4x4 Action Group

Back in the later 1980's & early 1990's Fiat sold the Uno in SA.
Most of them had the 1.0 liter Fire engine.

For those too young to remember:
Fiat stands for Factoria Italiano Automobilio Torino (The Italian Automoble Factory of Turin)
Fire stood for Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (No Italians were involved).
Uno is Italian for One - as it had a 1L engine.

Anyhoo, back to the Thread...
Fiat launched a 1400 Turbo version of the Uno called the Uno Turbo.
While it's outputs were only 85kW & 161Nm - in that tiny tin sh!tbox it was a lot.

The Fiat Uno Turbo was called the Widow Maker because the guys (in SA) used to kill themselves in it.

I heard (but have never fact checked this) that in other markets (like Europe) it was sold as an AWD.
I also heard that in some markets you had to do an Advanced Driving Test to buy one.
But here in SA Fiat SA adopted a 'Buy & Die' sales policy.

Very few were sold & not many still exist. (A quick check on Autotrader shows NONE for sale).

Finally, my point:

I think the very nice new Ford Ranger V6 Raptor is going to, kinda, go the same way.
Lots of power (although, unlike the Uno Turbo - plenty safety kit) & a large Tappit market.

We have already seen one being rolled by that Ford DP & another being Wheelspun outside Bloem Ford.

I think the guys are going to pull these through their butts like they did with the Uno Turbo, early Golf GTI's, the Opel Boss etc.

Your views?

Mad Manny wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 05, 2023 9:16 pm

SNIP

Your views?

The current trend in the automotive industry fascinates me.

I remember when 120kw in a Bakkie was considered mind boggling, now the okes are pissing and moaning that 120kw couldn’t pull the hair out of Mama Manny’s moustache.

More power = More better, but I am TERRIFIED of giving the average Joe that much power. They won’t know how to handle it. They won’t be able to control it.

As for pulling it through their butts, will you be able to tell in a Ford?

I agree with Manny that they are going to be bought and driven predominantly by people that shouldn't be in charge of a wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, they are going to be written off faster than they can be imported.
Generally, bakkies have a low weight over the rear axle and that makes them prone to swapping ends if not treated with respect. The high center of gravity will also make them prone to roll over when sideways.
Unfortunately, I think most will be bought by the "windgat" crowd and the extra power won't get used for proper off-roading.

Ford Ranger Raptor drivers = the BMW owners of the bakkie world

You would think that someone who can afford a million bucks would have enough grey matter to act responsibly…

Unfortunately car sales “people” have a vacuum up there and hence the behaviour we have witnessed to date.

But alas I forget we live in SA and there are a lot of individuals who have been given geld opposed to have earned it and the mentality will prevail.


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Very few people in SA have owned or driven a 300kw vehicle. Let alone a DC bakkie.

So yes I think we are going to see a few bend and dented

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Sometimes you want to flaunt what you have...... No use having the power and not using it now and then, but try as they might, they cant compare to toyotaholics

You forgot to mention the Toyota Fortuner early days. And they did not have much kick under the hood.powerful.
Or are they exempt from this topic.

Fortuner: Bakkie with SUV body on it, but a lot of people drove it like a normal SUV... Did not end well
Raptor: Bakkie with SUV (Sports SUV) performance, but a lot of people will drive it like a Sports SUV... Will not end well

HenriSteyn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:14 am

You forgot to mention the Toyota Fortuner early days. And they did not have much kick under the hood.powerful.
Or are they exempt from this topic.

Well, they had enough kick to get them rolling...
More generally though, I think the problem is weight distribution of bakkie/SUV hybrids such as these.
That's partly why I prefer old school chunky SFA hardware at the bottom.

Too much torque has only one off-road application, and that is in dunes.
Besides that, it is just a cheap selling point in brochures. But that is what customers go for, so it won't stop.

HenriSteyn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:14 am

You forgot to mention the Toyota Fortuner early days. And they did not have much kick under the hood.powerful.

True Henri..... Like someone I know who's motto is "No one ever got stuck in mid air"

HenriSteyn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:14 am

You forgot to mention the Toyota Fortuner early days. And they did not have much kick under the hood.powerful.
Or are they exempt from this topic.

Not sure what the handling issues of the early Fortuners with 120kW has got to do with a Thread about vehicles with more power than they, or the owners, can handle...
The Ford Explorers fitted with Firestone tyres also fell over &, being a Yank Ford, often burst into flame, but that's not what we are discussing here....

Hijack the thread, like always. Why not?

Discussing windgat vehicles with too much horses...... Wich in my opinion is great. If the driver cant handle it its their problem

....and much too many YouTube vids showing the capabilities with some more capable drivers