Which One Would You Go For - Alfa or Merc ?

[norrahe]

Specialists all the way even if it is 1 year old; Alfa service centres are proper tulipe. Genuinely bad.

I think I was lucky with the guy I used locally, he was a right Alfa nut and didn't charge the earth either. Also helped me sell the car when I moved and didn't take a cut.

[Old Hack]

Agree! I liked the 164 Lusso I had, and the 166 after it, the 75 based on the Alfa 90 or Alfa 6? Can't remember. I had the 3.0 75, was the 3.6 a bored out 3.0? Had a 75 2.0 at the same time and preferred that, was unslidable on normal rural roads in Scotland as I was at the time, best car to drive I ever had.

There was a 166 3.2 24 valve facelift - had a go in one but it lacked the oomph, I still say that 24 valve was a bit too top endy, lacked the low end oomph of the 12 valve.

Only had one bad Alfa, a 1985 33, shiiiite....

I had a couple of Alfas in the 80's; an Alfetta that I loved and a GTV, which was a love hate relationship. Bought a 75 in 92 and transplanted a stroked and bored 3.6 and it was a monster. It was based on the Guilietta iirc, itself based on the alfetta. Just nice cars; I loved them. Left them alone for a while, then bought a 145 Cloverleaf which was a zany little car and ridiculously fast once fettled. Then bought a 166 3.2 (6 months old, 18k - 14k off list) which we used for a while, and I actually quite liked. Then came the MPV days, but I still did my bit for tuning

75 was like the GTV in that it had the gearbox on the rear axle, as such. Made it wonderfully balanced. The 3.6 would powerslide at will, but was lovely to drive. TS engine was a gem in the 145, lovely and peaky too. Never had a 12 valve, and not too sure I drove one either, so probably couldn't comment. The 24 valve was probably the best engine I have seen in a car.

I loved my alfas, I must admit. I had 2 Lancias as well, including a Fulvia S3 1.6. I genuinely mourn the day I sold it; the most elegant little car I have ever owned.

[stek]

I had a couple of Alfas in the 80's; an Alfetta that I loved and a GTV, which was a love hate relationship. Bought a 75 in 92 and transplanted a stroked and bored 3.6 and it was a monster. It was based on the Guilietta iirc, itself based on the alfetta. Just nice cars; I loved them. Left them alone for a while, then bought a 145 Cloverleaf which was a zany little car and ridiculously fast once fettled. Then bought a 166 3.2 (6 months old, 18k - 14k off list) which we used for a while, and I actually quite liked. Then came the MPV days, but I still did my bit for tuning

75 was like the GTV in that it had the gearbox on the rear axle, as such. Made it wonderfully balanced. The 3.6 would powerslide at will, but was lovely to drive. TS engine was a gem in the 145, lovely and peaky too. Never had a 12 valve, and not too sure I drove one either, so probably couldn't comment. The 24 valve was probably the best engine I have seen in a car.

I loved my alfas, I must admit. I had 2 Lancias as well, including a Fulvia S3 1.6. I genuinely mourn the day I sold it; the most elegant little car I have ever owned.

I had two (at the same time) Lancia Gamma Coupe's - the most elegant mass-produced coupe ever, though not that many RHD. One blue like this, and a red one for spares really. ONC 955W I think.....

[Old Hack]

I had two (at the same time) Lancia Gamma Coupe's - the most elegant mass-produced coupe ever, though not that many RHD. One blue like this, and a red one for spares really. ONC 955W I think.....

Gammas coupes were beautiful, but used to catch fire didn't they? Were they also the most unreliable cars on earth? Were they 2.5 4iL

Edit: forgot to add, the one car I did want to own as a kid, and one that still makes me itch a little, is the Fiat 130 Coupe. Always thought it even mroe elegant than the pagodas of the day

[stek]

I had a couple of Alfas in the 80's; an Alfetta that I loved and a GTV, which was a love hate relationship. Bought a 75 in 92 and transplanted a stroked and bored 3.6 and it was a monster. It was based on the Guilietta iirc, itself based on the alfetta. Just nice cars; I loved them. Left them alone for a while, then bought a 145 Cloverleaf which was a zany little car and ridiculously fast once fettled. Then bought a 166 3.2 (6 months old, 18k - 14k off list) which we used for a while, and I actually quite liked. Then came the MPV days, but I still did my bit for tuning

75 was like the GTV in that it had the gearbox on the rear axle, as such. Made it wonderfully balanced. The 3.6 would powerslide at will, but was lovely to drive. TS engine was a gem in the 145, lovely and peaky too. Never had a 12 valve, and not too sure I drove one either, so probably couldn't comment. The 24 valve was probably the best engine I have seen in a car.

I loved my alfas, I must admit. I had 2 Lancias as well, including a Fulvia S3 1.6. I genuinely mourn the day I sold it; the most elegant little car I have ever owned.

Also remember the 75 De Dion rear suspension and in-board disks and pads, unsprung weight! Nightmare to maintain and meant really small boot especially on the 3.0 - bigger fuel tank.

And the stupid u-shaped handbrake lever and electric window switches next to the rear view mirror....

Ahhhhhh....

[Old Hack]

Also remember the 75 De Dion rear suspension and in-board disks and pads, unsprung weight! Nightmare to maintain and meant really small boot especially on the 3.0 - bigger fuel tank.

And the stupid u-shaped handbrake lever and electric window switches next to the rear view mirror....

Ahhhhhh....

I had a girlfriend with an Alfasud that I was continually repairing the onboard discs.

U-Shaped Handbrakes have caught on, a little

[stek]

Gammas coupes were beautiful, but used to catch fire didn't they? Were they also the most unreliable cars on earth? Were they 2.5 4iL

Edit: forgot to add, the one car I did want to own as a kid, and one that still makes me itch a little, is the Fiat 130 Coupe. Always thought it even mroe elegant than the pagodas of the day

2.5 flat four, not inline yes. Not fire, problem was power steering pump driven off the offside camshaft - cold engine, LH full lock, PS pump stalled camshaft, jumped teeth, smashed engine.....

[stek]

I had a girlfriend with an Alfasud that I was continually repairing the onboard discs.

U-Shaped Handbrakes have caught on, a little

Yeah seen a few - Passatt have one now?

[Old Hack]

Yeah seen a few - Passatt have one now?

S-Max and Galaxy too. I built a 450 bhp Ford S-Max a few years back. Magic times...

[Old Hack]

2.5 flat four, not inline yes. Not fire, problem was power steering pump driven off the offside camshaft - cold engine, LH full lock, PS pump stalled camshaft, jumped teeth, smashed engine.....

I remember them having some issues they couldnt resolve. Must admit, the boxer throws me a little. My little Fulvia was a V4 and I didn't realise Lancia built a boxer