Am I Mental..?

[Cameron 16]

They're a specialist, apparently the guy is an ex Alfa chief mechanic. I spoke to them earlier and it would come with a 12 month guarantee on the work and parts, so I'm happy to use them.

 

It had a belt done early in it's life apparently as a warranty repair, the car is on 45k miles so I assume it was in the <10k range if the recommended service interval is 36k.

 

She's accepted my offer of 5k, and has agreed to take the car to get the work done. Happy days! I'm struggling to contain myself.

[GLPoomobile 958]

I'm struggling to contain myself.

 

Better to let it out now, you don't want to jizz all other the nice interior

[BlueBolt 156]

Better to let it out now, you don't want to jizz all other the nice interior

 

Ur kidding right?? That's the best thing about leather... Baby-wipe-clean!!

[Cameron 16]

I'll be sure to keep a pack of wipes in the glove box at all times.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

7 years of Alfa ownership (155) and no major problems. 156 GTA looks better as a wagon than as a saloon.

 

However I got good MPG from my 2001 E39 535i Sport; average on a 2-3 mile commute seemed to be about 21mpg with 34 on a run. V8 sounds even better and no cambelts and a solid engine. 4.4 (540i) is just as economical and they make sexy estates and RWD

 

However I have been romancing 159 Q4's on the net. Rare and well spec'd, 4x4, low mileage and cheap for the reg. That will get you all looking!

 

156 design has seemed to date for me and was and Alfa for reps. At least the 159 looks mean like the 155 did.

[Cameron 16]

I can't wait to join the collective of "true petrolheads".

 

Just got my HPI certificate, it all checks out ok which is great news! Even better is the guide price they give for it.. based on 45k in average condition they reckon it'd be £7,750! So if it all proves to be to expensive and doesn't live up to the dream then I should at least be able to get my money back.

 

Need to be very busy now selling the Mondeo, and getting the black shell ready for Oli to pick up. I really don't know what to do about my Miami though.. it would break my heart to sell it after all the work I've put in, especially now that summer is approaching and I can really enjoy it! The whole point of this was to get a car that can do both in one, but I don't think I can be 205-less again!

[GLPoomobile 958]

I can't wait to join the collective of "true petrolheads".

 

I'm sure you'll take that with the pinch of salt it deserves. If you do join the AO forum, prepare yourself to cringe at the way some people fawn over the Busso V6 like it's the Holy Grail. Maybe I'm the odd one for not "getting it", but the way some people talk a load of old s*ite about it being the heart and soul of the car blah blah blah just makes me want to puke!

[Cameron 16]

Haha yeah hence the quotes.

 

I may join but I try and limit my forum usage to the 2 that I'm on as they're not good for productivity!

 

The engine has to be better than a ropey old XU though!

[Cameron 16]

Today is the day..

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

Is the clutch slave in the bell housing on these? My neighbours 156 slave just went and it's a ball ache of a job.

 

Also the v6 will be bad of fuel on a 6 mile trip .

 

My zt190 v6 just manages 25mpg round town and that's taking it easy. Having said that I can just manage 30mpg on the motorway

[Cameron 16]

Just got home and am in love.

 

I still haven't got over the power, or the noise! It's glorious!

 

Such a nice place to be inside, and so good to look at from outside.. looking for excuses to drive it again now, the fridge is looking a little empty so I'm off to Tesco. But not the close one.

 

Averaged 33mpg on the way home with crappy M25 traffic and giving it a bootfull now and then, not bad, but I can see how it will be worse on the daily.

[Cameron 16]

Gave it a good clean today, unfortunately forgot to put the battery in my camera so had to make do with my phone.

 

[S@m 156]

Whilst i am not usually an alfa man, that ^^ looks awesome - the colour makes it. Most important thing though is the smile it must be putting on your face - luckily i still get that grin from my 205...but for how long?

 

Sam

[muddatrucker 125]

I think most Alfa's look ugly in the same way a BMW 635csi does - ugly but beautiful, kinda like a girl with a massive nose or a scar that you somehow still want to love cuddle the crap out of!

[Alastairh 47]

Looks lovely. Just needs some clean side repeaters next!

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

and some different alloys, i frikkin hate those 'eggpoachers' reminds me of old school ford ones.

 

although in a bigger size (19' i think?) they look much better.

 

im with ya with the v6 tho, mine just pulls and pulls and i still havent really opened her up on the motorway. plus it has all the creature comforts

[BlueBolt 156]

Looks lovely. Just needs some clean side repeaters next!

 

I agree, and disagree with this one...

 

Agree:: looks gorgeous!! I really am a massive fan of the gta's, didn't know they came in an estate version, I'm a little partial to a nice looking estate like this as I think it takes a different type of manufactor to produce such a thing!!

 

Disagree:: doesn't need clear repeaters, I think they stand out boldly against the blue, clashes slightly but I like it!!

[Andy_C 50]

Stunner and a bargain. Doesn't get better really!!

[TurboSam 5]

It looks even nicer in real life, pretty car

[Cameron 16]

Just need to polish up those intake pipes and the engine bay will look just as good as the outside.

 

I love the alloys so they're definitely staying, bit of a nightmare to clean though. Found my first problem today - the rain-sensing wipers don't seem to work, they wipe once then get stuck near the park position.

[welshpug 1,666]

that sounds like a motor or relay issue not a rain sensor one

Edited April 8, 2012 by welshpug

[GLPoomobile 958]

RE: the wipers. Firstly, when you say stuck, do you mean they wipe once and then will not sweep again no matter how much rain falls? Secondly, do you mean that don't return/pause in the fully parked position, but slightly above it? I don't know about the 156, but on the 166 this is normal - on the auto setting after the first sweep the wipers park about an inch above normal and won't return to fully parked unless you either first go to slow/fast wipe before turning them off, or turn them off and then flick the stalk up to do a quick swipe. I can only assume it's something to do with minimising wear to the linkage

[kyepan 291]

upload a video of the noise cam!

[Rich_p 23]

I drove a friends JTD, I think it was the 2.4. The steering left a lot to be desired, it was almost slow motion, you'd turn the wheel and then it would catch up! Are they all like that?

 

It kept spitting out spark plugs which was amusing.

 

He lovingly refered to it as a sports saloon!

[Anthony 1,003]

I drove a friends JTD

It kept spitting out spark plugs which was amusing.

Errrr...