******Motors Chat - Round 6******

Old diesel

The "is it a banger thing"

You like it - that's reason enough to keep it as has been suggested already.

I tend to look at the guys who insist on having a BASE model Passat every 2 years - as been the odd ones - not the guy who drives around in an old car hes happy to drive around in.

Theres lots of good reasons someone might like to drive an older car

1) fits in with what they want to spend on their motoring - ie why buy a 20 grand car if one for 2,000 euros will do the job

2) They love that particular car - like how it drives, how it looks, how nice it is to be in after a hard day at work etc

3) it still works fine - why change it.

Wheras the other side - why would you buy a base model Passat every 2 years - whats the point - exact same car as you traded in - taking the big hit on depreciation - still only getting into similar car - shelling out money to "upgrade"

Nothing wrong with changing every 2 years - but I mean to say - its more odd then wanting to keep the older car

Stheno

YbFocus wrote: »

Alfa's were never my thing and I don't really like them, but I'm the unusual one it seems

When you won't get that much for it, why not keep the car you've always wanted? Give me one positive from selling it, other than the few pound (which I don't think you're massively short of anyway).

It's obvious she's a keeper

I think you either love or hate alfas, they are beautiful cars, and imo gorgeous to drive.

I'm leaning more and more towards keeping

Old diesel wrote: »

The "is it a banger thing"

You like it - that's reason enough to keep it as has been suggested already.

I tend to look at the guys who insist on having a BASE model Passat every 2 years - as been the odd ones - not the guy who drives around in an old car hes happy to drive around in.

Theres lots of good reasons someone might like to drive an older car

1) fits in with what they want to spend on their motoring - ie why buy a 20 grand car if one for 2,000 euros will do the job

2) They love that particular car - like how it drives, how it looks, how nice it is to be in after a hard day at work etc

3) it still works fine - why change it.

Wheras the other side - why would you buy a base model Passat every 2 years - whats the point - exact same car as you traded in - taking the big hit on depreciation - still only getting into similar car - shelling out money to "upgrade"

Nothing wrong with changing every 2 years - but I mean to say - its more odd then wanting to keep the older car

I tend to agree, I struggle to find a car that will do what my current alfa will do, and will look as distinctive,

YbFocus

Stheno wrote: »

I think you either love or hate alfas, they are beautiful cars, and imo gorgeous to drive.

I've never so much as driven one, just their looks don't sit with me
I may be won over some day, the 156 is the only one that tickles a little bit!

davycc

Stheno wrote: »

I've been the same had a 99 car in 99, a 00 in 00 then it went downhill

I always wanted a gtv for about 15 years before I even drove!

Anyway I pinged the guy who did my door to door respray tonight about doing a bit of work and he couldn't have been nicer, so I'm thinking invest a bit in the car, and I'll easily get a couple of years out of it, it's funny when it goes for the NCT, there is always someone waiting to NCT it.



I just don't get the complaints on handling at all, I have a relatively stressful job, so my chill out routine before I get home is to drive the back road from Ashbourne to Swords which you probably know.

I take most of the bends at 90 degrees, and while the car sometimes feels like it's going to revolt, it reacts fine. Pred drove it fairly hard and it was fine.

It might sound stupid, but the person I am most happy for is my mechanic, he's been extremely good to me (and in fairness I've been fair with him) but if I tolld you what he charged me for the service I had done recently, you'd be sick.

He discounted it massively as I 1. gave him a list of all issues, 2. factored in his personal circumstances.

Then he kept the car an extra day to test it, and sort out stuff I hadn't highlighted, like the wipers.

He's a keeper.

All in all then, I've everything to have a nice looking car, with great support, so wtf am I thinking about changing! And I am loving the car at the moment.

I drive those same amazing backroads to ashb & swords daily in red suzuki ignis sport and have yet to see the gtv sadly. from what ive seen and read of your alfa on here its a credit to you-and please ignore the reg plate snobs blowing 6k per annum on deprecation alone for the cheap tax and an ugly 142 reg
your doing the right thing in keeping the GTV serviced and having the preventative maintanance done for long term peace of mind- V6 Alfas are all about smiles per miles and enjoying those curves and lines :cool: and that soothing busso soundtrack:D

dgt

YbFocus wrote: »

I've never so much as driven one, just their looks don't sit with me
I may be won over some day, the 156 is the only one that tickles a little bit!

