Discussion
These have been mentioned a few times on here, and despite having had this one since December 2011 and 15k miles I’ve recently started to appreciate it even more than usual of late.
It had already had 4 owners by the time I got my hands on it, so I can only think that they either didn’t really know what it was or just didn’t get on with the harsh ride.
For a small cheap Italian car built in Poland, I’ve had no trouble with it at all. Consumables have been replaced with the same or better where possible, so it’s now on Bilstein B8s and Eibach 30mm springs with shorter bump stops. At about 90k it had new front arms, bushes and ball joints and the rear beam polybushed. The Cooperman airbox mod’s been done and I’ve had a stainless cat-back system with the centre-box taken out, so it now sounds a bit cheeky with a few pops and crackles if you’re pressing on.
It came with chequered flag decals down the flanks, which I got rid of, and I’ve powder coated the wheels darker, which I’m still not 100% sure I prefer.
As for future plans, I should just leave it as is really. It’s a cheap car, probably only worth £1200-1500, and covers 12k/year as my daily, but I just can’t help wanting to improve bits and pieces on it. I should really budget for a new clutch as this one’s 108k miles old now, but it feels like it has plenty of life left. The rear beams sometimes go at the spring cups, so if I can find another one in decent condition and powder coat it that’s probably the most sensible thing to do. Other than that, maybe a quick shift kit? I know there’s a fair few of these that have had more interesting histories than mine, but I really do see it like some sort of little puppy now and couldn’t imagine ever getting rid of it. But...I do have a massive GT86 itch I’d like to scratch.
Haven’t got the usual progress pics that people usually do here, just ones as it is now.
It had already had 4 owners by the time I got my hands on it, so I can only think that they either didn’t really know what it was or just didn’t get on with the harsh ride.
For a small cheap Italian car built in Poland, I’ve had no trouble with it at all. Consumables have been replaced with the same or better where possible, so it’s now on Bilstein B8s and Eibach 30mm springs with shorter bump stops. At about 90k it had new front arms, bushes and ball joints and the rear beam polybushed. The Cooperman airbox mod’s been done and I’ve had a stainless cat-back system with the centre-box taken out, so it now sounds a bit cheeky with a few pops and crackles if you’re pressing on.
It came with chequered flag decals down the flanks, which I got rid of, and I’ve powder coated the wheels darker, which I’m still not 100% sure I prefer.
As for future plans, I should just leave it as is really. It’s a cheap car, probably only worth £1200-1500, and covers 12k/year as my daily, but I just can’t help wanting to improve bits and pieces on it. I should really budget for a new clutch as this one’s 108k miles old now, but it feels like it has plenty of life left. The rear beams sometimes go at the spring cups, so if I can find another one in decent condition and powder coat it that’s probably the most sensible thing to do. Other than that, maybe a quick shift kit? I know there’s a fair few of these that have had more interesting histories than mine, but I really do see it like some sort of little puppy now and couldn’t imagine ever getting rid of it. But...I do have a massive GT86 itch I’d like to scratch.
Haven’t got the usual progress pics that people usually do here, just ones as it is now.
Roboticarm said:
These are great little cars, I tried to buy one about 18 months ago but struggled to find a decent one and got a corolla t sport instead
Fun small 5 door cars are hard to find, the panda ticks all the boxes as far as I'm concerned.
It has to be said that the rear doors are comically small, haha, but I have had 4 up in the car sometimes, pogoing about. Always liked the Corolla T-sport too. Anything Japanese and low in numbers.Fun small 5 door cars are hard to find, the panda ticks all the boxes as far as I'm concerned.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff