Sportwagon

Is that one with a facelift interior? - did it have a fuel computer etc. in the middle, on top of the dash?

Very, very odd.

The steering in my Focus is heavier than in our 156 and much more communicative.

Didn't you find it very 'direct', though? - as in, the slightest turn sends you shooting off in that direction....

You're strange.

But we knew that already.

No at all, that's how all 156s feel.

Bollocks.

I suspect a typo has made you utter an accurate comparison there.

As in "it's crap" you mean?

Having had 2 and driven quite a lot of miles in them, I can assure you, you're talking s**te.

Erm, it is. Having driven them back to back, I think I can make some valid comparisons here.

As in, it has a 'quicker' rack than just about any other mainstream car.

That's what makes it feel 'odd' to begin with - the 156 rack is at least

(ISTR it's just over 2 turns lock to lock)

No - no fuel computer.

No, sorry to say, I didn't. There was no great alacrity to initial turn in. Have checked the tyres and they're all decent makes in good nick. I would maybe have to spend some more time with it, but as it stands, that's the only bit I'm not taken with. The rest is very agreeable.

Thanks - I take that as a compliment.

I've consulted another Alfisti elsewhere.

He agrees with me, that car needs looking at as there's something very, very wrong if it's heavy and uncommunicative.

Hold on - you said the Focus has more communicative steering than a 156? Wasn't one of your main moans with Foci (and Mondeos, and Fords in general) that the steering was uncommunicative and rubbery?

Doh! Missed that f*ck-up.

I made a typo.

Having driven several in Italy I can assure you that I'm not.

Previously you've denies that the Focus steering is more communicative than the Alfa. It is, so it's good to see you turning around.

Yeah, pointless because it's a crap track car and it's vile on road.

I have never heard this criticism levelled at the 156 steering before.

Only here.

Typo. The Focus steering is artificial and s**te.

I've played with all 3 settings, none of which appear to be any good at all - one setting makes it too heavy, one is about right, but still very obviously not directly connected to the front wheels and one is almost as comedic as a 1970s film.

Once you adjust to it, you wonder why all cars aren't like it.

Well for one thing, I like the bit nailed to the car to stay nailed, not distribute themselves along the road as I drive.

As I've said before, one 156 I had was so bad that I took it back and swapped it for an Astra. The Astra was better in every way that mattered.

Yes, but you rate the Ford Exploder.

As a 4x4 yes, it's much better than the majority of vehicles in its class. I'd swap it for an Amazon VX and at a pinch for a Volvo XC90 although the XC is just a bit too small.

I'm not under any illusions about it being a sports car - even if it does outpace many so-called "hot hatches" that aren't as hot as theor manufacturers make out.

You really don't want me to compare the 156 to an XJR, do you? Not when the Alfa is outclassed by the Focus.

We won't agree on this, but I have both sat outside the house.

The Focus only ever moves if it's on business trips. Even then I try to find excuses not to use it.

Umm hmmm. Unfortunately your perception is coloured by prejudice, mine by experience.

Because it's a Ford, and it's a company car and you seem to have a phobia about Fords. The Focus isn't just a bit better than the 156 when it comes to handling it's way, way better.

Very nice place to be though the XC. And the new XC60 is even better inside.