Hi Nige
Coupe Pininfarina a gay icon?... Nige... This comment, I have never heard before
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I like a lot the Barchetta, now Fiat outs whit the new version, probably old version prices will go down...
I think that a Barchetta 1,8 or 1,6 is more docile than a Jag 12 cylinders... maybe your wife could apreciate it a lot...
You have cited two of my three miths when I was a boy :I...
Lancia Delta HF Integrale (my eternal dream) this remain my first advice, but be careful: there are a lot versions, with differences year by yaer (6 years of successes...) maybe is difficult to find it in UK... besides be careful if the car is modified: engine, set-up..etc... some problems you could have from electric plant (windows, indicators, etc...) she (for me is a female) isn't a Jaguar but she is however a bad feline...
here you can find more info about her... history and versions in particulary, for me the last are better...
http://www.whalley-integrale.uk.com/hist.htm#Delta
http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/Lancia/evo.html
http://viva-lancia.com (there is a forum of Lancisti, some are exstermist and maybe they don't advise you a Delta because is a Fiat daughter... but are wonderful persons... maybe someone will advise you a Fulvia HF...)
Lancia Thema Ferrari 8 cylinders 32 valves (Ferrari, my absolute dream!), fantastic, only model, but I fear that if something of a Ferrari engine will break, you will pay a lot for a replacement...
[third mith was a Uno Turbo i.e. (my old realistic dream) -> 0-100 km/h 7,7sec (a Bravo 155 -> 8,0 sec...) FEAR!]
Alfa 145 Quadrifoglio verde, I never tried it, but is good for me and I like it: 2.0 Twin Spark 16v 150 bhp is fantastic, but I don't think that it will be much different from your Bravo 155: front McPherson and rear indipendent plan suspension...
146 ti is a 145 Quadrifoglio with a large boot and Recaro seats...
Nige you are an Alfista (like this, in Italy is named who has Alfa Romeo in his heart) for some old Italian Alfisti (Italian plural of Alfista), the last real Alfa was the 75, I'm not so exstremist, but the new good Alfa for me are from 156 on... (you had a fantastic 156, do you cofirm my opinion?)
147 is fantastic to drive, did you have ever tested it? The sterring wheel is perfect, precise like a cart! (front quadrilaterals plan suspensions) I have 3 friends with a 147! The first wanted buy a Golf TDI, I took him from hair and brought in a Alfa dealer, he bought a 147...other followed him...and the third had good taste it self... Maybe in future also consider it!
It has only two faults: a little ray of turn and it's small for big tails: I'm 198cm (77.95"), I'm too umconfortable on it... Brava and Stilo are better for my legs...
Alfa Gtv and spider, I don't like too much their design, I don't know why... I prefer Fiat Coupe, but Nige I also like beautiful girls......
(the first versions could have some electrical problems, windows etc...)
http://www.alfasport.net/forum/
Italian Alfisti Forum, you don't speak any Italian, but maybe someone of their speak English...
On old alfa and fiat spider I don't know, I'm too young and I never try one...
A nice link that could be useful for you: news about all Fiat and a section with classic Fiat values in Italy...
http://www.carsfromitaly.com
I fear to post this link, because some idiot could see it, buing a old fantastic coupe/spider and replacing their hert with a Japanaise engine, never heard something so stupid! [
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My list:
1° Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v
2° Barchetta
3° 145 Quadrifoglio
4° 146 ti
5° Ritmo 130 tc (Strada) My uncle had one, but not a 130... he wanted to sell it to my father... but he bought a Uno...
6° Thema 8.32
A presto Nige!
Without wallet problems I buy a Delta... and if I didn't have a Bravo 2.0 could buy a 145 2.0 Q... if I had a Bravo 2.0 or a 145 Q, with enough money I could buy a Barchetta for sunny day... Thema is too expensive and a 8 cyliders Ferrari drinks nearly like a Brava 1.4 12v... the last it's enough for me...
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