover 100 was indeed the worst car tested by Euro NCAP. But it was produced from 94-98 and is actually a BL Austin Metro, designed in the 1970's!
The Voyager (95-00) is a 2* Euro NCAP according the the german wikipedia page and thus marginally better than the Seicento...
FFS How did they manage to engineer a car that size to be so unsafe?
I had one of these, in yellow too.
It was a cheap runabout to offset buying a new house and having a fancy Impreza back in the day (2002ish).
Opposite to most posts here I found it to be a real hoot. On its little Pirelli P7's there was grip and loads of space to use on the road.
It had a revvy little engine that loved to be thrashed and 1.1i seemed plenty for its size.
If fact, it's claim to fame amongst friends was to drop an 850 Volvo T5 (5 cylinder cop spec) away from the lights, that was trying!
The reason I know this is because my mate was driving it on his way to work. The auto gearbox didn't help him.. but hey, I'm having that one!
On daily house renovating duties it was duly filled with enough conifers to sweep the road behind me on the way to the tip and on one occasion 8No 3'x2' 50mm thick paving slabs in one go. It just looked like a huge block of concrete in the back. All was fine until I took the handbrake off and the rear bumper dropped within 10mm of the floor. But I'd bought them now. 25 miles later and only steering when the front wheels were touching the ground it made it, with nothing actually breaking. I got some funny looks on the motorway mind..
Oh and another memorable trip back from B&Q with 20 heavy packs of floor tiles (I could barely pick one up) evenly distributed throughout the passenger footwell, glove"hole", front seat, rear footwells and all over the boot floor. I've no idea how it managed to survive that journey.
It was soo low.
Not to mention the best drift I've ever done. Way too fast at night through a long sweeping bend in the wet, just a smidgeon of lock for what seemed like a very a long time.. That could have ended differently.
As its time was coming to a close with me, I sold it on ebay to a guy from the Isle of White. Then the day before he was collecting it the water pump failed. I replaced it late that night in my garage with sealant needing 24hrs to dry before refilling with coolant.
The next day he caught a bus, a ferry, a train to London, then a train to Leeds and I met him at the station at 5.30pm, with no leaks..
He then told me he was booked on the 11pm ferry back over to the IOW.
I've no idea if he made that ferry or not but I never heard from him again.
Only good memories for me and I still hold it in reasonably high regard despite having better cars before and after.
Didn't see the crash tests until after I sold it mind.
Daz
It was a cheap runabout to offset buying a new house and having a fancy Impreza back in the day (2002ish).
Opposite to most posts here I found it to be a real hoot. On its little Pirelli P7's there was grip and loads of space to use on the road.
It had a revvy little engine that loved to be thrashed and 1.1i seemed plenty for its size.
If fact, it's claim to fame amongst friends was to drop an 850 Volvo T5 (5 cylinder cop spec) away from the lights, that was trying!
The reason I know this is because my mate was driving it on his way to work. The auto gearbox didn't help him.. but hey, I'm having that one!
On daily house renovating duties it was duly filled with enough conifers to sweep the road behind me on the way to the tip and on one occasion 8No 3'x2' 50mm thick paving slabs in one go. It just looked like a huge block of concrete in the back. All was fine until I took the handbrake off and the rear bumper dropped within 10mm of the floor. But I'd bought them now. 25 miles later and only steering when the front wheels were touching the ground it made it, with nothing actually breaking. I got some funny looks on the motorway mind..
Oh and another memorable trip back from B&Q with 20 heavy packs of floor tiles (I could barely pick one up) evenly distributed throughout the passenger footwell, glove"hole", front seat, rear footwells and all over the boot floor. I've no idea how it managed to survive that journey.
It was soo low.
Not to mention the best drift I've ever done. Way too fast at night through a long sweeping bend in the wet, just a smidgeon of lock for what seemed like a very a long time.. That could have ended differently.
As its time was coming to a close with me, I sold it on ebay to a guy from the Isle of White. Then the day before he was collecting it the water pump failed. I replaced it late that night in my garage with sealant needing 24hrs to dry before refilling with coolant.
The next day he caught a bus, a ferry, a train to London, then a train to Leeds and I met him at the station at 5.30pm, with no leaks..
He then told me he was booked on the 11pm ferry back over to the IOW.
I've no idea if he made that ferry or not but I never heard from him again.
Only good memories for me and I still hold it in reasonably high regard despite having better cars before and after.
Didn't see the crash tests until after I sold it mind.
Daz
Jesus, I think I would feel guilty spending someone else's hard-earned on that, let alone my own.
I had a "sporting" Fiat as my first car (127 1050RS) which would have been about the same age as this in the mid-90s and I suspect had plenty of the same characteristics - fun(ish) engine, lamentable build quality, propensity for turning to rust.
Six months after acquiring it, I took my to a Fiat garage for its MOT, hoping they would be kind. After a few minutes I was called out from the waiting area by the tester, who demonstrated to me quite how large the chunks of (ex) metal were that fell off the underside when he tapped it with his hammer.
I just don't see how this one is worth the money or how anyone would knowingly drive such a flimsy car. Ah'm oot!
I had a "sporting" Fiat as my first car (127 1050RS) which would have been about the same age as this in the mid-90s and I suspect had plenty of the same characteristics - fun(ish) engine, lamentable build quality, propensity for turning to rust.
Six months after acquiring it, I took my to a Fiat garage for its MOT, hoping they would be kind. After a few minutes I was called out from the waiting area by the tester, who demonstrated to me quite how large the chunks of (ex) metal were that fell off the underside when he tapped it with his hammer.
I just don't see how this one is worth the money or how anyone would knowingly drive such a flimsy car. Ah'm oot!
