Yes, I still love my Daihatsu Charade after 14 years of driving it. As you say, such cars wouldn't have the same level of character and fun if fitted with four cylinder engines. Great work Ian, keep going. Bamboocarman.
I started working in a daihatsu garage in 84 when I left school, I fell in love with the 3 cylinder daihatsu engines, I love the sound they make, if only I could find a petrol charade, diesel turbo charade and a petrol turbo charade, I'd be happy
Yes, I was impressed by Miller Corner's review of Myrtle, especially how much he liked it. He seemed rather more excited by it than I thought he would be. It must be nice to have your old car back. I miss my previous cars sometimes - a 1999 grey metallic Felicia Magic Estate, presumably long since squashed and melted down. And if truth be told, my very first car too, a 1969 Vauxhall Viva HB 1600 ohc.
Had a matiz many years ago on a W plate. Small engine, very few creature comforts. Tiny wheels and not a lot of power. But it never put a foot wrong. Mine was unbelievably reliable. Only mod I made was fitting two extra speakers to the rear. Three years of slow but happy motoring. Love the channel. Watching from NZ
I'm not generally a fan of mods, they only seem to make things worse. However... Uprated bushes (mounting bushes and end bushes) on the front anti-roll bar can really tighten up the roll without in any way raising noise or making the ride crashy like lowered springs, stiffer dampers etc. Similarly with the track control arm bushes. I know Powerflex do them for the Matiz. The ARB-to-chassis mountings are DIYable, but the others are probably best fitted with the car on a garage lift and appropriate windygun to bash off the rusty nuts and bolts. Cone filters do sound great, and would probably sound rather fab on your 3-cylinder, but invariably end up dulling the engine response. Partly because they are breathing in hot engine bay air, and partly because the engine management (and entire inlet path) just wasn't designed for it. A higher flowing replacement panel filter might be a good compromise.
I think the Ford Ka was by far the best car of that era. Surely you must have driven one? It went from good to great with the newer 70hp 1.3 Duratec replacing the 60hp Endura-e. Handling was spot on :)
I love your enthusiasm for such a dull car. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. My friends parents had one of these in an awful gold-ish burnt orange colour. Brings back memories that’s for sure.
Or any car fitted with the 900cc Renault three-pot--unfortunately that engine was only developed in 2012 so it's a bit, well, *new* for Mr. Hubnut! :-)
I had a lot of fun last year driving a Daihatsu Move around the Irohazaka and other mountain roads in Japan. Surprisingly comfortable, and about 50 bhp is more than adequate for such small cars
I can see a lot of parallels between this and the Mk1 Ibiza that I owned. That was Giugiaro's take on a replacement Golf which VW rejected, and SEAT ended up building it on a knock-off Strada/Ritmo floorpan. Mine was the 903cc version, which was a Fiat engine. It was the most incredible fun to drive around roundabouts. I sometimes used to take the air filter housing off for extra induction roar fun. That's one of the cars I'd like to have kept, given infinite storage space.
I commented on the miller time review, that from some angles I think fiat have taken the matiz,stuck a pump up the exhaust and inflated it to make a fiat 500L
My body height is nearly 2 meters and I enjoyed driving the Matiz a few years ago. It was sold new in Romania for 5.000 Euro. The biggest problem most cars still have is that persons above 1.8 meters of height run into problems. Guess why? This is still the standard how they plan and construct a car. Sometimes it seems to be even less. Nice to have your head punching a bump into the roof. Which is ridicolous in 2019. As well as these cars like Audi TT are ridicolous when having your first bump just trying to get in...:-) Cheers from Germany, Bernd
Great video! You'd be very welcome to road test my 2012 Suzuki Alto 1.0 3 cylinder if you're ever around Hampshire/Southampton. I think you'd like it. The windscreen is far away and its lower than the Matiz. Up for that?
I used to have the older version of the Suzuko Alto (1999 model) with a 4 cylinder 1L engine. Indian built car which I don't ever recall having any problems other than some rot across the front of the bonnet and aroudn 2005 I had to replace the radiator. The radiator was a common problem due to using plastic sealing on the tanks and seemed to be a common problem with other cars. I had it for 8 years and it always started first time. HubNut would have like it as it was a base model with hand crank windows, no radio (Blank Plate), no air con. BUT it did have a rear window wiper which I think was standard fit.
