[XAlp]

Regret to share - one time I had a company car budget and I narrowed it down to an Alfa 155 2.0TS, Renault Clio Williams and the one I chose after I listened to a mate (image, reliability etc.) a Mk 3 Golf GTi. Doh.
That also got the radio nicked whilst in Liverpool - I was left with the removable facia!

[Pond]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I paid mine back!

I couldnt do the job I wanted to do without uni, and was working around it. I did the 70 to 80 hour weeks when I started at 21 - and most wasnt paid as it was studying for more exams!

Sorry, I didn't realise we were now in a competition!

If so, I trained to be an accountant (the long way from accounts clerk and college at 16) for 3 years. Got utterly bored with it, though, so you win!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Pond

Sorry, I didn't realise we were now in a competition!

If so, I trained to be an accountant (the long way from accounts clerk and college at 16) for 3 years. Got utterly bored with it, though, so you win!

No competition - just reminiscing of the good old days. Got bored, didnt you know that surviving the boredom is the key to untold riches in future (and staying on to become a partner...?)

What is that saying, I dont need to enjoy work if I am earning enough to enjoy the hours outside of work....

Although currently in Hawaii with work so not complaining too much this week!

[agentorange]

Originally Posted by Pond

Never been brave enough to have an Alfa.
I wanted an Alfasud as my first car but my dad forbid it for good reason. I think his words were "I am the one who will be mending it every week and I'm not good at welding, so no get a Ford". Which I did...a Capri!

I came close to getting the revised Alfasud but couldn't quite do the insurance and the cost of the car, even used. The later ones were much better proofed against tin worm, more reliable, and quieter.

I ended up with a used Fiat 131 with the 1600 motor. Unfortunately, it was an early one and rusted in places most car makers don't even know about. This was sad as it was a very nice car to drive, with surprisingly delicate and balanced handling. Fitted with some sticky 175/70 Colway remoulds it was quite the machine to throw down the lanes.

[Techno 9000]

Originally Posted by Pond

...
I wanted an Alfasud as my first car but my dad forbid it for good reason. I think his words were "I am the one who will be mending it every week and I'm not good at welding, so no get a Ford". Which I did...a Capri!

My experience of a nearly new Ford of the mid eighties was less than inspiring...I must have got the Friday afternoon special that gave rise to the moniker Fix Or Repair Daily.
Even in regard to rust it was no better, there was water ingress from a hole underneath the battery tray within five years, it was so common there was an aftermarket pattern part available to replace the whole area in the engine bay. And to think Italian cars had the poor reputation for rust!

[Pond]

Originally Posted by Techno 9000

My experience of a nearly new Ford of the mid eighties was less than inspiring...I must have got the Friday afternoon special that gave rise to the moniker Fix Or Repair Daily.
Even in regard to rust it was no better, there was water ingress from a hole underneath the battery tray within five years, it was so common there was an aftermarket pattern part available to replace the whole area in the engine bay. And to think Italian cars had the poor reputation for rust!

I am not saying that Fords were wonderful...far from it.
My 1980 Capri, which was only 6 years old when I had it, had knackered suspension, an alternator that used to often throw out about 60 volts so blew every bulb on the car. Oh and the propshaft fell off three days after me selling it to my best mate! Luckily it didn't dig into the road and he was very understanding.

I also had an XR3i with the famous battery tray dissolving issue. Me and my dad fixed it with a metal biscuit tin lid and painted it with underseal! When I sold it I got rid really quick and got top money as no-one had seen a mk3 Escort without corrosion of the battery tray before!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by agentorange

I came close to getting the revised Alfasud but couldn't quite do the insurance and the cost of the car, even used. The later ones were much better proofed against tin worm, more reliable, and quieter.

I ended up with a used Fiat 131 with the 1600 motor. Unfortunately, it was an early one and rusted in places most car makers don't even know about. This was sad as it was a very nice car to drive, with surprisingly delicate and balanced handling. Fitted with some sticky 175/70 Colway remoulds it was quite the machine to throw down the lanes.

