What do you drive?

[knoppy1987]

13 hours ago, Xela said:

Here's a question. Something me and a couple of the lads were at work were chatting about - you can tell work is slow...

As you can see, not a massive fan of modern cars. 

 

I share that sentiment on modern cars. I do try and have a word with myself now and again about going out and getting myself something modern. I'm finally in a position to do so, but find myself enjoying my old cars time and time again, mainly because I have struggled to operate a car daily, unless it has an Alfa Busso powering it. I've had other Alfa Romeo vehicles (too many), but feel a bit lost without a Busso under the bonnet. When I started out driving I had a quest to own an Alfa Romeo (~2004), and then it turned into working my way through affordable models from the brand, and here we are today. I've had some that have got away that I should have kept (last off the line 147 Collezione and a GTV Twin Spark I posted on here some years ago now), others that were awful, and others I have grown an affinity towards and just keep. The keepers have become my perfect garage and I will never get rid of them. The youngest is 21 and the eldest 30.  

Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6 (cost £2k and has 155,000 miles on the clock)

Alfa Romeo 75 Veloce Twin Spark (cost £3k and has 102,000 on the clock)

Alfa Romeo 156 Veloce 2.5 V6 Q-System (cost £2.3k and has 88,800 on the clock)

It will come as no surprise that I need a bigger garage.  In the coming years I'd like to own a 166 V6 and I would also like a GTV6. I always wanted an Alfa 75 3.0 V6, but when test driving a few years back, I just found the twin spark to be a much better drivers car, so bought one instead. I suspect my next car will be a second-hand Giulia Veloce (petrol) as I come to terms with the realities of my future motoring after it. We will see. 

[Phil Silvers]

5 minutes ago, knoppy1987 said:

I share that sentiment on modern cars. I do try and have a word with myself now and again about going out and getting myself something modern. I'm finally in a position to do so, but find myself enjoying my old cars time and time again, mainly because I have struggled to operate a car daily, unless it has an Alfa Busso powering it. I've had other Alfa Romeo vehicles (too many), but feel a bit lost without a Busso under the bonnet. When I started out driving I had a quest to own an Alfa Romeo (~2004), and then it turned into working my way through affordable models from the brand, and here we are today. I've had some that have got away that I should have kept (last off the line 147 Collezione and a GTV Twin Spark I posted on here some years ago now), others that were awful, and others I have grown an affinity towards and just keep. The keepers have become my perfect garage and I will never get rid of them. The youngest is 21 and the eldest 30.  

Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6 (cost £2k and has 155,000 miles on the clock)

Alfa Romeo 75 Veloce Twin Spark (cost £3k and has 102,000 on the clock)

Alfa Romeo 156 Veloce 2.5 V6 Q-System (cost £2.3k and has 88,800 on the clock)

It will come as no surprise that I need a bigger garage.  In the coming years I'd like to own a 166 V6 and I would also like a GTV6. I always wanted an Alfa 75 3.0 V6, but when test driving a few years back, I just found the twin spark to be a much better drivers car, so bought one instead. I suspect my next car will be a second-hand Giulia Veloce (petrol) as I come to terms with the realities of my future motoring after it. We will see. 

Pics would be nice if possible, would love see them., always love the look and sound of Alfas but never bought one.

[Chindie]

14 hours ago, Xela said:

Here's a question. Something me and a couple of the lads were at work were chatting about - you can tell work is slow...

Perfect 2 car garage for you... being realistic. Not a Bugatti and Rolls,  but 2 cars, that you would have to cover all eventualities if you could justify it. I ended up with the following, within a reasonable price range:

Early 00's Porsche 911 (996) Turbo - c£40k

Early 00's BMW X5 3.0d  c£5k. Prefer the 1st generation, think it has aged really well. 

I think of a big estate, but went with the SUV

Porker covers off the speed, and it reliable as well. First of the water cooled 911's and has the mezger engine, which means it doesn't suffer the problems of the non turbo engine

Beamer covers off the daily duties - shopping, decent load carrying size, 4wd, higher driving position etc. 

Only thing missing is I would like a cheap convertible as well, although I wouldn't want a 911 convertible. Something like an MX5, SLK, Z4 etc.

As you can see, not a massive fan of modern cars. 

