Discussion
I used to drool over X1/9s when I was too young to drive, thought they were seriously beautiful.
Rarely see one on the roads these days - there's a couple in PH Classifieds but I honestly can't remember the last time I saw one 'in the flesh' so to speak?
So - who's got one? Who's had one?
Were/are they any good?
Rarely see one on the roads these days - there's a couple in PH Classifieds but I honestly can't remember the last time I saw one 'in the flesh' so to speak?
So - who's got one? Who's had one?
Were/are they any good?
I had one, shortly after I passed my test.
Yes they were good - handling and steering was well up to scratch and the packaging (2 useable boots and space to stow the targa top under the front) made it surprisingly practical.
They were underpowered, though (they would be woefully underpowered by modern standards) and rusted like only a 70's/80's Fiat could (which is why there are now none left...).
I've fond memories of mine, though. If I could find one with no rust, and had a dehumidified garage to keep it in, I'd buy another for old time's sake.
Yes they were good - handling and steering was well up to scratch and the packaging (2 useable boots and space to stow the targa top under the front) made it surprisingly practical.
They were underpowered, though (they would be woefully underpowered by modern standards) and rusted like only a 70's/80's Fiat could (which is why there are now none left...).
I've fond memories of mine, though. If I could find one with no rust, and had a dehumidified garage to keep it in, I'd buy another for old time's sake.
I've never tried, but I've always thought that I wouldn't have been able to have one anyway, as I'm 6'4" tall and quite broad - I believe the cabin is pretty small?
I seem to remember that the last ones they did were pretty special looking and definitely the peak. A very obvious special edition purple colour?
I seem to remember that the last ones they did were pretty special looking and definitely the peak. A very obvious special edition purple colour?
Sam_68 said:
I had one, shortly after I passed my test.
Yes they were good - handling and steering was well up to scratch and the packaging (2 useable boots and space to stow the targa top under the front) made it surprisingly practical.
They were underpowered, though (they would be woefully underpowered by modern standards) and rusted like only a 70's/80's Fiat could (which is why there are now none left...).
I've fond memories of mine, though. If I could find one with no rust, and had a dehumidified garage to keep it in, I'd buy another for old time's sake.
Ding. Hubby and I owned 3 at one point (although 1 was for bits to keep the other 2 on the road). None of them are on the road now Yes they were good - handling and steering was well up to scratch and the packaging (2 useable boots and space to stow the targa top under the front) made it surprisingly practical.
They were underpowered, though (they would be woefully underpowered by modern standards) and rusted like only a 70's/80's Fiat could (which is why there are now none left...).
I've fond memories of mine, though. If I could find one with no rust, and had a dehumidified garage to keep it in, I'd buy another for old time's sake.
I had one for five years.Between 1990 to 1995,I only sold it due to the birth of my Daughter.I used to get parts from Bayless in Atlanta,as they where way cheaper than Fiat UK!
I enjoyed owning mine.I had a London Stainless Quicksilver exhaust,& it sounded more like a bike than a car.Combined with a four branch manifold,K&N & modified carb.It went quite well,for what it was.
I sometimes wish I'd kept it.D102XNU where are you now??
As someone else said, they are practical with two luggage compartments.I never had any rust problems with mine,& it was very reliable.
The only criticism I had on them was the brakes,as they had no servo,prolly due to being mid engined,& could be a handful in the wet.The front would lock up very easily!
I enjoyed owning mine.I had a London Stainless Quicksilver exhaust,& it sounded more like a bike than a car.Combined with a four branch manifold,K&N & modified carb.It went quite well,for what it was.
I sometimes wish I'd kept it.D102XNU where are you now??
As someone else said, they are practical with two luggage compartments.I never had any rust problems with mine,& it was very reliable.
The only criticism I had on them was the brakes,as they had no servo,prolly due to being mid engined,& could be a handful in the wet.The front would lock up very easily!
Edited by Guzzi Steve on Saturday 1st December 17:13
I had one for a couple of years, I sold it because watching it melt was heart breaking, people say it's underpowered but then again they say the same thing of the V8 vantage, it had plenty enough power for fun and handled beautifuly, it also had the most comfortable seats i've ever sat in.
A girlfriend previous to Mrs Orange had one, C-reg. We drove it all the way down to Monaco to see the GP, on B-roads over the Alps, and it didn't miss a beat. It did sometimes have problems with the electrics however.
Deep red seats, handled very well; we put a K&N on the carb and it made a superb induction roar just behind your ear (to make up for the fact you weren't going very fast).
A great way to travel.
Deep red seats, handled very well; we put a K&N on the carb and it made a superb induction roar just behind your ear (to make up for the fact you weren't going very fast).
A great way to travel.
Guzzi Steve said:
I had one for five years.Between 1990 to 1995,I only sold it due to the birth of my Daughter.I used to get parts from Bayless in Atlanta,as they where way cheaper than Fiat UK!
I enjoyed owning mine.I had a London Stainless Quicksilver exhaust,& it sounded more like a bike than a car.Combined with a four branch manifold,K&N & modified carb.It went quite well,for what it was.
I sometimes wish I'd kept it.D102XNU where are you now??
As someone else said, they are practical with two luggage compartments.I never had any rust problems with mine,& it was very reliable.
The only criticism I had on them was the brakes,as they had no servo,prolly due to being mid engined,& could be a handful in the wet.The front would lock up very easily!
Hi Ive just recently bought this very X1/9 off somebody in Northampton. as far as I can tell its been off of the road since 2001I enjoyed owning mine.I had a London Stainless Quicksilver exhaust,& it sounded more like a bike than a car.Combined with a four branch manifold,K&N & modified carb.It went quite well,for what it was.
I sometimes wish I'd kept it.D102XNU where are you now??
As someone else said, they are practical with two luggage compartments.I never had any rust problems with mine,& it was very reliable.
The only criticism I had on them was the brakes,as they had no servo,prolly due to being mid engined,& could be a handful in the wet.The front would lock up very easily!
Edited by Guzzi Steve on Saturday 1st December 17:13
I had one from new in about 1978-79. Looked exactly as in the picture. Great fun. Though my abiding memory is of the flipping thing overheating in any traffic whatsoever and a string of replacement tape players that chewed up any cassettes that I presented to them.
Oh, and one day the gear lever came loose in my hand.
Oh, and one day the gear lever came loose in my hand.
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