dollywobbler Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Let's get up to date! Having collected the car of my youth, I met up with a friend of my youth (still friends today) and she insisted we went on a pedalo shaped like a swan. She always was a bit odd. Probably why we get on so well. Thankfully, she also gets on really well with Mrs DW. Then I went back to my old house and managed to park right outside! Then we found a rusty KA to park next to. Then we went to sleep. I awoke and drove to Milton Keynes. I met kei cars. Yes, I spent TWO HOURS polishing the Matiz before that shot was taken. I still haven't done the roof. I know polishing cars at a show isn't the done thing, but I was so ashamed by how filthy it was that I felt it needed some love. Happily, people did come up to reminisce about them! Then I drove home. Three hours later, I was still not home. However, it isn't the Rover, so at least it didn't need fuel. About 40 minutes after that. Reunited after 17 years! Let's recap. While the car was at my pal Chris's workshop, he fitted a new CV joint (it turns out both are knackered, so one still needs doing) and a complete exhaust system including cat. On Saturday, we fitted a new coolant hose, lobbed some coolant in and I went for a test drive. I then went off to fit a new battery. Result? All seems pretty ok. One wheel bearing is noisy (I'd forgotten about that!), there's an occasional smell of oil burning on exhaust (which I thought was just oily fingerprints at first, but it still does it) and the rear mirror is still on the floor. To drive, it's quite good fun. It sounds hilarious and grips better than you'd think. The steering is super-direct PAS, and I found I kept over steering (not over-steering) at times. It responds like the bloody Invacar. That makes it a bit unsettled at motorway speeds, but it'll sit at an indicated 70 very comfortably, and faster noisily. The new exhaust has a horrible resonance at 55, so I tried not to do that. The brakes are shite, but new discs have been recommended as the old'uns are quite rusty (it wasn't clocking up many miles). It badly needs a service too. I'm convinced it isn't pulling as cleanly as it should. I've also remembered that one reason I replaced it is that the seats are comfortable, but only for 1.5hrs. 3hrs is quite painful. The ride is pretty atrocious, much like the Nippa (and other oriental cars I've driven. I don't think they have such shit roads). On the plus side, the quarter lights mean you can open the window on a motorway without blowing your own head off, the heater is very good and it looks like a cute purple frog. £100 well spent I think. MorrisItalSLX, HMC, Nyphur and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks for sharing. I love a car with a story, and the fact this one is still around despite the odds, makes it even more worthy. I hope you're keeping it. mat_the_cat, michael t, Schaefft and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks. It's a tricky one, as while I'm chuffed to bits to have it again, I don't really need yet another car. It's one of those 'wish I had a barn' cars. Dick Longbridge and mrbenn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks. It's a tricky one, as while I'm chuffed to bits to have it again, I don't really need yet another car. It's one of those 'wish I had a barn' cars.I know that feeling! Problem with selling it is values are so low, it'd need an enthusiast owner to guarantee survival. Difficult. Schaefft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Yup. It's done amazingly well to just about avoid being driven into the ground. It deserves retirement. Instead, I'm possibly taking it to The Netherlands... mat_the_cat, mrbenn, coalnotdole and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schaefft Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks. It's a tricky one, as while I'm chuffed to bits to have it again, I don't really need yet another car. It's one of those 'wish I had a barn' cars. I know that feeling! Problem with selling it is values are so low, it'd need an enthusiast owner to guarantee survival. Difficult. These are the same problems I face myself. Cars with lots of emotional attachment, but lack of space to keep them dry. I'll try my best to solve this problem with the new house, but itll easily take another year before that task is completed. Selling them is no real alternative either, as money wise their values are significantly lower than the emotional one. Dick Longbridge 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 you need to do some hub-nut performance testing then do the "free matiz power upgrade" and repeat the testing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrcento Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 Whilst i'm not a Matiz fan, i can see the appeal of them. Agree the pre facelift is better looking from every angle, but there is one thing i do like about the facelifted one.... this colour being introduced I'd call it electro-bogey green. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201704154455928?make=DAEWOO&radius=1500&sort=sponsored&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=dd36qu&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&model=MATIZ&page=3 michael t and Shep Shepherd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 Give that green Matiz yellow headlamps and paint the front bumper insert red and you've got a frog welly on wheels. Semi-C, Shep Shepherd, Pillock and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Now available in high definition, everywhere. catsinthewelder, theshadow, JohnK and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Oh no. Why did I have to find this?! 79bhp, up from 42! MorrisItalSLX, Six-cylinder, jumpingjehovahs and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 I'm going to go out on a limb and stand up for the later 4 cylinder Matiz. I used to rent them from Enterprise and any car that matched the seat trim to the instrument binnacle deserves a thumbs up. Lacquer Peel, alcyonecorporation, dollywobbler and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greengartside Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 I hired this little beaut out from my local garage whilst mine was having work done in 2013. Absolute hoot to drive, the engine noise was such a delight to hear. Sadly I think it was very worn out as you’d get a huge cloud of blue smoke when it was revved and it drunk fuel like Gazza on a year-round bender. The garage filled it full of scrap and weighed it in not long afterwards. Did all the sad faces when I heard about its demise. RIP WARRIUR U WIL B MISD. oldcars, michael t, mrbenn and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 Aw! Anyway, more Matiz news. mrbenn, Keymaster, Dick Longbridge and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbenn Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 