@@johnclarke2997 haha great story. My one is certainly more European in design, mimicking the mid-2000's Renault Twingo IMHO. It has 67 horsepower which is ok in a car that weighs very little. The 3 cylinder engine sounds great! I've had it over 1.5 years and it's a kind of stop gap car before I can get either an Alfa MiTo or another Fiat Panda 100HP. Ian is welcome to road test my car.
Lowering springs are still available for the Matiz, they drop it around 20mm. As for a turbo, it would need to be very low boost, or the head will spring a leak or crack.
Im the same love my 1999 astra 2.0 sri owned for over 15 years. Just cured the water & oil leak as well which seems weird with no leaks coming from a 20 year old car haha. it fact its my cars 20th birthday on the 6th of september. It will be the first time i have owned a car over 20 years old in 30 years of driving. Missed the new 69 reg today driving on the road damn i forgot about it,but seen some at my local vauxhall agent days before.
Sounds like you might like the first generation Vauxhall Agila (rebadged and slightly modified Suzuki WagonR). My Mum had a couple and drove them for close to 20 years.
I actually fancy a Matiz now since my Vauxhall Meriva is on the way out. Can you get three bratz in the back and can you remove the parcel shelf supports / rear speaker mountings in the boot? I did that in my old Seicento to get my dog in :D
Never had one, but the Matiz seems to have a reputation for not being anything like as economical as you'd expect for only 800cc. Low 40s sounds about the expected.
I enjoyed that video. The Fiat was cool in it's own way but the Matiz model you own has got to be one of my favorite super mini's of all time, so if I had a choice between the two I'd choose the Matiz for sure. That said I have a feeling the owner of that Fiat would probably prefer his Fiat over your Matiz.
Please don't modify the Matiz Ian, it's so original and perfect as it is :) The Matiz and Seicento are both great city cars, but I think it's down to personal preference really as they're so different. There was so much variety in city cars of this era and I love most of them. I have a 2003 Ka as handling was more important to me than space or practicality. The mk1 Ka has the best chassis of any 90's or 00's city car. The chassis was developed by Richard Parry-Jones and even featured passive rear wheel steering as he's obsessed with handling (hence the Racing Puma and mk1 Focus) . Richard is such and amazing engineer!!! I love my Ka but I admit the Seciento and Matiz make much better noises than the ancient 1.3i Duratec in the Ka which can trace it's routes back to the HCS Valencia!
I think changing for a small steering wheel and lowering it a bit, with some firmer dampers would make the matiz a blast. Come on Ian, #ModTheMatiz I can see it in your eyes, you want this (and so do I heheh)
The seats are a noticeable thing, I had a brief lift back from the local petrol station in a neighbour's red Matiz and I noticed the seating felt higher than most other cars, like sitting at a table rather than sat in a car... :)
I liked the Matiz we had, but when the engine failed and the wheel fell off, you soon discover this well planned amazing car is made of butter, I think if you restored one using quality steel, you would have a winner for sure !
Ah, the first model Matiz (which I had as a second owner) did not have power steering, at least mine didn't, so the largish steering wheel is satisfactory. I used to get 50mpg around town, and over 60mpg on a long jaunt. The thing that bothered me was the terrible shaking the car got from side winds (well, hurricanes and storms really) over 50mph. It almost wrenched the steering wheel aforementioned out of my quaking hands, sometimes making me pull over rather than contend with the tempestuous conditions. It might have been a bad run of weather, but it was enough to get me out of the Matiz and into a Subaru, for ultimate security of road holding.
I thought the original Matiz was only ever available with just the one engine, the 0.8 three-pot. I didn't know they could also be had with a 1.0 as well. When was the larger engine introduced?
As someone who owns a one litre Matiz, part of a family that owned one for about 9 years and had various one litre and 0.8 litre ones on loan having a Chevrolet dealer serviced I have to say the extra torque of the one litre little though it is has to be welcomed to the party.
