RE: Shed of the week: Seat Arosa 1.4 Sport
Discussion
I paid £250 for a 1.9sdi as a stop gap. Put some cheap coilovers on and it was a riot! (not decked mind you). Learnt afterwards that the sdi's can run on pure veg oil too! A friend does it and whilst it all-but saps any of the remaining 54ish hp it makes it super cheap to run +£30 a year road tax!
teleostbat said:
Let's be honest, it's because the car is a bit of a joke, say compared to some of the more exciting sheds you get (e.g. MX5, Merc E430, Jaguar XJR).
These souped-up starter cars do nothing for me, and we've had 3 now in the past four weeks. Not surprised the first comment was negative, made me chuckle.
Conversely, ropy old Jags and Mercs do nothing for me. The segment has to appeal to a broad audience, so they can't just feature the same cars over and over.These souped-up starter cars do nothing for me, and we've had 3 now in the past four weeks. Not surprised the first comment was negative, made me chuckle.
Also, if you can't have fun in a car like this, then you probably shouldn't be driving. It's a bit s
t, but a small car with mild poke is hilarious fun.Merkinorama said:
can't remember said:
I think it's about time this feature was killed.
I also disagree. I don't post often, however I feel the need to leap to the defense of Shed of the Week!
I find it consistently humorous, entertaining and often informative.
It takes the edge off a Friday morning commute.
Keep it up Middlehurst (cue Mrs Shed joke . . .)!
I remember the clutch on My mums old 1 litre Arosa felt lighter than the accelerator. Slightly weird.
RacerMike said:
It’s incredible there’s only 100 left. My parents bought one as a runaround/for me to drive when I was 19. I used to drive it a fair bit when I was back from Uni, and amusingly they still have it now! It’s ‘only’ done 53000 miles and my Dad loves the thing. They even took it to Sweden with them for 6 months when my Dad did some work out there.
Don’t be deceived by the fact it’s light and small. It’s sadly very dull to drive. It has that stodgyness that VAG seemed to do so well to engineer into everything mid 2000s.
Good points:
•Engine is a peach despite having a flywheel off a 35ton truck. Takes forever to rev in neutral but it’s actually quite revy once it gets going. Sadly no one makes a lightened flywheel....you have to Machine the standard one if you want less inertia. It sounds good though....even better with an aftermarket induction kit (remember those days?)
•Despite being tiny and weighing 950kg it has 4 wheel disc brakes and ABS. There’s zero feel to the pedal, but it’s comically over braked for a car with 100hp
•They’re pretty practical. With the seats down the load space is pretty big
•No one expects to to be as ‘fast’ as it is.
Bad points:
•Steering ratio is about 10 turns lock to lock
•Geo was moved away from ‘fun’ through ‘safe’ and into ‘boring’ by whoever set it up at VW
•The dampers have comically low travel and you’re into the bump stops constantly
•Gearbox befits the econobox image
•Motorway journeys aren’t much fun in 5th at 4500 rpm at 70mph
•Seats don’t go low enough
I’ll probably keep the thing once my parents have done with it. I’ve always wanted to live out my teenage dream of actually putting a proper setup on it and seeing if I can make it any good. GTI steering rack, some more adventurous geo and some decent seats (along with some TLC on the now neglected paint) and it would probably be a lot of fun again...
Good info, but I seriously doubt its doing 4500rpm @ 70mph. That would make the gearing shorter than my old MK1 106 Rallye which was doing a bit less than that @ 70mph.Don’t be deceived by the fact it’s light and small. It’s sadly very dull to drive. It has that stodgyness that VAG seemed to do so well to engineer into everything mid 2000s.
Good points:
•Engine is a peach despite having a flywheel off a 35ton truck. Takes forever to rev in neutral but it’s actually quite revy once it gets going. Sadly no one makes a lightened flywheel....you have to Machine the standard one if you want less inertia. It sounds good though....even better with an aftermarket induction kit (remember those days?)
