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  • CAR REVIEW | Tipo MultiJet 120hp Lounge

    ★★★★ | Tipo MultiJet 120hp Lounge

    Finally, Fiat is coming back. The recent launch of the brilliant 124 Spider set the wheels in motion and now we have the Tipo. Admittedly it is a name from the past of a car that did great things for the Italian maker. Above all, though it is NOT a new form of 500.

    Tipo MultiJet 120hp Lounge

    I liked the original Tipo. It looked like nothing else out there. Square and boxy like the box it arrived in. It had some funk too with the top of the range models starting the digital dashboard era of displays that have now become commonplace. Above all, it didn’t fall apart.

    This is the trouble when you resurrect an old name. Some will remember the past product for reasons good or bad. I remember it for the good so naturally, I got excited about the arrival of the new Tipo.

    Visually it doesn’t fail to impress. Front on it looks rather nice. It’s not like the white elephant in the room of the original which some will say is good. The rear, however, does look a little like most hatchbacks out there.

    Since Tipo 88 (Car of the Year 1989, it was that good) Fiat haven’t really been able to keep up in this fierce segment. Bravo/Brava missed the boat by miles and the Stilo, while it looked good at the front, had a fat backside and wasn’t very good. So I am glad to say that on first acquaintance with new Tipo I am a happy chap. There was a time when Tipo 88 could match the build of Volkswagens Golf Mk3. New Tipo can now hold its head up high once again.

    Fiat has rightly or wrongly not aimed Tipo at the Golf driver. There lays the huge problem most manufacturers have come across. Your product needs to be bloody good to entice the Golf driver away. Instead, they have gone for the more lower-priced market segment. With prices ranging from £12,995 to £18,995 Fiat have priced it very competitively.

    The one thing you will notice is how well it is painted. The boot is large and missing a cargo net so I was forced to place some shopping under the boot carpet. It was here that I noticed that Fiat had painted the bits you don’t see or care about. Even the paint around the boot shut area was smooth and glossy. A lot of manufacturers these days tend to miss these areas. To be honest you probably won’t even notice it. To me, it is these little touches that show Fiat are trying hard to win back some of the market it lost. Even the engine bay is painted well.

    I’ve started doing a centre console rub. You’ll be amazed at how well or not this area is put together by manufacturers. The jigsaw pieces used on Tipo were well fitted together. No harsh edges to be felt.

    It has nothing special on it as far as the lighting goes. No expensive HID bulbs or swivelling headlights. Instead, the engineers have relied on making them good in the first place. Driving down country lanes where l live, the Tipo makes easy work of lighting my way.

    A good driving position was easy to obtain with multi adjustments within the seat and steering wheel that cater for rake and reach. What wasn’t so successful was the centre armrest. It fouled the operation of the handbrake. Something that blighted Tipo 88 so it was nice to see another consistency of old meets new.

    The Tipo was easy to live with too. Again nothing special or outlandish like a one-touch keyless entry or starting buttons. A simple key with remote buttons did the trick. A little touch l did like was the angle of the ignition keys entry. More 45 degrees instead of the usual 90. It doesn’t sound much, however, there was no scrabbling to find the key hole.

    It’s these egonomics that really are hit and miss around Tipo. The front window switches on the driver door had the front window switches too far forward. Numerous occasions I kept opening the rear windows. This is something l am sure will annoy those in the spacious rear. Like Tipo 88, new Tipo also has better rear passenger space than you would think.

    One other thing that infuriated me more than anything was the preselected text reply messages. There was no way to by-pass them and she liked to say everything and tell you everything. The software is out there to better this. For the convenience that it offered it was a little too distracting.

    The saving grace of the infotainment system was its ease of use. The DAB pick up was good and station selection impeccable.

    The 120bhp Multijet diesel engine was a strong puller. 320 Nm of torque available at 1750rpm made rapid progress through the gearbox. The useable power band mostly used was within 1750 to 4000rpm. By 3750rpm all the horses had done their bit. One downside to the engine when standing outside and scrapping the ice off the screen was that it seemed a little too clattery from cold. From inside you could be hard pushed to notice it.