 

993 Turbo. The best looking 911. I'd like the GT2 but it would probably be more realistic to put a Bugatti.

VW Corrado (ideally a G60 but I'd take the VR6). Always, always loved them. Very hard to find good ones though.

I will never own either.

[blandy]

14 hours ago, chrisp65 said:

This pair, with the KG converted to electric would about cover everything I need.

I went to the German factory where they made them and had a tour.  There's a place in Wales that does the lecky conversions - there was a telly prog/series about them, which was reasonably interesting. They took mainly rich folks cars and turned them lecky for a (large) price. They were also on a Guy Martin prog where he electric'ed up a Beetle (well it was the owner's Bug, but he drove it to John O'Groats.

Back to the 2 car garage, I'd have, I think something like the Ghia, or a Beetle as a toy and then a normal electric hatchback type car with a decent range for more regular use (not that I use my car much anyway). The A3 I've got now does the job, tbh. 

[Phil Silvers]

2 hours ago, Chindie said:

993 Turbo. The best looking 911. I'd like the GT2 but it would probably be more realistic to put a Bugatti.

VW Corrado (ideally a G60 but I'd take the VR6). Always, always loved them. Very hard to find good ones though.

I will never own either.

Had a family by the time I could afford a corrado so never could, managed to get a golf gti mk4, mk6 and now a gtd 7.5, had a scirocco 2.0 tsi when the lad was older and we could afford 2 cars. Solid brand. Corrado one of if not the best looking car ever from vw.

[chrisp65]

Road test: I’ve just had 4 days and 800 miles in a Toyota Corolla hybrid.

Over 800 miles its done 66mpg (my ‘normal’ petrol Skoda would have done very slightly better)

The CVT gearbox you can get used to, I drove a car with a slippy clutch for a long while, so I’m familiar with the revvy sensation.

Comfort, well I’m 6’2” and I’ve just driven it home from Middlesborough and I feel fine, although that might just be the effect of leaving Middlesborough.

Overall: perfectly decent bang average modern car, I can’t think of any obvious niggles other than the weird place they’ve hidden the single USB port (clue: if your passenger has a right knee, they’ll be constantly knocking it out of the port on the underside of the dash where a passenger’s right knee goes)

[knoppy1987]

3 hours ago, Phil Silvers said:

Pics would be nice if possible, would love see them., always love the look and sound of Alfas but never bought one.

No problem at all and sorry about the compressed image quality. I can send high res images to an email if you want to see more. None are concourse, and all are driven when healthy. 

The GTV image is an old image I've taken off my Facebook. The others are fairly recent. My GTV is currently in Culgaith awaiting a new Q2 differential, a clutch, flywheel, timing belt, and other things I cannot do on the drive or trust myself to do. 

I think Alfa Romeo had/has a reputation that stuck unfortunately. Many like you love the look and sound (of some), but stay clear. I understand that. They are not exactly stocked with choice like other manufacturers either. 

[Genie]

I used to get close to 60mpg out of a heavy 2004 2.0L diesel with a 5 speed box, that was fairly fun to drive too when you put your foot down.

[chrisp65]

3 minutes ago, Genie said:

I used to get close to 60mpg out of a heavy 2004 2.0L diesel with a 5 speed box, that was fairly fun to drive too when you put your foot down.

I was expecting more from the fuel economy, I was also expecting it to be able to cut and go to electric far more often. My Hyundai hybrid from a few years ago would switch to electric at motorway speeds once the battery was charged up, the Toyota appeared to only be able to do electric when it was moving off from lights in towns, if you were gentle on the pedals. 

70mph on motorway appeared to completely negate the hybrid benefits. Like I say, my standard auto petrol Skoda, I regularly get almost 70mpg on long motorway trips, which I thought was not great after the Ioniq which could easily get up in to the 80’s, but now turns out to be decent in comparison with a car sold as a hybrid.

Perhaps if it was doing more commuter traffic, in a flat town, it would come in to its own. Defo buy one if you regularly commute in and out of Norwich.

[Phil Silvers]

10 minutes ago, knoppy1987 said:

No problem at all and sorry about the compressed image quality. I can send high res images to an email if you want to see more. None are concourse, and all are driven when healthy. 

The GTV image is an old image I've taken off my Facebook. The others are fairly recent. My GTV is currently in Culgaith awaiting a new Q2 differential, a clutch, flywheel, timing belt, and other things I cannot do on the drive or trust myself to do. 