Alfa are the reason I got a BMW..... I wanted a 75 TS Veloce as my first company car. The Mrs hated it - so we compromised on a 164 TS. Work originally said yes until someone more senior than me ordered one - and he objected to me having the same car as him... so I ordered the standard 3 series that everyone at my grade had but sneeked in an outgoing model 318iS rather than the 4 door 316 SE I was supposed to have....

I did get an Alfa eventually - a 156 2.4 20v JTD, bought just as the 159 was coming out. Pre reg but brand new and in the showroom. I offered them 6k less than it was up at (nearly 30%). They laughed - and then 5 days later rang me back and asked me if I was still looking. Loved that car, even if it wasnt actually a great car. The 2.4JTD engine was on another level to most diesels at the time (except the 3.0d from BMW and Audi, but you werent getting one of them for the money I spent!)

I'd love a Gulia QF for old times sake, but just not the right car for me these days...

[XAlp]

Had a 156 1.8 - black with tan interior. Loved it. Thought it looked fab. Gearbox broke, but forgave it.

I still look at 3.2 159 Sportwagons.- very smart design to my eyes. And Stelvio QFs…

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by XAlp

Had a 156 1.8 - black with tan interior. Loved it. Thought it looked fab. Gearbox broke, but forgave it.

I still look at 3.2 159 Sportwagons.- very smart design to my eyes. And Stelvio QFs…

Mine was dark grey with a red interior. Kids hated it, small in back. I didnt care, used the Mrs' Mazda 5 when they were in normally...

I've looked at the Stelvio QF twice - if it was a Gulia sportwagon I would probably have bought one but the Stelvio never quite hit the mark the same... Chap near me works at the local Alfa dealer and was running a dark metallic green Gulia QF.... it did make me look to see if I could make it work but I already have two cars that I dont use enough!

[XAlp]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I've looked at the Stelvio QF twice - if it was a Gulia sportwagon I would probably have bought one but the Stelvio never quite hit the mark the same... Chap near me works at the local Alfa dealer and was running a dark metallic green Gulia QF.... it did make me look to see if I could make it work but I already have two cars that I dont use enough!

How did the Stelvio QF drive? Surely this forum is duty bound to provide a member who takes the plunge on a QF Stelvio/Giulia??!!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by XAlp

How did the Stelvio QF drive? Surely this forum is duty bound to provide a member who takes the plunge on a QF Stelvio/Giulia??!!

Never got that far, first time I bought the RS4 as I'd had a fast SUV (the SQ5) and didnt want another really, the second was when I bought the Jag and I remembered that I wanted something I could use more everyday and not pay for performance that impossible to use in the crowded south east... so went back to more head than heart!

I'm sure someone on here has a Gulia QF though!

edit - here you go, you commented on it! your memory is clearly as bad as mine! https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...ia+Quad&page=3

[XAlp]

[boba-fett]

Originally Posted by XAlp

I've driven a QF, I took a demo car out when they first came out, and I can report they are a very nice engaging drive, I think they drive nicer than an M3/M4 and they also sound much better! They are quick as well and a friend had one that I drove which was a mapped car and it was considerably faster than a standard one.

My downsides are, I do not think they are as nice to look at as everyone else thinks, I don't really "want" one either, and I prefer the other rivals in that respect, but the main reason for me is every Alfa I have owned has always been a bit rubbish, they have always had electrical issues and have at some point shown thats its a flaky Alfa. The most recent Alfa's I have had (albeit a few years back) was a Brera Prodrive and a 159 TI, and I am told the quality and reliability has improved, but I have heard that before so Nah not for me!

[Alscoob]

Daughter has had 2 Alfas both 147's and both have been fairly reliable.

