Good point RapidRonnie...there was always the suggestion of speed....the noise inside the cabins was shocking..it's like a noisy exhaust makes you seem quicker......modern cars are so refined that even when you are going quick you feel slow.

I would say that the Monte is quick off the mark through the gears up to about mid way through 3rd gear where it starts to feel bogged down and no doubt it's aerodynamics and small engine are hampering it then but i reckon it is quite the little terrier from a standing start.

It wouldn't be as fast as the Sunbeam Lotus I had...but the 2.2 Lotus engine was the only good thing about it,the rest was pretty poor.

I didn't have it long.

I've had:

 

'81 X Astra 1.3S (hi-output - 75bhp?)

'89 F Sierra 2.0 GLSi (115 bhp pinto(?), not the later 2.0i GLS with DOHC),

'95 M Audi A4 1.8 20v with 115bhp 

'00 T Volvo S40 T4 200bhp

'98 R Rover 420 GSDi 110bhp (really...)

'98 R Mk3 Golf GTi 2.0 8v (115bhp)

a few other bits

now '12 12 Monte TDI 105.

 

The jump from Astra shed to Sierra was immense and being a big car, it felt solid at speed.  The Audi felt similar, but somehow quicker (not sure on weights).

 

I jumped from the Audi to the Volvo, as I was young and wanted MORE POWER but on a budget - I ruled out a Nissan 200SX, because they all seemed rusty when I looked!  the Volvo was seriously quick, but I ended up looking at it on the drive and then sold it before I went to Germany for a couple of years (hence the Rover 420).

 

The Golf GTi was never as quick as I wanted it to be, but knew of the reputation of it being a bit of a bloater and it was no more powerful than my Sierra or A4 had been, so not unexpected.

 

The intervening Skodas (Octavia PD 140, Superb Greenline II PD 105) until my Monte meant that the Monte now feels pretty rapid compared to them, but obviously not "quick".  It must be as quick as everything bar the Volvo though.

 

When I learnt to drive, my mate had a XR2i on an E plate I think - that was quick and I test drove a 205 CTi for a mate (who was scared) and that was quick - my Golf "hot hatch" was not in the same league as those.  That mate, and most others where I lived, traded up to Orion 1.6 Ghias, as they couldn't afford Escort XR3 or RS and certainly not Sierra Cosworths!

my dad is loving his 1.2 fabia tsi and he made a bold comment today saying he bets its as fast as an 80s hot hatch. its just let down by its jelly like handling. what do you all think?

 

What do I think?

 

I think your dad needs to get his ass in gear, drop that Monte on some H&R Springs, get an Anti Roll Bar, Superpro ALK.......................track day....................nitrous...............BBK....................

 

Joking aside, that Jelly can be switched out for some less wobbly food stuff at minimal cost

 

Fast is worthless if it can't do it in the corners as well as straight lines.

 

When I learnt to drive, my mate had a XR2i on an E plate I think - that was quick and I test drove a 205 CTi for a mate (who was scared) and that was quick - my Golf "hot hatch" was not in the same league as those.  That mate, and most others where I lived, traded up to Orion 1.6 Ghias, as they couldn't afford Escort XR3 or RS and certainly not Sierra Cosworths!

 

The Mk2 Orion 1.6 Injection Ghia was actually a well sorted car. It had the XR3i engine and although a bit heavier and slower it had a much stiffer body shell and Ford's SVE (Special Vehicle Engineering) department were tasked to sort out the suspension and handling and they made a great job.

 

I had one for a while when I first got married, it had a bit more compliance than the XR3i but handled better and felt a lot more solid. Could have done with more power though.

 

My car list is quite varied, 36 cars in 28 years, oh and 6 motorbikes.

 

Cheers

Lee

^^^ Yes, one of those.  I don't know when they had them, but I'm thinking H reg?

 

That list wasn't everyting Iv'e owned, just the ones that compare on power to the Monte (Volvo thrown in for quick comparison).

 

I have a bucket list (achievable) and another wish list (requiring a small windfall) of things to own for a bit...

