tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post8754147206515276745..comments2024-01-13T10:12:47.756+00:00Comments on Ranting Stan: Alfa BravoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-76878021255281019702009-10-14T15:59:53.892+01:002009-10-14T15:59:53.892+01:00I had a Sud 1.5ti back in the eighties. Well - it ...I had a Sud 1.5ti back in the eighties. Well - it was actually a company pool car that I sort of held on to for extended periods. It wasn't new, but still went like the proverbial of a shiny shovel and cornered like it was on rails.<br /><br />But it was terribly uncomfortable and bits used to regularly drop off. On one occasion the sun visor dropped into my lap while on another a fairly nondescript bump in the road led to the boot lock dropping off and the boot springing violently open which then ripped the supports out. The boot then slammed down and smashed the rear windscreen to smithereens! All in all it was about a grands worth of damage and all because of a slight bump in the road. The boss wasn't too chuffed.<br /><br />It's true what you say about the 147 being a Punto in drag - but isn't the 156 just a stretched out Bravo in prettier clothes?Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15007863347348182876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-48804755697384519132009-10-14T12:46:11.903+01:002009-10-14T12:46:11.903+01:00Stan, glad you like the Alfa.
I had a series of &...Stan, glad you like the Alfa.<br /><br />I had a series of 'suds back in the seventies, and although they were a bit tinny they went like stink (by the standards of the day), handled like a dream, and made a noise to fill the soul with joy (especially if you drove down a narrow lane with stone walls each side, and lifted off the throttle at highish revs - aaahhh! I digress).<br /><br />Of course their build quality was completely atrocious, and I haven't seen one for ages - I guess every last example has now rusted away.<br /><br />Your colleage who bought a 147 may not have realised that it's just a Fiat Punto with a fancy body kit...Weekend Yachtsmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262853091154005651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-57773150181569259072009-10-10T20:14:10.570+01:002009-10-10T20:14:10.570+01:00Yep - take your point about perceived reliability ...Yep - take your point about perceived reliability for German marques. <br /><br />I'm quite surprised at how good mine's been - hence comment.<br /><br />The mate i mentioned still relishes his Alfa memories.... they're just not as expensive now ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-19416908606515988582009-10-10T18:05:01.892+01:002009-10-10T18:05:01.892+01:00Have recently been considering buying an Alfa myse...Have recently been considering buying an Alfa myself. Good to know that it is infinitely more reliable than it's Slovakian, sorry German counterparts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-53221661882835994492009-10-09T11:33:10.250+01:002009-10-09T11:33:10.250+01:00I get Christmas cards from the dealership - but on...I get Christmas cards from the dealership - but only because I always get it serviced there and I know one of the guys socially. I have another colleague who chose an Alfa 147 as his company car soon after they were released and that was an absolute dog of a car so I know I've been lucky. But you don't choose an Alfa for reliability - they are one of the few modern cars which still have a "character". To be honest, I've always found German cars to be efficient but utterly antiseptic even in the seventies and eighties - the one exception being the original Beetle.<br /><br />My point about the "quality German engineering" wasn't to be critical of German cars (although I do see an awful lot of them stranded on the hard shoulder - but then again, there are a lot of German cars on our roads today). It was to point out that we shouldn't build our expectations too high. This sort of applies in life generally - not just in our car purchases. Honestly, the guy was smitten with the car when it first arrived - he sat there stroking the bloody dashboard rambling on about the "quality". A month later he couldn't bear to talk about the car!<br /><br />My eldest son has already "claimed" the Alfa as his when he is old enough to drive. That's four years away yet so I'll get a bit of use out of it before then and he may have to wait a couple of years longer than he is expecting anyway!Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15007863347348182876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-12450131801002370872009-10-09T10:36:28.577+01:002009-10-09T10:36:28.577+01:00Nice one.
I think you have been lucky with the A...Nice one. <br /><br />I think you have been lucky with the Alfa though - mate of mine used to get Christmas cards from his specialist Alfa mechanic!<br /><br />Always a good feeling when you get a car that does what it should without breaking the bank.<br /><br />I do have a 'quality German engineering' vehicle, of the Peoples Car variety and it has had 128K trouble free miles over the last 6 years....like yourself, i'll keep it for as long as it keeps working!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com