Tell me about: Small modern three pots

[fairkens]

Was the Warburg a two stroke as well? Same engine as fitted to a Barkas?

[Inspector Morose]

Yup, same one. On song, they sound like a sweet six.

[tooSavvy]

My Swift 3potta was game - carpet crunch 24/7 mode

 

When GM took over the Matiz - I read somewhere - they upped the power of the 3pot. Extreme wandering, in the gear stick mech is an issue...

 

Our favourite 'cliff fall' residual Dacia has 3potT Renner option... the one with no radio - in Ermine??

 

 

TS

[dugong]

 

If we're doing 2 stroke triples, there's only one place it can end.
 

[twosmoke300]

Kawasaki !

[Leyland Lawrence]

Absolutely loved the three cyinder Smart Roadster 80 engine (think the smaller one is more delicate) Needs to be treated with care, warmed up etc but was absolutely brilliant. Great fuel economy, felt fast, did need 6000 mile service intervals and the rear spark plugs were difficult to reach 9two per cylinder) but still a great engine.

 

My Volvo 340 1.7 was about 86hp.

The Smart engine was a 0.7 and produced 80hp

 

Smart Roadster was great. I'd buy another.

[bogeyhead]

I bought a Daihatsu Move with a/c, but no PAS on a R plate about 12 years ago. I kept it for 3 years then sold it on to my mother in law, who passed it on to another family member. It is still in the family running well with no major mechanical repairs.

 

It's a quirky car, but great as a utility vehicle, as it can swallow huge loads for its size. The engines on these are just about unbreakable, but the bodies can rust but not too badly.

 

If you can pick up one of these in good condition and don't mind being mistaken for Postman Pat, you should have a useful and reliable servant for a few years, plus they are really cheap to insure and frugal on fuel.

[Pillock]

The threepot Polo TDI I had was a fucking awful lump. Sounded like it was running on rocks and gobstoppers, no power and came off boost like a crackhead trapped in a well.

 

The 1.0 Corsa was actually quite fun, I reckon if they weren't rev limited they'd go all VTEC style up to a billionty RPM. Most cars complain when you wind them up, that engine just lapped it up.

[lovejoy]

well, hate to say it, but that lil red G11 Charade was my fifth, I think, and so impressed by the reliability of all of 'em,

first one was a shite brown G10  (aka Eddy Ramrod) which actually was a hoot to drive/thrash on 200 mile runs to Cornwall

from Dorset, never missed a beat, and more nicely finished than the G11's, electric release tailgate from dashboard 

knob, for instance !

Had another silver one, no probs, then a green G11 bought in Dorchester for 200 quid, shipped it

4000 miles to the islands, where SWMBO had another 4-speed local version, but the best one, by far, was the facelift

Chinese-eye 1987 G11 in Mafia black for 80 quid, as it had a massive oil leak, which was only the oil sensor switch

in the rear of the block  -  apparently a known fault with G11's  -  take note, mein heir junkman ! 

can't recommend them more highly in the fun to drive stakes, for 993 cc !

[Bamboocarman]

Daihatsu / Toyota / C1 family triple cylinder powered motors and platforms are guaranteed fun; you can rev the nuts off them, are super smooth, they sound wonderful, easy to service, reliable and, yes, they are frugal even when thrashed mercilessly at xx mph from Tyneside to Brighton. Cappuccino triples, the same. Highly recommended; here's some of mine past and present.

 

 

[Bamboocarman]

PS the Smart Roadster was moderate fun , but a 'disconnected' 'numb' experience, with fly by wire remote technology made worse by a characterless triple cylinder engine, producing an annoying anodyne thrum, and exceptionally frustrating gearbox/gearshift. Would have been v good indeed with a supercharged Daihatsu triple amidships and manual box. It was also an expensively unreliable piece of shit, it leaked rain water more than a 2CV (the fundamental cause of reliability problems), which nearly ruined me financially with visits to MB Newcastle on Scotswood Road. Chopped it in for a C1, which was genuinely much more fun (!). Smart Roadster? Best avoided. If you need a roadster, the Mk 3 MR2 is brilliant, and just as cheap to run in real world conditions.