Do you know anyone with a Velorex? I think you would enjoy a blat around Malvern and perchance a comparison with another locally made three-wheeler. :)
My wife had a seicento sporting sporting in 2000, I drove it a few times, wasn’t a fan tbh, maybe we were a bit unlucky but it also had a terrible reliability record. The brakes wore out really quickly, had to replace the suspension also and with just 38’000 on the clock the head gasket went despite a full up to date service record.
A mate had a 'tightened up' and lowered Matiz! But he was a bit of an idiot, replacing the little dash end vents with tweeters, and the interior light with a flip-down video screen, and a DVD player under his seat! :-O A turbo would give it a bit of oomph, and perhaps slightly wider tyres? :-)
I know what you mean about that appealing 3 cylinder thrum. My daily drive is a Peugeot 208 1.0 14plate with free road tax (French car with Jap engine - same as in the Aygo I'm told). It is what I consider a modernish Hubnut type car, budget fun motoring, it also has a standard tiny go cart style steering wheel. Perhaps if you get your hands on one to road test you might enjoy it too? Just an idea! I'm in Manchester if your passing.
Ian you can always change out the steering wheel, a simple process and usually one nut involved, as I say the most dangerous part of any car - the nut that holds the steering wheel. I once was given a Matiz as a replacement car after getting a rear shunt from another driver in my Focus Estate and found it flatter than a witches tit, but annoyingly it was all they had and my insurance company would have upgraded not down graded. My Focus was a 1.5 diesel with 115 bhp against the little box so I may have had some bias.
You should really try a Daihatsu Charade, the base model with the 3 pot, 1 litre engine. It's a hoot. Twelve valves, variable valve timing, means you get fabulous fuel economy whist still being one of the quickest city cars available (4 seconds faster to 60mph than the base model smart). An ex-work colleague of mine had a Matiz and said he was very disappointed with the fuel economy. He said it only did 47mpg, where I could get 65mpg out of the Charade. Even my ex, with her heavy right foot, got 57.
you need to drive the Matiz's youngest sibling, chevrolet spark - 4 pot but really does make some nice growly noises which I find interesting as it sounds like a 3 pot
Now this a BMW E 32 from the late 1980ies that you can get in good condition at 3.000 Euro over here in Germany. Advantage: can be driven as a "Youngtimer" with special number plates and cheap insurance. Disadvantage: your Gas station and sometimes your repair service become best friends with you. So it´s a slightly bigger HubNut car anyway....:-)
i owned a NIssan micra 1.3 for 20 years along with all my other cars unfortunately the rot killed it off like on most K11`s. But that was the car i did the most miles in and liked the most.
Glad I'm not the only weirdo that likes the Matiz, even though mine is the Chevrolet version with a slightly bigger engine. Still as asthmatic when you have more than one person in the car though...
Recognised that stretch of the A47 a mile off! I think i had a cinq, or a sei, cannot remember exactly, hated the car though, the sod jumped out of 3rd gear all the time, one door used to fly open on its own accord, and it smelled like a tramps underpants!
I agree with you on Cinquecento V Seicento, the straight lines make for better styling. I'm on my 4th Seicento however, a complete base model, no power steering, central locking or electric windows. I think it would have run away if you'd tried to put it up against the mighty Matiz!
You can't argue about taste, but anyone who prefers the appearance of the Matiz over the seicento should consider a visit to a psychiatrist, it could be an oedipus complex and maybe there are medicines for it, but Ian's love for his Myrtle is endearing to see.
I have to say, I loved both cars in the comparison video but because of the way Mertyl has been characterised, she has to win! Hands down! That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have a tinker and try some mods! There’s nothing to say you can’t return her to standard if it doesn’t work out...🤔 I’ve got to age 44 and never modded a road car. I am tempted to release my inner yoof and give it a whirl.....
I've got a '67 reg Suzuki Celerio 3cyl 1.0L , now that Suzuki are no longer going to sell the Celerio in the UK maybe i've got a future rare classic :)
Now THAT'S supposed to be a VERY economical car - I'd be interested to know what mpg you get with it. I'd like one myself, but it's just slightly smaller than ideal. It's really annoying and frustrating (for me) that manufacturers don't seem to make estate versions of city cars (for the UK market, at least). :-/
@@PhilipKerry Thanks for the reply! Wow, that's impressive. What sort of speed were you cruising at? I have managed to coax almost 68 out of my Colt, but only by crusing at no more than 55 (!)
