Your fleet running reports

[Matty]

No, apparently it is the only RHD speed-yellow 996.1 GT3 in existence. I’m repeating what I was told though - I haven’t actually checked the accuracy of this statement.

Posting on the Internet? Without fact-checking first?

[Matty]

Putting a good few miles now in the Quad, and managed to average about 28mpg since I last reset the trip.....not bad for over 500bhp. Things have certainly moved on since the 400bhp in the VXR8 used to average about 17mpg for similar driving and 100bhp less

My biggest gripe is I'm unable to come to a gentle stop. The car crawls forward oddly quickly, so if you try the "chauffeur" stop by easing off as you almost come to a stop, it doesn't work as the car will start to speed up slightly Helped even less by the brake-by-wire system to feel it out.

Oh, and it looks like a drain hole is blocked, came around a corner on the drive home this evening to blessed with a wet foot.

In other notes - people respond to this very similarly to my old GTA, in that conversations with strangers and work colleagues are of genuine interest. WIth the 4C, Evora, Elise's etc it was a very passive small talk.... 'yeah that's nice mate' or 'I bet that was expensive', maybe a nod or two, then move on. With this, I've had a few proper, deep dive, engaging conversations with car and non-car people alike. I've always said that my GTA was probably the only car I owned that *everyone* I knew liked, whether they were car people or not, and the Giulia seems to be having similar reception.

[integrale_evo]

Can’t be a true petrolhead until you’ve had an Alfa

[Carlos]

My i3 really needs to go now so we spent the weekend prepping it for sale.

Some little satisfying jobs like removing the screen washer fluid pump to clean the filter which is an easy well thought accessible and push fit design . Never had an issue with gunk blocking the filters in any car other than BMWs though!

My daughter had made a mess inside including chocolate and gum on seats and carpet but she helped wet vac and removed the gum. Can't recommend zep sticky stuff remover more highly. End result is as new

Also cleaned and polished the outside but a lack of modern product, skill and a DA left it a bit meh. Even my trusty T-Cut didn't touch the swirls and marks so I ended up paying a local chap to machine polish the whole car. Not sure if he was being nice but he said the plastic panels are tricky to bring back. End result is fantastic

[Ascender]

@Ascender did you do a new car thread with some proper photos?

No, not yet, been offline for almost a month while doing stuff at the new house. I'll stick one up shortly though, have a wee bit more time on my hands now and have had some absolutely wonderful drives in it up here, up north. Proper north.

[Jimmy Choo]

3 Generations of the men in my family got together last weekend to change the throttle body on the 535d. It was a lovely learning experience for the 16 year old who started his BTEC in Engineering.

There was plenty of crap in the old throttle body and the EGR. It's now running well. I'm now just waiting for the next thing to break.

[mik]

have had some absolutely wonderful drives in it up here, up north. Proper north.

I'm located pretty well for "instant" access to decent driving roads, and easy access to fabulous roads, but being based in Teh Highlands is another level.

edit: also - don't forget your bloody e-start vid.

[Jobbo]

3 Generations of the men in my family got together last weekend to change the throttle body on the 535d. It was a lovely learning experience for the 16 year old who started his BTEC in Engineering.

There was plenty of crap in the old throttle body and the EGR. It's now running well. I'm now just waiting for the next thing to break.

It was quick enough before - I assume it’ll produce more power now the air flows properly so something drivetrain related next.

[GG.]

Can’t be a true petrolhead until you’ve had an Alfa

We may have to add to that "an Alfa that breaks all the time". Do these break?

[Jimmy Choo]

3 Generations of the men in my family got together last weekend to change the throttle body on the 535d. It was a lovely learning experience for the 16 year old who started his BTEC in Engineering.

There was plenty of crap in the old throttle body and the EGR. It's now running well. I'm now just waiting for the next thing to break.

It was quick enough before - I assume it’ll produce more power now the air flows properly so something drivetrain related next.

My money is on the diff.

It's also cured the shutdown shudder, which is nice. I'm hoping to give it some beans on the way to Tetbury on Friday and see how it compares to before.

[Delphi]

Boxster is in tomorrow for new coil packs in preparation for the Germany/Switzerland trip. They'll probably be OK as they are (they are starting to crack a bit), but the last thing I want is a misfire and a CEL on a huge trip like that and for the sake of a few hundred quid it's not worth not doing.

Spoke to the trimmer the other day, the carpets are done, as are the rear seats and rear centre console/storage thingy. Front seats are underway, so should be ready when I get back from my road trip abroad.

[JonMad]

Finally looks like I’ve fixed the Fabia indicator problem with a Body Control Module off a VW Polo. Same part number - £17 posted from eBay vs £400 I was quoted for a new one - which would be plus diagnosis and extra labour and recoding.

Thank you @sundayjumper for the loan of your laptop and VCDS dongle and software. Many beers owed for that and your help previously.

[John]

I’ve managed to strip one of the wheel bolt threads in a break drum on the Beetle, doh! New drum bought and now just waiting for the bearing to arrive, then I’ll beat the bearing race into the drum and we should be good to go.

[Matty]

Radar blocker arrived - not sure why I need to spend £200 because Alfa (who aren't alone in this) can't fix a basic security flaw making cars stealable in 30 seconds. Not fitted yet, but seems easy enough. Decent timing, as yet another one has disappeared from Sutton.

Also, it's decided to leak. Taking right-turns when it's wet throws a small amount of water onto my foot. Initially thought it was a clogged drain meaning that water is coming in via the fresh-air vent....but the drain looks clear, and it still came in even when the vent is shut.
Leaving the alternative as a blocked drain for the A/C....but I left that turned off on the way home this evening and it still did it. So now I'm not sure. It's still under warranty from Alfa, but dealing with Alfa garages vs the occasional wet foot? That's a difficult decision.

[Sundayjumper]

No sunroof ? Sunroof drains are normally first suspect for that.

[Rich B]

The Alfa Romeo board, some time in around 2015:

[Matty]

No sunroof ? Sunroof drains are normally first suspect for that.

Carbon roof gang so no sunroof option on the QV's.

As below, Alfa seem to struggle with water, either gettinng out or getting in.

The Alfa Romeo board, some time in around 2015:

Thankfully as I'm on a later model I'm not susceptible to the water-on-the-ECU problem Thing is, they've never learnt as it was a known issue on the 147GTA and was also an an issue on the 4C where they had to modify the either the gearbox module or alternator housing due to water ingress.

I guess it never rains in Italy?!?

[DeskJockey]

No sunroof ? Sunroof drains are normally first suspect for that.

Carbon roof gang so no sunroof option on the QV's.

As below, Alfa seem to struggle with water, either gettinng out or getting in.

The Alfa Romeo board, some time in around 2015:

Thankfully as I'm on a later model I'm not susceptible to the water-on-the-ECU problem Thing is, they've never learnt as it was a known issue on the 147GTA and was also an an issue on the 4C where they had to modify the either the gearbox module or alternator housing due to water ingress.

I guess it never rains in Italy?!?

Don't bore yourself with the petty details, it is an Alfa, it isn't meant to be perfect.

[integrale_evo]

They had to change the scuttle drain tubes on the mito because the original design dumped all the water straight into the alternator. Not good at the best of times, but less good in winter when it then freezes solid

Do you know if it’s ever had the windscreen replaced? One of my dads 156s leaked after a replacement screen wasn’t fitted properly.

[Mito Man]

I had the alternator on my Mito die from that when it was a month old.
The AC leaked water into the passenger footwell too.
One day I noticed the car smelled like shit, dug around and the the spare wheel well was like a pond complete with wildlife growing in it. Apparently the rear glass wasn’t sealed all the way round.
Then the paint fell off it.
Then the gearbox let go.

Luckily it did all that within its first 2 years. And never went wrong after that!