[Bamboocarman]

well, hate to say it, but that lil red G11 Charade was my fifth, I think, and so impressed by the reliability of all of 'em,

first one was a shite brown G10  (aka Eddy Ramrod) which actually was hoot to drive/thrash on 200 mile runs to Cornwall

from Dorset, never missed a beat, and more nicely finished than the G11's, electric release tailgate from dashboard 

knob, f'rinstance!

Had another silver one, no probs, then a green G11 bought in Dorchester for 200 quid, shipped it

4000 miles to the islands, where SWMBO had another 4-speed local version, but the best one, by far, was the facelift

Chinese-eye 1987 G11 in Mafia black for 80 quid, as it had a massive oil leak, which was only the oil sensor switch

in the rear of the block  -  apparently a known fault with G11's  -  take note, mein heir ! 

can't recommend they more highly in the fun to drive stakes, for 993 cc !

Agreed in all respects, F A B motors.

[Junkman]

I'm on my second Dieshitesyou three cylinder. The first one I had in the early Nineties, a late Seventies Cuore.
Both had/have the comical Daimatic and you would lose out in life if you'd never drive one of those.
If they don't do OMGHGF, which they do less frequently, than some high end German ware I had, they are very good to live with.
Generally they are sturdy little beasts with very straightforward engineering.
 
Do not have any illusions regarding petrol consumption and power. They need as much juice as a 1500 bader spec Mitsubishi Colt,
while performance borders ridiculousness. If you want performance from a 1 litre three cylinder, buy a DKW deng, deng, dereng.

 

One thing I want to see however, is how you fold your frame into one of them without something of you hanging out of the window.

You do realise, that you can mount a coat hanger to the front bumper and hang them on your hall stand?

[dugong]

I see you've had a Cappuccino, bamboocarman. I want one of those quite badly. 

[Junkman]

No you don't.

[Jim Bell]

One thing I want to see however, is how you fold your frame into one of them without something of you hanging out of the window.

You do realise, that you can mount a coat hanger to the front bumper and hang them on your hall stand?

It's for the Mrs. Or was. I got outbid on:

 

 

 

 

 

I must get a video of my fat ass in the MGF. Getting out probably looks like a protracted birth of some sort. With terrible complications.

[Noel Tidybeard]

matiz does sound amusing they not immune from OMGHGF

there is a restrictor in the air intake that can be removed for OMGMOARPOWA

 

the rest of the car does have a "built down to a budget" feel

[lovejoy]

I see you've had a Cappuccino, bamboocarman. I want one of those quite badly. 

erm,  £1.15 in Weatherspoons, Camborne.  a must, on your next charade outing to Lan Zend !

 

(or maybe "FREE" in north Cuntree, Red Ruth, whoever she is.... )

[oman5]

I test drove a Dacia sandero with the 900cc 3 pot turbo renault engine. what it would be like to live with long term I don't know, but it certainly pulled well, it felt more like a 1.6 in performance terms. Lack of engine capacity was certainly not an issue. They are also incredibly clean running. road tax is free and 50 mpg-ish.

Owning a Sandero as we do, I keep an eye out online for any recalls/faults cropping up on them. touch wood so far theres been nothing.

Verdict? definite futureshite.

[Split_Pin]

Ive had my 3 banger Corsa for nearly 5 years now. 973cc isn't sufficient to haul the car along and acceleration can be described as a paperwork exercise only. Don't open the doors when its idling either as they will be shaken off.

 

Buy GM oil pressure switch too, otherwise you'll be replacing it after a few months. Also watch for crank sensors and radiator temp sensors.

 

Having said that, change the oil every 5k to keep the chain quiet, coolant every 2 years and you'll have a tough little engine. It's surprisingly quiet on the motorway and shifts along alright. Anyone who says it isn't brilliant on fuel is driving everywhere trying to get some performance out of it. Just let it take its own time.