I remember Joe said the Matiz felt much bigger than it actually was. He preferred the Seicento (but he would, wouldn't he?) I prefer the look of the Matiz, but I personally probably wouldn't buy either. Still good to see though, one man's meat's another man's poison! 😂
The Matiz was at a bit of a disadvantage as its pretty much how it left the factory . The Seicento has had a bit of modification i gather from what you said its a bigger engine upgraded suspension ect
You want your seat to go back more? Your arms are stretched out almost straight to reach the wheel, any further back & you'll need arm extensions lol 🙂
I'm not sure, but did you say..I like the Matiz 😂😂😂. It's much more fun to drive a small car than a big powerful monster, cos you don't need afraid it will kill you that easily 😉
How do you feel regarding the possible new legislation of not using hands free mobile phone devices while driving ? Would this also effect youtubers like yourself making videos while driving ? I hope not as they are my favourite form of screen entertainment.
"The Matiz is the car for me"
One of those lines you'll only ever hear on this channel.
That's why there are so many different cars, everyone has their own reason to like a car.
Yup. My Hillman Avenger brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.
Yes, I still love my Daihatsu Charade after 14 years of driving it. As you say, such cars wouldn't have the same level of character and fun if fitted with four cylinder engines. Great work Ian, keep going. Bamboocarman.
I started working in a daihatsu garage in 84 when I left school, I fell in love with the 3 cylinder daihatsu engines, I love the sound they make, if only I could find a petrol charade, diesel turbo charade and a petrol turbo charade, I'd be happy
Yes, I was impressed by Miller Corner's review of Myrtle, especially how much he liked it. He seemed rather more excited by it than I thought he would be. It must be nice to have your old car back. I miss my previous cars sometimes - a 1999 grey metallic Felicia Magic Estate, presumably long since squashed and melted down. And if truth be told, my very first car too, a 1969 Vauxhall Viva HB 1600 ohc.
Can't beat that three cylinder roar from the Daewoo M-Tec engine. As Miller corner said it must have been Daewoo's version of V-Tec
You’ve owned and driven nothing till you’ve had a Kia Shuma for 20 years 🤪.
Had a matiz many years ago on a W plate. Small engine, very few creature comforts. Tiny wheels and not a lot of power. But it never put a foot wrong. Mine was unbelievably reliable. Only mod I made was fitting two extra speakers to the rear. Three years of slow but happy motoring. Love the channel. Watching from NZ
In fact, you liked the Matiz so much, you bought it twice !
I'm not generally a fan of mods, they only seem to make things worse. However...
Uprated bushes (mounting bushes and end bushes) on the front anti-roll bar can really tighten up the roll without in any way raising noise or making the ride crashy like lowered springs, stiffer dampers etc. Similarly with the track control arm bushes. I know Powerflex do them for the Matiz. The ARB-to-chassis mountings are DIYable, but the others are probably best fitted with the car on a garage lift and appropriate windygun to bash off the rusty nuts and bolts.
Cone filters do sound great, and would probably sound rather fab on your 3-cylinder, but invariably end up dulling the engine response. Partly because they are breathing in hot engine bay air, and partly because the engine management (and entire inlet path) just wasn't designed for it. A higher flowing replacement panel filter might be a good compromise.
I think its time for some mighty hubnut mods on the matiz.
Oh yes!
Would make some great content, more interesting than general maintenance and repairs.
I don't think HubNut does mighty mods - it's just not HubNut!
"consider it a pipe dream"
No. We don't need to turn a beautiful Matiz into a rice rocker racer😠. Total rubbish.
I think the Ford Ka was by far the best car of that era. Surely you must have driven one? It went from good to great with the newer 70hp 1.3 Duratec replacing the 60hp Endura-e. Handling was spot on :)
they where best with the zetec 1.25. The endura was reliabale but slow.
I love your enthusiasm for such a dull car. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. My friends parents had one of these in an awful gold-ish burnt orange colour. Brings back memories that’s for sure.
Small engine with a turbo, Daihatsu Sirion turbo. A complete hoot.
