The Car Thread.

[plastic penguin]

Since then the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has gone even faster, although it is less of a road car. I believe, though not certain, that the Jag still holds the 4-door saloon record.

https://uk.motor1.com/news/361626/jaguar-xesv-project8-new-nurburgring-record/

Looks awesome but it's unfair comparison given the Jag has 5 ltr V8 and costs around £120,000, compared to the Alfas poky 2.9 ltr V6 and originally cost about 60k.

 

[My2Cents]

Since then the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has gone even faster, although it is less of a road car. I believe, though not certain, that the Jag still holds the 4-door saloon record.

https://uk.motor1.com/news/361626/jaguar-xesv-project8-new-nurburgring-record/

It appears that a lot of cars have gone faster. Apparently it was the fastest 'saloon' car in 2015 but Nürburgring lap times get beaten almost daily. The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has recently done a lap only a few seconds slower than the Alfa.
Not to mention PP seems to have a sport wagon (with a diesel engine)? so who really cares!?

Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times - FastestLaps.com

List of fastest lap times for Nürburgring Nordschleife. Updated November 2024.

fastestlaps.com

 

[plastic penguin]

This is a good one. V8 Merc vs V6.

View: https://youtu.be/O-pwjFNQKeQ?si=CjpCBuXhWaxiZrqH

 

[Friesiansam]

It appears that a lot of cars have gone faster. Apparently it was the fastest 'saloon' car in 2015 but Nürburgring lap times get beaten almost daily. The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has recently done a lap only a few seconds slower than the Alfa.
Not to mention PP seems to have a sport wagon (with a diesel engine)? so who really cares!?

Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times - FastestLaps.com

List of fastest lap times for Nürburgring Nordschleife. Updated November 2024.

fastestlaps.com

In case you haven’t noticed, those in the linked list, are not 4-door saloons…

 

[plastic penguin]

It appears that a lot of cars have gone faster. Apparently it was the fastest 'saloon' car in 2015 but Nürburgring lap times get beaten almost daily. The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has recently done a lap only a few seconds slower than the Alfa.
Not to mention PP seems to have a sport wagon (with a diesel engine)? so who really cares!?

Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times - FastestLaps.com

List of fastest lap times for Nürburgring Nordschleife. Updated November 2024.

fastestlaps.com

How fast do you want to go on roads? Even Alfas 3.9 secs is too quick given the speed restrictions.

That's why I would only buy (out of the Guilia range) the 280 hp Veloce. It's a 2.0 ltr with 0-62 time in a tad over 5.5 secs. I've actually driven one and it's great fun to drive. Superb.

 

[My2Cents]

In case you haven’t noticed, those in the linked list, are not 4-door saloons…

I think I've stated that twice already... it was in the 'salon' category. And who really cares about cars and speed anyway.

 

[My2Cents]

How fast do you want to go on roads? Even Alfas 3.9 secs is too quick given the speed restrictions.

That's why I would only buy (out of the Guilia range) the 280 hp Veloce. It's a 2.0 ltr with 0-62 time in a tad over 5.5 secs. I've actually driven one and it's great fun to drive. Superb.

I already stated that in post #390...
"but where on the Kings Highway can you even use all that power? You just get to the next traffic jam quicker?"

 

[plastic penguin]

It appears that a lot of cars have gone faster. Apparently it was the fastest 'saloon' car in 2015 but Nürburgring lap times get beaten almost daily. The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has recently done a lap only a few seconds slower than the Alfa.
Not to mention PP seems to have a sport wagon (with a diesel engine)? so who really cares!?

Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times - FastestLaps.com

List of fastest lap times for Nürburgring Nordschleife. Updated November 2024.

fastestlaps.com

No, my Sportwagon is petrol, the 2.0 JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric), a direct injection version of the Twin Spark.

You seem to care to diss the Alfa name and heritage.

 

[Friesiansam]

And who really cares about cars and speed anyway.

Presumably, quite a lot of people or, car manufacturers wouldn't be putting so much effort into trying to win the horse power race. Personally, I like a bit of grunt but, too many cars are too fast for the public road now. I don't see the point in cars so quick, you can't get anyway near enjoying their potential on the public road, if you want to stay out of jail.

 

[Friesiansam]

Looks awesome but it's unfair comparison given the Jag has 5 ltr V8 and costs around £120,000, compared to the Alfas poky 2.9 ltr V6 and originally cost about 60k.

Pffft! I should also point out that, although the Jag is a 4-door saloon, it is also just a 2-seater, only the roll cage sits in the back...

 

[DougK1]

You seem to care to diss the Alfa name and heritage.

Have you ever thought that people are just trying to bring balance to your blind and almost fanatical pro Alfa stance? There's no disputing they build beautiful cars but there's an awful lot of Alfa gushing here... It's only a car, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[plastic penguin]

Have you ever thought that people are just trying to bring balance to your blind and almost fanatical pro Alfa stance? There's no disputing they build beautiful cars but there's an awful lot of Alfa gushing here... It's only a car, nothing more, nothing less.

Or proves they know very little about the brand.

I have owned countless other brands: Audis, Vauxhalls, Triumphs, Mini, Lotus, Hillman Avenger blah blah blah....

If you can't gush with friends where can you gush? 😉

 

[plastic penguin]

Pffft! I should also point out that, although the Jag is a 4-door saloon, it is also just a 2-seater, only the roll cage sits in the back...

