Pole: the wife's 'marmite' car

[phil1968]

Originally Posted by HankScorpio

Phil (again) - yup 1.2 TSI. never had an issue with power. Its got 100ish bhp so isn't fast but nippy enough. Bit thursty at 80 on the motorway, but good for the cross country commute and around town. Maybe you had it as a hire car after me which would explain why it didn't work anymore. Was it white?

I was referring to Harvey's wife's Fiat 500

[HankScorpio]

Ah yes, see that now. You mentioned emissions and I didn't even check the quote, just assumed it was the vw.

I hired a panda in ibiza once. Probably the same engine. Massively gutless but we managed to get it down some suitably unsuitable terrain. I love awefully powered hire cars, feeding the clutch at about a billion revs in first gear can normally solve any problem.

I pity the fool that hires a car after me [best Mr T voice]

[The Thong]

I like the look of the modern Beetle tbh, I do like that colour too.

TT

[Dippydog]

Not a fan of the Beetle in any of its guises,but more power to your other half for liking it.It's whatever floats your boat and long live our collective differences!The Bini is now[for the size of it]as poorly named as the Mitsubishi Carisma was!Fiat 500's I've not much experience of[more experience in the same car different badge Ford Ka]but not impressed with those unless you're talking the Abarth version which is quite a bonkers little thing!

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Not a fan of the Beetle in any of its guises,but more power to your other half for liking it.It's whatever floats your boat and long live our collective differences!The Bini is now[for the size of it]as poorly named as the Mitsubishi Carisma was!Fiat 500's I've not much experience of[more experience in the same car different badge Ford Ka]but not impressed with those unless you're talking the Abarth version which is quite a bonkers little thing!

Having owned the original KA, I think the whole concept of them has lost its way

[Black dog]

Hate it! A beetle is rear engined air cooled rwd.
That is not a beetle.
The original fiat 500 got its name because it was 500cc.
If its not 500cc it's not a fiat 500!
Mini's were small and had character, hence the name. BMW don't make a small car or one with caricter either, therefore they are not f##king Mini's!

[eternal optimist]

I wasn’t at all warm towards the new Mini until I drove one. Eldest daughter has a 2001 Cooper. It’s an early car, and drives really nicely. Now a huge fan. As for the Beetle re-boot, the early ones I don’t particularly like, the OP’s is a different matter. I think it’s a much cleaner shape and yes, I like the colour.

I’ve only driven early versions of the new 500, found them to be very crashy. I think they’re a bit too ‘cutesy’ for me, I’d rather have a Panda.

[phil1968]

Originally Posted by The Thong

Having owned the original KA, I think the whole concept of them has lost its way

I couldn't agree more, when it came out in the mid 90s it was quite a funky, avant-garde little car. Now it's just anonymous.

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by phil1968

I couldn't agree more, when it came out in the mid 90s it was quite a funky, avant-garde little car. Now it's just anonymous.

I bloody hated it.... I wondered who let a three year old work in the Ford design dept right up until I was forced to hire one and I loved it.... I hired one in Ireland and I could drive it over fields, it was good on fuel and it’d turn on a sixpence and 18 months later I had a KA Collection with AC, Multi-CD changer. It was one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned and I hauled it all over the UK. The KA Sport looked great and the Street KA was a car I regret never owning even though I’m stunned by how much it costs to tax one these days.

TT

[eternal optimist]

I have no doubt the original KA will become collectible. It’s an utterly fabulous drive.