Just bought this little gem with 53k genuine on the clock. Nippy, great heater, only thing is it seems very stiff on the road and even skips sometimes on uneven bits. Is this normal or has someone uprated the shocks? Which ones are out there which are a bit ‘softer’.

Quick check 160mm ground clearance. What car were you driving before to compare hardness.

12 hours ago, PeteMG said:

Just bought this little gem with 53k genuine on the clock. Nippy, great heater, only thing is it seems very stiff on the road and even skips sometimes on uneven bits. Is this normal or has someone uprated the shocks? Which ones are out there which are a bit ‘softer’.

I bought one of those new in 2006.   Exactly the same model.   The suspension was very comfortable so I suspect that someone has tampered with it.

ghia's tend to be top of range not geared so much toward sport/stiffer handling.

Have you checked the tyres haven't been over-inflated?

If they're fine, it's probably the shocks that are dead, they've done well to last 14 years.  Uprated shocks are usually brightly coloured so easy to tell from a quick visual.

Broken springs quite common nowadays but that would of been picked up on MOT.

As it turns out, because the previous owner did very low annual mileage, both rear tyres are ten and eleven years old and have lost their ‘comfort’ by going hard over time. Getting new rears in a couple of weeks. Should sort things out.

10 minutes ago, PeteMG said:

As it turns out, because the previous owner did very low annual mileage, both rear tyres are ten and eleven years old and have lost their ‘comfort’ by going hard over time. Getting new rears in a couple of weeks. Should sort things out.

lucky he didn't get a blow out max life of a tyre is 5 years

Just thought I’d update - new rear tyres sorted everything out 100%. The ten year old ones had lost their elasticity and were like driving on rocks! Whole new comfortable ride now. 

10 years without a puncture, bulge, cut or edgewear...he must've been lucky!! 

Glad it was an easy fix.

3 hours ago, PeteMG said:

Just thought I’d update - new rear tyres sorted everything out 100%. The ten year old ones had lost their elasticity and were like driving on rocks! Whole new comfortable ride now. 

Pleased to hear it.   Mine was one of the most comfortable cars I have owned.   I had it three years and then it went to my son who had it another two and we were both really pleased with it.