Cookiesouwest Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) Hi all. Last Friday, in a moment of petrol head madness, I purchased an Alfa 166 2.0 from @andyberg. Left a few people disappointed, as he was in the process of roffling rather cheaply at the time. Here is a pic, I nicked from Andy There has been more than one thread on this car, so most of you are probably aware of its history (at least on AS). Was told it needed two front tyres, possibly a steering rack gaiter and the MOT was short. Not driven it yet. Yes I'm weird. Got the tour of the car from Andy and just agreed to buy it. He is a trustworthy fellow. Will be driving it for the first time tomorrow. Its booked in for new front tyres on Thursday and MOT on Monday. I'm hoping it passes or at least no majorly expensive work needed or The Management is going to be very very unhappy. Future plans - get it road legal and if Andy doesn't want it back, once his job situation improves, it will be roffled for whatever it owes me. Further updates, once I've actually driven it Edited August 13, 2020 by Cookiesouwest Title update outlaw118, Yoss, Carlosfandango and 20 others 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitzer Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Yes, please. Now, when you already have a black 166, you will, of course, need a German Shepherd named Rex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 It does look black, but is officially grey and actually looks aubergine in the daylight (well the panels that don't have lacquer peel do) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Same colour as my old 3.0 V6. Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 8, 2020 Author Share Posted July 8, 2020 Picked up car tonight and had a couple of drinks with Mr Berg (mine were of the zero booze kind). Quick report. Pictures tomorrow, cause I know how much you like pics. Its a remarkably smooth ride. Hadn't been expecting that. Seat is very supportive and comfy. Drives well and the 2.0 engine is more peppy than I had imagined it would be. No squeaks, rattles or bangs from the cabin or the suspension. Gives me hope that the MOT on Monday may not be expensive (famous last words). She did blow a headlight bulb on way home in protest at leaving Mr Bergs fleet and no longer being parked next to the showroom Tacuma. That or it's an Alfa. Day off tomorrow, to sort brakes on the Disastra, VVT on the Vectra, so can get bulb sorted as well. andyberg, Hawkeyethenoo, Carlosfandango and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJK 24 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Bella macchina! Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Some pics cause you like them. Is the grill standard? The front badge isn't Tickman, scdan4, privatewire and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorpunk Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Fantastic car. Being an Alfa there’ll be endless niggles but you’ll love it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyberg Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 The front grille bit has been vinyl wrapped I think. Kringle did say that the previous owner covered it because the chrome was coming off? I did look for another one, the term 'rocking horse shit' springs to mind. Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tul66 Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Good luck with the bulb change. I know that the sidelight bulb is a PITA to change. At least on the HID headlights. Helps if you have small hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Well funny you should say that, because the sidelight build has also decided to give up lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Pez shot Peter C, Kringle, privatewire and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 New front tyres andyberg, Floatylight, scdan4 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Whoever designed the side light bulb holder was a twisted sadistic f*ck. Now I have no sidelights. The bulbs just won't sit in the holder to get a contact. Might have to superglue the bastards in for MOT Kringle and Tickman 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 56 minutes ago, Cookiesouwest said: Whoever designed anything that needs replacing on an Alfa was a twisted sadistic f*ck. Efa. Try the battery on a gtv ? ask @Fat_Pirate how he knows... Tickman, Fat_Pirate and CreepingJesus 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat_Pirate Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 I'm going to try to fix the lacquer peel on my GTV, I watched a YouTube vid and it looked easy*. Frankly I can't make it worse, and it will be a handy skill for when I inevitably own this 166 Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Fat_Pirate said: I'm going to try to fix the lacquer peel on my GTV, I watched a YouTube vid and it looked easy*. Frankly I can't make it worse, and it will be a handy skill for when I inevitably own this 166 Unless I beat you too it and sort the 166 first lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tul66 Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 8 hours ago, Cookiesouwest said: Whoever designed the side light bulb holder was a twisted sadistic f*ck. Now I have no sidelights. The bulbs just won't sit in the holder to get a contact. Might have to superglue the bastards in for MOT Check that the bulb is in the right way round, it has offset pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 37 minutes ago, tul66 said: Check that the bulb is in the right way round, it has offset pins. Goes in fine, but won't stay seated, so loses contact with the