Seems like an outright racing car.

 

[My2Cents]

Or proves they know very little about the brand.

I have owned countless other brands: Audis, Vauxhalls, Triumphs, Mini, Lotus, Hillman Avenger blah blah blah....

If you can't gush with friends where can you gush? 😉

Hillman Avenger... NOW you're talking!

What about the Austin/Morris Ital... that had some Italian heritage.. no?
It never actually made it around the Nürburgring, so no one knows what it's time would have been.
Sadly it never even made it to Germany because it rusted up and fell apart on the ferry over.

 

[My2Cents]

No, my Sportwagon is petrol, the 2.0 JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric), a direct injection version of the Twin Spark.

You seem to care to diss the Alfa name and heritage.

Sorry mate, I apologize. I just got a bit bored with cars as I got older. New cars all look the same to me.
Here's an Alfa that I could perhaps get excited about owning...

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I think people sometimes get hung up on speed - it's acceleration that counts in power terms. Mine has 434ps, and I use almost all of that pretty much every time I use it - just in 'short controlled bursts' as the quote has it. No points on my licence, either. It can be done, and safely.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hillman Avenger... NOW you're talking!

What about the Austin/Morris Ital... that had some Italian heritage.. no?
It never actually made it around the Nürburgring, so no one knows what it's time would have been.
Sadly it never even made it to Germany because it rusted up and fell apart on the ferry over.

Err... no. The Ital wasn't a Italian design, it was BL trying to appeal more to the European market. It was designed by Harris Mann, chief designer of BL in the late 70s. The name was taken from Italdesign, a company started by Giugiaro, who designed my 156, Lotus Esprit and countless other brands. But had no hand in the Morris Ital.

I have owned several Triumph cars all designed by Michelotti

I did have a number of Triumphs designed by Michelotti (Herald, D

 

[plastic penguin]

Sorry mate, I apologize. I just got a bit bored with cars as I got older. New cars all look the same to me.
Here's an Alfa that I could perhaps get excited about owning...

That was commonly known as the Alfa 105 but they came various guises. My fav incarnation is the GTA. The came in different flavours: 1300cc, 1750cc and 2000cc. Gorgeous to look at, a genuine poster car. A nightmare to live with.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

In 2020 the Giulietta came 2nd from top in What Car? Owner satisfaction survey.

Jus reading that the Giulia was one from bottom in the 2023 What Car? reliability survey ('executive car' section, whatever that might mean...). Clearly there's still work to do, but it's much more appealing in so many ways than the German triumvirate. Also a pity that the saloon has been in decline for many years as people want an S(sic)UV instead.

 

[plastic penguin]

Jus reading that the Giulia was one from bottom in the 2023 What Car? reliability survey ('executive car' section, whatever that might mean...). Clearly there's still work to do, but it's much more appealing in so many ways than the German triumvirate. Also a pity that the saloon has been in decline for many years as people want an S(sic)UV instead.

A few years ago it was one of the most reliable cars around, how that goes from the top to bottom in such a short period is beyond me.

The only real issues I know about the Guilia is the brakes: they have a 'brake by wire' rather than trad braking system. That means the brake warning light comes on at random times.

I don't care about any faults, it still isn't enough to choke me off.

The Stelvio meant there was no Sportwagon variant. Always preferred the estate versions on most cars.

Here's a digital pic of what Sportwagon might have looked like.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

A few years ago it was one of the most reliable cars around, how that goes from the top to bottom in such a short period is beyond me.

I wonder if the clue is in one being satisfaction and the other reliability? Not necessarily the same thing to an enthusiastic driver.

 

[plastic penguin]

I wonder if the clue is in one being satisfaction and the other reliability? Not necessarily the same thing to an enthusiastic driver.

You could be right, but having driven a Veloce Guilia it's fun to drive, plenty of character - very soulful compared to the typical Euroboxes.

The Guilia, all models came came top in Euro NCAP, so it's one of the safest cars around.

Official Alfa Romeo Giulia 2016 safety rating

Euro NCAP safety rating of the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2016: detailed results, crash test pictures, videos and comments from experts

www.euroncap.com

 

[JDL]

Agreed. This has nothing to do with PP it is down to the dealer, your wishes should come first and the garage should pay, nothing whatsoever to do with your insurance PP. They damaged it, they pay for the repair regardless of the age of the vehicle.

The old saying;
"If you bend it, you mend it...."

 

[plastic penguin]

The old saying;
"If you bend it, you mend it...."

All sorted ages ago. The insurance company (the Alfa specialist, not the one I use) wanted to scrap my car, but my specialist emphasised the rarity and condition of my car. If it was a rusty old banger it would be a different story.

As the spray was carried outside by a separate coachworks, I kept drumming into my specialist "do not go by the paint code, I want it 'time worn' like the rest of the car". They produced a pretty good job.

 

[plastic penguin]

One piece of Alfa humour. About 3 years ago I received a letter from Fiat/Chrysler group, saying all 156 owners should have a bonnet check - it was a recall on a model that hadn't been produced since 2005. Oddly, the bonnet catch on my car was stuck. The specialist said, there had been a few cases of the bonnet flipping up at speed and smashing the windscreen. Solution? Spray a little WD40 on the latch mechanism. It's been fine since then.

The bonkers world of Alfa ownership.