The Car Thread.

[Al ears]

They use "dreckly" in Devon not just in Cornwall. It's been described as rather like the Spanish "mañana" but without the overwhelming sense of urgency.

As a Plymothian I understand that just never ever heard the expression used apart from in Cornwall

 

[JDl]

They use "dreckly" in Devon not just in Cornwall. It's been described as rather like the Spanish "mañana" but without the overwhelming sense of urgency.

In West Wales, "I'll be there now", is actually meant, by those who say it, to mean that the person will really be with you very soon. But, as the years went by, I and friends of mine, came to realise after people said it and didn't turn up at all, or perhaps in two hours time, or two days time, that it became amongst some of us, a witticism.

 

[plastic penguin]

Amusing little Alfa story from this weekend.

On Saturday, I visited my brother. My daughter came along too. Anyway my niece Sue and her husband was there with the kids. My niece and her husband are big fans of German cars, so he has always taken the mick out what he calls "shaky old Alfas."

He started question me by saying, is it economical? Does it have low emissions? Is it the most reliable? Is it very fast?

Of course, being an honest person I replied "no" to all of them? I added the electrics were put together by a child's playgroup and the suspension is made of chocolate.

My brother and sis-in-law were laughing the other side of the living room.

So he asked me "what is the appeal?" I responded, 'have you ever driven one? He said "no". Then I asked 'have you ever sat in an Alfa?' Again, he said "no."

I handed him the keys, and said 'take it for a spin.' All I said to him was do not get a speeding ticket and avoid the potholes. If you do, I warned him in jest, I'll nick the hub caps from your Beema.

He was gone nearly an hour. My niece phoned him up and asked how long he was going to be. He replied, "shortly." He arrived back through the door 30 minutes later with a big grin on his face: "Now I understand the appeal. It makes you feel so connected and the dashboard is nuts - very driver focused."

I just nodded and smiled.

 

[plastic penguin]

Today I blagged a test drive of a Alfa Giulia Veloce. I drove one back 2017, since then I've seen so many online reviews from reputable companies, such as Parkers.

It's an amazing car to drive, the steering is scarily sharp; the cornering ability would put many modern two-seater sports cars to shame. For a 4 door family car it's awesome.

A lot of reviews criticise the poor screen quality, but that doesn't bother me as I don't have a need for a sat nav.

I only have a couple of criticisms, that being it only revs to 5 & half thousand revs, where my old Sportwagon revs to 6k. They could also have eeked 30-40 BHP extra. Even at 5k revs it feels it still has plenty of torque left. Nevertheless, it's still eye-wateringly quick for a four pot 2.0 litre.

The other thing that strangely irritates me is the controls on the steering wheel aren't back-lit. I do a lot of night driving so that would be a great little touch - even my old SW them back-lit.

Overall, though, great car.... those aluminium flappy paddles are immediate. Slightly flawed but fantastic car.

 

[Shrek]

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[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I only have a couple of criticisms, that being it only revs to 5 & half thousand revs, where my old Sportwagon revs to 6k. They could also have eeked 30-40 BHP extra. Even at 5k revs it feels it still has plenty of torque left. Nevertheless, it's still eye-wateringly quick for a four pot 2.0 litre.

That's the modern turbo engine for you - highly effective but rather lacking in verve. My car's engine's (very) high-revving nature is probably the single biggest reason why I hope never to get rid of it.

 

[Friesiansam]

That's the modern turbo engine for you - highly effective but rather lacking in verve. My car's engine's (very) high-revving nature is probably the single biggest reason why I hope never to get rid of it.

Nearly 30 years ago I had a loan car for a few days. It was a very tired looking Honda Civic 3-door 1.6 16 valve, when 16 valve meant the quick version of a small car. with 134,000 miles on it. That engine was great, revved to 7500, smoothly and with real verve. Felt like it would never break, if you thrashed it every day. Never driven anything like it since.

 

[plastic penguin]

Nearly 30 years ago I had a loan car for a few days. It was a very tired looking Honda Civic 3-door 1.6 16 valve, when 16 valve meant the quick version of a small car. with 134,000 miles on it. That engine was great, revved to 7500, smoothly and with real verve. Felt like it would never break, if you thrashed it every day. Never driven anything like it since.

Did it have the V-Tech engine? I hate the V-Tech, it screams like a spoilt kid. Awful sounding engine.

 

[plastic penguin]

That's the modern turbo engine for you - highly effective but rather lacking in verve. My car's engine's (very) high-revving nature is probably the single biggest reason why I hope never to get rid of it.

The only thing I dislike about a single turbo engine is the slight lag. Once that kicks in holy moley it has some kick. Plus your Audi has a V6 or V8 engine. Normally aspirated V engine has a shedload of torque.

