How could I have forgotten my Alfa ?

[Alfa Black]

My Lancia Delta was totalled last week by a old colleague of mine... It was a great drive apart from the looks...
Having just found myself a new job 30 miles away without access by public transport. Or so seldom, that a car is needed, I took the insurance money and spent 2 days looking for sound transport on the tinternet. I found a very low mileage Subaru Legacy Station Wagon about 50 miles away. Just so happens that I know the owner as he's my parent's neighbour !

How do I get there before a local Garage picks it up for a quick and easy sale?
People tend to park their Alfas and allsorts and buy a Subaru for winter use in Switzerland.
(in fact the man had to call up his local garage and tell him that he wanted the car back to sell to me rather than to the garage... very kind of him)
Nobody I knew could spare their car and I was about to give up on this good deal when I suddenly remembered the Alfa in the Garage!

My Alfa Spider S4 has been under a cover in a heated garage for over a year now. I plugged the battery back in (trickle charger arrangement to keep it charged while not in use) and the engine started first go with that great Alfa growl. Emphasized by the echos in the garage.
Drove the 50 miles on B roads to see the Subaru, had tea with my parents I haven't seen in a while and drove back.
I had to get used to the Alfa which is definitely an 'old' car compared with the modern Lancia, but once the engine had warmed up properly everything clicked in.
I'd forgotten how much enjoyment you can get from an old design with a great engine. The growl and pull from 3000 revs up was truly a moment of joy, as was the gearbox. The road handling, well........ its a 60 design live back axle........ quite an experience and something to get used to before driving fast. Appalling in comparison to a modern Hatchback, but so much fun.
I really enjoyed that drive and have made a mental note to take the car out more often next year.
I'm really happy to have held on to the Alfa and not listened to the demon at the back of my head pushing me to sell the car.

Winter will be spent driving the Subaru under the snow. More fun ahead

Anybody else here feel the same when they haven't driven their Alfa for a while ?

[VeloceMitch]

Yes have to say they do take some getting used too, every time I drive my 2000GTV I think... jeeeezusss this feels quick!!.. it isn't that quick really, it just feels it for some reason. It's the instant torque and throttle response which does it, not to mention the sound.

The handling is certainly 'entertaining'...

[garwood1]

Yes, exactly the same...I am going to rectify that problem by taking the Spider out for a top-down blast today, to enjoy a rare sunny sunday and the late autumn colours. It's been too long since our last run.

(and BTW, I also own a Subie Outback wagon...weird, eh ?)