Or any car fitted with the 900cc Renault three-pot--unfortunately that engine was only developed in 2012 so it's a bit, well, *new* for Mr. Hubnut! :-)
Totally share your sentiments regarding Matiz vs Seicento
I had a lot of fun last year driving a Daihatsu Move around the Irohazaka and other mountain roads in Japan. Surprisingly comfortable, and about 50 bhp is more than adequate for such small cars
Would be fun to try an imported 3cyl. Turbo mini car from Japan
Enjoyed both, they're fun and full of character. Sadly missing in today's 'Euroboxes'. Thanks Ian.
You like the sound of the 3 pot Matiz, you'd love the sound of the 2 pot Fiat Panda/Alfa Mito/500. :-)
Hubnut modding a car for once! Thought I'd never see the day 😁
I can see a lot of parallels between this and the Mk1 Ibiza that I owned. That was Giugiaro's take on a replacement Golf which VW rejected, and SEAT ended up building it on a knock-off Strada/Ritmo floorpan. Mine was the 903cc version, which was a Fiat engine. It was the most incredible fun to drive around roundabouts. I sometimes used to take the air filter housing off for extra induction roar fun.
That's one of the cars I'd like to have kept, given infinite storage space.
Another good video mate. I knew you preferred the Matiz. Lol 👍👍
I commented on the miller time review, that from some angles I think fiat have taken the matiz,stuck a pump up the exhaust and inflated it to make a fiat 500L
I think it would be worth while to mod the Matiz. Strut brace, fatter sway bars, lower springs...fun to see you do that HubNut style.
My body height is nearly 2 meters and I enjoyed driving the Matiz a few years ago. It was sold new in Romania for 5.000 Euro.
The biggest problem most cars still have is that persons above 1.8 meters of height run into problems. Guess why? This is still the standard how they plan and construct a car. Sometimes it seems to be even less. Nice to have your head punching a bump into the roof. Which is ridicolous in 2019. As well as these cars like Audi TT are ridicolous when having your first bump just trying to get in...:-)
Cheers from Germany, Bernd
Great video! You'd be very welcome to road test my 2012 Suzuki Alto 1.0 3 cylinder if you're ever around Hampshire/Southampton. I think you'd like it. The windscreen is far away and its lower than the Matiz. Up for that?
I used to have the older version of the Suzuko Alto (1999 model) with a 4 cylinder 1L engine. Indian built car which I don't ever recall having any problems other than some rot across the front of the bonnet and aroudn 2005 I had to replace the radiator. The radiator was a common problem due to using plastic sealing on the tanks and seemed to be a common problem with other cars.
I had it for 8 years and it always started first time. HubNut would have like it as it was a base model with hand crank windows, no radio (Blank Plate), no air con. BUT it did have a rear window wiper which I think was standard fit.
@@johnclarke2997 haha great story.
My one is certainly more European in design, mimicking the mid-2000's Renault Twingo IMHO. It has 67 horsepower which is ok in a car that weighs very little. The 3 cylinder engine sounds great!
I've had it over 1.5 years and it's a kind of stop gap car before I can get either an Alfa MiTo or another Fiat Panda 100HP.
Ian is welcome to road test my car.
@Marcangelus1 Or Fiat with the Uno i would not drive that !
love the noise too, funny how the three cylinder actually sounds like a six when reved up I think.
Lowering springs are still available for the Matiz, they drop it around 20mm. As for a turbo, it would need to be very low boost, or the head will spring a leak or crack.
isn't the heater blower resistor a common problem on the matiz as well as the zafira ?
Im the same love my 1999 astra 2.0 sri owned for over 15 years.
Just cured the water & oil leak as well which seems weird with no leaks coming from a 20 year old car haha.
it fact its my cars 20th birthday on the 6th of september.
It will be the first time i have owned a car over 20 years old in 30 years of driving.
Missed the new 69 reg today driving on the road damn i forgot about it,but seen some at my local vauxhall agent days before.
Good choice and good video!
Sounds like you might like the first generation Vauxhall Agila (rebadged and slightly modified Suzuki WagonR). My Mum had a couple and drove them for close to 20 years.
Are the ARBs on the 1.0 any thicker than the 800cc ones? Might be an easy upgrade which will improve handling without ruining the ride.
