Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adUHK8PybDI

Nice. 3.0?

Looks good on those wheels. I've not seen another on the 3SDM's.

Argh, bloody volvo has now got a new clutch again. In two minds right now but probably going to sell it before anything else breaks and get a plug in hybrid from one of the asian brands. Ugly and expensive but plenty of virtue signalling and hopefully reliable. I need to figure out which models can have tow hooks mounted.

What I'd really like is this: https://sonomotors.com/en/sion/

But they won't be available for at least another year.

I fitted one clutch to mine and I hope it’s still going strong. Are you towing a lot with yours?

Love the thinking but 250km range is :(

is plenty for almost all of the people, most of the time.

I recently had a chat with a (retired) guy who is resolutely against electric cars.
Range anxiety fuelled his apprehension. Turns out he runs an old, over-engined, petrol BMW.
Doesn't drive it much. Less than 100 miles a week. His longest, regular journey is just 30 miles. He admits he gets poor mpg.
His range anxiety is for 'other people'. As he replayed the conversation in his mind, and I, helpfully chipped in with the (much) reduced VED for electric vehicles in the UK,
he started to ponder whether he should look again at replacing his non-ULEZ compliant BMW with a cheap to run electric car.

I'm certain your circumstances are much different.

If it wasn’t for my bi-weekly 350km (one way) work trip it’d be perfect

30 mins to charge to 80%?

As you are local-ish to the factory, (the old Saab car works at Trollhattan),
I'm certain they'll sort you out a range extender battery pack.

@Dammit they replaced everything but the flywheel a year and a half ago. Now the flywheel went and took the clutch with it, like some demon from hell. Got some of it as a warranty job at least but still.

@kboy we almost never do >250km and when that happens we'll be able to plan around a charging stop along the way.

@mespilus I'm 80km from that factory so fingers crossed they'll be available first in this area. OTOH I'm 10 km from where the bloody volvo was built, hasn't helped me. Perhaps that's why I'm thinking cars made thousands of kms away will be better.

Didn't know that! Nice to see that factory being used again. I've read quite a few articles about failed ventures there

164's were galvanised.

The cloverleaf 3l v6 from 164 made more power and torque than the original stratos engine.

Peage will take you around the periferque (sp) so don't need the tag.

Only a bit longer, time wise to take the non toll route, then you get to go through Les Meuraux (sp)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxtAinCsiM

So were my 145's , I don't think being galvanised made a lot of difference.
That Busso V6 is glorious it has to be said , I thought long and hard about getting a V6 GTV instead of my twin spark .
Road Tax is evil on them .

Quick internet search says many things, such as the cars had a zinc paint coating, that the zinc paint coating was a dip up to half the car. Seems odd as there are cars that have rusted while others that didn't.

I think that is fairly common , my first 145 was pristine whilst one of my mates younger with less miles was dreadful.

Anybody off to National Alfa day at Bicester Heritage this Sunday?

Found some old photos of my 205's whilst looking for something else. First was a replacement for a Subaru wrx - one lady owner 54k miles (wish I had it now - sold it for £500) and second was a track built 205mi16 -was fast, loud and handled like nothing else - again wish I still owned it - took it to Oulton park a couple of times

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I mean it's not really a boast. The 164 engine is a larger capacity and about 20 years newer. Not that it really matters, comparing a 164 with a Stratos is like comparing apples and oranges.

Not a boast, just a comment on how much technology has moved on.

We have springs! 16mm(!) lift before coil-bind.

Great Wall Ora R1
200 miles range
£7,000