Just noticed this old thread but it has new meaning for me as Mrs. Beard's 156 has been put into semi-retirement and been replaced by a four year old Giulietta MA with only 23,000 miles on the clock, so it feels like it's just run-in.
With 170 bhp and a turbo, the Giuli feels a lot faster than the 156 if you get your toe in and it hangs on really well through the bends as well. But, it does feel less "organic" than the older car if that makes sense. There's something about the handling that lets you know other forces are at work rather than just inertia, momentum and the natural compliance of rubber.
I'm sure the MA is way more capable and able to cover the ground going cross country faster than the 156, but somehow I think I prefer the older car. At least I will once it's had a few bushes and a pair of suspension arms replaced. Oh, and some of the clag blasted off the bottom and it's been re-sealed.
And er, its windscreen has been replaced.
And a bit of bodywork has been cleaned up.
And some of the interior trim bits and pieces have been replaced and re-fitted
And...........
Thinking about the earlier sections of this thread though, in the '70s and '80s there were a number of cars which you could buy from your local dealer that had the basis of a performance or competition car but none of the luxury bits and pieces, such as the Escort Mexico, Sunbeam Ti and later on there was a Peugeot Rallye which, if my memory serves me correctly was a 106. These came about with the philosophy of it being a bit daft to buy a luxury performance car only to throw most of the kit out in the name of lightness. Some of them also came with the basic flat seats of the cheapest model as you were going to fit rally specific items anyway.
Beard ! Where've you been man?
What you have just said, minus the performance (obviously!) is what attracted me to rusty old Panda ownership. Simplicity, no expensive luxuries, and whatever performance you can squeeze out of it will be reqwarded because it is so light!
I have got rid of my gorgeous old BMW e38 today, so I have mixed feelings, but I could not justify spending a load of money to get it through an mot and then not use it. So all my energies are now going in to the Panda.
Plus fixing the Punto of course.
Plus painting the front of the house
Plus cutting the hedges
Plus decorati.....you get the idea.