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Multipla The Toad.

Introduction

So after owning all sorts of stuff from Buicks to Polos I've finally lost the plot and purchased a "bug eye" Multipla. It's a 110 JTD ELX with only 35k miles but it's a bit (err very) rough around the edges. The colour is horrid, actually I've always hated all Multiplas so it was an interesting choice. Anyway I presume you're not after my life story.

For me this is a second car so it's not about performance (obviously), it's about comfort and practicality. We'll see how long that lasts. I am very tempted to slam it, which wouldn't be comfy or practical at all. But it would look sooo right. I think it will eventually end up on airbags, I dont think I could ever go back to creeping over speedbumps after the amount of fun I've had this week.

Anyway, I've not done much to it yet and I've not got much money so it's a work in progress.

Here is a chop I did of the for sale pic to whet your appetite:

before
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after
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So sadly the missus has peed on the bonfire and insists she would rather go for black and not grey. So we've not even started yet and the plans are already out of the window!

Day 1:

Love this car already. Double electric sunroof, really comfy, good on fuel, should have done this ages ago.

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Added some stickers and copious amounts of airfresheners (some kid has puked in the back), also added some handcuffs hanging from the rear bumper and hammered the hell out of some of the dents.

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Aww yeah, stickers. Now I'm cool.

Day 2:

Front splitter from a mk3 Golf VR6

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Which after a bit of cheeky 5-up speedbump action at high speeds lasted around 3 days... :D

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Must say I like it much more now that it's broken, much more character.

Then after about 5 days some more parts started showing up

Bosch flatblade wipers (yaaay I can seeeee)

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K&N filter (again only because the old one was cack)

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Floor mats (already sporting a chunk of poo)

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PAINT

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Rollers, foam brushes and thinners

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and whats this?

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O HAI

Think that's it for now, more to come.

Thanks, much obliged (y)

First time I have seen this thread and I am honestly lost for words, not sure if I love it or hate it.
Extremely marmite but im swaying towards liking it
Is it wrong to be ashamed of saying that? I hope not.
After reading back at the reason you purchased the car, you said you wanted a comfortable ride and practicality, with bags I highly doubt you'll get that.
I would love to see you pull off having bags, although the coupe wheels will need addressing with the lack of poke.
I will enjoy seeing the updates, keep up the work
(y)

Airbags have come a long way in the last 5 years or so. I have ridden in some comfy cars on air. They are definitely more practical than a static drop!

I think the coupe alloys would tuck quite nicely although if I had the money for bags I would end up going for some 9 and 10 J wellers with extended arches.

Anyway, I'm all talk - I can't actually afford it! I'm happy with it as it is for now. At least I'm ready for winter and then maybe next year once I'm comfortable paying the mortgage I can splash out.

Thanks for the comments, and you're not alone in being unsure about it :D Although in the flesh it's all been positive feedback there has been a bit of banter on facebook etc - especially when you look at my car history, a lot of my mates think I've lost the plot! :D
 
WARNING: This post contains images unsuitable for Fiat purists.

So I was a little worried the Fiat badge was going to make the Toad unreliable. I dug out an old VW emblem and gave it a coat of paint (not just any paint - high temp paint of course), then a coat of lacquer.

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Slap it on the front and hey presto - one reliable Fiat ;)

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You should see some of the confused looks I've been getting, love it (although that may not be to do with the badge)!

Anyway in other news some shonky old bug-infested boxes of damp car parts appeared in my boot the other day.

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oooh whats inside

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Okay, I'll come clean - a friend of mine had some old suspension components lying around in his shed. Looks like some KYB gas shocks and some Abarth springs. They're pretty manky though...

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Not sure whether to put these on to be honest. As you will have noticed through the first few pages of this thread this is supposed to be a practical daily which the missus says is absolutely under no circumstances to be lowered. Also my buddy says I can expect about 50-60 mm drop from those struts and springs! He only had the front ones but to be honest I think this will look immense with some nose down rake! I imagine it'll still handle okay with only the front ones on, but I'm a bit worried I may get some serious understeer and possibly some brown pants under braking. no matter, i drive this thing like a granny anyway, it's supposed to be economical after all, at least I'll have the look I'm after and it only cost me £30

So apparently it only takes about two hours to get the front springs and shocks changed on one of these :rolleyes: I'll be the judge of that.

