Andy665

I have done 30 - 50,000 miles a year for the last 20 years and only been done twice, annoyingly both times it was a Saturday morning, clear motorway, little traffic, good weather and doing 90mph - clean licence for 15 years

I need to be aware as I'm stuffed without a licence, if in doubt I keep to the limit (or close to)

I believe that there are plans for 2014 onwards that will see EU citizens prosecuted in any country in the way that nationals of that country would be.

Thank goodness we're not in Finland where you get fined according to your ability to pay - an ex CEO of Nokia was fined about £40k for doing 47mph in a 30mph limit

There is a full story in the rare hardback book (Das Corrado) - German text only though

Just been out for a proper drive of the IS-F I have been given to pootle around in this weekend - what an awesome car.

Smooth, refined and comfortable but when you floor the throttle it wakes up the most amazing engine. The way it links to the 8 speed auto is incredible.

Such an understated car and makes an interesting and viable alternative to the competitor cars from Audi, BMW and Mercedes

Rustynuts - got a GTV V6 so no GM bits - all Italian V6 - would not want an Alfa tweaked V6 - sensor is a standard Bosch sensor shared with a good number of vehicles

Audi / BMW etc banging on about "brake energy recovery" makes me laugh - have needed to do a lot of research this year on hybrid technology and other technologies that will help improve mpg / reduce emissions.

Allt he brake energy recovery does is transfer lost energy back into the alternator, as the RS3 runs with a de-coupling system on the alternator it helps to keep it de-coupled for slightly longer than would otherwise have been the case - real world mpg reduction = virtually nil, marketing seak opportunity = massive

What would make a real difference is reducing the damn weight of the car, real world it will be a 1 3/4 ton car, reducing weight by 250kg would make a positive contribution to fuel economy.

Its less about engineering free thinking nowadays and more about generating marketing led column inches

The Alfa was running a bit off, identified the problem as the MAF and then reeled at the £140+ cost of a genuine Bosch replacement.

Bit of digging around and discovered that the sensor is used in the Vectra 1.9 diesel, one Bosch MAF bought for £60, took out the new sensor, put into existing tubing and hey presto one brand new genuine Bosch MAF for less than half the price that I could have paid

Better value than the TT RS but thats not saying much. I'm currently working with 17 BMW sites and I have it on very good authority that you can currently buy pre-registered but zero mileage M3's for the same money - really is no contest

The biggest problem with Skoda is not the badge but the fact that many of the family owned dealerships who supported the brand back in the dark days and really looked after their customers are slowly being kicked into touch and their market areas being given to big groups who by and large don't care about customer service to the same degree.

Thats like saying avoid G60's because the G-Lader will definitely expire, avoid a VR because the chains will definitely break.

Would any manufacturer in this day age really release a product that was guaranteed to fail. I'm sure there are some horror stories about RX8 ownership but show me a car that doesn't.

Biggest problem with the RX8 was not the engine but the people who bought them - I know that Mazda sold more RX8's to existing BMW and Audi owners than anyone else - generally people who are not used to having to check oil levels, simple, regular checks and all would be ok

I wrote all the European training material for the RX8 and spent time at the factory in Japan and drove it extensively for about three - four months.

Oil consumption - should be no more than 1/2 litre every 800-1000 miles - the Renesis engine is designed to use oil, its pumped into the combustion chamber as a fine mist to aid lubrication of the rotor tips

Engine rebuild at 70k - like every engine its dependant on how its been treated, if treated properly then there is no reason why it should not last at least as long as a conventional piston engine - there are after all only three moving parts, the crank and the two rotors

Handling - I found it to be quite twitchy but most of the cars I drove were final development cars so were still subject to final tweaks - the last onbes I drove at Silverstone for the UK launch seemed ok

Fuel consumption - I had to keep a log of fuel consumption - just dug it out and over the 9625km I drove I averaged 21.3mpg - this includes cicuit work and also both 192PS and 231PS versions, there were no real differences in mpg between the two versions. I drove them very hard and the worst I ever saw was 15mpg after a prolonged track session.

During the launch only final prototypes were used, they had all been effectively hand built but all 12 cars came through 4 weeks of being used and abused by over 1,000 European sales execs trying to kill them without a single failure on any of them - they were all scrapped at the end of the launch event.

The main irritant I found were the hard plastic backs to the front seats when leather was specified - they looked very tatty very quickly, I believe later cars ditched these seat backs.

Reason they are so cheap - almost certainly because of the horror stories / myths that surround certain cars - people get frightened and the demand plummets.

I would buy one but would look for a complete service history and I would never buy a car that I couldn't see being started from cold

Nice to see a truly great car getting some coverage - the car and the man behind it were my inspiration for five great years of Corrado ownership :D

Kev - its not that grunty low down, max torque (199 lb ft) doesn't arrive until 5000rpm, peak power is at 63000 rpm so its definitely an engine you need to rev

The GTV / Spider run with a Fiat Tipo floorpan so its McPherson struts up front. Fortunately AR ditched the Tipo rear suspension for a double wishbone rear end mounted on an alloy subframe - thats the reason why boot space is so poor, they went for handling rather than practicality.

It really does feel planted, even on wet, cold roads this morning there was no trace of torque steer

One of the first things I'm doing is getting a Q2 lsd fitted, amazingly a specialist will supply and fit for about £500

It is probably the closest thing I have ever owned to a Corrado - that slight feeling of trepidation - what will need fixing this week, the looks it attracts, its driving position, the driving experience (although the Arese V6 is quite magnificent and much more charismatic than a VR)

Highly enjoyable drive home this morning in the GTV.

Surprisingly refined, helped by the sixth speed gearbox ensuring that 80mph is a touch under 3000rpm. Considering there is no traction control, no LSD and 220bhp going through the front wheels I'm amazed that there is virtually no torque steer.

The noise, helped on mine with a Powerflow exhaust is just fabulous.

Think its going to be fun :D

Bit of a shock today when it came to insuring the GTV - old policy had my old A6 on it, bit of a difference between a 1996 A6 valued at £600 and the GTV, much umming and ahhing from lady at Swinton only to declare - "You do realise that the Alfa is in a much higher insurance group (37), its going to be £25 more per year" - RESULT :D

V6 Bora by a mile.

Owned both a V5 Bora and a V6 4Motion Golf. Bora is torsionally stiffer than the Golf so with standard suspension is a slightly better handling car - bootspace is better too but the 4Mo does rob the boot of some depth.

I looked through all the paperwork last night - seller let me bring it all home - rear has been fully polybushed, nothing electrical done to the car which can't be bad for an 11 year old car, the rear subframe is 100% solid, lots of the suspension has been replaced through its life - only thing that seems to have genuinely caused a problem was 6th gear went at 69,000 miles but it was fully rebuilt.

Going by the paperwork it looks like its been a reliable car

Spec is good:

Air con

Momo leather

Electric windows

Remote locking

Alarm

ABS

Driver / passenger airbags

17" alloys

Brembos up front

Independent rear suspension

Parts availability is very good, good network of Alfa specialists and lots of cars being broken.

Bodywork wise they are actually very good, more likely to see dents than rust

The 3 litre is good for 220bhp (very last phase 3 cars - not as pretty but come with 3.2 litre 240bhp lump from the GTA's) and sounds fantastic, last proper Alfa V6, all current Alfa V6's use a Holden engine that has been thoroughly reworked

The V6 is regarded as being pretty bulletproof if maintained properly

The headlights are actually one piece rectangular units.

Bootspace is dire

Most definitely a car to buy on history and condition rather than age or mileage

After much to'ing and fro'ing about what to get as a weekend fun car I decided to go with my heart and get something I have always wanted but never actually owned

FSH (pretty much essential), lovely overall condition and a very good price

The final option is to go for an E36 M3 Evo - unearthed a really lovely Dakar Yellow one with full BMW history and a recently replaced VANOS unit.

