New chod acquired

[wuvvum]

It's been a busy few days in the Wuvvum fleet. On Thursday afternoon I jumped on a train to West Bromwich to pick up this baby:

 

 

 

It's a 2-litre HDi so it's not the fastest thing in the world, but it cruises along OK and seems to be doing mid-40s mpg, which isn't bad for a car that's nearly as big as my house. It's done 213,000 miles (although there's no sign of it having been a taxi) and it needs a few bits doing (driver's electric window doesn't work, and the computer flashes up a warning about the ESP/ASR being inactive, although why a 2-litre diesel would need ESP and ASR is beyond me) but it drove home beautifully, it's very comfortable, and all the major bits work (climate control, cruise control, stereo, trip computer etc). It's taxed until the end of June and tested until October so it should do me for a while - it may even take over daily driver duties from the Rover of Doom if it continues to be this cold, as the heater warms up a heck of a lot quicker than the Rover's.

 

Then this morning I bought this.

 

 

 

 

Not particularly exciting - it's a mildly boy-racered A3 1.8 20V Turbo. It was being sold by a lad at work who is moving in with his girlfriend and doesn't need it any more. T&T run out at the end of the month, it needs two tyres on the front and the passenger front window doesn't work, but he only wanted £370 for it which I thought was cheap enough. I have to say I'm slightly underwhelmed by the driving experience - for all its five valves per cylinder it actually feels slower than the Rover - but the interior is nice, and with a full test and a bit of a tidy up I reckon I should be able to sell it on easily enough when I get bored with it (which probably won't take very long).

 

Then this afternoon I bought this bad boy:

 

 

It's a 2.5 V6 auto, so GR5.5 4 drifting, and it's been stood around for a while, but it had a cambelt last year and it has the sweetest-sounding V6 I've heard in a long while. I took it for a brief run up the road and the gearbox seemed to change up and down fine and the brakes weren't stuck on (which is a relief as they're inboard at the rear on these). At the moment the wiring to the fuel pump is dodgy so it's running with a live taken straight from the battery to the pump as a temporary fix. I can't wait to get it fixed properly and get it on the road - with the gearbox mounted at the back, weight distribution is pretty much 50:50 so it should corner quite nicely, and it even still has its hydraulic rear suspension (an unusual option on these apparently) which raises itself Citroën-style when the engine is started. Unfortunately by the time I got there it was getting too dark to take too many pics, but I will be taking a lot more once the car's sorted - I have a feeling I'm going to rather enjoy this one.

[dollywobbler]

I reckon the de-badged Audi needs some DKW badges.

 

I look forward to some YouTube footage of the Alfa. They really are quite bonkers considering what everyone else in Europe was churning out at the time. More great purchasing!

[retrogeezer]

there is no stopping you is there!!

[M'coli]

Good style! However,

a lad at work who is moving in with his girlfriend and doesn't need it any more.

That's what he thinks... Give him a couple of months!!!

[Wilko220]

Always fancied a 607. And the Alfa looks VERY class...

[Cavcraft]

Christ on a bike, how do you do it mate? The Audi seems incredibly cheap and they do seem to have quite a following so I reckon you'll see a nice return for that without having to try.

607 looks nice and the Alfa is something else, please keep us updated on that.

[garethj]

Top buying, sir. I'd be tarting up the Audi with some part-worns, an MoT and some rent then selling it for a reasonable profit. Which you can either splurge totally on the Alfa, or make a 5% deposit towards the huge bills from the 607

[steve austin]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Alfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, love it!!!!!!!!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Wow, that Alfa is something else, the auto box must make it mega rare. I love 75's, they drive absolutely GR9, i've only ever had twinspark ones though. Make sure you post it on here when its time to move it along!

[dieselnutjob]

wow you have been busy.

I have factory diagnostic computer for the 607 and an activator for the tyre pressure sensors if you need to change any. they are only £30 each so potentially cheaper than a wrecked tyre. not sure that you are any where near me though

[RoadworkUK]

Strewth!

 

607 looks intriguing, I'd love to have a wallow in one of those at some point. My feelings for Alfa 75s are well documented, I'll bet it sounds exquisite with a bit of slush-box "clutch slip" going on.

 

I'm with you on the 1.8T engine, when I first got mine it was distinctly underwhelming. After a while, though, I learnt that it was actually excellent fun across country if you keep it deep within the turbo zone, e.g well beyond 3.5k. Unfortunately GR2 for economy.

 

I still suggest shining it up and moving it on.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

bloody hell...Top purchaseage as always! I've always wanted a 607- nearly paid 10 grand for one in 2006...but I thought 'bollox to paying that much for a car' and bought some more shares instead...Talk about depreciation- no scrapyard will accept my shares!

 

I reckon you should be able to make a bit of money on the Audi...with or without DKW badges!

[sporty-shite]

607=comfy & warm

 

Audi=profitable

 

Alfa=FIT.

 

A top weekend's work!

[Skizzer]

Blimey, if I bought three cars in four days my wife would set fire to my ears. Top work fella, especially the Alfa 75.

 

I ran an A4 1.8T for a couple of years, which was blessed* with a Tiptronic box. I used it in manual mode the whole time in an eternally optimistic search for some performance and driving interest. (Petrol was cheaper then.)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hey Wuvverine, if your 75 has a combined Bosch double relay for the fuel pump and ignition system, (I know the GTV6 has these, not sure about the 75) and yours is jiggered, PM me as I have a spare that I bought when mucking about with the Argenta, you can have it if it looks like it will solve your problems.

 

This is the kiddy:

 

[pompei]

I've had the use of a couple of 3 litre 75s and they were GR4975.

 

I went to do a survey at this house, and the character looked out the window at it and said, "Nice, I like Volvos too"

[AnthonyG]

Good stuff, particularly the 607 and 75. I'd be fixing/tarting up that Audi to make some moneys - should be £750's worth I would have thought??

 

BTW, did you sell that silver 156 in the end?

[wuvvum]

BTW, did you sell that silver 156 in the end?

Nope, that's still sat here - it has water pump issues unfortunately (sometimes the pump works fine but sometimes the impeller just spins on the shaft) and I'm not sure I can be arsed to get it done as it's a cambelt off job.