I actually fancy a Matiz now since my Vauxhall Meriva is on the way out. Can you get three bratz in the back and can you remove the parcel shelf supports / rear speaker mountings in the boot? I did that in my old Seicento to get my dog in :D
If there was a turbo for the Matiz it would surprise a few drivers 😂,I would probably stick to it.
What's the mpg of a 0.8 matiz? I heard low 40's but that seems quite low
Never had one, but the Matiz seems to have a reputation for not being anything like as economical as you'd expect for only 800cc. Low 40s sounds about the expected.
I enjoyed that video. The Fiat was cool in it's own way but the Matiz model you own has got to be one of my favorite super mini's of all time, so if I had a choice between the two I'd choose the Matiz for sure. That said I have a feeling the owner of that Fiat would probably prefer his Fiat over your Matiz.
But does the Matiz have a throttle pedal designed to be used just by your big toe?
Wife had a Chevrolet Matiz for about 8 years - I bought one a month ago - satisfied customers
Early smart for two 600 or 700cc petrol turbo charger but as for ecu, no idea, maybe spax suspension
I had a Hyundai atoz. It looked a bit strange but it was a hoot to drive!
David Clothier Atoz is Korean for Anus
Please don't modify the Matiz Ian, it's so original and perfect as it is :) The Matiz and Seicento are both great city cars, but I think it's down to personal preference really as they're so different. There was so much variety in city cars of this era and I love most of them. I have a 2003 Ka as handling was more important to me than space or practicality. The mk1 Ka has the best chassis of any 90's or 00's city car. The chassis was developed by Richard Parry-Jones and even featured passive rear wheel steering as he's obsessed with handling (hence the Racing Puma and mk1 Focus) . Richard is such and amazing engineer!!! I love my Ka but I admit the Seciento and Matiz make much better noises than the ancient 1.3i Duratec in the Ka which can trace it's routes back to the HCS Valencia!
Hubnut Long-Term Tests sound like they could be rather fun :)
if you can find one in the UK try a test drive of a honda S660 roadster it's a 660cc pocket rocket !!
Can U test Twingo? I know there are no right hand drive ones but maybe there are some Twingos in UK?
I think changing for a small steering wheel and lowering it a bit, with some firmer dampers would make the matiz a blast.
Come on Ian, #ModTheMatiz I can see it in your eyes, you want this (and so do I heheh)
The seats are a noticeable thing, I had a brief lift back from the local petrol station in a neighbour's red Matiz and I noticed the seating felt higher than most other cars, like sitting at a table rather than sat in a car... :)
I liked the Matiz we had, but when the engine failed and the wheel fell off, you soon discover this well planned amazing car is made of butter, I think if you restored one using quality steel, you would have a winner for sure !
Ah, the first model Matiz (which I had as a second owner) did not have power steering, at least mine didn't, so the largish steering wheel is satisfactory. I used to get 50mpg around town, and over 60mpg on a long jaunt. The thing that bothered me was the terrible shaking the car got from side winds (well, hurricanes and storms really) over 50mph. It almost wrenched the steering wheel aforementioned out of my quaking hands, sometimes making me pull over rather than contend with the tempestuous conditions. It might have been a bad run of weather, but it was enough to get me out of the Matiz and into a Subaru, for ultimate security of road holding.
Matiz everyday for more me,had one in the early 2000's loved it great car 0.8l all the way
5:03 I was waiting for that and wondering how the hell can Ian finish on his trade ending!
The 6 valve Polo 3 banger sounds awesome too, like half a Porsche, never has 55bhp made such a mess of front tyres :)
Sounds about right. I have a Skoda Citigo 1.0 S (base model) and I am still surprised by how quickly it goes. It sounds great as well.
I thought the original Matiz was only ever available with just the one engine, the 0.8 three-pot. I didn't know they could also be had with a 1.0 as well. When was the larger engine introduced?
I think 2000 is when the larger four-cylinder engine was added.
Could be liking if someone can advise on suspension mods on my wee Matix🤪
As someone who owns a one litre Matiz, part of a family that owned one for about 9 years and had various one litre and 0.8 litre ones on loan having a Chevrolet dealer serviced I have to say the extra torque of the one litre little though it is has to be welcomed to the party.
