Anything in particular to watch out for or recommendations? [1] [1]other than DON'T!
Which model? The Mk1 suffers with tin worm and then some. That, and make sure it doesn't pop out of... hmmm... IIRC fifth gear, when selected and then the car is put under load. Don't know too much about the Mk2, bar the purists seem to find them a bit boring to drive compared to the Mk1. I've owned a Mk1 and been in a Mk2 - the Mk2 is a *lot* more roomy inside. As for the Mk3... they've got a bit of a reputation for lunching their engines IIRC.
JackH said: The Mark 2 is the one I'm toying with, I did love the look of the Mark 1 when it first came out, reminded me of the Fiat X19 a lot!, but the mk2 is definitely what im looking at. The mk 3 i hated from day one, it reminds me too much of a porcshe of the same time
Nice little cars, lovely handling etc but make sure you get a good one and get an independant AA examination. There are some real dogs out there waiting for the unwary and Toyota spares can be expensive. Caveat emptor. And you might like to get a job as a ladies hairdresser to go with the car's image.
IIRC rust is what usually kills these. I would suspect a good fresh Japanese import is the way to go.
Fiat missed an opportunity with the X1/9. I worked for a Fiat dealership in the mid 80s when the MR2 appeared. Nobody ever asked about X1/9s and I think we had one come into stock, which we swapped with another dealer for a 4x4 Panda, IIRC. If only Fiat had the foresight to develop the Abarth Prototipo 2000, with the twincam engine that made 200 bhp allegedly...
Hmm I'm selling a 1993 G-Ltd. Jap import. About 87k miles. Had it for years. Never fails. Lots of fun but nowhere to put it now. Black with 17" black Wolfrace. It's well worn in but surprisingly ok and only ~£900. Would come MOT but not taxed (sorn).
And check that the speedo is working, because the speedo cable is a royal PITA to replace so most people don't bother. There's also the rumour that they're faster around the track than the Mk1. People who actually used stopwatches proved they weren't. I've driven all three - I'd stay away from the Mk3. It also hasn't got enough luggage space to hold a bottle of beer... Mk2s, watch out for the usual issues with mid-engined cars, namely overheating or people leaving roundabouts sideways in a direction they didn't intend to go. Toyota panel gaps are pretty good, don't let anybody tell you that they came wavy from the factory... Also, a lot of them suffer from tuning by Muppet INC - drainpipe under the car, cone filter to ensure the engine is sucking in hot air and all that fun. I'd avoid anything that has been "tuned" by spotty oik, they're more trouble than they are worth. Suspension gets better and thus less wayward on the limit with the later models, which also gained a little more power. My preference if you're after an N/A one would be a late as possible tin roof grey import - the T-bars tend to leak after a while and have the added bonus of showering you in glass fragments if you hit something hard enough. There are a few around with the Toyota 'Beams' engine, these are worth seeking out but quite expensive. If you want enough power to scare a Death Metal band, buy a turbo. With a deep enough wallet you can squeeze 500-700 bhp out of them. Doesn't do anything for driveability, but if you live life a quarter mile at a time...
The Mk1 looks shit The MkIII looks shit The MkII is a gorgeous wee classic www.flickr.com/photos/15262772@N00/sets/72157622781036227 Fortunately mine has only ever hit a Badger! Never had overheating trouble but I did have the aircon compressor demounted AOL -- 'Hog '06 ST4-S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400 '81 R65 Outfit CO2-A load of hot air
'Hog said: Fooking hell, "Hog does hard sell" eh? LOL, unfortunately i dont have the cash for one yet, but ill bear you in mind if i happen to be looking with cash soon mate.
He's a **** that wun allright. I junked the standards as a) they look shit b) *they take rather old fashioned tyre profiles* c) they weren't black -- 'Hog '06 ST4-S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400 '81 R65 Outfit CO2-A load of hot air
Is it in York? I might have a look at that... -- Nige, BMW K1200S Honda Transalp XL600V Range Rover Vogue
Belfast. But it will wind its way over here soon. -- 'Hog '06 ST4-S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400 '81 R65 Outfit CO2-A load of hot air
Poss before Chrimbo -- 'Hog '06 ST4-S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400 '81 R65 Outfit CO2-A load of hot air