I think Alfa Romeo had/has a reputation that stuck unfortunately. Many like you love the look and sound (of some), but stay clear. I understand that. They are not exactly stocked with choice like other manufacturers either. 

Lovely, cheers pal. I've heard a few people over the years say how sweet that busso engine is. I always wanted that one from Octopussy. 

[knoppy1987]

5 minutes ago, Phil Silvers said:

Lovely, cheers pal. I've heard a few people over the years say how sweet that busso engine is. I always wanted that one from Octopussy. 

The GTV6. Clarkson's favourite. I was laughing my head off when watching his farm show and it was in a container when he was trying to locate some chemical equipment (excuse the non-farming world terminology). Not sure if you watch Harry's garage, but this is a good watch for Busso noise (this is actually Clarkson's car - awful wheels). Good for many vehicle brands though so worth a look through the history.  

 

[Chindie]

1 hour ago, Phil Silvers said:

Had a family by the time I could afford a corrado so never could, managed to get a golf gti mk4, mk6 and now a gtd 7.5, had a scirocco 2.0 tsi when the lad was older and we could afford 2 cars. Solid brand. Corrado one of if not the best looking car ever from vw.

A Scirocco would be the closest I think I could get. No idea why VW stopped making them - gorgeous and it's basically a flash Golf, it'd print money.

The Corrado though, I remember seeing one in a VW magazine (my brother was big into his cars, subscribed to a VW specialist magazine so they were always around) and fell in love with it. Unfortunately it never sold that well and the ones that are out there have invariably either been ruined by wannabe boy racers, are knackered, or are mint so cost a **** fortune. Modern classic though, I'd love one.

I (genuinely) regularly browse various 3d printing haunts so I can print a model of one. I've found 1 file so far, doesn't quite work for what I want though .

...

I drive a 20 year old 1l Lupo with a knackered gearbox. Anything could sit in my dream garage and be an improvement. And I like the Lupo.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Chindie

[Xela]

4 hours ago, Chindie said:

993 Turbo. The best looking 911. I'd like the GT2 but it would probably be more realistic to put a Bugatti.

It is a wonderful car, and undoubtedly the best air cooled 911, on account of it being the last one! Its the ultimate incarnation of it. 

Looks wise, I do just prefer the 964, in maritime blue. Looks perfect (RS model below)

I went to view one years and years ago (standard one, not an RS). Was just over £20k I think and I baulked at the price, and it was the right decision as I wouldn't have been able to insure it and run it! In hindsight, it would have been a bargain. They're just not affordable anymore. 

Thats why I like the 996 Turbo. It's the unloved 911 at the minute. You can get the non turbo for less than £20k. The turbo from mid £30k's up. 

[Phil Silvers]

13 minutes ago, Chindie said:

A Scirocco would be the closest I think I could get. No idea why VW stopped making them - gorgeous and it's basically a flash Golf, it'd print money.

The Corrado though, I remember seeing one in a VW magazine (my brother was big into his cars, subscribed to a VW specialist magazine so they were always around) and fell in love with it. Unfortunately it never sold that well and the ones that are out there have invariably either been ruined by wannabe boy racers, are knackered, or are mint so cost a **** fortune. Modern classic though, I'd love one.

I (genuinely) regularly browse various 3d printing haunts so I can print a model of one. I've found 1 file so far, doesn't quite work for what I want though .

...

I drive a 20 year old 1l Lupo with a knackered gearbox. Anything could sit in my dream garage and be an improvement. And I like the Lupo.

The Scirocco was a 2012 and is effectively a better looking golf coupe really, with surprisingly loud type roar noise inside the cabin when on the move, golf is way more refined.

I see a really cool Lupo at a tesco near me sometimes, lowered fast and furious type deal, tiny 10" wheels i think, loud metallic green, it looks amazing.

This is what I think of when remembering the Corrado, the original G60 and I think this silver was the original press launch colour too, lovely thing.

[Xela]

18 hours ago, Phil Silvers said:

Sorry no likes, nice choice. That 500e above is quality to pal.

I'd go Toyota Landcruiser 200 series, about 9/10 years old - 30-40k, unbreakable and unstoppable.

 

I do like a bit of Japanese car porn as well. If I lived in the sticks, then i'd change my X5 to a series 80 or 100 Land Cruiser. Absolute beasts. 

