As a former X 1/9 owner of 15 years and 175K miles, I always found it a special car. The game has moved on of course, but the X 1/9 remains charming. I just wish more had survived.
At a recent Motorsports Gathering that my Ferrari group puts on, a couple of X's showed up. I haven't been around one for a while. I forgot just how small they are! My Challenge Stradale was like a house boat!
I was speaking with one owner and relayed my long term ownership experience, all the while he was 'enthusiastically' looking at the Stradale. I let him and his boy sit in the car and take some pictures. He then asked me if I wanted to drive his X. I almost didn't want to, as I wanted my memories to be the fond ones I had from back in the day.
I drove it anyway and tried to put my frame of reference not in the Ferrari world of today, but in the '80's world of Fiat, but it was tough. Back in the day, did I really believe that the shifting wasn't this vague and the 'beer tap' shifter a good idea? Did I used to think this was quick? Were the pedals always this far apart? Did any of that matter?
At the end of the day, it does exactly what it should..... put a smile on my face! Has the game moved on? Sure it has. I had the opportunity to drive a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 and felt the same way. Game has moved on. It really wasn't that fast. Nor did it handle all that well. Pretty? Yes. $3M pretty. That's a question for you and your banker. My F40 or CS would wax it in every category. But I still had a big smile when I got out.
The thing with vintage cars like the X1/9, you can have huge fun and not really be at 'go to jail' pace. When I try to get the same level of excitement out of supercars, the speeds and limits are so high it is almost impossible on a public road. You need a track, and a good sized one at that.
You guys really have brilliant little cars. If you sort them and keep them maintained, they will remain the foundation of the mid engined Italian experience.
WOW!