Thanks Whiteley. I'll be truthful here. I read the first two paragraphs that I completely agreed with and then got distracted by the "nurse" in the photo and didn't read anymore. You've made me feel better already
I'm still suffering the cold that started the day before Villa and that I tried not to pass on in the pub before the Bournemouth game. All four of us now have it and the house is shaking with the mass coughing. Worst one ever. By far. However, as I'm self-employed I dutifully spread it around my customers this week. Vin
Never had a single problem with my 147 (touch wood) though at night the headlights are a little like a glow-worms fart in all honesty, so corners can surprise you. The 156 was fun but never felt terribly solid. The 33 Boxer was my favourite to drive. Again never gave me a problem, but I sold it to a friend and two weeks later the gearbox fell out of it's arse. New Alfas are fine though in terms of reliability, even on the sparky bits. At some stage I *will* own a 4C.
Never owned an Alfa, though a relative did. He loved his boxer Alfasud Cloverleaf, and as usual, it would have been based on a company wide chassis, probably of Fiat origin. I've owned two Fiats, both Tipos, and I loved them. Great handling cars with plenty of zip about them, and wait for this... no rust or any other problems. But the best Fiat I drove, I didn't own, and I only had it for three months because I looked after it for a mate while he went on a tour of the Far East and Antipodes. It was a red Fiat Coupe 2.0. The Coupe only came as a coupe but you wouldn't have wanted it watered down in any other way. One of the most gorgeous cars ever to be designed, it was said to be the Ferrari for everybody who couldn't afford one. I have always loved real SAABs, but a Fiat Coupe is probably the only car I'd consider giving up my bike for. I don't know how many times I found excuses to go out in that car. I'd go to the corner shop to get some ginger root and find out I'd driven 30-40 odd miles. It was that sort of car. Exactly the sort of thing I do with my bike. please log in to view this image The day Fiat said they wouldn't be making the little beauty anymore a lot of drivers hearts broke. I can tell you that it is one of the best driving cars ever, and I've driven quite a few of the good-uns. Driving very nearly becomes the equal of motorcycling behind the wheel of one of these, and it takes a great deal for me to say that.
1. I never sell a car to a friend.... Just in case two weeks later something like that happens. 2. I had a 156 when they first came out. I loved it despite then knobs and controls breaking and snapping 3. About 5 years ago (maybe more) didn't the Technical Director of BMW switch to Alfa Romeo? I remember thinking at the time that give it a year or three and he'll have that reliability reputation sorted out. 4. The wife wants a Gulietta.
My Dad had an alfasud years ago. Best car to drive he has everyone he says, rusted out quickly though. The gtv was to die for imho.
So.....I'm all about the MotoGP today. Can Valentino do it from the back of the grid. I think no, sadly, but hell I'm going to be watching to see!
Back in the days before I was doing this ridiculous music job and actually earned reasonable money, I had a Lotus Elise S2 111R. I took my bike-mad friend out in it, and he was gushing that it was the closest he'd ever experienced to the feeling of riding a bike, both in terms of thrill and speed. Man, I loved that car.
The only Alfa Romeo I ever had was a Dinky toy and true to its kind it broke, long time ago of course.
But you wouldn't go back to that job just to get that car, would you? And when one of your protégés becomes huge, I'm sure they'll buy you something just a good
So,I'm getting rid of my BMW. Got it narrowed down to 2: an 09 Jaaaag XJ V6 or a 2010 Range Rover Sport. Thoughts?