F1ANG
New member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2010
- Messages
- 114
- Points
- 32
Hey.
Ok so for a couple of years now, I've found myself somewhat intrigued by the marea's, after owning a couple of bravo hgt's, that I was very fond of. Recently with the dog, and frequent longer commutes, I found myself needing (fancying, wanting!) and estate. It was always going to be either an alfa sportwagon, or a marea weekend, as much as I like various other makes, I can't seem to stray from Italian motors!
Anyway, to see if I would like and could live with the marea, I bought and briefly owned a 1.9 jtd 105, I loved it, it ticked all my boxes, the only thing I wasn't so happy with was that, although it was a revy, lively little engine, it just didn't really float my boat, so to speak, I'd often find my self absolutely thrashing it to get any enjoyment out of it what so ever, but I can hardly complain, when the thing would get me 700 miles to a tank!!!.... the main thing was over all, I liked it.
The plan was, if I did like it, I'd buy a better one. So after a while of twiddling thumbs and patently waiting, a 2.4 jtd 130 hlx popped up. It wasn't my favourite choice of colours, but with these been so rare now, who was I to be fussy! After getting in contact with the guy, I knew right then I wanted it.
Full service history
14 stamps in the service book
Remote locking/alarm (something my 1.9 never had!)
All 3 keys Inc red key
Hlx model, so Aircon/ all the toys
List goes on..
The guy I bought it from was 55 and had owned the car 10 years, no boy racer by any means, and when I tell you that the car was maitained rigorously, money no object, I'm not lying, See pic below!
Body work was 100 times better than my last one, and aswell as the huge service history, under the bonnet and interior were both immaculate, I had to take it. It was originally for sale for 990, before I set off to buy it we agreed on 650, and by the time cash and paperwork changed hands, I got her for 500 quid with 3/4 tank of fuel!!! Chuffed!
To drive, the first thing I noticed was the huge masses of low down torque, the 1.9 never had, the car felt so solid and tight to drive, no usual suspension clunks, or knocks just a nice quiet solid drive, the clutch is heavy with plenty of pedal, and the steering felt heavier than the 1.9 but I really liked that, adds to the solid feel of the car.
Anyway after the turbo kicked in at about 1000 rpm, it would pull with a huge surge of torque to about 2700 rpm, then suddenly go flat, as if you'd hit a brick wall! And then literally had no pull at all, I wasn't worried at all, obvious signs of needing a good clear out and a genuine maf! But the cambelt was due and I didn't want to push it. The first few times I hoofed it, the amount of sh**e that came out the back was like a bond style smoke screen! But each lime it got considerably less, and the car felt a bit quicker. Although still had bugger all up the top end, the previous owner told me he'd only ever driven it for economy, I believe him lol! He's clearly never took at above 3k!
I'd usually do all this my self, but my garage is full at present, but also because I wanted to keep ontop of the cars maintenance, and also keep the service book upto date, I just used my friends garage for this one.
Timing belt kit
Water pump
Aux belt
Air filter
Oil and filter
Coolant flush
Air con re-gass
Genuine bosch maf (mates rates)
And a fuel filter.
Cost 450 quid, almost as much as I paid for the car lol, but we'll worth it! Should of been alot more, but I got all the parts, and all fluids at what it costs him, and he's a legend so I'm very happy.
What a difference to drive now, I can't stress enough the difference of a bosch maf! Compared to the sh**te oe ones you can pick up for 20 quid! After brimming the tank with v-power (mixed with a little cetane booster
) and thrashing the arse of it for 100 miles, the Turbo now kicks in at 1000 rpm, hits full boost and peak torque by 2000 rpm, and then just pulls like a freight train to its limiter! Yesterday in the wet I was really struggling for grip first 3 cogs, and it hits 120 mph faster than you'd think possible for a deisel! I reckon it would easily scran my old hgt, and yet gets me mid 40's to the gallon! Absolutely chuffed with the car inside out.
Got a few toys ordered from the old tintenet, plans are:
Hid's
Lowering springs
Uprated dampers
Not sure what I'm doing for wheels yet...
Better tyres
EGR is getting completely removed
Front mount intercooler
And a tuning box or remap.
All mods will be subtle, and the car must look oem, last thing I want to do is ruin it, and performance mods will be done to get the most out of it both power wise and economically.
Also I'll probably be doing something with the exhaust, I never knew a deisel motor could ever sound nice, not even a 5 pot, bought you want to hear this! And it's standard! Over all I'm happy, I now have a mechanically sound wagon, I throw the dog in, still get decent mpg's from and tare about and have fun in when I choose to. Done 1000 mile now, it doesn't smoke at all now and doesn't use a drop of oil, I think she might just be a good car.
Only thing I don't like about the car is the number plate! It's a bit gae..y! Oh well!
I've not had a chance to take any pictures yet but I'll leave you with these and take more, when I update the cars progress.