The latter was a 147Q2 Sport, came with all the kit bought at 20K miles in 2014 with 1 owner and sold at 65Kmiles 2023. Apart from general servicing the only problems were corroding front subframe and collapsing rear suspension. Subframe is simple clean and repaint and the rear struts have a design fault the seats for the springs don't drain and rust, hit a big bump and they drop down the strut tube. Not expensive fix but can leave you stranded.

150bhp oil burner was quick but based on old design multi platform engine base so noisey when cold, but remarkably electrics were fine. It was a car that you had to keep and eye on though and they do like to be looked after wrap them up when not in use , do that and you'll have a friend for life

[GOF_430d]

Personally my best motoring days are the most recent ones if you consider that my first & second cars were Mk 1 Ford Escorts a 1.1 litre automatic estate then a 1.3 sport two door with Mexico arches and an Irish number plate [SIA 8113] which made me very popular with the Police when the IRA were bombing London, then a Mk 2 1.6 litre Ford Capri into which I fitted a 2 litre engine with a Piper high lift camshaft, sports exhaust plus carbs from a 3 litre Capri rejetted that car refused to idle below 1500rpm. Then a Vauxhall Royale [Vauxhall version of the Opel Senator] with a 3 litre straight six which used more fuel [couldn't afford the MAF sensor] than my mates Ferrari F40, then a Skoda 120LSE [lousy slow ecological disaster], then a 1.6 litre Cavalier.
My first company car was a Ford Sierra which had covered 130,000 miles when I got it, followed by [when my sales picked up] a 2 litre Vauxhall Cavalier, then a 2 litre Vauxhall Vectra SRI estate, then a Passat 1.9 diesel Sport estate [I was a keen scuba diver back then and needed the space] then a Seat Freetrack [fab car, pseudo 4 wheel drive with the engine from a Golf GTD which was great in the snow], then the E93 2 litre diesel and now and probably my last F33 3 litre diesel which will see me through to retirement [60 later this year].
The only memorable thing about the old days were that there were fewer cars on the road, speed cameras hadn't been invented, a motorist flashing their meant there was a speed trap up ahead and a motorist tugging on their seat belt at the lights meant they wanted a race. Though being stopped by the Police in a mates Mk3 Ford Cortina and when the copper asked my mate to turn the engine off, he replied I wish I could whilst waving the ignition key and the gearstick at the policeman still raises a smile.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by GOF_430d

Though being stopped by the Police in a mates Mk3 Ford Cortina and when the copper asked my mate to turn the engine off, he replied I wish I could whilst waving the ignition key and the gearstick at the policeman still raises a smile.

.....

Bet he told you to drive it carefully and get it fixed as soon as possible as well and sent you on your way doubt that would happen today.

[GOF_430d]

The policeman told my mate that he should take it to a mechanic, though he was a mechanic at time. The engine wasn't long in and he hadn't secured the gear stick.

The days when a policeman would pull you over for speeding and let you off with a warning.

[XAlp]

One of my best memories. Age 18 I was my cousin’s best man. On the big day I drove his red Alfasud 1.5 Ti back to the reception, and got into a little race with another cousin in his black Capri 3.0S. 😀

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by XAlp

One of my best memories. Age 18 I was my cousin’s best man. On the big day I drove his red Alfasud 1.5 Ti back to the reception, and got into a little race with another cousin in his black Capri 3.0S. 😀

I may have tried to race a Sierra XR4i once in a 318iS... unfortunately his had blue lights which meant he won...

I still remember that moment when the lights went on and I looked down to see the speedo reading over 120....

He was a good chap, said he had managed 135 in trying to catch me, I was suitably contrite when he asked what I would do without a licence for a few months and said sign on... and he put it down at 99....! That wouldnt happen today.....

[agentorange]

Originally Posted by XAlp

One of my best memories. Age 18 I was my cousin’s best man. On the big day I drove his red Alfasud 1.5 Ti back to the reception, and got into a little race with another cousin in his black Capri 3.0S. 😀

The 1.5 'Sud was a quick little car in its day. Best thing was you didn't really have to slow down much for corners, they stuck to the road like baby poo on mohair.