Bramz fleet. The ever changing procession of mediocrity. Disaster time....

[wuvvum]

Bloody Nora, haven't seen a GTS-X for ages.  1.4 Energy engine, one assumes?

 

 

PM me your address and I'll stick the XM handbook in the post.

[bramz7]

Indeed, the Energy in this one. Sounds the same as the injection one I had, but perhaps a bit more sprightly in its current, slightly rich running form.

[barrett]

That looks great! The R19's time has deffo arrived I reckon, they must have one of the highest rates of attrition of any normal 1990s car, honestly can't think of when I last saw one in the wild

[Brodders]

That looks great! The R19's time has deffo arrived I reckon, they must have one of the highest rates of attrition of any normal 1990s car, honestly can't think of when I last saw one in the wild

I have seen quite a few still in regular use in France whilst here.

 

They don't appear to rust very badly and I don't think the engines have any major reliability issues, they just appear to have disappeared like most mass market French cars, due to them being worthless once they reach a certain age in the UK. A shame, as they are very nice looking things (especially in saloon form).

[Wingz123]

I bet there are loads hidden away at the back of french barns or buried in french fields somewhere

[bramz7]

Yeah, I don't really see any out and about either but they do still come up for sale on a reasonably regular basis on Gumtree and Facebook, and sometimes eBay. For example, someone is selling a later model 1.8 RT on FB for £400, that's with 12 months MOT too, plus its the higher power engine, with 108hp. 

 

IMO, one of the most under-rated and forgotten French cars of it's era, and easily as good, if not better, than rivals of the time.

 

They do rot, but generally just around the rear suspension and sills. Otherwise, mechanically they are pretty tough. You could even get injection Cleon engines in them, with a measly 58hp. 

Oddly the earlier carb fed Energy engines are actually slightly more powerful, and at lower revs. 

[ProgRocker]

Yes please to the XM booklet Wuvs, I'd really appreciate that.

 

 

I came home with this today:

 

20180908_160042.jpg

1.4 GTS-X. Carb engine and no central locking. Old boy owned for a decade, for his round the corner (literally) commute. Given up driving now he's turning 80.

 

Theres a droning bearing somewhere I think...plus it stutters at 40. Otherwise it's decent, the soft ride was much missed.

No PAS either and it's unbelievably heavy.

Yes it has (working) yellow fogs!

 

I remember the advert for the GTS-X. I think it has funky stripey upholstery.

[Mr Bump]

That 19 is a pretty handsome car. I remember them to be quite anonymous at launch too and a bit meh.

 

Nice save!

[BorniteIdentity]

There was a delightful R19 in purple on eBay for about a year. It was big money but was box fresh. Now sold - which is a bollocks - as I think I’mma need a new daily in the next few months.

[Dirk Diggler]

Interior pics please

[bramz7]

 

I've just been attacking the interior with some Auto Glym foam crap...seems to respond well to it.

 

All 4 original mats still present. The cheap ones covering them have now been slinged.

[Mr Bump]

French deckchair. Nice.

[brownnova]

I was really impressed by the 19 when I drove one recently! Much better than I thought It would be! Looks like great buy.

[bramz7]

1991 Renault 19 GTS-X. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr

 

Don't worry, the gross universal trims are being binned, but only when I manage to acquire some OEM Renault ones, in 13 inch size. 19s look even more like bangers without trims...

 

I also want front door pockets. 

[r.welfare]

Brilliant!

 

25 years ago I worked at a supermarket with a bloke who had one of these with a personal plate: A19 TSE. No prizes for guessing the trim level of that one.

[uk_senator]

TBH, the trims aren't at all bad, at least they have the correct number of bolt holes... (drives me mental when I see 4 stud cars with 5-stud trims, especially when the `bolts` are splayed out like a tart octopuses legs). 
 

1991 Renault 19 GTS-X. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr

 

Don't worry, the gross universal trims are being binned, but only when I manage to acquire some OEM Renault ones, in 13 inch size. 19s look even more like bangers without trims...

 

I also want front door pockets. 

[Wingz123]

What do these drive like? I have driven plenty of P reg shaped Megane’s....and found the pedals to be a bit close together (then I do have size 15 feet) but does gearbox feel the same?

[wuvvum]

Dollywobbler will be along shortly to demand that you reseat that driver's side wiper arm.

