|
Post by JohnV on Sept 13, 2016 19:59:55 GMT
Fiat's are dreadful cars though, always have been. We've got a friend who bought one brand-new a couple of years ago and it's spent more time in the workshop than on the road. Fix It Again, Tony! Ah but, when they work they are great Our Alfa has been ace, one rattly rear seat catch fixed in the first month and that's it. It's only done 14k in 2 years though, so plenty of time for the bork fairy to do her work Although you are right Iconoclast but so is Gazza ........ When they work they are the greatest fun ........ I was once loaned (longish term) an X19. It had a leak in the heater rad that meant you had to have a plastic bag over your left shoe, but boy was it fun to drive !!!! it was the only car I have ever driven where I consistently chased up and down the box as I went through the bends ......... not to maximise the power but just for the glorious noise it made. It was the only car that gave me as much joy as riding a motorbike !!! (incidentally I preferred Italian motorbikes as well also unreliable, and paint and chrome a micron thick ..... but what fun)
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Sept 13, 2016 20:09:15 GMT
That sounds very interesting! I think if I had another life, and lots of money, I'd like to live on a nice cosy boat too! Ta, I'm not sure how I'd get on with living on the boat permanently, but if you don't try, you don't know. I think I'm fairly well set up for it, all I'd really need is a decent generator, as there's no electricity on my mooring. It's something I've wanted to do ever since I bought the boat, so we'll see how the interview goes, job sounds decent enough though, mostly acting as a go-between between the Brummies in the office and the Poles in the warehouse, neither of whom can understand a word the other says. Good luck with the interview hope it is what you want
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 20:34:22 GMT
Ah but, when they work they are great Our Alfa has been ace, one rattly rear seat catch fixed in the first month and that's it. It's only done 14k in 2 years though, so plenty of time for the bork fairy to do her work Although you are right Iconoclast but so is Gazza ........ When they work they are the greatest fun ........ I was once loaned (longish term) an X19. It had a leak in the heater rad that meant you had to have a plastic bag over your left shoe, but boy was it fun to drive !!!! it was the only car I have ever driven where I consistently chased up and down the box as I went through the bends ......... not to maximise the power but just for the glorious noise it made. It was the only car that gave me as much joy as riding a motorbike !!! (incidentally I preferred Italian motorbikes as well also unreliable, and paint and chrome a micron thick ..... but what fun) The X19, what a rare beast that is now, I looked at one once, no matter how pretty it was, how well it handled and sounded there was no way I could spend the time and money putting all the missing metal back into it - more is the pitty! It was a fait that befalls many a tasty 70's and 80's Italian car, Alfa Sud, check. Alfa 33, check Lancia Beta coupe, check. X19, check. Fiat 131 twin cam, check. Uno turbo ie, check. Even the old 4x4 Fiat panda was a quirky giggle of a car. On and on the list goes. All rusted to oblivion. The old fire engine lives on in the 4 cylinder Fiat 500 and the Ford Ka though
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 21:09:28 GMT
You have shit taste in cars foxy, your ads are based on your browsing habits, my ads are always Fiat Abarths or Alfa's, they must know I haven't pockets deep enough for a Maserati that and fecking decking at the moment. Fiat's are dreadful cars though, always have been. We've got a friend who bought one brand-new a couple of years ago and it's spent more time in the workshop than on the road. Fix It Again, Tony! Just about any car make can have an example of a problem car. we have had two recent FIATs, a 500 and a 500l. Both had minor issues which should have been picked up at the PDI but equally both took us all over the UK and to the Dordogne and back without missing a beat.
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Sept 13, 2016 21:30:34 GMT
We regularly hire cars when we fly down to the boat near Birmingham, from our home in Aberdeen. I always pick the absolute cheapest / smallest car. But sometimes we get an upgrade. I still remember when we were asked if we would mind having a fiat 500 (with the rental person eyeing up my 6'5" height) but then she went on to say "oh and it's a sporty one". Turned out to be a fiat 500 Abarth. Bit like a gocart, but not that quick... UNTIL... I discovered the "Sport" button - then it went like shit off the proverbial shovel. 100% boy racer car and as we drove through towns and villages, all the local yoofs' heads would turn! Not bad entertainment for £20 a day!
But then we got last minute tickets to the queens diamond jubilee party in Buck house, and concert outside on the mall, so I had to drive from B'ham to London and back in it. It's not a motorway car!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 22:01:41 GMT
We regularly hire cars when we fly down to the boat near Birmingham, from our home in Aberdeen. I always pick the absolute cheapest / smallest car. But sometimes we get an upgrade. I still remember when we were asked if we would mind having a fiat 500 (with the rental person eyeing up my 6'5" height) but then she went on to say "oh and it's a sporty one". Turned out to be a fiat 500 Abarth. Bit like a gocart, but not that quick... UNTIL... I discovered the "Sport" button - then it went like shit off the proverbial shovel. 100% boy racer car and as we drove through towns and villages, all the local yoofs' heads would turn! Not bad entertainment for £20 a day! But then we got last minute tickets to the queens diamond jubilee party in Buck house, and concert outside on the mall, so I had to drive from B'ham to London and back in it. It's not a motorway car! I have yet to drive a car with a gear stick in a more agreeable and easy to use position than a FIAT 500, aside perhaps from my daughters Ford Ka which of course is built with the same under pinnings. The complete opposite of the L version which had a gear change reminiscent of a Series three Landrover with a low down position and a long throw to the change. we would have kept the 500 had it not been so impractical for long journeys with the dog to France and subsequent grandparent taxi duties confirming the change to an L was a good move.
|
|
|
Post by Delta9 on Sept 13, 2016 22:06:36 GMT
I once ended up with a Fiat Punto 1.2 as a rental. It was so slow I actually thought there was a problem with it and took it back. They swapped it for another which was just as slow.. It was the worst car I've ever driven. On another occasion I rented a little cinquecento and that was great fun, like a little go-kart. A little bit too much fun in the end resulted in me parking it under a 4x4 at 60 mph. The hire company didn't seem bothered.