They made a Orion 1600E all bells n whistles anyone remember those?

Two tone paint, fake cross spoke wheels...I was looking at Sapphire Cosworths more than those though!  I think they did a Sierra 2000E though (same idea as the Orion).

Yep - 2000E only available in the Sapphire IIRC.

 

There was a thread recently on the Citigo forum about the comparisons between the original Mini Cooper (might have been the 1071S) and the 75PS Citigo - closer than you might think.

 

Modern cars have moved on a lot - most cooking saloons beat most of the 80's (and the early 90's) hot hatches in a straight line - and usually top speed as well.  Nowadays you have sporting family saloons giving better performance figures than some of the quickest stuff of the early 80's - Anyone compared the real figures between a Jag XJS V12 and the Fabia vRS?  Certainly more room in the Fabia..although I know which one looks better.

 

Whether or not they are better to drive or not is a very debatable point.  

You did well to avoid the Sapphire Cosworth.Another car I had when they were all the rage but didn't keep long.

Good for the Ford fans but too many flaws for me.

I looked at one on auto trader the other day - good condition, etc etc.

 

Got to the interior shot, and apart from the leather seats, it was essentially my 2.0 GLSi...not really the interior I'd want to see on a £5000 old car.

 

For a laugh I looked at Sierras in general - probably get a run out one (on a K-plate) for about £400!

 

My latest car to think about enough to doodle how I could afford to run it and something else is a VW Corrado...but then they're so scarce I've expanded that to Golf VR6s and GTIs...stuff I looked at when I started to drive and could never have had, but now cost about as much as a mountain bike...(sadly not Corrados though, or I'd have one tomorrow).

I forgot about m8's next car after his RS1600i..........and I think the monte would have a right problem keeping up with this hot hatch my m8 had the phase 2 Renault 5 GT Turbo, feck me it was quick til he got it modded by superchips or summit like that then it was 155bhp and by fook it was rapid.....lol 

For a limited period of time they did a Sierra GLS with the 2.9V6 4X4 running gear.

 

I had one of those too. looked like a bog standard Sierra from the outside, surprised one or two people on the road who thought it was a 1.6/2.0. It was a really useful towcar.

 

But compare it to my current commuting transport and tow car.

 

Sierra 2.9V6 150bhp, 177lbft, 24mpg average.

Passat 2.0Tdi, 170bhp, 258lbft, 50mpg average.

 

Shows how far we've come.

 

But the Sierra was a great drive, the V6 was really lusty and the torque was split 34front / 66 rear and the rear diff had a mechanical LSD. It was great for controllable power slides in the wet. (Not as much traffic on the road then either and no cameras). I had a full stainless Scorpion exhaust on this car, sounded awesome.

 

Cheers

Lee

I forgot about m8's next car after his RS1600i..........and I think the monte would have a right problem keeping up with this hot hatch my m8 had the phase 2 Renault 5 GT Turbo, feck me it was quick til he got it modded by superchips or summit like that then it was 155bhp and by fook it was rapid.....lol

R5 GT Turbo. Hmmmmm.

I used to have an old workmate with one, he's still a good friend. From what I recall no superchipping to do, they had a turbo wastegate controlled by a vacuum regulator so upping the boost was a simple matter of fitting a bleed off valve. Fueling was by carburetor so changing the fueling just required rejetting and setting up and then just setup the ignition timing. Companies everywhere did kits, My colleague had a Hybrid Turbo fitted by Prima Racing at Nottingham, It was running 180bhp in something that was less substantial than a coke can.

The power delivery was nothing, nothing, nothing, BANG! And then a gear change would throw flames out of the exhaust.

The early cars had problems starting when hot as the turbo heat would cause the fuel in the carb bowl to evaporate. Later cars had a little fan that blew on the carb when you switched the engine off. Trouble is they pulled the power from an under bonnet supply that had a big fuse. It was common for the little fan to seize up then start an electrical fire. This is what happened to my workmates, car set on fire in our works car park.

Seriously flawed and unsafe car but Huge Grin Factor.

Cheers

Lee

Aye that's right no chip involved still fast as phac lol