Base spec absolute misery

[GrumpiusMaximus]

We have a Focus MK2 1.4 Studio at home.  It’s basic.  It does have electric front windows though as there is nowhere to put a manual winder.  Wing mirrors are black, door handles are black, it’s a three door and has a hard plastic steering wheel.  I don’t even think it was ever advertised.

I’ve never seen another one in that spec.  LX is as low as I usually see and certainly never a three door if I do see one without painted door handles.

[vulgalour]

Sometimes, you get the impression base models were offered more as a threat than because the manufacturer thought anyone would buy one.  If you show just how basic your product can be, most buyers are going to opt for at least the bottom rung of the ladder.  Personally, I find base model cars more appealing than super fancy top trim ones.  There's something far more exotic, in a bizarre sort of a way, to a base model car with a stack of receipts that's been cared for its whole life than a top trim model that's received the same treatment.  If rarity really did equate to value then these base model survivors would be serious investments.  Happily, this isn't the case, so they remain accessible to most enthusiasts.

[New POD]

  On 07/03/2020 at 16:33, Richard said:

I know, but even with discs you didn't get a servo.

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That's more than shit. I'd rather have drums (probably) 

[chaseracer]

If, in the 1970s, you were a municipal fleet manager with a particularly acute sense of schadenfreude toward your mobile technical staff, it was possible to specify the Bedford HA van with a 'detuned for economy*' version of the 1256cc engine which managed - somewhat glacially, you'd imagine - to produce a thunderous 22bhp.

[puddlethumper]

I don't agree that a base is absolute misery. I love my base 305 van. Rubber mats, no need for a hoovery thing.

No pas, air bags, abs, etc to go wrong. Keep fit windows that are, now, 32 years old and still work fine. 

No Ecu's, Emu's, or Gnu's. Still on the original Tre's coz I don't force the steering when standing still.

Less hassle and cheaper to run. Brilliant. 

For a year, according to Howmanyleft, mine was the only base diseasel on the road. Now two others are back.

Rise of the BASE has begun.

[Richard_FM]

  On 07/03/2020 at 17:01, chaseracer said:

If, in the 1970s, you were a municipal fleet manager with a particularly acute sense of schadenfreude toward your mobile technical staff, it was possible to specify the Bedford HA van with a 'detuned for economy*' version of the 1256cc engine which managed - somewhat glacially, you'd imagine - to produce a thunderous 22bhp.

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Some low compression engines could run on 2 star at a cost of a few horse power 

[LightBulbFun]

Pffft you and y'all fancy cars!

on my car, pedals and a steering wheel where optional extras! 

[Richard]

IIRC there wasn't really room for a servo on the Mk1/2 Escort, I don't think any of the Kent engined models got one. The RS2000 had one on a massive bracket and people who built go-faster Escorts tended to use a remote servo. I don't remember them having a reputation for shit brakes and they weren't the only ones not fitting servos. The VW Polo didn't get a servo as standard (and possibly not at all) until the big headlight facelift in 1990.

SAM_6684 by pjlcsmith2, on Flickr

ford escort mk2 october 1979 by xr282, on Flickr

The Cortina and Capri pages of that brochure do mention the servo, so they would have mentioned it on the Escort if there was one.

Incidentally that brochure page is for the 1979 range, earlier models were less posh.

[PhilA]

Power assisted brakes and power steering on mine were offered primarily as the "crippled serviceman" type options, as opposed to luxury items. 

Necessity rather than opulence.

 

Funny how opinions change

 

Phil

[sierraman]

  On 07/03/2020 at 16:35, GrumpiusMaximus said:

We have a Focus MK2 1.4 Studio at home.  It’s basic.  It does have electric front windows though as there is nowhere to put a manual winder.  Wing mirrors are black, door handles are black, it’s a three door and has a hard plastic steering wheel.  I don’t even think it was ever advertised.

I’ve never seen another one in that spec.  LX is as low as I usually see and certainly never a three door if I do see one without painted door handles.

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The Studio was from when they were first released, it was a proper part of the range but was very basic and in all probability not that much cheaper than the LX. 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

  On 07/03/2020 at 18:24, sierraman said:

The Studio was from when they were first released, it was a proper part of the range but was very basic and in all probability not that much cheaper than the LX. 

