Discussion
After the covid lockdowns last year and spending most of my time working from home, I decided to sell my Audi S1 Sportback due to the value of cars creeping up. I bought an 8th gen Civic 1.8 Si as a daily (turned out to be brilliantly practical family workhorse) and then turned to a car I’ve not got around to buying in 15 years. But you know what that is already!
Brief car history almost all modified (some later ones were or are technically the wife’s)…
2x Daihatsu Charade GTti’s.
Fiat Cinq Sporting
Nova Sport (proper homologation one with twin 40’s)
Peugeot 106 Quiksilver
Astra Coupe 1.8 (Bertone)
Fiat Stilo Abarth 2.4
Alfa GT 3.2
Mazda RX-8
Alfa 159 Ti
Clio 182 Cup pack
Civic Type R GT (FN2)
Golf R32 mk5
Abarth 500c Esseesse (first dealer converted 500c SS in the UK)
Audi S1 Sportback
Clubman Cooper S (F54)
I always liked the 156 and the GTA was always out of price range up to around the time I bought the GT 3.2 - GTA’s were always that bit more expensive. Around 2010 I got as far as offering to buy one - if the owner was ever selling (lives on our road). After a year of working in Qatar I returned in 2012 to find he’d sold it for a ‘boring’ S3. Gutted!
About 10 years ago I even got a 156 GTA interior that has been converted to a 3 piece suite in our front room.
Anyway roll on to last year and with 2 kids I really wanted a weekender, so the S1 sold with enough to buy the Civic and go hunting for a GTA, with money to spare for some running costs. I prefer the look of the 156 over the 147 and having 2 boys the back doors are useful too.
My only rules were a solid well looked after car with not too many miles, and definitely not red or black - I’ve had too many in those colours including the Alfa’s listed above. The 156’s look really good in lighter metallics and I feel with some of the more popular colours the lines of the 156 are lost.
Anyway last year I found a 156 GTA in Grigio Sterling (silver to light grey depending on conditions) with matching Silverstone/Black interior. It was well cared for, but the owner was a thrifty Yorkshireman and his local specialist apparently told him the very low mileage since the last cambelt change 7-8 years ago was ok!!! The mileage is still under 58,000 miles although may tick over by the time I collect it from the specialist workshop.
Anyway it’s away at the moment having lots done and will give an update when it’s back…
Brief car history almost all modified (some later ones were or are technically the wife’s)…
2x Daihatsu Charade GTti’s.
Fiat Cinq Sporting
Nova Sport (proper homologation one with twin 40’s)
Peugeot 106 Quiksilver
Astra Coupe 1.8 (Bertone)
Fiat Stilo Abarth 2.4
Alfa GT 3.2
Mazda RX-8
Alfa 159 Ti
Clio 182 Cup pack
Civic Type R GT (FN2)
Golf R32 mk5
Abarth 500c Esseesse (first dealer converted 500c SS in the UK)
Audi S1 Sportback
Clubman Cooper S (F54)
I always liked the 156 and the GTA was always out of price range up to around the time I bought the GT 3.2 - GTA’s were always that bit more expensive. Around 2010 I got as far as offering to buy one - if the owner was ever selling (lives on our road). After a year of working in Qatar I returned in 2012 to find he’d sold it for a ‘boring’ S3. Gutted!
About 10 years ago I even got a 156 GTA interior that has been converted to a 3 piece suite in our front room.
Anyway roll on to last year and with 2 kids I really wanted a weekender, so the S1 sold with enough to buy the Civic and go hunting for a GTA, with money to spare for some running costs. I prefer the look of the 156 over the 147 and having 2 boys the back doors are useful too.
My only rules were a solid well looked after car with not too many miles, and definitely not red or black - I’ve had too many in those colours including the Alfa’s listed above. The 156’s look really good in lighter metallics and I feel with some of the more popular colours the lines of the 156 are lost.
Anyway last year I found a 156 GTA in Grigio Sterling (silver to light grey depending on conditions) with matching Silverstone/Black interior. It was well cared for, but the owner was a thrifty Yorkshireman and his local specialist apparently told him the very low mileage since the last cambelt change 7-8 years ago was ok!!! The mileage is still under 58,000 miles although may tick over by the time I collect it from the specialist workshop.
Anyway it’s away at the moment having lots done and will give an update when it’s back…
Edited by d333my on Tuesday 19th April 00:30
I bought a set of the standard design teledials and had them refurbished in a lighter shade than the anthracite Speedlines. I couldn’t make my mind up between silver and anthracite- so went for something in between. Shadow Chrome Silver costs a bit more as it’s a 3 stage powder coat, but I like the variation in shade that different light brings. This picture shows two wheels partially under a skylight:
Radec said:
Beautiful car and the wheels look great, have you got an engine pic?
Seems like it's missing a spoiler though, however don't like that huge spoiler that you normally see on these, maybe a thin lip boot spoiler would finish it off.
Tints?, back and rear windows I would say yes.
Seems like it's missing a spoiler though, however don't like that huge spoiler that you normally see on these, maybe a thin lip boot spoiler would finish it off.
Tints?, back and rear windows I would say yes.
LordHaveMurci said:
d333my said:
Just wondering what everyone’s opinion is - should I get the rear glass tinted or not?
Please don’t. Lovely cars, like you I’ve always preferred them to the 147. Does yours have a LSD?
K50 DEL said:
Beautiful car (I only ever got as far as the 2.5 V6, never the GTa) and I love those wheels. I do think it badly needs the proper, full height rear spoiler though and yes, I'd tint the rear windows as well, not limo though, just enough to set off against the silver paint.
I’m not keen on the big touring car or Zender spoilers. I have been thinking about a lip spoiler but there are so many other little jobs to do I will have to leave that decision until any paint is needed. There are stonechips on the side skirts in front of the rear wheels and a tiny bit of damage to the boot lid, plus a small ‘blew’ on a wheel arch.Lovely car that and wheels look spot on.
If you're after the look/shade of tints, have a look at www.carshades.co.uk/
I had a set fitted in my old E Class and my other half's CLS, they were great. Can be removed, provided the shade and almost indentical looks to a tint but half the price and can be taken in and out. They're made to fit.
Either way with or without tints, it's a nice looking car and those seats look awesome.
If you're after the look/shade of tints, have a look at www.carshades.co.uk/
I had a set fitted in my old E Class and my other half's CLS, they were great. Can be removed, provided the shade and almost indentical looks to a tint but half the price and can be taken in and out. They're made to fit.
Either way with or without tints, it's a nice looking car and those seats look awesome.
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