    Italian cars are famed for their handling. Tipo 88 spanned the seductively fast Sedicivalvole. The chassis could handle this. In new Tipo, it needs a tweak or two from Abarth. As it is in the 120hp Lounge model it is more than adequate but not the best. A combination of subtle spring choices has taken the edge away from that foot down powerhouse hot hatch feel. It’s a move I am seeing more off as manufacturers revert away from the Teutonic tautness of the Germans and about time too

    I like Tipo. It’s not perfect in every area. It is easy to live with and on the eye, it does have good looks with crisp lines that aren’t fussy. Inside is accommodating and it has a good strong well built feel to it. Something Fiat haven’t had for a long time. With that in mind, the Tipo didn’t fail to impress me over the week I had it.

     

    Likes

    Build quality particularly attention to detail
    Price
    Big boot

    Loathes

    Engine clattery when cold
    Armrest fouling handbrake operation
    Preset mobile phone reply messages

    The Lowdown
    Car – Fiat Tipo MultiJet 120hp Lounge
    Price – £18,545 (as tested)
    MPG – 76.3mpg (combined)
    Power – bhp 120 @ 3750rpm
    0-62mph – 9.8 seconds
    Top Speed – 124 mph
    Co2 – 98 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus 1.4 MultiAir Turbo

    CAR REVIEW | Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus 1.4 MultiAir Turbo

    ★★★★ | Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus 1.4 MultiAir Turbo

    On Days like these…

    Have you ever bought an album because of a car before? While I understand that he isn’t Italian, he is synonymous with an Anglo-Italian classic movie so having been given the new Fiat 124 Spider I had to get myself a Matt Monro album to go with it.

    Fiat 124 Spider Lusso review

    In a month that saw the shed leak, the garage leak, a roof tile fall off the house narrowly missing my Fiat Tempra and the trusty hatchback take in water quicker than the Titanic, I decided that testing the open-top Spider would be quite fitting. When faced with so much water and chaos what can possibly go wrong with a car that has a fabric roof? I’ll tell you, it snowed!

    Fiat were once makers of great small sports cars. The range was made up of humdrum saloons, estates and coupes topped off with a little something cheeky for the weekend. The last time Fiat tried this was with the Barchetta. It was cheeky alright, just let down by the use of the last generation of Punto chassis.

    Not so anymore with the new Spider. Underneath it is a Mazda MX-5. Now take that with a pinch of salt because the chassis was a joint development between Mazda and Fiat. While that doesn’t sound very exotic I can tell you that it translates into a beautiful chassis that never fails to satisfy.

    What Fiat have given you over the MX-5 is their own 1368cc multiair engine. It’s not as rapid as the MX-5 or as lustful in its revs. The MX-5 we tested last year would scream to 7000rpm, the Fiat is all done by 6000. Once wound up above 2700rpm, it will trounce the MX-5.

    In performance terms that translates into 140bhp at 5000rpm with 240Nm of grunt being delivered at 2250rpm. All this power and fun for over 40 miles to the gallon if you’re good. A little less if you are not. The paper spec to the actual driving feel doesn’t quite come out like that and this is probably not helped by the high gearing in all but first gear. The dashboard gauge will tell you to change up keeping it below 2000rpm. Totally pointless in almost every situation. Even crawling in traffic requires first because second is too high.

    The multiair has 2 modes. Gutless city poser below 2500rpm or manic mayhem over 3000rpm. You can drive it 2 ways, cruise and enjoy the views or allow it full range and have it try and kill you on wet roundabouts. I’ll accept that is a little bit of an exaggeration. It needs to be respected in some situations though you can have some naughty fun with it. The traction control kicking in more readily than in the MX-5. The level of adhesion even in the wet was good. The chassis allows for this however if you are too lead-footed, when the engine comes on tap at 3000rpm it will give you a wake-up call. Thankfully it doesn’t make you too nervous all of the time. A little release of adrenalin over a journey is quite rewarding.

    Get over this little annoyance and the Spider behaves in a civilised way. It’s not your all-out road rocket. The original never was and it’s nice to see this one isn’t either. It’ll take you places with wind-in-the-hair excitement and comfort. It’s a sports car at the end of the day, and not a lazy man car. The joy of a proper sports car is twirling the short throw gearstick back and forth. What it lacks in this department is a little rorty exhaust note.

