The Car Thread.

[Friesiansam]

Annual car tax is based solely on CO2 emissions, based on the hopelessly inadequate official economy testing, that bears no relation to reality in everyday driving. Clean Air Zone compliance is based solely on emissions regulation compliance, regardless of fuel consumption. Both are very poor systems.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

Best part of £60 a month. If I had a car with a similar emissions profile bought more recently I'd pay less. I'm looking forward to classic car RFL in 2032...

Have just seen that won't apply until the car is 40y/o - I thought it was 25. Forum rules prevent me from saying what I think...

 

[WayneKerr]

£70 per month or around £700 and something if you pay it off in one lump. Road tax is £150 per year

She's purchased the Cooper which has a few more extras the basic model doesn't have. We're picking it up later in the week, but she's got the two sets of keys and documents.

That's not bad for a youngster

 

[daveh75]

Have just seen that won't apply until the car is 40y/o - I thought it was 25. Forum rules prevent me from saying what I think...

Used to be, but was obolished by the incoming Govt in '97.

Only know this because my K plated Mini Pickup just scraped through in time to become exempt (pre '72 cars remained exempt after the 25 year rule was abolished,)

 

[plastic penguin]

That's not bad for a youngster

Better than I thought. I was expecting it to be over a grand. She's only has a provisional license as well.

 

[plastic penguin]

Picked up my daughter's car earlier today. Needs a darn good clean, but it looks and drives nice.

 

[plastic penguin]

If I had the money and storage I'd snap this Alfa up. It's super mileage from a collection.

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[Friesiansam]

If I had the money and storage I'd snap this Alfa up. It's super mileage from a collection.

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

I think I could put up with driving that, would need an early Sunday morning run up onto Exmoor now and then. I live just a few miles east of Exmoor.

 

[plastic penguin]

I think I could put up with driving that, would need an early Sunday morning run up onto Exmoor now and then. I live just a few miles east of Exmoor.

The only thing I would add to that car is a Quaife limited slip diff. They ain't cheap, prices, depending where you purchase them, between £700 & £1200 typically. That's just for the parts, the time you add in labour costs it's mega bucks. It's essential to have them as the chassis on these FWD Alfas are a bit wobbly. The Quaife is a fav of the Alfastis.

I was lucky with my GT 3.2 as it was a pretty rare Q2 version with a LSD fitted at the factory.

 

[plastic penguin]

The only thing I would add to that car is a Quaife limited slip diff. They ain't cheap, prices, depending where you purchase them, between £700 & £1200 typically. That's just for the parts, the time you add in labour costs it's mega bucks. It's essential to have them as the chassis on these FWD Alfas are a bit wobbly. The Quaife is a fav of the Alfastis.

I was lucky with my GT 3.2 as it was a pretty rare Q2 version with a LSD fitted at the factory.

That's what I like about my 2.0 version. It's a better power to weight ratio and it handles beautifully without any suspension or diff upgrades. The 3.2 engine, although it's very good, is too heavy and powerful that kills the cornering and braking. Owners of 3.2 tend to upgrade the the front brake discs and pads to Brembo 330mm as well as the front diff.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

Just about car-related - when we went on holiday last, I put the spare roofbox key somewhere safe. So safe I've still no idea where it is. So, we ordered spare keys from Halfords (it's one of their Exodus range). The keys came from Thule, which Halfords also sells, strongly suggesting that Thule makes them for Halfords. If this is true, worth noting that Halfords own brands for the bigger capacities start at £350 or so. Thule start at £600...

 

[plastic penguin]

Just about car-related - when we went on holiday last, I put the spare roofbox key somewhere safe. So safe I've still no idea where it is. So, we ordered spare keys from Halfords (it's one of their Exodus range). The keys came from Thule, which Halfords also sells, strongly suggesting that Thule makes them for Halfords. If this is true, worth noting that Halfords own brands for the bigger capacities start at £350 or so. Thule start at £600...

Holy moley, it'll be cheaper to buy a new roof box. That's nuts for the price of spare keys.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

Holy moley, it'll be cheaper to buy a new roof box. That's nuts for the price of spare keys.

The spare keys are £12 each, the prices I quote are for new boxes. Just trying to illustrate the folly in buying a Thule one!

 

[Friesiansam]

The spare keys are £12 each, the prices I quote are for new boxes. Just trying to illustrate the folly in buying a Thule one!

I think PP is off to a slow start this morning !

 

[plastic penguin]

I think PP is off to a slow start this morning !

Nope. As sharp as ever (pencil sharpener not incl). It's how I interpreted 12's post.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

You have keys with bigger capacities?!

 

[Ethics Gradient]

The in-car cassette would have turned 55 this year, had it not died the death years ago - a small piece in Autocar this week. Philips licenced it for free, which the article reckons went a long way to making it such a rapid success. The first units cost £40 - an eye-watering £580 when adjusted for inflation...

 

[daveh75]

The in-car cassette would have turned 55 this year, had it not died the death years ago - a small piece in Autocar this week. Philips licenced it for free, which the article reckons went a long way to making it such a rapid success. The first units cost £40 - an eye-watering £580 when adjusted for inflation...

The cassette tape turned 60 itself last month!

You would've thought WHF might have published something on it...but they were probably to busy posting clickbait to notice 🙄

 

[Friesiansam]

You would've thought WHF might have published something on it...but they were probably to busy posting clickbait to notice 🙄

Every site owned by Future Publishing is the same.

 

[plastic penguin]

When I took my daughter to Coulsdon yesterday, I popped into Tesco Superstore and saw this lovely Alfa 159.

 

[plastic penguin]

When I took my daughter to Coulsdon yesterday, I popped into Tesco Superstore and saw this lovely Alfa 159.

For some reason the picture won't load.

 

[plastic penguin]

@12th Monkey
What polish do you use for your vehicles?

 

[plastic penguin]

For some reason the picture won't load.

Finally...

 

[Ethics Gradient]

@12th Monkey
What polish do you use for your vehicles?

I confess I don't - I have it valeted every six weeks or so. It would take me all day to do the job properly and it still wouldn't look as good.

 

[WayneKerr]

Mr Sheen