Hello from the UK!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Adam Mortimer

I have adjusted pretty well. The engine is much happier to rev than I previously thought, and it can maintain pretty good motorway speed (normally about 65mph) without getting too noisy.

I grew up mostly around underpowered engines within the same displacement bracket. Do you remember the Opel Corsa assembled in South Africa from Brazilian CKD kits? While the smaller engine available in South Africa was the 1.4L one, in Brazil there was a 1.0L engine (not the same 3-cyl from its European counterpart though).

The bulk of the noise at high speeds actually comes from the wind and tyres. I don't think it helps that the body is relatively thin metal and probably lacks noise insulation

Is it so bothersome at all?

In the long term, I would like to swap in a 1.3l engine, which is a very easy thing to do, little to no modification required, and only requires finding a good unit. That will mean lower RPM's at highway speed and better overall economy and performance. But as I'm not really using any motorways at the moment and won't be until at least March... not high on my priority list!

Had them been fitted with idle shut-off, which was not so widespread back in the day, I'd go for the engine swap ASAP. Since it's not the case, keeping the 1.0L for a while may not be so much of a burden.

[Adam Mortimer]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I grew up mostly around underpowered engines within the same displacement bracket. Do you remember the Opel Corsa assembled in South Africa from Brazilian CKD kits?

...

Had them been fitted with idle shut-off, which was not so widespread back in the day, I'd go for the engine swap ASAP.

I never saw many Corsas in SA, the somewhat rural area where I lived was populated either by pickups, SUVs or ancient Japanese cars that could take a beating. Hatchbacks were relatively thin on the ground, which I certainly can't say about the UK!

The noise is really more irritating than anything. It's "turn the stereo up and raise your voice" on the motorway, but not worse. And the 1.3 engine swap will happen eventually... Just need to find a good unit first, and a helpful mechanic! I keep an Ebay search open for engines, it'll probably end up costing me more than I bought the car for!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Adam Mortimer

I never saw many Corsas in SA

Meanwhile in this side of the Atlantic, the Corsa seems to have taken over the role of the VW Beetle both in Brazil and Mexico.

the somewhat rural area where I lived was populated either by pickups, SUVs or ancient Japanese cars that could take a beating. Hatchbacks were relatively thin on the ground, which I certainly can't say about the UK!

Pick-ups and SUVs were never out of favor in Brazil, yet due to costs it's not so unusual to see hatchbacks being widely used even in rural areas, and nowadays both Fiat and Chevrolet keep a strong foothold while Volkswagen and Ford lost some ground. When it comes to Japanese old-school rides, until the '90s the Toyota J40 Land Cruiser was the only one available on a regular basis in Brazil, yet some older RWD Corollas were not unheard of in Uruguay.