Caotainbilos Interview

Captainbilos · #1 (**Post Link**) 05-09-08

Your Forum name Captainbilos

Real name Paul Billings

Age 33

Occupation Implementation Analyst

Lives Essex

Marital Status Married

which cars do you drive and why? Alfa 159 ti 2.4 JTDM – Fell in love with the looks (no other vehicles – sold them to buy the 159)

Are you a real passionate for Alfa Romeo? I’m beginning to,

What or how started your passion for Alfa Romeo and…
….do you think it’s fundamental to own one to have the passion? The 156 stimulated my interest. Passionate? I would have said yes before owning one, but now that I do, I would say no. Why? Because it’s a practical car and you don’t really have to make many compromises. However, I think I’m becoming passionate.

Would you ever consider joining an Alfa Club or are you already a member of one? Just joined the Cloverleaf Club.

What do you like most about Alfas? Style and Quality

What do you like least about Alfas? Fuel Consumption

What would be your dream cars? I’ve done the sports car thing (2 Caterham’s (VX and R300) & Lotus Elise S2 190 Sport) so I’d have to say an Aston Martin V8 Vantage – Stunning!

What car would you least like to drive? BMW X5 – Pants concept.

What would be your ideal drive in an Alfa Driving holiday to the Italian Lakes via Switzerland.

Any humorous Alfa or car-related stories you wish to share with us? Many, but one really springs to mind.

I’d not long owned my first Caterham, and as a sprightly 23 year old I took the decision that I would drive it without the roof, no matter what the weather. On one particular day I decided to take the car out even though there were menacing black clouds on the horizon.

Half way into my journey (to no particular destination) the heavens opened and drenched me. The windscreen wipers packed up so I had to drive home peering over the top over the windscreen getting a face full of muck and water.

Nearing home about 20 mins later the sun appeared, for what looked like a brief rest bite, so I though I better boot it and get home quick! Coming off a roundabout into Wickford High Street, I had not anticipated a puddle the size of Lake Michigan, which I entered at about 30mph. At that point a tidal wave reared up over the bonnet and headed towards me in what seamed like slow motion. It then mounted the windscreen and dumped about 20 liters on water on my head. Very embarrassing - especially as there was a queue of stationary traffic heading in the other direction.

What interests do you have outside of Alfas? Motorbikes (just sold my Triumph Sprint ST), Football, Wine, Farting.

Tell us something nobody knows about you. (E.g. special skill, ever been on TV, etc) I had such a bad singing voice in school, I had to mime to “those magnificent men in their flying machines” during our class assembly.

What do you like most about the Alfaowner forum? Any favourite threads, episodes or people? Interesting source of info – essential for any new Alfa Owner.

If you had £50,000 you had to spend in 72 hours, how would you choose to spend it? Buy my old R300 back from Caterham – Give the rest of the money to my wife as I’d promised not to mention cars or bikes for a couple of years, when she agreed to let me buy the Alfa rather than a house extension.