K9d

I was set an getting another estate car because I though Kathy wanted one, but she has just asked "Do we want another big car?", so now my choices have been expanded This is kind of an estate http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Alfetta-GTV-Classic-Car-RHD-Right-Hand-Drive-/321450308520?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ad7ee73a8

I haven't driven the 156 much recently, but have done for a few days the engine is really beginning to show its age, it just feels a bit flat, it will still happily cruise at 80 on a light throttle but the acceleration is missing. Kathy drove it today and agrees its not good, so that makes buying another car an easier job. I'm determined to reach 200k, there is less than 2k to go and just under 2 month MOT left so should be do-able. After that I'd be happy to give it away, I paid £900 almost 4 years ago so figure it owes me nothing. Pretty much settled on an X type diesel and then in a coupe of years when prices come down go for a 159.

Sweet

Good thinking The 147 can be surprisingly good on petrol, got 43mpg on a recent run to Surrey, not so good on the way back my eldest daughters boyfriend and I were messing about a bit on the M3/A303 although I had an unfair advantage because he has the Megane I gave him I both hate and like the pug, on the twisty toad to work its good fun but because there's no rear suspension in towns its bloody awful, but its never great like my Alfas.

Having looked on Autotrader £500 isn't such a bargain, I could get a 4.0 V8 for £700, that's much better than a straight 6

Someone has already bought them all

Will be great when its all up and running.

Not really sure how it will fit in with my other cars, the idea was to torch/scrap the pug, replace the 156 with an economical estate and use the 147 for Kathy's run to work and as a fun car. This would give me a fun car, 147, and a big luxury barge but nothing economical for me to use for work.

Just been offered an XJ 3.2 auto for £500, I know its not exactly fitting with my criteria but a lot of car for very little money

Nice. I hope your going to put a new coolant reservoir bottle in there.

They do look good in black

I have to wait for my crappy Peugeot to use up all its fuel, who'd have know a £90 car would be so shit , the rear suspension has seized and it bounces around worse than tigger. I need to do 2,237 miles in the 156 to get it to 200,000, the MOT is due in Nov so I had better get motoring, I've vowed to take it to 200k. Just found this, its 5 miles down the road,at that price I might just buy it, I know its not a diesel or an estate but a lot of car for sod all money http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-X-type-2002-/281440720691?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item41872c9733

Very sensible advice, I wish I'd heard it years ago. The X type is appealing to me, but it needs to be the right colour.

Bloody woman, she doesn't like the X type but does want an XK8, I offered to buy her an XK8 for her 40th this year and she didn't want it, they are strange creatures and I don't understand them.

potential engine issues and lack of economy put me off the RX8, a £15K starting price put the DB7 out of range I have been thinking Jag, I guess as I'm a granddad now perhaps I should get a granddad car.

In fairness she did also suggest a DB7 or an RX8, not sure they quite fit the economical and large criteria but I would cope

I'm struggling, after several days of trawling ebay and autotrader I haven't found anything that takes my fancy and now Kathy is suggesting a MKI Fiat Multipla, I fear things are going from bad to worse.

LJs our resident pyromaniac not me

I've found the dream car. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-PROTON-IMPIAN-1-6-GSX-110-/350996608884?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item51b9073774 Why the fuck does anyone buy pieces of shit like this, are they so obsessed with having a brand new car that they forget to look at what they're buying.

I like them too, but find they're best when on all 4 wheels If I bought it I could then use the set of wheels I have in my garage. Been looking at some 159 SW, it would have to be the 2.4 though and my budget would have to increase. Was driving my 156 today and still love the car, damn thing is too good and makes it difficult for me to decide what to do.

Not quite within spec, but I've found this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-ALFA-ROMEO-166-SUPER-V6-24V-GREY-very-fast-family-saloon-no-swap-swop-px-/171452465986?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27eb5d0342

Saab is a good call, I like something that isn't too common. The link doesn't work for me

My 156 is starting to show its age and mileage. Its a 51 plate 2.4 JTD with almost 200,000 miles on the clock. The current issues are :- It looses coolant so needs topping up every few weeks, it has always been a bit reluctant to start, taking a few seconds of turning over, but recently has started to take longer. All 4 tyres are close to the legal limit, with the rears wearing on the inside a lot more than the outside, so possibly a suspension issue. Today I noticed a bit of clutch slip, this was full throttle uphill changing from 3rd to 5th, I briefly used 4th but due to an EML/overboost issue I had to change quickly to 5th. There is a bit of smoke on start up. One of the aux belt pulleys is a bit tight causing the aux belt to slip on start up for about a minute, worse on wet days. On the plus side I still like the car after almost 4 years of ownership, the body work is in good condition, apart from some damage on the rear that's been there since I bought it. I have to decide whether to spend the money getting her sorted out or buy something else. If I do buy another car I then have to decide what to buy, I'm looking for something that will be economical so needs to be diesel, I like the space of the SW so will need to be either a SW/Estate or a large hatchback. I like the way the 156 drives so it will need to be comfortable plus sporty I'm a tight bugger so it will have to be cheap , £1-2K Most importantly it will have to be a good looking car. Kathy recently suggested we should get a BMW or an Audi, I slapped her for the Audi bit, but wouldn't be adverse to a BMW. I'm looking for suggestions for a replacement or should I stick with what I've got ?

Hope you get it back. I would like to think the police will catch the scumbags and then justice will be served, but unfortunately in this country that's not very likely.

Welcome aboard I'm in somerset too, only just though right on the border with Wiltshire, who have even crappier roads.