Clear view

[sparky Paul]

I'm always amazed that people can keep a car so long. Other than the Octavia I had for 12yrs, I tend to get bored with cars and fancy a change.

I'm same as Jocko. I have to like the car I drive, but I keep them going as long as is sensible.

My last car I bought used in 2003, it was finally replaced in 2018... it ended with a few significant problems that needed work, but what really did for it was the 30mpg and steadily ascending road tax - it would be £270 now. Replacement does almost double the mpg and £30 tax.

[coffeecup]

Talking of Alfa's, in my younger days I must have had about 10 Alfa suds of various model, they were great fun to drive, but complete rot boxes. Alf Sud Sprint veloce.

[coffeecup]

<a href='https://postimg.cc/MnkFHDgs' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/MnkFHDgs/2b551ce1291b7fe32d649c652b6393d5-XL.jpg' border='0' alt='2b551ce1291b7fe32d649c652b6393d5-XL'/></a>

[geoffchats]

Talking of Alfa's, in my younger days I must have had about 10 Alfa suds of various model, they were great fun to drive, but complete rot boxes. Alf Sud Sprint veloce.

A work colleague of mine had an Alfasud and one day,when he and his partner were driving up the M1 in the rain, he noticed that water was dripping omto his lap. He poked up behind the sun visor and to his horror his finger went straight through. All that had been there was paint as the roof had rotted so that no metal remained. This, apparently, was because Fiat had acquired some Russian steel - in a reciprocal deal - that  largely comprised re-cycled washing machines and fridges...
The well documented problems with the Lancia Beta of the same era, when engines literally fell out due to chronic corrosion, were caused by dodgy steel from the same source.

Sent from my SM-T725 using Tapatalk

[123Drive!]

Talking of Alfa's, in my younger days I must have had about 10 Alfa suds of various model, they were great fun to drive, but complete rot boxes. Alf Sud Sprint veloce.

Yes the old Alfas were terrible. At least you been there and done it...I still want to joi the club. Been looking at Mito recently but annoying the 3rd seat is an option extra.

[madasafish]

There is a 1962 Mini in a town near me which has been in the same family since new. I don't know how often it is driven now, but it was a daily driver for the first 40+ years of its life, and I still see it out and about. No more battered and bruised than my 14-year-old Jazz. Must be like Trigger's broom by now.

An elderly gentleman drives daily a 1957-8 Rover 105R. She looks in better shape than the car but it sounds and runs well.

[Westy36]

A work colleague of mine had an Alfasud and one day,when he and his partner were driving up the M1 in the rain, he noticed that water was dripping omto his lap. He poked up behind the sun visor and to his horror his finger went straight through. All that had been there was paint as the roof had rotted so that no metal remained. This, apparently, was because Fiat had acquired some Russian steel - in a reciprocal deal - that  largely comprised re-cycled washing machines and fridges...
The well documented problems with the Lancia Beta of the same era, when engines literally fell out due to chronic corrosion, were caused by dodgy steel from the same source.

Love that story of the sun visor. So very Italian. 

IIRC that Russian Italian steel situtation was to do with a trade deal done with the Fiat. The 124 was given to Russia, which made the VAZ-2101. They were rebranded Lada. Unsurprisingly, I love Ladas. 

I'm same as Jocko. I have to like the car I drive, but I keep them going as long as is sensible.

My last car I bought used in 2003, it was finally replaced in 2018... it ended with a few significant problems that needed work, but what really did for it was the 30mpg and steadily ascending road tax - it would be £270 now. Replacement does almost double the mpg and £30 tax.

Come on then sparky Paul, what did you keep so long? 15 yrs is a long time.

[sparky Paul]

Come on then sparky Paul, what did you keep so long? 15 yrs is a long time.

A late mark 1 Ford Galaxy 2.3 petrol. It was a superb family vehicle, almost a family friend - the kids christened it "Bluey". It's carried us and the dog all over the UK, from Orkney to Cornwall. 22,000 miles when I bought it, I put another 140,000 on it.

In 15 years, it broke down once a few miles from home, a faulty relay which was a known problem - dry joint resoldered, so cost free. Aircon failed three times, poor pipework routed where it would corrode, gave up in the end - replacing the aircon pipes was a nightmare, they built the car around them. Everything else was just wearing parts, and it only ever went to the garage for the MOT and regassing.

It finally succumbed to rust, I had already welded the front outriggers and repaired the bottoms of the front wings... but it still looked pretty good. However, a hole in the inner sill just got bigger and bigger once I started poking, so I thought, what with the running costs and its other problems, it's time had come.