    As with any car with a removable top, it is easy to fold down manually in seconds and there is almost no buffeting at any speed. I was still able to keep dry in what felt like a monsoon above 45mph. I looked a prat but what the hell. The heating and heated seats doing a fine job on a winter’s weekend in keeping me warm.

    It’s a win lose win situation with the Fiat 124 Spyder. Finally, it is a Fiat product that doesn’t look like a 500. It looks bloody lovely. Sadly the inside is Mazda. Thankfully it has that joint venture chassis so it handles like a dream.


    So only thing that lets the Spider down really is in how Mazda it is inside. The original had a dashboard screwed to the dashboard made of wood with some dials. You wouldn’t want to recreate that however making it look different would have been a bonus. Like the 3 facia dials. The digital one for temperature and fuel look out of place. It needs dials with needles. What it needs are more dials. Changing the dashboard really would make it feel such a different car. Again on the model I had, the tobacco leather strip runs short across the dashboard. For visual pleasure, it needs to run across the entire length.

    The other thing the Spider really needs is Fiat’s own infotainment system. Most certainly on the DAB radio. The one fitted is from Mazda and it is far too fussy and clumsy to select stations. The one I tried in the new Tipo was joyous because it simply worked so well.

    Style wise it is beautiful. Some have bemoaned the size of the overhangs. I like them. It is in keeping with the original lines. What Fiat have managed to do is finally tidy up the rear. Whatever they did to it back in the 60s and 70s always looked like a job your dad did in the shed. If anything they could have exaggerated the upper flicks of the rear wings a bit more. The front is a pleasure to look at. Somehow it also manages to look wider than the MX-5.

    To sum up the Spider over the MX-5 is easy. The Spider isn’t your all out sports car. It’s a touring car with the ability to go very quickly. What it needs is the option of the limited slip rear diff as fitted to the MX-5. If that was fitted it would sharpen an otherwise Bellissimo dressed package.

    If I had the money right now I’d be putting down a deposit for a Lusso Plus in magnetic bronze metallic with tobacco leather and adding historical alloy wheels. In the meantime, I’ll just play with the model I bought in my bed instead.

    Like
    Looks
    Comfort
    Performance

    Dislike
    Infotainment system
    Lack of an exhaust note
    Mazda interior

    The Lowdown
    Car – Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus 1.4 MultiAir Turbo
    Price – £23,295 (as tested)
    MPG – 44.6 (combined)
    Power – 140 bhp
    0-62mph – 7.5 seconds
    Top Speed – 134 mph

  • CAR REVIEW | Fiat 500X 2.0 Multijet 2 Automatic Cross Plus

    ★★★ | Fiat 500X | 500 x 500 = BIG

    Since I was a child I have always liked Fiat. I am sure one of the first words from my mouth was Fiat. I like them so much my personal fleet consists of an X1/9 and a Tempra and until recently we also had a 500 Pop. Fiats do something to you that not many other manufactures can. It could be that Fiat have always been a bit of an under dog; making well thought out cars, but somehow not executing the product to the same standards as those from Germany.

    There is an illogical passion behind every Fiat owner.

    The Fiat range has sadly become all about the 500. Launched almost decade ago Fiat now list 3 variants in their 5 car line up in the UK. There is a now a 500 for everyone’s’ needs. I had thought that Fiat, my once great love had lost their way, so when I was offered the chance to look over the 500X I didn’t refuse. I even washed my hair for the occasion.

    You give it a name and you pat it when you park it up at night. It’s become a thing to touch and more than just an item to behold.

    The 500X is more than just a larger version of the 500 with 5 doors, a lot more space and all for an extra 70 cm in length. Sadly it lacks the tactility of the little 500. You can’t fault the exterior looks. Fiat have done a great job in making something small keep its visual pleasures in this bigger model. The inside however on this model just tries too hard to do a job that it can’t on such a grand scale.

    It has 500 touches but the tactility of its smaller family member are lost in great masses of black plastic and dull fabric colours. What I am trying to say is it’s too dark inside. That said, it is well put together.

    As you would expect from a small sport utility vehicle type of machine, the ride would be compromised. The fact that this shares the same platform as the Jeep Renegade that l liked so much, I was sure I would have been able to write exactly what I did for that. I can’t. Unlike its Jeep sibling, the 500X rode with a much softer ride.

