Surprisingly perhaps, I have decided to back out of this project and sell the car before making serious modifications to it. This is the first time I have not completed a project like this before.

I was just getting to the point were I have all the parts I need to do the conversion and I have had a crisis of confidence at the last minute. The reason is basically financial, but also about the car and what my needs are. Basically I've realised the car costs too much money to have as a frivolous project that ultimately won't deliver the thrills or the interest I want.

The 100HP is a lot more expensive to keep than either the Uno or Classic Panda. Insurance is £700 with potential to go up on renewal this year by all accounts and tax is £165. Insurance on the Classic Panda and Uno is £150 total and £130 each for tax. The loan I took to get the 100HP also costs money.

Having driven the Uno project car I realise how quick that is and has potential to be; far quicker than this project. Recently I have been choosing to take the old Panda on everyday duty as it is so much more fun than the 100HP, a LOT quicker and more fuel efficient too. Yes the 100HP is more refined, has A/C and is more respectable I suppose, but it is boring and just isn't me I think. Perhaps that would improve with 180BHP, but I'm not sure it will enough to justify the price.

It is regrettable that I spent so much time researching and getting parts, but they are worth money I'm sure. I did learn a lot about the engines and gearboxes though. Knowledge that I have used for the Uno and will probably use for future projects.

I have lots of A500 parts for sale as a result of this decision including FULL 3000 mile or less front and rear suspension setup that will bolt on any Panda or 500.

That's sad to hear, as i still don't see this as one of those projects that seem outrageous and never happen. With all the research and knowledge you have gained, why not make this a longer project?

I can understand though, what you want will never match the uno. If you went ahead it would have to be a car for life.

Nathan126 said:

That's sad to hear, as i still don't see this as one of those projects that seem outrageous and never happen. With all the research and knowledge you have gained, why not make this a longer project?

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It's not the project itself that is the issue. I could probably do the complete suspension and brake swap in a long weekend. It is an easier decision to carry on and finish it off and I could afford to. I was just aware that the moment I start doing the suspension or gearbox swap, the car is lowered in value. It was the point of no return in terms of the right decision for me and I was not excited enough about doing it.

This is a genuinely hard decision to make as I still think the car would be very good and I see benefits with or without the project. Perhaps someone on here should buy it and all the bits and knowledge off me!

I will probably get another project in its place. I have a lot of gearboxes and turbo engines hanging around, so I've got to put them in something! It will be something old and cheap though.

With everything you have bought, could it not fit an older 1.2? Then engine upgrade/replacement? Say an 04 Plate car? And save on depreciation? As you're making the car your spec anyway! Buy an older eleganza or dynamic with similar spec regards to air con etc

Nathan126 said:

With everything you have bought, could it not fit an older 1.2? Then engine upgrade/replacement? Say an 04 Plate car? And save on depreciation? As you're making the car your spec anyway! Buy an older eleganza or dynamic with similar spec regards to air con etc

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but then it's got skinny arches..............

Yeah you're very much right there.. plus arch extensions can either go okay or very bad

Personally I'm not too sad to see this one not go the distance. There's a very predictable result at the end and that's an Abarth 500 which looks like a Panda. If someone wants one that's fine, but it's not interesting if you get my drift

Ideal solution would to buy the white track 100HP in the classifieds and do to that what Lewey had planned :devil:

Nathan126 said:

Ideal solution would to buy the white track 100HP in the classifieds and do to that what Lewey had planned :devil:

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The thought had occured to me!

Nathan126 said:

With everything you have bought, could it not fit an older 1.2? Then engine upgrade/replacement? Say an 04 Plate car? And save on depreciation? As you're making the car your spec anyway! Buy an older eleganza or dynamic with similar spec regards to air con etc

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A nice Eleganza doesn't cost a lot less than my 100HP. It's not just the depreciation, its the on-going cost regarding insurance and tax. Insurance might be higher with a lower HP car as a base the relative increase in power would be 200%. The decision to stop is a combination of factors anyway as discussed.

306maxi said:

The thought had occured to me!

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You can probably imagine I have costed it out. Basically I would have gone for it if I hadn't done the Uno. I don't need two track cars.

lewey said:

You can probably imagine I have costed it out. Basically I would have gone for it if I hadn't done the Uno. I don't need two track cars.

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Yeah

306maxi said:

Personally I'm not too sad to see this one not go the distance. There's a very predictable result at the end and that's an Abarth 500 which looks like a Panda. If someone wants one that's fine, but it's not interesting if you get my drift

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Yeah, that is basically what I wanted. A nice car, faster than an A500 with the 100HP looks which I much prefer to the 500, all at a much lower price than a second-hand Abarth.

lewey said:

Yeah, that is basically what I wanted. A nice car, faster than an A500 with the 100HP looks which I much prefer to the 500, all at a much lower price than a second-hand Abarth.

