Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Talking of Integrales saw this on C&C, a legit Works Repsol Integrale

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1203082

'Kinell! And I thought Group B cars were expensive...

And welsh!

The looks are growing on me!
The driving is a mixed bag - hilariously aggressive noises without going anywhere quickly but the driving position is appalling.
Can’t quite work out what it is specifically but my back is fucked after 30 mins - slightly offset steering wheel, narrow offset footwell with high pedals and a seemingly convex seat means you’re basically doing a twisted boat position for the journey.

Think the value is down to the people who have (or may have) pissed in the car.
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A former police colleague of mine had one. He would often exclaim "Don't be a cunto, drive a Punto". I don't think there's a higher recommendation.

.....because they've all been killed to death by rogue truck wheels.

Has it got the city steering button?

I reckon the only way to drive it is like a cunto. A cunto with a bad back 😫

Yep, what does it do?

My mate was a bit narcoleptic which is a good trait for firearms officer. He would fall asleep in his Punto at traffic lights and I drove past him on the Marlow bypass and he was properly out if it. The nee-nahs woke him up, which was a major advance in road safety.

If I was looking to buy something like that, I'd start on carandclassic

City button is a magnetic hedge finder .

my nephew had one. in deepest banana. will have to check with him on levels of contortion he went through but his teenage spine probably didn't feel it. was an awesome car though and served him well. will catch up with him over the hols and pick his brains.

i only ever had one as a rental for a couple of weeks in portugal way back. can't recall any gripes but totally rate them. and think they stand out a bit compared to their contemporaries

I’ve an 02 plate punto sporting which is my daughters and it has been brilliant. Bought it 7 years ago as our “second car” and basically hasn’t cost any money to keep . Nippy enough to be fun ( 80hp ) looks good , 6 speed box handles well . To be fair tho it has only done 40000 miles from new . Pictured along with other residents of my Italian car club support hub

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would be happy with those motors. very happy. then just an estate box for lugging shit around in. usually quite literally on the manure runs.

Thanks , people say Italian cars are nothing but trouble but those three pictured have been a delight .

This one is only on 53k but feels very tired inside and arrived with perished tyres. I was hoping it was the 16v version but it's the 8v (5 speed box) so a bit anemic at speed. Incredibly less power and torque than my motorbike. Nippy off the line though and the box is pretty enjoyable.
Jobs done:
Replaced battery sucking OEM CD player with modern BT head and fascia/etc.
Replaced detached gearknob with halfords maxpower special!

To do:
A good clean inside and out
Try and recondition headlights (or replace for minimal £)
Possibly pimp it in a stupid way to embarrass Mrs Hammer, without ruining the ride.

@jonny I'm going to have to play with the seat and try raising it up to get closer to the wheel and further from the pedals. It has a lumbar support which should help but my back feels worse this evening than it did this morning!

Possibly pimp it in a stupid way to embarrass Mrs Hammer, without ruining the ride.

Fake bonnet scoop. G'wan...

This sort of thing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Becorative-Air-Flow-Intake-Scoop-Turbo-Bonnet-Vent-Cover-Hood-B-B/233615513196?hash=item366491d66c:g:GAwAAOSwIz5cwpjL

I wonder if this fits... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264976455319?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

This sort of thing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car­-Becorative-Air-Flow-Intake-Scoop-Turbo-­Bonnet-Vent-Cover-Hood-B-B/233615513196?­hash=item366491d66c:g:GAwAAOSwIz5cwpjL

Perfect.

I wonder if this fits... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264976455319?­ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTr­ack=true

Too subtle. Unless it's badly fitted, the wrong colour, and held in place with self-tapping wood screws.

Manageable tbh.

Light lenses are polished up with brasso.

See what standard fiat alloys are around or steels with decent tyres, don't go too wide tho.

See what modern ish front seat from other fiat panda/500/ford ka and see if they fit.

Front seats from Alfa 147 bolt straight in . Just make sure you get correct variant , 3 or 5 door so they tilt or don’t.

Yellow is definitely the best colour for them. Teenage me really wanted one.