Just painting my brembo's ....

Just painting my brembo's ....

Author
Discussion

WarnieV6GT

Original Poster:

1,135 posts

198 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
....on my Alfa 3.2GT and this is what I love about having a car that will always be less than perfect. My neighbors with their new generic hatchbacks and SUV's think i'm mad, but they just don't get it.

I've done the new car thing and it to me was just the equivalent of 'white goods', I hated it and unless I could afford something really special then I'd never do it again. To many my car looks great but to me all I can see is things I need to do.

Most I tackle myself and find it really enjoyable, I guess that's why I'm on my 4th Alfa Romeo in that I like to improve things and don't want a perfect car from the off. I used to love buying older cars and within a couple of hours washing, polishing and waxing I could make them look fantastic and straight away add a few hundred quid to the value.

Non car people will never understand but I could look at my freshly painted brembo's with the new Alfa Romeo decals on for ages, I did the same with my engine, stripping it down and painting it and polishing the chrome intakes. I just love cars and especially Alfa's as you just don't see many, in fact in 2 1/2 years I have only seen 2 other 3.2gt's on the road so that automatically makes them feel a little special straight away plus the amazing sound especially the V6 busso with a wizard exhaust.

So...What little things do you do to your car that your neighbors or friends think WTF!

And what makes your car feel special? Most cars today are very capable and much quicker than my little Alfa but very few make me want to actually own them as they're missing that little ingredient that I can never put my finger on...


Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I can only echo the Alfa sentiments

Ive recently bought a 14 year old 147 to replace the outgoing company derv mobile, and yes, the megane is much more comfortable on long trips, less noisy etc.. But it doesnt click. Whenever i get out of the 147 i feel like i connected with it.

Im doing all the simple maintenance myself, filters, oil, plugs etc.. But im not the only one in the street to do work on his car in the weekends, so i doubt the neighbours consider me a loon for that (one guy on the block is a car salesman and used to work at Alfa when they sold these, he had a massive nostalgia crisis when he looked mine over)

Ill probably try to keep mine relatively standard though, it is only a measily 105hp 1.6, so painted calipers/lowering/strutbrace etc.. all feel like making a sheep in wolf's clothes, although the temptation is certainly there!

WarnieV6GT

Original Poster:

1,135 posts

198 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Vitorio said:
I can only echo the Alfa sentiments

Ive recently bought a 14 year old 147 to replace the outgoing company derv mobile, and yes, the megane is much more comfortable on long trips, less noisy etc.. But it doesnt click. Whenever i get out of the 147 i feel like i connected with it.

Im doing all the simple maintenance myself, filters, oil, plugs etc.. But im not the only one in the street to do work on his car in the weekends, so i doubt the neighbours consider me a loon for that (one guy on the block is a car salesman and used to work at Alfa when they sold these, he had a massive nostalgia crisis when he looked mine over)

Ill probably try to keep mine relatively standard though, it is only a measily 105hp 1.6, so painted calipers/lowering/strutbrace etc.. all feel like making a sheep in wolf's clothes, although the temptation is certainly there!
I'm with you on the 'standard' look on the outside and I suppose I'm just refreshing and improving slightly.

I do like the 147 and even though it never finished at the top of any group tests it still like you say has that something about it. I think the quick steering rack and the sweet T-Spark engines help a lot.

Cars that are great at everything somehow become boring very quickly. I think most of us petrolheads or whatever like to put our own little stamp on things. Manufacturers have ruin'd it slightly though by giving everything the 'max power' look weather it's the cooking version or the little 1.2 bogo spec.


KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Vitorio said:
I can only echo the Alfa sentiments

Ive recently bought a 14 year old 147 to replace the outgoing company derv mobile, and yes, the megane is much more comfortable on long trips, less noisy etc.. But it doesnt click. Whenever i get out of the 147 i feel like i connected with it.

Im doing all the simple maintenance myself, filters, oil, plugs etc.. But im not the only one in the street to do work on his car in the weekends, so i doubt the neighbours consider me a loon for that (one guy on the block is a car salesman and used to work at Alfa when they sold these, he had a massive nostalgia crisis when he looked mine over)

Ill probably try to keep mine relatively standard though, it is only a measily 105hp 1.6, so painted calipers/lowering/strutbrace etc.. all feel like making a sheep in wolf's clothes, although the temptation is certainly there!
I travelled from Manchester to Bath to buy a 147. It was to use as a daily as I didn't want to put miles on my 996 C4S! 2.0 twinspark, 3 door, silver with red leather. Serviced it all myself and did the brakes too. Loved working on it.

jan8p

1,722 posts

227 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I feel your pain. Everyday I'm doing something with my car on my drive, either checking the oil/fluids, tyre pressures, checking for stone chips or washing it.

I can see that my neighbours think I'm an idiot, but like you say, my estate is also full with the usual bland eco-hatches and whilst my car isn't massively 'special' it's different enough. Maybe hehe

DS197

992 posts

105 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
How and what are you painting them with if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking to do mine this summer too smile

IntriguedUser

989 posts

120 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Totally get you OP

Non-car people never understand, I'll be washing and interior cleaning my Corolla T sport on Wednesday. Next car I want a 2.2 Prelude, like a project a 5th gen one, I know things will need doing.


Mikeyjae

907 posts

105 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
If I could find a good 156 GTA estate then I would buy it in a heartbeat. I painted my old 156 brake calipers red but they where not Brembo. I cleaned, polished and waxed my red 156 monthly during the spring/summer months and I have never had a car since that I wanted to keep as clean. My current car gets a full detail in spring and then autumn.

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I can't beat the sense of satisfaction and pride from maintaining the machine to keep it in optimum condition.

Tickle

4,880 posts

203 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I get you OP, many won't though.

swisstoni

16,855 posts

278 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Washing the car in the rain. looks nuts but you can just wash it and walk away.

wack

2,103 posts

205 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I get it, I could have spent 10k on an uber reliable 60mpg euro box but I didn't

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
I agree that modern cars, even exciting modern cars are pretty much white goods.

No need to garage at night, no modifying due to warranty, just start and go but lacking a bit of character.

That being said, thats exactly what most people like. Its the technology on modern cars i like - heated seats, keyless go, good nav, good auto box, good handsfree etc.

Post a pic of your brakes though - i like alfas smile

Valgar

850 posts

134 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
wack said:
I get it, I could have spent 10k on an uber reliable 60mpg euro box but I didn't
Exactly what I would've done in your situation thumbup

Willeh85

760 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
wack said:
I get it, I could have spent 10k on an uber reliable 60mpg euro box but I didn't
That is nice, is it easy to work on yourself and brave pills needed?

I bought a 99 plate MX5 last year with 150k on the clock, I'm slowly but surely replacing bits on it that need doing. My friends don't get it and are of that "its done over 100k its fked' mentality.

Its cheap as chips to run, parts and spares are numerous and cheap, and I'm enjoying learning the spannering. I've replaced all the drop links this weekend, and I'm going to change the engine oil, gearbox and diff oil next month.

It cost me £900 so I'm just going to keep it forever basically.

Obligitory finished my chores list photo

wack

2,103 posts

205 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Willeh85 said:
That is nice, is it easy to work on yourself and brave pills needed?]
I've taken out a subscription with www.bravepillsbythebucket.com and I think I'm going to need it

My mechanical knowlege is limited to say the least but I have a tame mechanic so I'm not overly worried on the spannering front , the parts front is a bit more concerning

One of the rubber door seals has a nick in it so I thought I'd order a new one


3200 GT, 4200 Coupe, 4200 Coupe (2003), 4200 Coupe (2004), 4200 Coupe (2005), 4200 Gransport (2005)

  1. 384500158: RH DOOR FRAME SEAL
NEW
To Order
Subject to Availability
£704.93 Each

Add to Basket
Quantity:

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
WarnieV6GT said:
I'm with you on the 'standard' look on the outside and I suppose I'm just refreshing and improving slightly.

I do like the 147 and even though it never finished at the top of any group tests it still like you say has that something about it. I think the quick steering rack and the sweet T-Spark engines help a lot.

Cars that are great at everything somehow become boring very quickly. I think most of us petrolheads or whatever like to put our own little stamp on things. Manufacturers have ruin'd it slightly though by giving everything the 'max power' look weather it's the cooking version or the little 1.2 bogo spec.
I have somewhat ruined the 'standard' look with a pair of QV stickers on the wings, but considering the car is green, and no 147 QV ever existed (and the QV logo started out as a good luck mascot), i think it just passes muster. I did have the selling garage replace the awful aftermarket 17" rims with a set of 15" original alfa rims though, looks much better.




KungFuPanda said:
I travelled from Manchester to Bath to buy a 147. It was to use as a daily as I didn't want to put miles on my 996 C4S! 2.0 twinspark, 3 door, silver with red leather. Serviced it all myself and did the brakes too. Loved working on it.
Sounds lovely, mine is a green 1.6 5 door, i might put in leather at some point, but i like the creme/beige cloth as well

If this 147 is up for replacement, id hope to find a good 2.0 147, or a nice GT, provided i dont need a diesel for high mileage

Willeh85

760 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
wack said:
I've taken out a subscription with www.bravepillsbythebucket.com and I think I'm going to need it

My mechanical knowlege is limited to say the least but I have a tame mechanic so I'm not overly worried on the spannering front , the parts front is a bit more concerning

One of the rubber door seals has a nick in it so I thought I'd order a new one


3200 GT, 4200 Coupe, 4200 Coupe (2003), 4200 Coupe (2004), 4200 Coupe (2005), 4200 Gransport (2005)

  1. 384500158: RH DOOR FRAME SEAL
NEW
To Order
Subject to Availability
£704.93 Each

Add to Basket
Quantity:
I was going to do the same on my car its about £70 for the one I needed. I ended up getting a bicycle tyre repair kit from wilko for £1 and patching across the tear a few times. Ghetto yes, but water tight again for next to nothing.

wack

2,103 posts

205 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
That's a good call, thanks, it's a tiny tear about 1cm in length so that'd fix it , saved me £800 lol

Vscudetto

13 posts

94 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
wack said:
That's a good call, thanks, it's a tiny tear about 1cm in length so that'd fix it , saved me £800 lol
Always wanted a Maserati but the parts prices have always kept me away.