 

Have a laugh and get a 70 quid Hoffman exhaust from EBay and make fruity noises that pisses your neighbours.

[skattrd]

I test drove a Dacia sandero with the 900cc 3 pot turbo renault engine. what it would be like to live with long term I don't know, but it certainly pulled well, it felt more like a 1.6 in performance terms. Lack of engine capacity was certainly not an issue. They are also incredibly clean running. road tax is free and 50 mpg-ish.

Owning a Sandero as we do, I keep an eye out online for any recalls/faults cropping up on them. touch wood so far theres been nothing.

Verdict? definite futureshite.

 

Aha, this sounds like shite version of the Ford ecoboost some of us like ... I predict these will definitely be in shite (blown turbo) territory before long.

[Bamboocarman]

I see you've had a Cappuccino, bamboocarman. I want one of those quite badly. 

They're FAB, you won't regret it but watch out for rust everywhere.

[dollywobbler]

Rust is probably why I'll never own a Cappo. Rot-free ones are just going to get priced out of reach.

I really do consider those Charades very pretty though Mr Shitpeas. Bonny wee things.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I fancy a cuppachino too,or a turbo Daihatsu Coppen. Even better an Autozam. A Kei car is something I'd like to try while I can still bend my legs.

[chaseracer]

The one found in the Citroen C1 is zippy. My Mrs had one for a couple of years and I enjoyed driving it when I got a chance. it was really nippy but still really good on fuel.

 

Agreed. Had a C1 pez as a courtesy car once. Great fun.

 

The 1.0 one found in Corsa's. Not so much.

Haven't driven one. Don't want to.

 

AVxRSm8 

[Asimo]

Is there / was there a bigger three pot in a car than the tiddlers above?

 

Triumph' Motorcycles 2.4 litre rocket 3 must be the biggest 3 of all, surely?

[Noel Tidybeard]

 

Most inline-three engines fall below 1.2 litres, with a 1,198 cubic centimetres (73.1 cu in) Volkswagen Group unit seen as the largest petrol engine. A 1,779 cubic centimetres (108.6 cu in) diesel engine was produced by VM Motori to the 1984 Alfa Romeo 33 1.8 TD, the largest inline-three produced for automotive use.

[xtriple]

My Missus had a succesion of three pot Matizs and loved them all. I used to love thrashing the nellies off them as well - they sound bloody good when wound up. Performance is adequate but fun. Then she had a 4 cylinder Matiz (Chevvy) and hated it, it departed in very short order at a massive loss!

 

Then she got a Mitsubishi Colt triple and that was and is, a great car, sounds good when wound up and goes all right as well. Totally reliable as well/

 

I had a Triumph Speed Triple (2003) brand new and that had the best sounding engine of ever! Oh, and it went rather well too! I had an underseat exhaust on it from America that was short in silencing but long in performance and it went even better and sounded EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Had a Rocket three as a loan bike for a week or two when my ST was having a new frame (iunder warranty - no stops in the headstocks to stop the head race bearings pulling through!) and while it was a heavy old Hector, it did go well and sounded great, handled well also which syrprised me - they charged me for new footpegs when it went back as the originals were a bit worn!

[Craig the Princess]

 

 Most inline-three engines fall below 1.2 litres, with a 1,198 cubic centimetres (73.1 cu in) Volkswagen Group unit seen as the largest petrol engine. A 1,779 cubic centimetres (108.6 cu in) diesel engine was produced by VM Motori to the 1984 Alfa Romeo 33 1.8 TD, the largest inline-three produced for automotive use.

Were there any other 3 cylinder truck engines other than the Commer TS3?

[Taff]

I have no experience of 3-pots and therefore absolutely nothing of value to add. 

 

So can I go on record as saying they are at least 3 cylinders short of a decent engine and in most cases 5 short.