RE: Shed(s) of the Week: Alfa 166/BMW 5 Series
Discussion
Even with being an E39 fanboy, have 2 on the driveway at the moment, I would have the Alfa over the 520i. It just appeals on a different level, and has the toys/gadgets whereas the 520i is a really basic spec, you can pick up some really decent examples of an E39, also low mileage I have found on an older car does not equal a better car!
Alfa for me all day long. I had two, firstly a twin spark in 2001, then onto a 3.0 v6 ex demo a year later. I did over 100k in that car in three years and it never missed a beat. Main dealer servicing I seem to recall was a bit expensive, but it was worth it.
Depreciation on the other hand..... I got £2.5k for it when it was three years old
should have kept it!
Depreciation on the other hand..... I got £2.5k for it when it was three years old
should have kept it!sjabrown said:
The "owned by a doctor" refers to another era.
You can see my fleet on here but my daily runaround is a 2002 Corsavan for my work as a GP
Indeed, the only doctor I know, his cars are generally knackered.You can see my fleet on here but my daily runaround is a 2002 Corsavan for my work as a GP
The front on the 166 I think works, though it does look a bit like something from the film the Abyss, the sort of CGI generated watery aliens.
Alfa anytime!
Especially considering the drab looks of the BM, small wheels, ugly colour, and it really looks dated now...
The Alfa still has crisp unadorned and unspoiled lines, esp the rear quarter view is still undurpassed in modern machinery, so looks dpt def win hands down.
Even as small faults and niggles appear in every car from that age, to correct these things on the Alfa could be considered a hobby, and are not that much of a pitfall labour or moneywise.
I had mine worked over slowly in two years, was in perfect working order in the end and was sold with a hefty profit, after shelling out shed money (in old money i.e. about 1400 €) first, great car, really.
Only thing is, it was not the most involving drive, the engine is pretty gutless unless revved ( sounds are glorious however), but still ways better than a e39 up to 540, which have been capable (at least at their time) but really uninspiring, m5 may be the exception.
At that time the first fast diesel came around and you got tangled with torque.
I think it was around late nineties, where you could see the writing on the wall: goodbye to nice petrol engines in exec sedans and hello torque monsters which run out of puff at 4500 revs....
O well.
Especially considering the drab looks of the BM, small wheels, ugly colour, and it really looks dated now...
The Alfa still has crisp unadorned and unspoiled lines, esp the rear quarter view is still undurpassed in modern machinery, so looks dpt def win hands down.
Even as small faults and niggles appear in every car from that age, to correct these things on the Alfa could be considered a hobby, and are not that much of a pitfall labour or moneywise.
I had mine worked over slowly in two years, was in perfect working order in the end and was sold with a hefty profit, after shelling out shed money (in old money i.e. about 1400 €) first, great car, really.
Only thing is, it was not the most involving drive, the engine is pretty gutless unless revved ( sounds are glorious however), but still ways better than a e39 up to 540, which have been capable (at least at their time) but really uninspiring, m5 may be the exception.
At that time the first fast diesel came around and you got tangled with torque.
I think it was around late nineties, where you could see the writing on the wall: goodbye to nice petrol engines in exec sedans and hello torque monsters which run out of puff at 4500 revs....
O well.
I've had examples of both the E39 and 166, and I can tell you the choice is a tough one.
What's made it a little easier in this instance is the fact the E39 is a 520i. My E39 (Touring) was a 528i, which possessed a performance potential I would describe as "acceptable". I really wouldn't want to drop the best part of 50bhp.
My 166 was also a V6, and Shed's right - it is a magnificent engine. If you want fuel economy or polar bear-friendly emissions, look elsewhere, but for character, it cannot be beaten. I'd go as far to say that it's the most charismatic V6 ever created.
On balance, given the specs of the Sheds on offer this week, I'd go for the 166.
But if the E39 was a 528i (or bigger), it would be a harder choice to make.
What's made it a little easier in this instance is the fact the E39 is a 520i. My E39 (Touring) was a 528i, which possessed a performance potential I would describe as "acceptable". I really wouldn't want to drop the best part of 50bhp.
My 166 was also a V6, and Shed's right - it is a magnificent engine. If you want fuel economy or polar bear-friendly emissions, look elsewhere, but for character, it cannot be beaten. I'd go as far to say that it's the most charismatic V6 ever created.
On balance, given the specs of the Sheds on offer this week, I'd go for the 166.
But if the E39 was a 528i (or bigger), it would be a harder choice to make.
SHED said:
Nowadays, with the NHS in tatters and doctors increasingly seen as gaunt-eyed, sleep-deprived sufferers of high-level stress and possibly pretty poor drivers, the value of the 'owned by a Doctor' attribution is less clear. Especially when you remember that an old-fashioned doctor's round (do they still even do them?) would typically have been made up of car-killingly short journeys.
Sounds about right.And yes, we still do home visits you cheeky sod.
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