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Cockups by Fiat Volume 23 chapter 18

Deciding it would be a great idea to fit a Fiat Stilo with aircon (nice), a 6 speed gearbox (like), lots trip computer type thingies* (clever) and no CD player!

frown.gif

(Just so you know a Fiat Stilo, feels like a big less charming Punto)

Blackjacks hire car hex continues.

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FMVSS 208 zero-degree frontal impact legislation. Solely responsible for some of the world's prettiest cars suddenly developing big ugly black plastic projections at front and rear in place of the delicate chrome garnish they were born with. Particularly unforgivable for what it did to the MGB, and for the big rubber overriders which had to be fitted to the Jaguar XKE. Saves a few American lives per year, no doubt, but many fewer than they kill-off fighting a succession of oil-based conflicts...

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FMVSS 208 zero-degree frontal impact legislation. Solely responsible for some of the world's prettiest cars suddenly developing big ugly black plastic projections at front and rear in place of the delicate chrome garnish they were born with. Particularly unforgivable for what it did to the MGB, and for the big rubber overriders which had to be fitted to the Jaguar XKE. Saves a few American lives per year, no doubt, but many fewer than they kill-off fighting a succession of oil-based conflicts...

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100% agreed on that one. However, I severely doubt those rubber pads at the front of the car actually contribute to crash safety. Rather, it was a concession to the all-too-powerful insurance lobby. The idea was that cars with those ugly bumpers would suffer less damage in parking mishaps, thereby saving the insurance companies some cash.

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Cockups by Fiat Volume 23 chapter 18

Deciding it would be a great idea to fit a Fiat Stilo with aircon (nice), a 6 speed gearbox (like), lots trip computer type thingies* (clever) and no CD player!

frown.gif

(Just so you know a Fiat Stilo, feels like a big less charming Punto)

Blackjacks hire car hex continues.

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I take it this refers to the 1.2, which is the only model I know with a six-speed box. Well, if you're going entry-level you can't expect much.

I had the 1.6 Dynamic, kitted out with enough extras to make it almost as specced-up as the Abarth but without the stupid paddle shift.

While not trying to sound too defensive, I find the Stilo quite a pleasure to drive. Fiat's big cock-up was in having an incredibly lame advertising campaign, and for me, closing down their one and only Birmingham showroom. Commercial suicide to have no sales outlet in the country's second largest city.

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I take it this refers to the 1.2, which is the only model I know with a six-speed box. Well, if you're going entry-level you can't expect much.

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It was the 1.4 active air-con. Why they fitted air-con but not a cd player is beyond me!

If you find the Stilo a good drive, fair enough. I used to drive a Fiat Punto and loved it but not the dealer network. The Stilo with its cavernous cabin and interior styling reminded me of a Punto. However, in the past when I've driven Fiats I've found even the most basic Fiats to be a hoot to drive and to have eager engines. This had neither to my mind so I was glad to hand it back to the rental firm.

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  • 2 months later...

Panther Solo – Could have been so, so good (and in many respects was) but they forgot that Panther were a completely poo company that couldn’t do anything right.

i have a panther solo and yes the electrics were put together by a monkey but other than that these are great cars and i can say there even better with 450ish bhp jump.gif

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Sure, FWD is good for beginners but the more experience you gain the more you see just what an abomination FWD is.

Driving an FWD econobox I had to learn to cope with its characteristics (getting it sideways on loose surfaces is a part of the learning process I think ECLIPSe.gif now I need to perfect those four wheel drifts on tarmac). But my club rally car will be RWD: Ascona B/Manta or Lada 2107 jump.gif

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Dare I say - any big exec style French car. (Citroen XM/Pug 604/605/607/Renault Safrane/Vel Satis/Avantime)

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Which is a shame because the French used to make some very nice executive cars, The Citroen DS, Traction Avant & CX were great cars, as were the Pug 504 & 505, these cars stayed in production for decades, a testament to their design.

Great cock ups, the City Rover.

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as were the Pug 504 & 505, these cars stayed in production for decades

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And indeed the 504 still is in production in Kenya and is still offered by African Peugeot dealers as part of their range!

Yours for 1,375,000 Kenyan Shillings

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A large well built car with all the style and ride quality associated with a large French saloon that will last you until all time has ended and is yours for £9793.63 + import duty. Pug UK should import these things.

Is the 505 still in production? I hear that those things (especially in estate form) are very highly sought after in Africa.

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Indeed they should, although I'm not sure how many people would be enlightened enough to buy one. They would of course make perfect mini-cabs, company cars or hire cars if prestige wasn't a particular issue.