It was a great bus, but absolute best 35mpg on a steady 50-60mph run, around 30mpg on motorways and just below that knocking about. Not bad when petrol was 80-90p/litre, but when fuel prices went up, it ended doing less miles as a second car.

[sparky Paul]

IIRC that Russian Italian steel situtation was to do with a trade deal done with the Fiat. The 124 was given to Russia, which made the VAZ-2101. They were rebranded Lada. Unsurprisingly, I love Ladas. 

I remember reading a car magazine review of the Lada back in the eighties, it was summed up with

Pros:  Based on 'Car Of The Year' winner...

Cons: ...in 1967

[Westy36]

Come on then sparky Paul, what did you keep so long? 15 yrs is a long time.

A late mark 1 Ford Galaxy 2.3 petrol. It was a superb family vehicle, almost a family friend - the kids christened it "Bluey". It's carried us and the dog all over the UK, from Orkney to Cornwall. 22,000 miles when I bought it, I put another 140,000 on it.

In 15 years, it broke down once a few miles from home, a faulty relay which was a known problem - dry joint resoldered, so cost free. Aircon failed three times, poor pipework routed where it would corrode, gave up in the end - replacing the aircon pipes was a nightmare, they built the car around them. Everything else was just wearing parts, and it only ever went to the garage for the MOT and regassing.

It finally succumbed to rust, I had already welded the front outriggers and repaired the bottoms of the front wings... but it still looked pretty good. However, a hole in the inner sill just got bigger and bigger once I started poking, so I thought, what with the running costs and its other problems, it's time had come.

It was a great bus, but absolute best 35mpg on a steady 50-60mph run, around 30mpg on motorways and just below that knocking about. Not bad when petrol was 80-90p/litre, but when fuel prices went up, it ended doing less miles as a second car.

They were great those. The Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan and Seat Alhambra. Used to see loads of them flying around. You still see several of the 1.9 TDi's for sale with mega mileage and they still fetch decent money.

Sounds like it was a really good buy, and very reliable. They do become family friends. I remember when our Octavia went, I was genuinely sad. It had got us through some tough times, so many memories. As you say though, when fuel was £1.45 a litre and the old bus is doing 30mpg..... add in advancing rust 

Orkney! I don't think I've ever heard of anyone motoring to Orkney. Great wildlife and ancient history I undersand. On the list of places to get too one day.

Ladas 

[sparky Paul]

They were great those. The Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan and Seat Alhambra. Used to see loads of them flying around. You still see several of the 1.9 TDi's for sale with mega mileage and they still fetch decent money.

Basically, they were all the same, apart from a few engines and bits of trim. it was a Volkswagen design, built in a VW factory - ours had a Ford engine and gearbox, but everything else was stamped VW.

Rust is the enemy, the later shaped ones rusted even faster.

Orkney! I don't think I've ever heard of anyone motoring to Orkney. Great wildlife and ancient history I undersand. On the list of places to get too one day.

It really is a beautiful place, with some hidden gems, and so friendly. We try to get up for a couple of weeks every year, the goings on this year has obviously put a stop to that. We drive up overnight, taking it in turns to drive and sleep, 550-odd miles. Then two ferries to get where we are going.

[Westy36]

It really is a beautiful place, with some hidden gems, and so friendly. We try to get up for a couple of weeks every year, the goings on this year has obviously put a stop to that. We drive up overnight, taking it in turns to drive and sleep, 550-odd miles. Then two ferries to get where we are going.

It's the Neolithic sites that draw me to Orkney. Some amazing places that I really would like to get to some day, but the nearest I've got so far in John O Groats. 

[sparky Paul]

It's the Neolithic sites that draw me to Orkney. Some amazing places that I really would like to get to some day, but the nearest I've got so far in John O Groats. 

Yes, lots of interesting stuff. We've been up there while digs are going on, could have volunteered if we wanted - there always seems to be something new turning up. I would strongly recommend visiting some of the less well known sites on the smaller islands, as Skara Brae, Maeshowe and Ring of Brodgar are filled with bus loads of tourists in summer. Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness are spectacular though.

We made it to Caithness for a few years before we made it to Orkney, looking out from Dunnet Head proved irresistable in the end. It's well worth the effort.

Another thread gone completely off track, I hope coffeecup managed to decide what sort of car he wanted! 

[Westy36]

Another thread gone completely off track, I hope coffeecup managed to decide what sort of car he wanted! 

  Can't beat a lenghty off topic tangent! Sorry coffeecup.

Did you make any decisions? Have you checked out the CR-V, Sorento, SantaFe or RAV4. I understand the current Suzuki Vitara is super reliable.