    The 500X felt very much more like the urban runaround with pretensions to go off the beaten track. You couldn’t fault the ride and handling. It was reassuring on the road and handled the road far better than some SUV’s l have tried. I would even go as far to say that the extra weight in the rear also helped plant it better on the road thus helping its handling over many front wheel drive cars with fatter lower profile tyres.

    The package is different too; with some of the FCA software working better in the 500X than the Jeep. Lane assist for one seemed to work more fluently, detecting even the worst painted line and making corrections where needed. Though it is not to be used as an autonomous system, it managed an S bend I use with frightening ease.

    The 9 speed automatic gearbox was faultless with its silky smooth changes. The torque curve of the engine often making the car change 2 gears at a time which caused no noticeable problems. To be honest there were times when I had no idea what gear it was in and never felt the need to shift manually.

    However this all changed when you selected ‘Sport’ mode. l like most sport modes. They alter the throttle responses and stiffen the steering but on the 500X it was best to keep it in normal for town and traffic. Quick blasts out-of-town also saw it seldom used. All that low down torque of 258 lb/ft at 1750 rpm means it’s ready to go flat-out in the right gear with no fuss. Sport holds on to the gears for too long making the engine work harder than it should and for no gain in forward momentum.

    Normal mode was just perfect for every situation I found. What was nice though was the ‘off-road’ option. Despite not taking it truly off-road we did manage to find a quagmire of a pit. We pointed the 500X at it and let it do the magic. At one point I did think we had got stuck. Then out of nowhere you felt the little car clawed its way to freedom. In the end we decided to try it several times. The event needed The Great Escape soundtrack.

    At the end of the day you buy a car like this to do a job. It’s not the kind of car you wake up one morning and think “I must buy a 500X because I want one” and this quandary had me puzzled for I spent many hours thinking what it was. It’s a 500. They look cute and this one manages to hold aces over the little 500 with all that extra room for 5 and the added ability to go where you like. And with that in mind you can’t really wish for more.

    If you were to buy one, spec it up appropriately to suit your needs. For the price of the 500X I had it had all I would have wanted for a tad more than I would have wanted to pay. There are 17 combinations available at present for the 500X and with prices from £15,000 to £24,000 so there is a 500X out there to meet your needs as well as mine whatever those needs might be.

    Loves

    Build quality

    On/off road ability

    Looks

    LOATHES

    Price

    Dark interior

    Sport mode

    LOWDOWN

    Car – Fiat 500X 2.0 Multijet 2 Automatic Cross Plus

    Price – £25,935 (as tested)

    MPG – 51.4 mpg (combined)

    Power – 140 bhp

    0-62mph – 9.8 seconds

    Top Speed – 118 mph

    Co2 – 144 (g/km)

    Find out more at http://fiat.co.uk 

  • CAR REVIEW | Fiat 500s Convertible

    If I were to ask you to list small car icons, I would bet my trousers that two names would be at or near the top of the list; the MINI and the Fiat 500.

    As you may have guessed from the accompanying pictures, it’s not the bite-size Brit we’re looking at here (don’t worry, I’ll be covering that soon enough) but the eeny-meeny Italian. Specifically we’re looking at the sporty ‘S’ variant with in this instance a convertible roof. With the basic design now eight years old, is it still a competitor in the stylish supermini stakes?

    There’s one good reason why the 500 has proved such a success for Fiat; its looks. Launched exactly 50 years after the original, it cleverly references the much smaller 50’s 500 without appearing to be a caricature of itself like the MINI. That the 500 is taller than much of the competition helps to keep the proportions right while also giving plenty of headroom.

    While the 500 has always traded on cutesy looks and retro charm, those wanting a bit more aggression without the performance or price of the hot Abarth versions should definitely check out the ‘S’. Sitting near the top of the range, it gains much manlier bumpers packed full of vents, satin chrome trim as well as some racy side skirts and stylish 15” alloy wheels. Inside are sports seats, 7” TFT display for the driver, alloy gear knob, a chunky flat-bottomed leather steering wheel and lashings of red stitching.

    S spec also gets an exclusive colour option – Electronica blue – which proved slightly controversial among friends. While it’s undoubtedly a great colour, some questioned its suitability on such a retro shape. They may have a point. What is undeniable is the effectiveness of the dinky 900cc TwinAir petrol engine. Although less than a litre in capacity and with only two cylinders, a turbocharger pushes power to 105 hp and 107 Ib ft of torque when Sports mode is engaged.

