R9UKE's French Car Blog...

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 01 Jun 2011, 21:31

FAR too expensive!!! Would be nice to have that huge engine in an estate though, proper wolf in sheep's clothing

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 02 Jun 2011, 07:57

There is a similar C5 V6 Estate for sale on autotrader for £1000 more, makes that one look good value. V6 C5s seem to differ a lot in price, but then again a V6 is not for everyone.

How many millions of Lagunas are you on to now Luke? Has your V6 materialised? Still got the 1.6 and 1.8?

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 02 Jun 2011, 11:51

Citroenmad wrote:How many millions of Lagunas are you on to now Luke? Has your V6 materialised? Still got the 1.6 and 1.8?

Hahaha made me laugh!

Just the 1.6 and the 1.8, which will be on the market before the weekend hopefully. The V6 won't start due to the Fuel Pressure Regulator having popped off, so I need to jack it up and remove the under tray in situ which won't be pleasant at all.

So my sensible head cut in and I realised that I'm heading over to England next Friday. Why not leave this V6 until after I get back in case something irresistible and much better value comes up. So I'll be picking through ebay with a fine toothed comb over the next 7 days for cars near Birmingham!

The 1.8 Expression is booked into Renault to have the tyre pressure monitor deactivated as only one tyre is active and the dashboard would report no faults otherwise! I'm also waiting on the set of wheel trims I ordered off ebay arriving.

The 1.6 Dynamique passed it's MOT and is ready to go, but I like having it around so I think I'll get the Expression gone first

Off to post your XM dash now Chris, if I can find a box!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 04 Jun 2011, 22:29

Ah, another trip to the England to waft back in luxury, I like it! Hopefully you will find something interesting.

Thanks Luke, look forward to recieving it, I hope its just a speedo though, no idea where I would put a dashboard

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 05 Jun 2011, 14:59

Don't worry Chris, just the instrument cluster

How about this for interesting? I'd love one of these. Only ever seen one or two on the road!

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 05 Jun 2011, 16:12

Buy it, its more interesting than the C5.

I used to see one of these the off time around Banbridge. Its got the signature swage line that the XM and 605 have.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Jun 2011, 16:32

robert_e_smart wrote: Its got the signature swage line that the XM and 605 have.

Indeed it has, in profile particularly... Is it a Pininfarina design?

Now that is an interesting car. The Alfa V6 is gorgeous... You can always keep yourself occupied polishing the inlet runners whilst you await the breakdown recovery

Unread post by **myglaren** » 05 Jun 2011, 16:34

Fabulous, and Italian - which is very nearly French

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Jun 2011, 16:42

myglaren wrote:Fabulous, and Italian - which is very nearly French

I often think Alfas were likely designed (bar the body styling) and built by the French. They really do seem to have a lot of French about them...

But then perhaps not, the Italians have never traditionally needed any advice on making terrible electrics and forming cheese into apparently metallic castings and mechanical components. They had that art mastered long before the French

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 05 Jun 2011, 17:11

I'm surprised the 164 has triggered such a good response! I can imagine it to be an absolute nightmare of a car to own, but as you say Jim, with an engine bay like that it wouldn't matter

I also see that Alfa have fitted a light on the inside of the bonnet. That kind of says it all really....

Here's one very close to Birmingham. Not sure whether the white on black plastic works though? The 166 is another rather sexy car. Oh I do need to own an Alfa!!!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Jun 2011, 17:18

R9UKE wrote: I also see that Alfa have fitted a light on the inside of the bonnet. That kind of says it all really....

So they did on the XM... It does say it all

The Alfa 166 is a car I instantly fell in love with and could too the 164..

If I wasn't so wedded to the Double Chevron I'm sure I'd have had a big Alfa by now...

Unread post by **myglaren** » 05 Jun 2011, 17:50

R9UKE wrote: I also see that Alfa have fitted a light on the inside of the bonnet. That kind of says it all really....

There was one under the bonnet of my 265. I wonder what they were expecting

Unread post by **myglaren** » 05 Jun 2011, 17:52

CitroJim wrote:
R9UKE wrote: I also see that Alfa have fitted a light on the inside of the bonnet. That kind of says it all really....
So they did on the XM... It does say it all

The Alfa 166 is a car I instantly fell in love with and could too the 164..

If I wasn't so wedded to the Double Chevron I'm sure I'd have had a big Alfa by now...

Saw a Brera last weekend while trying to find my mate's house.
At first thought it was a GT cloverleaf like the SIL's but on closer investigation it was even nicer.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Jun 2011, 20:41

A 164, now that is a rare thing, very nice they are too.

I like alfas as they are not soulless and boring. They do also remind me of French cars, just not as well made and much less reliable and more flimsy!

Ive not had too many dealings with Italian cars, the ones I have were Fiats which were all fragile in their own way. I like the Alfa 166, they are superb value too, even quite late ones can be picked up for small money.

stevenc75 · Unread post by **stevenc75** » 05 Jun 2011, 22:54

I've had three Alfas and loved them all, but they broke my heart. Two of them were boxer engined 145s and when they were going they were great. My favourite was my old 1989 Spint Coverleaf. It is the best car I ever owned. I knew it wouldn't pass the MOT when a friend in the back put his size 10 through the floor. Great cars, but very flimsy, terrible terrible electrics and you just never knew if you were going to complete a journey in them.

Oh, they also hate rain. All 3 of them had wet weather issues. On Alfas of this age all the stereotypes are true. Every single one of them.

I've had over 30 Fiats over the years as well. Generally good cars, but need looking after.