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I'm seriously considering an imp. mainly due to blownimps pictures in another thread. three main reasons: golfs too expensive to insure and tax, my grandad would love it and i fancy a change from a hatch back.
so what are imps like? handling, price to buy/run, reliablility, common problems?
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tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
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RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring) 1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
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iv just been looking there. the gold one caught my eye. looks to be in good condition.
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Imps are awsome, but then again i am biased!
I would bugdet £800 for a nice stocker, but they are going up in price. Running cost arnt too bad, fuel consumption is low (anywhere between 30 and 65MPG!). Parts are available through specialists, and there is also a great network with the imp club spares, second hand parts are also readily available.
Handeling wise, they are interesting stock. I had mine going sideways in the wet at 15mph with shoddy tyres! But fun thing is that you can make them oversteer, or understeer, depending on how you feel. With a set of lowering springs and decent tyres they are really quite fast round the twisties, comparable to a mini just a little more difficult to go as fast. Braking mid corner will inevitably end in a pirouette!
The stock engine is peppy and loves to rev, the later ones come with a sport cam as standard and slightly larger valves. They will usually sit on the motorway at 70 happily, this is around 4800rpm but the engine is quiet and smooth at this speed, also jolly economical!
As for things to watch out for, rust as usual on most retro cars, it gathers round the H brackets the front dampers mount to. Rear cross member and rear spring mounts, rear spring pans are prone too. The engine if well looked after is a dream, but looks for bubbles in the rad once hot. The engines can be a little tappety with solid lifters and shimmed buckets, but this is also the secret to the high RPM capability. Check for rumbles in the water pump as these are getting rare, and the NOS ones have seal troubles normally.
The gearbox again is a sweet one with a positive short shift, listen out for whining as this means either the layshaft bearing is going or the CROWNwheel is out of adjustment. Check for popping out of gear under decelleration, especially in second, as this means the scyncros are worn.
They really are super fun retro cars, i can fully recommend them!
J
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so how do you get them to oversteer? i know what youre thinking: boy racer wants to drift. i actually want to avoid doing it since last time i got oversteer was in my dads car. it didnt end well....
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ive always wanted to have a drift imp! Braking half way round a corner, letting off abruptly will both end in back end coming round. The best thing to do is to find a large open area and have a play, most of the time i just take it easy, I'm passed giving it beans everywhere!
J
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...i fancy a change from a hatch back. It is a hatchback!
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exactly as your man says,although i should add that they aren't as bad to work on as people would have you believe,although you will need a 'prayer mat' to kneel on for engine work,a torque wrench as most of engine bolts need it and a grease gun for the kinpins.mod parts are easily obtained new and secondhand and they are plenty of people out there who can help if you have a major problem.
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Yeah i recon they are eaily worked on, probably better than most actually. What else can boast an engine change time of 30mins? As once youve done it a few times it really is that easy, you don't even need an engine crane as the rear cross member comes out. Chock the engine up, unbolt it, and push the car out the way!
J
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What else can boast an engine change time of 30mins? the buggy he aleady owns! lol
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GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
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Heck, if i can change a head gasket on an Imp, anyone can! ;D Although has to be said i had quite a bit of help, but that just goes to say that Imp owners and 99% of people in the Imp Club are great guys Its all been said already, parts are easy to get through widely known about specialists and Club Spares, easy to work on, cheap to run, fun handling, nippy, sound great, easy to modify. Go for it
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Imps are great but need regular maintenance to use as a daily driver. My first car back in the mid 90s was an Imp and i used it every day. Drove it all over the country and to work and back and didnt have many problems. Plus back then i knew even less about working on cars then i do now.
If you want to talk Imps pop over my place for a coffee sometime and i will give you what advice i can. You could see the new project in my garage aswell.
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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oooh! whats the new project jimbo?
edit: i realise now its a chamois coupe. any pics?
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Last Edit: Apr 5, 2006 19:32:04 GMT by goaferboy
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I picked up a Singer Chamois coupe that needs painting and rebuilding. It going to be black and low with alloys. Plus 930 sport engine with a Weber.
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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so what is a singer chamois? iv seen that in the title of a few imps on ebay. is it a special imp or another name for an imp?
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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ooh sounds classy. ill have to drop by one day to see it and natter about imps. although i think the imp plan may have to wait till the buggies finished or at least half decent. iv got my sensible hat on today...
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Cars are never finished ;D
Yeah pop round sometime. PM or text me to see if I'm about.
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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I drove an Imp years ago, what surprised me most was how precise the gearchange was. Expecting it to be horribly vague, but it had a nice mechanical feel.
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ImpManiac
Part of things
Imps... Imps... Imps...
Posts: 868
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Imps are great cars. I drove a standard one for almost six years. Wonderful, rev-happy engine, very slick gearchange, agile handling with quick, responsive, well-weighted steering with truly amazing feel... Drive over a 5p coin and you can tell whether it's heads or tails... almost. Grip in abundance too, considering tyre size! I took mine off the road in November 2000 for a new 930cc engine - literally brand new. Paid £150 for it, delivered! Short motor from a Talbot Sunbeam 1-litre. You can still get them but they're a bit more now. Parts are easy - some body parts are a bit tricky. Modification is easy - loads of modded Imp enthusiasts around, including me! Mine will be finished soon now. The engine job turned into a full resto and race-prep! The 930 is now a full-race, Weber-fed lump and should be good for around 100 bhp! In a 600 kg car! Get one. You won't stop grinning! I'm
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1966 Singer Chamois sprint/hillclimb car in white over blue two tone 1975 Triumph Stag long term project (over 20 years so far) in colour TBA 2003 Vauxhall Vectra GSi 3.2 in black sapphire
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