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

Couldn’t resist taking this out for the first proper pointless driving without a destination in mind run today. Going in to a Alfa specialist next week to see if there is anything obvious that needs looking at.
But after today’s 60 mile jaunt it seems better than I could have hoped . Still feels really tight, but then it has only done 40k . I’m sure it’s gonna bite me in the arse at some point but at the moment it almost seems tooo good.

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I'd say cambelt and tensioners...as a precaution. Then a full fluid change. Check for any leaks....er enjoy it.

Cam belt was apparently done 400 miles ago , but yes is the first thing I am gonna check was done and done properly. I have had 2 of these engines in my previous 145 cloverleafs so I know how important regular changes are. Although Alfa only changed recommendations to 36k and every 3years in 2006, previously it was 72k !

I would only ever want a two door droop snoot regardless ;)

Were there issues with the handbrake on there? A guy in work had one and some connecting part broke and it effectively wrote the car off as there was no spares availability. This was some time ago so maybe that’s not the case now.

It's the Tipo platform I thought?

...driving without destination - in an alfa....ah fun times @ejay2.0 enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same platform as a lot of things, Tipo , 145/6 and I think 155 . Front suspension is from 155 but rear is exclusive GTV and spider very clever multi link stuff .

I'd love a tipo. Great looking car.

Yeah, which worries me a bit because the battery in mine is going to be dead. It's been on charge all weekend and it's still charging. Stupid cars.

Cool, what would be the advantage over an off the shelfer?

Once they go totally flat they may never charge again- you can fool them by linking another battery to both the dead battery and then the charger, sometimes.

A map that's designed specifically for your car and its condition - like buying a handbuilt kitchen rather than ikea units :)

YES

It was a relatively new battery. :(

Any idea how long they last if they're not draining for car shit?

The solar panel would seem to be doing a great job of keeping the battery in the 911 topped up.

Seat Leon - specifically a 2012 1.4 TSI FR. Any reason not to?

Not really. I like them. If you're doing big mileages it might be worth going for a later model with ACT, which I found very impressive (it shuts down two cylinders when you're just cruising, and fires them up again when you're accelerating), but that's unlikely to be worth it if you're only doing fairly modest mileages.

Yep, read your post from a while back. Only 10k or so miles a year so should be fine.

I think it's more if you're doing big miles in one go on a regular basis.

Go for it then. The interior is a bit plasticky, and it doesn't have the more luxurious feel of the VW/Audi models, but then it doesn't have the VW/Audi wankertax premium either. When you consider the alternatives, it's definitely one of the best in class.

I just undertook Northumberland - Whitstable - Southgate - Norwood - Northumberland in a 2013 1.2 Corsa. It was the definition of tedious on that kind of a journey. I can't think I've driven anything much slower either so the turbo 1l sounds like a much better bet.

Vauxhall man...

Sometimes batteries need some conditioning, as the plates can sulfate.

Got a volt meter?

Wasn't there a tensioner design issue. bearing in plastic and plastic breaking up?