: Seemed a good idea last night, when I agreed to buy a Reliant Robin for : fifty quid. : It's a "Super"; W reg; estate sort of shape; Trotter's yellow; no MOT, : but reasonably tidy; 45,000 miles on the clock
Get it going - you might be surprised. I bought a Rialto a few years ago, just to see what it was like, and it's a hoot to drive. Nice and nippy (40bhp, two fifths of bugger all mass) and feels even faster. Handling is fine as long as you don't try and brake hard and steer hard at the same time - but then a four wheeled car will also bite you if you try that. Pushed in normal driving it loses the back end first.
Which W is it? If it's the old bulbous shape the aerodynamics aren't great - the later ones from Rialto onwards have rather more front downforce at speed.
I reckon my Rialto is almost as much fun to drive as the 2CV, and in many respects it's a better car. "Not rusting" is a hell of an advantage, and the Reliant engine is a wee gem.
Ian