Anyone familiar with X1/9s?

[Z train]

They may be less prone to pre-judge than others.

You might have a point.After all,magazine editors(30 years later)should know more than someone who was there when these cars were new-right?

Its not a Fiat, its a Bertone!

Well,Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeeeee.

Edited July 11, 2011 by Arne
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[SportBikeMike]

They may be less prone to pre-judge than others.

You might have a point.After all,magazine editors(30 years later)should know more than someone who was there when these cars were new-right?

Well,Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeeeee.

Just giving you a hard time Benny Hill. I realize its pretty much the exact same car, just different badging.

Edited July 11, 2011 by Arne
quote tag repair

[Z train]

An X1/9 is the cover story on the latest issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. They may be less prone to pre-judge than others. Worth a look.

They may be less prone to pre-judge than others.

Just giving you a hard time Benny Hill. I realize its pretty much the exact same car, just different badging.

Oh,i know that.That's why i responded with the Steve Martin line from the same era.IF you get the car,please let us know when you think you are ready for the nut-house.

Edited July 11, 2011 by Arne
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[Arne]

You might have a point.After all,magazine editors(30 years later)should know more than someone who was there when these cars were new-right?

Don't forget, I was there when they were new as well. Your single experience does not a statistical universe make. As with many cars, I suspect a whole lot of reliability is how they were taken care of.

[Bruce Palmer]

Two majot frailties with FIATS....

1. They used a lot of Russian steel and you can almost hear them rusting...

2. They tend to go waaaaay overboard on the use of relays. Had a 124 Sport Coupe that I swear had relays for the relayed relays and never leave home without a spare fuel pump relay or two.

Just my experience..

Would rather drive a British car with two moving parts than an Italian car with 127......

[SportBikeMike]

Two majot frailties with FIATS....

1. They used a lot of Russian steel and you can almost hear them rusting...

2. They tend to go waaaaay overboard on the use of relays. Had a 124 Sport Coupe that I swear had relays for the relayed relays and never leave home without a spare fuel pump relay or two.

Just my experience..

Would rather drive a British car with two moving parts than an Italian car with 127......

Come to think of it there is an MGB for sale here on a used car lot. You don't know how rare it is to have to vintage sports cars for sale at the same time here....

I agree about the relays and Italian electronics. Been down that road with my bikes.

[SportBikeMike]

Don't forget, I was there when they were new as well. Your single experience does not a statistical universe make. As with many cars, I suspect a whole lot of reliability is how they were taken care of.

Exactly! Thats the conclusion I've reached from my research on these cars. Sure they're piles of crap.....if not maintained. Just like every other car.

[Jeff G 78]

I have always liked them, but have heard they are dog slow and a nightmare to keep running. That said, I'd LOVE to have this car.

http://www.kilometermagazine.com/artman2/publish/feature_article/Lancia_Stratos_LeMons_Launcha_Splatos.html

It raced at GingerMan in LeMons and was fantastic to see on the track.

Edited July 12, 2011 by Jeff G 78

[SportBikeMike]

I have always liked them, but have heard they are dog slow and a nightmare to keep running. That said, I'd LOVE to have this car.

http://www.kilometermagazine.com/artman2/publish/feature_article/Lancia_Stratos_LeMons_Launcha_Splatos.html

It raced at GingerMan in LeMons and was fantastic to see on the track.

I would love a Stratos!

The X1/9 engine is surprisingly lively for only being rated at 75 hp. Maybe its the high revving nature and the sporty sound that give you the impression you're going faster than you are. 0-60 times I've seen are usually in the 10-12 second range, so rockets they're not......but fun nonetheless.

[moonpup]

Exactly! Thats the conclusion I've reached from my research on these cars. Sure they're piles of crap.....if not maintained. Just like every other car.

That's so true, just look at all the well maintained Yugo's that you see still running about!

[JohnnyO]

I've owned 2 124's and my bro had an X1/9. Extremely fun to drive and never had a problem with any of them that I couldn't fix. Just like a Z, you need to know how to keep them running (or know a good mechanic). I look at it this way: The Z is to Japanese sports cars as the MG is to the British sports cars as the Fiat is to Italian sports cars. They were all an inexpensive way to get into a specific class of sports car.

I actually searched CL for fiats in my area last night. Extremely hard to find "solid" Fiats in my part of the country but I will keep looking.

[alternativez]

Fabrica Ignonima Automobi Torino, I think. Had one as a cast-off from my father-in-law who had a penchant for buying interesting but worn out stuff just for the enjoyment, "If you can get that thing running, you can have it." It had been wrecked and poorly repaired, but indeed, I had a ball with it. First, I got over my fear of tearing into the transmission to replace some synchros, then fatter little tires, lots of loving the effort it took to keep it running just to scoot around corners, and it became my daily driver for a couple of years, until I just got tired of the electronics gremlins, as some have pointed out. NOT so good at night or in a downpour; worst in a downpour at night, with poor pot-up headlights, and a very light front. My wife and I even took a couple of very memorable day-long road trips, and the targa top was a plus, since the AC never did work. Would I own another? Yes! Definitely. Cheap fun really, especially if you like an "intimate" interior. It would make a great base for an EV. Lots of empty spaces for batteries in such a small car. You might search some engine swaps. Some very interesting things have been stuffed into them.