I have a confession to make...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 12/14/2016 at 00:10 • Filed to: Polish Cars, FIAT 126, Polonez Caro, FSO, FIAT, Cinquecento, FIAT Cinquecento

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...I like a bunch of small, crappy, Polish-built cars.....is there something wrong with me?

1: We all know I want a FIAT 126p and it will probably be the car I import - ~$4-6k in great shape from Poland.....especially if I can get one in a bright color like orange or yellow :D

2. FSO Polonez Caro (pre-Daewoo) - it’s just a basic Polish-bred hatchback, but for some reason I love their boxy, plain look...especially in beige (I know, what am I, 70yrs old? :P). The non-Rover, 1.4L or 1.5L engine would be fine, thanks! Plus, LOOK AT THE CARO DECAL! LOOK AT HOW 90's IT IS!

3. The FIAT Cinquecento....a tiny, basic box - descendant of the FIAT 126p in spirit. Nippy little town car, though not fast with an ~800cc engine. The 1.1L Sporting is even nippier and has some decent speed to it, although no airbags and being small means not terribly safe! Basic and decently reliable though, and the Sporting would be a fun little runabout....I mean, asymmetrical tow-hook and intake vent! :P

Is there a ‘Smaller Polish-built Cars Anonymous’?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 00:16

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You need a Halifax built Lada.

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 05:03

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Been in a Cinquecento and they honestly suck. I totally understand why you may like the 126 but honestly avoid the Cinquecento like the plague

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 12/14/2016 at 09:13

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...was that a thing? 0_o

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV 12/14/2016 at 09:15

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Haha, oh, I’m sure Cinqs aren’t great... :P

The 126p has quirky and ‘classic’ going for it, but they really aren’t great either. That’s part of their charm to me though! :P

What are your experiences with the Cinq?

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 09:57

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I’ve only ridden shotgun in one a couple times and I thought it was just a bit of a depressing car. I mean I wasn’t expecting much but I was hoping it was going to be a little more cheerful. It wasnt

A Panda from the same age is possibly worse in every measurable way but it at least feels like it was designed by someone who actually cared. I may be biased though

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 10:03

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Yup. Lada had plant beside the Volvo plant in Halifax. It shut down in the mid 90's.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV 12/14/2016 at 10:42

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Then you’ll be glad to know a Panda 4x4 is also high on my list! :P

The 126 was probably equally depressing, but I have a thing for basic cars, so I would probably be fine with it! I would go for the Cinquecento Sporting though...1.1L means a bit more pep, plus suspension tweaks for handling.

I’m probably biased by being Canadian and having a distinct shortage of small, nippy cars. Things are far more ‘American’ here in terms of the automotive landscape. Canada does like smaller cars more than the US, but Superminis are less common than Compacts here.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 12/14/2016 at 10:50

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Really? Never heard of that! I only knew of them being imported....can’t seem to find any info on it online? Any links? I’m very interested as I went to university in Halifax for 7 years! :)

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 11:10

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Man, I’ve got a 1989 panda 4x4. Just do it ahahaha

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/14/2016 at 11:11

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The FSO is pretty cool actually, but there is the 126 that has something about it. It’s too cute.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV 12/14/2016 at 11:19

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Workin’ on it! Already have $5K or so saved up for a 126 when I finally get my own place and a permanent,full-time job! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 12/15/2016 at 08:11

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Love the 126p! I want to learn to wrench on mine when I get it....they are so basic and easy to work on. Decent ones can be had for really cheap as well - ones in great shape are like $2-3K CAD in Poland. I’m looking at $5K or so to import one to Canada, including shipping costs. Not bad for a ‘classic’! Mine will probably be a late one from ’95-’00, not truly classic, but the 126p’s design barely changed from 1972 and was, in turn, based mechanically on the classic FIAT 500 which debuted in 1957! :P

As for the Polonez Caro, they are growing on me! They aren’t supposed to be anything special at all, but there is just something so foreign about them... :P

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/15/2016 at 09:08

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Yeah I wouldn’t care what year it came from. However for 5k and all the hassle of importing I’m not sure I’d ever own one, unless I ever had the money to have it alongside other cars, don’t want to say never! I’d consider one that has already been imported for 5 k or less (and I’m in Canada too). This is of course a few years down the line after school and getting a job of course.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 12/15/2016 at 09:17

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That’s $5k with the company doing the exporting and purchase for me doing all the work so I just have to show up with the right forms they send me at the dock to pick it up. :P (plus maybe a few hundred in extra import fees if necessary)

As they were never sold here, you usually only see them for like $8-$10k here for sale, if at all....there are very few in the country AFAIK.