Had one since '88. Been tarmac stage rallying one since '93. Admittedly a couple of areas do rust if you don't look after them but they have absolutely bomb proof reliability.
Having owned a Samba rag top since 1987, and doing over 60.000 miles in that time only braking down once, never using any oil and always giving 40 plus MPG a very great car, sadly sold her this summer, now I have a rag top with a little over 3,000 miles and in better than new condition.
I have been using the Talbot Samba LS for a year and a half now. It was previously owned by my father, who had bought it precisely 21 years ago, that's 1982. It never really gave us any big problems, and people are always telling me how excellent its condition is... no rust, no nothing. Some two years ago, we fitted a reconditioned Peugeot 1100cc engine instead of the original 953cc, and now it's really reliable and a joy to drive.
Quite nippy due to being so wafer thin and light with same engine as early 205, this gave it a go-kart feel, ie. fun. Didn't like the rain much but surprising little rust on mine til a mate crashed it for me.
Terrible, terrible car. My mam and dad bought one new, and it rusted from day one, was utterly unreliable from day one and was just a really, really atrocious car, sadly. I would be surprised if there are more than 10 left in the UK, such was there tendency to rust away. Most would have been scrapped a long, long time ago.
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
Performance
Reliability
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I thought that the Samba would make an ideal first car for my daughter as it had a good reputation and Haynes recommendation. Unfortunately, after a month, it broke a piston ring and scored a cylinder, which was when I discovered that rebores are not possible. Only liners and pistons are available as sets and cost over £500. My fingers have only just healed after my efforts at changing spark plugs. GSS
Owned for 3 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed September 2003.
Performance
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The Talbot Samba 'S' will leave many cars behind at a set of lights, albeit in a cloud of blue smoke! 1360cc 80bhp twin carb engine in a lightweight flimsy shell gives this car unexpected performance. Possibly the only Samba ever than someone has tried to steal, I have very fond memories of this car and the breakers yard which kept me in good supply of spares each week..!
Owned for 3 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed June 2003.
Performance
Reliability
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My brother has had his Creg Samba Style for three years now, and is his first car. He oniy paid £130 for it, and has always been reliable. Never needing any more than a yearly service, although it could do with some tlc. The wings are rusty, the paint is faded, and the n/s rear suspension turet had to be welded recently. His only complaint, is that some spares are no longer available through Peugeot. He always get lots of looks from people, he has had people come up to ask about the car. Sometimes to ask what is it? or to say they hav'nt seen one for years. He,s even had people say they used to own one, and tell him about one they have owned. Last year we even went to Newquay in it on holiday, and it coped really well. Despite the motorways and hills, it was no trouble at all for the Samba. Overall it has a good ride, {great over speed bumps!} and performance is good for a 17 year old 1.0 car.[ it can do 90mph ] It even suprises a few boy racers! viva la france! From Paul, Derbyshire.
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed May 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
I bought a Samba LE in 1987 (my first car), 4 years old and one previous owner. Kept it for nearly 8 years until it succumbed to hideous rusting by 1994.
Good points: 1/ Incredibly reliable engine (954cc) and very economical to run and to insure. In my 8 years, the only engine-related problem was the failure, one morning, of the petrol pump.
2/ Original Vesna battery after 12 years.
3/ Very low depreciation.
Bad points: 1/ Terribly flimsy shell, even my cat jumping off an upstairs window sill left a small dent in the roof.
2/ Engaging first gear was often something of a battle; many's the time I had to pull away at traffic lights in second.
3/ Spare wheel foolishly positioned under the bonnet.
4/ Rust, the curse of almost all Talbots, was not a major headache during its first 10 years, but spread like cancer thereafter. Had to hold nearside door open for passengers towards end of its life as otherwise would probably have fallen off. Also, rusting caused the driver window mecahnism to collapse into the door one evening.
Alan
Owned for more than 5 years.
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