Used Car Buying Guide: Cheap Hot Hatches

The bodykit boys' favourite, the Nova is so easy to work on and tune that it's just made to be Max Powered. Not a problem if that's what you're into, but there's a popular saying that 'if you want a job done properly, do it yourself'. That's often true when buying car like this, as it's all too easy to end up with someone else's botched 'project'. Luckily, the proverbial one-old-lady-owner Novas do still exist (although they tend to come in beige or brown and with a boot, rather than a hatch) as do lots of perfectly sound examples that haven't been thrashed and trashed by the entire population of the local sixth-form college. The Nova's a tough little thing.

Models badged SR have a close-ratio gearbox and sportier seats and trim to distinguish them from the bog-standard runarounds; they came first with a carburettored 1.3 engine (70 bhp, 1983-89), then a 1.4 (75 bhp) and, finally, with a fuel-injected 82 bhp 1.4 unit. The 1.6i GTE is the most popular, however, as it produces a whopping 101 bhp in standard form, and even more with a few basic tweaks; it was rebadged as a GSi towards the end to try and fool the insurers, although it's doubtful whether this had much effect in reducing premiums. GSi models have alloy wheels and ventilated front disc brakes, although such features have been added to many other Novas as options or aftermarket fitments.

Ownership of a Nova comes hand in hand with a subscription to the Demon Tweeks catalogue, and it would be difficult to resist the urge to dress it up and accessorise it. Forget the fact that by the time you've paid for and fitted the bodykit, splitters and spoilers, the flashy alloys and sports seats with harnesses, the souped-up air filters, engine chips or big-bore exhaust, the tinted windows, single front wiper and special graphics, you could have spent your money on a proper sports car... you either get it or you don't.

Links:
Guide to checking out a used car
Mug's guide to tuning: More bhp for your bucks

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