Try my one if it gets finished this year

Chris_Heilong

Yeah dont let others influence what you like or dont like, your car is special to you. All you can do is pity them for not knowing what they are missing.

YbFocus

dgt wrote: »

Try my one if it gets finished this year

I am afraid of being converted, aflaism is a scary thing. Look at what it does to ye!!

dgt

YbFocus wrote: »

I am afraid of being converted, aflaism is a scary thing. Look at what it does to ye!!

All I wanted was a nice Italian a to b saloon. Look how that's ended up...!

toastedpickles

Quazzie wrote: »

If ya havent sourced one yet give me a shout. Ill get ya one.

Much obliged!, not a totally fecked one now, but repairable like

YbFocus wrote: »

Feck your ps3!! They won't move man, they are impossible to get off

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Got my windows coats in gtechniq G-whatever number and I have to say it's great with the flies. Was told to have just water in the reservoir with it, or at least a very mild mix, and it's clearing the flies no problem.

The bumper on the other hand took me over an hour last weekend before I admitted defeat...

Bitta cillit bang got rid of them fairly quick :pac:

YbFocus

toastedpickles wrote: »

Bitta cillit bang got rid of them fairly quick :pac:

Your bonnet in the morning :pac:

challengemaster

YbFocus wrote: »

I've never so much as driven one, just their looks don't sit with me
I may be won over some day, the 156 is the only one that tickles a little bit!

You're not alone Yb. I hate them too :pac:

Have definitely had moments of "are we looking at the same thing" when anyone says Alfas are beautiful.

YbFocus

dgt wrote: »

All I wanted was a nice Italian a to b saloon. Look how that's ended up...!

It's got out of hand man, but we're all here if you want to talk you know :pac:

toastedpickles

YbFocus wrote: »

Your bonnet in the morning :pac:

:eek: at least it was only the window, wait and see my window will disintegrate away :pac:

Old diesel

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Yeah dont let others influence what you like or dont like, your car is special to you. All you can do is pity them for not knowing what they are missing.

Theres a mentality with many I think with regard to cars that sees something PROPERLY nice - as not been sensible or the right thing to do.

Its all rather silly - I don't go telling someone whose into Golf that Golf is a silly way of spending money - and that Golf club membership is too dear.

So why be told by the Golfer that money one should spend on the older car or indeed any car.

Seems to be just cars that sort of stuff goes on with

colm_mcm

toastedpickles wrote: »

:eek: at least it was only the window, wait and see my window will disintegrate away :pac:

Bang! And the window is gone

toastedpickles

colm_mcm wrote: »

Bang! And the window is gone

Those bloody scumbags firing stones at it again :pac:

Also Yb, the Cappuccino engined car i was on about, pretty cool stuff!

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/134406/1955-standard-660cc-turbo#.U87uc_ldV5I

Foxhole Norman

A nice white 335i M-Sport Coupe in work today, the mature woman driving it gave it some welly when she left, class!

YbFocus

toastedpickles wrote: »

Those bloody scumbags firing stones at it again :pac:

Also Yb, the Cappuccino engined car i was on about, pretty cool stuff!

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/134406/1955-standard-660cc-turbo#.U87uc_ldV5I

Well that thing is sick, would have thrown in an sr though :pac:

toastedpickles

YbFocus wrote: »

Well that thing is sick, would have thrown in an sr though :pac:

Ah yeah but sure you may as well just throw out the car then :pac:

YbFocus

toastedpickles wrote: »

Ah yeah but sure you may as well just throw out the car then :pac:

Engine would last longer than the car that's for sure

toastedpickles

YbFocus wrote: »

Engine would last longer than the car that's for sure

Maybe it is from the 50s now :P

quadrifoglio verde

YbFocus wrote: »

I've never so much as driven one, just their looks don't sit with me
I may be won over some day, the 156 is the only one that tickles a little bit!

Hmmm...if I can get a certain redneck cum ricer to like alfas..... :cool:
In fairness though they're a car you have to drive to understand and definitely a heart over head purchase.


Stheno id wager their suspension wasn't set up right. Something has to be wrong for them to say that it doesn't handle well. According to those of an older generation, best handling alfa since the sud....:cool:
Theres no better feeling that driving into a bend at motorway speeds on a twisty road and not needing to brake:D

Also with regards the opinions of the new plate paddy spec dacia/passat/mondeo/518d, you'd probably get the same response if you turned up in a e39 m5. To them, they only see the plate and the badge on the front, they're not one to get excited by a car.