[D Spares & Tyres]

I have some original Renault 13 inch trims you can have. Quite a dull design to be honest and they don't even have a Renault logo on the front but would look right on this( no offense!)

 

Pretty sure they are off a late 11 but would suit this.

 

I'll take a photo tomorrow

[DodgyBastard]

It could be worse, you could have VW trims like mine...

 

RJC_3528 by srblythe, on Flickr

[bramz7]

I have some original Renault 13 inch trims you can have. Quite a dull design to be honest and they don't even have a Renault logo on the front but would look right on this( no offense!)

 

Pretty sure they are off a late 11 but would suit this.

 

I'll take a photo tomorrow

Sound good to me!

 

Also those VW trims don't look too bad. Nice Chamade though.

[bramz7]

 

And this concludes my purchases for now.

It's okay. It sounds pretty good. It seems to drive okay. Gear linkages feel a bit dry, it has a shabby steering wheel and it's cambelt roulette, but it's pretty fast.

Smells the same as the Brava I had not too long ago. Of course.

 

I'm sure one day a £400 V6 156 will be looked back on as a rare thing, but right now it's just a cheap saloon I got insured on a classic policy...

[D Spares & Tyres]

I have an important lesson for you, regarding those Alfa 156 V6s.

 

If you park it up for a while, check that no thistles have grown into the engine bay and into the cambelt cover...

 

 

 

*this tale is based on a true story....

[DVee8]

this month's modern classics mag has a Alfa greats write up.

 

[bramz7]

Might have to buy that, but I already know what they'll say about the 156:

'good turn of speed, direct handling but poor ride around town. High feeling driving position and disappointing interior quality, but raucous engine note makes up for it.'

 

I drove it to work today and it's okay. I already knew what 90s Fiat products felt like and it feels the same. The way it creeps up over the speed limit with little effort is neat though.

The leather is meh quality and is the same shade as lipstick used by ladies of the night.

The thermostat probably doesn't work as it doesn't warm up that fast.

Fuel gauge constantly creeps up during a journey. Weird.

 

Handles well though. And the front suspension feels good, so it was clearly fixed after an MOT fail.

 

I feel a tad underwhelmed as it's not as comfy or raw feeling as the 323i.

 

Decent B and A road hustler mind, and I didn't know it was 6 speed on the drive back...so 70 was 3500rpm in 5th.

[barrett]

Allegedly styled by Trevor Fiore, too (according to Trevor) which gives it a certain appeal. I don't like the big plasticy dash but they do look nice and the roadholding is ace

[Dirk Diggler]

The leather is the same shade as lipstick used by ladies of the night.

.

Quality aside, I love red leather on anything

[bramz7]

Allegedly styled by Trevor Fiore, too (according to Trevor) which gives it a certain appeal. I don't like the big plasticy dash but they do look nice and the roadholding is ace

It even has carbon fibre effect on the dash, which is factory. Yuck.

The gauge pods and positioning is reasonably cool though. And at least the inner door handles are actually metal, and not chromed plastic.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Might have to buy that, but I already know what they'll say about the 156:

'good turn of speed, direct handling but poor ride around town. High feeling driving position and disappointing interior quality, but raucous engine note makes up for it.'

 

I drove it to work today and it's okay. I already knew what 90s Fiat products felt like and it feels the same. The way it creeps up over the speed limit with little effort is neat though.

The leather is meh quality and is the same shade as lipstick used by ladies of the night.

The thermostat probably doesn't work as it doesn't warm up that fast.

Fuel gauge constantly creeps up during a journey. Weird.

 

Handles well though. And the front suspension feels good, so it was clearly fixed after an MOT fail.

 

I feel a tad underwhelmed as it's not as comfy or raw feeling as the 323i.

 

Decent B and A road hustler mind, and I didn't know it was 6 speed on the drive back...so 70 was 3500rpm in 5th.

 

 

The trouble with the 156 is that it arrived at the same time as the E46 - these were of course crap, but had much more showroom appeal. I like 156's but have never felt compelled to own one.

[Wingz123]

The trouble with the 156 is that it arrived at the same time as the E46 - these were of course crap, but had much more showroom appeal. I like 156's but have never felt compelled to own one.

Have to correct you there - 318’s/320’s yeh maybe but get a decent engine and they’re cracking - I’ve got an e46 328ci - much fun on the track and handles very well.