MOTOR CHAT

[highlandsflyer]

And thank you Jeremy Clarkson

When you get to my age, and have covered the miles I have in various locations and vehicles, you do tend to get so far up yourself you could do your own tonsillectomy.

I think Clarkson is a fair bit taller than me, so I reckon he wouldn't settle for the ultra low old Legacy. My back hurts!

Reckon I can probably drive a bit more swiftly too; his jowls flap too vigorously to allow more than gentlemanly progress, despite his certified cad status.

Alfa 147?

Damn fine wee motors!

 

[GSB]

Alfa 147?

Damn fine wee motors!

Yes they are, with some reservations...

1/ Avoid anything with a Selespeed gearbox. It's dire. In the same way that syphilis is dire, but the selespeed is probably more irritating and harder to get rid of.

2/ The 3.2l V6 GTA model might seem like a bargain hot hatch, but if you've already had a Golf R32, forget it. The GTA is very quick, and has an induction noise that will make you moist. But in almost every other respect its a very poor car. It understeers like its been driven over a Police stinger, and has the turning circle of the Ark Royal. Compared to the R32, it'll be a total disappointment.

3/ 1.6 litre petrols were / are gutless. In fact the 2.0 litre petrol is (in my book) only just tolerable. It pains me to say it, but the best ones are the diesels (ugh... :facepalm: ). (Alfa petrols have been bloody awful for years. In '07 I was lusting after a 159, but a test drive in a 2.0 petrol version put me right off. It felt so slow I thought there was actually something wrong with it. I ended up with a Mazda 6 MPS, a 260bhp 4 wheel drive performance saloon that was stealthier than a B2 bomber and more comfortable than a feather bed. I really miss that car.)

4/ The Q2 versions have an LSD and the 150hp diesel. So they go well, and have plenty of traction... That's the one to have.

 

[RobMac]

A just luv bein on here its a brilliant read

 

[Mr Panda]

A just luv bein on here its a brilliant read

Shaddap you _ I wiz enjoyin that. Youngster.

 

[Jawny]

@ GSB. Great advice. I was planning on getting the diesel. Heard the JTD engine was good. Some cracking examples around for the 2-3 grand mark. As long as water pump and timing belt are done it's a great car apparently

 

[epicyclo]

I used to be a car enthusiast, a temporary perversion of my youth back in the deluded days when derailleurs seemed a good idea.

My first car was a barn find - one of the Singer team cars from the 1934 Le Mans race - cost me £15. Bit of petrol, a borrowed dud battery, some energetic work with a bicycle pump (lots and lots of it!), about half an hour of maybe this time with the starting handle, and I drove it home unencumbered by a driving licence (too young), registration, insurance, or MoT. It had a crunchy diff, and that was the first of several major jobs I had to do on it. Luckily I didn't know diffs were supposed to be difficult, I just thought I wasn't very good at it and stripped it a few times to reshim and rematch cogs until I got it right.



Singer LeMans Special Speed "Porthos"

 

[velomaniac]

I read motor chat and find myself mystified most times. Dont know my big end from my back side me

 

[epicyclo]

I read motor chat and find myself mystified most times. Dont know my big end from my back side me

The big end is the bit that rattles if you don't keep yourself well lubricated.

 

[velomaniac]

So the backfirings nothing to do with too much lubrication, I dont have to lay off the beer after all, cool !

 

[The Ken]

Got my eye on a Alfa Romeo 147. A lot o car for 2 grand. I've driven some very nice cars over the years but been using a Transit for business. Damn I miss my wee golf r32

I've got an Alfa 147 2.0 t-spark, I love it other that the fuel and repair bills, I've been playing timing belt roulette for almost a year sadly having to sell it on now, 3 cars is too many.