Reply to: What Car?

[Bagpuss]

A guy at work bought an Alfa, I told him not to after hearing so many bad stories about them over the years, many being new engines needed. Within 2 weeks the brakes started making annoying noises, then it started pulling to the left. At the moment he's getting random warning lights.

The tale of the poster who couldn't get his money back kind of makes sense. I've had 2 Jap cars and the customer service has been exceptional (no arguments, no assuming you are taking the proverbial). Why is that? Because they don't spend all their time dealing with complaints about poor reliability, so when the customer isn't satisfied it's so rare they really want to do something about it. If you know the product is sh1te then the only ways not to go bankrupt is either improve it or pretend it isn't a problem and treat the customer like a nuisance.

[ThomasSoerensen]

can you switch the traction controll off completely?

[darmstadt]

As long as you are not a crude fool, you can drive a powerfull RWD slowly in on snow.

I've been doing that with mine recently (and used to with the AMG.) Today it snowed like tulip in the afternoon so I thought I'd bugger off early so I wouldn't have to spend another few hours doing Citroen 2CV speeds on the motorway. The town roads were just pack ice with snow on top and the car would go all over the place but not once did the wheels spin, turn off the traction control. The motorway in places was a bit (lot) snowy but still managed speeds of 150+ so it only took a couple of hours. The only problems were when just round the corner from home where the snow is very deep so the car was bottoming out and the spoiler acting as a snow plough. One thing I don't do is put it in 'S' mode like last week as that was rather scary and don't kick down 2 gears as the back end just decides to not exist anymore...

[ThomasSoerensen]

of course if you opt for this one Brabus - BRABUS Supercars you might have to restrain yourself a bit in snowy conditions

[ThomasSoerensen]

you can see here Brabus - Tuning fr Mercedes-Benz that you only get 462 bhp - should not be unmanageble.

[ThomasSoerensen]

How would an E-Class Brabus handle in the snow?

Would I have to have grown up in Finland, driving Dad's car around on ice from 5 years old, to be able to get to the shops today?

I don't know.

Only if Brabus had reprogrammed the traction control system and enabled it to be complete switched off.

As long as you are not a crude fool, you can drive a powerfull RWD slowly in on snow.

[Mich the Tester]

And if you want to become so, you better not spend your monies on overpowered cars.
They are fun though.

How would an E-Class Brabus handle in the snow?

Would I have to have grown up in Finland, driving Dad's car around on ice from 5 years old, to be able to get to the shops today?

[ThomasSoerensen]

I'm not as rich as Dimprawn yet!

And if you want to become so, you better not spend your monies on overpowered cars.
They are fun though.

[Mich the Tester]

With a discrete Brabus logo, I hope

I'm not as rich as Dimprawn yet!

[ThomasSoerensen]

The one day of the year that everything worked and the roads were dry and quiet it was a fabulous car. The other 364 days were just awful.

I now own a boring, staid, very conservative Benz. It works.

With a discrete Brabus logo, I hope

[Mich the Tester]

They do seem to be stereopypically Italian.

If you want the luxury treatment, buy and old Ferrari. Proper tulipe.

The one day of the year that everything worked and the roads were dry and quiet it was a fabulous car. The other 364 days were just awful.

I now own a boring, staid, very conservative Benz. It works.

[ThomasSoerensen]

I had an Alfa 166 for a while. Black, with black leather Momo interior. Everything about it was almost erotically beautiful. It was tulipe though.

They do seem to be stereopypically Italian.

If you want the luxury treatment, buy and old Ferrari. Proper tulipe.

[Mich the Tester]

It makes a lot more sense if you emphasise the words "Alfa's of old"

Alfa Romeo Alfetta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfa Romeo Sprint - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfa Romeo Spider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All very pretty cars though. There was one of these I used to pass every day on my way to school, I always liked the look of it.

Alfa Romeo 105/115 Series Coupés - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had an Alfa 166 for a while. Black, with black leather Momo interior. Everything about it was almost erotically beautiful. It was tulipe though.

[DimPrawn]

VW Passat Diesel Estate, ideal car for staying under the radar as a contractor in the staff car park, cramming in several rugrats and also filling the boot full of crap from the weekly "big shop".. plus the car is built well and I've had several hired ones that I was very impressed with..

You can fit a lot of tapes in the boot too. Ask Milan.

[chef]

VW Passat Diesel Estate, ideal car for staying under the radar as a contractor in the staff car park, cramming in several rugrats and also filling the boot full of crap from the weekly "big shop".. plus the car is built well and I've had several hired ones that I was very impressed with..