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I'm coming back! :D

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3K views 74 replies 15 participants last post by  stu_the_flat 
#1 ·
Talking to the wife today.

She has said I can buy a 156! :D Have to say the MX-5 has been very impressive (have not had to take it to chicks since its MOT and service! :wow:) But I never really fell in love with it so we are going to put it through its MOT in April and then sell it and get a 156! :D

It will be a of a step down from the 166 but I'm hoping it will be a hell of allot cheaper to run! I'm even considering a... diesel! :wow:

Hope to be back at the meetings by late spring.

Stuart
 
#7 ·
Be good to have you back Stu!

I've mostly owned 2.0s (and the GTA) and always thought the 1.6 twinsparks would feel slow but I've got a 147 1.6 Lusso 5 door just now and I think it feels much closer to 2.0 performance than the figures suggest. :)
 
#9 ·
Cheers Guys,

YOur enjoying your GT then steve? I know you where reluctant to go down the deseil route, Cheers for the offer I suspect the GT will be a really nice car but I simply can't afford to buy one.

Not sure what my alfa buying stratagy is going to be. but I am simply not going down the "maintain at all costs" route that I took with the 166. I'm hoping get something that is a good bit cheaper to run. (not difficult) and a 5 door 147, 1.6 or 2.0 certinly don't cost much to buy plus it is the car my wife wants.

but the 156, 2.4 also looks like a good car. hmmmm
 
#14 ·
Hmmm. Love the GT but the jury is out on this one at he moment. She has hacked me off as has been a fecking money pit over the last 3 months. Clutch + DMF, done at same time as service, MOT and cam belt/waterpump. OK all routine stuff, and the clutch could have happened on any car admittedly but it didn't go down well in the Stesco household. Copious serving of cold shoulder after that one . . . .
Then the bleddy upper arms had to be done - again - last week (ones from buypartsby squeaking after just 5k miles, shot to pieces after 11k miles. Sent back for refund as guaranteed for one year apparently) and the tie rod was gone too, as were the front drop links (also changed at the same time as the upper arms). lesson learned though - buy cheap buy twice and given the state of our roads I should hardly be suprised . . .
Rants above aside, I do love the GT and the 1.9 is a sweet engine. Pulls like a train, and 500 miles to a tank in mixed driving so can't complain. Oh and she is absolutely gorgeous.
Hopefully though that is it with the big bills for a while . . . . Getting sick of making excuses for it.
 
#17 ·
You wouldn't be interested in a Gabbiano blue 147 Selespeed with all the toys ,would you ?? 61k on a 51 plate FSH too . It will be getting a new belt kit next week .
 
#13 ·
There's a wee 147 in Western Edinburgh, Silver 57 plate that's only done 9,507 miles and costs £7,480. Might be out of your budget or I might have bought it by then. It's a cracker, actually thinking on trading in my MiTo for it.
 
#53 ·
New 147 Owner


Afraid that the 147 has gone as I bought it a fortnight ago.

You're right in that the car is a cracker and in showroom condition.

Enjoying my first Alfa after 3 years in BMW's.

It's an outstanding wee car and the only Alfa in the office car park.

Currently does about 130 miles a day commuting and driving round sites in Edinburgh.

And what is this with other Alfa drivers waving at you?

Certainly adds to the Alfa experience.:thumbs:

Jim.
 
#16 ·
:lol: If you are looking for reliable an X-Type wouldn't be top of my list (depending on age).
Anyway My GT isn't getting anything like 500 MPtank, that's for sure. but it is a lot of car for the money and is, as Steve says' absoloutly gorgious and very, very, very good to drive. Insurance will be a lot less for the 147 though (not so sure it would be much cheaper for a 156, although you do get more car for your money).

p.s. just had the BIG service as well, doing belts, variator, water pump and cam sensor (not to mention getting a crack welded in the sump). I'm skint :cry:
 
#18 ·
Insurance will be a lot less for the 147 though (not so sure it would be much cheaper for a 156, although you do get more car for your money).
I thought it would be too, but even a 1.6 147 is group 12........and I'm still paying about the same as I did for the GTV in group 16, and only £5 a month less than I did for the GTA! :eek::rant:

But thats down to the fact that insurance costs are going up and I do have a few previous convictions.... :rolleyes::eek:
 
#25 ·
sure huz been quiet withoot you Stu.

Speaking frae experienc e ken...If ah hudnae the 2 166's pure money pits aroon £1.5k in cumulative 9 years awe in....I;d go fur a wee 1.2 CF3 bravo formula.....mair comeback than Laserous at £10 a shot.Las t time was dead expensive...£90 for a recon heid.

Pomeo
 
#29 ·
hehe - nah, just another twink lump....bit of a mongrel as its using an old head i had from a CF1 engine, a 2.0 bottom end that came out a 1.8 and various scavenged bits and one or two new bits! Maybe i'll have it back on the road for SICD in May and i can get rid of the saxo as i'm scared i'll start to get attached to the wee blighter :D
 
#36 ·
Stu - no point trying to flog an MX5 just now. Wait a month or two till the market picks up a bit for convertibles.

Chick has aquired a lovely 3.0GTV which I had a spin in recently but may be selling. It has your name on it stuart. ;-)
 
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