Bonjour ... from France

Hi All,
I read a thread about French on this forum ... well at least there will be one now !

I drive a 156 1.9 JTD a little modified in Switzerland to get 140 horses instead of 110 ... huge torque !

I also drive a Lancia Integrale ... but i like the Alfa as normal car ... i live very near Turin ... so lots of fun on mountain roads.

I just started to improve the car and try to pick up some of your experienced advices.

Cheers

Hello and welcome to AO

Hello and welcome

Welcome.

Hello...great combination of cars you have

Hi enjoy the site.

Thanks a lot for your warm welcome ... it might be time that i add a pic ... of the first Alfa i drove ... a long time ago !!!

Hello and Welcome to the forum

I hope you enjoy your stay!

Hello and welcome to AO

I heard that you are not allowed to modify cars in France ? How do you get away with it ?

Originally Posted by Der Teufel

I heard that you are not allowed to modify cars in France ? How do you get away with it ?

Well, ... unfortunately and unlike UK, Italy, Germany ... things are getting harder and harder in France ... so is our MOT

I could give you a very fast answer and say "i just come to UK" !

My other car comes from Walkers and is quite modified ... the only way to go through is basically not to declare any modififcations. If you remap your ECU and declare it they will increase your insurance premium.

For the modifications ... try to stay into the original spare parts and it can go through. However in a matter of suspensions it is a bit easier. The sensitive side is the brakes ... wheels dimensions and now exhaust systems. Luckily some controllers are aware that tuning can also bring extra safety in the vehicle.

In fact we ARE NOT a country of "CAR PASSION", nowadays the law is such you are almost considered as a terrorist just driving a sport car. Now the global warming issue is a new reason to create taxes to penalize such and such car.

This is really a shame ... imagine we are not allowed to organize a meeting between owners above 20 vehicles without declaring it to the authorities, with providing a roadbook and timing of the event !

in these circumstances ... hard to be passionate ! But still there a few "irreductibles" like Asterix & Obelix !!!

Cheers

Giles

welcome to AO...

all the best

mike.....

Originally Posted by rosso155m

Well, ... unfortunately and unlike UK, Italy, Germany ... things are getting harder and harder in France ... so is our MOT

I could give you a very fast answer and say "i just come to UK" !

My other car comes from Walkers and is quite modified ... the only way to go through is basically not to declare any modififcations. If you remap your ECU and declare it they will increase your insurance premium.

For the modifications ... try to stay into the original spare parts and it can go through. However in a matter of suspensions it is a bit easier. The sensitive side is the brakes ... wheels dimensions and now exhaust systems. Luckily some controllers are aware that tuning can also bring extra safety in the vehicle.

In fact we ARE NOT a country of "CAR PASSION", nowadays the law is such you are almost considered as a terrorist just driving a sport car. Now the global warming issue is a new reason to create taxes to penalize such and such car.

This is really a shame ... imagine we are not allowed to organize a meeting between owners above 20 vehicles without declaring it to the authorities, with providing a roadbook and timing of the event !

in these circumstances ... hard to be passionate ! But still there a few "irreductibles" like Asterix & Obelix !!!

Cheers

Giles

I'm really sorry you have these problems it's not fair. I'm happy to see that the your spirit has not been squashed. Keep up the good work. Oh and welcome to AO

sorry man. but it's a reality. the days of diesel and petrol alfas (and other cars) might be almost over. enjoy the driving like it was the last day

hello and wellcome

Welcome to AO

A deep thank you to all, i am not a total Afliste since i had 5 Integrale and still one Evolution ! Still Alfa Romeo was my education as my Dad's favourite ... Giula, Giuletta, 1750 coupe, Alfa Sprint, GTV 2500 ... can't forget its "rumore" ... and now 156 ... i enjoyed them all

Salut de la France (85) aussi!

The insurance issue is the same in the UK. I would always declare to my insurance company that my cars were not modified!

One bad accident, one good insurance examiner (assessor) and you are in deep faeces (excrément)! There have been cases of people losing their houses and going bankrupt because the owner of a car has had it modified, had a big accident and not declared the modification.

I have just insured three cars with MAAF who were happy that the cars were "special classics" - i.e. two had been modified!!!

Originally Posted by AntMat

One bad accident, one good insurance examiner (assessor) and you are in deep faeces (excrément)! There have been cases of people losing their houses and going bankrupt because the owner of a car has had it modified, had a big accident and not declared the modification.

I definitely agree with you ... there are also priorities in modifications ... ! Personnally i believe suspensions and brakes are a priority before boosting power.

There are also people losing their house or nothing at all for drinking too much and driving with a normal car ... i witnessed one ... and believe it or not the police came took my testimony and told the victim ... "if we declare the driver was drunk ... you insurance will refund you after months of investigations ..." ... and after two hours they let the driver go freely ... Amazing isn't it ?!!!

It is very interesting to see diesel powered cars gaining in popularity. A lot ot people in my country still compare diesel powered cars with John Deere Tractors, and say they are noisy and don't have the "beat" they want to hear. With the fuel prices these days they can't afford to pay the petrol for that 4.0 V6 beat anyway. Before i forget.....Welcome back to the Alfa Family

welcome to AO

Originally Posted by Soweto

It is very interesting to see diesel powered cars gaining in popularity. A lot ot people in my country still compare diesel powered cars with John Deere Tractors, and say they are noisy and don't have the "beat" they want to hear. With the fuel prices these days they can't afford to pay the petrol for that 4.0 V6 beat anyway. Before i forget.....Welcome back to the Alfa Family

Thanks again ... yes besides their noise, Diesel engines can be funny to drive with turbo high torque !

To be fully honest to you i happened to chase a 147 JTDM 150hp with my Delta and 270 horses, on a mountain road ... a hell to manage ... the only way was to use the four wheels drive advantage ... but regarding the torque ... it was real difficult .

Oops ... forgot to show you my car

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6...0720082cy2.jpg
By rosso155m, shot with E51 at 2008-07-09