Some of you may recall the many and varied threads I have started over the last 6 months or so, see-sawing back and forwards in my opinions on what sort of car I wanted next, and how much I wanted to spend.
Well, I'm happy to report that I finally made a decision, and after work today will be travelling to Mangoletsi to pick up a gorgeous Alfa 156 GTA SW.
I don't actualyl have any questions to ask in this thread I'm afraid, I'm just far too excited to not mention it!
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Good for you ! A car with some personality and spirit :)
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Mangoletsi must be one of the longest serving Alfa dealers in the UK. My two Alfasuds from the late 1970s and early 1980s came from there.
Hope it all goes well!
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My two Alfasuds from the late 1970s and early 1980s came from there.
And they rusted in a few years .........the dealer survived obviously
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And they rusted in a few years .........the dealer survived obviously
Yawn.
Next time you're having a bonfire, please let me know so I can come and try to piddle on it.
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Make sure you take your mobile, sandwiches and a flask.....
Only joking! - hope all goes well.
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Nice one Bazza, am just a little jealous....
Did you sell the Coupé in the end?
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Haven't sold the Coupe yet. There's not really that huge a rush - the money which should have come from selling it has been borrowed from our own savings, so we're not incurring any interest payments or anything.
Would be nice to see her off to a good home though, she doesn't deserve to be sat unappreciated in a dark garage.
Lud - delightful description. I will endeavour to always be smartly dressed when driving my GTA, so I am not creating the same impression ;)
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Good luck, a lovely car! Report back on how it goes, first impressions etc...
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Mangoletsi must be one of the longest serving Alfa dealers in the UK. My two Alfasuds from the late 1970s and early 1980s came from there.
They are indeed THE longest serving Alfa dealer in the UK.
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Enjoy it. I hope it is in Alfa Red.
--
Roger
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
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Very sound choice BB. I am very envious, driving around as I do in a very modest jalopy equipped with expensive paper alloowing it to live where it does, like an obvious tramp and toerag dressed in Prada...
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I think car ownership SHOULD be exciting - in the best sense, of course. Which is why I don't like run-of-the-mill motors. I'm not sure Alfa owning is for me, but I bet it's a great drive, Bazza. Enjoy!
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Enjoy it. I hope it is in Alfa Red.
It certainly is. In fact, when I started looking for one, I wasn't sure I wanted the Alfa Red, with it being a relatively common colour for them (although there are only 104 GTA SW's in the country, so I probably don't have to worry about being common). Once I saw one in the flesh though, it looks fantastic in this colour.
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OK, I'm off!
Next time I post, I'll be the owner of a shiny red GTA! :D
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Im sure you will enjoy it! Im on my second now, covering a total of 70k miles, and, shock of horors, no rust and never left me stranded.
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No C omment from NoDosh$ Must be v.busy.
Phil I
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With completely free choice up to substantial lease limit, I ran two Vectra V6 Estates, an SRi and a GSi, over a six year period. My first Vauxhalls, every Vauxhall generalisation under the planet was thrown my way amid knowing shakes of the head that with the amount at my disposal I was daft not to be a lemming in an Audi, Beemer, or Merc. In fact, I had two utterly reliable cars with pace aplenty, that did everything I needed and more, fabulous V6s, and especially in the case of the GSi, smart and distinctive looks. Worlds apart from the contraptions that came out of the same factory that my brother had run around in during the Eighties and early Nineties and which had done nothing for the GM reputation.
So, enjoy, BazzaBear, then speak as you find, not as you are told to expect.
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Worlds apart from the contraptions that came out of the same factory that my brother had run around in during the Eighties and early Nineties and which had done nothing for the GM reputation.
Truth be told, they were actually reliable.
Just Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz boring.
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Good for you Bazza! I`m green with envy. Actually, my first Fiat came from Mangoletsi and I`ve been driving Alfas or Fiats ever since.
Don`t listen to the doom merchants,drive something with" anima". The world is full of sheep(certanly around here)!
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i bought a alfa 3.0 gtv in 1999 and everyone said it would be a real nightmare. the dealers were awful but the car has never had a single fault in 8yrs and is still going strong and drives like new.
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"And they rusted in a few years"
One of my colleagues has a 156 and loves it. His is a mere 2.5, but it still sounds gorgeous. We all tell him how it will fall to bits, but of course it doesn't and he just goes on enjoying it...
FWIW, I had an Alfasud and a Lancia Beta (HPE) and neither was particularly rusty. Both were wonderful to drive.
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"Mangoletsi"
Even that word sounds just right. Enjoy it.
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I'm finally back home having picked her up and been to show her off to the in-laws.
Don't worry, I'll be utterly ignoring the doom-mongers on here. I've owned 'unreliable' Italian cars for the past 5 years, and had no problems with them.
You've got to find something to make you feel better about your white goods-esque Eurobox though, eh? ;)
For those of you with a more supportive bent, thank you very much for your kind words. I might try to get some piccies up at the weekend.
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Hope your face isn't hurting too much from all that grinning...
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good for you bb! I've been looking a gtv's this week but i've no balls to go and buy !( have to be honest i do have isuues with interior quality) BUT I had a good look at a Berea wow sex on wheels! i'm determined to get one! mrsmm is quite suportive too
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A man with a spirit both of adventure and enjoyment of life.
