Gorgeous FTOs

[Wildhound]

I'm about to pump thousands of Euro (probably foolishly) into my FTO. So I'd like to get a discussion going about the weird magnetism the car has that makes me want to do that.

I don't believe there's any other 13 year old sportscar anywhere near the price range of the FTO that makes people react the way it does. Not only is it a thrill and a pleasure to drive and to look at, but it turns complete strangers into nutcases and that's just funny.

I've only had the car 2 and a half months and already I've lost count of the amount of people who've stopped me on garage forecourts or in car parks to ask about or complement the car, or the people who stare unashamedly at it as it goes by, or the hundreds of people who gaze longingly out their windows at traffic lights.

So I figure some of you guys that have had FTOs for years will have interesting stories to tell about people admiring your car and I want to hear them!

[colm_mcm]

My guess is that:

1) rarity, they weren't sold or advertised here new

2) high insurance stops youngfellas getting their hands on them and driving like lunatics around the place. this also limits the number being imported. which is good for the image.

3) pretty shape, puts some macho guys off the shape, but attracts the girlies (which is the target audience)

4) the v6 MIVEC being so advanced gives it credibility, If it had just the 1.8 and 2.0 V6 engine, it'd be branded a hairdressers car.

[mark]

It really is amazing, almost timeless design. I must stress that a well looked after FTO is the dog's nuts but when you see a shabby one they look really rough.
The FTO Effect;
I drove by U2's place one Sunday morning- low, black FTO, polished, driving through white dusty lane. Load of Italian U2 fans waiting outside saw me in the distance and all pulled cameras and videos out and clapped when I went by.
On O'Connell Bridge in traffic recently, 2 guys and a girl started acting strangly and rumaging in bags while looking at the car, I didn't know what they were at, lights went green I took off only to see them grabbing a quick snap of the back of the car.
Yep, women love them which is always a good sign . Girlfriends parents love it too!
Often other FTO's will ignore me at lights because they want their car to be the only one- obviously no one on this forum..
I've been followed a few times too, scary
A neighbour near me 'keeps admiring my NEW car' !!

I thought about getting rid of the car myself this year but in truth nothing much out there doing it for me (in price range of course). So I stuck a few quid in and will keep sticking money in on tasteful mods and engine bits etc for a good while to come.
Mitsi just got it soo right

[Sebastian]

Wildhound i suggest (again)you give it another thought before u pump money into that car. maybe it will be better to get a new/different one consider how expensive its to buy /fit the engine & if u r thinking about a respray ... huh .. thats another FTo

[Wildhound]

My car with the engine that's in it is worth nothing. I can't afford another car. Even if I could there'd be no garuantee it wouldn't develop problems of its own. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't! This way I'll end up having a totally rebuilt engine, which is a lot of peace of mind.

I'll be doing all the labour myself with the help of a friend so it shouldn't work out too expensive provided nothing major goes wrong. I've been offered a couple of engines from the UK for under €1k, delivered.

A respray is not at the top of my list, it's something I want to do somewhere down the road and I'll likely be getting a very similar colour to what it is now. I'd still want to respray another FTO anyway.

Of course if someone's willing to buy a '95 GPX manual with a severely damaged engine (starts and runs!) and 117km on the clock for about 5k I'll happily entertain.

[Sebastian]

5k .. lol

i understand. after all that's your baby . what can i say ! i wish you luck then

[Wildhound]

Hehe, cheers. When the engine arrives I'll make a thread with some pics and u[dates on my progress if people are interested.

Might be useful to have around for reference at least.

[mcgon1979]

When the engine arrives I'll make a thread with some pics and u[dates on my progress if people are interested.

yep definitely interested. Good luck.