Cars where the heart says 'yes' but the head says 'hell no'
Discussion
KarlMac said:
blearyeyedboy said:
Easternlight said:
You bad people... you've made me google engine swaps for RX8's all afternoon. Good should on the Mercedes CL600 too. That and the CL500 are such mega VFM until something goes bang. Your wallet, probably.
Edited by vtecyo on Wednesday 6th July 10:40
A few years ago I wanted to get an Alfa 75 V6, ideally with the evoluzione bodykit. I didn't want to spend too much on it (~£3,000) as I wanted to be able to sell the GTV V6 for whatever I paid for the 75.
One came up that looked interesting, right colour (black) right bodykit, and appeared to have an interesting history, as apparently there were receipts with it for the fancy brakes that had been delivered to the Gumball headquarters in London.
So we went to have a look at it. Arrived outside a nice looking house, called the seller, turns out it's actually up the dirt 'road' next to this house.
We head up this road to what feels like a scene from Snatch. Amongst other rotting lumps in the overgrown grass is this Alfa, looking spectacularly sorry for itself. The 'owner' comes over, generally points out he doesn't want to negotiate, and then offers to start her up. A battery is connected (not included in the sale), and alas it turns out the driver's door lock doesn't work (funny that) and so in he gets through the broken lock on the passenger side. He's not sure if it has any fuel in it so hopes aren't high.
The busso fires right up and settles to what can only just be called an idle. It continues to idle, struggling on for life, feeling for all the world like a puppy at a dog shelter trying desperately to win your heart and show that it'd be a great pet. The idle keeps dropping lower and lower, the car shuddering as it must be ticking over at about 400rpm by now, but still it lives.
Eventually, the battery is disconnected and the heart stops beating.
It's too far gone for me, the bodywork needs a lot of tidying up (cable ties were involved...) there's the problems with the door locks, ruined interior, it's probably stolen, honestly my head had started the long drive home when we drove passed our first caravan.
But my heart desperately wanted to save it. Even if just to get it away from this dump. The busso had refused to die, it obviously wanted saving, and if that history was real, that's a cool story if nothing else right?
Alas, I'm a yellow bellied jessy and I've still got the GTV. I hope somebody has saved that car though
One came up that looked interesting, right colour (black) right bodykit, and appeared to have an interesting history, as apparently there were receipts with it for the fancy brakes that had been delivered to the Gumball headquarters in London.
So we went to have a look at it. Arrived outside a nice looking house, called the seller, turns out it's actually up the dirt 'road' next to this house.
We head up this road to what feels like a scene from Snatch. Amongst other rotting lumps in the overgrown grass is this Alfa, looking spectacularly sorry for itself. The 'owner' comes over, generally points out he doesn't want to negotiate, and then offers to start her up. A battery is connected (not included in the sale), and alas it turns out the driver's door lock doesn't work (funny that) and so in he gets through the broken lock on the passenger side. He's not sure if it has any fuel in it so hopes aren't high.
The busso fires right up and settles to what can only just be called an idle. It continues to idle, struggling on for life, feeling for all the world like a puppy at a dog shelter trying desperately to win your heart and show that it'd be a great pet. The idle keeps dropping lower and lower, the car shuddering as it must be ticking over at about 400rpm by now, but still it lives.
Eventually, the battery is disconnected and the heart stops beating.
It's too far gone for me, the bodywork needs a lot of tidying up (cable ties were involved...) there's the problems with the door locks, ruined interior, it's probably stolen, honestly my head had started the long drive home when we drove passed our first caravan.
But my heart desperately wanted to save it. Even if just to get it away from this dump. The busso had refused to die, it obviously wanted saving, and if that history was real, that's a cool story if nothing else right?
Alas, I'm a yellow bellied jessy and I've still got the GTV. I hope somebody has saved that car though
FIREBIRDC9 said:
Might be due to all the Stereotypes i have heard about them but,
Anything with an Alfa Romeo Badge?
They look fantastic , but hear stories of Rust and Unreliability often enough and you start to believe them :L
Most of that is just echo chamber parroting thoughAnything with an Alfa Romeo Badge?
They look fantastic , but hear stories of Rust and Unreliability often enough and you start to believe them :L
If you do your research and pick with care, you can avoid the bad ones and know how to keep on top of maintenance, itll be no worse then any other brand.
If you go in half cocked and buy someone else's troubles because you didnt do your research, the badge doesnt matter, any car can be a disaster.
