You know that Alfa V6 I'm borrowing?

In the older cars, the TSpark is the engine to go for.

Wouldn't mind a 75 V6, but I'm not keen on any transverse V6 installations, unless I was buying nearly new and had a good idea of it's history. They're just a PITA to buy at the lower end of the market as you can't really do much work on them at home.

But this is true of all transverse V6s.

Granted the 166 does, but that's true for everything in it's class.

The 156 holds its value as well as, if not better than, the German competition.

In which universe?

Parkers retained value figures for 2 litre models of 3 year old 156, A4, 3 series and C Class:

Guess which one isn't German?

The one year figures are:

In 12 months, the 156 loses more cash than the other 3 put together.

Try finding a good one for Parker's money.

Parker's is shit for most valuations - it valued my old 33 16v at something like £250 - when it was worth 4 times that.

(OK, so I blew the engine, but it sold for quite a lot more than that even with a blown lump)

First 12 month old 2.0 156 I found is being advertised for bang on 65% of original cost.

There are 18 one year old 156s to choose from for under 10k - all these cars cost at least 16k new.

And the real world price of that car when driven out of the showroom was?

'cos there have been some hefty discounts / deals at Alfa dealers, whereas you'd be very unlikey to get anything off list for a German car.

Way higher than the 25% discount you'd need to come close to the others?

I managed 8% with a fair bit of work and was offered 4% on a 320 without asking earlier this year.

Thinking about it, as a means of driving a car with - if that's what floats your boat - a very recent plate and a bit of driveway prestige, buying a 156 for 10-12k and trading up each year for a couple of grand max [it 'only' loses 13% between 12 and 36 months old] is probably one of the cheaper ways of doing it.....

OK, so we find somwhere quiet and level, and we don't want to bugger the volvo. So I put on a fixed bar, and we do a timed 10-60 run? Don't fancy trying to get quickly off the line with the extra weight.

Oooohhh, it's coming to the end of the lease is it? Don't suppose you could have a word in the ear of the fleet manager and ask what price the lease company would sell it for? Don't suppose you could take it in for a major service after that, and get a new cambelt, all new tyres (decent brand), and new brake pads/discs etc if required could you? :-)) It was in Nuvola Blue wasn't it?

Or if it was a cheap ex-lease car!

What are these V6s like for reliability?

Peter

So now you know more about Parkers _and_ all of the motoring press?

I've bought and sold enough used cars to know that Parker's prices are well out - especially when you're talking more specialist cars.

I also know that industry depreciation figures are based on list price, not the price people actually pay.

Makes a big difference.

Nah, too complicated for me to be bothered with - you'd need to take into account torque and power curves of both cars, gear ratios of both cars etc etc., not straightforward at all.

If there's someone out there that can be bothered then I'd be interested to see the result, but it's far easier to just go and try it out!

Peter

I dunno, my bro's 147 Selespeed Lusso cost £13k brand new from trade sales - it's red (not my choice of colour, but it don't look too bad), has full leather, dual zone climate, etc etc, fully loaded basically. I do agree with what others have said about the selespeed though, horrible nasty lurchy thing, but other than that it ain't a bad car.

He's beginning to realise that twin spark engines need regular oil checks and top-ups though!

Peter

In news:trRNc.1580$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net, AstraVanMan decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

No ya don't, you need the torque curve of the Volvo. The Ka is being towed.

Theres a run what you brung meeting at santa pod soon. If you can do 96mph in the quarter mile you'll keep up with my ax.

Ok, who has done the santa pod run and beat that .... even the saxo vts the other week only did 87mph.

Steves own personal one.

What I suspect he meant to say was "The 156 holds its value as well as, if not better than, stuff like Rovers, Mondeos, Peugeots, Vauxhalls and Renaults"

Right, so you've compared it to three cars which we all know hold their money rather well.

However, if you're a long time ownership proposal, and you keep your cars for 15 years or so, the the Alfa *will* hold it's money better than the C class, A4, or 320i. A good condition, well maintained Alfa 75 will fetch more money than either a 15 yr old 320i or a 15 yr old Audi 80. A 75 3.0 in good condition will still fetch an easy £1500. Not many F-G plate 325is will fetch that. Virtually no G reg Audi 80 will.

I'd happily pay £1500 for a nice 75 V6. I'd pay £5-600 for a nice 325i, £300 for a tidy Audi 80, or £4-500 for a nice Alfa 75 2.0 (less if it's white ;-))

Heh, £250 is 100 times what I'd pay for an Alfa 33.

Dojj has, and Matt has, and any of the Ti boys probly could :)

Dojj has, and Matt has, and any of the Ti boys probly could beat your time :)

In news: snipped-for-privacy@uni-berlin.de, Dan405 decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

This kind of post really makes me wish I still had the Cosworth.

IIRC my 1/4 mile was around 129 mph...