Discussion
I've just got back to Southampton after driving from Bracknell via Fareham to show a mate. Firstly, hats off to F1nn, really nice chap. Thanks for picking me up at Reading and making the transaction run smoothly. If you'd be able to upload the images on here rather than on photobucket, that would be appreciated and I'll keep this thread running.
On to the car. It seems to have retained the name "the little blue s
tbox" and its an utter hoot to drive. I believe everyone should try it at least once! Everything I've ever read about handling etc is spot on. I've not stopped smiling since I first saw it, its just such a fun car as long as you don't care what anyone else thinks. Its definately a "no fks given" car. The ride is more than acceptable on anything other than the most broken of ground for me. I'd go as far to say its on a par, if not slightly better, than the V70R. Certainly no complaints here. The steering is a little light, the brakes a bit grabby, but you can forgive the little foibles as its so eager to be driven.
Its suitably low rent inside as you'd expect for a 10k car, but what they (Fiat) have managed to achieve is incredible in the sense of space. Its like a tardis. It's a few little niggles which I'd like to resolve over time, I think the issue F1nn was having with the seat is down to the back of the drivers seat having collapsed, but its no big deal. The steering wheel controls don't work either, but I can confirm the air con isn't ice cold, but cold enough that I had to turn it up on the way home.
In the end, as I went to Fareham, I went down the M3 and along the M27. I sat between 60-80mph. 60 is quite nice, 70 is acceptable, 80 is a little frantic. I had averaged 47mpg when I got there, despite giving it quite a bit of stick. I love its simplicity, and apparent cheapness (discs are £30 a pair rather than £XXX for the Volvo). I purchased this mostly as a money saving exercise whilst retaining some motoring fun, and I believe this will deliver. I'm not however planning on crashing in it, there isn't much room inside if you get it wrong.
Its now parked in my work car park, as I'm yet to mention to the wife that I've purchased another car....I shall introduce it once I've sold the Volvo....
On to the car. It seems to have retained the name "the little blue s
tbox" and its an utter hoot to drive. I believe everyone should try it at least once! Everything I've ever read about handling etc is spot on. I've not stopped smiling since I first saw it, its just such a fun car as long as you don't care what anyone else thinks. Its definately a "no fks given" car. The ride is more than acceptable on anything other than the most broken of ground for me. I'd go as far to say its on a par, if not slightly better, than the V70R. Certainly no complaints here. The steering is a little light, the brakes a bit grabby, but you can forgive the little foibles as its so eager to be driven.Its suitably low rent inside as you'd expect for a 10k car, but what they (Fiat) have managed to achieve is incredible in the sense of space. Its like a tardis. It's a few little niggles which I'd like to resolve over time, I think the issue F1nn was having with the seat is down to the back of the drivers seat having collapsed, but its no big deal. The steering wheel controls don't work either, but I can confirm the air con isn't ice cold, but cold enough that I had to turn it up on the way home.
In the end, as I went to Fareham, I went down the M3 and along the M27. I sat between 60-80mph. 60 is quite nice, 70 is acceptable, 80 is a little frantic. I had averaged 47mpg when I got there, despite giving it quite a bit of stick. I love its simplicity, and apparent cheapness (discs are £30 a pair rather than £XXX for the Volvo). I purchased this mostly as a money saving exercise whilst retaining some motoring fun, and I believe this will deliver. I'm not however planning on crashing in it, there isn't much room inside if you get it wrong.
Its now parked in my work car park, as I'm yet to mention to the wife that I've purchased another car....I shall introduce it once I've sold the Volvo....
S10GTA said:
Its now parked in my work car park, as I'm yet to mention to the wife that I've purchased another car....I shall introduce it once I've sold the Volvo....
Where does she think you were today? 
I really like these and am toying with the idea of spending a couple of £k on one or many £k more on something like a Scirocco R or M135i
AyBee said:
Where does she think you were today?
I really like these and am toying with the idea of spending a couple of £k on one or many £k more on something like a Scirocco R or M135i
Work, obviously... I really like these and am toying with the idea of spending a couple of £k on one or many £k more on something like a Scirocco R or M135i
Get one. I forgot how much fun budget motoring is. Having thousands in a car just doesn't make sense to me.
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