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Old 25-07-2019, 11:06 AM   #1
Nasher
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Turning Italian

I think the Italian influence has rubbed off my M900 on to me!

I've had a bit of a lot going on in the last few months, one of which was the loss of my mother, and after dealing with that I've been renovating and selling her house, which is nearly complete and we should complete the sale mid September.

To do the work my wife and I have spent every spare penny we had, and I said at the beginning I hope my old discovery lasts until I can replace her with the proceeds of the house sale. At 15yrs old and 232K miles I wasn't actually that worried as I've always managed to fix her.
However last week the poor old thing expired, a long story, but really wasn't worth fixing and off she went to a specialist breaker, but just 2 months before I'll have the cash to buy what I want which is another newer discovery.

So, I found my self with £1500 to spend on the best Diesel Estate car I could find that would last at least 2 months.

I got despondent, as everything I looked at was boring, mind numbingly boring, or completely shagged with 200K on the clock.

Then I found a car I knew nothing about, but have fallen in love with really quickly after just one 'spirited' trip home across the A272 from Crawley.

Its a 2004 Alfa 156 Sportwagon Veloce with the 16V 1.9TD.
It has 105K on the clock, but has a complete Service history.
Apparently it's quite special in Alfa circles being the Veloce, and despite being £1500 and genuinely just slightly sloppy, it's glorious to drive.

I now don't want to sell it when I get my newer Discovery, but don't have room for it.
I might have to sell it and look for the V6 petrol version as a Toy in a couple of years.

Nasher.

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Old 25-07-2019, 11:24 AM   #2
utopia
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Bella !

It does rub off on you, doesn't it ?
Even my Honda traillie was built in Italy and its new exhaust can bears a tricolore.
I also drink much more coffee these days and absolutely refuse to eat sub-standard ice-cream any more.

Just over 100k miles for a diesel .. that'll be nearly run in by now then.
I love a diesel, me.
Unless you do lots of town mileage where the particulate output is a nuisance, I fancy they're still better environmentally than petrol engines.
And they have that lazy torque.
Who needs performance on four wheels anyway ?
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Old 25-07-2019, 02:19 PM   #3
Pezz
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I had the 3.2L V6 GTA - best car I've ever had - the sportwagon variant of those was super rare and super special. Servicing is frequent and expensive but that what we have come expect from our Italian vehicles...
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Old 25-07-2019, 02:36 PM   #4
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As a long time Italian bike owner, I've often admired the cars but never been brave enough to buy one.
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Old 25-07-2019, 04:33 PM   #5
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I nearly bought a 147, the 2.0 Lusso version (IIRC) brand new. I asked the dealer "Do you have many problems with the 147?" and he replied "Not as many as the 156". That's why I can say I nearly bought one rather than I actually bought one!

Lovely cars, so let's hope you've got a good one!
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Old 25-07-2019, 05:27 PM   #6
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My other half got an Italian car about a year ago......
And it’s got 2 cylinders!!
A 500 twin air. It’s great fun. 900cc turbo with 105hp. Surprisingly nippy!
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Old 25-07-2019, 05:45 PM   #7
Mr Gazza
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I had a 2002 156 Sportwagon 1.8 twin spark. Hands down the best car to drive that I've ever owned and probably the only one I've ever liked...I hate cars!

It will eat into your soul and you'll end up poly-bushing the front suspension to get the handling even better (Yes, it can be even better!)
Shame she's a weasel, but any Alfa is better that none.

The fairly new ancillary belt shredded and drove the cambelt off, doing a fair bit of damage to my heart..

I looked for over a year to replace it, but I've given up now and I have my 7th Skoda Romeo.

Welcome to the Alfa appreciation society...
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Old 25-07-2019, 06:16 PM   #8
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Thanks Guys.

They are quite rare anyway, but this one is a Veloce, with the 16V 1.9TD instead of 8V, 6 speed gearbox, lower stiffer suspension, Veloce only wheels, and a special order light Grey leather interior.
It really is lovely, has only done 105K miles and has already had the Cambelt etc replaced.

It is not slow by any means with the Diesel, it 'spools up' like a V6 because of the Torque rather than revs like a 4cyl petrol.

I appear to have picked it up a little cheap, but unfortunately I know I'm going to have to sell it when I get my newer discovery. It just won't fit everything I need to carry, and certainly won't tow my boat.

I'm going to hopefully enjoy a couple of months tearing around in it, and tidying it up just a little to increase it's value as much as possible.

But I already know it's going to break my heart to sell it.

Nasher
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Old 25-07-2019, 06:57 PM   #9
Blah blah
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I'd keep it for when the Discovery breaks down...
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Old 25-07-2019, 08:22 PM   #10
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Get yourself a Land Cruiser Nasher you will wonder why you even bothered with a Discovery.
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Old 25-07-2019, 08:46 PM   #11
Nasher
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Sorry Flattop, done the whole Landcruiser thing.

Great car, but totally soulless and boring to drive compared to my last Disco.

Nasher.
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Old 25-07-2019, 09:20 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nasher View Post
Sorry Flattop, done the whole Landcruiser thing.

Great car, but totally soulless and boring to drive compared to my last Disco.

Nasher.
Ha ha I love my one it just seems to do the job well and is uber reliable off road it’s never let me down, I’ve had discovery’s but admittedly older versions although if I could go back a few years my Daihatsu Four-track Fieldman what a motor not everyone’s cup of tea but for what I wanted it for it was ideal.
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Old 25-07-2019, 09:43 PM   #13
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Oh sweet memories!
I owned a 1.9TD 16v 6 speed Voloce sports wagon, dark blue, leather interior, for 2 years until the cam belt let go at about 130k on the engine. Which was just over 3 years ago. The belt was due to be changed at the next service ( the service book claimed it has been changed at 80k)
I use to have soooo much fun driving it, very quick to the point it surprised quite a few people on how rapid she went....sigh!!!!
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Old 26-07-2019, 10:17 AM   #14
Char
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imported my 3.2 V6 from Ireland

couldn't afford to run it and a bike so it had to go - it was EPIC

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Old 26-07-2019, 08:05 PM   #15
Nasher
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I can't believe so many on here have had one! Must be 'The Force'.

Love the 3.2 Char.

I'm going to look for somewhere to store it for a while when I get my newer Disco, just to buy me some time to plan a way forward.
I do think however it will involve selling this one and getting another at a later date when I have more room.

Nasher.
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