I do drool over the NSX as well. I flip/flop between that and the 911 turbo as my dream realistic car. The NSX in formula red with the pop-up lamps. 

An engineering tour-de-force. Honda basically forced Ferrari to massively up their game as a result of this car. 

[Phil Silvers]

52 minutes ago, knoppy1987 said:

The GTV6. Clarkson's favourite. I was laughing my head off when watching his farm show and it was in a container when he was trying to locate some chemical equipment (excuse the non-farming world terminology). Not sure if you watch Harry's garage, but this is a good watch for Busso noise (this is actually Clarkson's car - awful wheels). Good for many vehicle brands though so worth a look through the history.  

 

Loved clarksons farm, when he's being natural and smart funny or even the blithering idiot he is great, I'd imagine he has to have a script and be heavily edited to get something printable, because he can be a tool.

The car above is beautiful.

 

edit, re Harrys garage, top quality, we were on about him a month of so ago, also Tyrells classic work shop - a bloke I could listen to all day long.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Phil Silvers

[The Fun Factory]

Just bought a 2015 Skoda Fabia. Does what it says on the tin and £20 to tax.

I read somewhere the average age of a Fabia car owner is 55, so that really highlights my rock and roll lifestyle. Middle age is upon me.

[Chindie]

3 minutes ago, Xela said:

It is a wonderful car, and undoubtedly the best air cooled 911, on account of it being the last one! Its the ultimate incarnation of it. 

Looks wise, I do just prefer the 964, in maritime blue. Looks perfect (RS model below)

I went to view one years and years ago (standard one, not an RS). Was just over £20k I think and I baulked at the price, and it was the right decision as I wouldn't have been able to insure it and run it! In hindsight, it would have been a bargain. They're just not affordable anymore. 

Thats why I like the 996 Turbo. It's the unloved 911 at the minute. You can get the non turbo for less than £20k. The turbo from mid £30k's up. 

The 964 always feels too much of a halfway house between the true classic 911s and the modern iterations (because basically it is...). It's got the 80s Turbo appeal but theres something about the angle and the... extent of the headlights I never liked on the semi modern shell.

The 996 similarly is cheap(er) for a reason - both versions are the ugly ducklings of the 911 family and they have famously dodgy mechanicals. The engines fail due to a ball bearing breaking and require major work to fix, and early ones look like Boxsters and the later ones have the horrible egg yolk headlights which look weirdly fussy. The 997 was a huge improvement - it's mad to think that's nearly 20 years old now.

[Phil Silvers]

2 minutes ago, Xela said:

I do like a bit of Japanese car porn as well. If I lived in the sticks, then i'd change my X5 to a series 80 or 100 Land Cruiser. Absolute beasts. 

I do drool over the NSX as well. I flip/flop between that and the 911 turbo as my dream realistic car. The NSX in formula red with the pop-up lamps. 

An engineering tour-de-force. Honda basically forced Ferrari to massively up their game as a result of this car. 

I've had a few 4x4s but never a Landcruiser, just too expensive, that said you could have bought a 1 year old 80/100, have it serviced  and looked after properly and it would last a lifetime.

My favourite dream car has always been a 911, Chindie is right about the looks of the 993 turbo, stunning thing. The latest gen 911 is supergood, they really are the best car engineers in the world, so so good. That NSX is the bomb too.

[Xela]

12 minutes ago, Chindie said:

The 964 always feels too much of a halfway house between the true classic 911s and the modern iterations (because basically it is...). It's got the 80s Turbo appeal but theres something about the angle and the... extent of the headlights I never liked on the semi modern shell.

The 996 similarly is cheap(er) for a reason - both versions are the ugly ducklings of the 911 family and they have famously dodgy mechanicals. The engines fail due to a ball bearing breaking and require major work to fix, and early ones look like Boxsters and the later ones have the horrible egg yolk headlights which look weirdly fussy. The 997 was a huge improvement - it's mad to think that's nearly 20 years old now.

The 996 has grown on me. The basic Carreras I don't like the look of, but the turbo models add a bit of presence. Also the turbos are immune from the dreaded IMS bearing issue, that had a 10% chance of shitting your engine up.

It was never going to be the most loved 911 as it was the first water cooled one, but I've grown to like it now. The 997 is prettier though.