Hellcat said:

Rather interesting weight catagories. I wonder what cars (just) slip into or slip out of each section.

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I think it's caravan weight. I don't know whether it includes the weight of the driver's pipe, slippers and beard though :devil:

Doofer said:

I think it's caravan weight. I don't know whether it includes the weight of the driver's pipe, slippers and beard though :devil:

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It’s the car’s “kerbweight” (inc 68kgs for driver & 7kgs for luggage) – the `van (Swift) appears to be the same model then weighted to 85% of the car’s kerbweight.

Any Qs I’ll do what I can – but the whole covers some 50+ cars over some 32 pages. The glimpse I gave just covered the `used’ cars.

What Car? Aug 2011 (pp128-159)

An 159 SW with Q4 is the daddy at the mo secondhand, within the fiat group, thats if you can find one!! 3,2 V6 Petrol or 2.4 5 Pot JTD Diesel

Baby you can drive my KAA.

Given the news clips, it looks like Sir Macca & Nancy used his `old' (GP08 KAA) LS600H 5L V8 for the wedding. Gifted by Lexus (& delivered by airfreight) – his 2005 US tour sponsors.

Meanwhile, back on planet Earth at Croma-esk levels – *they say “the Insignia is predicted to hold on to just 33% of its original asking price after three years.”

*WhatCar? Aug2011

Well it's GM isn't it? Plus there will be all those ex-rental cars flooding the market.

Caravadossi said:

Baby you can drive my KAA.

Given the news clips, it looks like Sir Macca & Nancy used his `old' (GP08 KAA) LS600H 5L V8 for the wedding. Gifted by Lexus (& delivered by airfreight) – his 2005 US tour sponsors.

Meanwhile, back on planet Earth at Croma-esk levels – *they say “the Insignia is predicted to hold on to just 33% of its original asking price after three years.”

*WhatCar? Aug2011

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Just an update on the What Car? Insignia view.

Looks like it can lose some 35% (£7K/£20K) off list before it leaves the showroom.

The Telegraph motoring supplement carries the following ad today ...

http://www.thurlby.net/company-images/offer-pdf/68.pdf

120225

FiatFleetFamily said:

An 159 SW with Q4 is the daddy at the mo secondhand, within the fiat group, thats if you can find one!! 3,2 V6 Petrol or 2.4 5 Pot JTD Diesel

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I missed this...

The 2.4 JTDm 159 Q4 is pretty much my perfect car. :yum:

Hellcat said:

I missed this...

The 2.4 JTDm 159 Q4 is pretty much my perfect car. :yum:

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Well Alfa UK have confirmed to me that only 27 were ordered RHD into the UK . Most on a 08 & 58 plate. They were only sold from Q3 2007 till Q1 2009.

Wow, makes my 2.4 Croma seem common as muck

The Q4 was also used in the Brera. You might need your own oil well to run these. The 3.2 V6 (partly GM) would probably get almost 20 mpg if you leave your Alfa issue lead boots at home, and the 2.4 might perhaps get 27. I had a GT JTD at that time which did over 50 mpg. Research on Alfaowner.

Does this mean you're selling your Croma Keith? What about a nice Lancia Thesis?

lanciaman said:

Does this mean you're selling your Croma Keith? What about a nice Lancia Thesis?

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I could be tempted by a Lancia Delta (Chrysler) but would need at least 50% discount. I used to buy cars without trying them, and have owned a number of genuine Lancias, only considering those that I had for more than 3 months. Back in 1971 I sold a Flaminia Coupe to my brother for £30 including the new head gasket. This was the start of his Lancia days.

My next car is decided, in 18 months to two years (depending on how my next job works out) I'll get an S-Max with the 2.2 200BHP diesel engine and twin-clutch box, should be affordable then. Didn't really fancy going back to a van with windows but family cicrumstances mean it might be handy to have more luggage space.

Just got to keep the old girl going in the meantime, next month I will have had the Croma for four years and done 75000 miles (currently just short of 89000), which means it'll have done about 120000 by the time I sell it. Fingers crossed!

Im surprised,i didnt realise the 2.2 was rated at 200hp i thought 175hp.Quite tempting.Does anyone know if the 2.4 has been dropped completely now from the Fiat group of companies?

keithglos said:

The Q4 was also used in the Brera. You might need your own oil well to run these. The 3.2 V6 (partly GM) would probably get almost 20 mpg if you leave your Alfa issue lead boots at home, and the 2.4 might perhaps get 27. I had a GT JTD at that time which did over 50 mpg. Research on Alfaowner.

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Q4 system same as Audi Quattro. Removal of the DPF improves the MPG quite dramatically. Old 156 2.4 returned 52 mpg on extra urban cycle.

I'd like to get a newer car in the next year, but the issues I have are:

1. My wife says that we don't need a newer car because the Croma is working fine and has no issues - the bloody thing wont break!

2. The Croma meets our needs exactly. It can carry a lot, it can cover long distances with ease (even carrying 5 people and luggage), it can tow a decent sized caravan, isn't too thirsty (Kent to Devon and back, on one tank) and is nice enough to drive.


My head kind of agrees with my wife's point of view. We've had the Croma for 3.5 years. In that time, I've spent hardly anything on it that wasn't routine maintenance. Coming up for 90k miles now.

At the moment, the Skoda Yeti, Dacia Duster or the Ford S-Max look to be the lead contenders.

I look forward to the test driving, just in case the Croma dies

Off topic, but I had a 42" Toshiba TV which I wanted to replace with a 55" 4K TV. Same again, why replace something that works. That TV wouldn't break. I did manage to get a new TV in the end, but that Toshiba carried on for 11 years, and is still in use. My step-son has it now for his PlayStation.

freemont !