Penguinracer

It's ironic that the Alfa Guila QV is being compared to the M4 in most publications, because it lists here at £59K which easily becomes £62.5 with a few options. By contrast the M5 lists at £73K but new ones can be picked by for as low as £58K and my local dealer has one for £65K.

Basically you can pick-up a new M5 in the UK for Alfa Guila QV money - they're not moving so deals are to be had.
Tim

Macca

Hi Tim,

Yes. I guess the M5 must be ready for a renewal soon hence the strong deals. They are also easy to negotiate here too and dont seem to hold their value too well.

The Alfa QV seems mostly in the UK & Euro press to be compared to the M4 Coupe with Competition Pack and DCT. I believe the retail on a package like that is around $63K GBP before other options, so on a base car price the 8 speed ZF Alfa GV is slightly cheaper, but its probably a little unfair comparing a coupe to a sedan especially in C63S AMG form which is not only stiffer but has a much better rear suspension lay out than the sedan version of that same car.

The issue in NZ (and no doubt elsewhere) is the Alfa dealer network which is hazardous to say the least and due for a massive review. I think this is FCAs main weakness with there new strategy. They have the Alfa mini SUV the Stelvio being launched at Geneva March 2017 and this will also have the same engine variants as the Giulia sedan including it is rumored the 2.9T V6 in the QV. They have a bit of work to do to get their dealer network sorted globally by then. I think in Germany, Italy and France they have done alot of work on this and now all their efforts and resources are focused on the USA for an Alfa re entry first time in over a decade, so NZ, AU are no doubt low down on the list...

Maxem

Seems someone else at my new place of work likes similar things to me

996tnz

^^Better than my view on arriving at work Dave.

Too early for some 993 nostalgia perhaps Macca? http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...he-993-values/

nzskater

I'd imagine that's a feel good story from Macca's point of view, although from the sounds of the article the writers 993 is a stark contrast to the extremely well sorted and focused machine that has gone to a new owner.

I sometimes lament the cars that got away due to me buying the Turbo, mostly 964's and 993's, but there's no way I would be comfortably running a 964 as hard as I push the 997. I'd love a classic car in the garage, but the reality is that I'd probably not drive it often enough to justify it.

Late to the party but interesting insight into each other's cars from Macca and Leong. Enjoyed the point of view. Surely a trade of keys at the track is the next stage of the review?

shiraz

Have done a one way trade - was really interested to have a more knowledgeable opinion. Would quite like to drive/ ride in another 993 to compare. On the day Mark had the GT3 - which was (perhaps ) regrettably of secondary interest ON THE DAY. Another time - it is a good way of experiencing something else.
Cheers - D

Penguinracer

Mark, if the twin-turbo V6 ever finds its way into the back of the 4C AND that car is given the rear suspension it deserves - then that could potentially be something truly special. I can't see Ferrari allowing the competition though.

I saw your comments about the Aston DB9 a while back. An ex-work colleague, a 996 Turbo Cab driver, drove his friend's on the way to Le Mans a number of years ago. They lined up his Griffith 500 with the DB9 & interestingly the Griff was slightly quicker on a second gear pull to well into triple digits. He said the DB9 was purely a cruiser & quickly became uninteresting.
Tim

Macca

Thanks Dave. That was a fun read. Not having offspring to promise to hand it to, was one less barrier to sale for me!

I spent the last few days tidying up the unit. I managed to fit a GT3 where a 993 used to be. 2 cubic meters of parts went with the car which helped make some space. Amazing how you can squeeze a life into 6 x 3m unit. I need to work at getting rid of a bit more stuff. I will have an ebay drive next year.

P.S. I'm REALLY stoked with the DMS headers. They has transformed driving the car!

Macca

I love looking at old cars. Not so much on owning them.

You have to remember I bought the 993 when it was 5-6 years old. It had only stopped production 2 years before so it was a very recent model. The 993 was the first 911 that appealed to me aesthetically. I wasn't a big fan of the shape from impact bumper on, and if I'm perfectly honest I'm not really now either. The only thing that has changed in 17 years is fashion. The IB and 964 shape cars are now in vogue again. My tastes remain the same....

The prices of older 911s in NZ have become bubble. In many cases they exceed what could be achieved today in the often lofty UK market. A dealer would need to advertise my 993 for over 90K GBP in the UK to give me what I received locally after negotiation and commission.

You have to remember a new 991 GT3 in the UK was 100,400 GBP base and a new GT4 was 65,000 GBP base!

The property market is largely responsible for driving this I suspect along with cheap money. Asian immigrants arent buying these cars (Macans yes), the Kiwi folks selling their rental properties to them are! Oh, and the Christchurch newly minted contractors and consultants. Disasters can make people rich. Wild generalizations I know but Ive spent the last 5 days visiting and talking with the sales guys and they talk openly to me so I think I have a pretty good idea whats happening here.

Giltraps own the 964 3.6T on their showroom floor asking $550K. I think they hope to get over $400K for it. You can buy the same car in the UK for less.

Its insane when you could have bought a 911 R for $385K and be driving a brand new car. 5 were sold in NZ and if you got in early you could have bought one. It will be worth 200K more driven out of the door. You'll be too scared to ever enjoy it, but its a new car will make money from the get go and will never likely be worth less than you paid for it even if the market crashes. Cant say that for a 400K+ 964 3.6T Im afraid...

So its a place rapidly being divided by the "have's" and the "have not's". If you arent positioned close to the trough then Im afraid you are probably sh*t out of luck with regard to "collectible Porsches" and also your first home. Its a damn shame really. Im obviously far too nostalgic but I liked it better before, when I was poorer and stuff was cheaper, like older 911s. Probably why I dont mind living away from NZ.

Jake. You arent missing anything really. Soon you can 3D print a life size 964RS in Rubystone Red to park in your garage and do what most of the owners of the real things are doing with them. Look at them bathed in the garage light LOL!

Macca

Tim. Unfortunately they will never shoe horn that engine in the 4C, more is the pity!

Im not a DB9 fan. Its too big a car for me. I think John McM had a hankering for one. I could do a V12 Vantage with sports pack and 6 speed tho :-0.

John McM

I had looked at them in the past and still like the thought of an Aston in the garage, although the reality is that it's driving role/purpose is performed by the Cayenne which is more versatile. Truth be known, with downsizing plans figuring in our future I suspect the garage will whittle down to one or two exceptionally well maintained 964s.

John McM

In the land of Luftgekuhlt

Penguinracer

In terms of running a de-cluttered, pared-down, lean life in which you own your possessions and they don't own you - I think the hypothetical three-car garage is the way to go. It'll concentrate your mind on what you really need & want.

I think we all love the idea of the mythical "Swiss-Army Knife" car, but the reality is that as technology has evolved one "do it all" vehicle has probably become a compromise too far.

Someone said to me recently -" forget the Swiss-Army Knife - go full-out luxury or hard as nails - there's no in-between" and I'm starting to appreciate that logic.

Whereas in the 60's & 70's that 911 or Series 1 E-Type might have been a good all-rounder for everything but the most menial of tasks, today's equivalent is arguably more specialised.
Tim

Maxem

What is the weather like? Last year when I was there it was a horrible 38C so hopefully it has come off the summer highs for you.

Macca

Boys on tour! Great work lads. It looks hot there and the beer looks cool. Sounds like its going to plan so far...