I know all of that. However, it was heavy, didn't sound that good, didn't handle well at all, it wasn't involving, and if you ask me, I didn't think it was much of a looker either. So despite the indredients, everything that makes an alfa was missing, bar the badge.

Look, the "problem" with the Vel Satis, is that there wasn't much history to waste there - renault never made a good executive cruiser. And even if they had, there still was the 25 and the Saffrane before the Vel Satis - not much to write home about.

They do build a Civic wagon. You just don't get it. As is usually the case......

I nominate the Peugeot Coupé lineage.

You're right, but that does not meant the comparision doesn't stand. The Brera is really only an Alfa in badge.

I watched both films, and while the original is a good flic, the "20 years later" didin't offer me much more than this scene. The original though, that's something to recommend. Because it's known as a romantic movie (and it is too) you will be suprised how much driving, and in what cars and circumstances is included.…

This series of Škodas were so plentiful in the '80s, even the West got some - they were for example available in the UK, iirc Estelle was the name. Basic info: simple steel unibody, i4 water cooled engine in the back longitudinally, rwd. Most models have 4speed gearboxes, but for instance this particular car was a…

and it runs on used cooking oil - because old-school diesel!

Why, of course a classic, old 5-door G wagen. Like this: http://ranwhenparkeddotnet.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/merced…

Nah i spared them the trolling. And anyhow, the lotus omega has a Corvette ZR-1 gearbox, as it turns out, which would have been a good counter measure on their side, and also Travis was in love at firts sight. I haven't seen one before either btw, so was in awe myself.

I'm sure he will, let me just say, that above and beyond simply being a Lotus Omega, it was also tuned. Like having 1.8bar of boost tuned. That would be north of 700 HP, by my count, then......... Our collective mouthes dropped when the guy arrived.

I have to de-star this so i can star it again. lol, in actual fact.

You should mention that Škoda needs less than 7sec to 100km/h (62mph), thanks to a meticulously tuned engine fed by two WEBER DCOEs and added lightness. My mind was blow away by that car, not least because we had three similar, but much more pedestrian examples when i was a wee lad. How much more pedestrian? The…

Yeah, i know that. But the sad fact i'm trying to point out is that it won't be enough to replace worn mechanical parts to keep a car of today on the road.

A 30 year old BMW, that has a different number on the back than it has under the hood??? Where's all the "it was better in the olden days, when designations matched engines" brigade now?

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Not in the sense as what you say is not true - because i can perfectly see a time when home mechanics will have cheap computer programs to find out what's wrong with their electricized cars. Yes, that's feasible. However, what happens when you find out what's defect? You will have to buy a…

I like this school of thought. Then again, show me a real life, open road situation, when you're not breaking the law, but still need more than, say, an 535d.

The new Miata should be lighter than the outgoing one, and that wasn't leaden either, and the GT86/BRZ/FRS feels pretty light on its feet too. Of course both are worlds heavier than, say, an MG B was, but that won't ever come back, sadly, and these young punks do get more powerful engines, much better brakes and…

And a few cheap exceptions too. Like the new Pug 208, that got under the 1000kg mark once again, just as god intendend for a supermini. Same with the Mazda 2, which started losing weight with the previous gen - i bet the upcomming Skyactive one will be even lighter.

I've driven this one. 1992 1.9 with cat (= 120 HP), in mint condition, unmolested, though the hydraulic headlamp height adjustment was faulty, as on most Peugeots of the time. Yes, hydraulic.