Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 15 August 2015, 09:48:14
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Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years. Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate. :y I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. :y
The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's. Which suggests 3 things to me:
1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. ::)
2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars. Surely illegal? ??? Gallic Shrug? ;D
3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. :-\
But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts? Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. :-\
Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products. :-\
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I'm half way through training to be a driving instructor and my choice of franchise is either the AA or BSM, I'm looking at BSM as the rates and fees are that much better than the AA but the car you get is the Peugeot 208 5 door active 1.2 petrol. After reading reviews they are overall a pretty sound car so I won't let the car put me off the franchise, the car is changed for new every year but by all accounts it still needs to perform, but I feel more than happy to go with the French motor.
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Patriotism.
My view is that from experience Europeans excluding Brits are very patriotic. i.e. they buy their own stuff. Here in Spain SEATs rule. They do of course have BMW's and Mercedes as they don't make those. The locals are quite incredulous when you say we in Britain make very fine cheese . If you do , how come it isn't for sale on our supermarket shelves they say? I know the Spanish have a buy Spanish campaign on at the moment for things like electrical goods.
Supporting home team or home driver. It goes without saying that a Spaniard wouldn't dream of not supporting Sainz or Alonso in F1. Yet many Brits support Vettel , Senna, Schumacher etc on talent and not nationality.
The French are the same.
I think mass tourism changed Britain. We went away to exotic places and came back and wanted to eat exotic food. Hence the supermarkets being full of foreign produce. I think we are the same when it comes to buying cars, fridges etc. We really don't care so long as the price is right.
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just wait until something goes wrong :-X
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Broken record mode on/ my wife's Megan's coupe has been faultless for five years.
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Broken record mode on/ my wife's Megan's coupe has been faultless for five years.
Personally I would prefer a French built car to a German car. They may be poorly screwed together and unreliable but at least they have 'soul'
The same goes for Italian cars. Give me Italian brio and zest for life over German thoroughness any day.
Think about this and then apply the analogy to cars.
Who makes the best lovers?
The French, the Italians, or ze Germans? ;) :)
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Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years. Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate. :y I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. :y
The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's. Which suggests 3 things to me:
1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. ::)
2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars. Surely illegal? ??? Gallic Shrug? ;D
3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. :-\
But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts? Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. :-\
Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products. :-\
BL made some magnificent cars in the seventies. Automotive porn loving put together by a professional and focused workforce.
Even today the 'technically advanced' Marina and All-aggro could hold their own with many modern cars. ::) ::) :)
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Meanwhile, back in the real world... ::)
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Never owned a marina or allegro, but did own the exciting Austin 1100 and maxi 1500.
Jeez...... ;D
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just wait until something goes wrong :-X
Kinda my point though Guff, the ones I've had didn't go wrong. :y
Apart from a Renault 19 diesel, where the cambelt went, but that was down to lack of operator intervention! ::) ;D
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Most cars will be reliable if people just do the simple things like a more regular service, cambelt changes a little earlier than recommended ect, this sees most cars what ever the make have a long and generally hassle free life, as with everything though there will always be a bad one in the batch that has all known faults which in turn makes everyone else think they are a load of rubbish, bit short sighted in my mind so I make my own mind up on any car I buy.
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Most cars will be reliable if people just do the simple things like a more regular service, cambelt changes a little earlier than recommended ect, this sees most cars what ever the make have a long and generally hassle free life, as with everything though there will always be a bad one in the batch that has all known faults which in turn makes everyone else think they are a load of rubbish, bit short sighted in my mind so I make my own mind up on any car I buy.
Spot on.
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just wait until something goes wrong :-X
A bit of investigation shows that the French government have a 19.73% holding in Renault, which in turn owns 44% of Nissan which makes your Milk Float practically French! :o
Hope it dosn't go wrong!! :D ;D
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just wait until something goes wrong :-X
A bit of investigation shows that the French government have a 19.73% holding in Renault, which in turn owns 44% of Nissan which makes your Milk Float practically French! :o
Hope it dosn't go wrong!! :D ;D
What's to go wrong? It's only a giant radio controlled model car. Battery, electric motor, wheels. ;D
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Meanwhile, back in the real world... ::)
The original XJ6/12 could have been a world beater with more love and attention.
Great car with piss poor attention to detail. :-\
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Never owned a marina or allegro, but did own the exciting Austin 1100 and maxi 1500.
Jeez...... ;D
The 1300 GT was okay........the 1100 didn't even simmer. :'(
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As the temperature gauge speedo crept along the dash, and the engine screamed for mercy, so the excitement increased as you wondered which part was going to fail ;D
It was big ends for me, at a place called Coleshill on the M6. I got it on to the hard shoulder and abandoned it forever. ;D
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Which as the better car though. ???
