The guy who has just done some plastering for me has a Lancia Delta Integrale.

Oh, his work vehicle is an imported Ford 150 truck thingy, it's massive, runs on LPG.

I think I'm doing the wrong job.

That is an issue.

It's one of the reasons why a convertible might be nice , as roof-off fun would be good anyway , and it would take your mind off the crap brakes/handling/performance etc

XR3 had CVH engine. Was awful new and wont get better with age. 60,000 mile RVL design.

Chris

You could buy my bog standard 24yr old Golf Gti Mk1 with only 108000 miles on it. One bad thing it had 112bhp new and last year on the rollers it only had 111.5bhp.

It's obviously a wreck , I'll give you

I hired an M reg escort cabrio for a weekend a few years back. Bloody Hell, did it shake. It was only the 1.6 and really didn't go very well.

Andy

It's obviously a wreck , I'll give you

I had Velma before I got my vrs, she was a 1986 Golf cabrio 1.8 not a GTI. Had her for years with not too many problems, even though I rescued her from my sister. The acceleration was carp but it was still a decent four seater and much fun was had driving her.

You could pick up a well looked after Golf GTI for a reasonable price and there are good ones out there, especially if you buy off somebody that is an enthusiast and has treated it/restored it well.

My sister had a peugoet 205 cti, although the fun element was there with it being a cabrio I would still choose a Golf over it.

You could give me a thousand pounds and I still would not take it off their hands. The worst car I ever owned and by a huge margin. Not fast, did not handle, appalling stability above 90mph or when heavy braking, fragile, rubbish gearbox. After I sold mine, a guy I knew in Cosworth told me BL had approached them to do a study on the Metro turbo and Cosworth assessed the situation turned down the job, telling them not to do it. 3 monts of hell on 4 wheels. Dont do it!!!!

Chris

I know what you are saying, but whilst this is slightly off topic, it's still on topic. Local guy near me has resttored and put alot of work into an MG metro turbo. He has managed the impossible - to polish a turd.

Tim B's Metro Turbo 1 - Google Video

I had Velma before I got my vrs, she was a 1986 Golf cabrio 1.8 not a GTI. Had her for years with not too many problems, even though I rescued her from my sister. The acceleration was carp but it was still a decent four seater and much fun was had driving her.

You could pick up a well looked after Golf GTI for a reasonable price and there are good ones out there, especially if you buy off somebody that is an enthusiast and has treated it/restored it well.

My sister had a peugoet 205 cti, although the fun element was there with it being a cabrio I would still choose a Golf over it.

Yep , the more I look round at what's available it seems that a Mk1 Golf cabrio offers the best chance of getting a half decent car and having some fun.

Might have to start nosing around before spring starts

It is possible, but be prepared for a lot of hard working looking at total dogs. A mate of mine had an RS Turbo Escort for a while a few years back. Totally mint, only no stereo and a dump valve fitted made it none standard. Hell of a car, loads of lag, early ABS rattled and thumped over pot holes I LOVED IT!

Don't know if you'd be interested but a mate of mine is probably selling an XR2 which I think is pretty much mint unmolested (or it was when I last spoke to him about it) PM me if your interested and I'll ask if your interested. Not too far away from you I think.

Yep , the more I look round at what's available it seems that a Mk1 Golf cabrio offers the best chance of getting a half decent car and having some fun.

Might have to start nosing around before spring starts

I sold mine for

Hows about an old MX5?

They can be had pretty cheaply and are reckoned to be fairly bullet proof.

If you like the Mk1 Golf Convertabile, Try and find a Sportsline Model or a Rivage as they made these as Late as 1993 on L-Reg!!!!!

Hows about an old MX5?

They can be had pretty cheaply and are reckoned to be fairly bullet proof.

I don't fit in an MX5.

Actually I do fit once I'm in there , but at 6ft1 and 15 stone , getting in and out is bloody awkward , plus 4 seats would be a big bonus.

If you like the Mk1 Golf Convertabile, Try and find a Sportsline Model or a Rivage as they made these as Late as 1993 on L-Reg!!!!!

Just spotted this on ebay , and it's not far from me.

