1981 FIAT X1/9 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I just had to have this car. I test drove an '83 model in '09 and fell in love with it, but the example I test drove needed more work than I could afford at the time. The next year, I purchased my '81 model which only really needed floor pans. I purchased the car from Midwest Bayless in Columbus, Ohio, and I strongly recommend them to anyone in the Midwest wanting to get into an X1/9 or any sort of FIAT in fact. Anywho, on to the review. The car is extremely responsive and the wheel is quite light, despite not having power steering. While not very quick in stock form in a straight line, the weight balance and chassis/suspension setup allows you to take corners at somewhat high speed. Add to that any upgrades to the engine or suspension, and it can be a very formidable sports car. If you are going to look at an X1/9, look for rust in the strut towers bubbling up, as well as the engine crossmember (from below). These cars have a very stiff chassis from stock (due to safety legislation that never ended up being passed) but low quality steel that is somewhat prone to rust can mean very time consuming repairs (like replacing the crossmember). Overall the X1/9 is easy to work on, but jobs like replacing master cylinders and brake lines are difficult due to compact packaging. If these jobs have been done recently on a used X1/9, count it as a major plus (I learned from experience these are not fun jobs) You might check for master cylinder leaks before buying as well. There are a few performance parts available, like cams, headers/exhausts, and carburetors. The later fuel injected models are generally better for reliability, but many run carburetors without issue. If you value handling over outright acceleration, the X1/9 is a must drive. I absolutely love mine and I can't think of too many cars I would get rid of my X1/9 for. I recommend you read my previous review (1983 model) for more information.Nov 23, 2011