The Alfa....sadly

[Kitch]

With all the money I'm now launching at the BX to get it on the road, plus the running of the TVR and the fact the 106 I've got has just kicked me in the nuts, it looks like my love affair with the Alfa V6 will only last a few weeks

Basically the car I took to the national will probably be for sale soon, while I look for something smaller and cheaper, so part ex's might be possible.
For those that didn't see it, it's a 1999 156 2.5 V6 Sp3 in silver, with teledial wheels, SP skirts and Koni suspension. It has full Momo leather interior in black, 6 speed box and is generally about as lovely as 4 door saloon motoring gets. Drives....well ask Doc!
Running wise, expect standard 16v economy. Not as bad as my own, but around 25mpg in town, while it averaged 35mpg to the national and back. it's a bit better than I expected, put it that way.
Only flaws are some marks on the body which could probably be improved with some elbow grease, but its just too hot at the mo! The airbag light is on, possibly needs a reset? Air con needs a regas as it's pretty feeble! Everything mechanically is good.

Most people know I got it for a bargain, and I've done a couple of bits to it since so I'm looking to make my money back and let someone else have the bargain instead!

If anyones interested, you know where I am.

[Kitch]

[cavmad]

Ooh err! Rough idea of price, is this the sele-speed, do you have confirmation of cambelt and associated twattry being changed recently, what sort of history comes with it and are you looking for anything specific in part ex please?

[docchevron]

Have to say this is a little gem, I had a very very large grin on my face driving it.
And the steering is just fricking perfect, beautifully weighted, perfectley balanced..
It sounds great and feels a whole heap better than I ever expected.
I was hugely impressed.

[roy.hassell]

Just to let you know I have sent you a pm concerning the Italian Stallion.
Reply a.s.a.p. to sunny Basingstoke please.
Thanks,
Roy.

[Kitch]

Roy: PM'd

Billy: It stands me at £1150 all in, which includes the car and the various bits I've sorted on it like the engine mount, wipers, clear OE repeaters etc etc, plus a CD player.
It's not a silly-speed. They only came on the 2.0 TS and should be avoided! The V6 did have a 4 speed Q4 auto option, but this is the 6 speed manual.
I have a service book stamped to 78k with Alfa specialists plus some other receipts and the original wallet/handbook etc. Theres quite a bit there. The cambelt I was told was done on the 78k service, although he lost the receipt. I'm not the trusting type, so I had a peek at it while viewing and it did look ok. Apparently you can contact the garage for a copy as they keep them, although I haven't done so. I was planning to get it done by James Porter in the midlands, who loves Alfas, runs the website and charges half as much as everyone else!

I'm looking for something small, around the same value and cheap to run while being fun enough not to fall asleep behind the wheel. Saxo VTS, 106 Rallye, Fiesta ZS/Puma etc etc.

Doc: If you manage to fix the PAS on the valver on monday, you can take it home for a week

[cavmad]

Cheers Kitch. I asked if it was the sele-speed because I've heard they're nothing but trouble and to be avoided.
I haven't got anything that would float your boat unfortunately but if I can get the spondoolies together I'll be very interested.

[Kitch]

Cheers Jon. It is a hell of a lot of car for the money. To think that BX's are now going for the same money puts it into perspective.

I hope to find a buyer, but I hope more for the cost of motoring to half in the next week, although with the least economical (and least reliable example!) BX to care for, plus a 4.0 V8 gas guzzler, buying it probably wasn't the most sensible thing I've done. But then life's way too short to be sensible. At least I can now say I've owned an Alfa V6

[docchevron]

Doc: If you manage to fix the PAS on the valver on monday, you can take it home for a week

TAKE NOTE PEOPLE!
This was said on a public forum!
There's no getting out of it now young man!

[docchevron]

By the way, did you try the ram trick?

[Kitch]

I attempted to try the ram trick, but got really chaffed off and gave up. I'm planning to try again tomorrow morning in a more positive mode, and then i'll give you a bell and let you know mate

[roy.hassell]

Hi Kitch,
pm sent from Roy.
Cheers.

[Kitch]

Alfa still available. Roy came, Roy saw.....Roy didn't fit!

[roy.hassell]

Total shame -- the engine sounded good !
As Kitch said, Roy didn't fit !
Although I am only just over 6' tall I have particularly short legs (29-31 inside leg depending on cut ) with a long body/trunk and a big fat head sitting on top. I find most cars with a sunroof in that I bash what little brains I have left and 9 times out of 10 it is a no go due to the loss in headroom which happens to accomodate said sunroof.
With the BX I get over it because the sunroof openning is particularly large and my head goes up into the recess. There is no way I can sit in a BX with the sunroof internal cover closed. In fact, trying Kitch's16Valver, which has leather upholstery, he said he saw the sunroof glass go up when I got myself comfortable in the drivers seat. He did however then inform me that apparently the leather seats sit just that little bit higher than the standard ones.
So hopefully one mans loss will turn out to be another mans gain.
Thanks for your time though Kitch.
Roy.