SERIOUS nostalgia trip for me on this topic. Looks a lovely car DW, pleased you've got it back and I enjoyed the videos. Permit me a couple of pics of mine, if you would. I miss this little car so much. Had it 10 years, but it had to go through an unfortunate set of personal circumstances. I was genuinely gutted and would have it back in a heartbeat. One pic is after a (one of many) wash, another is on a trip to Anglesey, and one is in the car park of a hotel after I saw another Matiz had parked nearby. Still remember picking it up from Fords of Winsford at 2.5 years old. I loved everything about it - from the shape of the wing mirrors to the colours used on the instrument cluster and not forgetting the sound of that wonderful 3 cylinder engine. vulgalour, dollywobbler, oldcars and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 i cannot believe you spent most of Saturday within 0.5 - 5 miles of me! have a bonus pic of a tizzy michael t 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 Clocked up many Welsh miles in a windswept Volkswagen Crafter today, while the world's busiest garage changed a rear wheel bearing on the Matiz. Fifty quid well spent I reckon. I especially liked the 'your discs are f*cked mate,' which is a less polite version of what my mate Chris said when he saw them. Service history records that a new pair were fitted two years ago. Mind you, a new cat was fitted at the same time, and that turned out to be f*cked too. The garage lads gave me such evils when I asked if they could change it today (they weren't having a good one. Several Peugeots may have been involved) that this is a close as I dared get for a photo. DVee8, mrbenn, oldcars and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 310 miles covered on just over 24 litres of fuel = 51mpg! Happy with that. So, similar range to the Rover, but much cheaper to fill up. Must be 350 miles since collection on Saturday, and I'm off to Yorkshire this weekend coming, then The Netherlands next week... Six-cylinder, DVee8, mrbenn and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbenn Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 ^^^ a view I remember well! Even the airbag light appeared on mine at the end of my ownership, no idea why. Mine was such an early model that it didn't have the "door open" tell tale on the dashboard. Funny what you remember.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinkwheel Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 , and one is in the car park of a hotel after I saw another Matiz had parked nearby. OK, so yes, another matiz nearby is a reason for a pic, but look at the rest of the AS fodder on show in this picture. its awesome. mrbenn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael t Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Matiz's are lovely little things, still see the odd one knocking about here in Ireland. Daewoo's as a whole don't seem to have been a particularly popular car here sadly. Good luck with this one Dollywobbler. Enjoyed the collection caper videos immensely! Some very appealing shite in that car park picture, any idea when that piccy was taken? @Mrbenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 I'm driving to North Yorkshire tomorrow. I was rather hoping that service goodies would arrive today, but no sign yet. Wonder what the chances are of finding an oil filter in town? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Amazing that this car is a survivor, that you found it and were able to buy it. One question that doesn't seem to have been addressed... Why on earth did you buy a brand new Matiz in the first place? Stinkwheel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 Amazing that this car is a survivor, that you found it and were able to buy it. One question that doesn't seem to have been addressed... Why on earth did you buy a brand new Matiz in the first place? I was young, foolish and the monthly payments seemed affordable. This is the only brand new car I've ever bought. I utterly fell in love with the looks and the engine noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinkwheel Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I was young, foolish and the monthly payments seemed affordable. This is the only brand new car I've ever bought. I utterly fell in love with the looks and the engine noise. Although am I right in saying I remember you confessing some years ago that it wasn't actually a very good car? if so its perfect AS subject matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Also, has it changed much in 89k miles and 19 years? Or is it that the car is exactly the same, but you've changed? Seems very odd indeed that there's less years between your Reliant Fox and this Matiz than between the Matiz and now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 Although am I right in saying I remember you confessing some years ago that it wasn't actually a very good car? if so its perfect AS subject matter. Oh no. It's not great at all, but I forgive it anything for those cute, froggy looks. Over some terrain here, it's positively terrifying. Also, has it changed much in 89k miles and 19 years? Or is it that the car is exactly the same, but you've changed? Seems very odd indeed that there's less years between your Reliant Fox and this Matiz than between the Matiz and now. Hard to compare with a 17-year gap, but everything about it feels familiar. It still feels pretty tight too, though the gearchange is as clunky as I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinkwheel Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Oh no. It's not great at all, but I forgive it anything for those cute, froggy looks. Over some terrain here, it's positively terrifying. Hard to compare with a 17-year gap, but everything about it feels familiar. It still feels pretty tight too, though the gearchange is as clunky as I remember. Ah yes, I understand all to well the rose tinted specs view of a vehicle that we like but we know has its faults. I think this is what actually defines a lot of AS type cars. Flawed but loveable. dollywobbler and LightBulbFun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 Topped up the oil, seeing as I've not got any service items, and changed the sidelight bulbs. I know why no other sod had bothered replacing them - PAIN IN THE ARSE! Or the hand more to the point. Very tight in the engine bay, but at least I didn't have to remove body parts (me or the car). egg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandamonium Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I've been offered a yellow Matiz - for free... It's only just out of MOT, so shouldn't be too bad. LightBulbFun, mrbenn, oldcars and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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