Poor Andy (AGW_01)

[agw_01]

Well it's so good to have you back mate. Hope you're feeling much better

Guess what I picked up on Wednesday...

Front
Side
Rear
Bumper
Engine Bay
The bonnet does sit properly, just I had it open and didn't close it properly afterwards.

I love it to bits! It's so much nicer than the old car and is in such good condition. The engine bay is absolutely spotless. You can almost see your reflection on the rocker cover (ok maybe not quite). The colour coded bumpers and side panels really do look much better than the grey, and the revised front bumper gives the car a much tougher look. Can't wait to see how she looks with my meshed grille.

It's just had 4 new tyres (2 Pirelli) and a new backbox. The engine is so quiet, and I had to check the rev counter to see if the engine was still running when I pulled up to a junction on the journey home. It has 12 months MOT but no tax, so I'll have to get that sorted as soon as the insurance comes through.

Oh another thing, no way has the interior done 75,000 miles. The seats are so clean and look like new! The old car was starting to get stretch marks along the leather side supports, but there are absolutely no blemishes on these. Even the jack and other tools are still wrapped up in the original cellophane film.

Coming next... debaged, clear side repeaters, splitter from a renault laguna and my old grille

Also, thanks to everyone for the replies. It's hard to believe that it's been a week since the accident.

[Martin_89]

Can’t wait to see it when it’s de-badged, made such a difference to your old car. (I would de-badge my car but it leaves two holes on the boot )

That’s pretty cool about the jack all being in the original package though,

[jankerson]

Looks like you found a really nice car.

[dannyboy27]

Nice one Andy, looks like you chose well



I can't interest you in an Alfa Romeo then? I can't seem to give the bloody thing away!

[Martin_89]

Originally posted by dannyboy27
I can't interest you in an Alfa Romeo then? I can't seem to give the bloody thing away!

What model is it you have Danny? (im not interested in buying it btw, just wondering. dont think the insurance company would like me! )

[dannyboy27]

it's a 156 2.5 V6 24v mate

yeah, I don't think even Norwich Union would be able to 'quote you happy' just yet!! I only pay £440 a year fully comp now, but then I'm 30 in a couple of months.

My first car was an Escort 1.1 (55bhp!!), and even that cost me £520 a year to insure (and that was just 3rd party fire & theft)

It's quite funny to think that I now pay less to insure something with nearly four times as much power. I guess there are some advantages to getting old

I haven't had a single call about the Alfa yet though. I think part of the problem is that most people just want a BMW, because that's what everyone else drives.

[Martin_89]

Sounds nice, 190BHP aren’t they?

I’m £1,050 a year on my 1.2 16V 75BHP. That’s standard, not priced it with mods yet. And that’s with my mum as the main driver and me as a named driver. (Plus she gets a discount because she comes under a "professional driver" (she’s a driving instructor)

good luck with the sale then, what you thinking of replacing it with?

[dannyboy27]

yep, it's 190bhp. I will miss the performance and the sound it makes, but 17mpg is pretty lousy, especially considering it's 'only' a 2.5 litre. There are much more powerful motors out there which aren't that thirsty!!

£1,050?

holy cr*p! Still, I guess you don't have much choice really. At least it will start to come down quite quickly once you start building up some no claims.

cheers, hopefully I will get a few calls next week anyway. I have another theory that people may have been waiting to see what happened in the election before borrowing money to buy a car etc.

I'm gonna replace it with an Audi, either A3 or A4. I'd love to get the A3 quattro sport, as it's 180bhp and power-to-weight ratio would be better than the Alfa. But I think they're still a bit out of my reach. Realistically I'd be quite happy with a 150bhp 1.8T.

This one would be quite nice too

nice arse!

[agw_01]

Originally posted by dannyboy27
£1,050?

Should I tell him what I pay Martin?

dannyboy, that s.ucks that you can't get rid of it. I would take an Alfa over a BMW anyday! You just don't see many Alfa's around and that's what I like... a bit of individualism (wow, try saying that when you've had a few).

That's mainly the reason I drive a Rover. Sure people call it a grandad car etc etc, but it leaves them standing at the lights and impresses the girls... what more can I ask for It seems the little chavs have realised this as well, and I've seen 3 Rover 214's driven by burberry wearing clowns

Nice one on the choice of new car Danny. I really like the A4, but could you possibly be persuaded into a Subaru Impreza? In a few years when you decide to sell, I'll snap your hand off.