Ok so for a couple of years now, I've found myself somewhat intrigued by the marea's, after owning a couple of bravo hgt's, that I was very fond of. Recently with the dog, and frequent longer commutes, I found myself needing (fancying, wanting!) and estate. It was always going to be either an alfa sportwagon, or a marea weekend, as much as I like various other makes, I can't seem to stray from Italian motors!
Anyway, to see if I would like and could live with the marea, I bought and briefly owned a 1.9 jtd 105, I loved it, it ticked all my boxes, the only thing I wasn't so happy with was that, although it was a revy, lively little engine, it just didn't really float my boat, so to speak, I'd often find my self absolutely thrashing it to get any enjoyment out of it what so ever, but I can hardly complain, when the thing would get me 700 miles to a tank!!!.... the main thing was over all, I liked it.
The plan was, if I did like it, I'd buy a better one. So after a while of twiddling thumbs and patently waiting, a 2.4 jtd 130 hlx popped up. It wasn't my favourite choice of colours, but with these been so rare now, who was I to be fussy! After getting in contact with the guy, I knew right then I wanted it.
Full service history
14 stamps in the service book
Remote locking/alarm (something my 1.9 never had!)
All 3 keys Inc red key
Hlx model, so Aircon/ all the toys
List goes on..
The guy I bought it from was 55 and had owned the car 10 years, no boy racer by any means, and when I tell you that the car was maitained rigorously, money no object, I'm not lying, See pic below!
Body work was 100 times better than my last one, and aswell as the huge service history, under the bonnet and interior were both immaculate, I had to take it. It was originally for sale for 990, before I set off to buy it we agreed on 650, and by the time cash and paperwork changed hands, I got her for 500 quid with 3/4 tank of fuel!!! Chuffed!
To drive, the first thing I noticed was the huge masses of low down torque, the 1.9 never had, the car felt so solid and tight to drive, no usual suspension clunks, or knocks just a nice quiet solid drive, the clutch is heavy with plenty of pedal, and the steering felt heavier than the 1.9 but I really liked that, adds to the solid feel of the car.
Anyway after the turbo kicked in at about 1000 rpm, it would pull with a huge surge of torque to about 2700 rpm, then suddenly go flat, as if you'd hit a brick wall! And then literally had no pull at all, I wasn't worried at all, obvious signs of needing a good clear out and a genuine maf! But the cambelt was due and I didn't want to push it. The first few times I hoofed it, the amount of sh**e that came out the back was like a bond style smoke screen! But each lime it got considerably less, and the car felt a bit quicker. Although still had bugger all up the top end, the previous owner told me he'd only ever driven it for economy, I believe him lol! He's clearly never took at above 3k!
I'd usually do all this my self, but my garage is full at present, but also because I wanted to keep ontop of the cars maintenance, and also keep the service book upto date, I just used my friends garage for this one.
Timing belt kit
Water pump
Aux belt
Air filter
Oil and filter
Coolant flush
Air con re-gass
Genuine bosch maf (mates rates)
And a fuel filter.
Cost 450 quid, almost as much as I paid for the car lol, but we'll worth it! Should of been alot more, but I got all the parts, and all fluids at what it costs him, and he's a legend so I'm very happy.
What a difference to drive now, I can't stress enough the difference of a bosch maf! Compared to the sh**te oe ones you can pick up for 20 quid! After brimming the tank with v-power (mixed with a little cetane booster
) and thrashing the arse of it for 100 miles, the Turbo now kicks in at 1000 rpm, hits full boost and peak torque by 2000 rpm, and then just pulls like a freight train to its limiter! Yesterday in the wet I was really struggling for grip first 3 cogs, and it hits 120 mph faster than you'd think possible for a deisel! I reckon it would easily scran my old hgt, and yet gets me mid 40's to the gallon! Absolutely chuffed with the car inside out.Got a few toys ordered from the old tintenet, plans are:
Hid's
Lowering springs
Uprated dampers
Not sure what I'm doing for wheels yet...
Better tyres
EGR is getting completely removed
Front mount intercooler
And a tuning box or remap.
All mods will be subtle, and the car must look oem, last thing I want to do is ruin it, and performance mods will be done to get the most out of it both power wise and economically.
Also I'll probably be doing something with the exhaust, I never knew a deisel motor could ever sound nice, not even a 5 pot, bought you want to hear this! And it's standard! Over all I'm happy, I now have a mechanically sound wagon, I throw the dog in, still get decent mpg's from and tare about and have fun in when I choose to. Done 1000 mile now, it doesn't smoke at all now and doesn't use a drop of oil, I think she might just be a good car.
Only thing I don't like about the car is the number plate! It's a bit gae..y! Oh well!
I've not had a chance to take any pictures yet but I'll leave you with these and take more, when I update the cars progress.
