First off to the OP, dont change the coils there is no need. They are perfectly relaible when set up as per the factory supplementary manual

If you put it on a dizzy it will never run as well as it can on the coils

I also noted that running it daily it seemed far more relaible than my friends who holed them up in a grage and in carcoons and used them once a month, they need to be used or things degrade IMO


I had one and ran it as a daily for over two years, then sold it for double what I paid nearly

The ONLY problem you'll have apart from the degredation caused by being open to the elements 365 days a year are

1) Folks taking too much interest in it and stopping your for a chat, all the time, about when they used to have an xr3i
2) Folks wanting to nick it
3) and this is the biggie, getting hold of the rs1600i specific parts that are nigh on impossible to find

Most of the ignition system is not found on other models, altho the fabled sensor lead is the same as a brooklands capri but a tiny bit longer, the K-Jet metering head is 16i specific as are most of the suspension bushes, fuel pump relay, the koni shocks and oddly the wheels!

basically service items are as per any cvh but once you need to do more than an oil change and the filters you can hit problems

Also, if using as a daily you will be more likely to have a bump and then you'll be stuck for bumpers, overriders, lights, spotlights, grille, front/rear spoilers and glass and interior trim

One thing you wont need to do is anything to adjust for using super unleaded, its a straight swap for 4* and it has inserts in the alloy head already, plus by the time any damage had occured ( which would be 100k miles plus ) it would need a freshen up anyway!

Finding somewhere that knows the correct geometry is also a pain in the cunt as well, I had to do a lot of research and trial and error with my local alignment specialist to get it sweet


Overall I did £25k in mine in 2 1/2 years and loved every mile, it never once let me down come wind rain snow and shine. Bit tiring due to the heavy low speed steering, but what great steering at speed.

I loved it and would have another like a shot if I wasnt constantly worrying about it and getting hold of parts. If i had plenty of spare cash to pamper it then it wouldnt be as much of an issue

Oh yeah, i'd suspect mine was turnkey reliable because I totally rewired it when I got it to solve the problems of two imobilisers have been fitted and removed. Most problems folks have are electrics based because of old/shonky wiring


If I wanted a cheap RS daily hack i'd find a mint mk6 rs2000 2wd

Mega mega mega under rated car and a nice place to be if its got all the options