    Without this button pressed, the 500 feels very different, power drops to 98 hp while torque plummets to 89 Ib ft. Throttle response feels quite lazy which coupled with very light steering makes the car feel almost asleep. The aim of the game is, of course, maximum economy, the digital display in front of you even shows an eco score along with your current mpg and range. It’s certainly effective but hides the car’s true character.

    Sport mode on, the steering takes on a bit of extra heft while throttle response is transformed. There’s still a little delay as you’d expect with a turbocharged motor but after that the 500 surges forward. The high-mounted gearlever may seem odd at first but is fantastically placed for quick gearchanges and has a fantastic shift action. The TwinAir lump up front makes a rorty noise that seems to egg you on into driving it harder, something you’ll gladly do. There’s even a g-meter and boost gauge on the TFT screen to replace the eco stuff.

    Eager is the best way I can describe the handling and indeed the overall driving experience. The 500 feels darty and agile with strong grip and little roll, enjoyable on a country road and perfection for city streets. You do pay for the handling in ride comfort though, it’s by no means uncomfortable but you do feel undulations while the rear end can get bouncy over bigger bumps.

    Should you want to go topless, the electric sliding soft top moves rearwards at the touch of a button even on the move. Press it again and the whole hood folds above the boot lid giving, even more, exposure although it does remove almost all rearward visibility in the process. Unlike the Mini Cabrio, the whole roof doesn’t fold back, only the centre section. It may rob you of some of the openness a ‘proper’ cabriolet will give you but it does make for a stiffer structure. You do still feel the odd tremor from the chassis though.

    The fabric roof also prevents the fitment of a hatchback. Instead, you get a small upwardly opening boot lid that leads to a boot barely any smaller than the regular 500’s. Move forward into the cabin and you’ll find two comfortable rear seats with acceptable levels of legroom for the class. Up front is well laid out but lacking the quality feel of a MINI or even a VW Up! At least the bits you interact with most, the leather wheel and metal gear knob feel good in your hands.

    Unfortunately, the 500 TwinAir’s biggest weakness is highlighted by one of its strongest assets, how fun to drive it is. If you’re driving Miss Daisy and not working the turbo hard, then more than 50 mpg is possible. If however, you start having fun and lean on the throttle harder, economy tumbles significantly. Not only can it be expensive to run, it’s quite pricey to buy too.

    You can pick up a basic 500 for just over £10,000 but you’ll need to add another £3,000 for the convertible top and over £1,600 for S trim. You can’t even get the 105 hp motor in lower trim levels and that’s over £1,600 more too. After a handful of options, the test car came in at £17,430, a figure you could easily push higher with some of the personalisation on offer.

    Of course, you might look at it the other way, there are not many other open-topped cars out there that can be picked up for comfortably less than £20,000. There’s also no denying the charm of the 500 and enjoyment you get out of driving it. You can’t say that about certain cars costing more than twice as much. Objectivity isn’t something that will necessarily come into play in the purchase of a 500 though. For some the looks will be more than enough, thankfully beauty, in this case, is more than skin deep.

    PROS

    Punchy engine

    Styling

    Fun to drive

    CONS

    Can be thirsty

    Pricey

    Cheap interior plastics

    The Lowdown

    Car – Fiat 500S Convertible

    Price – £16,740 (£17,520 as tested)

    Power – 105 hp

    0-60 – 10 seconds

    Top Speed – 117 mph

    Co2 – 99g/km

  • CAR REVIEW | Auto, Erotic?

    While we all like to think we’re not swayed by fancy cars, there’s no doubt the right motor can aid access to the pants of others. Whether it’s through first impressions or a well-placed mattress in the back, here’s my top 10.

    Aston Martin
    With most of this list I’ve had to specify a single model, with Aston Martin pretty much any car they’ve produced will do the job. Helped no doubt by the James Bond effect, they have been consistently voted one of the coolest brands out there while there’s arguably no such thing as an ugly Aston. Even though they are ridiculously expensive new, they somehow manage to not make you look like a cock behind the wheel. This makes it all the more likely you’ll be getting cock if you’re seen driving one.

