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There is always, always, always, always another car and another deal.
You don't sound happy so you should either end up with a deal you are happy with or say thankyou and walk away.
Drive one first Willie, they really are fanatastic and feel like a quality item, but they are really, really noisy. I was so keen on one that I went to my dealer with a 2k deposit in my pocket and asked them to not warm the car up first. I simply couldn't believe the racket that it made on start...
It's so innocent, yet carries just the right amount of sporting intent.
15 inch alloys, 195/45 Goodyear Eagle F1's, flared arches, wider track, brilliant, snicky, close ratio 6 speed 'box, dinky spotlights and tail spoiler, fake diffuser, single tailpipe, bucket seats, tinted rear windows...
Go to www.autocar.co.uk and go to 'road test archives' and Panda 100HP.
That one is red which isn't as nice.
www.evo.co.uk has a grey one and both mags love it, Autocar has an online write up which is good, Evo mag is still current so the write up is not online yet but it is even more...
The Grande Punto is a brilliant car, I've driven all of them.
Sporting 1.9D is quick but very agricultural (boy it's noisy) 1.3D is still a hoot but suffers from noticeable lag, 1.4 petrol Sporting is the pick right now, it's spirited, frugal, well equipped, well built and you can get really...
Just taking out the spare wheel, tools, complete back seat and seatbelt mounts (50kg total) made a noticeable difference to my PH1.
And it only takes 10 minutes to put it back together again.
OK, Autocar's standing start figures for the 197 are as follows:
0-60 = 6.9 secs
0-100 = 18.9 secs
Top Speed:
132mph.
Now the 182 figures (same track, same magazine).
0-60 = 6.3 secs
0-100 = 17.0 secs
Top speed 138mph.
Evo magazine, Harry Metcalfe, Pagani Zonda owner, Clio...
At a recent trackday my 172 made an odd groaning sound in the middle of tighter corners, is this a rear wheel spinning freely as it hangs in the air and nothing to worry about?
Or something more serious?
Jo3y, I've got to agree with that, It seems almost inconcievable that little hatchbacks will be available with V6 engines approaching 4 litres in size. Daihatsu's little Charade Gtti used to get away with less than 1 litre and still hit 60 in less than 8 seconds.
There is a lot to be said for...
The R32 I drove (MK4) was, as I said, quick and impressive, it just wasn't that quick. I expected a deep chested ferocity that it simply didn't have. Independent figures quote these at 15.6 secs to 100mph (two people, full tank of fuel) and this particular example felt a little slower than that...
I've always loved the MK1 Golf R32, great write ups for chassis and engine and lovely muscular looks coupled with a 237bhp snarly V6 tucked under the bonnet.
Thing is they are like hens teeth over here as only 32 of them are in the the country. Anyway one came up for sale recently and my...
If as you say a 197 feels as slow as a 172/182 with four people on board then it's much, much slower than one with only the driver on board. Weight makes a huge difference to these little things, even one passenger (or a full tank of fuel) slows my car down considerably.
Nice report.
MK1 R32.
The best golf ever?
Stubby muscular looks, that cultured V6, best throttle response this side of an M3CSL, dynamite dynamics, seats to die for, the understated cachet of a VW badge, and a steering wheel like Arnie's biceps.
Rock and a hard place Brad.
Where do you stop?
New engine, gearbox and respray won't be for nothing.
Then what?
Why don't you give it a minor cosmetic makeover, get it to run reasoably well (in a sawdust in the gearbox way) and trade it for something with a better medical prognosis?
Did you do a tour of Europe to find the dampest corner known to man?
Don't for gods sake use those photos when you put them on e-bay.
A 3 quid can of spray paint would go a long way, along with a bit of David Bailey style photography.
Perception is all.
I'm 40 yrs old and my daily driver is a stripped out MK1 172.
Far from being too old it's the relative anonimity and innocence that I like.
No big bore exhaust on show, no 17inch+ alloys or rubber band profile tyres, just a little 'sport' badge and a great power to weight ratio.
It's a hot...
I would never put new tyres on the rear.
The front tyres have all the weight over them, they do the steering, they do most of the braking and they take more load during hard cornering.