Rob's SED Now V6 Exclusive

[russ92xmsed]

The look of the current focus hatchback, yeah. Horrid. The facelift due soon looks soooooo much nicer.

[ragger]

Always nice, a new MOT!

Everything comes at a cost!

But it is reassuring. Also put two new tyres on it today and filled the tank ready to head to Stroud tomorrow, the bank account is hiding in a corner somewhere, crying softly to itself. Having said, that I am looking forward to the trip. I love the look of the car, the ride and comfort, and the economy. I would like a bit more "poke" (Oooerr missus, wouldn't we all) and a sound that was less "early diesel turbo". On the move though that disappears, so perhaps I am just too picky.

[Dieselman]

New engine mounts may reduce the noise, but auto's are always worse than manuals due to the additional engine load.

[ragger]

Excellent drive back fron the Cotswolds today. Nearly 600 miles done over the week end and still with a third of a tank of fuel to use.

It was nice to find the ZX still in one piece and keen to start and drive while I was down at Mum's. I took it for a couple of runs out and I do rather like it. For a 1.4 very base model it is both willing and pretty comfortable. I think I prefer the driving experience to that provided by the Clio that is a much much better car in terms of mileage and condition and equipment. Suspect that when the Clio has a new MOT within the next week or two it might make an appearance in the classifieds and the ZX coming home for a bit of remedial care and love.

[Dieselman]

ZX have the same underpinnings as a Peugeot 306, so are very competent.

[CitroJim]

ZX have the same underpinnings as a Peugeot 306, so are very competent.

They are. Whilst I've not driven a ZX I have driven a few 306s and indeed they feel just like a slightly grown-up Pug 205 and that was a most competent car indeed. The 306 lost none of the essential qualities that made the 205 such a fantastic little car.

Sadly it was all downhill from there on. The 206 and 307 was a disappointment and the 207 even more so. I speak from knowing both well due to daughters having or had them. The 206 and 207 are good cars in themselves but against the 205 and 306 they're very sadly lacking.

[ragger]

The Clio picked up a new MOT certificate yesterday with the only expense being two new tyres for the rear to give it a matching set.

I suppose the next thing up will be sorting the stiff gear change on the boss's Multipla and the possible addition of a remap to make it the car I know it can be (our previous one was very rapid).

The Fiat Multipla gets a lot of stick from a lot of people but for a family of six (now all adults) there is no better compromise; even though we seldom carry six up these days the load capacity makes it very difficult to do without and we have owned one for all of the last 14 years (except for a period of about four months when conjugal rights were withdrawn...). One thing I will say is that the original design - the "Ugly Bug" is not just better to look at but it is all round a better car; not one of the improvements made to the face-lift model which we now own, after two originals, is an improvement.

One other observation about the Multipla, is the fact that while I really don't find the driver's seat comfortable (the others which appear identical are fine) the driving position is excellent. I am aware that the XM makes me lazy but on the Fiat the hands really do fall naturally onto the wheel at ten to two. Another thing I like about it is the visibility from the driver's seat, it really is excellent all round. Given the amount of glass, however, it is a shame that even perfectly working air con is rubbish!

[CitroJim]

Great news on the Clio MOT Rob

I always had a hankering for the Multipla when my lot were youngsters. The seating arrangements are excellent and the whole thing is very practical. If nothing else it would have resolved a lot of arguments over who sets up front! I thought about getting a Matra Bagheera for the same reason

I still see an 'ugly bug' Multipla each day and they look even better these days. I always thought in the day they looked rather special and nowadays they look even more so.

[Dieselman]

Fiat have designed a lot of cars that push the boundaries of traditional thinking. If a car looks good after 20 years, the design was right all along.

[Vince]

I agree, ive always liked the styling of the bug eyed multipla evern when it came out...sure it looked awkward in some ways, but thats what i admired about it, someone daring to design something unlike anything else on the market.

One of my drivers used to have one...everyone slated it and i could see it bothered her, so one day i brought in a picture of the original multipla, she loved it, and after educating her that this was the grand-daddy of her car she proceeded to rebuttal the jibes by stating the fact that her car had lineage and was also a continuation of the first MPV ever made!