500 alexGS's 2010 Sport 1.4 Dualogic

ouch!

Ouch indeed. To be honest replacing a 156 with a 500 and expecting it to be similar would be silly. I assume you just didn't expect the difference to be as big as it is?
Does look good though.

Sorry to hear that. I guess its always easer to upshift than downshift... Ask Kate Middleton! Good luck!

Thanks. As I've written elsewhere, while I really didn't enjoy driving the 500 on that long trip, I realise now that I was being unrealistic and the car the 500 replaces is really my Uno Turbo. I've enjoyed driving the 500 today in more normal situations and it can be my regular car after all. I think it is time to move on from my 156 and replace it with a bigger, maybe older 166 or 164 which won't be used frequently.

-Alex

alexGS said:

Here is my 500 I picked up two days ago. I think the colour is New Orleans Blue - the label inside the tailgate calls it Blu Magnetico Mic (599/A)...Unfortunately a few hours into the 1000km journey home, I realised I don't like driving the car at all and will probably have to sell it soon...

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Those pictures that you took of the 500 are very nice. The New Orleans Blue that I had looked at had Chrome and it was all too much. I like the look of your blue one (de-chromed ). The Black is a killer to keep looking right and I found it hard to look at in the harsh light of day. The 16 inch multispokes do look the business.

alexGS said:

As I've written elsewhere, while I really didn't enjoy driving the 500 on that long trip, I realise now that I was being unrealistic and the car the 500 replaces is really my Uno Turbo. I've enjoyed driving the 500 today in more normal situations and it can be my regular car after all. I think it is time to move on from my 156 and replace it with a bigger, maybe older 166 or 164 which won't be used frequently.

Click to expand...

When I first got the MiTo after the 500 it was a disappointment but you have too look at what the car is good at. Your 500 will prove (fingers crossed) to be an economical car to run i.e. overall - forget the mpg. Met with a fellow enthusiast last day with a 4 year old Alfa GT 1.8 Coupe and all I heard was - cambelt snapped at 56K which required an engine re-build, rattle on the back window on the tailgage which will cost X amount to fix, etc. etc. He was an Alfa head and wouldn't dream of driving a Fiat engined Alfa. Hopefully you wouldn't have any headaches like the ones that he has experienced.

Great pics, love the car!!

This might seem off-topic but it's very much part of the plan for me: today I've finally arranged the purchase of that 'other' car I wanted all along to complement the 500! A definite case of making hay while the sun shines.

if you haven't guessed, it's http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Alfa-romeo/photos/a-452178245/p-207336998.htm

The 500 and this will replace my 156 and, I believe, will offer the best of both worlds. Both cars are in excellent condition so the one thing I won't be doing is much work on either of them, though I expect that black paintwork will respond well to a loving polish. It is one of only a handful of facelift versions in NZ and is accordingly rather expensive (earlier versions are about one-third the price), but this one is likely to be in mint condition. Its owner has relocated to Australia, so there's a genuine reason for sale. The previous versions I've owned have all been cheap for various reasons and have never quite been worth keeping. As the seller said when I got in touch, "well, you know what sort of car this is."

My 156 will be for sale. I'll be keeping my yellow Spider, but will likely be selling my Uno Turbo (not for lack of funds, but for lack of space!) The red Spider and 164 are already sold, I really ought to update my signature pic.

Since I've been away working all month, I've missed driving any of my cars - desperately looking forward to getting back in the 500 and visiting all my friends...

-Alex

loveshandbags said:

Those pictures that you took of the 500 are very nice. The New Orleans Blue that I had looked at had Chrome and it was all too much. I like the look of your blue one (de-chromed ).

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Yes - while I did want a 500 in retro white with all the chrome, I've come round to realise I prefer the de-chromed 'Sport' version - though I am considering a small change - I reckon if the front badge didn't have its chrome 'whiskers', the bumper could have its chrome strips (and a wider Europlate), and the back bumper could then have its strip, and the mirrors - but I would want all those in the 'brushed' (Satin) chrome - I think that would suit. EDIT: oh, maybe not. Brushed chrome might seem rather try-hard

Your 500 will prove (fingers crossed) to be an economical car to run i.e. overall - forget the mpg. Met with a fellow enthusiast last day with a 4 year old Alfa GT 1.8 Coupe and all I heard was - cambelt snapped at 56K which required an engine re-build, rattle on the back window on the tailgage which will cost X amount to fix, etc. etc. He was an Alfa head and wouldn't dream of driving a Fiat engined Alfa. Hopefully you wouldn't have any headaches like the ones that he has experienced.

Click to expand...

I'm sure you're right there - it's not just the mpg, it's the thousands spent on replacement parts that are the true running cost! Since I've rebuilt my 156's front suspension twice, I know all about ongoing Alfa headaches. You really do want a non-Alfa in the fleet as well. At the same time, I've missed having the soulful Alfa V6 engine.

-Alex