    VW Camper (T1 or T2)
    If you’re thinking of a campervan, chances are you’ll think of one of Volkswagen’s old school rear-engined models. Although you can buy a new one, it’s the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s models that have the most appeal with their retro looks and easy going nature. If you’re not sold on the styling, there’s always a freezer for your poppers and a fold out bed for whatever happens afterwards. Just remember, if the van’s rockin’ don’t come knockin’.

    Alfa Romeo 4C
    After years in the wilderness, Alfa has produced a car that is quite simply sex on 4 wheels. From the gorgeous ‘tele-dial’ wheels to the sensuous lines of the carbon fibre bodywork, it’s comfortably one of the best looking cars currently available at any price point. That it costs a relatively low £50k shouldn’t matter as numbers will be limited, ensuring not everyone with the funds can get hold of one. Only the most acrobatic amongst you will be able to get up to anything inside, thankfully carbon fibre doesn’t dent.

    Citroen DS
    When it was introduced back in 1955, the DS was a sensation delivering the kind of styling previously seen in science fiction to the common man. Not only did it look space age but there was plenty of tech under the skin too. Those stunning looks will get the attention of your intended conquest while there’s a big rear bench between the rear doors if you keep their interest. Should things get a little too kinky, there’s a big boot to dispose of the body.

    Jeep Wrangler
    It was a toss up (if you’ll pardon the pun) between this and a Land Rover Defender when it came to picking a macho retro 4×4. Ultimately the Wrangler’s relative rarity sealed the deal, not that I was at all swayed by being lent one (see elsewhere in the issue for my review). Not only do they look great but you really can drive pretty much anywhere to find a secluded spot. Heavy duty rubber floor mats mean the clean up operation is pretty easy too.

    Jaguar E-Type
    Frequently described as the most beautiful car ever made, the E-Type is still a stunning shape today. A meaty straight 6 and later a V12 made sure the car went as well as it looked too. While being classy, it also sports one of the most phallic bonnets every created, its rounded tip stretching far into the distance from the cockpit. The coupe is a bit cramped for getting up to much mischief but there’s always the soft top version for alfresco action.

    Tesla Model S
    With a Tesla, you can have your cake and eat it. Not only do you appear to care for the environment thanks to zero emissions when in use, the all-electric Model S is also seriously fast. In other words, you can still have motoring fun without pissing off any environmentally conscious targets and therefore attracting a whole new demographic. Boss of Tesla Elon Musk was apparently an inspiration for Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Tony Stark in Iron Man, that coolness does trickle down to both car and driver which can’t hurt either.

    Rolls Royce Phantom
    For some people, there’s nothing more attractive than extravagant displays of wealth and nothing quite says ‘I’ve got more money than some third world countries’ than the big Roller. True, the Bugatti Veyron and a few other hypercars may be pricier but do they have built in champagne coolers? No. Do they have carpets thick enough to dull the noise of even the loudest lay you piledrive into it? No. Nor will they have room in the back to do, well, pretty much anything. Just make sure the chauffeur’s partition is closed before things get too messy, unless you like that kind of thing of course. If you’re seriously fugly, this is probably your best bet.

    Fiat/Bertone X1/9
    The problem with mid-engined supercars is that they do suggest you might be compensating for a shortfall in the trouser department. If you do want a vehicle that’s Italian, has the motor in the middle and is an open 2 seater but doesn’t make people think you’re hung like a hamster, the X1/9 is the car for you. At 3.8 meters long it’s shorter than a Ford Fiesta and powered by a dinky 1.3 or 1.5 litre lump. The shrunken supercar look makes for a cute classic that definitely turns heads.

    Koenigsegg Regera
    If you must have a supercar to attract attention, you might as well make it one of the rarest and most bonkers. Koenigsegg will only build 80 Regeras and each one is a technical tour de force with an 1100 bhp V8 and 3 electric motors. 0-248 mph allegedly takes under 20 seconds, crazy numbers for a road car. If pure speed doesn’t impress then you can open the doors, bonnet and entire rear section of the car via your smartphone. If you like ‘em superficial and easy then this is the car for you.

