[Quadcamboy]

.... I've "defected", am a "turncoat" or "what, its not an Alfa" according to those who know me in the real world :wow:

So my reflections on the cars I've had:

In a way the best was, certainly as an all-rounder, was the '90 164 8 valve Arese twin spark with an Jan/Autodelta map.

The 3 164/166's' engines were just magnifico but the chassis couldn't keep up with them.

Of the 2 155 2.0 ts the first, which was professionally lowered even with increased offset rear wheels to clear the arches & 180 bhp map by Peter at Alwyn Kershaw, was the best handling FWD car I've ever had, full stop; until the Bast£$%d council put speed hump squares up our street.

And the last, the 156 2.4 veloce wi Gus/Alfatune map was a more recent all-rounder success. Without a doubt the best looking car I probably will ever own.

So it's replacement. Given the context for these thoughts is that I am at the £2k corner of the car parc.

When the Mk5 Golf gti came out I remember remarking that "That's the sort of car Alfa should be making" and now they are with the Guilletta. So here is the before and after.

 

[Quadcamboy]

So, its a vRS. 225 remap with yellow konis with eibach sportlines.

Will have to come back home when I can afford Multi Air.

Do you understand my choice or will you never speak to me again ?

 

[pubsinger]

.... I've "defected",

So here is the before and after.

Good job you told us, I had no idea what it was. While Skoda have undoubtably improved, let's face it, a million taxi drivers can't be wrong, I still wouldn't pay money for one. Maybe it's unfair, but I can't get past the badge.

What else did you consider?

All the best

Pub

 

[alfadaveuk]

should of went for the 1.9 jtd 2003 onwards as they have 150bhp and can be remapped to 170 ish or for a 1000 or so more you could of got a 20v 2.4 mjet 156 2003 onwards remapped to 210 ish. and due to the fact they are way lighter than a skoda they would be faster and handle better with the same modifications

 

[alfadaveuk]

you should of gone to the bmw 330d as they have variable turbo like in the 20v jtdm and i can vouch for absolutly no turbo lag at any rpm. pulls like a train from 1000rpm. 330d bmw is the only alternative to the 156 20v mjet but the bmw costs more on fuel and tax and most probs parts.

 

[Quadcamboy]

Did consider 20v 156 or GT 1.9 jtd remapped but above budget but one of the factors in making me change was being sick of changing top wishbones.

Wanted petol again as don't do big mileage and as much as I loved Gus's remap the 20v turbo is so smooth and with 226 brake 240lb/ft of torque! it takes off like a scalded cat.As quick in 5th 80-100 as the 156 was in 4th. Given that its cost me £2k only to change - its an 05 , am pretty chuffed. Its stance on the eibachs is cool and I like the touring car stylee, but it will never be as good to look at as the 156.

 

[Quadcamboy]

What else did you consider?

Clio 182 was the only other thing on my radar, but a bit small interior wise.

 

[19frost59]

It's a Skoda! It's a freakin' Skoda! How's it goin' Skoda boy? LOL. Oh dear. I'd rather shave my own head with a cheese grator that buy one of those. I'd rather have 120bhp's worth of style any day of the week.

 

[ALFADOIT]

You know what, i respect you mate! i personally would not buy a skoda although the build quality is to be admired! And so is the value for money. And the fact it is a better quality product and piece of engineering.
The two cars are so different! for me the skoda has got no soul! the alfa bags of character and charm. Its a sensible choice. You will miss your alfa though. And its good to try other brands after being an alfaholic for so long. One thing is for sure you will be back one day.
Good luck, and enjoy your new car.

 

[agent smith]

Oh dear oh dear. Some real stinky ignorance and prejudice coming out here. Skoda were a prestige manufacturer before the Eastern Bloc and all that. Built state coaches and were the peer of Rolls Royce at the time.

VW on the other hand were born of the equivalent of those blue plastic invalid carriages ie. accessible transport for those who otherwise wouldn't have it, yet today it is rated as a more desirable badge.

Some folk are clueless.....

 

[alfadaveuk]

alfadoit i guess u dont watch many vw brand cars i have lost count of how many ones i have been around when they blow head gasket. way over 20 new models. last 1 was a seat leon. they are nearly as bad gasket reliability as rover 25's. oh and by the way 2 of the head gaskets were on skoda vrs 1 was the little fabia and other octavia. i hope your lucky to avoid that common fault as i would not want to pay for a head skim and gasket done. on the other hand my uncle has had a pd diesel octavia its been good to him but its like a snail and ugly. you should of gone for a 20v turbo fiat coupe and kept the change to repair the parts that go due to its age lol

 

[alfadaveuk]

only other cars i could ever have would have to be honda sports line. or bmw just due to the fact of rwd. others would be just cars and not something i would want to look after as i do my alfa. i i had a skoda vrs octavia it would be more practical with folding rear seats but i would sell it easy if another car was more practical. my alfa is so unpratical for myself that i put it up for sale last year and could not sell it i told 5 people it was sold as i knew i needed to sell it but just could not. have had to re list it now as the wife has said if i dont sell it she will crash it and i said i would devorce her if she did so best sell car b4 it causes problems. or i could sell wife and keep alfa. now thats a toss up which 1 is better. alfa is less work and costs less. lol

 

[alfadaveuk]

my 20v jtd has 213bhp 471nm and it flys through drive shafts thank god i can get em for £50 each. oh remapped octavia's suffer from the head gasket problem as they have insufficient cooling make sure rad keeps clear as lime builds up in there making cooling a problem. just had a chat with uncle who owns a few garages he has had over 200 vw group cars with head gaskets go

 

[alfadaveuk]

200 over a long time so dont get to worried all i would say is if you remap keep eye on temp and possibly upgrade cooling.

 

[alfadaveuk]

oh yeah dont race the guily with ur car as it does 180 out of a 1.4 lol. you could of got a bmw 320d for the same money as u spent on ur skoda know which 1 would be more fun

 

[Damian M]

Its a shame someone can't buy themselves what is a very good car without being jumped on. Nothing wrong with Skodas, especialy the VRS, they are just different to Alfas. Good choice of car Quadcamboy!

 

[Guest]

Its a shame someone can't buy themselves what is a very good car without being jumped on. Nothing wrong with Skodas, especialy the VRS, they are just different to Alfas. Good choice of car Quadcamboy!

Spot on :thumbs:

Quadcam enjoy it mate and don't listen to the naysayers, life's all about personal choices rather than "U should of" (sic)

 

[alfadaveuk]

i have not said its a bad car i have just pointed out a well known fault and a even bigger chance of the fault after being remapped and he has remapped it. i said my uncle had a skoda and he loved his car. i have only said i would not have chosen it myself as only cars i would have other than alfa are sports line honda as they have the same type of idea's as alfa. and bmw just due to the fact they are rwd and i love rwd. if alfa made the next 159 replacement rwd i would never need another brand lol.

 

[Guest]

Two of my posts in support of Skoda have been deleted. I wasn't aware of having said anything contentious at all - just that it was superior to my GTA in some respects and inferior in others. Nobody has had the courtesy to explain to me the reason for the deletion either.

 

[Ralf S.]

He'll be back.

Nothing wrong with the Skooter... but it's going to be "not as interesting".

Ralf S.