•Despite being tiny and weighing 950kg it has 4 wheel disc brakes and ABS. There’s zero feel to the pedal, but it’s comically over braked for a car with 100hp
•They’re pretty practical. With the seats down the load space is pretty big
•No one expects to to be as ‘fast’ as it is.
Bad points:
•Steering ratio is about 10 turns lock to lock
•Geo was moved away from ‘fun’ through ‘safe’ and into ‘boring’ by whoever set it up at VW
•The dampers have comically low travel and you’re into the bump stops constantly
•Gearbox befits the econobox image
•Motorway journeys aren’t much fun in 5th at 4500 rpm at 70mph
•Seats don’t go low enough
I’ll probably keep the thing once my parents have done with it. I’ve always wanted to live out my teenage dream of actually putting a proper setup on it and seeing if I can make it any good. GTI steering rack, some more adventurous geo and some decent seats (along with some TLC on the now neglected paint) and it would probably be a lot of fun again...
Edited by RacerMike on Friday 9th November 09:59
Jon_S_Rally said:
Conversely, ropy old Jags and Mercs do nothing for me. The segment has to appeal to a broad audience, so they can't just feature the same cars over and over.
Also, if you can't have fun in a car like this, then you probably shouldn't be driving. It's a bit st, but a small car with mild poke is hilarious fun.
Point taken about mixing it up, but we have had three cars like this in the past 4 weeks (Fiat, Seat, Suzuki). My comment was based on the amount of hangbag responses to the first comment.Also, if you can't have fun in a car like this, then you probably shouldn't be driving. It's a bit s
t, but a small car with mild poke is hilarious fun.Maybe it's a generational thing, these types don't interest me at all. Maybe growing up with rusty souped-up Minis has ruined my enjoyment of this segment or at least never reconsider it as a serious transport option.
As another poster said, we need a few different car types over the next few Sheds to get rid of that coffee-flavoured Revel.
thiscocks said:
RacerMike said:
It’s incredible there’s only 100 left. My parents bought one as a runaround/for me to drive when I was 19. I used to drive it a fair bit when I was back from Uni, and amusingly they still have it now! It’s ‘only’ done 53000 miles and my Dad loves the thing. They even took it to Sweden with them for 6 months when my Dad did some work out there.
Don’t be deceived by the fact it’s light and small. It’s sadly very dull to drive. It has that stodgyness that VAG seemed to do so well to engineer into everything mid 2000s.
Good points:
•Engine is a peach despite having a flywheel off a 35ton truck. Takes forever to rev in neutral but it’s actually quite revy once it gets going. Sadly no one makes a lightened flywheel....you have to Machine the standard one if you want less inertia. It sounds good though....even better with an aftermarket induction kit (remember those days?)
•Despite being tiny and weighing 950kg it has 4 wheel disc brakes and ABS. There’s zero feel to the pedal, but it’s comically over braked for a car with 100hp
•They’re pretty practical. With the seats down the load space is pretty big
•No one expects to to be as ‘fast’ as it is.
Bad points:
•Steering ratio is about 10 turns lock to lock
•Geo was moved away from ‘fun’ through ‘safe’ and into ‘boring’ by whoever set it up at VW
•The dampers have comically low travel and you’re into the bump stops constantly
•Gearbox befits the econobox image
•Motorway journeys aren’t much fun in 5th at 4500 rpm at 70mph
•Seats don’t go low enough
I’ll probably keep the thing once my parents have done with it. I’ve always wanted to live out my teenage dream of actually putting a proper setup on it and seeing if I can make it any good. GTI steering rack, some more adventurous geo and some decent seats (along with some TLC on the now neglected paint) and it would probably be a lot of fun again...
Good info, but I seriously doubt its doing 4500rpm @ 70mph. That would make the gearing shorter than my old MK1 106 Rallye which was doing a bit less than that @ 70mph.Don’t be deceived by the fact it’s light and small. It’s sadly very dull to drive. It has that stodgyness that VAG seemed to do so well to engineer into everything mid 2000s.