I've never been let down by any Fiat produced model yet and that's despite the fact I eventually decided to buy VWs....:-)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Didn't there used to be a (claimed!) performance enhancing thingy marketed under the name Mangoletsi?
--
L\'escargot.
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Didn't there used to be a (claimed!) performance enhancing thingy marketed under the name Mangoletsi? --
I think it was just a badge. :-)
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Mangoletsi, if it was the same one, used to make performance cylinder heads I think for Minis but perhaps other cars too...
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I recall something called a "Mangoletsi Manfiold Modifier" I think that it was bolted between the inlet manfold and the carb(s) and put some turbulence into the ingoing petrol air mixture. Obviously no application in an injection engine so no longer in use.
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Here's one on e bay
tinyurl.com/27u95j
It was also mentioned in a thread here 3 years ago which was really about Ecotek and magnets and other snake oil stuff!
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It's said you're not a true petrol head until you've owned an Alfa. I hope you enjoy it!
I think the 156's are generally well made and reliable. I know someone with a 2.5 V6 Veloce Sportwagon which has done 120k on pretty much routine servicing only. It still absolutely flies, although it's strange being in something with such a "big" engine which has all its power at the top of the rev range. You get a shove in the back at 5k and it doesn't stop until the limiter at 7k. It also makes a noise to die for.
Also how can you not fall in love with a car with an engine that looks like this:
www.pictures-of-cars.com/Afa-Romeo-156-3700-Engine...g
Cheers
DP
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Yup really enjoyed my 156 great car & very reliable. 156SW GTA is going to be quite rare so a good catch.
Would have ha another but decided I wanted something a tad bigger so went for the Jag S-type as the 166 didn't feel right for me.
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156SW GTA is going to be quite rare so a good catch.
104 of them in the country according to the figures I saw. Of course, that was number sold (I think), so there'll be loads less than that now, what with the rust problems and all...
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Yup really enjoyed my 156 great car & very reliable. 156SW GTA is going to be quite rare so a good catch.
Would have had another but decided I wanted something a tad bigger so went for the Jag S-type as the 166 didn't feel right for me.
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What was that tr7? Didn't quite catch ...
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There's a brand new delivery miler on Autotrader in Alfa Red for £19k.
Stunning car.
DP
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Nice car.
Fabulous engine.
I hope you are set for a lot of fun.
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Fine looking motor.
But they've forgotten to give it back doorhandles.
Tsk. Typical Italians.
:o}
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When I worked at Portbury Dock, I knew someone who was new at PDI, who failed an Alfa because he couldn't find the rear door handles.
True Story!
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It's still for sale on their website too.......maybe they're already planning for when BazzaBear returns it and asks for his money back...........
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Great pics. That's the sort of car you'll spend every weekend washing and polishing, without fail. Or I would anyway.
Stunning. Enjoy!
Cheers
DP
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"Veloce"
What kind of word is that ? Sexy - which, despite the driving exprerience and my love of the marque, BMW will never manage.
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Cover up the reg mark, you never know who is cloning. Superb looking motor........bet it sounds good, bet you can't MP3 a few revs......
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Hmm. V nice BB. Fine-looking motor. Are those lights in the rear spoiler? For high-speed reversing?
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Think you'll find they are holes to permit safe opening of the tailgate.
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Hmm. V nice BB. Fine-looking motor. Are those lights in the rear spoiler? For high-speed reversing?
If you're talking about the roof spoiler, and the lighter patches at each end, that's just sunlight shining through.
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Lovely motor Bazza. I know this is a bit Hyacinth Bouquet, but you'd think they'd of stuck the rear number plate on dead straight, bloomin annoys me with dealers that! Sorry, minor rant, lovely Alfa :)
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Lovely motor Bazza. I know this is a bit Hyacinth Bouquet, but you'd think they'd of stuck the rear number plate on dead straight, bloomin annoys me with dealers that! Sorry, minor rant, lovely Alfa :)
Your forum name is obviously well picked! ;)
I hadn't even noticed that, I may have to go out and see if I can straighten it a bit.
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Ooh no don't try to straighten it, looks like they've stuck it on, you'll end up breaking the plate or scratching the car and then you'll blame me! I know it's minor but it annoys the hell out of me, yours isn't too bad but given that they've nto even had to drill holes it's a bit slapdash. Oh and yes my forum name does sort of suit me in that respect.
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Too late now Peter. Ever seen that episode of Father Ted where there's a little ding in his car and he decides to sort it out with 'just a little tap with a hammer'? That'll be me tomorrow, and all your fault!
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I think I can recall that episode. As long as you have a Mrs Doyle handy to keep u in tea and sandwiches you'll be fine. Ah gwan gwan gwan!
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Might be a good idea to consult the Indian chaps who made a Peugeot out of an old Hindustan too...
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Went to what i thought was my local Alfa dealer on friday to have a good look at the Brera, they now only do Fiat. My nearest Alfa dealer is in Stoke about 100 miles away. Humph!
They said that they do however still do serive and Alfa warrenty work
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