Prod-you-er

[dollywobbler]

The Land Rover was finally collected today, but The Great Fleet Overhaul still has one last action left. Selling and replacing the Mini.

 

I've started to market it now (lobbing an ad in Classic Car Buyer first of all, as I do like to demonstrate that the paper I write for does actually work!) and thoughts are turning to what to replace it with. Now, as this is primarily replacing my wife's car, it needs to be small, nippy and as free from power assists as possible. I'd quite like something with three-cylinders, just because I like the buzzy noise they make. Just like a milder version of my Scimitar - but with economy.

 

The Perodua Nippa seems to strike a lot of bells. Now, I now Pandamonium got a whole heap of piss-taking when he had one, but I'm reluctantly pressing ahead and seeing what you reckon. Don't really want another classic, so something cheap that we can throw away if it rots to pieces is ideal. They also seem to be one of very few modern cars that DON'T have power steering. Extra win points there you see. Refinement, top speed, style are just not important things to us. We want reliable, economical and more practical than a Mini (which isn't hard!).

 

Here's one that appeared in Top Gear apparently.

 

Another Perodua to consider is the Kenari. In short, this looks like a Daihatsu Move but without the hideously ugly snout. Stability looks interesting, but they certainly seem practical for such a narrow car. Anyone got any experience of these?

 

This is hot.

 

Daewoo Matiz (first gen, pre-facelift) is also on the list, though I have owned one and driven several, so not desperate to own another. Though maybe if I could get one in Malta spec as they didn't have power steering, and all the ones sold here did. Black bumpers on those super-basic ones too for extra shite points.

[pogweasel]

Mmmm, perodua.

 

Nippa makes you look like some kind of social outcast/weirdo/mega skinflint.

Kenari is for the old (particularly the partially sighted).

Kelisa though, I probably would. Based on the old Cuore, it even looks a bit like a mini if you squint a bit, and is almost of acceptable dynamic quality.

And you could do this sort of thing, which is not unappealing.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Mmmm, perodua.

 

Nippa makes you look like some kind of social outcast/weirdo/mega skinflint.

 

That's the one for me. Looking for Nippas on eBay, 'vermin club' comes up as a related search term.

The main thing with the Nippa is it only has the 850cc engine while the Kelisa gets a 1000cc lump, which must be a lot more agreeable.

 

Here's James May thoroughly getting on with one.

[dollywobbler]

Hmmm. He even compares it to the original Mini. Hope the ride is better...

 

Another good reason to buy one is also Top Gear related. JC destroyed one. I didn't watch that video because he's a twat. I love owning cars JC hates. 2CV for a start.

[ashmicro]

The wee girl that lives next door to my parents had a Nippa (after she totalled her K10 Micra). She was initially a bit embarrassed about it, but it was mega cheap, not that old and utterly reliable. Super basic too, not even a radio, heated rear screen or rear wiper. Her Dad told me that she seemed a lot more fond of the car after I told her that I liked it! She sold it on after her Mum got paranoid about it's crash safety.

[oldford]

I suffered my first ever tyre blow out in a Kenari at a heady 60mph, I was a bit pissed off as it had taken me ages to get to 60 and I had to stop.

[Mr Lobster]

For mingebag mini motoring, based on experience I would have (another) of these -

 

[wuvvum]

A mate's Mrs has a Kenari. Amazing amount of space for such a tiddly car, quite well equipped and goes like the clappers up to 40mph. Bloody good on fuel too. It looks odd and sidewind stability is crap but he paid £375 for it on an 03 plate with loads of T&T - can't go far wrong at that kind of money.

[Negative Creep]

Her Dad told me that she seemed a lot more fond of the car after I told her that I liked it!

 

I think you're in there

[Station]

That crazy looking turbo Cuore thing (I think Hirst owned it?) was on Retro Rides not that long ago. If I was looking for something that you are looking for I'd go for that.

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=65014

 

Recent for sale:

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=90274

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, was sniffing around that when Hirst was selling it, but wasn't suitable at the time. Nippa fits the bill to be honest. So basic as to be dreadful - but still with more kit than the Mini! (I mean, it's got a hatchback!).

[Timewaster]

I quite like these:

Even Top Gears Mr Sensible - James May rates them too. ish.

 

How can you prefer the Kenari over this though?

[Guest]

That Mira Classic was a mate's car, sold it for him. Vicsmith did some bits on it and cruised around in it prior to sale. I've got another down the end of my drive, not for sale though.

 

The Nippa is based around an L200-series Mira, the Kelisa the L700-series.

