1.6i

The best fun I've had in a car since my courting days!!

Bought this genuine 80,000-mile UK poverty-spec car for weekends and fun use almost a year ago. For under £1600 it is amazing. No PAS, no aircon, no ABS, no central locking, no electric windows and only 90bhp but it is heaps of fun. I could run it for washers - I get nearly 40 mpg if I thrash it and 45 on a long run. Insurance is under £200 on a classic policy but VEL is steep (£215 IIRC) but I have spent a bit on it to improve things (new tyres £150 a set - for Uniroyals) and had a few minor additions. Brilliant owners club and local specialists. If you want a real sportscar - get one - you may want the higher spec/power versions if you're a boy-racer or addicted to gadgets but for me - I don't need 'em. Roof off, foot down ..... zoom, zoom.

Update: Insurance this year was £120 with agreed value, breakdown cover and business use. A service was £120 including a couple of minor repairs. Full underseal for £60.

Further update - 2 years on. Insurance remains very cheap (though more than last year due to an Insurance company cock-up) but guaranteed value of £2000 and most of the extras from last year make it a reasonable deal. New exhaust was £60 delivered and a tenner locally to fit it. Service and coolant flush was £80. Passed MOT with one advisory (corroded brake pipe - £30 to fix I'm told). I did about 6000 miles last year - no breakdowns and the fun continues.

Another year on an another MOT pass. No significant advisories. A service check noticed a broken coil spring on the rear and a leaking clutch slave cylinder. My specialist had excellent used parts in stock for £20 and just £50 to fit 'em. A service and all last years advisories sorted was £120 including all parts. A rusty sill will need doing soon and the other needs a bit of TLC too - £200 for both I'm assured. Insurance was cheaper this time round at £165. Just 5000 miles driven this year. No breakdowns or worries and still a huge amount of fun. Oh, and just in case you think it drinks fuel - just shy of 40 MPG since the day I bought it.

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