The Car Thread.

[Shrek]

It's also way beyond anything I purchased before.

I know this sounds strange, but the Giulietta isn't Alfa looking. You could put a Seat or BMW 1 badge on it and no one would blink. Perhaps that's why it was designed it like that, to appeal to a mass market.

By contrast, if you put a Beema or a Seat badge on mine, folks would think I lost the plot.View attachment 4480

Great looking cars . Hard too make a estate look good,, they are fast and always look brill too the eye

 

[plastic penguin]

Great looking cars . Hard too make a estate look good,, they are fast and always look brill too the eye

Yep.

 

[plastic penguin]

Another saga - I've become a car saga lout. 😁

Last week the key to disable the alarm was messing around. On Saturday and Sunday I couldn't go anywhere. Monday called in the RAC but they found the circuit board had water ingress, the board turned green. Also some previous owner had superglued the button instead of soldering it.

RAC patrol man called a key/alarm specialist, he turned up an hour later. The key is working but recommended I get a new/spare key. Not cheap.

To have the key repaired £190. New key up to £400, but I'll try and source a cheaper one from AROC UK.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

One of the keys for Mrs 12th's car stopped working - we got a non-badged generic for a good deal less than an OEM replacement.

EDIT: can't find where from - worth a google if you did need a new one.

 

[plastic penguin]

Well....

Just found out something interesting. If was to put up my Alfa for sale I wouldn't get anymore than 2k. Found out if I sold it in France my Sportwagon, in that condition, are selling for double that. What would it be worth in Italy?

 

[WayneKerr]

Be lucky if I got £500 for my jalopy Touch wood it still runs and I have no plans to change until it expires.

 

[plastic penguin]

Apparently this is correct. Looked on French classifieds and my model of Alfas go between 4000-10,000 €, depending on mileage. That's bonkers, just shows how under appreciated Alfas are in the UK. Would I want my car to go outside the UK?

 

[Al ears]

Apparently this is correct. Looked on French classifieds and my model of Alfas go between 4000-10,000 €, depending on mileage. That's bonkers, just shows how under appreciated Alfas are in the UK. Would I want my car to go outside the UK?

Would they want a right hand drive is perhaps more to the point.
Personally, if I were selling, I would not care where it went...

 

[plastic penguin]

Would they want a right hand drive is perhaps more to the point.
Personally, if I were selling, I would not care where it went...

We buy left hand drive cars from Europe, such as Lancia Delta integrale, Fiat Spiders, Alfa Spiders, so why not?

If it's been well looked after, which mine has, can't see any major issues

 

[Al ears]

We buy left hand drive cars from Europe, such as Lancia Delta integrale, Fiat Spiders, Alfa Spiders, so why not?

If it's been well looked after, which mine has, can't see any major issues

indeed but we usually buy them if we intend to go abroad at lot otherwise they are a pain when you actually want to see to overtake anything which is why I doubt many foreigners will buy such an impractical car, by impractical I mean tight hand drive.
It's dodgey enough driving over there with the steering wheel on the correct side...

 

[WayneKerr]

indeed but we usually buy them if we intend to go abroad at lot otherwise they are a pain when you actually want to see to overtake anything which is why I doubt many foreigners will buy such an impractical car, by impractical I mean tight hand drive.
It's dodgey enough driving over there with the steering wheel on the correct side...

Agreed, there's also that little obstacle of import duties and taxes now we have exited the EU. Ridiculous idea and a complete non starter in my opinion.

 

[plastic penguin]

Agreed, there's also that little obstacle of import duties and taxes now we have exited the EU. Ridiculous idea and a complete non starter in my opinion.

Understand what you say, but this is one of my neighbours cars.

 

[WayneKerr]

I applaud your adoration for your Alfa, PP. However, the example LHD vehicles you allude to are only available in LHD format and are far more desirable than your traditional estate car with some Italian flair injected.

Go ahead and prove me wrong - sell it to a nice Frenchman for 10,000€ and report back.

 

[bigboss]

Yes, when there are LHD cars already available for sale, the only way an RHD car of the same model will appeal is if it was significantly cheaper.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Missing mine at the moment - in for all four wheels to be refurbished. When you've had your car for as long as I have (esp. if you never intend to sell), being without it always feels strange - even though I am not at work this week and would probably only use it once.

 

[plastic penguin]

Missing mine at the moment - in for all four wheels to be refurbished. When you've had your car for as long as I have (esp. if you never intend to sell), being without it always feels strange - even though I am not at work this week and would probably only use it once.

Nice. What car is it?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

B7 generation RS4. Had it since January 2007, hence it feeling like a part of the family. Posted in a previous thread:

Wheels look a darn sight tidier in this than they actually are - for now at least.

 

[plastic penguin]

B7 generation RS4. Had it since January 2007, hence it feeling like a part of the family. Posted in a previous thread:

Wheels look a darn sight tidier in this than they actually are - for now at least.

Very nice. My niece has the slower 2.0 S-Line version from 2015.

I know the feeling about keeping it for sentimental reasons. That's why I've spent so much money on the Alfa engine rebuild. Will never see that money back but it's not only a very sold car but very rare in this particular colour.

 

[plastic penguin]

The ma-in-law phoned last night and she's ditched her Peugeot 307 and purchased a Mini Countryman.

I love Minis but since BMW took over the brand they've milked the Mini name to death. Dreadful car.

Anyway, she's showing us the car on Friday.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Very nice. My niece has the slower 2.0 S-Line version from 2015.

I know the feeling about keeping it for sentimental reasons. That's why I've spent so much money on the Alfa engine rebuild. Will never see that money back but it's not only a very sold car but very rare in this particular colour.

Just collected it - wheels look closer to perfection than I think they have any right to - very pleased. Alas I now know I need a new tyre, and as they are all legal but well-worn, it means four new tyres...

 

[plastic penguin]

Just collected it - wheels look closer to perfection than I think they have any right to - very pleased. Alas I now know I need a new tyre, and as they are all legal but well-worn, it means four new tyres...

Not cheap. Even for a budget or midrange tyre like I use on the Alfa, such as Avon, still eat into your bank balance.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

About £200 a tyre, perhaps a bit more. One area not to skimp on though.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Wheels look pretty good for nigh on 17 years old:



Tyres £180 each for like for like, which is (bizarrely) less than this set cost.

EDIT: Having just checked, the last set were almost £60 more each, and that was 2018. At five years' old, the tyres won't be at their best, so at least that's something to look forward to after they're replaced next week.

 

[plastic penguin]

They look cracking. That's the only thing letting the Alfa down. The previous owner looked a like a keen kerb hopper. They are not that bad, but a refresh may come along later in the year.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I doubt you'd regret it...