Despite the Giulia only has a 4 pot, it's claimed to do 0-62 in 5.7 secs, far from shabby -- it feels much quicker.

You could have these Giulia engines ECU upgraded from 280 HP to around 350. That said, personally I wouldn't bother. Leave 'as is'.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Plus your Audi has a V6 or V8 engine. Normally aspirated V engine has a shedload of torque.

Not in comparison with modern turbos though. The RS/M/Giulia all have smaller, turbocharged engines now, and the torque output is noticeably higher and delivered with little effort at low revs.

 

[Friesiansam]

Did it have the V-Tech engine? I hate the V-Tech, it screams like a spoilt kid. Awful sounding engine.

No, predated VTec, fine engine though.

 

[Al ears]

Did it have the V-Tech engine? I hate the V-Tech, it screams like a spoilt kid. Awful sounding engine.

It's down to the exhaust not the engine.....

 

[Al ears]

The only thing I dislike about a single turbo engine is the slight lag. Once that kicks in holy moley it has some kick. Plus your Audi has a V6 or V8 engine. Normally aspirated V engine has a shedload of torque.

Despite the Giulia only has a 4 pot, it's claimed to do 0-62 in 5.7 secs, far from shabby -- it feels much quicker.

You could have these Giulia engines ECU upgraded from 280 HP to around 350. That said, personally I wouldn't bother. Leave 'as is'.

Best wagon I owned was an import twin turbo Subaru Legacy, the first turbo was noticeable but boot it a bit more and the second was mad!

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Did it have the V-Tech engine? I hate the V-Tech, it screams like a spoilt kid. Awful sounding engine.

There's a new-model Civic Type R near where I was parked today. At low revs, it just sounds like all modern turbos - farty, basically.

 

[plastic penguin]

There's a new-model Civic Type R near where I was parked today. At low revs, it just sounds like all modern turbos - farty, basically.

To be honest, though, all 4 pots don't sound great, except, possibly, for the early Alfas with the flat 4 boxer engine, such as the Sud and the Sprint. For a small engine sounded great. What a shame the bodywork went to dust with overnight dew.

 

[plastic penguin]

Best wagon I owned was an import twin turbo Subaru Legacy, the first turbo was noticeable but boot it a bit more and the second was mad!

All those Subarus sounded meaty. Most, those, especially with upgraded exhausts, sounded the biz.

 

[plastic penguin]

It's down to the exhaust not the engine.....

Not on those VTECH engines. Any car that revs to 9,000 will naturally sound strained.

 

[plastic penguin]

Change the theme a little.

This evening went to pick up my daughter from Guildford and you come on to a small stretch of a dual carriageway and I was at max speed limit for that road of 50mph and this VW Golf GTI flew past me, pumping out plumes of black smoke and clearly misfiring (probably knackered one or more of his injectors) and right up his trumpet was this Merc van, both must have been doing, I guess, 80-85mph. The Golf and the van turned off in different directions. It was madness to watch. Normally there's a police van parked in the shrubs monitoring the speed of each vehicle -- not today. Typical.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Not on those VTECH engines. Any car that revs to 9,000 will naturally sound strained.

I'm not sure any of Honda's engines ever reached 9k. Mine gets to just over 8.6 post remap, and strained is the last word I'd use. Admittedly you do know you're working it!

 

[Friesiansam]

I'm not sure any of Honda's engines ever reached 9k. Mine gets to just over 8.6 post remap, and strained is the last word I'd use. Admittedly you do know you're working it!

Done a bit of reading. The Honda F20C 2 litre engine, used in the S2000, was limited at 9000rpm.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Done a bit of reading. The Honda F20C 2 litre engine, used in the S2000, was limited at 9000rpm.

That would make sense - but the ones in the aforementioned Civic/Accord etc didn't. Got driven around a track once in an S2000 - driver said it wasn't as fast around the lap as the MG ZS they also had.

 

[Friesiansam]

That would make sense - but the ones in the aforementioned Civic/Accord etc didn't. Got driven around a track once in an S2000 - driver said it wasn't as fast around the lap as the MG ZS they also had.

Found a used buying article on Autocar, for the Mk2 CRX VTEC 1988-1991. Their picture of the dash clearly shows a red line at 8000rpm.

 

[plastic penguin]

That would make sense - but the ones in the aforementioned Civic/Accord etc didn't. Got driven around a track once in an S2000 - driver said it wasn't as fast around the lap as the MG ZS they also had.

The last VTECH I drove was the fancy Prelude back in the 90s, I think it was the model replaced by the S2000. It was orrible. Very fast but nasty engine note. Along with the Wankel rotary engine, they are the two I would personally avoid.

The old V8 used in the German cars and the V6 Busso, used in the older Alfa cars are some of the nicest. Not frugal by modern standards but great engine notes.

This is the one I drove, in the same nasty colour. It's a 2.2 VTi.