Me old Dad sold a Sierra 2.0 litre ar for a 1.5 litre boxer engined Alfa 33. Can't remember the model but think it was a 33 TI which has 4 left or just a plain 33 which has 3. Some models there are none left SORN or registered. I do wonder why? Could it be the fact that alfas are really meant for the warmer mediterraean climates and rust up here. When my Dad had his I went to Athens and they were as common as escorts and fords were over here. In fact it seemed than every 4th car wasn't an alfa 33!!!! Great car with plenty of guts for a smaller engine. Light too in fact I used to have to wash it and the panels and roof were as flimsy as cardboard. once pushed too hard on the roof and had an anxious moment till i managed to pop it back out again. I reckon in NCAP it would have minus 4 stars. In fact if a pedestrian got hit by it the car would probably crumple leaving the pedestrian unharmed!!
I was with him when he took it in for a service. We got a near top of the range sporty cloverleaf model with the big engine and sporty everything. Trouble is they were so light that we went over a bump that launched the whole car off the road. Landed, bounced sideways then got all four wheels down just in time to go round a 90 degrees bend!! Bloody pleased it handles bloody well otherwise we'd have been in a hedge or another car I reckon.
Swapped that for a sierra saphire 2.0 litre model in white. Great car. Especially driving long jounreys as it was the same model as the unmarked traffic cops drove. Well the sapphire body shape was and it did look pretty similar to the traffic cop car that was used by all constabularies. Strange at first how all drivers slowed and pulled in as we came screaming up to them and... exactly the speed limit officer honest!
Well perhaps. Shame they have all sorts of different models now so I doubt you'd get the same response now.
Worst car has to be a kia that my Dad got as a courtesy car from his ALfa dealer. Think of a Vauxhall but the model about 3 versions back!! Bloody awful.
Or the Morris Marina my Dad got my Mum from a car auction. It was a reliable car but rust, ugly shape and poor performance meant I hated it. Oh and it was orange!! The vauxhall cavaliers we had were nice. Large boots too so great for travelling on family hols. Got a lot of stuff in those boots.
Passed my test in my Mum and Dad's first ever brand new car. A D reg (think 1984) Mini Mayfair in metallic golden paint scheme. That car had guts. I learnt to drive in it and passed my test in it. I was and still am 6'5" tall!! They switched to a Fiesta and I learnt that the gear stick does not normally sit behind your left knee!! That and most cars do have elbow room that doesn't consist of the passenger's seat area and the open window. Got my first wheelspin at lights in that. Also crashed it while parents on hols. Got it fixed ofr a tenner so ok apart from receipt left in car. Also got up to 100mph in it!! top speed was supposed to be 97mph but I was going downhill on a motorway (from the start of it too) and had a long runn up before any junction. It was quiet too. Wind assisted as well. Did I say 100mph officer I meant 69mph!! I misread the speedo.