 

The Kenari is a Move, but a generation onwards from the one we got, Daihatsu version looks like this:

 

Can't really lose with any of the Daihatsu/Perodua lot to be honest, they've all got the Daihatsu engines and that's what counts. Daihatsu have been concentrating on Kei-cars for decades and they're bloody good at them. Differences in opinion tend to be strongly based around whether people have actually driven them or not - the three-cylinder engines are great fun, really revvy and smooth - even the basic-spec 0.8 ones go well. They're a lot more fun to drive than they have any right to be.

[ashmicro]

My mate's wife has one of these:

 

 

A Mitsubishi Dangan Minica ZZ. 550cc 15valve 3 pot, Turbo intercooled, AWD. Mental. I took it up for it's MOT and all the blokes who work there came over to look at it. Not a sensible car.

[eddyramrod]

Can't really lose with any of the Daihatsu/Perodua lot to be honest, they've all got the Daihatsu engines and that's what counts. Daihatsu have been concentrating on Kei-cars for decades and they're bloody good at them.

They're a lot more fun to drive than they have any right to be.

 

Based on limited experience, I have to agree. I had an old Charade years ago (my sister had a later one after that...) and occasionally here I get to drive the Kembara, which is Perodua's version of the Daihatsu Terios/Toyota Cami. I like them. I was impressed with the 3-pot Charade and have been equally impressed with the 1.3 automatic Kembaras.

[RedSparrow]

Kelisa sounds like a chav name.

[eddyramrod]

It does, doesn't it? Cue stereotype of council-estate primary school....

[Jon]

I've got to admit that I was surprised they're still being sold new (or were until recently), as I haven't seen any for years. Guess I was living in the wrong part of the country?

 

Anyway, surely this is worth a punt; surely a bumper can't be that difficult to source and fit?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2009-Perodua-Myvi-1-3-damaged-repairable-salvage-/350444442753?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item51981dd481

 

£2295 for a 2 year old car FTW! I know it's not boggo basic enough for your remit DW but I must admit that I think it's a fine looking car regardless of whether it's an original design or not.

[Rhythm Thief]

Now, as this is primarily replacing my wife's car, it needs to be small, nippy and as free from power assists as possible.

 

If it's any good to you, Ms RT might be selling her 1995 AX diesel soon. Because, oddly enough, it has no power steering.

[Spottedlaurel]

These people might be useful to you, UK’s largest Perodua main dealer apparently:

 

http://www.john-childs.co.uk/

 

Look closely at the photos of their olde-worlde village garage, you can even see they used to do Dacia and Yugo! Mr Childs is a really nice chap, I spoke to him as he took my Laurel in part-ex against a Perodua of some sort from a fairly regular customer of his, then he took the trouble to sell it onto Datman. He’s into his older cars, and the best reason of all to like him is he wouldn’t have anything to do with the scrappage scheme...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLJdlp8dTck

 

Here's the Nippa TG road test featuring an autoshite contributor. It's funny that Berry mentions Clarkson being a fan of the then new Cuore, which is pretty much the same car as the Perodua Kelisa he smashed up in one of his "Crash Bang Wallop Sideways Outrage" videos.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Mr Rythm but the wife had an AX before, and while it was utterly unkillable, I hated driving it. Horrible driving position. That is my once concern about the Peroduas - what are they like for wheelarch intrusion? The AX always felt like the pedals were in the middle of the car. S'pose the former Daihatsu might be better given that it was engineered as RHD from the start...

[Formula Autos]

How about a Proton Savvy?

 

This particular beauty is a throbbing 1.2 (Renault based powerplant) litres of steel wheeled utter WIN:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

[dollywobbler]

Too much. Hoping to spend a maximum of £1000, hopefully less. Any excess from the Mini sale (am asking £2495) will go on our much needed house-heating project...

[warren t claim]

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... s/76469592

 

£795 but needs an MOT. 04 plate basic motoring at its best!

[pogweasel]

A ShittyRover would earn some kudos points. Do it!

[Richard]

I think the Cityrover possibly beats the Tagora for shite points.

[Cavcraft]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-ALTO-1-0-L ... 20b80ac199

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. Need to sell the Mini first though, so still just theory at the moment. I actually do like the Shitty Rover...

[outlaw118]

Theres this one for sale at £375 start, non runner....

Being sold by someone called "Roverlink"....now, if it was a simple/easy/cheap fix, surely they would have done it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-ROVER-CITYRO ... 27b9b5cec9