Alfa dilemma. The dreaded curse?

[clutch-monkey]

I thnik he said he's crahsed a coupla times, so maybe he should get full insurance.

so maybe learning to drive might be an idea

[f6fhellcat13]

Or he could attach a spike to the front of his car for ramming.

[Zytek_Fan]

How about a Peugeot 206 GTi?

[Ferrer]

well with all the restrictions he has what can he actually get that is fun, though.
i'd forget comprehensive insurance..fire/theft coverage only

Puma, Fiesta, 106 GTI,... and I'm sure there are other options.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Something Small & french from 1997-2002 should suffice.

Failing that, I'd be all over a Puma personally.

[Quiggs]

Something Small & french from 1997-2002 should suffice.

Failing that, I'd be all over a Puma personally.

You stole that quote from your mother.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

You stole that quote from your mother.

My mother prefers German Cars.

She currently rocks an E36 328i.

[LeonOfTheDead]

I guess the Peug 106 is a good advise, beside your problem with French cars (which I understand deeply ). Rallye and GTi versions are really fast and fun to drive, the cars are very cheap now and even reliable, AFAIK. the only issue is to find one not tuned.

[henk4]

beside your problem with French cars (which I understand deeply ).

it is called prejudice isn't it?

[Ferrer]

it is called prejudice isn't it?

Usually it's italian cars that suffer that.

Since italians can't hate an italian car they just had to pick another country.

Probably.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Usually it's italian cars that suffer that.

Since italians can't hate an italian car they just had to pick another country.

Probably.

My mom owned a Clio mk1, wonderful car, I've driven it in its last days of glory...
it isn't prejudice, I just don't like "French style" and quality, or, expressing myself in a better way, I don't like Peugeot, its marketing and design. about the quality, my father owned two Lancia Phedra (there isn't a single piece in that car not produced and design by the PSA) and the assembly's and materials' quality wasn't good enough for a 35-40k euro car. but I have to say, 120k or more km in both cars and no problems with the engines or other mechanical parts. electronic was very annoying int the first one though.
beside, even his Fiat Croma isn't perfect in some details, but a better car on the whole.
Last C4 Picasso (5 seats) and C6 are very interesting from the design point of view, I really like those.

[Dantera22B]

Well the Alfa failed its MOT today with all round replacements needed for the brakes including new calipers at the back, gonna be expensive. I've decided to settle for a cheap runaround, probably around the £500-£1000 range. I know that anything small with skinny tyres and a rev happy engine is fun enough to thrash around.

I've enjoyed the Alfa immensely (when it's been working properly) and when I can properly afford it and have the balls to own another one, I most definately will. It's got to go to a good home, it's been abused by the previous owner and I've spent a fortune slowly nursing it back to rude health. After the brakes are done it'll be a beast, but a beast that is too expensive for me to tame.

So, any takers?

Also i'd really like a Puma but unfortunately the 1.7 is group 12 for insurance whereas mine is group 11, so that'd cost me more to insure. They did make a 1.4 + 1.6 but I can't find many of them.

[Waugh-terfall]

Those aren't really fun to drive, are they?

Well I think the Megane is meant to be a bit of a hoot and I can't see the Laguna being any different to his previous Rover 416i or Ford Escort, and it's a similar size to the 156.

Puma, Fiesta, 106 GTI,... and I'm sure there are other options.

I think he's a similar size to me meaning he'll really struggle with a 106. The pedal box is dire especially with the wheel arch intrusion under the ridiculously small and closey placed pedals (I can press all 3 with the top of 1 foot). The throttle is hard to mediate with its inch-or-so of travel. The gearbox on the XN Zest 2 1.1 at least is incomprehensibly aweful, they're cramped and even the handbrakes are shocking.

[Ferrer]

Well I think the Megane is meant to be a bit of a hoot

Maybe the RS, but the normal one with the stupid electric steering isn't exactly the last word in driving dynamics. I drove one time ago (1.9 dCi 5 door hatch) and altough it was a short trip and we didn't do exactly what I'd call insane speeds it didn't strike me as a car that'd be particularly sporty. On that front I think there are much better options.

It seems though he has decided on a cheap small car with revvy petrol engine and skinny tires. That's always a good receipe for sensible fun.

[Waugh-terfall]

How much do Renault 5 GT Turbo's go for these days?