FIAT Tipo/Uno owners forum.

Last time I went to one of their events (it was an AutoItalia day with a big FMC contingent) there were several very nice modded Tipos there.

I assume he's bought a Sedicavalvole? - if so, I congratulate him on his impeccable taste. He won't be disappointed with it.

I was within about ten minutes of buying a Sedicivalvole about oh, maybe 18 years ago ?

(Think that would be about right.)

Anyway, he started it up and the engine was completely munged. Had to run away very fast from that one.

I would gladly have a 130TC any day of the week though. That was my dream in my early days of driving and I've never scratched that particular itch.

I had a 130TC. Rather liked it. Rust made me sell it, but I spent one night on the Moors of North Wales many moons ago in convoy with a mate who had a 205 GTi 1.9. The Strada didn't have the straight line speed of the 205, but was much quicker in the corners - mainly because it didn't want to throw you backwards into a ditch if you got it wrong, that's a major bonus on unfamiliar roads in the rain.

Of course, no speed limits were broken, Mr Brunstrom.

Cheers for that, it's bits he's wanting more than owt, interior etc. It's covered in pink "trim", even down to the pink love-heart exhaust pipe... It's an ebay purchase.

You assume that he has an ounce of self-respect, you shouldn't, it's a 1.4 single-point injection :)

Assuming you could find a non-Barried one that hasn't dissolved.

At least the Tipos were pretty rot-resistant.

Massively under-rated when new, rare as hen's teeth now - I wish I'd bought one when I had the chance.

Rot resistant, but not exactly pretty. ISTR the 16v 3dr wasn't as ugly.

I nearly did when I bought the RS. Tested a Civic Vtec thing, the Tipo

16v, Rover 420 Turbo and the Escort. The Escort was miles nicer to drive than the others so that's the one I bought.

Tipo had a nice sounding motor and went well, but the seating position was insanely high, the brakes felt over servoed and the interior looked crap.

The Escorts interior wasn't wonderful, but the driving position was spot on, the Recaros were nicer than the Fiat ones, the engine felt a lot torquier, the ride was better (RS's are much better than any other Mk5), and it was more likely to retain value. I sold it for more than I paid for it after 6 months driving it like a nutter. I also think the RS Mk5 is a nice looking car in standard form.

I'd have bought the Rover. Any car that's so over-powered for itself that it twists the chassis - is awesome.