Do you know anyone with a Velorex? I think you would enjoy a blat around Malvern and perchance a comparison with another locally made three-wheeler. :)
Like you said the Matiz lacks low end chuff then maybe a little hamster-wheel turbo might be a good fit.
More HubNut road tests?? MMMMM!! Bring them on :)
My wife had a seicento sporting sporting in 2000, I drove it a few times, wasn’t a fan tbh, maybe we were a bit unlucky but it also had a terrible reliability record. The brakes wore out really quickly, had to replace the suspension also and with just 38’000 on the clock the head gasket went despite a full up to date service record.
A mate had a 'tightened up' and lowered Matiz! But he was a bit of an idiot, replacing the little dash end vents with tweeters, and the interior light with a flip-down video screen, and a DVD player under his seat! :-O
A turbo would give it a bit of oomph, and perhaps slightly wider tyres? :-)
need to start some mods i think steering wheel lower it nice wheels loud exhaust induction seats this could be a fun little diversion for hubnut
There's a Renault Clio with 3 cylinders and 90PS. That's sounds like it might be fun.
problem is that 90 HP today are wrapped in 2600 pounds of steel and run the AC compressor, so no more impressive than 45HP in 1980.
I know what you mean about that appealing 3 cylinder thrum. My daily drive is a Peugeot 208 1.0 14plate with free road tax (French car with Jap engine - same as in the Aygo I'm told). It is what I consider a modernish Hubnut type car, budget fun motoring, it also has a standard tiny go cart style steering wheel. Perhaps if you get your hands on one to road test you might enjoy it too? Just an idea! I'm in Manchester if your passing.
Ian you can always change out the steering wheel, a simple process and usually one nut involved, as I say the most dangerous part of any car - the nut that holds the steering wheel. I once was given a Matiz as a replacement car after getting a rear shunt from another driver in my Focus Estate and found it flatter than a witches tit, but annoyingly it was all they had and my insurance company would have upgraded not down graded. My Focus was a 1.5 diesel with 115 bhp against the little box so I may have had some bias.
Yes, like the seats in a berlingo lots of height from the floor
You should really try a Daihatsu Charade, the base model with the 3 pot, 1 litre engine. It's a hoot. Twelve valves, variable valve timing, means you get fabulous fuel economy whist still being one of the quickest city cars available (4 seconds faster to 60mph than the base model smart).
An ex-work colleague of mine had a Matiz and said he was very disappointed with the fuel economy. He said it only did 47mpg, where I could get 65mpg out of the Charade. Even my ex, with her heavy right foot, got 57.
you need to drive the Matiz's youngest sibling, chevrolet spark - 4 pot but really does make some nice growly noises which I find interesting as it sounds like a 3 pot
HubNut in a BWM 7 series on a long term test? Say it isn't so! It's a huge leap from the small, reliable(ish), low end runabouts.
Now this a BMW E 32 from the late 1980ies that you can get in good condition at 3.000 Euro over here in Germany. Advantage: can be driven as a "Youngtimer" with special number plates and cheap insurance. Disadvantage: your Gas station and sometimes your repair service become best friends with you. So it´s a slightly bigger HubNut car anyway....:-)
i owned a NIssan micra 1.3 for 20 years along with all my other cars unfortunately the rot killed it off like on most K11`s. But that was the car i did the most miles in and liked the most.
Glad I'm not the only weirdo that likes the Matiz, even though mine is the Chevrolet version with a slightly bigger engine. Still as asthmatic when you have more than one person in the car though...
Hope all is well for you ian
I think you should test a Clio 2
Let’s give Merry little Myrtle, a make over and give her a romp as a cheeky little madam. ‘Myrtle, the turbo tart’ project?
You hit on the main reason I prefer the Matiz to the Sceicento.....back doors, I'm all for practicality in a car.
And 4 people can actually sit comfortably in this car, whereas Seicento is mostly a 2-person car
Still would like to put a Matiz S-tec engine in my Seicento, for the better fuel economy.
Recognised that stretch of the A47 a mile off!
I think i had a cinq, or a sei, cannot remember exactly, hated the car though, the sod jumped out of 3rd gear all the time, one door used to fly open on its own accord, and it smelled like a tramps underpants!
