I want a MonteCarlo, please talk me out of it
Discussion
So the 164 is gone and I'm going to get a brand new car in June/July for commuting and family rubbish, which leaves me in a "what stupid car should I buy next" situation.
Trawling eBay for ideas I've seen very little in the way of Alfas so I turned my attention to Lancia.
Obviously I'm in no position to get a Delta of any worth so I started looking at MonteCarlos.
They seem to go from anywhere between 1-2k for a project to 8.5k for what appears to be an immaculate example.
I'd be looking at getting at the bottom end as the plan is to recreate a 037 with a Coupe turbo lump in it.
So what should I buy instead as this is clearly a f**king ridiculous idea
Trawling eBay for ideas I've seen very little in the way of Alfas so I turned my attention to Lancia.
Obviously I'm in no position to get a Delta of any worth so I started looking at MonteCarlos.
They seem to go from anywhere between 1-2k for a project to 8.5k for what appears to be an immaculate example.
I'd be looking at getting at the bottom end as the plan is to recreate a 037 with a Coupe turbo lump in it.
So what should I buy instead as this is clearly a f**king ridiculous idea
Neither will I, I will never talk anyone out of a Lancia. I think now's the time to buy if you can find a good one, infact buy two, one to put away. Just looking at Lancia prices I don't think you'll lose. It's always been the most desirable of the Beta range according to the media (I prefer the VX coupe, think it should be the premium Beta). Look at the values of integrale's recently, they're going silly. The Montecarlo is sure to follow, maybe not to the same extent. I can remember seeing Fulvia's for next to nothing, they're slowly rising too.
Do it, just do it. If I had the money I think I would.
Do it, just do it. If I had the money I think I would.
rijmij99 said:
MonteCarlos.
They seem to go from anywhere between 1-2k for a project to 8.5k for what appears to be an immaculate example. I'd be looking at getting at the bottom end as the plan is to recreate a 037 with a Coupe turbo lump in it.
I have also been thinking about the 037 conversion so my eyes are peeled for a doner. So few of these left now though. The chap who was doing the 037 kits in the UK seems to have stopped doing them. If I remember, he had a couple stolen and that seems to have knocked him back.They seem to go from anywhere between 1-2k for a project to 8.5k for what appears to be an immaculate example. I'd be looking at getting at the bottom end as the plan is to recreate a 037 with a Coupe turbo lump in it.
I was looking at the web site of the Kiwi guys that also do the kits. Quality looks to be spot on as well.
Keep us posted with any progress please.
Taken a rather more honest stance.
Will it be any good though?
Or will it just be another shoddy rep that looks rather crap and drives crap? It will never look right, reps never do, and when people like me say 'oh wow a 037!', you'll have to explain its turbo charged rep and I'll look annoyed that you wasted my time and misplaced my enthusiasm, that is even if it looks good enough for someone to even think its a real one, chances are there will be a massive giveaway in the finish or the wheels or the quality etc.
Work out how much it will cost, both in time and cash, then go and look at what you could buy straight up for the cash.
Or you could just buy the MonteCarlo and leave it as it is, which is a better idea.
Will it be any good though?
Or will it just be another shoddy rep that looks rather crap and drives crap? It will never look right, reps never do, and when people like me say 'oh wow a 037!', you'll have to explain its turbo charged rep and I'll look annoyed that you wasted my time and misplaced my enthusiasm, that is even if it looks good enough for someone to even think its a real one, chances are there will be a massive giveaway in the finish or the wheels or the quality etc.
Work out how much it will cost, both in time and cash, then go and look at what you could buy straight up for the cash.
Or you could just buy the MonteCarlo and leave it as it is, which is a better idea.
rijmij99 said:
Alas its all personal preference but I can say hand on heart I'd never not have a 164
Why the change of heart?Edited by Fantuzzi on Tuesday 14th January 13:06
go for it.......Ok, I will talk you out of it....
They rot like hell, they were not a particularly inspiring drive in the 70's... let alone now. I drove one again a few years ago, (I owned one form 1980 to 1997...) it all felt so dated. They were not really a Lancia, far to much Fiat influence, they completely lack the engineering design and finesse of real Lancia cars.
A good one, low miles, rust free will always be worth a few bob, but I don't think they will see the same price gains as the Integrale of the earlier lancia cars.
If you were saying to buy a mint car, keep it mint and original, I would say you may enjoy it for many years, not suffer any depreciation... you would have to throw a LOT of cash at a rusty car, buy a kit, spend much much time, effort and cash restoring it... and end up with a replica.
Better cars to spend you cash on at the lower end of the market.
They rot like hell, they were not a particularly inspiring drive in the 70's... let alone now. I drove one again a few years ago, (I owned one form 1980 to 1997...) it all felt so dated. They were not really a Lancia, far to much Fiat influence, they completely lack the engineering design and finesse of real Lancia cars.
A good one, low miles, rust free will always be worth a few bob, but I don't think they will see the same price gains as the Integrale of the earlier lancia cars.
If you were saying to buy a mint car, keep it mint and original, I would say you may enjoy it for many years, not suffer any depreciation... you would have to throw a LOT of cash at a rusty car, buy a kit, spend much much time, effort and cash restoring it... and end up with a replica.
Better cars to spend you cash on at the lower end of the market.
Well in response to the two people with reservations.
I buy cars myself, drive them myself and enjoy them myself. If my enjoyment of something annoyed you I would happily point you to this countries freedoms such as freedom to be a bit of a tit.
I understand that they are prone to rust, there is one a few roads from me and the bonnet (well the bit that would be a bonnet on a normal configuration) looks like the surface of the moon with all the bubbling.
This would be a relatively long term project for me (months over weeks) and I'm now in the position work wise to throw a few quid at something finally (which is why I had to let the 164 go in the first place).
It wouldn't be a full blown rep anyway more of a turbo'd monte with a spoiler and a nice repaint, a 037 stadale lite if you will.
Ideally I'd go down the 75 route again but I'd like to get something that the kids can't fit in and the wife won't want to get in.
Obviously I should just buy an MX-5 but I'm a bit stoopid and like my Italians and a MonteCarlo seems like the cheapest/mentalist/funnest RWD 2 seater around.
I buy cars myself, drive them myself and enjoy them myself. If my enjoyment of something annoyed you I would happily point you to this countries freedoms such as freedom to be a bit of a tit.
I understand that they are prone to rust, there is one a few roads from me and the bonnet (well the bit that would be a bonnet on a normal configuration) looks like the surface of the moon with all the bubbling.
This would be a relatively long term project for me (months over weeks) and I'm now in the position work wise to throw a few quid at something finally (which is why I had to let the 164 go in the first place).
It wouldn't be a full blown rep anyway more of a turbo'd monte with a spoiler and a nice repaint, a 037 stadale lite if you will.
Ideally I'd go down the 75 route again but I'd like to get something that the kids can't fit in and the wife won't want to get in.
Obviously I should just buy an MX-5 but I'm a bit stoopid and like my Italians and a MonteCarlo seems like the cheapest/mentalist/funnest RWD 2 seater around.
Of course we will talk you out of it...............not
Here have some inspiration, how about a group 5 beta montecarlo replica rather than the 037 route.
This company do a kit. http://www.phoenixcarcompany.co.uk/
Here have some inspiration, how about a group 5 beta montecarlo replica rather than the 037 route.
This company do a kit. http://www.phoenixcarcompany.co.uk/
Edited by jamieandthemagic on Tuesday 14th January 21:02
rijmij99 said:
I buy cars myself, drive them myself and enjoy them myself. If my enjoyment of something annoyed you I would happily point you to this countries freedoms such as freedom to be a bit of a tit.
What prompted that response?Its a car thread, if you want a car that hasn't been well received, people will tell you so you can make a more informed decision, I always thought the montecarlo got very positive reviews at the time, autocar said it wasn't quite as good as the Esprit, but was very close and cheaper.
Of course you can buy what you want, most people on PH, specifically on the Alfa section, do, regardless of how it drives.
Fantuzzi said:
rijmij99 said:
I buy cars myself, drive them myself and enjoy them myself. If my enjoyment of something annoyed you I would happily point you to this countries freedoms such as freedom to be a bit of a tit.
What prompted that response?Maybe I touched a raw nerve about it not being a real lancia
I say do it. It sounds like a fun project, it will be more satisfying than simple buying a car thats already up to scratch. You'll have an excuse to spend time in your man cave at the weekend playing with bolts and things, it'll be a way to escape your family. And then at the end you'll have something that you can say 'i built that'. I dont see a problem with owning a replica, it could look like the cars you saw race back in the day. If thats what you want, then thats all that really matters!
jamieandthemagic said:
Edited by jamieandthemagic on Tuesday 14th January 21:02
Fantuzzi said:
rijmij99 said:
I buy cars myself, drive them myself and enjoy them myself. If my enjoyment of something annoyed you I would happily point you to this countries freedoms such as freedom to be a bit of a tit.
What prompted that response?Its a car thread, if you want a car that hasn't been well received, people will tell you so you can make a more informed decision, I always thought the montecarlo got very positive reviews at the time, autocar said it wasn't quite as good as the Esprit, but was very close and cheaper.
Of course you can buy what you want, most people on PH, specifically on the Alfa section, do, regardless of how it drives.
Your suggestion about the X1/9 already crossed my mind but then I remembered trying to get in one I saw at a show, it didn't end well (I'm 6'3" and horizontally challenged).
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