CHASING CARS
ASKING £14,900 PRICE
ENGINE 1397cc/4-cyl/OHV POWER 109bhp@6000rpm TORQUE 108lb ft@4000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 116mph 0-60MPH 8.6sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 21-40mpg TRANSMISSION FWD, five-sp manual MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 101,344km
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
As you might expect with a turbocharged car that weighs as much as a kiwi fruit this French import goes like a scalded cat. It’s incredibly responsive with go-kart like handling and no real turbo lag and feels confident and planted on the road. The brakes work well once the slack in the pedal is taken up and all of the gears work perfectly though there is some movement in the gear stick. It can get a little noisy in the cabin but this just adds to the visceral feeling of going very fast in a very small car.
BODYWORK CHECK
It may look a little ratty in places – the paint on the front grille is flaking and the original alloy wheels need of a good refurb – but the car is in great condition overall. The driver's door push-button is loose – but the mechanism operates correctly – and the aftermarket bonnet catches have seen better days. The main thing to take away, however, is that it appears to be rust-free, which is a rare thing for any French car from the 1980s. The underside is particularly clean and carries a fresh coat of smooth black stonechip paint.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
Things are a tad rough and ready in the cabin but everything is functional. It's a basic affair and some of the switchgear is pretty worn but the seats are comfy and supportive and it’s all bone-dry. The chunky steering wheel feels great although it is fitted slightly off centre to the right and there’s a little play in the shaft. The rear parcel shelf is sitting on two self-tappers and the door pull handles removed. It may be that the interior has been stripped out somewhat for track day use because there is also a battery/ignition cut-off switch on th