The Austion 1100 or the Renault 12? ::) A fair comparison I think? :-\
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Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years. Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate. :y I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. :y
The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's. Which suggests 3 things to me:
1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. ::)
2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars. Surely illegal? ??? Gallic Shrug? ;D
3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. :-\
But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts? Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. :-\
Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products. :-\
Forget the Laguna,they are an electrical disaster area,stick with the 406 :y
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Which as the better car though. ???
The Austion 1100 or the Renault 12? ::) A fair comparison I think? :-\
No experience of the Renault 12 at all. I did have a Renault 20TS, nice motor.
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Buy a Citroen SM.
Nice Maserati engine up front. :)
What's the worst that can happen? :)
It will cost you no more to repair than an Austin 1100 or Ford Anglia......honest. :)
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Which as the better car though. ???
The Austion 1100 or the Renault 12? ::) A fair comparison I think? :-\
No experience of the Renault 12 at all. I did have a Renault 20TS, nice motor.
Ah yes! :y
So Renault 20 or ... er.... Austin Princess? ::) ;D
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Buy a Citroen SM.
Nice Maserati engine up front. :)
What's the worst that can happen? :)
Sadly I don't have unlimited funds to throw at motors and women.......... :( Unlike you M'lud! ;) ;D
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Which as the better car though. ???
The Austion 1100 or the Renault 12? ::) A fair comparison I think? :-\
No experience of the Renault 12 at all. I did have a Renault 20TS, nice motor.
Ah yes! :y
So Renault 20 or ... er.... Austin Princess? ::) ;D
I owned a Princess 1700 during the Thatcher years. Not a bad old bus. :y
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I had a big purple one :y
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I had a big purple one :y
I still do. :)
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Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years. Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate. :y I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. :y
The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's. Which suggests 3 things to me:
1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. ::)
2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars. Surely illegal? ??? Gallic Shrug? ;D
3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. :-\
But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts? Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. :-\
Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products. :-\
Forget the Laguna,they are an electrical disaster area,stick with the 406 :y
Lagunas are no better mechanically, being well known for engine, gearbox and suspension failures. That doesn't leave much else to be reliable does it ;D They are best avoided, although they're hardly a common sight any more.
A basic 406 is a good car, although they're getting a bit old and good ones are hard to find. Bit like Omegas then.
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Had a Renault 5 once,can't remember what year car was but gear stick sprouted from dashboard as opposed to from the floor.Actually quite a decent little car.Also had a Renault 20TS, very roomy for its size and amazingly comfortable.If you want to learn all about anticipation and momentum on the road try a 2CV,a real hoot to drive with those crazy lean angles on the twisty stuff :D
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Renault 12s were pretty good all told, parents had a white P reg estate when I was born, kept it until 1982, when it was replaced by a new Volvo 345...
Grandparents had a T reg saloon bought new and kept until '88 ish. Nice car as I recall, but was metallic poo brown... you have to love the seventies ;D
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Renault 12s were pretty good all told......
Yes and carried on for years after Renault killed it; in Romania as the Dacia 1300, 1320 etc :y
I don't think BL ever sold the designs of the 1100 to anyone, which answers my earlier question. ;D
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well I have just been lumbered with a megane estate as a company car....what a pile of crap....goes into the garage 2 weeks ago knackered rear shocks...comes back 3 days later ABS Fault.Brake Fault,Traction Control Fault and boot wont open...roll on September as it gets replaced for an Astra
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The froggeys have built some mental cars
Peugeot 205 T16, 405 m16, the Reno 25 super touring car in the 90s, R5gt turbo, o and the mid engined gourdini.
just mad cars like the French, and temperamental, garlic shrug ;D
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The froggeys have built some mental cars
Peugeot 205 T16, 405 m16, the Reno 25 super touring car in the 90s, R5gt turbo, o and the mid engined gourdini.
just mad cars like the French, and temperamental, garlic shrug ;D
they have also built some right shite
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Any bold heads are like cheese on french cars ::) I think the plastic clips they use are stronger :( Still you wont be buying a 106 will you ;D
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Patriotism.
My view is that from experience Europeans excluding Brits are very patriotic. i.e. they buy their own stuff. Here in Spain SEATs rule. They do of course have BMW's and Mercedes as they don't make those. The locals are quite incredulous when you say we in Britain make very fine cheese . If you do , how come it isn't for sale on our supermarket shelves they say? I know the Spanish have a buy Spanish campaign on at the moment for things like electrical goods.
Supporting home team or home driver. It goes without saying that a Spaniard wouldn't dream of not supporting Sainz or Alonso in F1. Yet many Brits support Vettel , Senna, Schumacher etc on talent and not nationality.
The French are the same.
I think mass tourism changed Britain. We went away to exotic places and came back and wanted to eat exotic food. Hence the supermarkets being full of foreign produce. I think we are the same when it comes to buying cars, fridges etc. We really don't care so long as the price is right.
