Done a new Golf GTi in the traffic light Grand Prix!

Surely it's not an issue to someone coming from, ISTR, an Impreza?

One of the most common of the older Alfas. Loads of 'em out there.

Last ones were '98. That's not old.

Possibly the least wanted car in the current Alfa range.

Pfff, stop being a pikey :)

See above and

You recall wrong, but yes it would be an issue.

I meant with regard to appearance more than actual physical age.

Oops, I was just looking at the pics - didn't notice it was a Sele. I think the 156 is the one that I'd be most inclined to go for...

Legacy?

Looks like a posh Primula inside.

My point still stands - Subaru interiors are nasty.

WTF?! It's distinctive. A 155 Sportpack with anthracite alloys still looks the nuts.

They're the best choice, IMHO.

Unless you want a 166, of course - the few people I know who've bought one, say they're the bollocks.

I meant as a cheap runabout for a laugh. I wouldn't dare risk it being=20 my main car and certainly would never risk =A314k on an Alfa :)

--=20 Lordy.UK

Yeah, you're much less likely to have an eye out on the curves getting in or out the Subaru as opposed to the set square inspired lines in the Alfa, but isn't the 75 worth it for /that/ handbrake lever alone? It's almost as cool as pop-up headlights! Personally I couldn't live with the exterior. I think they look like the offspring of an RSPCA rescue Volvo that someone was very unkind to.

Hugely entertaining, my father had one as a company car when they were still new. None of the electrics worked right on them back then. (That's the one where the drivers seat mechanism decided to lie flat randomly one day.)

I'd be looking for a 147 GTA if you can find one, the best sounding hatch in recent years nearly traded the S for one before deciding on the more sensible TDi Ibiza.

The Alfa 75 handbrake is possibly the worst piece of "design" ever inflicted on a car.

Must admit that if someone shoved a Delta Integrale under my nose, I'd not say no. Wouldn't even be bothered about it being a 16V or even running.

Oh yes, you would say "no". Just remember that when the alternatorbelt snaps, it is "engine out"-time...

That said: I seem to be stuck in the early nineties. I will and shall have a Integrale Evo 3. But then again: from that era I fancy still a few other cars.

Everybody should have a garage with a M3 E30, a Cossie, -grumble grumble- an Integrale and - more up market- a 512 TR...

Am I lucky to know where such a 5000 km-beast, pampered in its airconditioned garage waits for me. Hurray for those investors which then bought these cars, never drove them and seeing their value drop year after year! ;-)

Tom -just bought a workshop and is now transforming for more garage- space- De Moor

In news: snipped-for-privacy@news.telenet.be, Tom De Moor wittered on forthwith;

That's rubbish. I've changed the alternators on both of the Integrales I owned - along with the belt, and it's much easier if you leave the engine in. There's also a stupidly long bolt that holds the alternator on, which I've replaced quite a few of. They tend to fall out - how I don't know they're a bugger to get back in.

ISTR Ed China did up an Integrale on Wheeler Dealers. He did an alternator swap without pulling the engine.

Alternator swap is quite easy really although I've known "specialists" take suspension struts off to do it. All you have to do is unbolt the coolant header tank and move it out of the way and access is greatly improved.

Cambelts are a pig though, as are balancer shaft belts. I just changed them whenever the clutch needed replacing - about every 12k miles..

I agree with you 100%, which is exactly why it's so much of an issue. Because, despite all that 'nastiness' of a Subaru interior, it still 100 times better than an old Alfa and doesn't look like it was lifted from a Vauxhall Nova (which is always a bonus).

And?

In my eyes, *all* Alfas are distinctive compared to their other more mundane looking alternatives. The point is I wouldn't have a s**te old car, no matter what brand it's from. I'm shallow like that :)

Such as 220131541516 ? Looks like something from the 1980's to me, I did a double take when I saw 1997 at the top. I mean, Jesus H Christ, seriously, look at the fk'ing dashboard.

I do like the 166, just not sure I want something that big from something that would be intended as a fun car.

Anyway, this was actually supposed to be helping me, not turning into an excuse to slag Alfa's off. I'm sure I originally started off on this thread agreeing with you before you somehow managed to even turn that against me :/

Ahhh, you care about what other people think. You don't want anyone to see you in an old car in case they think you're poor.

FWIW, the 155 is quite a nice place to sit, IMHO.

But you're being all shallow about it and won't buy some of the best cars to drive based upon their looks.

I love the fact that the 75 is a big, wedgy fridge. It looks dramatic on the track and other people seem to love it for that, too.

Par for the course. The thing is that you accept the flaws with any of these cars. I'm sure there's some horrendous issues Steves beloved 75 has but he accepts that's what they come with.

Yet they seems to manage perfectly well in CTCC.

Never driven a decently setup Capri then, Steve?

Yes, Leaf springs are ancient technology. Yes, live axles are also old technology.

However, Mk2 Escorts - which share pretty much the same setup as the Capri - are still winning tarmac rallies around the world. Beating Audi quattros and Porsche 911s.

As for the bike being able to make better use of the available road, well, that's true in a straight line or open corners, but a Capri has four wheels and live axles are very good for traction so if the road is remotely twisty the Capri has the advantage.

I've comprehensively beaten some very fast bikes - ridden by very fast bikers [1] - down twisty lanes in cars with considerably less grunt than a decent Capri. A Peugeot 406 HDi (90 bhp) one being a particularly memorable example

However, Conors Capri is a 2.0 so it's not got much chance against anything quicker than a Peugeot Speedfight.