I may have found my next car.

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
04/28/2017 at 15:13 • Filed to: None

I’ve posted several times in the past about kei cars and my love for them. Here’s one that was officially imported to the UK. The model I want technically isnt a Kei car since for the later UK cars (the one I want) they put a 90hp NA 1.3 engine in, which exceeds the regs. But 90hp in a car the size of a shoe, mad sports car looks, folding hard top. Yes I’m in love.

DISCUSSION (22)

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:16

Soooo, the twingo became too big?

CalzoneGolem > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
04/28/2017 at 15:17

It always has been.

Laurence > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:17

These have always looked like so much fun! They won’t get much cheaper than they are now either

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:17

DO ETT! The Copen is one of those cars I would love to import here to Canada, but even the oldest ones don’t meet the 15-year import rule yet, sadly.....I really love the little things as well! Would be psyched to hear about your ownership if you DID get one.

Plus, Daihatsu, so Toyota reliability! :D

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
04/28/2017 at 15:19

I dont think I’ll end up getting rid of the Twingo, this will probably replace the E36 as my second car. I was talking with the better half about going down to one car and I realised I couldnt bring myself to sell the damn thing XD

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/28/2017 at 15:21

Yeah as far as I can tell the 1.3 cars are super reliable. Same basic engine as a yaris so parts are easy. The turbo cars really depend on maintenance and dont like motorway work which I have to do often.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Laurence
04/28/2017 at 15:21

Im looking about Ł3k for a nice late model.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:27

Yeah, that’s my issue...I imagine the 1.3L cars are pretty expensive in the UK? When did they start selling the 1.3L engine models? How much would a decent 1.3L tend to sell for over there?

I wouldn’t mind a 660cc car...the Copen started production in 2016 so one of the JDM 660cc models could be imported to here now. Most highways here have a speed limit of 100-110kph, which I do fairly often, so I would be afraid of killing the little Turbo 3-banger before it’s prime :(

Laurence > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:35

Sounds about the same as the ones I’ve found. The earlier 660 cars seem much cheaper, but I imagine you’d pay for that in parts costs later down the down the line, not to mention the difference in performance.

What I’ve found is that most Copens were well looked after, and not driven much, so finding a decent one doesn’t seem too hard, even with how few were sold here.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/28/2017 at 15:41

The 1.3 generally go about Ł1k higher than the turbos, but theyre newer too so it makes sense. I think if you take age into account they cost about the same. The difficulty if you wanted one is getting one. They only sold them in the UK and they didnt sell many.

duurtlang > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 15:47

They sold them in continental Europe too. I believe the turbos were RHD here but the 1.3s were LHD here.

They’re very rare. An average sized or maybe somewhat tallish Dutch male doesn’t really fit, which might be a reason.

Kinja'd!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > duurtlang
04/28/2017 at 17:00

I’m about 5 foot, 7 inches, so not short but not that tall either.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 17:05

Its pretty damn cool that they made a big block version, but i think i’d trade the displacement/power for RWD. Cappucino or Beat or (if you’re really lucky) AZ-1 would be my choice.

duurtlang > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/28/2017 at 17:06

That’s 170 cm? We, the Dutch, have on average the tallest men on earth. Average for men it’s about 6 foot or slightly more, for women it’s about your 5'7" or so. I’m 6'2", which is above average at best here for a man.

You’ll probably fit just fine in the Copen.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/28/2017 at 17:31

I think at this power level im okay with FWD.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 17:52

Yeah, you’re probably fine since heh...so little power...but i still can’t shake the fantasy of sliding around in a tiny Honda Beat with the skinniest/least grippy tires I can find to put on the thing. With our American (read: Texas sized) lanes I really think a Kei car could be an insanely fun mini-hoonmobile. But you’re in the UK where you have reasonably sized cars and reasonably sized roads to go with them. Plus, Copens are still pretty mega-cool.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/28/2017 at 18:03

Yeah kei cars arent really as unusual here, theyre small but not THAT small compared to normal superminis. And FWD can still be hooned, my 60hp Twingo on the ring proved that XD

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Laurence
04/28/2017 at 18:14

Yeah there are some really nice ones. Unfortunately though theyre very prone to rust, so close inspections are important.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 18:38

Truth, i’m no fan of FWD, but it’s far from the death knell for fun that most of the RWD-Only crew makes it out to be. There are plenty of FWD cars that will plaster a huge smile across any ones face.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/28/2017 at 18:49

3/4 of my cars have been FWD. Both have their merits but I dont lust for a car simply because its RWD. To me there’s no better choice, theyre just different.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/28/2017 at 20:15

The way I see it (and bear in mind this is just a preference) RWD is better, but it isn’t nearly enough on its own to make a car “bad” or “good.” Just like how I prefer rack and pinion steering to recirculating ball steering. There are plenty of good and even great cars that have recirculating ball steering (hello AMG Hammer.)

I’d give a kidney to own an Integra Type R. Do i like that its FWD? No, but I like virtually everything else about it, so the FWD just isn’t that big of a deal.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > duurtlang
04/28/2017 at 21:35

Yay! It’s definitely on my short (GET IT? I MADE A FUNNY! :P) list. :D