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Entry Level Everyday Classics...


Richard Bernau

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1 hour ago, longman said:

I just love these old Alfa's especially the transaxle stuff.......I think back in the day I had about 6 alfa 75's both twin spark and V6. They used to oversteer on command and my mum used to love that......not!

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31 minutes ago, World Citizen said:

What about an Audi 80 Sport

I had one, great car and compared to more popular options exceedingly good value, my 964 feels like a similar build quality, ie very robust

ee5be9s-960.jpg

I drove the previous 80 sport to that  back in the day , it felt like a rocketship compared by mk4 1.3 escort

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I haven’t seen one of these in ages, are they hard to find?

i remember BMW’s being all the rage back then, Audi’s were not deemed cool in Norf Landon!

Edited by Beaky
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On 25/03/2021 at 20:08, longman said:

Alfa?!? I need a car that is actually going to work.  Hence, looking German only ATM.

Also way over budget for a first car.  When I get the itch to try something new for myself in 2 years I will check back in for suggestions :) 

 

6 hours ago, World Citizen said:

What about an Audi 80 Sport

I had one, great car and compared to more popular options exceedingly good value, my 964 feels like a similar build quality, ie very robust

ee5be9s-960.jpg

On the list - just none of them for sale.  I think there was one with the 3 speed auto when I last looked.

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  • 1 month later...

I know I said this might be a slow burn, but I have gone ahead and bought another modern classic for and my daughter. It feels so nice to have something old and cherished and ready for care and attention. It’s 3.2 litres, 220hp, has 15 inch wheels and 4 piston front brakes. It is.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not going to make you wait. 
 

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Ex Japan, last owner for 19 years (lovely Japanese guy) and 144k kms.  Needs full service, all fluids and filters and tyres. A steal at NZD3250.  Need to spend about NZD2k on the maintenance. Have an indy lined up who inspected it yesterday. 
 

Needs full clean and polish etc as well. Then it’s road trip time to see what breaks...

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Took the inspiration from Hamish who had a 300e for 6 years before his current Subaru Legacy daily.  And other w124 owners obvs. 

And btw, zero rust. It’s better underneath than my CSL. UK climate really does kill old cars. 

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Thats the other great thing - I am paying less in insurance for this than even the best classic insurance on a standard, garaged, mile limited Porsche insured just for me.  Anyone - and I mean anyone - is insured to drive the Merc including my 17 yr old and my soon to be 16 yr old with just a higher excess applicable.

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W124 is a wonderfully solid car, great find.

Do any of the Oz cities have the same congestion charge/Ulez vehicle restriction we have here in London?

 

 

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Relatively rare too being the one year only crossover model i.e. pre-facelift/big grille but with the later facelift 320 HFM engine.

My current 124 estate was also ex-Japan (imported into the UK by Edward Hall) and can attest that the underside of the car was in unbelievable condition when I bought it. It's still very clean but 4 yrs of daily driving it in the UK has made it a little more grubbier than it used to be.

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13 hours ago, Beaky said:

W124 is a wonderfully solid car, great find.

Do any of the Oz cities have the same congestion charge/Ulez vehicle restriction we have here in London?

 

 

No, nothing like that in NZ. There is no public transport other than a few buses in Christchurch. There are only 350k people in Christchurch, so it’s a very small city. NZ is pretty ‘green’ in many respects like almost 100% renewable electricity but will lag in other areas like EV adoption due to cost and remoteness of rural communities and lower per capita income than Europe. 
 

I get new Tyres fitted at 9am tomorrow then drop off for service. Grip levels are comedy low with 16 year old tyres. Otherwise all seems good. Just did a run out to Supercheap Auto for usb charger, phone mount and cup holder plus an unnecessary motorway jaunt just because. Super relaxed and quiet at 100kmh as expected. 

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Defo still in the honeymoon period, but its such a cool car.  It just wafts around everywhere in such an effortless way.  And then has a surprising turn of speed and a nice snarl when you need it.

Its much nicer on new tyres.  Got mid range Hankook all-seasons in 205/60.  They look so small.  Figured all-seasons could be good as it does get cold here in winter and it is RWD and will have a newbie behind the wheel.

Got most of the servicing done on Friday.  Reassuringly expensive bill.  Now in it for NZD4700.

Most disappointing thing so far is a bought a NZD1.00 cassette from a charity shop and then found the tape player would load but wouldn't play anything.  It was a brand new cassette in wrapper.  No idea what the music was as it was some Russian woman.  We will never know.

Stealing myself to do a 200km trip on Friday to collect my father in law for a funeral.  May still be safer to take the Audi.  I do have an AA card.... 

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Have faith!  I used to run a W114 280CE: it went everywhere, never let me down.

It did let water in, mind you, from somewhere around the scuttle, that dripped into the footwell, come to think of it.  Never did find out where that was getting in ...  Character.

Edited by GimmeShelter
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13 minutes ago, Busybee said:

Nice one Rich. Cruising in style. Bet said daughter will suffer sideways glances if she grabs the keys 😜

On a restricted licence for a while yet, so any sideways glances would include me riding shotgun.  

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