Ebay. Alfa. 500 mile drive home.
Discussion
So, last weekend in a moment of weakness largely ignoring my 'budget' I purchased a one way ticket to Aberdeen to 'view' an Alfa. I mean, it's a bloody long walk home but I'm definitely just viewing it.
Important points? 3.2 V6 (not a busso), red, causes an event in my trousers at 50 paces.
My commute recently halved so it makes sense that my mpg should also halve. Plus I just want something to daily that I turn and look back at, and whilst I love the Ovlov, it's handsome rather than... well, Italian
It'll be fine because I'm only viewing it, and the 500ish mile drive home is guaranteed to be both a) fine, and b) not going to happen.
I've heard of world leading fish and chips on the drive, sorry, walk home, so that will help sustain me and the friend who is coming along to sit in the passenger seat, sorry, walk alongside me for the trip home.
I fail to see how this could possibly go wrong.
Important points? 3.2 V6 (not a busso), red, causes an event in my trousers at 50 paces.
My commute recently halved so it makes sense that my mpg should also halve. Plus I just want something to daily that I turn and look back at, and whilst I love the Ovlov, it's handsome rather than... well, Italian
It'll be fine because I'm only viewing it, and the 500ish mile drive home is guaranteed to be both a) fine, and b) not going to happen.
I've heard of world leading fish and chips on the drive, sorry, walk home, so that will help sustain me and the friend who is coming along to sit in the passenger seat, sorry, walk alongside me for the trip home.
I fail to see how this could possibly go wrong.
TonyRPH said:
Buying a car from Scotland?
Check for rust.
And then check again, and again.
Oh, and make sure there's no rust...
I often hear this and whilst it's sensible in theory, it's really flawed!Check for rust.
And then check again, and again.
Oh, and make sure there's no rust...
Even if cars in certain parts of Scotland may get exposed to more salt, the UK car market is now generally national as opposed to local...... plenty of cars in Scotland have spent most of their earlier life in other parts of the UK, and conversely a car purchased elsewhere in the UK may've spent earlier life in Scotland. There's not even a 'typical' exposure for a car that has been in Scotland...some areas would be better than areas of England, and even within Scotland a car from the Highlands may've had more exposure than one in Edinburgh for example. There are then a whole load of other variables that influence rusting, such as cars from coastal locations, cars regularly stored in badly ventilated garages when damp etc etc.
A long way of saying: in reality, you need to check any car for rust, no matter where it currently resides...!
Looking forward to hearing if this Alfa is a rust bucket though - if it's spent its whole life in rural Aberdeen it could be
niggtv said:
TonyRPH said:
Buying a car from Scotland?
Check for rust.
And then check again, and again.
Oh, and make sure there's no rust...
I often hear this and whilst it's sensible in theory, it's really flawed!Check for rust.
And then check again, and again.
Oh, and make sure there's no rust...
Even if cars in certain parts of Scotland may get exposed to more salt, the UK car market is now generally national as opposed to local...... plenty of cars in Scotland have spent most of their earlier life in other parts of the UK, and conversely a car purchased elsewhere in the UK may've spent earlier life in Scotland. There's not even a 'typical' exposure for a car that has been in Scotland...some areas would be better than areas of England, and even within Scotland a car from the Highlands may've had more exposure than one in Edinburgh for example. There are then a whole load of other variables that influence rusting, such as cars from coastal locations, cars regularly stored in badly ventilated garages when damp etc etc.
A long way of saying: in reality, you need to check any car for rust, no matter where it currently resides...!
Looking forward to hearing if this Alfa is a rust bucket though - if it's spent its whole life in rural Aberdeen it could be
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
Seen a few posts about cars purchased from Scotland over the years. One I remember distinctly is an e36 M3 that looked lovely on the surface but underneath resembled something that had been under the sea for the last 10 years. Definitely need to be careful.
That wasn't quite the point, but yes - need to be careful!Surely to qualify as a proper PH purchase, all viewings must be on a one way basis to a location as far as is possible from home?
Years ago, I bought this little chappie from Preston;
Middle of Winter, heater didn't work and fuel tank was porous meaning the 250 mile run home had a solid wind-chill factor as had to keep the windows open. Perfectly sensible behaviour
Years ago, I bought this little chappie from Preston;
Middle of Winter, heater didn't work and fuel tank was porous meaning the 250 mile run home had a solid wind-chill factor as had to keep the windows open. Perfectly sensible behaviour
Edited by LFB531 on Thursday 4th April 13:02
HM-2 said:
3.2 but not Busso...Trouser-tent inducing...
159 or Brera/Spider?
Its the only option left on the table.159 or Brera/Spider?
The 159/Brera platform is known for badly rusting front subframe, to the point that its an MOT fail. Given also that you are picking up from Scotland, I would definately insist on a check on a ramp at the nearest indy garage so you can assess if its safe to drive home.
Other than that I hear they are pretty good, except uninspiring with the GM V6 bag of spanners under the bonnet.
P.S. reading that again it starts in past tense, like the deal is done already, so did you get home or are you posting from a service station up Noorf?
Good luck.
Hum
Evening all, sorry wasn't very clear with the OP, so perhaps some clarification needed...
Yes it's a Brera S, yes the GM lump with Alfa heads isn't a Busso, but there's a GTV with a busso on the drive if necessary (that I've been meaning to sell for 4 years at least, but I digress).
Roger, the Monaro is staying don't worry! In fact I'll be breaking it shortly by trying to stick a cam in it and a bit of a top end refresh
The story goes that the car has actually spent most of its life in London, but realistically it could all be stories, so I shall be having a good prod about underneath as best I can
Yes it's had the cam chains done recently, both subframes are (apparently) in very good condition, and what the hell it all sounds pretty good, so let's see!
I shall be getting up a bit early on Saturday to get a lift to the train station, a train to Birmingham airport and then a flight to Aberdeen. I was planning on taking a rucksack full of distress flares (in competizione red, naturally) but alas they're rather frowned upon on commerical aircraft.
I imagine the formidable musk of E-Z-Dash-Shine will be detectable from the air, I will endeavour to keep you all updated when safe and legal to do so (for the viewing you understand, it's just to view)
Any suggestions for sights to see to improve the inevitable walk home will be welcome, route will roughly begin in Aberdeen and ultimately end in Northampton.
Yes it's a Brera S, yes the GM lump with Alfa heads isn't a Busso, but there's a GTV with a busso on the drive if necessary (that I've been meaning to sell for 4 years at least, but I digress).
Roger, the Monaro is staying don't worry! In fact I'll be breaking it shortly by trying to stick a cam in it and a bit of a top end refresh
The story goes that the car has actually spent most of its life in London, but realistically it could all be stories, so I shall be having a good prod about underneath as best I can
Yes it's had the cam chains done recently, both subframes are (apparently) in very good condition, and what the hell it all sounds pretty good, so let's see!
I shall be getting up a bit early on Saturday to get a lift to the train station, a train to Birmingham airport and then a flight to Aberdeen. I was planning on taking a rucksack full of distress flares (in competizione red, naturally) but alas they're rather frowned upon on commerical aircraft.
I imagine the formidable musk of E-Z-Dash-Shine will be detectable from the air, I will endeavour to keep you all updated when safe and legal to do so (for the viewing you understand, it's just to view)
Any suggestions for sights to see to improve the inevitable walk home will be welcome, route will roughly begin in Aberdeen and ultimately end in Northampton.
Edited by SturdyHSV on Thursday 4th April 23:44
I like your style, similarly I got my wife to drive me 2.5 hours to Limoges, flew from there to East Midlands, got a bus to Nottingham and a train to deepest darkest Derbyshire to view ( ahem ) a 20 year old Discovery which I promptly bought and drove home via Crewe to just outside Clermont Ferrand, I mean, doesn't everyone buy cars like this?
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