Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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Jun 10, 2021 15:31:41 GMT
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How do you think it compares to your 166, they shared the same market place when they were new cars? I thought that my 2.5 v6 166 was great until I chopped it for a 530d sport touring (needed a more economical mileage eater)...the E39 was epic in comparison ! That's a very very good question. I can only compare them as I see them, and how I weight certain things up in my mind. Exterior looks: Alfa wins Engine bay: Alfa wins Engine sound: Alfa wins Colour: Alfa wins Wheels: Alfa wins Interior looks: Alfa just shades it with a nicer leather colour and seats, plus classier dials, doorcards, centre console etc Equipment levels: BMW wins easily, as it has everything the Alfa has plus cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, factory integrated phone, parking sensors etc. Even cup holders that the 166 doesn't have. So looking at the above comparisons, I should love the Alfa more right? Well, it's not that simple. As a daily, I prefer an automatic. That's not through straight preference, more to do with the fact that my left foot is a painful curse word at times due to an industrial accident back in 2007. I enjoy this 166 with the V6/auto combo more than the previous 166, which had a V6 but an auto box. The Busso deserves the manual box, and it is such an awesome thing to behold (and listen to) when you open it up. This E39 is just so very good at everything though, such a good all round daily, and takes everything in it's stride with ease. So, to answer your question...I love them both for different reasons and they'll both be staying with me for a while yet.
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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Dan it looks perfect as it is. Leave it. I personally agree that it looks great how it is, but it's your car Dan.
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Last Edit: Jun 3, 2021 5:24:13 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 24, 2021 12:23:00 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 24, 2021 12:20:37 GMT
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Is this the one mentioned elsewhere which has ended up in scrapyard? Any ideas if it can be saved? It is the same car I believe
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 24, 2021 11:18:06 GMT
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Oh, that's glorious. What an absolute stunner. I always liked the look of these back in the day but had pretty much forgotten about them in the meantime. A mate's brother ran a Tomcat around a decade ago and it was a tidy one. However, he didn't do a pile to maintain it and I last saw it in a car park twelve months after he'd sold it looking very sorry for itself. I always thought it seemed a big waste at the time. Back to yours though, thanks for sharing. What's next for it? And what's this mention of a white Mazda coupe in a scrapyard? Not a Montrose surely? I can't remember how or why the 626 GT Coupe got mentioned, but it's a car I had a couple of years ago. There's a thread for it somewhere in here...
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 24, 2021 10:39:54 GMT
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The Alfa is a stunner alright. Another classic beauty!! Have we met? '01 Toyota Corolla VVTi (42k miles, yep, green) '04 Rover 25 (only 14k miles - have a guess...it's green) I've popped a thread up in the Showcase section for the Corolla, but I felt that as a 2004 year car, the Rover might have been a bit new. That said, it's a Rover, it's super low miles at 14k, and the 25 was being built before 2000, so I'll pop one up when I get the chance.
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Last Edit: May 24, 2021 10:40:22 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 23, 2021 20:16:55 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 23, 2021 20:08:25 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 23, 2021 19:41:35 GMT
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I know this is a 2001 car, so if you think it shouldn't be on Retro Rides, feel free to click on. I think, as it's now 20 years old it now sits well here. I've popped this in the Showcase section, rather than the builds section, as it really doesn't need anything doing to it at all. It's such a great example, as you'll see. I didn't need this one, or go looking for it, but this belonged to a friend of mine, he ended up with too many cars, something had to give, and this became available. Even when I knew he was selling, I hoped someone else would quickly snap it up to save me from myself. Nobody did, and I just couldn't say no. I'm such a soft touch when offered these lovely examples. So, the car... 2001 Toyota Corolla VVTi 1.4 litre manual 42k miles One owner from new until 2019 Yes, it's a cracker. My son had one of these about 3 or 4 years ago, just a 1.3 with the previous bug eye headlights, but that was an amazing little car, even in low spec. That said it was pretty well equipped with electric windows, central locking with a key, aircon, power steering etc. This one has the next generation VVTi engine in it, developing a revvy 95bhp, and it's well specc'd up too: Electric windows & mirrors Remote central locking Power steering Cold aircon 6 disc CD multichanger under the passenger seat Trip computer Pull out cup holders It also has some original optional extras, such as 15" Toyota alloys, stainless exhaust tip and headlight protectors. More pics... Engine bay is clean as a whistle.. Clean boot.. Original Corolla mats... Hidden cup holders... Original stickers and plates... The rare headlight protectors... The plan? There isn't one really! I didn't need it, or want it, but couldn't say no. As soon as I got it, I sorn'd it to give me time to think.