Mr Teddy Bear said:
Liquid Tuna said:
Don't touch one of those things with a barge pole; unless you have VERY deep pockets, find it funny to be locked out by the vehicles security system, don't mind the thing refusing to start because there is interference with the fob signal. I could go on and on. Just noooooooooooo. Oh and own your own oil well.If you don't mind fixing things yourself on a near weekly basis then they're great.
spookly said:
Mr Teddy Bear said:
Liquid Tuna said:
Don't touch one of those things with a barge pole; unless you have VERY deep pockets, find it funny to be locked out by the vehicles security system, don't mind the thing refusing to start because there is interference with the fob signal. I could go on and on. Just noooooooooooo. Oh and own your own oil well.If you don't mind fixing things yourself on a near weekly basis then they're great.
That's what i seem to remember my old boss telling me about 8 years ago after he bought one of those daft things for buttons
daveco said:
Kierkegaard said:
I would love a Mercedes SL R230, especially the SL55 AMG...
...but, the thought of the sheer expense if anything went wrong with it...which would be a leaking roof, potentially failed & pricey to replace ECUs, pricey ABC suspension failure, SBC brake failure and just the generally flakey build of an early 2000s Mercedes.
Head says no, hell no! But heart pines for one!
My father had an '03 SL500 and just about everything you mention above went wrong with it over the space of two years. He'd often come out to find the car leaning badly to one side from ABC failure, the roof leaking and the battery unable to hold charge. It also went into limp home mode at the slightest whiff of being driven properly....but, the thought of the sheer expense if anything went wrong with it...which would be a leaking roof, potentially failed & pricey to replace ECUs, pricey ABC suspension failure, SBC brake failure and just the generally flakey build of an early 2000s Mercedes.
Head says no, hell no! But heart pines for one!
When it worked it was great, but that wasn't often.
I still have the SBC pump and the balancer shaft issues to think about, but think the engine issues were sorted on mine.
The roof works perfectly with no water leaks in the boot at all. Having said that it has been kept under cover all it's life.
So far I have only had to buy a starter battery at £80 so all is good so far.
Vitorio said:
spookly said:
Mr Teddy Bear said:
Liquid Tuna said:
Don't touch one of those things with a barge pole; unless you have VERY deep pockets, find it funny to be locked out by the vehicles security system, don't mind the thing refusing to start because there is interference with the fob signal. I could go on and on. Just noooooooooooo. Oh and own your own oil well.If you don't mind fixing things yourself on a near weekly basis then they're great.
That's what i seem to remember my old boss telling me about 8 years ago after he bought one of those daft things for buttons
But they were reknown for having chocolate head gaskets from the factory. The ones on mine heroically lasted until 92k. That was the only engine trouble I had with it. Amazingly got a local scratter garage to redo the heads/skim + major service incl gearbox for £950.
But I also had:
- Intermittent air suspension fault - would randomly go to full height and stay there. Resets itself after engine off for 5 minutes.
- Window regulators - 3 out 4 done in 2 years.
- Several electrical faults (Hifi/Nav, aircon fault, electric mirrors)
- Aircon radiator/condenser
- Brake lines
- A ridiculous amount of punctures. It seemed to attract nails and screws
Markbarry1977 said:
Always dream of owning a Ferrari 355. The fact it needs new headers as they crack every 4-5 years and cost £10k a time to replace (probably slight exaggeration) but could be replaced with aftermarket ones. Along with everything Ferrari being unreliable and mega expensive my head says no. But they look soooooo beautiful and sound soooo nice. Erm......I even drive past greypauls in Nottingham to drool every now and then when I drop the Cayman in for a service.
I know someone who's had one since 1997 - never had a problem with the headers, nor even a mention of them from the mechanic. Hasn't needed anything beyond "regular" maintenance since about 2000. Sure, it hasn't done many miles, but few Ferraris do.Stickyfinger said:
My brother has owned one for nearly two years. I collected the car with a transfer journey of 350 miles. Less than 60 miles in it was on the back of a lorry. I think he has covered around a 100 miles since. He has no intention of getting rid so at least for him the heart rules - bravo to him.stevemiller said:
Stickyfinger said:
My brother has owned one for nearly two years. I collected the car with a transfer journey of 350 miles. Less than 60 miles in it was on the back of a lorry. I think he has covered around a 100 miles since. He has no intention of getting rid so at least for him the heart rules - bravo to him.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff