Top hose split without warning.
Aftermarket imobliser caused erratic starting.
Finish on alloy wheels deteriorating badly.
Car was bought in excellent condition, mechanically, body and interior - except for poor ride and exceptionally poor brakes.
Brakes improved vastly by ATE grooved discs, decent pads and fluid change.
Suspension improved by new shocks and mounting bushes, and wishbone bushes.
The car has a harsh ride, even with new standard shocks, but handles very well. Performance is adequate. Fuel economy good (30+mpg in town, 40+mpg on a motorway).
This car has very little in the way of goodies (no pas, electric windows, sunroof, ABS, not even a "lights on" warning, etc), is pretty uncomfortable on bad surfaces, and has a couple of nasty quirks - leave the indicators on when parking up and half the sidelights stay on.. and a really stupid windscreen wiper control system. The controls are un-ergonomic and the instruments small, poorly placed and difficult to read. The rear seats are suitable only for deformed dwarves.
On the plus side it's well screwed together, compact, handles nicely and doesn't use a lot of petrol.
But I preferred my old Alfa Romeo 164...
How can you compare an executive saloon to a sports coupe? If the suspension was softened and allthe luxuries from the Alfa added it would lose what it is, a no frills fun car, That's why I own a jeep and the Rocco, Jeep for family, towing and load hauling, Rocco for ME.
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