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Sept 14, 2016 4:07:37 GMT
I rented a Fiat 500 (look a bit like a bubble?) - not that I wanted such but that's what Hertz at Aberdeen airport gave me. I stopped at a friend's in Warrington and he described it as a 'glorified shopping trolley'.
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Sept 14, 2016 6:25:18 GMT
I struggle in cars these days. I find them dull and feel hemmed in. I've only got a 125 motor bike, 65 mph tops, but would prefer to ride this rather than drive any car. What I'd really like though is another Suzuki GT250 X7. I'm one of the few who survived owning one in my late teens. It's a small lightweight bike with great handling and decent brakes. Being a 2 stroke it's very uneconomical (think car), noisy and smelly too. But that raw power, something to behold, I want it again!
Unfortunately they are big money these days and too big to put across the back of my boat. Tug deck required. Maybe one day...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2016 6:54:04 GMT
I struggle in cars these days. I find them dull and feel hemmed in. I've only got a 125 motor bike, 65 mph tops, but would prefer to ride this rather than drive any car. What I'd really like though is another Suzuki GT250 X7. I'm one of the few who survived owning one in my late teens. It's a small lightweight bike with great handling and decent brakes. Being a 2 stroke it's very uneconomical (think car), noisy and smelly too. But that raw power, something to behold, I want it again! Unfortunately they are big money these days and too big to put across the back of my boat. Tug deck required. Maybe one day... Hmmm, X7? Not a bad tool, but not a Yamaha two stroke twin I've got a nice original 1980 250LC, had it since I was 19, lovely thing that sadly never gets used. I've had several RD'S including a Spondon framed 400 as well as a YDS7 that I should never have let go Couldn't get into Suzuki in the same way as the Yams.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2016 7:14:16 GMT
I rented a Fiat 500 (look a bit like a bubble?) - not that I wanted such but that's what Hertz at Aberdeen airport gave me. I stopped at a friend's in Warrington and he described it as a 'glorified shopping trolley'. I"m surprised the Punto has lasted as long as it has. Fiat haven't really had a replacement for it though. The new Tipo looks much more promising. just released in the UK I saw a few in Italy and it's a nice looking car. Will be interesting to see if it kills the Punto off.
|
|
|
Post by kris on Sept 14, 2016 7:52:30 GMT
I struggle in cars these days. I find them dull and feel hemmed in. I've only got a 125 motor bike, 65 mph tops, but would prefer to ride this rather than drive any car. What I'd really like though is another Suzuki GT250 X7. I'm one of the few who survived owning one in my late teens. It's a small lightweight bike with great handling and decent brakes. Being a 2 stroke it's very uneconomical (think car), noisy and smelly too. But that raw power, something to behold, I want it again! Unfortunately they are big money these days and too big to put across the back of my boat. Tug deck required. Maybe one day... Hmmm, X7? Not a bad tool, but not a Yamaha two stroke twin I've got a nice original 1980 250LC, had it since I was 19, lovely thing that sadly never gets used. I've had several RD'S including a Spondon framed 400 as well as a YDS7 that I should never have let go Couldn't get into Suzuki in the same way as the Yams. i used to work in a garage next door to spondon. They make some amazing motorbikes or used to anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Sept 14, 2016 8:44:53 GMT
I struggle in cars these days. I find them dull and feel hemmed in. I've only got a 125 motor bike, 65 mph tops, but would prefer to ride this rather than drive any car. What I'd really like though is another Suzuki GT250 X7. I'm one of the few who survived owning one in my late teens. It's a small lightweight bike with great handling and decent brakes. Being a 2 stroke it's very uneconomical (think car), noisy and smelly too. But that raw power, something to behold, I want it again! Unfortunately they are big money these days and too big to put across the back of my boat. Tug deck required. Maybe one day... Hmmm, X7? Not a bad tool, but not a Yamaha two stroke twin I've got a nice original 1980 250LC, had it since I was 19, lovely thing that sadly never gets used. I've had several RD'S including a Spondon framed 400 as well as a YDS7 that I should never have let go Couldn't get into Suzuki in the same way as the Yams. Yes the 250LC was a nice bike, quicker than the X7 I think. The one thing I didn't like about it was its styling. It was one of the earlier bikes to adopt what I think they called 'Eurostyling'; where the lines of the tank dropped into the side panels. I much prefer the original styling where the tank and side panels were distinctively different, more 'boxy'. The air cooled RDs were nice. Your bike is maybe worth £3.5K, you probably know that already!
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Sept 14, 2016 14:11:00 GMT
"I'm surprised the Punto has lasted as long as it has." - I was offered a lift once in a Punto. I thought it was like a baked beans can on wheels.
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Sept 14, 2016 14:18:28 GMT
I can imagine the Italians at the Fiat factory with fag glued to their lip in their dirty string vests:
|
|