The Car Zoo Japanese imports

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I was doing about 50k miles a year when I had a 147 (1.6). Only thing it needed was an exhaust manifold heat shield and tyres.
I had a 146ti company car and did well over 100k in it, only issue was a new throttle body when nearly new. But that was 20 years ago...
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
I
I guess the big question for me I have to answer, could I swop my BMW M140i (3 door manual) for one, and still use it as a daily for business, with the required reliability, between 10 to 15K miles a year?
Am I kidding myself?
If I had to use my GTA every day I’d be miserable, poor and with back pain.
Best enjoyed as a weekend thrash…
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
I was doing about 50k miles a year when I had a 147 (1.6). Only thing it needed was an exhaust manifold heat shield and tyres.
Likewise. I had three, all ok except one, the devil car, which had a mind of its own due to a windscreen leak onto the horizontally mounted fuse/relay board under it.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I

If I had to use my GTA every day I’d be miserable, poor and with back pain.
Best enjoyed as a weekend thrash…
:(
Appreciate your honesty.
I've 2 allocated already in the weekend thrash category, no more room or cash for a third in that category unfortunately.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
:(
Appreciate your honesty.
I've 2 allocated already in the weekend thrash category, no more room or cash for a third in that category unfortunately.
It’s also quite thirsty, 22mpg on average.
Cruises fairly well off cam on the motorway, which helps, but it does bring out your inner hooligan.
Got it down to 4mpg at one point. That’s M6 V10 territory.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
It’s also quite thirsty, 22mpg on average.
Cruises fairly well off cam on the motorway, which helps, but it does bring out your inner hooligan.
Got it down to 4mpg at one point. That’s M6 V10 territory.
You aren't selling it to me :(
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
You aren't selling it to me :(
Don’t get me wrong - I love it. For the kind of things I look for in a car - adrenaline, high revs, a challenge, it is fantastic.
There is a humongous upside in that it’s bloody good fun, but as I say it’s best enjoyed as a weekend car these days.
You’re welcome to give mine a try which will sell the driving experience. Justifying another toy is one I’ll leave to you ;)
I really can’t think I’d replace it with - there are nimbler ‘better handling’ cars, and there are six-cylinder hot hatches but they’re a bit boring in comparison.

I think the GTA exists in the same sphere as the Clio V6 and Z4M; big silly naturally aspirated engines in chassis and suspensions that can barely contain them. Fundamentally flawed but utterly captivating, if you’re on their wavelength.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I have a lot of info on this car. I had agreed a price on it then lockdown took over. The guy selling it is a really nice chap and very informative. Going by the videos he sent me the car is an absolute showstopper. I’m still tempted by it.
Your name isn't Martin is it?!
 

sionie1

Member
Messages
1,310
Just watching the video makes me want to buy one. It still looks a beautiful car, dated really well. The 147GTA is one of my ' nearly' cars, as in I nearly bought one on a few occasions, the stars never aligned. Now with the rising prices I don't think I will for the foreseeable either.