I had one of these for a bit and take it as what it is, they are cracking fun and ideal for round town. They are also so small you can stick them anywhere and because they are pennies you do stick them anywhere. When they are broken, you just make them in to a novelty plant pot for the garden!
This one though is steep price wise and it isn't a car I'd pay more than £500 for.
On a side note, about 12 years ago I came up behind one of these on the M11 - he dropped a gear and left me. Clearly wasn't standard and I still wonder to this day what he was running under the bonnet!
This one though is steep price wise and it isn't a car I'd pay more than £500 for.
On a side note, about 12 years ago I came up behind one of these on the M11 - he dropped a gear and left me. Clearly wasn't standard and I still wonder to this day what he was running under the bonnet!
It's not a pleasant car and certainly isn't worth the asking, but come on people - stop banging on about safety will you? Do you all go around expecting to have accidents?
I'd happily put my son in it as a first car, assuming it would last until he's 17 (hmm, 6 years away - may need a rethink)
I'd happily put my son in it as a first car, assuming it would last until he's 17 (hmm, 6 years away - may need a rethink)
Turbobanana said:
It's not a pleasant car and certainly isn't worth the asking, but come on people - stop banging on about safety will you? Do you all go around expecting to have accidents?
I'd happily put my son in it as a first car, assuming it would last until he's 17 (hmm, 6 years away - may need a rethink)
Good point, - I was thinking the same (people moaning about safety) - makes you wonder how any of us who grew up being ferried around in cars which pre-dated airbags and NCAP tests (and rear seat belts for that matter...) are still here really.....!! I'd happily put my son in it as a first car, assuming it would last until he's 17 (hmm, 6 years away - may need a rethink)
Turbobanana said:
I'd happily put my son in it as a first car, assuming it would last until he's 17 (hmm, 6 years away - may need a rethink)
I possibly would too, but imagine the fallout when his mum saw the crash test video?Seriously though, my son is 17, and there aren't many worse cars he could have. All of his mates are buying £500 Corsas & Fiestas that are a damn sight better than this Seicento in every regard.
Pericoloso said:
Dr G said:
Came here to say this.
They were entertaining cars back in the day but that one appears to be cream crackered.
If you forget the past MOT problems ,nearly 12 months current ticket suggests not tooThey were entertaining cars back in the day but that one appears to be cream crackered.
"cream crackered".
Failed on just a few minor bits 2 weeks ago,now fixed.
Mark-C said:
So the Ad states "FIAT SEICENTO 1.1 Sporting From 1,095 + Retail Package” ...
That would put me off even bothering to phone.
just noticed thatThat would put me off even bothering to phone.
so you think it's 1095, and then they say it's needs serviced and mot'd and a warranty and admin fee and air in the tyres and vat, etc, etc.
I would say £500 tops for this heap of trouble... no, wait, make that £495 as would need to immediately replace those hideous yellow dustcaps!
Seriously though, the previous shape of 'sporting' was much better looking and would be a more interesting bet... When they were new they were sort of rival for the 106 Rallye according the press of the day (circa 1994)... l went for the Rallye... looking at the crazy Rallye used prices now it was the more special and better all-rounder then and now. I don't think these Fiats will ever be sought after in the same way.
So, not for me.
Seriously though, the previous shape of 'sporting' was much better looking and would be a more interesting bet... When they were new they were sort of rival for the 106 Rallye according the press of the day (circa 1994)... l went for the Rallye... looking at the crazy Rallye used prices now it was the more special and better all-rounder then and now. I don't think these Fiats will ever be sought after in the same way.
So, not for me.
One of the cars we looked at for my first was a Sporting or Schumacher (it was a while back). I really liked the idea of it at the time (it was like sitting in a gokart) but ultimately my inability to put my foot on the accelerator without also putting it on the wheel arch and the brake really counted against it.
I bought a cheap low miler about 8 yrs ago and stuck it in the shed with the intention to getting it out again one day when there are none left and its "something a bit different " until a few weeks ago it hadnt moved, I fired it up and relocated it to another shed for a few more years.
[rurl]
|https://thumbsnap.com/lxrtxz8c[/url]
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|https://thumbsnap.com/lxrtxz8c[/url]Way over priced for the history behind it! Espeically after reading dougflump's comment.
Partners got a 2001 (Y-Reg) sporting and she thrashes the living daylights out of it. Tyre's are a pain to get hold of due to the size and we are constantly spending money on it. Handbrake leavers on the rear shoes seize up every 9-12 months on it.
This week its having a full brake job, majority of parts are cheap but found it easier to buy a spare car (£75) to strip down!
The Seicento is great fun to drive, scares the living daylights out of me each time she goes down a country lane. Its due to hit 66,666 on the odomerter so im curious how it plans to celebrate it with us!
Partners got a 2001 (Y-Reg) sporting and she thrashes the living daylights out of it. Tyre's are a pain to get hold of due to the size and we are constantly spending money on it. Handbrake leavers on the rear shoes seize up every 9-12 months on it.
This week its having a full brake job, majority of parts are cheap but found it easier to buy a spare car (£75) to strip down!
The Seicento is great fun to drive, scares the living daylights out of me each time she goes down a country lane. Its due to hit 66,666 on the odomerter so im curious how it plans to celebrate it with us!
ToothbrushMan said:
...
Id have a good rust free Cinq Sporting (or properly repaired) in my garage in an instant - yellow or grey. If only for the red seat belts LOL.
I hired one on a few occasions (trips home) and it was a proper hoot.Id have a good rust free Cinq Sporting (or properly repaired) in my garage in an instant - yellow or grey. If only for the red seat belts LOL.
Don't like the Sei, but the Cinq was excellent fun.
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