Have a posing shot from behind - ooo er

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I dunno if your car would benefit being lowered, looks good as a military style 4x4. Them wheels are perfect for it. I've always guiltily liked the multipla but you have made it into something that I don't have to be embarrassed to like. That snap from behind is excellent :slayer: Do u have any future plans for the interior?
 
Thumbs down for the badge... That's Kitsch!

Wow that's constructive. Thanks for your input.

I could spend days posting in other peoples build threads on this forum telling them how gash their car looks but do you see me doing that? No.

If you don't like something you should offer an alternative or tell them what and how you would change it, otherwise you're not helping, you're just being a bellend.

And this thread was going so well, I suppose it was only a matter of time :rolleyes:
 
okay point taken, maybe I overreacted.

I have a Fiat badge already, it came off the front of the car and it's blue and silver. Just like nothing else on the car. Anyway I knew it wouldn't be a popular decision but I think it looks more classy because it's black, I definitely wouldn't say it's kitsch. It's better than the gap that was there before and it's staying ;)
 
Do u have any future plans for the interior?

I've put an Alpine CD/MP3 player in and I've just got the proper colour coded plastic fascia put on there so it looks lots better. I have an amp and a 12" sub that'll be going in soon too. As for the rest of the interior, I really want to change the colour. It's blue so it doesn't really match the rest of the car. I was looking at that black spray dye but I've heard it makes the fabric all hard and doesn't look great. Ideally I'd like to retrim it all in black leather, but that is if I win the lottery. It'll probably stay as it is for a while until I come up with an affordable action plan.
 
I thought you lost it...
Well, you could paint the fiat badge in green+white/green+black/black+green/all black, but it's your car, your money, your decision :)
So, at the end the car will look like the photoshoped one?
 
Well, you could paint the fiat badge in green+white/green+black/black+green/all black, but it's your car, your money, your decision :)
So, at the end the car will look like the photoshoped one?

My money? Like a lot of the parts on the car the badge was a bit of a joke and was free, in fact the whole car is a joke really.
I couldn't easily paint the Fiat badge because it has a clear plastic dome over it. This is all immaterial though because I prefer the VW one.
Anyway, its such a minor part of the car, I'm more concerned with the more important elements. I will probably change a lot of the details on the car as the years go by. Actually I think the stickers look a bit naff myself. As for the photoshop, that was just something i did when i bought it for inspiration. I don't know what the car will look like when it's done. I know it won't be grey and it wont have those wheels on it so i guess the answer is no.
 
i actually like the badge! you're not denying it's a fiat because everyone knows it is, but it's a bit of sartorial elegance. and if it ever does break down, it'll knock vw's image and not fiats. if we all wear vw badges, maybe we can ruin their image and fiat will become the more reliable trusted brand! (that'll be the day)
 
One of those boot top polish ebay spoilers and a couple of extra long arials that mount on the top back edge of the car but bend over to the front edge of the windscreen jobbies , just painted the plastics on my interior heater controls because the rubbery paint on them scatches easy and looks ****e , want to change the colour of my seats too.
When i bought mine i think it had been used as a kennel and stunk of dog, took the seat covers off the rear seats and put them in the macjine and came up a treat , now thinking i could do it again but use dye in the machine :) keep up the good work ,
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, there are one or two things coming but you'll have to wait and see. If I'm completely honest I don't like the idea of tint spray. It's kind of been done and has a bit of a stigma. A Flyeye kit would be better, but I'll only do that if i find money to burn and this is on quite a strict budget. The antennae idea from JTDman is already in action. I have an old cb aerial mount lying around - I just need the antennae so I'm on the lookout for a cheap one of those.

First things first though, my horn doesnt work, never has. The fuse was blown so I replaced it. Still didn't work. Checked out the contacts under the bonnet and it wasn't even plugged in! So I plugged it in. Still doesn't work.

The solution:

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That should get the message across... :devil:

In other news the suspension is on hold right now because I am having second thoughts...
 
First things first though, my horn doesnt work, never has. The fuse was blown so I replaced it. Still didn't work. Checked out the contacts under the bonnet and it wasn't even plugged in! So I plugged it in. Still doesn't work.

Mine was the same. In case it's of any use to you, the relay is directly under the fuse tray - that was the problem with mine. Something has leaked on to it by the looks of it.

I was disappointed by how pathetic the standard horn sounds though - your replacement looks less so!
 
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