Soldato
Well,
Between the two of us we have moved to one car as I tend to gt the train to work, we work the same days/times and transport links are pretty good in our neck of North Yorkshire. Over the last 8 months, we've been running around in a Leon cupra on the 02 plate, which has been a hoot to throw around on my Sunday night drive down the country roads. However....
MAJOR spanner. The lift-share that the missus had going has come to an end with two others leaving where she works and the 100 miles a week has become 250, and that is a lot of fuel. So the dreaded decision was made....diesel <hack, cough, spit>
I want reasonable turn of acceleration, much comfort, bigger is better, and good handling. She wants economical, well-spec'd, reliable. There was much debate and a £2k budget made matters more difficult. The option was there, an obvious one, with it's blue, oval badge.
But
That's boring.
And so, for our reliable, oil burner, we chose.......
An Alfa 156 JTDm. 2005 54 plate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, final facelift. Many toys. Much italian leather and a really nice car.
Few issues which lead to a rediculously cheap purchase but some DIY required. It has a PAS pump that was damaged by running low on fluid. It works but is noisy. Simple job of removing the engine sub-frame and out with the alterntor and bob's your uncle. Needs an ARB on the front but apart from a bit of a stone chip damage to the front bumper, she's awesome. 53mpg average, speedo that consistently over-reads by 6mph (how italian!) and no gremlins. Timing belt/water pump 15k back and full history from Alfa/specialists, all for £1900, taxed and tested. Will get some photo's up soon!!!
Between the two of us we have moved to one car as I tend to gt the train to work, we work the same days/times and transport links are pretty good in our neck of North Yorkshire. Over the last 8 months, we've been running around in a Leon cupra on the 02 plate, which has been a hoot to throw around on my Sunday night drive down the country roads. However....
MAJOR spanner. The lift-share that the missus had going has come to an end with two others leaving where she works and the 100 miles a week has become 250, and that is a lot of fuel. So the dreaded decision was made....diesel <hack, cough, spit>
I want reasonable turn of acceleration, much comfort, bigger is better, and good handling. She wants economical, well-spec'd, reliable. There was much debate and a £2k budget made matters more difficult. The option was there, an obvious one, with it's blue, oval badge.
But
That's boring.
And so, for our reliable, oil burner, we chose.......
An Alfa 156 JTDm. 2005 54 plate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, final facelift. Many toys. Much italian leather and a really nice car.
Few issues which lead to a rediculously cheap purchase but some DIY required. It has a PAS pump that was damaged by running low on fluid. It works but is noisy. Simple job of removing the engine sub-frame and out with the alterntor and bob's your uncle. Needs an ARB on the front but apart from a bit of a stone chip damage to the front bumper, she's awesome. 53mpg average, speedo that consistently over-reads by 6mph (how italian!) and no gremlins. Timing belt/water pump 15k back and full history from Alfa/specialists, all for £1900, taxed and tested. Will get some photo's up soon!!!
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