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I can certainly see why you embarked on the project

If I didn't want to get the wifes Legacy fixed up it's the sort of thing I'd have considered

Respect Lewey.

You've put a hell of a lot into this, but I do wonder if there are not better cars to do these kind of mods to. I really don't think the 100hp chassis is upto handling a lot more power as it has it's limitations.

Also as you say, you already have something that is essentially similar. If you already have a track, no need for another unless you do a project to eventually sell your other track car.

I also think with your skills you'd probably enjoy tackling something older and then you have more options for RWD if you like a bit of track action.

Yes, the new project will be older and I am looking at both FWD and RWD FIATs that I can put a turbo fire in for a bit of fun and nothing more at the moment. 125p is possible for some ludicrous drift action as they are available occasionally on eBay from Polish folk who drive them here. Needs to be silly and cheap I think.

I think that's exactly what you need Lewey, something a bit daft. Would suit you well.

But, if you've got the facilities then a project can be a lot of fun. I've done 4 previous projects (Firenza 2.3, MK1 MR2s times 3) and am now on the AE86 project (it's in the bodyshop as we speak). I think as you've had a lot of FWD cars, try RWD. An old 131 (what else Fiat wise was RWD?), would be uber cool. Not sure if they expensive or not though.

Obviously if you get RWD you have to have an LSD. Then track/drift it. Drift days are cheaper though factor in at least a set of rear tyres.

For 125bhp to be driftable you need a car that weighs under a ton I reckon. I've got (I reckon) somewhere near 140bhp with a 2 way LSD and you can really drift it, wet or dry. My car weighs 970kg. It's harder to drift a relatively low powered car, but it's very satisfying when you get it right.

Maybe have a look on Driftworks for a bit of inspiration:

http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-car-projects-builds/

I did have a quick search for Fiats but didn't find anything. Most cheaply available RWD cars have been built up as drift cars, so there may be one somewhere or be the first!

trackdayqueen said:

I think that's exactly what you need Lewey, something a bit daft. Would suit you well.

But, if you've got the facilities then a project can be a lot of fun. I've done 4 previous projects (Firenza 2.3, MK1 MR2s times 3) and am now on the AE86 project (it's in the bodyshop as we speak). I think as you've had a lot of FWD cars, try RWD. An old 131 (what else Fiat wise was RWD?), would be uber cool. Not sure if they expensive or not though.

Obviously if you get RWD you have to have an LSD. Then track/drift it. Drift days are cheaper though factor in at least a set of rear tyres.

For 125bhp to be driftable you need a car that weighs under a ton I reckon. I've got (I reckon) somewhere near 140bhp with a 2 way LSD and you can really drift it, wet or dry. My car weighs 970kg. It's harder to drift a relatively low powered car, but it's very satisfying when you get it right.

Maybe have a look on Driftworks for a bit of inspiration:

http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-car-projects-builds/

I did have a quick search for Fiats but didn't find anything. Most cheaply available RWD cars have been built up as drift cars, so there may be one somewhere or be the first!

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Thanks for the inspiration. When I said 125p, I meant the 125 (FSO) model which was the generation before the 131 and also RWD. They made them in Poland until recently, so some exist without terminal rust. There is one on eBay now for £300. Risky, but a laugh at the price. 125s and 131s weigh just under 1 tonne standard, probably less with a FIRE engine and I will effectively have the engine I have in the Uno, so 180BHP and 180lb/ft torque. Sounds doable. LSD will have to be custom job.

I have had RWD before. I owned a Westfield sprint car with 240BHP, so in terms of low speed acceleration, that won't be surpassed until I can afford a hot Atom or something. It was just so fast that it promoted good driving, with sideways nonsense resembling something of a deathwish. Idea of a lazy, probably poor handling drift bucket appeals. Nearest thing will be my first car 7 years ago, a 1969 ex-army Landy that drifted at 20MPH on mud tyres. Happy days.

You should get a 131, strangely though, people seem to think they're worth a lot even though very few people actually like them.

LOL! My knowledge of Polish cars really needs brushing up on! So you've got some good RWD experience then.

It sure is a pretty thing:


Well, that'd be mental, is it the same as the Lada Riva?


If so, then Lada drift build thread:
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-car-projects-builds/79429-lada-driftcar-racecar.html

Found this vid of a pair of Rivas' drifting:

[ame="http://www.streetfire.net/video/Drift-practice-Lada-2107_200294.htm"]http://www.streetfire.net/video/Drift-practice-Lada-2107_200294.htm[/ame]