Symon

I have for sale a pair of 1.8/2.0TS cam locks. They are listed on ebay but if anyone here wishes to buy them I will of course end the listing. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310642242544?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

The 3.0 and 4.0 V8's both suffer from Nikasil issues. You are better off with a later 3.5 of 4.4 V8 IMO.

Slow spool and no boost until relatively high RPM can also be caused by a boost leak. Holed intercooler, split pipe etc..

I have had 2 Vitesse Turbos myself. A 1994 Vitesse sport Lux, and a later 200bhp Vitesse. I had quiite a bit of trouble with both of them to be honest. I suppose this was a few years ago now, and because they were cheap there were many neglected ones about. The ones that survive now are probably well looked after.

I am not all that keen on either if I am honest, but the Giullietta looks the better of the two IMO. The Mito looks too tall and narrow.

My 1st Alfa was a 164 3.0 12v. It was a great car. Good ones are pretty rare now though.

A wanker probably, but I would rather be a wanker than a hairdresser.

My dad had a Mk2 1.8 for a while. Not my cup of tea to be honest. I found it cramped inside, it wasn't very quick, the engine note and looks are dull, they are common, the interior looks cheap and I got called a hairdresser. Ok it handled well, but I reckon on a twisty road my Ford Puma would have had it.

Wasn't the 45 floorpan derived from a Honda civic? I used to be a member of Rovertech in a previous life. I needed to be, all the Rovers I have owned were constantly going wrong. * * Not saying they are unreliable, I was probbaly just unlucky.

BMW M5 E39 Can be had for about 5k, 5.0 V8 making 400bhp Should do about 20mpg driven carefully, as well as being pretty reliable. Or a Jag XJR if you are not keen on Beemers

If it was me, I would probably go with the GTA. The reason being, it is rarer. A 3.2 GT looks pretty much the same as the 1.8 and Diesel, where as the GTA looks different to other 156's. Having said that I would also consider an E46 M3 as well.

I have only ever owned one Nissan.

The 6 cylinder engines are even more difficult to bleed aparrently. I need to change the coolant on mine, and I am not looking forward to it..

My Grandad had a marina the same as that, only it was Red. Horrible car, it broke down on him twice before he wrote it off.

Did it not have a paper type gasket? I am not familiar with this engine though I must admit. It might be worth asking on bmwland.com

The 145 Cloverleaf is the one I would go for. Great little cars, and the earlier ones don't tend to rust too much. The 146Ti is worth a look too.

The trouble with the Z8 is its size and weight. Sports care are supposed to light and agile, where as that one weighs about the same as a 5 series. Plus I am not taken with the styling myself. Looks like they have taken a Fiat Barchetta, and bred it with a Z3 and this is the offspring.

Fiestas are pretty bad too. However our Puma is pretty much Rust free, aparrently Fords made in Germany are rust proofed better than those made in Spain. Alfa 156's rust badly too, or at least my last one did. It put me off Alfa a bit to be honest.

Over-rated, overpriced and suprisingly poor design on the rear brakes, rear springs snap easier than tooth picks, front shocks have more leaks than Wales and that nasty compact driving area. All of them? OK BMW experts, some E36 questions: 1. Is a 318i really gutless? 2. Is the rear legroom any good (if there's a six footer in the driver's seat, can someone with legs fit behind him?)? 3. How does a small six cylinder car compare to a 156 TS on fuel consumption? 1. Not gutless as such, more "Unremarkable" 2. It isn't great but ok on a small journey. 3.Don't know, and i think plenty of other car makers would like to know the answer too. Not sure I agree with Smakys comments either. Despite being 13 years old my E39 feels pretty much Bomb proof. Compared to an S reg E class Merc at work the build quality and rust protection is far better. You would't expect to see a rusty Merc. But this one has more holes than a Bangkok brothel.

Or see my Ford Puma thread.. If you have owned an MGF you won't find a Puma girly at all. I would keep it, as it is such a great drivers car, only we can't justify two cars, and the Puma is a bit too small for dad to day use with a child.

I really should start a for sale thread, but as it isn't strictly for sale yet I won't.. In the next couple of weeks our Puma will be up for sale. It is a Pacific Green one, with the later spec wheels and dash etc. 89k, new MOT, drives very well (Better than most Alfas I am afraid to say) and is in very good condition. Not long had a cambelt as well as a rear suspension overhaul with poly bushes. (original beam bushes were shagged) Has aircon that works better than the aircon in my Beemer. Quite nippy, I would say similar to a 2.0 156 in a straight line (But feels faster) Corners and changes direction like you wouldn't believe and does nearly 40mpg on a run.. Looking for £1200 ono, would make a nice second car/fun runabout.

Renaultsport Clio 172 BMW 535i (E39) (May just be in budget) Jag XJ6 4.0 Fiat Coupe 16V turbo (As you have had the 20V already) Nissan 200sx S14/S14a Alfa 145 Cloverleaf Fiat Punto HGT

I won't be paying to watch it either. Look what sky has done to Boxing for instance. Boxing use to be really popular up until the mid 1990's when it all went pay per view.

The pre-facelift 156. I won't post a picture as we all know what it looks like anyway. (Plus I don't have one handy)

That is certainly the car. He did take me out in it on one occasiion, and at the time the exhaust was blowing. It is a shame to see it broken, it was certainly part of Rover heritage. The last time I saw Scott he was driving some crappy Shitroen Paxo