Your Forum name
GTAAA
Real name
Steven Fernando
Age
38
Occupation
I run my own printing business
Lives
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Marital Status
Divorced, Single
which cars do you drive and why?
A 2.0 156 as theirs is nothing better for the money or even for a lot more money. The equivalent BMW will be double the price. I can only see myself replacing this with a used Boxter or a new Alfa GT or Maybe a Mito. But ever changing import tax policies in our country means they are all about 3 times the price compared to my 156.
Are you a real passionate for Alfa Romeo?
Extremely! I own 4. My Giulia GT Junior, the 156, and an Alfetta GTV and Sud Sprint, which are being restored.
What or how started your passion for Alfa Romeo and…
….do you think it’s fundamental to own one to have the passion?
It’s a long story but to shorten it I was desperate to get rid of a Triumph 2000 I bought in haste and traded it in for the Junior. The first drive was a revelation. It made me realize that this was something very very special. I’m not sure if you have to own one, but you certainly need to have a few good drives for it to sink in.
Would you ever consider joining an Alfa Club or are you already a member of one?
I am a member of AROC-UK and am a founder member and office bearer of the ITALIAN CAR ENTHUSIASTS’ CLUB – SRI LANKA
ICE
What do you like most about Alfas?
The drive is so much more rewarding than cars from any other brand bar a few very expensive exotics maybe. They feel so special and you know that someone truly passionate and in touch with its glorious history did things when engineering. The history and most of them are so sexy too.
What do you like least about Alfas?
That the company has been mis-managed for so long which has hurt the brands’ image, and the bigger cars are still not RWD. No dealer in Sri Lanka : ((
What would be your dream cars?
Right now; an 8C Spider in pearl white, with red leather.
What car would you least like to drive?
Oh there are so many. The Nissan Bluebird diesel is my all time greatest crap car, closely followed by the Sunny and the 1.3 Ford Orion GL that my father owned years ago. And then there are the Corollas.......bring out my fire hose.
For you, what’s the most popular thread on AO?
What would be your ideal drive in an Alfa (destination, passenger, driving music, etc)?
I’ve only just joined I need to hand around more.
My ideal drive…? Maybe a blast through the Italian Alps in a modern Alfa (RZ) and the Mille Miglia route in a classic Alfa (Giulietta Sprint). I think I’ll take Danica Patrick through the Alps and get some tips listening to Massive Attack ; )) And Uma Thurman in the Giulietta with Mario Lanza on a hidden CD player.
Any humorous Alfa or car-related stories you wish to share with us?
Yes. My dream-Alfas were the Alfetta GTV and Sud Sprint which was the 1st Alfa I’d seen in the metal. I promised myself to get one of them after the Giulia had infected me. Old Alfas are very very rare in SL and I had no hope of finding one. Then two came up for sale at exactly the same time. I spent about a week tossing and turning in bed with no virtually sleep trying to decide which one. So I bought both!
What interests do you have outside of Alfas?
Cars and Motorsport, Writing, Art and design
Tell us something nobody knows about you. (E.g. special skill, ever been on TV, etc)
I am a test driver for our local Motor Mag -
:: Motormag :: Home Sri Lanka
I have to fight myself to not expect the Alfa magic in everything else that I drive.
I’m writing a book on Super cars in the local lingo as I want to educate the general public who has zero knowledge about cars outside the Toyota, Nissan and Honda world in our country.
Do you have a party trick? If so what is it?
According to my friends I’m great at impersonating other people when I’ve one too many vodkas!
What do you like most about the Alfaowner forum? Any favourite threads, episodes or people?
I’m very new, but it seems like a great place and everyone seems friendly.
If you had £50,000 you had to spend in 72 hours, how would you choose to spend it?
I’d invest most of it and take a holiday trip to Italy with the balance, to do those two drives mentioned above. Not sure I can get those two passengers with such short notice though; )