Martin, I'm going to put my grille on and de-badge it today. Put the K&N on yesterday and it seems to pull through the rev range a lot easier. SCHWEEET!

Thanks for all the replies, I'll keep you all updated with my progress (hopefully my progress won't involve crashing it)

[Martin_89]

Originally posted by dannyboy27
Realistically I'd be quite happy with a 150bhp 1.8T

Seat Leon Cupra R, 1.8T 20V 225BHP IMAGE

then you spend £500 for a superchip from superchips.co.uk and you have a 265BHP 1.8T

also andy, naa dont tell him what ur paying, might give him a heart attack!

[CenturionStrategy]

Originally posted by Martin_89
Seat Leon Cupra R, 1.8T 20V 225BHP IMAGE

then you spend £500 for a superchip from superchips.co.uk and you have a 265BHP 1.8T

also andy, naa dont tell him what ur paying, might give him a heart attack!

I'm quite interested in getting one of those next year.

[Martin_89]

Originally posted by CenturionStrategy
I'm quite interested in getting one of those next year.

lucky B*stard so you get a new car every year then, not bad!

[dannyboy27]

Originally posted by agw_01
Should I tell him what I pay Martin?

dannyboy, that s.ucks that you can't get rid of it. I would take an Alfa over a BMW anyday! You just don't see many Alfa's around and that's what I like... a bit of individualism (wow, try saying that when you've had a few).

That's mainly the reason I drive a Rover. Sure people call it a grandad car etc etc, but it leaves them standing at the lights and impresses the girls... what more can I ask for It seems the little chavs have realised this as well, and I've seen 3 Rover 214's driven by burberry wearing clowns

Nice one on the choice of new car Danny. I really like the A4, but could you possibly be persuaded into a Subaru Impreza? In a few years when you decide to sell, I'll snap your hand off.

Martin, I'm going to put my grille on and de-badge it today. Put the K&N on yesterday and it seems to pull through the rev range a lot easier. SCHWEEET!

Thanks for all the replies, I'll keep you all updated with my progress (hopefully my progress won't involve crashing it)

yeah they're nice cars mate, I hankered after a 220GTi for several years when I was younger. Aside from head gasket issues, the K series is a very good engine too, I seem to remember it won a Queen's award for Technological Achievement after its inception. I didn't realise the Queen knew so much about engines

I wouldn't mind an Impreza (although personally prefer the Mitzi Evo) , but unfortunately it's not really an option right now! I need something at least semi-sensible as I am out of the office most days in this new job.

I actually nearly bought this 330bhp beastie instead of the Alfa, but decided that it was a bit OTT!

Martin, same goes for the Cupra, very nice though they are

Although isn't it basically the same 1.8T engine, just higher tuned? I know it's a very chippable engine, thanks to the turbo

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I *might* even consider one of the 130bhp Audi TDi's . I'd have to drive one first though, to see if the extra torque makes up for the difference in power. God, what's happening to me?

I won't ask what you pay for insurance then Andy!!

Don't forget to post some pics of your car with new grille

I took a photo of my engine today too, for old time's sake. Bit sad, I know, but I love the look of it, esp the chrome inlets!!

brrrm

[CenturionStrategy]

Originally posted by dannyboy27

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I *might* even consider one of the 130bhp Audi TDi's . I'd have to drive one first though, to see if the extra torque makes up for the difference in power. God, what's happening to me?

http://img240.echo.cx/img240/9111/tdiengine.jpg
http://img240.echo.cx/img240/2431/tdi.jpg

You know you want it

Seriously though, my golf is the 105bhp TDi, and will happily hit 100mph easily enough and creep onto the mid 120s. It's a very torque-y engine, and well worth a test drive. If I was to buy one, I'd go for the 130 and get it chipped to 150+, that would properly chip

Oh, and I decided to stick to under 80mph on the motorway today from Watford - Stansted and back. I managed a whopping 65mpg. The car's only done 2000miles too, so is still far from worn in. I imagine it'll be good into the 70s after I've done a few more miles.

[Martin_89]

lol, if were playing the engine show off game then here it is in all its glory, 113,000 miles in 3 years and it still goes

low quality pictures btw

Engine
Engine 2

And here it is before the wheels went on (no pics with the wheels yet ) IMAGE