I'm not sure about the 505, I think they did keep producing it in Africa after European production stopped, but maybe it's not happening anymore.

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Hire cars if prestige wasn't a particular issue.

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That is a genius of an idea, establish a hire car firm that has one type of car (see Easy Rent a Car) but make that 1 car say the 504 estate which is large enough for anything. The cars are reliable, probably more so than the A-Class that Easy rent a car is based upon and servicing would be cheap.

Want to go in to business?

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That is a genius of an idea....Want to go in to business?

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Cheers mate, I'm glad someone recognises my brilliance! I think that very definitely the budget end of the market is the one to aim for, after all the only concession to modern driving appears to be a radio cassette, car alarm and five speed gearbox (oh the luxury!). Not even power steering! F***!!! I bet you can tell Kenyan 504 owners just by the size of their forearms. Still I don't think there would be a problem with getting them hired out especially if you can undercut the only rival (as you say EasyCar). This should be possible as the Mercedes A Class is approx £4000 more expensive new and will need work done at a main dealer. We can get ours done at my mate Phil's garage - an arch in Tottenham. Run them as hire cars for about 5 years (150,000miles per car roughly?) and then press them into service with our subsidiary minicab company specialising in late night runs from nightclubs and kebab shops - the puke and chilli sauce can just be hosed out! In addition there could be film and TV work (for 70s and 80s period stuff) - Damn, this is sounding better and better by the minute and pound signs are ringing up in my eyes and I am letting out a maniacal cackle, and the peopl in accounts are leering at me through their bifocals.

Needless to say we'd have to work out the precise logistics of getting the cars to the uk, but pah! technicalities eh?! So what to call our company then mate? Something we can discuss at our annual board meeting which of course would be held in the Cayman Islands as the company would be registered there......

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That is a genius of an idea....Want to go in to business?

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Cheers mate, I'm glad someone recognises my brilliance! I think that very definitely the budget end of the market is the one to aim for, after all the only concession to modern driving appears to be a radio cassette, car alarm and five speed gearbox (oh the luxury!). Not even power steering! F***!!! I bet you can tell Kenyan 504 owners just by the size of their forearms. Still I don't think there would be a problem with getting them hired out especially if you can undercut the only rival (as you say EasyCar). This should be possible as the Mercedes A Class is approx £4000 more expensive new and will need work done at a main dealer. We can get ours done at my mate Phil's garage - an arch in Tottenham. Run them as hire cars for about 5 years (150,000miles per car roughly?) and then press them into service with our subsidiary minicab company specialising in late night runs from nightclubs and kebab shops - the puke and chilli sauce can just be hosed out! In addition there could be film and TV work (for 70s and 80s period stuff) - Damn, this is sounding better and better by the minute and pound signs are ringing up in my eyes and I am letting out a maniacal cackle, and the peopl in accounts are leering at me through their bifocals.

Needless to say we'd have to work out the precise logistics of getting the cars to the uk, but pah! technicalities eh?! So what to call our company then mate? Something we can discuss at our annual board meeting which of course would be held in the Cayman Islands as the company would be registered there......

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Genius, by why only 150,000 miles, this is a well designed and built car, not a Mercedes A-Class.

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Genius, by why only 150,000 miles, this is a well designed and built car, not a Mercedes A-Class.

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That was more an arbitrary figure rather than anything else based on 30k per year for 5 years - of course it could be much more. Having hired cars myself on a number of occasions my normal fairly careful well mannered driving style goes entirely out of the window and with the best build quality, and will, in the world a car which has been used for short term rental for 5 years is going to be somewhat rough round the edges at best, and at worst a total wreck. I agree that the mechanicals will probably be still quite serviceable which is why I would propose running them as a fleet of budget mini cabs from year 5 onwards. Basically you might have trouble renting out a knackered looking car but when I stagger out of Colchester station on a Saturday evening I couldn't give a f*** what the taxi is that takes me home, it could be a solid gold Rolls Royce Silver Ghost driven by a grandfather clock for all I care or could remember about it two minutes after I've got out of it (ok even I would probably remember a Silver Ghost mini-cab being driveen by an antique timepiece but you get the point!). And if the cab firm is cheap, which of course it can be if cars need minimal maintenance, then people will remember you. Still it doesn't really matter - all minor details really that can be resolveed later.

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Simple, drive the things overland

Loosen the engine up a bit

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Ah, ha! Now that is the sort of thinking I like! Looking for a job pal? laugh.gif

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