Buy my quite good Malaysian tat - On eBay now.

[tonedepear]

Afternoon all.

 

IMAG0139 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

11/02/2011 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Right, the time has come for the trusty Impian to go. I love it to bits and I know I'll regret selling it, but I do 2000+ miles a month (ish) and I don't need a car this big, so I'm looking for something tiny, tinny, and most likely diesely instead. I've had it since the start of February, and near enough 8000 miles, which is way longer than I normally keep anything.

 

It came to me in ropey condition with some faults and literally every interior surface was dark brown from long term tobacco infusion. It is markably better now in all respects, and while it's still a bit 'faggy', you can now drive it without getting brown and sticky hands. Over the past 8k miles it's averaged near enough spot on 40mpg (see here: http://www.fuelly.com/driver/tonedepear/impian). It's happy on the motorway, and surprisingly good fun on twisty bits. It also has the added feature of literally no-one knowing what it is, which is sometimes fun. It had an oil change when I bought it, so will be ready for another soonish.

 

It has tax until November, and MOT until March 2012. There isn't any history unfortunately, but a cursory glance at the mechanicals show it's been well treated. The coolant is clear and looks like it was changed in the last year or so, and unlike lots of other cars I looked at/bought at the turn of the year, it survived that ridiculous cold snap without bursting or doing itself untold harm.

 

The gory badness:

 

The driver's side front window doesn't work. It's the regulator. If you're brave it'll go down a couple of inches and come back up with a bit of assistance, but it's not a risk I've taken often, cos it won't go on forever like that. It's a weak point on these, I had the door trim off and had a look, but it's a more involved job than I've ever fancied for the sake of ease at the drive through.

 

16/02/2011 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

The air con doesn't work. I assume it needs gassing (predictable!) but it hasn't bothered me enough to sink £30 or whatever Kwak Fit charge for their "colder or money back" special at the minute.

 

No service history. (Amusingly, it came with a fully stamped book, but on closer inspection this turned out to be from a differently registered Wira)

 

Slightly rusty n/s/r bit. (see picture)

 

IMAG0640 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Buggered laquer on driver's door around the handle for some reason, and a little dent too. (see picture)

 

IMAG0638 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Minor scuff on o/s/r. (This was my fault, I reversed into a post in a car park whilst discussing the merits of "going now quick cos there's nothing coming" with the bairn)

 

IMAG0639 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Dashboard lights are knacked. I replaced them when I got it (see flickr) and a couple have sopped working again, which suggest it's not the bulbs. They're all readable in the dark, there's enough left, the only PITA is the backlight for the odometer doesn't work, so you can only see the mileage if the sun's out or with a torch. It's no big deal really, I've managed to keep my fuelly log right, and that's the only thing I really use it for.

 

20/02/2011 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Only one key. I have the blade from another. The working key recently had it's immobiliser chip superglued in, after it wouldn't start one night after playing football. Key in bag had been hit by ball and broken. Transponder chip thing was recovered in the bottom of my glove bag, and will now NEVER COME OUT AGAIN.

 

IMAG0431 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Remote locking doesn't work. Never has. I took the related gubbins out of the key during the supergluing operation above, although I still have it incase it's a simple reset procedure.

 

The front fag lighter socket doesn't work. I managed to get the back one to work, so you can charge your phone and/or shat-nav still.

 

Good bits:

 

Everything else?

 

The numberplate fools most people into thinking it's a '54' reg, rather than a Y reg. Bless.

 

The tax disc holder says "BREAST" on it.

 

IMAG0641 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

It's actually fun to drive, roomy enough, decent boot, not horrible. The stereo is very good acshully. Probably the best standard fit speakers I've encountered. Will have it's original CD player back in when it's sold. Currently housing a DAB thingy of mine.

 

13/02/2011 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Lots more pictures in glorious hi-res can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonetonetone/sets/72157625904213623/with/5842256898/

 

Any questions, do ask. I'd happily swap for a small diesel (think AX 1.5d, saxo, 106 absurdly frugal things, vag tdi) or even a very frugal petrol little'un as long as it's bareable on the motorway. (1.0 12v Corsa/1.1 seicento (non sporting) would come under this category).

 

A quick look on Autotrader says the cheapest Impian in the country is £795.

 

Contemporary roadtest awesomeness:

http://www.theaa.com/staticdocs/pdf/carreports/AA_REPORTS/PROTON_IMPIAN_1.6_4DOOR_NOV01.PDF

 

Gissa shout.

[RoadworkUK]

Secretly, I always liked the "styling" on these.

 

I suggest that any potential customer does this to it:-

 

 

I know I would. Good luck, mate.

[tonedepear]

Even ms_tone conceded that looks OARSOME.

[tonedepear]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250841784585

 

Well, here it is. *holds breath*

[catsinthewelder]

Good effort with the fleabay ad, best of luck

[tonedepear]

Cheers. It's not flying off the shelf like I'd hoped, mind. Yet...