contact, if that makes sense. Advice from the Alfa club is that it can take up to two hours ! of faffing about to get the bulb to sit right. May resort to supergluing the bast*rd bulb in lol Carlosfandango 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Oh and the appaling lacquer peel on roof, bonnet and boot, is I believe due to car being wrapped at some point. There are a couple of tell tale marks on offside C pillar, where the wrap ended. When wrap was removed, a lot of the lacquer went with it. Mrs CSW has had her first drive in it. Likes the comfort / quietness and reckons its quite perky from a performance point of view. But says it looks like sh*t due to the lacquer peel. andyberg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Beautiful looking car. Who was the hero who took the initial depreciation hit on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tul66 Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 21 minutes ago, Kowalski said: Beautiful looking car. Who was the hero who took the initial depreciation hit on this? Beautiful??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Well,in a mongoloid hammer head shark kind of way. Maybe I just mean different. Yes, that's it. I really like individual looking cars. Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitzer Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 This aggression will not stand, man. Says who? Every discerning gentleman of impeccable style and taste. But yes, yes, the looks are beaten by Fiat Multipla or Lancia Thesis. Bamboocarman, Kringle and Cookiesouwest 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 11 hours ago, Kowalski said: Beautiful looking car. Who was the hero who took the initial depreciation hit on this? No idea, but yes they were a hero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 22 hours ago, Cookiesouwest said: Well funny you should say that, because the sidelight build has also decided to give up lol Hmm... Possibly not the bulbs then? Possibly a fault somewhere else. And so it begins. Just saying. I'll get my coat. Cookiesouwest and Kringle 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 Today tha Alfa got a long run from Midsomer Norton to Blue Anchor on the North Somerset Coast (and back obvs). 115 miles at 34.2 mpg. Not too bad considering its a 2.0 in a big heavyish car. Good points Very very comfortable seats, handles well, luxury wafty suspension. Bad points 1. 30 miles into the trip, starting getting a slight squeal from front nearside. It would stop when turning left. Figured wheel bearing was starting to fail. Sound stopped after 10 miles. Return journey, 15 miles from home it developed a slight squeal from the front nearside wheel again. Would stop when braking. By the time we were home it was a very loud metallic screaming sound. It set off all the dogs in the neighborhood and I thought the glass was going to break Sadly don't have time to investigate tomorrow, so gonna have to present it for MOT as is, on Monday. 2. The Mrs drove it. Wants to keep it if Andy doesn't have it back. Even willing to consider selling her truck, which I never ever thought she would do. 3. My Dad (we went to visit parents on their holibobs), was very impressed with the interior, didn't care about the lacquer peel and may make me an offer if Andy doesn't want it back. A good day, despite going deaf for the last 15 miles andyberg and Tickman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyberg Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 26 minutes ago, Cookiesouwest said: Today tha Alfa got a long run from Midsomer Norton to Blue Anchor on the North Somerset Coast (and back obvs). 115 miles at 34.2 mpg. Not too bad considering its a 2.0 in a big heavyish car. Good points Very very comfortable seats, handles well, luxury wafty suspension. Bad points 1. 15 miles from home it developed a slight squeal from the front nearside wheel. Would stop when braking. By the time we were home it was a very loud metallic screaming sound. It set off all the dogs in the neighborhood and I thought the glass was going to break Sadly don't have time to investigate tomorrow, so gonna have to present it for MOT as is, on Monday. 2. The Mrs drove it. Wants to keep it if Andy doesn't have it back. Even willing to consider selling her truck, which I never ever thought she would do. 3. My Dad (we went to visit parents on their holibobs), was very impressed with the interior, didn't care about the lacquer peel and may make me an offer if Andy doesn't want it back. A good day, despite going deaf for the last 15 miles How can points 2 and 3 be bad points??! Glad it was mostly a good day. She is a damn fine car. Looks like I have a big fight on my hands if I manage to secure decent employment. Cookiesouwest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiesouwest Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 36 minutes ago, andyberg said: How can points 2 and 3 be bad points??! Glad it was mostly a good day. She is a damn fine car. Looks like I have a big fight on my hands if I manage to secure decent employment. 2 and 3 are bad points, cause I can't afford a fleet of 5 long term. Doubt if Mrs CSW would get rid of the truck and my Vectra is not going anywhere. Mum will go mental - with me - if I sell it to Dad Hurry up and get a job andyberg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kringle Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 That sounds like the brake as opposed to bearings, especially if it stops when pressed is there much meat on the pads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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