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The year is 1991.....

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  • 05-07-2019 9:24pm
    #1
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭


    .... and you need a new budget brand car. Posting on the FSO thread got me thinking. What would you buy as a budget car and why??

    Lada (any of them) cheap and big in fairness. According to people who owned them they were easy to repair and reliable.

    Proton, Mitsubishi Lancer cast offs. Honest and reliable.

    FSO Polenez - Cheap and nasty as I recall.

    Yugo - Cheaper and nastier and soon to have it's factories bombed into oblivion by the "allies".

    Dacia (yes, still available new in 91) but cheap, nasty and bady built. A Renault 12 copy but with local parts and poor build quality.

    Skoda, the Favorit wasn't actually all that bad.

    Hyundai, Pony, Lantra, Coupe, Sonata....bland but reliable. Like a poor mans Japanese car.

    Seat - Fiat cast offs but the Ibiza "by Porsche" and new Toledo weren't all that bad.

    Fiat - Now galvanized, memories of rust still to dissolve however.

    Things were very diverse at the bottom end of the market back then, from competent, interesting to down right dreadful.

    Was anything else a budget offering in Ireland then??? I've left Japanese brands out as I recall they were no longer cheap by 91.


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    #2
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,390 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Kia Pride (rehashed Mazda 121)


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    #3
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Kia Pride (rehashed Mazda 121)

    Was that available new at that stage? I know they were in 96 but not 91.

    My aunt in the UK had a 92 one. It was fine.


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    #4
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,390 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    They came out in 1991 I think.

    Maybe not in Ireland though.


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    #5
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    They came out in 1991 I think.

    But we're they for sale in Ireland? ;)

    You're right though, they came out in 91. There was a few Mazda 121 versions knocking about Nenagh then but I never saw a Kia.

    Daewoo was another for sale in the UK around then but didn't get here until 00 I think. I remember the big ads on tv and the ex Jag Leganza looking very impressive to my eyes.


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    #6
    Roen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,620 ✭✭✭Roen


    Around that era my dad had a run of DAF, Yugo and Simca cars.
    The DAF could go backwards as fast as forwards.

    Odd times.


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    #7
    greasepalm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,262 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    That reminds me as i need to take old reliable 1989 mitsubishi for a fuel top up,quality built and made to last.


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    #8
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    The Dacia Denem (R12) was surely not on sale in Ireland in 1991? I don't recall seeing one of the road or in any price lists or magazines.

    The Dacia Duster was on sale in the UK at about that time though, I have a What Car magazine from the end of 1990 which lists three Duster models in the new car prices and specs list. As far as I know, the Denem had been withdrawn from the UK market several years at that point.

    Looking through the bad/cheap cars in the list throws up a few surprises. A proper car like the Fiat Panda - cheapest model was about GBP 4500. For another 700 more you could have had - a Reliant Rialto. LOL.


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    #9
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    The Dacia Denem (R12) was surely not on sale in Ireland in 1991? I don't recall seeing one of the road or in any price lists or magazines.

    The Dacia Duster was on sale in the UK at about that time though, I have a What Car magazine from the end of 1990 which lists three Duster models in the new car prices and specs list. As far as I know, the Denem had been withdrawn from the UK market several years at that point.

    Looking through the bad/cheap cars in the list throws up a few surprises. A proper car like the Fiat Panda - cheapest model was about GBP 4500. For another 700 more you could have had - a Reliant Rialto. LOL.

    Yep the Dacia was still around. Dacia Shifters at least. Probably unregistered stock being honest but you could if you wanted have one.

    And even in 91 a Reliant was a joke!


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    #10
    JoeA3
    Registered Users Posts: 7,414 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    Posted this before on this forum but my Dad bought a Proton in 1991. He traded an ‘88 Lada Riva for it!

    I remember thinking the Proton was quite a nice car at the time tbh! I mean, the competition at the time was hardly pulse raising so the Proton didn’t seem “budget” at all really. Paddy spec Escorts, Corollas, Kadetts of the day were all miserable.


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    #11
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    I know you picked 1991 and don't want to hijack but from my mag the cheapest car on sale in the UK at the end of 1990 was the Lada Riva 1300L for £3146. Any guesses as to what the next cheapest car was? Hint - it wasn't a FSO, Lada, Skoda, Dacia or Yugo.


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    #12
    jmreire
    Registered Users Posts: 8,325 ✭✭✭jmreire


    But they all had one thing in common...they kept the motor trade busy !!! Even in a small rural village, there would be at least one workshop... no too much computerized systems back then. But I do remember VW bringing in an engine monitoring system back in the late 60's, it was called the "Sun Analyser" . It was the fore runner of what was to come, but was considered very advanced at the time.


