Leong72

What sort of race car did you get Matt? edit, scrap that question, I see its a 944!! congrats!!

I'm not surprised you bought the Alfa... I think you've been looking at those pics so long they got to you!! Glad all went as planned this trip and looking forward to hearing the GT3. Best of luck with telling your wife!!

Macca

Good spotting mate. Those are from the "Wellington Days". 2000-2002. Single man so a few gals got a ride in her LOL! This one taken from the tail end of that era. Martin-borough hotel First overnight date with girlfriend became future wife and possible soon ex wife ha ha

Macca

Michael, Matt, Pel, Walt and all - thanks for the kind words. I think the car will appear from time to time at RSG events so well all still get to hear that exhaust!

Pete. I figured I needed to start to catch up with you fellas. I reminded Jo today that in our first 5 years I had 5 cars turn over. Always one constant and the other got changed on average I guess every year. Then we left the country and that's why the 993 hasn't moved. Im figuring given Im still enjoying the GT3 but thinking to spend more time in Aotearoa I better get my form back. So far two new incoming cars for 2017. Looks like Jo will driving a Ford Focus RS then! Actually might be my new girlfriends wheels way Im heading!

Obsessed

How does Jo feel about the 993 going? (Assuming you've told her, that is!)

Macca

Pete, was talking with Matt offline. Very pleased to hear the 944 has a new home and very tempted to sign in as second owner but timing couldn't really be worse really. Your 944 is a good car and I think will be alot of fun on track. As I said to Matt - Im jealous.

Macca

LOL! I think she was in some ways sadder than me which is odd. Yesterday she took "goodbye" photos of us both next to it which was slightly unnerving before the transaction day. Funny really because over the last 17 years shes often told me Im more in love with my "German girlfriend" than her and I suspect the money its consumed and my time were often an issue for her . Today she was a bit more emotional about it, but that was because she was in post op after surgery and was still high on drugs. I mentioned something about the fact we would use the proceeds for more adventures in the future but omitted that they involve buying "Italian Girlfriends", visiting race tracks and car events, visiting car buddies and ticking off a few alpine passes sideways. Im not joking when I say this could end badly.

Im tempted to spike her drink tomorrow with morphine before I drop the bomb. I bought the 64 page Alfa Brochure of ebay and its the nicest car brochure ive ever owned. Large format, thick card, awesome pictures.

Ill be honest the only thing putting me off the Alfa right now is the NZ aftersales service model. I mentioned to Giltraps management yesterday they should take on this brand. FCA are rebuilding it with 8C, 4C now Guilia (and there are a whole range of diesel and petrol engine variants have also launched) and soon SUV, mid SUV etc. The fact that Ive asked three Alfa Dealers in NZ repeatedly to give me prices and specs and even a brochure and got zero so far frankly gives me the sh*ts.

Its all good having a warranty (on an Alfa its essential - even on a GT3 as it turns out) but not much bloody good if there isnt anyone home when you go calling on it!

Macca

Yeah Leong, I think Ive mentioned the Alfa to you over he last 6 months. Actually it goes back to mid 2015 when the first pictures were published. Ive read everything and talked to anyone and everyone I can who knows anything about the cars development. Unfortunately the fraternity arent like Porsche enthusiasts but there is a strong community for their older stuff.

Lucky for me a "GT3 friend" in Italy Ive known a few years and will visit on my trip got to drive the QV demo in July. I had some long conversations with him. Ive known him 3 years and trust his feedback. He had a M2 on order but now has a GV arriving before Xmas. Lets just say that it will be alot of fun, very quick, beautiful looking and not bad sound. If it doesnt catch fire, or fall to pieces as people keep telling me!

This is the last Alfa in our household. Owned it with a mate. It was purchased in 2000 and sold 2.5 years later. Original 2 owner NZ new car with 30,000 enthusiast miles from factory - 1974 2000 GTV - did 13500 trouble free miles on this car and these pictures were taken for the TM advert. This car is believed to be the best example in Australasia when we owned it. Appreciated too. no one believes me when I say it was problem free....apologies as I may have posted these on this thread before...

