I have inherited my Fiat x1/9 and have known it for as long as I can remember, my granddad had it from new in 1983 and left it to me, and I am currently restoring it as it has been left in a garage for 16 years. But I am amazed how little there is wrong with it, couple of cables are a bit brittle and the engine is dirty but I have known them to start first time after being left outside for 7 years, the engine has to be the most indestructible I have ever seen. I am also very impressed with how easy it is to get replacement . . . well anything.

I've owned 2 of these beauts, one in the eighties and promised myself another. I like the ability to potter along and if the mood takes to tease the so-called hot hatch kiddies. I can personally vouch that in the Cumbrian lanes Scooby drivers do get rather irate! The ease of engine maintenance is noticeable by its' absence. But find a good one and stay on top of the rust (Waxoil etc.) and they give years of fun. Wider and lower rubber is a must as 165 section really isn't enough. But avoid silly sizes, 195 is more than needed. Gear changes can be improved by replacing the flexible gear link) as this degrades with age. I absolutely love these cars and enjoy tinkering as much as driving.

I love the Fiat X1/9. It is the second car I purchased at 17 years of age and refuse to sell it even though a two seaters practicality diminishes when you start a family. It is by far the best handling and best feeling car I have driven. You can't help but smile as the more expensive sports cars have to slow down for a 90 degree turn at 60kph as you take it without chirping the tires, and it's just as fun to break the back end loose and drift it easily under constant control because of the mid engine layout and the excellent steering response and feel.

If you are a lively driver modify your 1500 thus: 1) fit Koni adjustable shocks and lower the suspension an inch all round; 2) fit 185/55 rear tyres and 175/60 fronts; 3) put on Tarox brake discs and pads and use silicon dot 5 brake fluid - helps avoid brakes jamming; aeroquip hoses a useful addition; 4) add a free flow exhaust - Ansa 4 pipe works really well.
I demonstrated the stability of this set up by deliberately locking the brakes at 110mph for a moment. Almost nothing will touch it on a twisty road and in Germany it held the local speed record for a series of special curves.
The engine is not the world's most powerful by a long shot but it loves to be caned and the mid-engined layout and ability to eat bends allows distances to be eaten out of all proportion to its output.
If you buy one learn its limits gradually, mid-engined cars respond very well to driver inputs - get yours wrong and wrong inputs will get responded too equally quickly.

Standard 1300's have the best steering feel, handling, most comfortable seats, gearbox reliability, although they do have a tendency to rust and a risk of front wheels locking under braking.
Standard 1500's have the best straight line performance, a 5-speed gearbox, most protective bumpers, are less likely to lock the front wheels under braking but more likely to spin with careless driving, with the best rust protection and best looking seats.

I've had two 1300's and two 1500's - 10 years ago my current 1500 got run off the road by a 9-ton lorry driver who decided he was bored of waiting to get out of the busy junction and even though I was able to switch to a different lane (on the motorway roundabout) he then moved into that lane while I was alongside him, pushing my front end under the crash barrier and lifting the tail off the ground with his rear bumper.
The police rescue squad had to use a 6-foot crowbar to prise the damaged rear wing off the rear tyre, which was locking it and causing the other to spin. Once the tyre was no longer locked I was able to reverse the car from under the barrier and even the police were shocked how good it looked. At the front it just needed a new headlight pod, straightened front wing and bonnet corner. At the rear just the rear quarter was damaged and this was replaced with a doner corner from a scrapped one. Structurally the car suffered NO DAMAGE. Both myself and the passenger walked out totally unscathed, doors opened normally, and this is the same car I have today. The 9-ton lorry driver's insurance paid me £2000 for the damage - I only paid £1400 for the car when I bought it and fixing it cost around £500.
Great cars.

I had one of these Fiat X-1/9 Sports Cars for about 4 years, I used it on a daily basis for commuting and work carrying out visits. Drive her gently and the fuel economy is great, heavy right foor and it goes down (but still bearable). There is a bit of a knack in taking the roof off, but a bit of practice soon sorts that out. Beware of drain covers when caning it round corners (I took out a crash barrier). They are built like brick outhouses (a friend mangled a big Volvo with his - lifted it up off it's back wheels and got the nose stuck under it).

Ive had 3 Fiat X1/9s and I consider them one of the best designed sports cars in their class. I've wrecked one and take my word for it if you are ever involved in an accident you have a better than average chance of survival, they are built TOUGH. God help the poor person who hits one with a modern car.

I've had three Fiat X-1/9 sports cars and the current one for 16 years. Compared to modern sports cars like the MX5 and MG it still has many advantages. It is a cheap, fun car - far better than Midgets, Spitfires & MGBs if you want a car to restore. I've looked at replacing it a few times but I've not seen anything that is fun practical sports car, ie that you can carry luggage (it has two boots), is fun to drive, and it looks good.

The Fiat X-1/9 car has to be the fun car I've ever driven. For all you Honda fans you could probably compare it to the fun sporty size of a 89 crx SI but with more umffff....Great car, very quick, definetly recommend it.

The Fiat X-1/9 is one of the most fun cars I've ever owned (I'm on my second one now) and it still turns heads, even when being trailered!