The person who'd be excited by an m5, in my books would be fairly interested in the GTV. While theres not many out there brave enough to own an alfa, theres plenty who can still appreciate them and generally older rare alfa equals car guy.

shanec1928

What's the deal with all the big threads like today I saw a car for sale etc all being moved out of the main forum? Seems to be a huge push to dilute the forum with separate sub cats.

quadrifoglio verde

shanec1928 wrote: »

What's the deal with all the big threads like today I saw a car for sale etc all being moved out of the main forum? Seems to be a huge push to dilute the forum with separate sub cats.

I dunno but I much prefer it. Its still the motors forum, just easier to find threads as opposed to going back three or four pages

Noccy_Mondy

Had to do a quick run into town just there, there won't be any blanky's on the bed tonight :eek:

toastedpickles

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Had to do a quick run into town just there, there won't be any blanky's on the bed tonight :eek:

Warm out today.....
Warm out yesterday.....
Even warmer t'day

ba_barabus

I'm drinking whiskey to get sleepy

toastedpickles

toastedpickles wrote: »

Warm out today.....
Warm out yesterday.....
Even warmer t'day

♪Met her on my CB. Said her name was Mimi. Sounded like an angel come to earth.♪

toastedpickles

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

♪Met her on my CB. Said her name was Mimi. Sounded like an angel come to earth.♪

I'VE GOT BLISTERS ON ME FINGERS! :pac:

Right, so this is something that's been niggling away at me.. I'm not sure if my mentality is that of a greedy little prick who wants to blame everyone else, or if I'm rightfully annoyed in feeling a bit screwed over...


(This is a bit long-winded...)



Air-con on my car (which I bought about 3 or so weeks ago) hasn't worked since getting it. Seen as I bought it used, I've no real knowledge of the history. As far as I am aware, air-con needs gassing every now and again. Especially if it hasn't been used for a long time.

Halfords are installing a bluetooth kit in my car, so I ask the chap can he do the air-con for me, too. They charge €40 - a reasonable price for cold air in this weather. Chap says he'll take a look but won't charge me til he actually does it, as they have to test it first, see if it's leaking or such.

I return to car several hours later and the chap that was supposed to fit the bluetooth kit and gas the air con is gone home for the day. Fellow Halfords colleague says the Bluetooth kit is installed, but that they didnt do the air con. He reckons there was an issue with it, but he's not exactly sure what the issue may be as, he himself, wasnt the one working on the car (fair enough).


So, everything being a bit vague, I decide to give FirstStop/FastFit (whatever you prefer to call them) a quick ring. Lad on the phone says that they do A/C regassing, but they have to test first for leaks. I say that's grand and bring the car over to them. I leave the keys and go for a walk.


I get a phone call an hour later saying the car is gassed and the air is ice cold. An hour later and I get back to FirstStop to collect the car. Chap demonstrates the A/C is working, cabin is cold, air is freezing, and i pay the €40 they wanted. Everyone's a happy camper and I drive home thrilled with my newly cooled cabin.


By the time this morning (Tuesday) rolls around; the air con no longer works! It's blowing 'normal' air again (air con was done on saturday).


I make a sweaty trek over to FirstStop to ask about it and I'm informed that their system is only capable of detecting 'some leaks' and smaller leaks will go unnoticed. So I'm fobbed off, and not being in the humor of an argument, I head to a local business called Rap Rad, who do A/C for all vehicles, buildings etc.

They wire the car up to a machine, and within 5 minutes tell me the condenser is leaking. The 407 grill is awkward so they couldn't get to it, but said it's an obvious leak and if my mechanic can get it out, they can see if it's repairable or if it needs replacing with a new unit.




Would I be right in feeling like FirstStop should owe me a refund on the €40 I paid them!? Surely they should have copped a leak that was 'obvious' to another business, who found the source of the problem inside of 5 minutes?

Or is it my own fault cos I was taking a gamble on whether or not the Air-Con would work as it could potentially have been a bigger issue than re-gassing (me not knowing the history of the car's A/C, and all)?

I don't know if I feel robbed or if I'm just annoyed at myself cos my 'let's hope it works' shortcut didn't work for me?