I agree with you on Cinquecento V Seicento, the straight lines make for better styling. I'm on my 4th Seicento however, a complete base model, no power steering, central locking or electric windows. I think it would have run away if you'd tried to put it up against the mighty Matiz!
A turbo could be fun, and with 3 cylinders the Matiz will become a kei-car :p
You can't argue about taste, but anyone who prefers the appearance of the Matiz over the seicento should consider a visit to a psychiatrist, it could be an oedipus complex and maybe there are medicines for it, but Ian's love for his Myrtle is endearing to see.
I have to say, I loved both cars in the comparison video but because of the way Mertyl has been characterised, she has to win! Hands down!
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have a tinker and try some mods! There’s nothing to say you can’t return her to standard if it doesn’t work out...🤔
I’ve got to age 44 and never modded a road car. I am tempted to release my inner yoof and give it a whirl.....
2010 Fiat Panda, great shape real fun.
So .... what you're saying is .. you like the car, right? Great reviews as away and entertainment as well.
I've got a '67 reg Suzuki Celerio 3cyl 1.0L , now that Suzuki are no longer going to sell the Celerio in the UK maybe i've got a future rare classic :)
Now THAT'S supposed to be a VERY economical car - I'd be interested to know what mpg you get with it. I'd like one myself, but it's just slightly smaller than ideal. It's really annoying and frustrating (for me) that manufacturers don't seem to make estate versions of city cars (for the UK market, at least). :-/
@@hunchanchoc8418 On a run it does close to 75mpg , two months ago I did a seven hour drive to Scotland and it used £25 in petrol :)
@@PhilipKerry Thanks for the reply! Wow, that's impressive. What sort of speed were you cruising at? I have managed to coax almost 68 out of my Colt, but only by crusing at no more than 55 (!)
@@hunchanchoc8418 Most of the way was Motorway ( Highway ) at 70 mph with normal roads at 30 - 60 mph .
That's excellent then!
you're car sounds like half of my omega lol
I remember Joe said the Matiz felt much bigger than it actually was. He preferred the Seicento (but he would, wouldn't he?) I prefer the look of the Matiz, but I personally probably wouldn't buy either. Still good to see though, one man's meat's another man's poison! 😂
I simply cannot believe you have no magpie procedures. You don't cross yourself, salute, spit etc. Good God man.
Please turbo it.
That'd make an awesome set of videos
Get Myrtle some upgrades....she deserves to be even more fun to drive.
Why fight evolution (or is it devolution ?). Get a Citroen Saxo 1.1 and mod the hell out of it. Back to front baseball cap on and jobs a good un :-) .
@@EgoShredder No that's the volvo 940 kids. LOL
or a Citroen Ax. the gt was quite a rocket
@@GiulioImparato The AX was made of spit and paper even the 1 litre was a fun car, THe GT 1.4 felt like a little rocket :)
i think a turbo on a matiz would kill it !!!
The Matiz was at a bit of a disadvantage as its pretty much how it left the factory . The Seicento has had a bit of modification i gather from what you said its a bigger engine upgraded suspension ect
You want your seat to go back more? Your arms are stretched out almost straight to reach the wheel, any further back & you'll need arm extensions lol 🙂
Well, thats 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back!
I'm not sure, but did you say..I like the Matiz 😂😂😂.
It's much more fun to drive a small car than a big powerful monster, cos you don't need afraid it will kill you that easily 😉
do a colt Sapporo one
How do you feel regarding the possible new legislation of not using hands free mobile phone devices while driving ? Would this also effect youtubers like yourself making videos while driving ? I hope not as they are my favourite form of screen entertainment.
The Matix became the Cherry Q Q?
No. The QQ is a blatant Chinese rip-off.
Yea, i agree. but i think ever since Chery bough Daewood, they continue the Matiz project as the QQ (even if got worse).So it legacy still goes on
people have put turbos on them. search on the net.
Sounds like a Dacia Sandero 0.9 would be ideal for you
The name Miller Corner makes me hungry.
Yeah, but the SEICENTO had front electric windows while you don't have any on your DAEWOO. And it makes all the difference
But the Seicento has only TWO DOORS.