Kiwi Carguy

and still going up until 2010 by the looks of it https://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=hm6243

Macca

Wow. I got my dates wrong. was 2001-2004. That big bump is our tutelage (in fairness mate Stuarts primary wheels). Looks like it barely moved a wheel ever since. So it sits in a collection done 45000 miles and is 42 years old! 1500km a year average over 42 years - wow!

What a shame tho aye. First owner did 12,000 miles. farmer bought it new from Winger Alfa in Hamilton then diagnosed with Cancer a few months later and decided to drive it all he could before he died two years later. basically a family member piled a tonne of miles on it for 18 months then sold it to collector. Then used again 14000 miles in 3 years and in slumber for ever more.

Maxem

Hi Macca, that's a bit of a wrench letting the 993 go but good news that we will hopefully be able to see it at track days more often.
I love Alfa's, but it has always been a trying relationship. My experiences with a troublesome 159 with the local dealer were shocking. However, I didn't try Alfa dealers other than the one at the start of GT STH road so maybe you will have better luck and I hope they improve. I will be interested in how you go because they are making some good product again by the looks of it and never say never I reckon.

Maxem

Hi Macca, that's a bit of a wrench letting the 993 go but good news that we will hopefully be able to see it at track days more often.
I love Alfa's, but it has always been a trying relationship. My experiences with a troublesome 159 with the local dealer were shocking. However, I didn't try Alfa dealers other than the one at the start of GT STH road so maybe you will have better luck and I hope they improve. I will be interested in how you go because they are making some good product again by the looks of it and never say never I reckon.

Spokes

Stunned, just caught up on the last few pages, and Macca you sold that beautiful 993 although it is great to hear it stayed in NZ. Love your old and new Alpha, always had a soft spot for the Italian style and idiosyncrasy electrics - yes we have owned a couple.

John McM

Good to hear the sale went through Macca. Nothing like recycling those car dollars before they get in the marital spending pot I think we could see the eventual sale in your future when the GT3 hold period kept on getting extended.

I've had a couple of Alfas, a Sud and 33. I enjoyed them, although the older ones weren't engineered like Porsches, nor priced like them to be fair.

There's a bit of trend with these new buys - the modern version of car trumps?

I look forward to helping relieve you of the old fashioned unwanted air cooled spares this morning before I go onto my detailing course. As you wrote yesterday 'eat polish sleep repeat'

Macca

Thanks for the feedback Dave. I am a bit worried about the local dealer support with the Alfa if Im honest. It will be important for such a complex machine in a new model range.

I think for me the story remain the same. The experience is ultimately more important than the car. Buying new cars from Europe at discounted prices and planning extended drive tours around them seems to be a format that works well for us. We both love the travel, I get to meet with some of my online "buddies" and we get to sample ways of life we would never otherwise see, there is always some car content and bucket list ticks, some wonderful driving in machines that were designed and built to make the most of those glorious roads etc. Also I must confess financially it makes seasonal sense which is important when you are unemployed. I think the market is a bit screwy and Ive been lucky to date as the GT3 by way of example would return me a net 20% profit today after almost 3 years of enjoyment. Probably not a good example as Im sure the Alfa will treat me like a cheap ***** in this regard and a 25% savings on the way in by smart buying will unlikely deal with more than first year depreciate...but you never know it may become a cult car and there will be few of them on the roads compared to M3/4 which have become ubiquitous. Like Ive said before you are a long time dead so best have a few adventures and there is lots of time once senile demensioa sets in for bonnet polishing LOL!

Saw this this morning and chuckled. Who would have thought Alfa could do this from no where. Lets hope the engines are reliable (like Porsche ??? ha ha)

John@Fabspeed

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the system once installed

I am being constantly surprised at how huge the Porsche following is in Australia. I feel its almost every day I'm chatting with someone at the oddest hours, and as of late mostly in regards to GT4 products. Always knew I wanted to live in Australia haha