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Basic doesn't even cover it for an '06 car made by a mainstream manufacturer.  It is a genuine throwback.  Apart from the electric windows and fitted radio.

[Bren]

My first SD1 lacked power steering. Even though it was only the 2.0 parking it made you hench. My dad also had a 2.0 ghia granada on a D plate that had no pas. Unacceptable nowadays.

[wuvvum]

  On 07/03/2020 at 15:07, ProgRocker said:

+ 1. I wish Dacia were more flexible with the options list on the Sandero and Logan MCV. A different colour other than Zanussi white would be nice. I'd spec one in a different colour with 0.9 turbo engine + add the spare wheel and air conditioning. I'd keep the matt black bumpers (Sandero) and the 'keep fit' windows. Mind, that would probably bring it up to the price of the range spec . D'oh.

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On the continent you can get the Sandero Access in doom blue as well as appliance white.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

  On 07/03/2020 at 18:37, The Mighty Quinn said:

Apart from performance, reliability, economy, handling, build quality, braking and ride, the Dolomite was indeed superior.

 

I worked at a BL dealer when the Acclaim was current. It was hoped that the Acclaim would be joined by more Honda based stuff to sweep away the rubbish BL had been making. The Acclaim's warranty record was just incredible. Nothing went wrong with them, unlike what went before it.

 

 

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I think the Acclaim was one of the best cars that BL made...

[Tamworthbay]

  On 07/03/2020 at 18:37, The Mighty Quinn said:

Apart from performance, reliability, economy, handling, build quality, braking and ride, the Dolomite was indeed superior.

 

I worked at a BL dealer when the Acclaim was current. It was hoped that the Acclaim would be joined by more Honda based stuff to sweep away the rubbish BL had been making. The Acclaim's warranty record was just incredible. Nothing went wrong with them, unlike what went before it.

 

 

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If they were so good, why did they sell so few? And why did they disappear overnight? The ride in my mates mum’s one was not a patch on my Dolomite, my 1300 got around 40mpg, can’t see the Acclaim being much better, The performance of the larger engined Dolly’s was way superior to the Acclaim, Never driven one so can’t comment on the handling but the Dolomite did well in many racing series and a quick search on the internet suggest the Acclaim was set for mild understeer blandness, if that’s someone’s idea of improvement, well that’s how we end up where we are not with cars - Magnolia paint dept. Reliability? Again no direct experience but the fact they disappeared from our roads so quickly doesn’t suggest they were that good.

[ETCHY]

I must admit there's a lot  of toys I like but electric windows really do nothing for me. I have no issues with winding a window up/down, in fact I prefer manual windows as I trust them more to work.

 

[Tamworthbay]

Acclaim better than a Metro? ? Now I did genuinely giggle at that one. BL still had the capability to produce brilliant cars in house, they didn’t need to become a badge engineering company, but those in power decided otherwise.

[sierraman]

The Metro was bloody awful. What was the driving position all about in them? 

[bunglebus]

  On 07/03/2020 at 13:21, UltraWomble said:

This

The wifes first ever car was a Fiesta Base 1979

Squeezy bulb washer pump.

No wing mirrors

No RWW

No HRW

No radio

No lighted switchgear

2 speed fan

Vinyl seats ( no head rests)

Rubber floor covering (no carpet)

1 speed wipers (on or off)

Manual winter setting for the air intake 

 

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My 950 base had some extras specced when it was new, so I had carpet, HRW and a passenger mirror. Still had beige vinyl low backs though.

I remember a later MK1 Pop with rubber floor covering, no heated rear window, one exterior mirror and no passenger sun visor.

Mind you mine was still pretty povvo, rubber pump on the floor for screen wash, (actually like them, you control how far up the screen the water goes. On MK1 Escorts you can get this system but it wipes the screen automatically! But I digress), no air vents in the sides of the dash (Ford made a different dash and heater box just to punish you), fan runs all the time as there was no fan switch (two different thermostat housings, did this really save money), no centre console etc etc. It was the high compression version of the 957cc engine at least.