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Last Edit: May 23, 2021 19:58:38 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 20, 2021 19:00:14 GMT
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The welding on the Tipo is being done next Thursday, and it'll be serviced and have the centre box changed before then, so I reckon in a couple of weeks it'll be tested and, fingers crossed, on the road
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 16, 2021 19:16:39 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 15, 2021 16:16:46 GMT
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I know 'How Many Left' isn't strictly accurate, but it gives a general idea. I've just checked the 166's, and there were only 275 registered and on the road at the end of Q3 2020. Of those, there are only 53 from year 2000. At their peak, there were a maximum of only 2,654 on the road back in 2004.
Of the 275 currently showing as on the road, there are 98 Twinsparks and 177 V6's
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Last Edit: May 15, 2021 16:19:16 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 15, 2021 16:13:05 GMT
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Very nice, such a good colour combo. Would be a real shame if you found another V6 and it accidentally ended up in the Tipo... Haha, now there's a thought!
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 15, 2021 14:52:12 GMT
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Today was a good day. Six months after getting hold of the car, I have eventually received a V5 logbook from DVLA. God knows why it took so long. Anyway, nice to have it now... Seeing how the car was described on the logbook meant I could check 'How Many Left' to get an idea of numbers left. It seems it's not the only one left, as there are two currently licensed and a few sorn (to Q3 2020 anyway), but that's not a bad thing. No real update on this one. It's kind of at the back of the queue at the minute, and will have to wait it's turn.
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 15, 2021 14:40:27 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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Very nice indeed. Very smart and classy.
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 13, 2021 19:59:43 GMT
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Good work on the exhaust mate, it’s been making me itch lol Haha, me too. I knew it needed sorting sooner rather than later
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 13, 2021 18:53:54 GMT
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I looked back at my Tomcat and Alfa 166 on the drive today, and just thought to myself what a fantastic looking pair of booties they have. Suggestions for better rears?
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 13, 2021 18:44:06 GMT
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I've got the Alfa back from the 166 specialists down in Bradford, where it was for about a month. I must admit, I missed it. Anyway, they had recently moved units, and it was quickly apparent that their lift hadn't been safely mounted on the floor, so there was no way it was going to lift a big Alfa. Consequently, a few of the jobs like timing belt had to be postponed. Jobs that were done were: New heater matrix New central locking ECU New Airbag ECU New climate control fan New front badge General clearing out/cleaning up behind the scenes when disassembled I've booked it into Lyles of Newcastle on 1st June for the timing belt/water pump and a service. I was pretty glad to get it back, and the drive back from Bradford was rather good. Spotted it's rather younger descendent, so had to uphold the law and get a couple of pics.... It's now met my other big green executive cruiser, the 1999 E39 528i... Some comparison shots of the turn of the millennium rivals... The next day, I fitted my private plate, the one that was on my Maxima for a few years... and then removed the non-relevant sticky quattrofoglio badge (four leaf clover) from the boot... Next on the list....four new matching tyres. I chose Avons. Always liked them, and they were on offer on Blackcircles ...wheel alignment too... Time for another little job to be ticked off. I'd noticed the backbox seemed to hang a little low....and I found out why.... ....time for a new hanger.... ...and the back end looks instantly better... My mate is a detailer, and he's coming over tomorrow to work some of his magic on all those upper facing surfaces which are marked from it's two years sat under a tree without moving.
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Last Edit: May 13, 2021 18:44:37 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,512
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May 12, 2021 17:16:09 GMT
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They both look clean things. How many miles has the beemer done? Doesn’t look like it’s got much wear. I had an 03 model, great car The E39 has done 133k miles, the Alfa is on 103k miles
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CURRENT FLEET '91 Nissan Primera (41k miles, an early one and immaculate) '99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles) '01 Mini (#869) '06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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