Whisky Galore

SWMBO's 1.6 Bravo was so much fun to drive I briefly considered a 2.0
HGT version. Biggest problem with a secondhand one of those is that if
the mileage is high enough to need a cam belt change that is an engine
out job. Not sure if that is the case on the Coupe.

 

But as you say they are essential a track day car. 'R' is not intended
to denote refined.
Now I have a clearer idea of Bear's requirements analysis I would have
to agree that it doesn't fit the bill.
Hard to think what does given the 10 grand price tab.

 

<prepares to be jeered at>

I've got a lousy back - arthritis in my spine. I do (sometimes) 40K miles a
year, at speed, on motorways. Some country driving with need to overtake in
a hurry. Some London driving, with need to not bloody change gear all the
time. I *like* automatics, but also like being able to kick some balls in
to the car. I drive an Avensis VVTi, which goes like shit off a shovel, and
allows one to use gears when wished. (It also benefits from using whatever
Shell call Optimax these days.)

Ali

 

Timo Geusch says...

My eldest daughter has the Accord Type S, she loves the way it drives,
but it's too big to park in the tiny spaces where she works.

 

Well, you've probably seen my choice by now. My requirements were
similar (price, age, sporty, small) but with more focus on motorway
than town and a manual box.

 

Argh, I'm having flashbacks...

Fiat, and therefore their dealers, say it's an engine-out job.

Independent Fiat specialists say it isn't.

I know who I'd trust...

 

Bear says...

My last girlfriend was 20, I'm 44. I didn't have a problem with it, nor
did she.

 

She's a gynaecologist?

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

V-Power.

My A3 FSI goes better and gives better mpg with super unleaded, and I
try to use Tesco when I can as their's is 99RON rather than the 97RON
of Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate.

 

Typo corrected.

 

That's the thing.

Not tried that - I've a (probably unjustified) dislike of supermarket
petrol. I kept reading Honest John's paeans of praise about Optimax/V-Power
with considerable scepticism, till I tried it. I'm now a convert.

Ali

 

Pete Fisher says...

My mate Murf was loaned one from his company's pool fleet. He's a tall
lad is our murf so as soon as he got in he whooped the seat back to the
rearmost psoition. When we tried to start the car it wouldn't. AA man
found the clunk as the seat hit the end of the runners had tripped the
fuel cutout, which has the crash sensor under the driver's seat. A
couple of months later he gets in the same car, forgetting the crash
sensor thingy he does exactly the same thing with the seat, only this
time the airbag deployed into his face.

Murf won't even get in a Fiat now.

 

CT says...

Both made at Ryton, Coventry.

 

I read this last year:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14919

The report was done when it was Optimax, not V-Power and I'm not sure
how much difference there is, if any.

 

Oh.

I didn't realise it was *that* bad.

 

CT says...

Nope, she works for Tesco on the IT side and the spaces they provide at
the rear of the stores she visits are too narrow and short for the
Accord to fit into and open the doors, if she can find a space. Tesco
won't allow her to park at the front of the stores either, she has to
park round the back. It's the estate model, so a bit longer than the
saloon.

She admits she's a bit wary of damaging it again after her neighbours
tree fell across the bonnet, needing £3500 worth of repairs when it was
3 days old.

 

The 99RON stuff is only available from certain branches. There's a list
somewhere on the Interweb.

 

That'll be why I like larger FWD cars then. I calculated the feul
economy that I was getting out of the Voyager (3.3V6 engine) and
promptly made myself forget it.

It does respond to my driving style better than anything that size and
weight should.

Phil.

 

It's a fair bit narrower than a Focus.

I'll concede it's a fair bit longer than the Focus Estate, though.

This is fair enough, if a little over cautious.