[adw1977]

  On 07/03/2020 at 17:21, Richard said:

IIRC there wasn't really room for a servo on the Mk1/2 Escort, I don't think any of the Kent engined models got one. The RS2000 had one on a massive bracket and people who built go-faster Escorts tended to use a remote servo. I don't remember them having a reputation for shit brakes and they weren't the only ones not fitting servos. 

ford escort mk2 october 1979 by xr282, on Flickr

The Cortina and Capri pages of that brochure do mention the servo, so they would have mentioned it on the Escort if there was one.

Incidentally that brochure page is for the 1979 range, earlier models were less posh.

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They did fit servos more widely to the last of the Mark 2 Escorts.  By 1980, all 1300 estates and 1600 saloons had one, plus 1300 saloons in Ghia or Sport trim.

[adw1977]

I think Vauxhall deserve a mention for their determination in the early 80s to make sure that their base models stood out from the rest of the range.

Chevette ES with unique black bumpers:

Astra E with round headlights:

[Richard]

The Astra E didn't even have a hatchback as I recall. That one has a toughened windscreen too.

 

[bunglebus]

  On 07/03/2020 at 17:21, Richard said:

IIRC there wasn't really room for a servo on the Mk1/2 Escort, I don't think any of the Kent engined models got one.

The Cortina and Capri pages of that brochure do mention the servo, so they would have mentioned it on the Escort if there was one.

 

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They did, Ghias had them and they were an option on others - the RHD conversion meant they are on a long bracket and sit way forward of the bulkhead

 

 

[Walter White]

On the theme of the base model stands out because... 

The Princess 1700L with no vinyl rear and chrome hubcaps.

 

[Tamworthbay]

  On 07/03/2020 at 19:57, The Mighty Quinn said:

What are you on about? ?

 

What brilliant cars did they make? I missed all of them I'm afraid. BL went down the shitter, even BMW couldn't save it.

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The metro was utterly ground breaking for a small car, the Ambassador was a cracker and they still had many of the designers and engineers that had developed the Maxi and Allegro. Both cars were brilliant. What BL lacked most was a decent styling department. Look at Ford’s range in 1980, technically way behind BL but they understood that looks, not tech you couldn’t see, was what sold cars. So what did BL do? They imported a fuck ugly Jap design, abandoned their own developments and strangely enough it didn’t work. Even most serial BL lickers such as myself wouldn’t touch one with a shitty stick. The wrong car at the wrong time by the wrong people.

 

As you can probably tell, I’m not much of a fan of the Acclaim ?

[Tamworthbay]

  On 07/03/2020 at 20:14, The Mighty Quinn said:

I made very good money from Metros. Welding the floor back in, mainshaft bearings, radius arms, new front wings after 3/4 years, Hydragas pipes. They were so needy. They did drive well though. Very pleasant. Would you buy one new over a 205 though? I bloody wouldn't! ?

 

Hydragas etc was a technical dead end. The French cars rode better on steel springs.

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Funny you should say that as I have both! The metro is the better car for space, I brought a two seater sofa back from Ikea in our first one. Rear seat space is also better in the Metro. We put 60,000 miles on ours and never spent a single penny beyond routine servicing. With a decent K series, well maintained, they go like stink too. And comparing it to perhaps the best ever small car hardly makes it a bad car. The 205 is just the sweetest handling little thing I have ever had. And take a look on the 205 forums if you want to see rust, the boot and rear floor can match anything a metro has. That was the 80s, all cars were like that. I had to weld a new valance on a five year old Astra, and it must have been frilly at its first MoT.

[Walter White]

I had this Sierra brochure from 1987. The Sierra L dashboard looks positively Luxurious in comparison to the Sierra dashboard. 

 

[Bren]

  On 07/03/2020 at 19:37, adw1977 said:

I think Vauxhall deserve a mention for their determination in the early 80s to make sure that their base models stood out from the rest of the range.

Chevette ES with unique black bumpers:

Astra E with round headlights:

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My brothers mates parents had a chevette ES when we were at school. He said the ES stood for extra shitty.

[sierraman]

BL used to do some crazy shit back in the day, Maxi for example just had to use the 1800 doors. Allegro, just had to be made the fit the 1750 engine even though they knew they’d sell more of the 1300. 

Remember reading in Practical Classics years ago about a Base Cortina Mk2, not even an L, a fleet only special. 

[CortinaDave]

Base mk3 cortina - only mirror was the internal one. No carpets, bench seat... no passenger sun visor !

Heated rear window was only on XL and GXL at first!