  • Forgotten Fast Cars: Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole

    Ask anyone to name a hot Italian hatchback and they’ll probably say Lancia Delta Integrale. The Tipo Sedicivalvole shares much with the legendary Lancia. Not the turbo and 4 wheel drive sadly but much of the platform and a normally aspirated version of the 2.0 twin cam. But what does Sedicivalvole mean? Only the most important thing in late eighties/early nineties hot hatch badging; sixteen valves.

    The Tipo had been around since late 1988 and was a big step on from its predecessor the Strada/Ritmo, even if it did share the same basic platform (as did the Delta). The boxy styling gave exceptional room inside, it was 70% galvanised to stop the rust bunnies and even won European car of the year in 1989. Sadly what the car was lacking was a proper Golf GTI rival. Fiat produced a lukewarm 110bhp 1.8 litre 8 valve from 1989 and a warmer 1.8 16v with 138bhp from 1991, unfortunately the Tipo was a bit tubby.

    Although we don’t think of 1180 kilos (2601 lbs) as heavy for a modern car, back in the early 90s it was positively obese for a smallish hatch. Fiat had no choice but to drop in the 2.0 litre 16 valve lump from Lancia, upping power to 148bhp and reducing 0-60 to 8.4 seconds. As with all the best Italian engines, it looked pretty damn good too. Thanks to a slippery drag co-efficient of 0.31 top speed was 128mph, more than the Golf 16v. Handling was improved with 15″ alloy wheels and uprated suspension, braking was dealt with by all round discs that were vented up front.

    To distinguish it from the cooking models, the Sedicivalvole got more aggressive bumpers with a red pin stripe, side skirts, a more open grille and body coloured mirrors. Inside you avoided the questionable digital dash of some models, gaining a smattering of analogue dials instead along with a leather Momo steering wheel and the option of Recaro seats. According to the wonderfully 90’s dealer information video, there was a strong eco push too, the car receiving a 3 way catalytic converter that allowed it to comply with the 1983 American clean air act. Wow.

    So it was roomy, pretty well equipped, didn’t rust and was reasonably fast. So why has it been forgotten? For a start it looked a bit too much like the smaller Uno, for seconds the Italians still had a bit of a reputation when it came to reliability and for thirds it just wasn’t exciting enough. Still, if you do fancy one they can be found cheaply. The last one I saw was only £1450. I am strangely drawn to owning one however I fear it could only end one way, expensively.

     

    by Alan Taylor-Jones

  • MOTORING: Ten Soft Tops For Summer Under £5k

    You might think I’m insane for suggesting you buy an open car in the middle of winter but there is method to my madness.

     

    Quite rightly you’ll be thinking that you’ll barely ever get the roof down and you might as well get something with more than a bit of canvas between you and the elements. Unsurprisingly, everyone else will be thinking the same ensuring demand is low as are prices. Just £700 will get you into the cheapest car on the list while others have hard roofs that leave them feeling very similar to a regular car. Whether you just want to look good and catch some sun or if you want something that carves through corners and devours straights, there’s a car on the list for you. If not, please feel free to share what you’ve found!

    1. Volkswagen Golf Mk3 Convertible – £700

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volkswagen/golf-mk3-mk4/volkswagen-golf-2-0-avantgarde-convertible-manual-only-two-owners-good-condition-mot-till-october-2015-electric-hood/2688004

    Topless thrills don’t have to cost thousands, this Golf is cheap to buy, cheap to insure with a classic policy and should prove pretty reliable too. Although it’s 20 years old it still has plenty of toys although don’t expect it to be the most exciting car to drive. With an MOT till October, you could use it until autumn next year and sell it for what you paid for it. Alternatively, tidy the car up and it could be a reliable retro ride for many years to come.

    1. Ford StreetKa – £1476
      http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/streetka/ford-streetka-1-6i-2dr/3035341

    Don’t just think of this as a regular Ka with the roof sawn off, Ford spent a lot of time and money re-engineering this with a bigger engine and wider, stiffer suspension. It’s no rocketship but it’ll still feel quick enough around town and be a hoot round bends. You do lose 2 seats compared to the hatchback but you gain a much more stylish rump. Being a Ford, it should be cheap to run and pretty reliable. If it does go wrong, parts are cheap.