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    #13
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users Posts: 12,235 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    I had an 88 Micra 1.0SGL back in 1991, I bought in Scotland for £1700 AFAICR. Can’t remember what the VRT was at the time but don’t think it was too bad. I wouldn’t even have considered a new car. It was a 5spd model (which was rare here) and done 55+ mpg all day long.


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    #14
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    I know you picked 1991 and don't want to hijack but from my mag the cheapest car on sale in the UK at the end of 1990 was the Lada Riva 1300L for £3146. Any guesses as to what the next cheapest car was? Hint - it wasn't a FSO, Lada, Skoda, Dacia or Yugo.

    Wartburg??


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    #15
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    Nope - no Wartburgs in the price list.


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    #16
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 17,728 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Daihatsu Charade or a Fiat Tipo I reckon... Were Suzuki swifts cheap compared to fiesta & corsa etc?


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    #17
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    Nope - no Wartburgs in the price list.

    I'm struggling now. Lots of cars but none I c asn think of would have been that cheap.


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    #18
    mloc123
    Registered Users Posts: 9,454 ✭✭✭mloc123


    ba_barabus wrote: »
    Dacia (yes, still available new in 91) but cheap, nasty and bady built. A Renault 12 copy but with local parts and poor build quality.

    Swap out R19 for Clio and it is 2019..


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    #19
    greasepalm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,262 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »
    I had an 88 Micra 1.0SGL back in 1991, I bought in Scotland for £1700 AFAICR. Can’t remember what the VRT was at the time but don’t think it was too bad. I wouldn’t even have considered a new car. It was a 5spd model (which was rare here) and done 55+ mpg all day long.


    Great car as i had one for many years in red with full sports kit and wheels.


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    #20
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    Augeo wrote: »
    Daihatsu Charade or a Fiat Tipo I reckon... Were Suzuki swifts cheap compared to fiesta & corsa etc?
    Charade, Tipo and Swift were high end expensive motors compared to the heaps of sh*t being discussed here!

    In the UK at least the Swift was considerably more expensve than the cheapest Uno, Fiesta, Nova.


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    #21
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    mloc123 wrote: »
    Swap out R19 for Clio and it is 2019..

    I've a mint 91 Clio parked outside and a 93 R19 gone in for some minor bodywork before it's first nct in 9 years !


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    #22
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    ba_barabus wrote: »
    I'm struggling now. Lots of cars but none I c asn think of would have been that cheap.
    Hint - 2 cylinder engine.


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    #23
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    Charade, Tipo and Swift were high end expensive motors compared to the heaps of sh*t being discussed here!

    In the UK at least the Swift was considerably more expensve than the cheapest Uno, Fiesta, Nova.

    Metro was still considered good then, was the 2CV still available then? Fiat 126?


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    #24
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    Hint - 2 cylinder engine.

    Trabant!


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    #25
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,294 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    ba_barabus wrote: »
    Metro was still considered good then, was the 2CV still available then? Fiat 126?
    Got it! it was 3 pounds dearer than the cheapest Lada.


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    #26
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users Posts: 12,235 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    greasepalm wrote: »
    Great car as i had one for many years in red with full sports kit and wheels.

    Mine had skirts, rear roof wing and spotlight grill, 12” alloys and a tilt sunroof. The previous owner had also fitted an aftermarket central locking and alarm system. It was such a snazzy wee car back then!


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    #27
    Blue850
    Registered Users Posts: 2,560 ✭✭✭Blue850


    Fiat 126 was usually the cheapest car on the market


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    #28
    bal1000
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭bal1000


    citroen ax


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    #29
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    BrianD3 wrote: »
    Got it! it was 3 pounds dearer than the cheapest Lada.

    I'd rather the cheapest Lada :D

    A friend's family bought one in 91, 91 TN 252 I think. I used to like it even if it was rubbish compare to my dad's Chamade and 323.


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    #30
    Sharp MZ700
    Registered Users Posts: 673 ✭✭✭Sharp MZ700


    Anything to be said for a Rover 216? Had a second hand one in late 90s cracker of scar, always thought they looked well even if they were a Rover..


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    #31
    ba_barabus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,615 ✭✭✭ba_barabus


    Sharp MZ700 wrote: »
    Anything to be said for a Rover 216? Had a second hand one in late 90s cracker of scar, always thought they looked well even if they were a Rover..

    They were a Rover high point. Great cars but they weren't budget offerings when new.


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