Thread: small fun car with manual gearbox

Originally Posted by jerryd

This is the one to own but hefty price tag

Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari 2011 Review | CarsGuide


.....But then the road clears and goes twisty, I tickle the Sport button and go manual on the changes, and the Bambino goes ballistic. Suddenly I discover the first - whisper it - Fiat 500 that I genuinely enjoy driving, and enjoy even more than the RenaultSport models in the Megane lineup. It's a car that really goes, really feels wrapped around you, and really shows its Abarth heritage. It has plenty of punch, tenacious cornering grip, and great brakes. It's a balanced package and, despite a bit of turbo lag, it's a car that wants you to play. And the sound. There hasn't been this much pop, bang, crackle and fizz since the early-model Subaru STI, and that makes it even more fun.

Oh yeah, I have been looking around at the meganes too. my sister has one ... I know a couple of people with them. I'd like the 2litre turbo not the smaller one, but the price certainly spirals when you get into the faster models

Prices for used cars are a bit crazy at the moment, so I'll just keep my eye on whats around for a bit I think.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

Oh yeah, I have been looking around at the meganes too. my sister has one ... I know a couple of people with them. I'd like the 2litre turbo not the smaller one, but the price certainly spirals when you get into the faster models

Prices for used cars are a bit crazy at the moment, so I'll just keep my eye on whats around for a bit I think.

I've yet to sneak this into the shed currently hiding at a friends place

Originally Posted by jerryd

I've yet to sneak this into the shed currently hiding at a friends place

Hmmm, armed with the above information, I'm thinking that I should get a VERY REASONABLE QUOTE for our laundry reno, Jerry, if you get my drift?

Originally Posted by Saitch

Hmmm, armed with the above information, I'm thinking that I should get a VERY REASONABLE QUOTE for our laundry reno, Jerry, if you get my drift?

Doesn't table 8 have rules Steve

the big restrictor here is "fun"

I don't think there has been a real affordable fun car in the last 20 yrs.

most small manual cars in last 20 yrs have been derrr/duh.

I think all options have been exploited in all the above posts.

The most smiles for miles car I've had was a Holden/Opel Calibra 2.0L 5spd.

Man that thing was fun to drive.

Originally Posted by jerryd

I've yet to sneak this into the shed currently hiding at a friends place

That's just cruel .... that's not a modern ****box.... that's right up my alley Certainly not a modern daily driver

Well I'm a bit dumbfounded ..... Today the boss women walked into my office and asked me why don't I drive the CX anymore..... "the tyres are ancient and heavily perished .... and it needs 1001 small jobs, I haven't finished fitting both new tierods, the heater box is still out" ...... You know, its an average DoubleChevron car .... it runs and drives, but its been dismantled to "someday" fix everything for years now

Well she was just hanging out the washing and was looking at one of the parts CX's .... and could see the turbos tail end through the door of the shed that's over beside the cloths line..... And she thought "Well that's a lot nicer and more fun than the cars we are looking at" .....

Have I gone to some weird alternate world She thinks I should just spend some time and money on the CX and we can start driving that.

you know, if she wants a fun, fast'ish car to drive .... I really can't fault her reasoning. That tired old rat infested CX ... is one hell of a car to drive (as anyone that's driven one will know). If she's serious, I might just throw it back onto full registration and we'll worry about finding a modern 407 replacement in a couple of years time when the used car market cools down a bit. because realistically into the future the CX is going to become a "weekend" type car, its too old and rare to be used as a daily driver.

I was thinking the CX wouldn't really be driven to any extent untiil the ****box range rovers serious drinking habits become to expensive to upkeep.

Oh you guys probably don't know what "CX" is. The old rat infested ****box is a 1985 Citroen CX2500 GTi Turbo. My father imported it from the UK back in 1995.



it looks like this ... but has 10years more battle scars around its body.