Might have to go and have a nose.

eBay.co.uk: VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CONVERTABLE CABRIOLET MK1 (item 330087281565 end time 20-Feb-07 14:13:08 GMT)

I know what you are saying, but whilst this is slightly off topic, it's still on topic. Local guy near me has resttored and put alot of work into an MG metro turbo. He has managed the impossible - to polish a turd.

Tim B's Metro Turbo 1 - Google Video

If you cant make it right,

Make it shiny and bright.

It is still a turd, polished or not. There are cars that are worth the effort and there are Metro turbos. Now if it were a 6R4 or one of those early 90s V8 conversions, I would say give it a look. The Metro Turbo has no redeeming features at all. Engine and gearbox are :pants: handling is dire and build is poor. Interior and driving position are appalling. I am amazed it ran long enough to film. Only 9 seconds though.

I owe my Metro Turbo a debt of gratitude though, it taugth me that I should engage my brain before parting with my cash.

Chris

280 Brooklands or a Tickford Turbo Capri rear wheel drive fun, now appreciating in value? OK 20 years old at best but gimme gimme

Hey I had a Metro turbo, 1983 on a Y reg (number plate was CDX 50Y), and.......

oh yeah it was a piece of sh!t

Having said that until one of the rear displacers burst and the subframe parted company with the body it hadnt let me down once.

I always wanted a MK1 Fiesta XR2 myself to play with.

i had a y reg fiat uno turbo

went on a long journey the oil plug got hot,dropped out and i lost all my oil

mama mia

You could give me a thousand pounds and I still would not take it off their hands. The worst car I ever owned and by a huge margin. Not fast, did not handle, appalling stability above 90mph or when heavy braking, fragile, rubbish gearbox. After I sold mine, a guy I knew in Cosworth told me BL had approached them to do a study on the Metro turbo and Cosworth assessed the situation turned down the job, telling them not to do it. 3 monts of hell on 4 wheels. Dont do it!!!!

Chris

Indeed, I had one of these heaps for a few months back when I was 18. I couldn't wait to get rid of it.

A647XRX

It was so unreliable I spent more time in loan cars from the garage I purchased it from than I did in the MG Turbo.

Pile of poop. Although the one in Shifty's vid does look nice, I must say. Sounds like it has straight cut gears as well.

In my experience Pistonheads classifieds is a good place to look for mint cherished examples of older hot hatches. Are there any decent ones left? Probably one or two, yes. Will the price reflect the condition? Without a doubt.

Pile of poop. Although the one in Shifty's vid does look nice, I must say. Sounds like it has straight cut gears as well.

Probably just the noise of the knackered transfer gear. The gearboxes on these were never rated to cope with the torque.

Chris

Metro = The biggest heap of automotive sh*te ever produced.:thumbdwn:

At the opposite end of the automotive scale my mate has just bought a 1986 Audi Quattro UR/WR. Had a quick blast in it and was very impressed. The sound from that 5 cylinder engine is something else.

At the moment though it's on axle stands in his garage while Smifffy jnr (mechanic) is taking it to pieces to fit some new bits to this 21 year old classic, and generally make sure everything is as it should be. When all the mechanical things are done he's then sending it in for a full respray.

It'll probably stand my mate at around the 7k mark by the time it's finished.

Metro = The biggest heap of automotive sh*te ever produced.:thumbdwn:

So your Skoda's quicker or handles better than a 6R4 then?

I'd have one

near me there is a pristine MG Metro turbo for sale, its british racing greena nd from a walk around looks like pretty much show room condition. no idea on what money is wanted for it though.

I know it's slightly past the 15 year mark, but seeing as cars such as the ERST are popping up what about your "classic" hot hatch...

BX GTI 16v - Well it won't rust on you and due to a lack of weight goes like stink. Surprises the **** out of others.

309 GTI - 205 in disguise, but again v rapid.

Escort Mexico (MK 2) - Classic plus big light bar

Harder to find but still possible:

Escort Cossie - Enough said, and includes a free picnic table for the little ones, obviously if you can find one though.

Lotus Cortina - Although goodness knows where you would find one still

An early 90's Saab 9000 CSE Turbo/Carlsson

A very good friend has one and it scares me silly! :eek:

With the Carlsson ecu (good for around 270bhp) and some Koni suspension upgrades it'll eat my vRS for breakfast on a straight or curvy road!