dgt wrote: » Try my one if it gets finished this year
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!
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.
Stheno wrote: » I think you either love or hate alfas, they are beautiful cars, and imo gorgeous to drive.
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
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
Stheno wrote: » I think you make a good point, I remember when I bought it, it was in bits. And it's a gorgeous car (imo) that I love.
YbFocus wrote: » I'd agree with dgt, when you've put as much as you have into it (nothing wrong with that at all, it's great to see in fact) and it can't be sold for much at all, would you not keep it for good? That's how it's looking with the e60 for me, 190k miles approaching and she's going perfect. But to a buyer that mileage means trouble! So I'm going to hold onto it. I have my little track car now and my runabout Astra too so I have all my bases covered
Stheno wrote: » Am I reading your post wrong about my mechanic?
Noccy_Mondy wrote: » Now that is a psycho. Don't think it'd be too easy to reason with that man!
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! 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.
YbFocus wrote: » But why care what they think my cars by year have gone the following... 2005 1997 1997 1998 2004 1999 The newest was first, only two years old at the time. It was by far the worst car I had. The BMW is the best for comfort and distance covering! Regardless of what your take home is, if you love that car then that's all that matters. Would you rather be in a bog standard plastic 1l fiesta?
dgt wrote: » QV is this fella and the 156 is getting seen to I can't understand the complaints on handling, as they are something else especially with a Bravo anti-roll bar and polybushes. Even standard they are glued to the road I've seen some posts on the work put in to the car and with that level of work put in I'd keep it and get the value of the work done Niggly bits are easily sorted. Keep the car and enjoy it for years to come :cool:
Stheno wrote: » I've no idea who QV is? And is that the nasty 156 I sold you unknowingly? Believe it or not there are a lot of complaints about handling on the gtv, personally I don't get it at all, but I've seen plenty of posts on alfa forums that they are not sharp around corners for example! Anyway, thanks for the posts, I've loved driving the car this past week, my mechanic was absolutely delighted with what he had achieved, and whatever I want to do with the car ref. improvements he has a big network that can help. So I've everything I need to make that car one I really love (the gear knob is knackered pardon the pun but that can be replaced, there is a rip in a seat that needs fixing, and I've a super guy who will do outer cosmetics) I *think* I'm leaning towards keeping it, you guys are making sense Thanks guys
Stheno wrote: » Ah in fairness, it's me being the idiot, the role I changed to I would be perceived as earning a decent wedge, so I'm judging what others think.
YbFocus wrote: » How is it a banger? It seems to be minded like a child Stheno, I hate people who go by the plate on a car. They are the idiots, not you.
dgt wrote: » Forget what others think. Look at QV's car for example, a lot of work put in and he loves it, despite being a 96 car. Mightn't be perfect bodywise but he prefers driving it to how it looks If you enjoy what you drive and more importantly know it's mechanically sound I'd keep driving it. Reg snobbery is just that, pure unwarranted snobbishness Besides, they're a fairly rare car to see on the road and is a welcome change to blandboxes that plague the roads. A cracking handling car too, it'll be hard to find another fwd car that handles as good I've gone back in year myself to a 97 Merc but I enjoy driving it for different reasons (easy to waft about in, fantastic cruiser, no desire to race it but quite rewarding in the corners, quick enough for a 2.0) and will make a nice temporary car until a certain silver 156 get's fully rebuilt....
Stheno wrote: » 00 Now to be fair, there aren't many of them around (a couple of work colleagues have admire it tbf), and I'm a bit proud of how much better it's gotten since I bought it, it was close to a wreck, and I love this car, I had a chat with my mechanic about replacing it, and he was bemused at my even thinking about it given the amount I've done to get it where it is. My only quibble about the car after two and a half years of ownership, and a ****load of work to get it right, is that there is no real cupholder feature This past week, I literally walk out to the car and go "wow, that's mine"
Stheno wrote: » 29c beans in lidl are your man. On the auto front, when my car is in for service, I use the OHs C200 which is auto, very placid compared to my car, but my god it's a real a to b car with no real effort required from me. If my dodgy knee keeps up, I might well consider an auto in the future (it's my clutch knee) Which leads me nicely onto my current dilemna Since I finally got the vast majority of the mechanical work needing doing, done on my car last week, it is beyond a doubt, the nicest car to drive, it just does everything right, responsive, quick, fun, and just good. I've gotten a new job recently and was planning on spending some of my extra pay in a few months on a new car. But, I can honestly see myself enjoying the gtv for at least a year or two, even if it means I'll be driving a car that looks ancient according to the licence plate. So I'm basically being superficial, and thinking about how it looks to people that I work with, that I drive what to them is an ancient car, even if they think it looks nice. My thinking at the minute is to get it looking really good, and do the cosmetic work on it (bonnet/mirrors respray, alloys refurb), change the timing belt which is due in 7k miles, replace the air intake hose and cam sensor, keep it for at least a year, get it valeted/detailed, forget about the fact that it's old, and just enjoy it, then decide whether or not to sell it (assuming it's still alive with about 175k miles on it) and upgrade. At that point, I'd have a fair whack of savings, so I'd have my choice. Does that approach make sense? TL:DR:Do I drive a banger for a year or more and then upgrade to a nicer car, or get the heebie jeebies that people think there is something wrong with me driving a banger?
Noccy_Mondy wrote: » What year is it? Nevermind what others think of it, as long as you're happy to be in it (which it sounds like you are) then keep it until you get tired of it.
Stheno wrote: » TL:DR:Do I drive a banger for a year or more and then upgrade to a nicer car, or get the heebie jeebies that people think there is something wrong with me driving a banger?
pred racer wrote: » Scratchy is in for surgery..... Service, New poly bushes on the lower front, New back spring, New rear discs and pads. Lights aligned (coz the retard that did it before the NCT did em wrong and the failed:mad:) Anyone lend me some beans for my toast??:o I'm currently the proud driver of a corolla verso, not a bad yoke, 1.6 petrol wouldn't pull a slippery stick out of a dogs hole, and the seats aren't very comfy, but all in all I've driven (and owned) a lot worse!
dgt wrote: » Ah ffs not more auto bashing..... If I wasn't a yob I'd have the merc as an auto The E34 is a 4 speed automatic and is absolutely hilarious how long it takes to get out of 1st gear, yet is very smooth to change. The W126 is a non computerized 4 speed auto that can be bump started (I have the instructions in the manual to prove that) and it's even more hilarious, yet is also extremely smooth. The 535i is a 5 speed steptronic and I wouldn't have any other box in it, it's so nice to drive as it is. My old 520 was a manual and I would have binned it for an auto one at the 1st opportunity if someone was willing to swap. This is coming from someone who likes manuals. Manuals and autos have their place but outright bashing for no other reason apart from dislike is utterly, utterly pointless and stupid
