My Next Car

[gbb]

I've got a 156 Sportwagon. BMW just leave me cold - I've invariable always had something a bit different and there's not many of them about. Apart from a brief dalliance with a Nissan Bluebird, but I'd rather not talk about that.
I love the confusion on peoples faces when they try to find the rear door handles the first time.

Interesting fact - Alfa were the first to sell common rail diesel engines to the masses.

Oh jesus, i looked at a 156 JTD i think it was, higher spec than my normal kind of car, but i can honestly say i fell in love with that car, jawdroppingly well furnished, all that brightwork and black. Ive NEVER looked at a car with such lust. It was like a space age cockpit.
Common sense prevailed of course, i'm (sadly) much too sensible for a car like that.
No offence, there's very few cars look as nice and i'm sure the old adages arent true of all Alfas.
What did i end up with...a Focus
Its not such a bad car, reliable, reasonably economical (just)...but it doesnt inspire me one single iota. I'm jealous.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I haven't got much of a clue about how cars work, but I love how they look... well, not all of them, but especially big old 1950s American cars, or French jobbies like this beauty:

I have officially just arrived

She is absolutely stunning

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I've got a 156 Sportwagon. BMW just leave me cold - I've invariable always had something a bit different and there's not many of them about. Apart from a brief dalliance with a Nissan Bluebird, but I'd rather not talk about that.
I love the confusion on peoples faces when they try to find the rear door handles the first time.

Interesting fact - Alfa were the first to sell common rail diesel engines to the masses.

I also like the 156 a lot, probably more in my price range. I have read a lot about them having trouble with suspension control arms failing prematurely, apparently the 159 has a different suspension setup and does not suffer as badly. Just wondered if you had had any issues with this?

Bluebirds were supposed to be reliable as hell lol. Probably very dull, much preferred the later P10 Primera. Still a bit dull but a cracking car with great build and handling. They went to shoot when Renault bought them the last Primera was an utter bin IMHO. I hate French cars!

 

[fossyant]

Scuse me, I've got a p12 Primera and its been fabulous, very reliable indeed. Had a company Alfa 147 Selespeed before that, nice and fast, handled well, but was in and out of the dealers for electrical glitches. Had to order a new steering wheel after the coating on the shift paddles pealed off. Lovely cars though, but not terribly practical, and were known for cam belt failures, that killed my neighbours 147.

 

[Piemaster]

The suspension arms do wear, my cars could do with replacing really which should improve the feel of it on the road. New exhaust last year was horrendously expensive, but as it was 9 years old can't really complain that much.
I looked at other more sensible, practical, cheaper to run cars. Then drove the Alfa and bought it.

Bluebird was reliable and unoffensive. It was also as interesting as supermarket white sliced bread. Can't say I ever looked round after getting out and walking away from it thinking "yeah, that's my Bluebird' Though being white I frequently had people trying to flag me down as a taxi!

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Scuse me, I've got a p12 Primera and its been fabulous, very reliable indeed. Had a company Alfa 147 Selespeed before that, nice and fast, handled well, but was in and out of the dealers for electrical glitches. Had to order a new steering wheel after the coating on the shift paddles pealed off. Lovely cars though, but not terribly practical, and were known for cam belt failures, that killed my neighbours 147.

lol sorry mate. They just look lardy and like a Laguna to me, but I am sure they are a great car. The P10 and P11 hardly looked exciting either but they were a good drivers car. I drive a Focus so feel fun to rip my car to bits as I know it's boring.

 

[Over The Hill]

I've got a 156 Sportwagon. BMW just leave me cold - I've invariable always had something a bit different and there's not many of them about. Apart from a brief dalliance with a Nissan Bluebird, but I'd rather not talk about that.
I love the confusion on peoples faces when they try to find the rear door handles the first time.

Interesting fact - Alfa were the first to sell common rail diesel engines to the masses.

Funny as a diesel always seems a bit wrong in an alfa (I would have diesel though)
I have been looking at 156/159 s for years.
I rather fancy the red leather interior option. I think I it would make me feel great each time i got in the car.

 

[Matt1705]

The only 2 cars out of 13 I've had no mechanical issues with were both Nissan. A '95 primera, got left outside to rot while I was off work for 4 months. And a 2001 micra, only sold because I lost my job :-(

 

[subaqua]

So i shall see you two gents Defy and Venge up the local Skoda dealership tomorrow trading in your BMW's and Porsches etc then yeh

i traded in a merc for a skoda. got a very good deal and she still runs it daily 11 years on.

 

[PoliceMadAd]

A quick update, i've pretty much made a final decision that i'm gonna get an 11-62 plate VW Polo, between 6.5k and 8k. I had one as a hire car earlier this year, and really enjoyed it, and as i still live at home and have a steady job driving for a supermarket,, im more than happy to take finance and pay off more as and when i can (usually have 200 spare per month form payday) cheers for the help though everyone.

 

[snailracer]

If your not a badge snob get a Kia. You will get much more for your money they have a long warranty so they must be a good car. Highly rated in the motoring press too. My next car will be one as I could not care less about cars and just want something that is reliable and offers good value for money.

That's what they want you to think, they are no worse than anyone else, but not much better....

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/

 

[GaryA]

My jolopy; the first car Ive had in 20yrs bought when i split up to transport the young un...

1.0 GX model 1996, not easy finding a small 4-door... paid £700 with only 64K on clock- genuine.
jap cars of the 90's are mega reliable and this one is quite nice to drive-around town anyway.
At first i thought it looked like a jelly baby but the styling is growing on me -at least its distinctive...and far better than the frog faced Micra K12 that replaced it.

 

[bigjim]

5 years ago I bought a 1999 Mondeo Estate Ghia X for £600. Its fully loaded with everything and a dream to drive. It's got 162K on the clock and has proved to be totally reliable. I keep thinking about something smaller, but we don't do that much mileage these days and I love the fact that I can throw my bike in the back without taking wheels off etc. The fact that it's not too cheap on petrol forces us to walk and cycle more. I sometimes think in a smaller, cheaper to run car, we would use it more. It's also a great camping car as I can sleep fully stretched out in it. Mini camper van.

 

[tyred]

My jolopy; the first car Ive had in 20yrs bought when i split up to transport the young un...

View attachment 16479

1.0 GX model 1996, not easy finding a small 4-door... paid £700 with only 64K on clock- genuine.
jap cars of the 90's are mega reliable and this one is quite nice to drive-around town anyway.
At first i thought it looked like a jelly baby but the styling is growing on me -at least its distinctive...and far better than the frog faced Micra K12 that replaced it.

Those are a fine machine and seriously economical but check the front end of it for rust.

 

[fossyant]

Those are a fine machine and seriously economical but check the front end of it for rust.

I also had a K11 Micra. Had it about 4-5 years, was a 1.3 Super S in a special blue/green metalic, with alloys that had stupidly expensive tyres on (unique size). Great car though.