    1. Fiat Barchetta – £1950

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/fiat/barchetta/fiat-barchetta-convertibl-1998/2441591

    Fancy a sexy Italian for the summer? How about the Fiat Barchetta? A rare sight on UK roads, probably thanks to them being left hand drive only, they’re a good looking alternative to the ubiquitous Mazda MX-5. Underneath it’s based on the Fiat Punto meaning predictable front wheel drive handling and fairly cheap running costs. It also means that if it does go wrong, which it might, bits are cheap. A lively 135 bhp engine makes the car pretty nippy and they handle well too.

    1. Toyota MR-2 MK-3 – £2795

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/toyota/mr2/toyota-mr2-mk3-roadster—————–2003/3021610

    If your main reason for buying a sports car is that you love driving, the MR-2 needs your attention. Although it’s not the prettiest car here, it’s light, mid engined and rear wheel drive. Add feelsome steering and an engine with just enough power to make things interesting and you have the ingredients for serious fun. Being a Toyota, it’ll be endlessly reliable and servicing shouldn’t be too costly either. It won’t be overly practical and there’s only room for one passenger but hey, your friends can always take the bus.

    1. MG Midget £3450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mg/midget/1979-mg-midget-1500/3088628

    You don’t have to spend a great deal to get a proper classic like this MG Midget. You do have to be careful to avoid buying a rusty old money pit, however this dry stored example should be a good bet. The mechanicals are simple (the engine is shared with the original Mini) so don’t expect modern levels of grip, braking or safety. The upshot is that you don’t have to go fast to have fun and the kind of looks that you just don’t get anymore. Be prepared to get your hands dirty though, MGs can be temperamental.

    1. Smart Roadster £4500

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/smart-car/roadster/smart-roadster-80-rhd-2dr-auto-fsh-low-mileage/2826209
    In many respects this Smart Roadster is the modern day MG Midget. It’s similarly tiny, shares its engine with an economy car and is cheap to run. Available only as a semi-automatic, it could be argued the slow witted and clumsy gearbox ruins the car. Learn to work with it and you’ll find a chuckable chassis, accurate steering and a great sounding turbocharged engine. The looks are Marmite and storage limited but they are bloody good fun. It’s easy to squeeze a few more horsepower from the engine too.

    1. Jeep Wrangler – £4450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/jeep/wrangler/jeep-wrangler-4-0-petrol-limited-edition-65k-mileage/3222334Just because you’re buying a car to enjoy in the summer doesn’t mean it won’t prove invaluable in winter. This Jeep Wrangler offers a removable roof for the sun and 4 wheel drive with chunky tyres for the snow. The brick like aerodynamics and massive 4.0 litre engine will mean you’ll be very friendly with your local petrol station attendant but they are at least pretty reliable. Wranglers are very much an old school 4×4 so don’t expect the best road manners either.

    1. Mercedes SL320 £4490

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/mercedes-sl-320——————1994/3102387

    If I was picking the classiest drop top from this list, the SL would win every time. This immaculate 1994 car comes with one of the smaller engines of the range which should save a few quid on petrol and servicing. Besides, the SL is not really about going fast, it’s about looking good. It also comes with a removable hard top to keep the heat in and car thieves out. Classic insurance won’t be expensive and old SLs tend to go up in value if you look after them….

    1. BMW M3 Evo – £4995

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-m3-92-99/bmw-e36-m3-evo–low-mileage–3-keys/2895944

    Here’s a convertible that’ll really put the wind in your hair thanks to over 300 bhp from a brawny straight 6 engine. This 1996 example has been well looked after and comes in the best colour too. Inside is leather and luxury while you can even seat 4 at a push. Being an M3, parts and servicing will be on the expensive side as will the fuel bills. If you like the looks but don’t need the performance or expense, consider the lower powered 318i, 320i or 325i, they’re much cheaper to buy and run.

    1. Renault Wind – £4988

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/renault/wind/renault-wind-1-6-vvt-dynamique-s-2dr/3199982

    Once you’ve stopped laughing at the stupid name, the Wind is well worth your consideration. For a start, this is only 4 years old with just 36000 miles. For seconds it shares a lot with the Renaultsport Twingo, a great little hot hatch and for thirds it’s actually practical for a 2 seat roadster. A clever folding hardtop gives plenty of boot space that isn’t impacted when the roof is stowed (unlike a Merc SLK or Peugeot 308CC) and avoids a massive arse. The name killed sales in the UK so they’re rare but well worth tracking down.