Main thing that puts me off an M3 is the running costs - the more I think about it the more a well sorted 328i Sport appeals - sorry to disagree Kev but my wifes 328i with KW's fitted is a lot of fun to chuck around

Thanks Kev - some useful info there

The BMW is someone elses and s the other car I'm considering - I actually really like the idea of a classic Impreza and the one in my original post is a really great example, two owner car, both owners over the age of 40 so not been thrashed

Lots of poor Imprezas out there so chances of finding a good one are reducing all the time

Looking for a weekend car / plaything but also something thats capable of family days out etc.

Down to these two:

With huge regret I am putting my Atlantis Blue 328i sport up for sale as I need to fund an expansion of my business.

Car in question is a very late model 1999 328i sport Individual in Atlantis blue-best colour by far for an E36 with full white leather interior with blue piping.

Mileage is only 72900 with FSH mostly specialist with earlier ones being BMW, MOT and Tax until April 2011.

Spec/Options

*Full Individual spec.

*Dual climate/air con

*Park Distance Control

*ASC?ABS

*HID lights

*Switchable sport Auto box

Car is in fantastic original condition with no rust anywhere, arches are all mint, the only small point to note is there are some stone chips to the front end(the car is 11 years old) although nothing major I have to point it out. Leathe rinterior is in suberb unmarked condition with only minimal wear to drivers seat bolster.

Switchable auto box works perfectly very smooth and quiet, please dont listen to the critics of the auto box, this has been my first auto and its suberb perfectly suits the 328i effortless performance way more economical than people would have you believe indeed i dont notice any difference in fuel economy or performance to my previous manual 328i.

Recent work includes brake overhaul, brand new Bosch battery new suspension. The car isnt used through the winter months and is kept in my heated/dehumdified storage facility, I run my own detailing/car storage business so as you can imagine the car gets cleaned more than its driven having only 3000 fautless miles in the last 12 months.

Everthing is present, toolkit,warning triangle,first aid kit with unused genuine BBS wheel with original tyre.

Currently the car has 19inch ACS style wheels in mint condition with almost beand new tyres on however I do have a full set of staggered BBS rc041/042 wheels which do need refurbed. I also have two orginal unused spare wheels with original tyres, these will be included if suitable price agreed. Also comes with private plate which will be left on the car.

Price is £4750 for a genuine superb example in one of the rarest/best colours available.

OR

Here for sale is my cherished uk impreza turbo 2000 my00, I guarantee you will not find a better example anywhere, bodywork/interior is immaculate, I found this gem for sale on the subaru impreza drivers club forum by a gent in his mid 40's who had cherished the car and was a third car for him and spent most of its time in his garage only coming out to be polished and waxed and driven on sunny days. it was totally standard bar a magnex back box and came with a folder full of service history, every receipt including oil and even wiper blades! fully stamped service book which for me was vital. since buying the car I have had the cambelt replaced (second time its been changed in its very low mileage) and have upgraded its performance using only the best parts which have all been professionally fitted. I have all the receipts and paperwork to back this up, this is a very reluctant sale, and the first genuine viewer to see this car will buy it, it really is a one off.

Brand new MAF sensor just fitted

Brand new battery fitted last month

Always ran on Shell V-power

New Cambelt

4 x Vredestein Sessanta Tyres with excellent tread all round

spec -

Andy Forrest hybrid td04 turbocharger

Sti 8 topmount intercooler

Walbro fuel pump

Green panel filter

Full turbo back Hayward & Scott exhaust (sounds superb)

Ported headers & matched Up-pipe

Ecutek remap by Andy Forrest

305bhp - 311lb torque

Prodrive quickshift

Bluetooth handsfree kit

Upgraded cross drilled discs and pads

12 months mot

6 months tax

A4 folder full of service history &

every receipt

Old mot's

Both sets of keys

Heard conflicting things about a 2.0 litre Impreza's bottom end being a bit fragile and that 300bhp is stretching it to the limit - can anyone give me some advice, getting very little from the couple of Subaru forums I've been on

You have to be bleeding a lot of brakes to justify that expense