Good points:
•Engine is a peach despite having a flywheel off a 35ton truck. Takes forever to rev in neutral but it’s actually quite revy once it gets going. Sadly no one makes a lightened flywheel....you have to Machine the standard one if you want less inertia. It sounds good though....even better with an aftermarket induction kit (remember those days?)
•Despite being tiny and weighing 950kg it has 4 wheel disc brakes and ABS. There’s zero feel to the pedal, but it’s comically over braked for a car with 100hp
•They’re pretty practical. With the seats down the load space is pretty big
•No one expects to to be as ‘fast’ as it is.
Bad points:
•Steering ratio is about 10 turns lock to lock
•Geo was moved away from ‘fun’ through ‘safe’ and into ‘boring’ by whoever set it up at VW
•The dampers have comically low travel and you’re into the bump stops constantly
•Gearbox befits the econobox image
•Motorway journeys aren’t much fun in 5th at 4500 rpm at 70mph
•Seats don’t go low enough
I’ll probably keep the thing once my parents have done with it. I’ve always wanted to live out my teenage dream of actually putting a proper setup on it and seeing if I can make it any good. GTI steering rack, some more adventurous geo and some decent seats (along with some TLC on the now neglected paint) and it would probably be a lot of fun again...
Edited by RacerMike on Friday 9th November 09:59
Seems like it could be quite a fun little runaround but not sure why we're looking at a £750 car when the budget is now £1,500, are there two at this price?! https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/12.gif
thiscocks said:
Good info, but I seriously doubt its doing 4500rpm @ 70mph. That would make the gearing shorter than my old MK1 106 Rallye which was doing a bit less than that @ 70mph.
'70' officer 
Top speed was limited by the rev limiter though. 117mph at 6200rpm was verified at one point....Amusingly, the third Google image when you search for 'SEAT Arosa Sport' is my parents car....looking quite nice in it's better days when it was me looking after it!
Had a lot of fond memories driving that thing!
can't remember said:
I think it's about time this feature was killed.
SACRILEGE!!!!! You can't say that.....this is the only Pistonheads feature worth reading.....much more relevant (to me) than a million BHP McLaren that only 3 people in this country will buy.My purpose of being is to read Shed of the Week......
All the moaning about SOTY is starting to get a bit boring. I always look forward to Friday mornings to see what Shed has uncovered. Naturally I only like some of the choices, but its a fun feature.
Personally I quite like this. It reminds me of my only Cinquecento Sporting. Short, narrow and plenty quick enough to frighten faster cars on the back roads near my house. People under estimate the usefulness of narrowness in cars on back roads. I reckon this little car would be a hoot.
carinaman said:
Turbobanana said:
carinaman said:
Blasted Road Tax. £195 pa. So over 5 years I'd pay £2K in Road Tax.
Nice maths there...Quite a few 1.4s's for sale which are all automatic's (some as much as 2K!), can't find another manual sport though.
teleostbat said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
Conversely, ropy old Jags and Mercs do nothing for me. The segment has to appeal to a broad audience, so they can't just feature the same cars over and over.
Also, if you can't have fun in a car like this, then you probably shouldn't be driving. It's a bit st, but a small car with mild poke is hilarious fun.
Point taken about mixing it up, but we have had three cars like this in the past 4 weeks (Fiat, Seat, Suzuki). My comment was based on the amount of hangbag responses to the first comment.Also, if you can't have fun in a car like this, then you probably shouldn't be driving. It's a bit s
t, but a small car with mild poke is hilarious fun.Maybe it's a generational thing, these types don't interest me at all. Maybe growing up with rusty souped-up Minis has ruined my enjoyment of this segment or at least never reconsider it as a serious transport option.
As another poster said, we need a few different car types over the next few Sheds to get rid of that coffee-flavoured Revel.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff