Car (or bike) Chat!

[paulf-2007]

I'd NEVER EVER tow a caravan

It's a fucking horrendous experience, on ALL levels!! First, you've just strapped a huge obstacle onto your car, which it was never designed to take, and which has completely upset every aspect of its handling, and secondly, you have to drive everywhere at 50 fooking miles per hour!!!!

I'd die of BOREDOM within half an hour!

Marco.

drive faster then much faster, see how boring it is then

[Gazjam]

Well well.

Just MOT’d my Alfa and it passed ok, but advisory on the exhaust rusting.
Car has twin backboxes theres a crack in the Y-piece and Ive been advised to get it fixed pronto.
So...
aftermarket exhaust time I guess.

Specific options available, Wizard, Ascari, Ragazzon, but thinking to get a custom stainless one made, and theres a highly recommended guy local.
Anyone done something similar before?

Cars been remapped, sports air filter fitted, and while it goes down the road pretty well and makes a nice noise, it doesnt sound as ‘Alfa’ as I’d like it, so chance to fix that.
Wondering too if a new exhaust will let the engine breath a bit better?

Planning on running the car till it drops, so maybe a good investment going forward.

[walpurgis]

Anything with the name 'Ascari' on it has to be interesting. The circuit, the car and maybe even an exhaust?

[Pigmy Pony]

If you modify the exhaust, it may need remapping again, to get the best from it.

Always liked Alfas, but never owned one. Cool, without being flash, a real driver's marque.

[Ian7633]

This is my old nugget, 323CI. Poor old thing is looking very sorry for itself at the moment as I haven't used it for just over a year and it's got a green film over it from being parked under a tree. At the last MOT the main central brake pipe that runs under the tunnel had to be replaced, apparently one of the worst jobs on the E46 models as the gearbox and rear axel have to be dropped out. I'm planning to get it back on the road and to start going out again after I've been housebound for so long, just as long as the MOT isn't too scary.

[IMG][/IMG]

Quick update, Nugget passed it's MOT with the minimum of fuss, just needed new wiper blades, couple of minor advisories and that was it. Not bad considering it hadn't moved for over 14 months. Next job remove the layer of moss and green stuff left by the trees and then just start going out again.......look out local-ish AOSers, I might be inviting myself for listenings

[Pigmy Pony]

Welcome at mine. I'd invite Gazjam too, also 200 miles away, BUT he drives an Alfa

[Gazjam]

Welcome at mine. I'd invite Gazjam too, also 200 miles away, BUT he drives an Alfa

Thanks for the invite, dont want to run the risk of her catching fire on the hard shoulder though.

[Ian7633]

I'd love to visit, I think the car is up to the journey just not to sure about myself, I think I'd need medical attention lol

[Gazjam]

Interesting Steve, didn't know that would be a thing.
I'll look into it.

Been to see my exhaust guy today?
He kinda swooned over the Brera's engine note when I revved it...Hadnt seen a car like mine before and loved it's "Song" as he put it.
Because of this, He advised NOT getting a full new stainless system but keep the Prodrive Brera back boxes and manufacturing a straight through system.
He said it would be a mistake to change the character of the car by going "Boy Racer", but design a system for more "Alfa-ness" and let whats already there come through a lot better.
Sure, will be noticeably louder and have more snarl, but will still have that Alfa magic.

To anyone who knows their exhausts, does a straight through system sound noticeably louder?
Looking for a bit more oomph and to get the Brera sounding more in line with how it looks.

Thanks.

[Marco]

He kinda swooned over the Brera's engine note when I revved it...Hadnt seen a car like mine before and loved it's "Song" as he put it.
Because of this, He advised NOT getting a full new stainless system but keep the Prodrive Brera back boxes and manufacturing a straight through system.

Good advice, Gaz, but as I understand it, a straight-through system involves doing away with the back boxes... That's certainly what happened on the Brabster, when I had a straight-through quad SS system fitted, and once the job was done, the old back boxes were left lying on the floor, so I'm not quite sure how they're going to achieve what has been suggested?

In my view, a good exhaust fitter should be able to create a bespoke system, tailored to produce the sound you want, by tuning how the pipes are installed. However, if the back boxes are key to the 'Alfa sound', then those could be retained and used in conjunction with stainless-steel pipes, thus preventing ordinary ones from rusting again in future. That's what I'd be doing.

Also, in terms of mapping, fitting the new exhaust system shouldn't make too much difference. You should feel a small improvement in performance afterwards, simply due to having allowed the engine to 'breathe' better. If necessary, you can always take the car back to whoever mapped it, and ask them if they think any further adjustments are necessary, in order to fine-tune and maximise performance.

Are you still filling the engine with proper petrol?

Marco.