This is my experience as well. The French are very patriotic when it comes to car buying. Brits are much more mercenary on buying things on price and performance. We are also very good at adopting and adapting many things around the world and calling it our own, especially food as our cuisine was always quite limited compared to many other countries. Tripe, Fray Bentos pies and baked beans don't make the Haute Cuisine list in France. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Patriotism.
My view is that from experience Europeans excluding Brits are very patriotic. i.e. they buy their own stuff. Here in Spain SEATs rule. They do of course have BMW's and Mercedes as they don't make those. The locals are quite incredulous when you say we in Britain make very fine cheese . If you do , how come it isn't for sale on our supermarket shelves they say? I know the Spanish have a buy Spanish campaign on at the moment for things like electrical goods.
Supporting home team or home driver. It goes without saying that a Spaniard wouldn't dream of not supporting Sainz or Alonso in F1. Yet many Brits support Vettel , Senna, Schumacher etc on talent and not nationality.
The French are the same.
I think mass tourism changed Britain. We went away to exotic places and came back and wanted to eat exotic food. Hence the supermarkets being full of foreign produce. I think we are the same when it comes to buying cars, fridges etc. We really don't care so long as the price is right.
This is my experience as well. The French are very patriotic when it comes to car buying. Brits are much more mercenary on buying things on price and performance. We are also very good at adopting and adapting many things around the world and calling it our own, especially food as our cuisine was always quite limited compared to many other countries. Tripe, Fray Bentos pies and baked beans don't make the Haute Cuisine list in France. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Boll*cks.
........in the pies. :D ;D ;D
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Patriotism.
My view is that from experience Europeans excluding Brits are very patriotic. i.e. they buy their own stuff. Here in Spain SEATs rule. They do of course have BMW's and Mercedes as they don't make those. The locals are quite incredulous when you say we in Britain make very fine cheese . If you do , how come it isn't for sale on our supermarket shelves they say? I know the Spanish have a buy Spanish campaign on at the moment for things like electrical goods.
Supporting home team or home driver. It goes without saying that a Spaniard wouldn't dream of not supporting Sainz or Alonso in F1. Yet many Brits support Vettel , Senna, Schumacher etc on talent and not nationality.
The French are the same.
I think mass tourism changed Britain. We went away to exotic places and came back and wanted to eat exotic food. Hence the supermarkets being full of foreign produce. I think we are the same when it comes to buying cars, fridges etc. We really don't care so long as the price is right.
This is my experience as well. The French are very patriotic when it comes to car buying. Brits are much more mercenary on buying things on price and performance. We are also very good at adopting and adapting many things around the world and calling it our own, especially food as our cuisine was always quite limited compared to many other countries. Tripe, Fray Bentos pies and baked beans don't make the Haute Cuisine list in France. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Real food, for men. ;)
Fixed.
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A lot of activity next door this morning. Barn doors opened (with some effort), Renault Espace backed up and tow rope attached to something in the barn. I think "Ooooo this could be interesting, an old tractor perhaps, a vintage Citroen maybe, even a 2CV?" :-\
Nope, what slowly and protestingly emerged from the barn was a dirty bird shit covered 80's classic...... The Renault 11! :y
They've been tinkering with it all morning but havn't got it going yet! ::)
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Wasn't the 11 the hatchback version of the 9? We had a 9...... But it can't have been very exciting cause I can't remember much about it. :-\
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
I'm nursing a semi thanks to that. :-* :-* :-*
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
I'm nursing a semi thanks to that. :-* :-* :-*
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
I'm nursing a semi thanks to that. :-* :-* :-*
Is that still possible at your age ;D ;D ;D
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
A mate of mine had one of them back in the day. Went well enough with a 1.7 litre lump, but so much body roll it made you seasick.
Still, the front seats reclined to a very, very comfortable position, I'm told, and, to a 19 year old living with his parents at the time, that was, apparently, an important feature.
Thinking about it, I wonder if he'd knackered the shock absorbers? ::)
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http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.cdn.autoevolution.com%2Fimages%2Fgallery%2FRENAULT113door-2071_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoevolution.com%2Fcars%2Frenault-11-3-door-1983.html&h=735&w=1018&tbnid=wo_mSg30zADkMM%3A&docid=F581RgavqSSMUM&hl=en&ei=yH7QVeTsMoT-aImkqNAF&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1030&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=0CDwQrQMwAmoVChMI5PDPlMqtxwIVBD8aCh0JEgpa
A mate of mine had one of them back in the day. Went well enough with a 1.7 litre lump, but so much body roll it made you seasick.
Still, the front seats reclined to a very, very comfortable position, I'm told, and, to a 19 year old living with his parents at the time, that was, apparently, an important feature.
Thinking about it, I wonder if he'd knackered the shock absorbers? ::)
Why?...... ;) :D ;D